Royal City Record January 19 2011

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N E W

WEDNESDAY, JANUARY 19, 2011

W E S T M I N S T E R

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◗ POLITICS IN SUDAN

Far away, but never forgotten BY THERESA MCMANUS REPORTER tmcmanus@royalcityrecord.com

They may be separated by oceans and continents, but former natives of south Sudan have never forgotten the struggles in their homeland. A weeklong referendum in south Sudan recently gave people the chance to vote to remain as part of Sudan or to secede and become its own country. The referendum was a key piece of the Comprehensive Peace Agreement that was negotiated in 2005, in response to a civil war that gone on for decades and left millions dead or displaced. “After 55 years of struggle, the south Sudanese decided we wanted to try and go on our own,” said Gigi Koul, who moved to New Westminster in 1997. “We are hoping we will have our own country, that it ◗Referendum Page 5

Larry Wright/THE RECORD

Out of Africa: South Sudanese immigrants Ann Kuajok, Zainab Hassan Sourour and Gigi Koul, who now call New Westminster home, recently had a chance to vote in a referendum regarding the future of their homeland.

FIRST OF THREE NEW SCHOOLS IN DISTRICT WILL BE BUILT ON OLD SAINT MARY’S SITE

Ewen hopeful for a fall groundbreaking

BY THERESA MCMANUS REPORTER tmcmanus@royalcityrecord.com

Michael Ewen is optimistic that there will be shovels in the ground at the old Saint Mary’s Hospital site this fall marking the start of construction on one of the three news schools planned in New Westminster – even though the city and school district are still hammering out details. A new elementary school will be built on the former Saint Mary’s Hospital site, a new middle school will be built on the existing John Robson Elementary school site and a new secondary school will be

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built on the existing high school site. On Monday, city council took steps to make amendments to the official community plan regarding the use of the New Westminster Secondary School and the John Robson (middle school) sites. The city is proposing a school/institution designation for both sites, which requires an amendment to the official community plan. “I feel it is being done in a timely manner,” said Coun. Betty McIntosh. “We are moving along. We always have statutory requirements.” Ewen, chair of the school board, said

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everyone would like the process to move faster, but a lot of work has to be done before construction can begin. He noted that the province wants to ensure that requirements for all three projects are in place, so they are assured of proceeding and can’t be cancelled if there’s a change in government at the provincial or municipal level. “This is unprecedented in the province, trying to do three projects at once over the span of six years,” he said. “What the provincial government wants, very reasonably, is everything to be tied down. Because it is such a long time frame, they

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want everything signed off and legally binding.” Ewen said he’s optimistic groundbreaking will start on the Saint Mary’s site in the fall. While he shares the community’s frustration that construction isn’t yet underway, he said he also recognizes the need to be prudent and responsible. Coun. Bill Harper said the city and the school board have to reach legal agreements on a number of detailed matters such as access to the sites and land exchanges. Once the regulatory requirements are met, ◗School Page 4

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