FRIDAY December
27 2013
PULSE 15
Ones&Zeros’ numbers game LOOK 21
Fashion for every festivity REV 29
Drives of the year Local News . Local Matter s
INTERACT WITH THE NEWS at N S N E W S .C O M
WV dog-walker fee hike angers some Professional walkers see fees jump by up to 93% ANNE WATSON awatson@nsnews.com
W B EE O K XI SA N VI G NG S
Commercial dog walkers are fuming after the District of West Vancouver increased its business permit fees causing some rates to almost double. The rise in fees, some by as much as 93 per cent, has left some company owners scratching their heads.The changes came after the Fees and Charges Bylaw was updated at a Sept. 30 council meeting, but some company owners have only just recently been aware of the increase. “We had heard that there was a 20 per cent increase coming for this year, which would have been fine I guess, but these increases for the non-West Vancouver companies, nobody knew about them until the bills arrived,” said Barry Rueger, owner of Four Legs Good Canine Services about the invoice he received midDecember. “It’s been a year when a lot of our clients are feeling the economic pinch and that translates down into we’re not an essential service for most people, we’re sort of somewhat of a luxury. It hurts us, and this is just one added nail in the coffin.” Donna Powers, district spokeswoman, said the increases were for all fees and permits from oil tank permits for the fire department to business licences. “In past years,
Select Aquariums Half-Price!
2<))B +#\Y\) <O6 '-P\ -Z WV' )\Y#Q<) Z-#)>Q\YY\6 8W<)Y\' %<S\ %- %W\ %)<VQ' -Z !\'% $<O8-#d\) Q<'% b\\S= +#\Y\)? < ,)-Z\''V-O<Q 6-Y b<QS\)? V' <OO-B\6 bV%W < T]" U#P, VO WV' QV8\O8\ Z\\ H < 6\8V'V-O P<6\ VO *\,%\P:\) :#% O-% 8-PP#OV8<%\6 %- WVP #O%VQ W\ )\8\Vd\6 < :VQQ= CME(E MIKE WAKEFIELD
Two missing seniors found after early alerts
there’s been nominal twoper-cent increases and this year there was a more significant increase,” said Powers. “Our fees were so significantly lower than every other municipality. It actually was brought to our attention by the dog walkers, which is ironic. “When we did some research, we were vastly, SeeWV page 5
Two seniors are safely back at home after going missing in two separate incidents. Jean Twigger, an 87-yearold resident of Capilano Care Centre in West Vancouver, went missing on Dec. 22 at 11:30 p.m. when she bolted from her care aides.
All Fish Half-Price!
Tim Jones, spokesman for North Shore Rescue, said Twigger, who suffers from Alzheimer’s disease, had a bank card and made her way to Bowen Island where the RCMP picked her up. The second incident involved Ole Qvist, a 77year-old man who went missing on Dec. 20 at 10
Maxx Litter 7kg y $4.99! Only
a.m. after he left home to go shopping. Qvist’s wife grew concerned when her husband had not returned hours later and contacted the North Vancouver RCMP. Cpl. Richard De Jong, spokesman for the North Vancouver RCMP, said when police were unable to
locate Qvist’s vehicle, they put out a media release. Qvist was located in Lytton almost 10 hours later by RCMP. “They pulled him over and he was confused, disoriented, he thought he was in North Vancouver,” said De Jong. “We’re happy that it had a safe ending.” — AnneWatson
Plus much more!
201 Bewicke Ave All Critter Treats Half-Price!
Christmas Items Half-Price!
Sale ends Dec 31/13. While quantities last.