Chilliwack Times - May 7th 2010

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INSIDE: Sale good news for Uneeda Wood Products employees Pg. 6 May 7, 2010

F R I D A Y

RCMP auxiliary gets welcoming 6 special 1985-

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LOCAL NEWS, SPORTS, WEATHER & ENTERTAINMENT  chilliwacktimes.com

HST fight over

Chinook collapse too much for Sto:lo DFO minister should pay with her job BY PAUL J. HENDERSON phenderson@chilliwacktimes.com

T

h e l o c a l S t o : l o Tr i b a l Council (STC) has joined with First Nations across the province to call for the resignation of Department of Fisheries and Oceans (DFO) Minister Gail Shea. The demand is connected to the collapse of spring Chinook numbers in the Fraser River while sports fisheries are allowed to continue in ocean waters. Representatives from some of the 94 First Nations that reside from the mouth of the Fraser River and its tributaries held a press conference in Vancouver on Tuesday and issued a joint statement with their demands. “The First Nations want and expect the DFO to shut down all marine sport and commercial fisheries that could impact early Chinook destined for the Fraser River,” the release stated. “Regrettably, DFO has steadfastly refused to adopt the sweeping and necessary measures demanded by the First Nations.” In the oft-cited Supreme Court of Canada decision from 1990, R. v. Sparrow, it was affirmed that the aboriginal fishery is second in priority only to conservation and ahead of sport and commercial interests. STC Grand Chief Ken Malloway See CHINOOK, Page 11

Cornelia Naylor/TIMES

Sardis secondary school Grade 11 student Kyle Minger sets up for the school’s annual Mother’s Day Plant Sale on Saturday, May 8 outside the Sardis secondary greenhouse.

. . . at least in Chilliwack as signature threshold now exceeded

Rooted in tradition O

BY PAUL J. HENDERSON phenderson@chilliwacktimes.com

Annual Mother’s Day Plant Sale this Saturday BY CORNELIA NAYLOR cnaylor@chilliwacktimes

W

hether you’re looking to impress mom with a six-pack of petunias or a pot of jalapeno peppers, the Sardis secondary Mother’s Day Plant Sale is the place to be this Saturday. From 7 a.m. to 3 p.m., students in the school’s sustainable resources (a.k.a. agriculture) program will be peddling all momma’s favourite plants including annuals, perennials, hanging baskets, vegetables and herbs, all at bargain prices. The sale—taking place in the parking lot outside the school’s 1,600-square-foot greenhouse this year—is a popular, long-standing Sardis tradition going back about 30 years. Last year it took in $15,000. The money goes back into the program, which has experienced a renaissance recently.

About two years ago, Sardis science teacher Joe Massey took it over with fellow teacher Tania Toth and breathed new life into the program with extensive renovations to the greenhouse and the addition of a hydroponic vegetable growing component to the Grade 11 and 12 courses. The changes have sparked interest among students. Another block is being added to the school’s schedule next year to accommodate increased registration, and the number of Grade 12 students taking the course next year has gone from six to 20. “It’s been a dumping ground for kids who don’t know what else to take,” said Massey of the program’s past, “but I would love to make this a course where kids see an opportunity for careers and for future school.” Toward that end, Massey has developed some fruitful ties with the community. A number of local greenhouses have stepped up to share their expertise while a partnership with UFV now gives students the opportunity to earn post-secondary credit for their work in the program. Massey is even talking with a local restaurant interested in buying some of the cucumbers, tomatoes and

pposition to the provincial government’s harmonized sales tax (HST) has been so strong in the two local ridings, volunteers have already exceeded the number of required signatures on the petition just four weeks into the 12-week campaign. The Fight HST initiative officially kicked off April 6. Canvassers have until July 5 to collect the signatures of 10 per cent of registered voters in each of the province’s 85 electoral districts to force a referendum. Fo r m e r B. C . C o n s e r v a t i v e Party candidate Ben Besler, the Fight HST regional organizer for the ridings of Chilliwack and Chilliwack-Hope, told the Times Wednesday that they had collected 5,768 signatures or 16 per cent of the electorate in Chilliwack. The threshold was 3,577. In Chilliwack-Hope the threshold was 3,276 and the campaign already has signatures from 5,913 or 18 per cent of registered voters.

See PLANTS, Page 34

See HST, Page 34

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