Abbotsford Times February 25 2011

Page 1

INSIDE: Council drives home big increase to city’s transit system Pg. 3 F R I D A Y

February 25, 2011

40  N E W S ,

Mission shuts one, saves one

SPORTS,

WEATHER

&

E N T E R T A I N M E N T  abbotsfordtimes.com

$860M upgrade to dam

MAKING IT OFFICIAL A SNAP-HAPPY SNIPPING

Long wait for schools’ fates

“Regeneration” will push rates up 32% DERRICK PENNER Vancouver Sun

ROCHELLE BAKER RBaker@abbotsfordtimes.com

B

C Hydro unveiled the latest project in its threeyear capital plan on Tuesday – an $860 million upgrade of the Ruskin Dam and generating station near Mission – in advance of filing its threeyear application for power rates with the British Columbia Utilities Commission.

P

arents fighting the closure of two rural schools in Mission got vastly different outcomes Tuesday night. After keeping the audience in suspense for more than two hours, the Mission Board of Education decided to close Durieu Elementary School but kept Deroche Elementary School open during a meeting at Hatzic Secondary School.

OPINION ■ Dam decision makes sense for our future. -see Letters: Page A9

First reported @

abbotsfordtimes.com “[The decision] shouldn’t have hinged on aboriginal students. I wanted the decision to be around the growth potential for the whole school as a community centre.” – Alice Thompson Leq’a:mel Chief

Audible sighs of relief were heard from Deroche parents as the board voted three to two to save the school. Any celebration was immediately drowned out by angry shouts from Durieu parents – a number of whom stormed out of the meeting in protest – following the board’s unanimous decision to close their elementary school in June. see SCHOOLS, page A6

Tall order for high school wrestler

The numbers looking for refuge are expected to rise as temperatures drop, said Murray. Environment Canada issued a weather warning Thursday due to a strong Arctic ridge of high pressure driving cold air and strong winds. Last night, temperatures were predicted to fall to -8 C in Abbotsford with strong winds reaching 50 to 70 km/h and a wind chill factor of -18 C. Temperatures are expected to remain below zero for the rest of the week with a low of -9 C and snow on Saturday. Rosemary Fromson, manager of

BC Hydro calls its overall $6-billion capital plan a “regeneration” of its system, which it anticipates will cost the average consumer 32 per cent in rate increases over the next three years, and more than 50 per cent over the next five years. T h a t ra t e a p p l i c a t i o n will seek 9.73 per cent rate increases in each of the next three years, which would raise the average homeowner bill of $71 per month by 32 per cent to $93.81 between 2012 and 2014. BC Hydro CEO Dave Cobb added that future increases are speculative, but in background information on the utility’s website, it anticipated rate increases of seven per cent in the subsequent two years raising them 50 per cent over five years.

see COLD, page A36

see DAM, page A19

– JEAN KONDA-WITTE/TIMES

Abbotsford Mayor George Peary gets some help from Prince Charles Elementary students (some with cellphone cameras in hand) as he cuts the ribbon to open the Whatcom Road Connector on Sumas Mountain on chilly Wednesday morning.

Cold snap sparks concern Shelters brace for busy weekend ROCHELLE BAKER RBaker@abbotsfordtimes.com

A

bbotsford and Mission emergency shelters are in full swing with a cold snap underway throughout the Fraser Valley. Dave Murray, coordinator of Abbotsford’s extreme weather program, said the amount of people seeking shelter this week has gone up. “We’ve been going full tilt this week. The numbers this year have been low

Independent Financial Services 201-2190 West Railway Sreet, Abbotsford, BC V2S 2E2

Todd Chretien

Financial Advisor 604-851-4299 todd.chretien@raymondjames.ca

Conservative Investment Advice

Member CIPF

– FILE/TIMES

Strong winds brought the wind chill factor down to -18 C in the Valley.

until the last few nights,” Murray said, adding 42 adults sought shelter with the Salvation Army and Sevenoaks Alliance Church on Wednesday.

Would you help us bring warmth to those who need it?

We are in urgent need of adult size gloves, mittens and toques. These items and monetary donations will be gratefully received at the Centre of Hope. Together, we can make a difference! For more information call 604-852-9305

34081 Gladys Ave. Abbotsford • 7221 Park St. & Lougheed Mission


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