Thursday October 23, 2014 (Vol. 39 9
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No. No N o.. 85 o 8 85))
Six shooters: The Valley West Hawks are on quite a tear through the BC Major Midget Hockey League of late – a pair of road wins last weekend brings their current streak to six. i see page 31
S U R R E Y
w w w. p e a c e a r c h n e w s . c o m
School district under fire from BC Parents and Teachers for Life
‘Family group’ targets pro-gay policy Tracy Holmes Staff Reporter
A South Surrey-based “pro-family” group is calling on the Surrey School Board to rescind the district’s newly minted antihomophobia policy. And BC Parents and Teachers for Life officials hope the matter of Regulation 9410.2 is one voters will keep in mind as they head to the polls next month.
“It ought to be (an election issue),” Ted Hewlett, the group’s past-president, told Peace Arch News Tuesday. “This was something that was introduced that will affect parents and students. It was not introduced with the knowledge of most parents. “It really caught us by surprise.” School trustees gave unanimous support to the Safe and Caring Schools: Sexual Orientation and Gender Identity regulation in June
2013, a year after a committee of teachers, district staff, parents and students was struck to establish it. District spokesman Doug Strachan said this week he could not speak to the criticism, but that the district is “preparing a response.” Following the regulation’s approval, one Surrey student called it “very validating.” “It signals that the board does care about students like me and students who are LGBTQ
(lesbian, gay, bisexual, transgender and questioning), or have gay or lesbian parents or gender-identity issues,” Anthony Hope said. “The board is recognizing this and saying that it’s OK.” Hewlett said a position paper and “hundreds” of signatures in support of rescinding 9410.2 were hand-delivered to the school board office last week. i see page 4
Two women attacked
Sex-trade workers warned Sheila Reynolds Black Press
Nick Greenizan photo
Residents woke up Wednesday to fallout from an overnight windstorm.
Any way the wind blows… A blustery night of winds up to 80 km/h left the Semiahmoo Peninsula littered with downed trees, power lines and other debris Wednesday morning. The powerful storm left thousands of people in the dark for hours, with many told it wouldn’t be restored until early evening. Police say the weather kept them busy, however, there were no reports of storm-related injuries.
Gord Goble photo
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Gord Goble photo
Surrey RCMP is warning sextrade workers to be wary following two recent incidents where women were sexually and physically assaulted. Police said Monday that on Oct. 12, an officer was flagged down by a distraught woman near 144 Street and 64 Avenue. She said she had been assaulted by a man she’d met on King George Boulevard, but managed to escape her attacker and seek help. Police searched the area with dogs, but were unable to locate a suspect. Then on Oct. 18, a second sextrade worker came forward with a similar story of an incident that had occurred a month earlier, describing a similar suspect. Mounties say the suspect is described as a white man, about 35 years old, five-foot-10, weighing 200-230 pounds, with a balding or shaved head and crooked teeth. He may go by the name James or Jeff. Investigators are concerned there may be more people who have been victimized or who have information about the attacks. Anyone with further information is encouraged to contact the Surrey RCMP at 604-599-0502 or Crime Stoppers at 1-800-222-8477.
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