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TC THINGS-TO-DO GUIDE: 19
Have a happy Thanksgiving this year 33 YEARS ON THE JOB
TC
INSIDE: Celebrate Star Wars at the PoMo library [pg. 22] / TC Sports [pg. 31]
FRIDAY, OCT. 7, 2016 Your community. Your stories.
TRI-CITY
NEWS COQUiTLAM CONsiders beAr fiNe redUCTiON SARAH PAYNE
The Tri-CiTy News
JANIS WARREN/THE TRI-CITY NEWS
Judy Evans, a 33-year volunteer firefighter with the Sasamat department that serves Anmore and Belcarra, will retire at the end of the year and become an associate member. She is pictured with Jol Drake, Belcarra district chief. For the story, please see page 6.
EDUCATION
SD43 lags in per-student funding District asking for more money DIANE STRANDBERG Tri-CiTy News
After years of approaching the provincial government with cap in hand, School
District 43 may now be in a more powerful position to state its case for more funding even though it has a budget surplus and one of the most successful international education programs in the province. This week SD43 released a five-page briefing calling for
populations, yet remains near the bottom for per-student funding. The brief also points out some anomalies such as Richmond school district receiving double the amount of funding for programs for at-risk youth even though its vulnerable student population
more funding, particularly for vulnerable students. Presented before the province’s all-party Select Standing Committee on Finance and Government Services, the brief points out that SD43 is the third largest in the province, with one of the most diverse and complex student
is a third the size of SD43’s ($4,145.27 in per student funding went to Richmond with only 517 students identified on the Social Service Index compared to $2,086.31 per student for SD43 with 1,200 SSI students).
Complaints about the steep $500 fine issued to homeowners caught with their waste carts left out before collection day have prompted Coquitlam city staff to request a change to the solid waste bylaw. If approved by council, the change would mean first-time offenders can have the fine reduced to $250, instead of $400, if it’s paid within 14 days. “The base fine remains the same, and there is no change to the importance council and the city places on this issue,” said Steffanie Warriner, manager of environmental services. “The objective is compliance, and changing peoples’ behaviour with the priority being public safety and reducing potential bear and human conflicts.” The trouble, however, is that despite the threat of a hefty fine and widespread education efforts, as well as a high-profile incident in August in which a little girl was attacked by a mother bear in Coquitlam River Park, Coquitlam residents still aren’t getting the message. A report presented to council on Monday noted that following the incident staff ramped up their outreach efforts and neighbourhood patrols and skipped warnings in favour of moving straight to issuing tickets in the highestrisk areas of Coquitlam.
see ‘WE ARE’, page 10
see FINES PAID, page 7
CONTACT THE TRI-CITY NEWS: newsroom@tricitynews.com / sales@tricitynews.com / circulation@tricitynews.com / 604-472-3040
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