LOCAL AIMS TO MAKE CHINA’S DISNEY
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ABOUT 360 DAYS UNTIL NEXT XMAS
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RELAXING, FLOATING DEVICE ON 4 WHEELS
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FRIDAY
JANUARY 2 2015
Former NDP MLA Joan Sawicki is staying true to her environmental ideals. See Page A4
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Task force takes it up a notch Mario Bartel
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MARIO BARTEL/NEWSLEADER
This week’s clear, cold weather creates a snowy backdrop to Burnaby’s booming Brentwood area.
Court OKs animal seizure at shelter Decision included small payment to shelter owner for defamation Mario Bartel
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The City of Burnaby and Burnaby SPCA had the legal authority to seize 52 dogs and 19 cats from a private shelter at 5005 Maitland St., the B.C. Supreme Court has ruled. The seizures occurred on June 13, 2012, when Sandra Simans was being evicted for non payment of rent from her residence where she also operated the 1atatime Rescue Society. The charitable society imports rescue animals from the U.S. and Asia to be adopted by local families.
All but 13 of the dogs were Steeves said the City of Burnaby returned to Simans two weeks later was within its legal rights to when she had relocated to a new enforce a city bylaw that limits the residence in Surrey. The rest of the permitted number of animals in animals were put up for adoption a residence to four cats and two by the SPCA and one had to be dogs. He said Simans was given euthanized. ample opportunity Simans, who had to comply with operated the shelter city bylaws after Justice John Steeves since 2005, sued. she was issued There were demonstrated She claimed medical problems with some several infraction the seizure of letters following of the animals including malnutrition. her animals was complaints by unlawful and the neighbours. City of Burnaby didn’t have the Steeves noted Simans had a authority under the Community chance to reclaim four of the dogs Charter Act to create bylaws for the and two cats as permitted by the seizure of cats. She also said she was bylaws immediately after they were defamed by statements made by the seized, but she declined. SPCA to the media. Steeves also ruled Simans had no But in his ruling, Justice John basis under the Community Charter
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Act to challenge the seizure of her animals. “There were demonstrated medical problems with some of the animals including malnutrition,” said Steeves. As for the defamation, Steeves concurred graphic photos released to the media by the SPCA of an emaciated chihuahua named Kada that had been amongst the seized animals created the impression its medical issues were the result of poor care by Simans. In fact, Steeves found, most of Kada’s medical conditions were pre-existing when the animal came into Simans’ care, and she’d spent $6,000 for surgery to help correct of those problems. Steeves awarded Simans $2,500 for the defamation.
The Burnaby Task Force on Homelessness is formalizing its efforts by becoming the Society to End Homelessness in Burnaby. Wanda Mulholland, the community development coordinator for the task force, said the move to become a non-profit society will bring new expertise, resources and funding. She said members of the task force have been working “off the sides of their desk” since 2005. But they haven’t pursued official designation as a society because “our focus has all been on assisting people. “Every effort has been made to keep that focus,” said Mulholland. “We’re at a point now where we know we can best accomplish that by becoming a society.” To achieve that, the society is seeking to create a working board of directors to help with strategic planning, grant writing, fundraising and community engagement. Please see SEEKING BOARD, A3