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The annual Rotary Book Sale is a story of caring.
Election offers real-life lesson in democracy.
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Safeway site steps closer to rezoning Demolition begins Jessica Peters The Progress
Rezoning application for the old Safeway site could come before council as early as Tuesday.
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Chilliwack-Hope candidates Dorothy-Jean O’Donnell, Alexander Johnson, Seonaigh MacPherson, Louis De Jaeger, Mark Strahl and Thomas Cheney (left to right) face questions at the Chilliwack Chamber of Commerce all candidates meeting on Thursday. GREG KNILL/ PROGRESS
Federal candidates face off one last time Jessica Peters The Progress With election day just around the corner, the final all candidates meeting for ChilliwackHope brought out all six hopefuls. The Chilliwack Chamber of Commerce hosted the onehour event at the Coast Hotel Thursday afternoon, in which the candidates were lobbed about six different questions. Many of those questions gave the candidates a chance to reiterate points made at debates earlier in the campaign, from worries about security and
the economy, to more pointed observations about refugees and missing and murdered First Nation women. And, once again, Conservative candidate Mark Strahl took some heat for perceptions that he didn’t do enough to connect with constituents over the last term. When asked what the biggest issue was in Chilliwack-Hope, one candidate noted it was a lack of a relationship with the MP. “We didn’t have a relationship with the federal government because we don’t have a relationship with Mark Strahl,” said Liberal candidate Louis De
Jaeger. Strahl recently held the position of Parliamentar y Secretary to the Minister of Aboriginal Affairs and Northern Development, and De Jaeger pointed the finger of blame directly at Strahl for the lack of change in First Nation reserves with extreme poverty. “He has not done a very good job,” he said. But Strahl pointed to other problems in the riding, based on what he said constituents have contacted him about. “The two issues I’ve heard are criminal justice reform, and the economy,” he said. He outlined
some of the promises made by the Conservatives, and initiatives they’re already working toward, including a change this year to how the government subsidizes families with young children. “We believe Canadians know best how to spend their own money,” he said. Thomas Cheney, Green Party candidate, said providing proper transit would help revive the economy. His plan includes reviving the old Interurban light rail line. Seonaigh MacPherson, NDP candidate, said it would be her Continued: CANDIDATES/ p10
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The old Safeway building at Main and Princess will be a mere memory by midNovember, after years of being deemed an eyesore in the downtown core. The demolition company in charge of taking down the building has confirmed that the project is on target to be completed within five weeks. Some demolition activity was starting to take place already this week, and a rezoning notice posted at the site offers a hint at what’s next for this prime real estate lot. The land is now up for rezoning from its current commercial use (C2) to a mix of high density multi-family residential (R6) and comprehensive development (CD-15). The application notice states the change would “ensure that future development supports downtown planning and revitalization efforts, including facilitating pedestrian-oriented commercial and residential development in the downtown core.” City staff has confirmed that the rezoning application will be introduced and be up for its first reading at the Oct. 20 council meeting. If council approves first reading, it will go to a public hearing on Nov. 3. The company in charge of the demolition is Clearview Grinding Ltd., who also led the project to tear down the old Chilliwack secondary school.