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The price of friendship
Students take to stage
Richmond may have to spend up to $235,000 over the next three years to celebrate being sisters and friends with cities in Quebec, Japan and China.
Two local schools have been hard at play lately, putting the final touches on their productions, Into the Woods and Murder on the Nile.
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A dredger parked at the Garry Point Steveston Harbour Authority wharf has just returned from dredging the Paramount area, where a new floating wharf will replace the old one. It’s all part of Canada’s Economic Action Plan for Small Craft Harbours and will cost $250,000. The dredger will push the new float to its new home.
Flames’ Fleury talks addiction to local teens
Theo Fleury BY DAVID MURPHY Special to the News
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AGRICULTURE LAND RESERVE
COURT
Challenge awaits ‘hypocrite’ Steves Veteran councillor dismisses resident’s accusation of double standards
Sentence upheld for woman who bilked seniors
for him to not look like a hypocrite is for him to include his own land,” Hoegler said. Hoegler and some of his neighbours on No. 4 Road are frustrated that they haven’t been able to take their land out of the ALR, even though their parcels are too small to farm viably. When contacted by the Richmond News, Steves just chuckled about the situation. “I don’t know what he’s talking about. He obviously needs to do his homework. “Our land is in Fisheries and Oceans, which is much more stringent. I wish it was in the ALR.” Steves’ farm at the west end of Steveston Highway straddles the dyke, with two acres on the east
B.C.’s highest court has upheld the sentencing of a 64-year-old woman who preyed on the elderly to support a lavish lifestyle. Judith Slobbe was sentenced to seven-and-a-halfyear in jail on 11 counts of fraud and one charge each of theft, forgery and perjury by Richmond Provincial court judge, Ron Fratkin. In sentencing Slobbe, Judge Ron Fratkin said her crimes — the latest in a 39-year criminal career — were sufficiently “egregious” to warrant a significant jail term. see Judge page 4
BY E VE E DMONDS
eedmonds@richmond-news.com
If the Agricultural Land Reserve is such a great thing, why doesn’t its greatest proponent stick his own land in it. That’s the question Roland Hoegler wants on the agenda at Monday’s city council meeting. Hoegler is offended that Coun. Harold Steves, one of the architects of the reserve (ALR), is lobbying Delta City Council to put Southlands (a 538-acre parcel of land in Tsawwassen) back into the ALR when Steves’ own farm is not in the reserve. “There is a provision in the ALR that allows inclusion. The only way
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side where his barn and home stand. The other 10 acres are on the west side of the dyke, and that’s the part that’s under the jurisdiction of the Department of Fisheries and Oceans. “If it was in the ALR, I could drain it and put a barn on it. As it is, we can’t do any of that.” The fact his two acres on the east side of the dyke are not within the ALR or under DFO jurisdiction is also a moot point, said Steves. “Any ALR property less than two acres is exempt from ALR restrictions, anyway.” That exception would also apply to Hoegler’s property, which is less than one acre, he added. see Steves page 4
8171 Westminster Hwy. (at Buswell, one block east of No. 3 Rd.) Walkway access also from Save-On Foods parking lot
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Theo Fleury is coming to town for Hockey Day in Richmond on May 7, as part of Youth Week. The ex-Calgary Flames forward is expected to play floor hockey and talk to youth about addiction and sexual abuse. “The contract is signed and he’s coming to Richmond,” said Richard Dubras, executive director of Richmond Addictions Services (RASS). “He will be speaking to young people and playing some hockey.” Dubras said he paid $15,000 to contract Fleury for the day, and is hoping to grab enough corporate sponsors to cover the cost. The day will be hosted by RASS, Family Services of Greater Vancouver Richmond branch and Vancouver Coastal Health. The location is still to be decided, but Dubras speculates it will be Cambie secondary. Fleury battled drug and alcohol addictions during his NHL career, and, in his recently released autobiography, Playing with Fire reveals he was sexually abused — along with teammate Sheldon Kennedy — by junior ice hockey coach Graham James. The 1989 Stanley Cup and 2002 Olympic gold winner in hockey is now a motivational speaker for kids.