Chilliwack Progress, March 25, 2016

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Progress

The Chilliwack

Friday

25

3

Sports

13

Curling

News

Access

Community

Dale Hockley chasing curling history at home.

Audible pedestrian signals lead the way.

Eggs from the air and other events.

Easter

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, M A R C H 2 5 , 2 0 1 6

Truck crash claims life of Agassiz woman Victim was 20 years old; her 25-year-old passenger was seriously injured The victim in Thursday morning’s fatal crash near Seabird Island is a 20-year-old Agassiz woman, police say. She was one of four people involved in the three-vehicle collision, which occurred around midnight on Highway 7 at Maria Slough. Her name has not been released. According to police, a semi-trailer “B Train” loaded with particle board was heading westbound when it collided with an eastbound Chevrolet Cavalier. The commercial truck then lost its load, which landed on an eastbound Pontiac Grand AM, killing the driver. The passenger in the Grand Am suffered significant injuries and was transported to a regional hospital by BC Ambulance, RCMP say. The driver of the commercial truck was transported to a local hospital, treated and released. The driver of the Cavalier appeared uninjured. The passenger in the Grand AM was a 25-year-old male resident of Agassiz. The driver of the commercial truck, a 33-yearold male, is a resident of Edmonton, Alberta. The driver of the Chevrolet Cavalier is a 31-year-old male resident of Agassiz. Alcohol is suspected, police say, along with other “causal factors.” This matter is being investigated by Fraser Valley Traffic Services along with the support of the Integrated Collision and Reconstruction Section (ICARS), Commercial Motor Vehicle Inspectors (CVSE) and the Coroner’s Office. Highway 7 was closed in both directions for much of the day on Thursday. Any witnesses who may have information on this crash are requested to contact Cst. Collins or Cst. Halliday of the RCMP Fraser Valley Traffic Services at (604)702-4039.

Chilliwack’s first Syrian refugee family was greeted and welcomed by Chilliwack Mayor Sharon Gaetz, along with city councillors Jason Lum and Sue Attrill, who offered bus passes and Leisure Centre passes at city hall. JENNIFER FEINBERG/ THE PROGRESS

Syrian family finds hope after fleeing devastation Jennifer Feinberg The Progress The first Syrian refugee family to arrive in Chilliwack has been settling in nicely, in part because of the solid community support, and warm welcome they’ve received. Yousef Hadla, 32, and his wife, Amnieh Alkoholani, 24, and their boys, Firas, and MohammedYaman were sponsored by a local Group of Five. Sponsorship was under the Blended Visa Office-Referred (BVOR) Program, which made it possible for the pre-screened Syrian family to relocate to Chilliwack relatively quickly. A BVOR commitment is for a full year, and it gives some time for the family to adjust to North

American life. It also requires sponsors, the Chilliwack Group of Five, comprising members of the Van den Bosch and Byers families, to

provide the refugee family with financial, social and emotional support for the first 12 months. The Syrian family is living in a cozy suite above the Van

Daraya, which is just 10 kilometres outside Damascus had been under siege for more than three years. Its streets are in ruins.

den Bosch family. They have met socially and made connections with other local refugee families in Chilliwack, as well as Arabic speaking doctor, Dr. Osama Obesh. The family was also warmly greeted and welcomed by Chilliwack Mayor Sharon Gaetz recently, and city councillors Jason Lum and Sue Attrill, who handed out bus passes and Leisure Centre passes to the family. They were thrilled when some neighbours brought them fresh eggs as a welcome. It’s quite a contrast. Now Hadla uses words like: “peaceful” and “relaxed” to describe what it feels like to finally be in Canada. Continued: SYRIAN/ p4

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