Serving Coquitlam, Port Coquitlam, Port Moody, Anmore and Belcarra since 1984
$77, )6(+3* % &!#$"!
FRIDAY
February 11, 2011
11
Coquitlam RCMP Const. George Amoako focuses on inspiring young people.
/+3&,+!2 -64+ 022+!,6!2 %1' '%'5"#.# *"$$+#'!& *"%%()(
%$!1!.$1# 1--$-,1!.( "1& 0( 1*1$#10#( ,2 (#$'$0#( -,+)(!,-/
)1( 4 +#&* %$,! -3'/,7 .850'2$6"
Your source for local news, sports, weather and entertainment. www.thenownews.com
City addresses sign issue We want to help. That was the message from Port Moody city manager Gaetan Royer, who spoke Tuesday about the city’s stance on signage. Last month, representatives from the Coquitlam Farmers Market expressed concerns that city bylaws restrict them from putting up signs the day of their biweekly winter market. At the Feb. 8 meeting, Royer said he wanted to clear up confusion about signs for community groups and events. “I just wanted an opportunity to speak to an issue that’s been in the media recently as a result of conversations with various community groups,” Royer said. “There seems to be confusion about what’s allowed and what’s not allowed. I just want to encourage all groups to simply come and talk to us first.” Royer said Port Moody staff are prepared to work with individuals and groups about signs in the city. “They’re very friendly and helpful, and we are really wanting to help community groups get the word out for their events and their activities,” he said. “We want to help them do the right thing in a safe way in our community.” The city is also seeking feedback about the placement of sandwich board signs on city sidewalks and boulevards. Input will be considered for future amendments to the sign bylaw. Staff will host two drop-in information sessions to answer questions and gather feedback about signs in the city. The first session is Tuesday, Feb. 15 from 9 a.m. to noon in the galleria at City Hall, located at 100 Newport Dr. The second session is Wednesday, Feb. 16 from 4 to 7 p.m. in the lounge at Kyle Centre at 125 Kyle St.
Paul vanPeenen/NOW
YOU MELT MY HEART: Six-year-old Claire at Our Lady of Fatima Elementary School in Coquitlam shows off one of the Valentine’s Day cupcakes her Grade 1 class decorated to raise money for SHARE’s food bank.
Idea of needle exchange explored Stories by Jennifer McFee jmcfee@thenownews.com The Fraser Health region has one of the largest populations of injection drug users in the province, yet distributes the second-lowest number of clean needles in B.C. According to data provided by Ann Livingston, a volunteer with the Vancouver Area Network of Drug Users, about 14,000 to 16,000 people in the Fraser Health region inject drugs — the same number as in Vancouver Coastal. However, she said Fraser Health distributes few clean needles compared to other health authorities. Vancouver Coastal gives out three million needles per year, compared to only about 400,000 on the part of Fraser Health, according to a report by Livingston.
“Fraser Health has the lowest number of syringes given to injection drug users and the very highest rate of hepatitis C … They’re just not moving forward,” Livingston said. “There isn’t even a needle exchange in the Tri-Cities at all.” Livingston said a Lower Mainland strategy is needed, which could include harm reduction techniques like needle exchanges or injection sites. “If you do an injection site, you don’t even need a needle exchange because a lot of people don’t like them. And further to that, you could get really smart and give prescription drugs to people who are addicted to drugs,” she said. “Then you don’t have a black market. You don’t have gangs shooting each other. You don’t have jails full of people that cost huge amounts. “You can prevent HIV and hepatitis C among drug users. It’s been done elsewhere. All the science is in. We don’t need any more studies. We can implement
the harm reduction strategies and save ourselves millions of dollars and, of course, save all those people all that misery.” For Dave Portesi, public health director for Fraser Health, improvements need to be made. “We distribute the second-smallest number of clean needles in the province and yet have the largest population overall. So I can tell you from a Fraser Health leadership perspective in public health, we absolutely recognize that we need to increase the number of needle distribution partners. We need to get more needles out into the community to have a more effective harm reduction system,” Portesi said. “But we also recognize that we must engage other partners in this effort. We don’t want it to be just Fraser Health because we know other providers —
CONTINUED ON PAGE 4, see SERVICES.
Reading success is a phone call away. Coquitlam 604.941.9166 www.sylvanbc.ca