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Grizzlies stomp Langley in scrimmage.
Emergency landing for Super Dave.
Hard work, determination rewarded .
Y O U R C O M M U N I T Y N E W S PA P E R • F O U N D E D I N 1 8 9 1 • W W W. T H E P R O G R E S S . C O M • F R I D AY, J U N E 1 9 , 2 0 1 5
Asbestos dumped in the CRV
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Jessica Peters The Progress If illegal dumpers go into the woods today, they could be in for a big surprise. Residents of the Chilliwack River Valley have stepped up their practice of observing and reporting suspicious behavior after another troubling find in the rural area. Over the weekend members of the area’s Citizens on Patrol discovered about one dozen bags of asbestos just off the edge of Chilliwack Lake Road, near the Ford Mountain Prison site. A resident alerted the F’VRD’s area director, Orion Engar, over the weekend. He phoned it into the Conservation Hotline on Monday morning, who sent out an officer to confirm the large bags marked as carrying asbestos did contain the hazardous materials. The asbestos was professionally bagged in the proper thick, plastic sealed bags. Asbestos is found in many buildings, as it was used in the past in insulation. It’s believed it’s not harmful until it’s disturbed. As a hazardous material, asbestos removal and disposal is highly regulated. Asbestos is not accepted at the Chilliwack landfill, but it is accepted at the Vancouver landfill. The fees to dump a small load (under one tonne) vary but is under $200, according to the Metro Vancouver website. Continued: PATROLS/ p6
Bags of discarded asbestos lie scattered just off Chilliwack Ladk Road.
Members of the Harrison Highlanders perform as they march down First Avenue near Main Beach during the third annual Cultus Lake Days Parade on Saturday. JENNA HAUCK/ PROGRESS
Support for farming is lacking, committee hears Jennifer Feinberg The Progress A lot more support for farming should be forthcoming from government in an agricultural community like Chilliwack. That was the suggestion from some presenters when the Opposition Standing Committee for Agriculture and Food in Chilliwack came to town this week. In fact “government inaction” is harming B.C. agriculture, according to a release by the committee. “Farmers, food producers,
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“We’re looking at an exceptionally hot and dry summer,” said Austin. “With drought conditions in the United States, we can’t expect them to carry on as the traditional source of produce they’ve been in the past. We need to be proactive about managing our water and protecting B.C. agriculture.” Many British Columbian take water issues for granted, acting as if the normally rainy province is free of water problems. “That’s a myth.” As summers get hotter and Continued: CLIMATE/ p4
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support to farmers of almost all the provinces. “It ironic really,” said committee member Robin Austin. “In B.C. we have the best land with the richest soil and the longest growing season, but with the least government support.” It’s one thing to support protection of farm land, while it’s another to actually support farmers who are actively farming. Several young farmers criticized the barriers facing newcomers, like getting access to land. Climate issues were also front and centre.
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consumers, and industry representatives told us about some of the great work that’s happening in Chilliwack,” said committee chair Lana Popham. “But there are real problems, too.” Topics like secession and access to farm lands, along with a need for extension services so young farmers can get help, came up during the all-day session. Someone familiar with the inner working of the ag industry sat in the back and watched the proceedings. When it was his turn to make a presentation, he noted that B.C. offers the least
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