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Bite into B.C.
Look out for photos of Sunday’s fundraising walk starting at the Gulf of Georgia Cannery from 10 a.m. to 4 p.m. in aid of Japanese earthquake victims.
Richmond secondary culinary arts students thanked their Take a Bite of BC! sponsors in the best way they knew how — by cooking for them.
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Homeless counted Volunteers look for people in city with no fixed address BY ALAN CAMPBELL & EVE EDMONDS acampbell@richmond-news.com
Volunteers were out in force this week, counting Richmond’s homeless for the first time in three years. The 2011 Homeless Count was conducted across the Metro Vancouver region from midnight to midnight on Wednesday, March 16. “I met one fellow at Seafair (No. 1 and Francis roads) who sleeps in his car, and has done so for the past six or seven years,” said De Whalen, chair of Richmond’s poverty response committee. She was one of 27 volunteers who cruised the city looking for homeless. This is the first time Whalen has been involved in the count, however she has volunteered at the St. Alban’s extreme weather shelter. “I recognized a couple of guys from the shelter.” Every three years, volunteers in Richmond participate in the homeless count, organized by the Greater Vancouver Regional Steering Committee on Homelessness. The volunteers survey homeless Richmond residents to determine the number of homeless people in the city and get
information on their experiences while on the street. Whalen and her partner visited liquor stores, community centres, libraries and Return-It depots around Ironwood, Seafair and the Blundell shopping plaza. They would approach people who appeared to be homeless, offer them a cigarette or some chocolate then begin asking questions. “Most of them would talk to us. One person didn’t want anything to do with us. One fellow said he slept in the bushes behind Safeway at Seafair.” Deciding who to approach can be tricky, said Lynda Brummitt, the coordinator of this year’s count for Richmond. “The volunteers have to make a judgment call, but what they say is well scripted, and if it becomes evident that the person is not homeless, they have a gracious way to end the conversation.” The Homeless Count is a project recognized by government and funders as important community data and influences service planning and policy development for marginalized people in the community, said Brummitt. see City page 4
Steves backs Farnworth Councillor nails his colours to leadership mast CHUNG CHOW/RICHMOND NEWS
Coun. Harold Steves is the first local politician to throw his support behind one of the New Democrat Party leadership candidates. Mike Farnworth is the man for the job of leading B.C.’s opposition party, according to Steves. Farnworth might not be a farmer, but he’s been a good friend to agriculture, according to Steves. That’s reason enough to give him the nod, said Steveston’s cattle farmer and former NDP MLA.
Hooping mad ... Palmer secondary supporter Olivia Liao, above, responds to a bad call during her team’s provincial championship game against Tamanawis at the Langley Events Centre. Right, Palmer coach Paul Eberhardt barks out instructions. Top, Palmer’s Jamie Madewan (in white) squeezes past two Tamanawis players. Check www.richmond-news.com for more photos and the latest news on Palmer’s progress.
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“When he was elected to Coquitlam city council, at the age of 24, he led the campaign to save Colony Farm,” Steve explained. Like the Garden City lands and Terra Nova Park in Richmond, Colony Farm was a piece of agricultural land that became embroiled in a public debate regarding development. Farnworth fought to have the farm acquired by Metro Vancouver and turned into an urban farm. “He’s done some of the same things I’ve done, so I support him,” Steves said. see Farnworth page 4
8171 Westminster Hwy. (at Buswell, one block east of No. 3 Rd.) Walkway access also from Save-On Foods parking lot
Mon-Sat 8:45-6:30 Sun 10-5 (604) 780-4959
07283111
BY EVE EDMONDS
eedmonds@richmond-news.com