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Remembering the murdered By Theresa McManus
tmcmanus@newwestrecord.ca
PAYING TRIBUTE Emma Van Der Klift, Alanna Whitney and Amythest Schaber read the names of disabled people murdered by their families or caretakers, at a vigil at the Woodlands Memorial Garden. PHOTO JENNIFER GAUTHIER
About 20 people recently gathered at the Woodlands Memorial Garden to recognize an issue that’s unfathomable for many to comprehend. The Vancouver chapter of the Autistic SelfAdvocacy Network recently held a vigil to commemorate the lives of disabled persons who were murdered by their families and caretakers. “In the past five years 75 people – actually more than 75 people, I think it’s 76 – have been murdered by their caregivers or parents in North America alone,” said Amythest Schaber, who joined the Vancouver chapter when it formed last summer. “When I first start talking about it with people, they think it must be occasional or rare. It’s really hard for people to imagine a parent or family member killing somebody who is disabled.” As an example, Schaber pointed to the case of Michigan mom Kelli Stapleton, who attempted to kill her 14-year-old autistic daughter by carbon monoxide poisoning. She survived, and Stapleton pled guilty to a charge of first-degree child abuse and was sentenced to 10 to 22 years in prison. “She later had an interview with Dr. Phil. continued on page 8
Urban dog park chews up more space Some NewWestminster council members keen on expanded dog play area, while one has a bone to pick with the process By Theresa McManus
tmcmanus@newwestrecord.ca
Some members of city council are pleased with plans for an expanded dog area in Moody Park, while others think the idea bites. On Monday, council approved a design for an off-leash dog area in Moody Park that features a water fountain/dog washing station and retention of existing trees and three existing picnic tables.The off-leash
area will be 2,430 square metres, which is bigger than the 1,800 square metre space originally considered by council and the public. Coun. Bill Harper said council had approved a certain size of dog park, but staff came back with a different proposal. He said the space has increased in size by more than 25 per cent and takes up a “pretty big chunk of property” in Moody Park. “Is that the way we are going to do business in the city?” he said of the process. “It’s
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not one I support.” Dean Gibson, the city’s director of parks, culture and recreation, said staff reviewed the site and determined a larger area is possible and would have a “relatively modest” impact on the site. He said the larger space was developed in response to comments from the community about the size of the dog park. Coun. Chuck Puchmayr believes the expanded area will result in a better facility for the community. “We are not rolling over, we are simply fetching a better product,” he said. Mayor Jonathan Cote said he’d prefer to stick with the original proposal as he believes a smaller “urban style” dog park is
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suitable for Moody Park. He worries the expanded size of the dog park will encroach into other areas of the park that are filled with families in the summer. Coun. Jaimie McEvoy said an off-leash area for dogs has been sought for the Uptown and Brow of the Hill neighbourhoods for years. He said there are about 8,000 residents living in apartments within five minutes of Moody Park and don’t have yards for their dogs. Council unanimously approved a steel picket fence for the off-leash dog area, but approved the larger area in a 4-3 vote. Councillors Patrick Johnstone, McEvoy, Puchmayr and Lorrie Williams supported continued on page 8
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