The Chilliwack
Progress Wednesday
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Tennessee teen steps into Chiefs lineup.
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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 • W E D N E S D AY, D E C E M B E R 1 6 , 2 0 1 5
Patterson easily elected Bob Patterson is Chilliwack’s newest school trustee. The former teacher and school district administrator easily won the race, earning 833 votes to secure the win. The closest challenge came from Paula DeWit who drew 197 votes to finish a distant second. Finishing third was recent secondary school graduate Megan Pratt. Patterson’s strongest support came from Chilliwack’s south side, where he drew more than half the votes cast at the Vedder Middle School polling station. Patterson had campaigned on bringing his perspective as a teacher and a school administrator to the board. He said he understands the challenges faced by both students and the people entrusted with their education. Patterson also pointed to his experience overseeing new school construction in Chilliwack. And he argued serving on the Chilliwack School Board would provide him the chance to give back to the community. Twelve people had put their names forward in the byelection, which was called following the death of long time trustee Martha Wiens. There were 1,905 votes cast, with more than 300 people voting in advanced polls. Here are the final results: 1 * Patterson, Bob – 833 2 Dewit, Paula – 197 3 Praat, Megan – 186 4 Mussell, Marion – 155 5 Gosselin, Angelina – 154 6 Thébault, Lisa – 120 7 Jarvis, Karen – 113 8 Mielke, Brian – 63 9 Edwards, John – 35 10 Sherstobetoff, Perry – 25 11 Atkinson, Alisha – 15 12 Stelmaschuk, Robert – 9
■ F ILL T HE C RUISER
Const. Kyle Johns (left) and Cpl. Deb Drozda take in donations at Save On Foods in Sardis Saturday as they help “Fill the Cruiser.” RCMP members from the Upper Fraser Valley detachment fanned out to Agassiz, Hope, Boston Bar and Chilliwack to collect donations for local food banks. In Chilliwack, the effort collected 9,200 pounds of food and approximately $1,000 cash from two Save On Food locations. GREG KNILL/ PROGRESS
Irons in the fire for Cheam First Nation
Jennifer Feinberg The Progress
Cheam First Nation has earned a high profile over the years fighting for aboriginal rights and title particularly around fishery issues. Going forward under newly elected chief Ernie Crey, this is unlikely to change. Crey spent a term as a band councillor before tossing his name in for chief, and was elected Cheam chief this past fall. “It was something I wanted to do for some time but it was also something that I was encouraged
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to consider by community members,” he said. “I’m delighted, and I know it’s going to keep me very busy.” Crey has worn a number of different hats over the years: social worker, author, consultant, fisheries advisor, and dial-a-quote source for the media. Now at 66, he’s an elder who wants to serve his community, while staying fairly close to home. “Cheam has many irons in the fire and longstanding projects we want complete in the near future,” he said. Cheam First Nation has slightly
more than 500 registered band members, and are part of the Sto:lo Tribal Council. Less than half of the band members live onreserve, located near Rosedale. Key projects underway at Cheam, on Pilalt territory, include a new water system, a new complex to house health services and office administration, and completing the Cheam Fishing Village campground on the north side of the river. “The new water system means we have better flow and water pressure for the entire community, which is something much
appreciated by everyone.” The Fishing Village campground, under development by the band, on the north side of the Fraser River was launched under the initiative of band councillor Darwin Douglas, and the Cheam Development Corporation. “Soon it will be fully serviced at the Cheam Fishing Village. It’s on its way to becoming a successful operation and we’re hoping to expand,” said Crey. They will be continuing the work at the site, and are preparing for the campground’s third season Continued: CREY/ p5
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