Morning gStar
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Wednesday, March 25, 2015
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It’s Our People who Make VERNON DODGE
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Vernon
Kam Randhawa
250-545-2261
Chrysler Dodge Jeep Ram ON 27TH STREET WWW.VERNONDODGE.COM
DLR #5204
TRIBUTES FLOW | Co-founder of Asparagus Community Theatre remembered fondly in Armstrong [A7]
Deaths prompt demands for action RICHARD ROLKE Morning Star Staff
There are calls for the justice system, and Canadian society as a whole, to take action over missing and murdered aboriginal women. About 30 people gathered on the Vernon Courthouse steps Tuesday, waving signs, chanting and drumming. “The system is failing. What the RCMP are doing is failing. We’re stuck,” said Mollie Bono, a rally organizer and community advocate. “All we want to do is bring attention. We hope people will write letters and ask officials what they are doing about it.” About 1,200 aboriginal women have gone missing or been murdered in the last 30 years. “The reality is the women aren’t valued and if they are prostitutes, they are valued less. People don’t know their stories,” said Bono. The impetus for the rally was a conversation Bono had with Barbara Levesque, with the John Howard Society, Monday about the death of Cindy Gladue in Edmonton in 2011. The accused was recently found not guilty. “We were both outraged about the injustice of the aquittal,” said Bono, adding that she and Levesque decided they had to speak out publicly. Levesque had recently been speaking to a woman who knew Gladue. “She said, ‘There’s nothing we can do as aboriginal women.’ I went and Googled Cindy Gladue’s name and I was appalled,” said Levesque. “Juries can be wrong and cases can be misinformed. Canadians should take time to
JENNIFER SMITH/MORNING STAR
Bernice Jensen and her daughters Timara, 11, and Jewel, 13, sing and drum during a rally on the Vernon Courthouse steps Tuesday concerning the plight of aboriginal women in the country. See a video at vernonmorningstar.com Google Cindy’s name.” Bono urges North Okanagan residents to take an interest in what happens to First Nations women. “This could be anyone’s mother. This could happen anywhere as long as we allow,” she said.
While there have been calls for the federal government to launch an inquiry into missing and murdered aboriginal women, Levesque believes a far more meaningful process is required. “We as non-aboriginals need to question our assumptions about the lives of aborigi-
nal people,” she said. And Bono insists the only way strides can be taken to ensure public safety is for it to become a priority among all Canadians no matter their origin. “What’s critical is we stand together,” she said.
Vernon council wants firm proof of support for market RICHARD ROLKE Morning Star Staff
A Vernon event is set for another season, but some officials aren’t sure it should return. Instead of approving the Avenue Market for four blocks on 30th Avenue Monday, council instead called for merchants in that area to be surveyed for support before a final decision is made. “There have been three or four businesses who are not in favour and have suffered financially from the market,” said Coun. Catherine Lord. “There is competition from the businesses (market vendors) who come in and don’t pay business improvement area taxes.”
Lord added that while the market stalls are being set up and the event runs, parking for the permanent businesses disappears. Once the survey is done, Lord says 60 per cent support among merchants should be required. “I want to make sure the majority (of merchants) are in favour.” However, the market has its advocates. “I don’t see it has direct competition. The market attracts people who wouldn’t be there otherwise,” said Coun. Scott LEASE Anderson of the opportunities the event can create *for merFOR chants downtown. Coun. Brian Quiring, who sits on the Downtown Vernon Association board, says changes are%being made to the for#$ ‡
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mat, including the number of markets going from 21 to 15. “There will be positive steps to lessen the impact on business owners.” With the first market scheduled for June 12, the DVA will be conducting a survey of street-level merchants in the first two blocks on both sides of 32nd Street prior to the April 13 council meeting. Lara Konkin, DVA executive director, says businesses have already been contacted about the market coming back for a second year. “Based on survey numbers, it’s still well in excess of 90 per cent (in favour) in those four blocks,” she said. “It’s disappointing that council, for the second year running, would question the success of the market.”
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*Limited time weekly lease offer and all other offers are from Honda Canada Finance Inc., on approved credit. #The weekly lease offer applies to a new 2015 Civic DX model FB2E2FEX (“Specified Models”) for a 60-month period, for a total of 260 payments of $41.91 leased at 0.99% APR based on applying $350.00 “lease dollars” (which are deducted from the negotiated selling price before taxes). ‡In order to achieve $0 down payment, dealer will cover the cost of tire/battery tax, air conditioning tax (where applicable), environmental fees and levies on the 2015 Civic DX only on customer’s behalf. Down payment of $0.00, first weekly payment and $0 security deposit due at lease inception. Total lease obligation is $10,896.60. Taxes, license, insurance and registration are extra. 120,000 kilometre allowance; charge of $0.12/km for excess kilometres. **MSRP is $17,245 including freight and PDI of $1,495 based on new 2015 Specified Models described above. License, insurance, registration and taxes are extra and may be required at the time of purchase. */#/**Prices and/or payments shown do not include a PPSA lien registration fee of $30.31 and lien registering agent’s fee of $5.25, which are both due at time of delivery and covered by the dealer on behalf of the customer on Specified Models only. Offers valid from March 3rd through 31st 2015 at participating Honda retailers. Dealer may sell/lease for less. Dealer trade may be necessary on certain vehicles. Offers valid only for British Columbia residents at BC Honda Dealers locations. Offers subject to change or cancellation without notice. Terms and conditions apply. Visit www.bchonda.com or see your Honda retailer for full details.