Sidewinder Nothing about game is ‘beautiful’. p6
Renew y p10 Money for more blueberry markets. our c i
THE NEWS
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Pitt cracks down on dog owners Susan
Holme
s (604
) 268-5
181 su
sanho
lmes@
bcaa.c
No longer allowed on sports fields or around playgrounds by S te ph Trough ton contributor
Colleen Flanagan/THE NEWS
Helen Homer, holding a “Families First” sign, pickets outside Garibaldi secondary Wednesday with other Maple Ridge teachers Jim Watson, Jodi Dahle, Areal Cracknell, Michele Smith.
Owners who allow their dogs to roam off leash at sports fields and playgrounds in Maple Ridge and Pitt Meadows will soon be fined $200. Tuesday, Pitt Meadows approved recommendations to adopt a new parks and community facilities regulations bylaw that includes a stiff fine for dog owners who do not comply with the rules. Maple Ridge is set to give the same bylaw final final reading Aug. 26. In the updated bylaw, dogs are not allowed on playing fields, sport surfaces, playgrounds and water parks, or even within three metres of them. It states further that all dogs must be leashed in all parks unless it is a designated off-leash area. See Dogs, p13
School could start on time Teachers may reconsider strike position: Serra by Nei l Corbe tt staff reporter
The B.C. Teachers’ Federation should consider ending its strike in time for the new school year, according to the president of the Maple Ridge Teachers’ Association. George Serra’s sentiment will no doubt be met with applause
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by parents who were frustrated by the disruption at the end of the school year, caused by the acrimonious labour dispute between the BCTF and the provincial government. “There’s a possibility we could come back to work in September, even without a contract,” said Serra, speaking at a picket line at Garibaldi secondary on Wednesday. He and the rest of the reps of BCTF locals will meet with union leadership on Aug. 22, and the union negotiation strategy
will be discussed. Serra said prior governments felt pressure to get schools back in session, but Christy Clark’s Liberals don’t. “What we Serra learned in June is that I don’t think this government cares about schools being shut down.”
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There was a lot of impact of the June strike: Some students didn’t get letter grades, grad ceremonies and other year-end extracurricular activities were disrupted, and then summer school was mostly cancelled. That should have been motivation to get a deal done, he said. A September strike would have less impact, he added. Indeed, last week Finance Minister Mike de Jong said the teachers should not expect a government-imposed settlement.
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Community: 50 years for ‘House of miracles’. See story, p3
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