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Tuesday, January 28, 2014

• LOCAL NEWS • mrtimes.com • 604-463-2281 • 16 PAGES

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Page A13

Development

Growth‘too slow’Councillor Michael Mordenwants faster development.by Maria Rantanenmrantanen@mrtimes.com

One Maple Ridge councilloris frustrated at the slow pace ofdevelopment.

Maintaining job growth targets,and stopping retail “leakage” toother communities are top of mindfor Councillor Michael Morden ascouncil moves forward with itscommercial/industrial plan.

Last Monday, Maple Ridge coun-cil looked at a number of com-mercial and industrial propertiesand gave staff direction on how toproceed with them. But Mordensaid he would like to see council bemore “aggressive” with facilitatingdevelopment.

continued on page A5...

After taking a picture of a deer with an arrowstuck into its side on Jan. 16, Karen Morris hasn’tseen it since – neither have conservation officers.by Troy Landreville and Eric Zimmereditorial@mrtimes.com

Last Thursday, Karen Morris was shocked and upset tospot a deer with an arrow attached to its side, near herhouse in the area of 227th Street and Abernethy Way.

And, as of Monday afternoon, conservation officerCody Ambrose said the deer still has not been found.

Morris, who lives in a private area at the end of a culde sac, said she was “pretty horrified” by the sight.

“It’s so bad to hit an animal like that and leave it, andnot track it down and put it down,” Morris said.

She initially spotted the distressed animal with herbinoculars. She grabbed her camera and took a pictureof it, and hasn’t seen it since then.

“I don’t know if the arrow’s in or out right now,” shesaid.

She believes an urban poacher was the culprit.“There’s no other way to think about it,” she said.

“It was on private property where it got hit with anarrow,” she speculated.

Morris put posters up in the area and urged anyonewho has seen the injured deer to call authorities.

Ambrose said they “have had calls come in,” regardingsightings of the injured beast, but so far to they have notbeen able to find it.

“We’ve followed up on tips, but there’s been no fur-ther sightings [of the deer,]” he explained.

He added it’s possible the animal may have wanderedoff to a different area from where it was last seen, or toanother secluded place to die.

For her part, Morris said she has no problem withlegal hunting, but definitely not this type of activity.

“I think it’s just fine, but I don’t think true hunt-ers like poachers,” he said. “They’d probably be angryabout this, as well.”

Morris said she sees a lot of wildlife, including deer,wandering by her home in central Maple Ridge andenjoys seeing the animals.

“But to see a deer come through with an arrowthrough its side, I get really p**ed off,” she added.

Ambrose said that when it comes to the question ofwho actually shot the deer, they “haven’t found who’sresponsible.”

Wildlife

Injured deer sighting angers resident

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Karen Morris took a picture of a deer with an arrow stuck to its side, whichshe spotted in her neighbourhood.

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RCMP Insp. Dave Fleugel shares detailsabout upgrades being made to the PittMeadows community policing office.

by Troy Landrevilletlandreville@mrtimes.com

A vision that the City of Pitt Meadows hadfor several years to upgrade its communitypolicing office (CPO), is coming into focus.

The City approved a capital plan to reno-vate the existing CPO, along with separatefunding to do a major overhaul and improvethe City’s recreational facility, noted Insp.Dave Fleugel, the officer in charge of theRidge Meadows RCMP.

Fleugel described the structural changes tothe building as “significant” with a new roofline, removal of an outside wall, new foot-ings, and foundation to expand the space.

The CPO renovations are scheduled to becompleted sometime this spring.

In the fall of 2012, City council approvedthe project after reviewing several options.

“The RCMP has been consulted through-out and are very excited about the plans forthe future and the vision from City council,”Fleugel said.

“The RCMP also had to work closely withour building experts at Division HQ [head-quarters] as there are certaindesign and security standardsin any RCMP-occupied space,even if City-owned,” he said.

This CPO renovation is hap-pening at the same time as amajor remodel to the adjoin-ing recreational facility.

While the two uses arecontained in the same build-ing, the RCMP project is aseparate project with specificbuilding requirements, Fleugelremarked.

Construction began with thedemolition of the current interior space.

While the work is going on, CPO oper-ations has moved temporarily to the City-owned former library building in the court-yard of the Pitt Meadows civic centre – just aquick stroll across the courtyard.

“We have several signs to direct citizens tothe temporary space,” Fleugel said.

The space inside the original building con-tained a seniors’ area that has been vacated,

with those activities moved to the newly con-structed seniors pavilion, Fleugel explained.“That space is being used for expanded Cityoperated recreational facility.”

There was an art room in the originalbuilding that the RCMP will occupy, and thebuilding is being expanded to the north for

the CPO renovation.“In all, the RCMP will about

double the original space andof course, the City is alsoworking on the new recrea-tional facility, with [a] newweight room,” Fleugel said.

This work was long over-due, in the inspector’s opin-ion. He added that the CPOin its former state was nolonger adequate and neededattention to meet standardsof today, as well as publicexpectations.

“For example, there was no private spacefor citizens to talk to police, and not a goodarrangement to secure property or drugsthat were turned into the police at the CPO,”Fleugel said.

Officers who work full time from the CPOalso didn’t have a functional work space.

“By having access to the necessary toolsright in Pitt Meadows, it will create efficien-cies by not having those officers return to

the main detachment throughout their shift,”Fleugel said. “As the region is poised togrow, it made a lot of sense to get this infra-structure in place. It gives us some room toexpand, also.”

Ultimately, Fleugel believes the CPO willtransform into a more effective police office.

The RCMP in Pitt Meadows will continueto depend on volunteers to deliver crime pre-vention programs, or for initial contact withfolks who frequently come in or call in forinformation or a referral, Fleugel said.

“Pitt Meadows operations will be moreeffective when the changes are complete,but this will not be a fully functional policedetachment and will not replace the servicesdelivered from the main Ridge Meadowsdetachment,” he added.

Those in custody will not be held at theCPO, and there are no increases to civil-ian staff and no increased administration isplanned, as all record-processing functionsare consolidated in the main detachment.

The fact that Pitt Meadows members willbe able to spend more time in town and lesstime commuting back to the main detach-ment should make it more efficient to keep“those precious resources even more activein Pitt Meadows,” said Fleugel, who creditedthe vision and leadership from City councilfor making the upgrades possible.

• More at www.mrtimes.com, search “Fleugel”

UpFrontMaple Ridge & Pitt Meadows Times Tuesday, January 28, 2014 A3

mrtimes.com

Clickfor community

Noises Off stagedTheatre in the Country, located in

Whonnock, kicked off Noises Off lastweek and the play continues until Feb.15. The play, which gives the audience alook into the backstage world of theatre,is performed Friday and Saturday nightsat 6:30 p.m. and Saturday at 12:30 p.m.Info: www.theatreinthecountry.com.

• More at www.mrtimes.com

Noises Off is on stage until Feb. 15.

ExperienceSome images and advertisements in today’sedition of The TIMES have been enriched withLayar and contain digital content that you canview using your smartphone or tablet.

Family Day is a startWith the second annual Family Day

approaching, TIMES columnist KathyBooth – whose monthly column usuallyfocuses on early childhood education– sees the recognized holiday as a goodstart to refocusing people’s priorities onthe family in today’s society. Such a cele-bration of family should expand beyondjust one day.

• More at www.mrtimes.com

Starting EarlyStarting Earlyby Kathy Booth

Pitt Meadows

Police office expands, gets facelift

Troy Landreville/TIMES

Construction is underway to renovate the Pitt Meadows Policing Office.

Troy Landreville/TIMES

The Pitt Meadows CommunityPolicing Officehas temporarily beenrelocated to allow for construction.

Emergency lights and sirenswere going as an RCMP trafficofficer was attempting to stop aspeeder early Saturday morning,when the unmarked police SUVcollided with a pickup truckat Laity Street and Lougheed

Highway just before 1 a.m.Fortunately, no one was

injured in the crash betweenthe pickup truck and unmarkedChevy Tahoe. Unfortunately, thesuspected speeder got away, saidCpl. Alanna Dunlop.

The pickup truck, which hadbeen westbound on Lougheed,suffered damage to the passen-ger’s side door, while the frontbumper on the police SUV wassheared off as the officer turnedwest on Lougheed, off Laity.

Because of distance, the officerwas not able to clock the rateof speed of the suspect vehicle.However, Dunlop said the driverwas believed to be travellingwell in excess of the postedlimit.

Police files

Unmarked SUV collides with truck while following speeder

For the recordThe water pump station that is being

built near the Golden Ears is a waterpump station only. Contrary to previousreports [Walls end phase one of pump-house build, Jan. 23, The TIMES], it willbe used for the transmission of drinkingwater – not sewage or wastewater.

• More at www.mrtimes.com

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A4 Tuesday, January 28 , 2014 Maple Ridge & Pitt Meadows Times

Welcome Back!Shannon Balla has returned to The TIMES

as our new publisher and she wants to hear how ournewspaper team can serve the community better.Email your ideas to sballa@mrtimes.com

St. Patrick’s private school aswell as Maple Ridge Library bothmarked literacy day with events.by Eric Zimmerezimmer@mrtimes.com

Mayor Ernie Daykin’s story of theBig Election captivated his audienceon Friday afternoon, but he wasn’tofficially on the campaign trail.

Instead, he was sitting at a table, inthe gym of St. Patrick’s School, read-ing a children’s book out loud.

The mayor was one of four guest

readers during the afternoon literacyday assembly at the school.

His audience was the wide-eyed,energetic but attentive students of theschool, and The Big Election storywas that of Father Bear, from thewell known and much loved chil-dren’s series, The Berenstain Bears.

The event also featured GlobalBCtraffic reporter Kaitlyn Herbst, super-intendent of Catholic IndependentSchools Vancouver ArchdioceseDoug Lawson, and cartoonist JulianLawrence.

“St. Patrick’s School participatesin family literacy day yearly,” saidschool principal Clive Heah.

“It provides another way to helppromote the importance of literacy inthe home.”

National family literacy day was onSaturday, but the school decided tomark it one day early.

On Saturday, the Maple RidgeLibrary was abuzz with staff dressedup as their favourite fictional storycharacters, and marking the day withan afternoon of activities and enter-tainment, including Vancouver story-teller Leonard Stanga.

Supervisor of information services,Christine McPhee said the event “hasbeen going on for a number of years.”• More at www.mrtimes.com, search “literacy”

Books

Mayor reads to attentive children

Eric Zimmer/TIMES

Leonard Stanga, a Vancouverstoryteller, enthralled the audience

at the Maple Ridge library onSaturday, while Mary Poppins

– also known as library technicianJanice McAusland (above) – wasalso happy to be a part of family

literacy day.

www.mrtimes.com

View photos with

or online at

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A last-minute motion to lower taxeswas defeated 4-3 last Tuesday.by Eric Zimmerezimmer@mrtimes.com

Amidst an already heated meeting atPitt Meadows City hall last week, the pro-posed budget became another source ofcontention.

A motion to carry forward a 1.9-per-cent tax increase looked like a given,until Councillor Dave Murray asked aboutthe possibility of lowering the increase tojust one per cent.

“We can’t continue to tax and spend,”he said.

The motion seemed to catch council offguard, and Coun. Gwen O’Connell askedhim how he would go about doing that.

Murray offered suggestions like cuttingback on things such as City lawn mowing

and janitorial services.Councillors Janis Elkerton and Bruce

Bell supported Murray’s idea.But speaking via conference call

from Prince George, Coun. Doug Bingexpressed disappointment that Murrayhad not said anything about this sooner.

Mayor Deb Walters agreed, and saidshe took the fact that this idea wasn’tbrought up during budget discussionsbefore the holidays as a sign that allcouncillors were on the same page.

She added that if they cut back onthings like what Murray suggested, thepublic would then have a problem withthe lack of care and maintenance.

In the end, the original motion, withthe 1.9-per-cent increase, was carried.

According to finance director MarkRoberts, the increase means that an aver-age single family home in Pitt Meadows,with an assessed value of $450,000, willhave $52 added to its bill.

Pitt Meadows

Budget motion rejected

...continued from page A1“From my perspec-

tive, I didn’t think whatwe were doing was goodenough,” Morden saidabout council’s recom-mendations to staff onhow to move forwardwith the Commercial-Industrial Strategy 2012-2042 prepared by Rollo &Associates.

Morden is concernedabout some facts in thereport, for example, that

Maple Ridge lost about$128 million in retail andcommerce in 2012 toother communities, whatthe report calls “net retailspending leakage.”

He also doesn’t wantemployment targetslowered by 200 jobs a yearuntil 2040 as suggested bythe Rollo report.

But Maple Ridge MayorErnie Daykin said hedoesn’t want to get hungup on numbers.

“If it’s a range from42 [thousand] to 48[thousand], I’m goodwith that,” he said. “TheDistrict is a facilitator forcreating an environmentwhere people want to live,invest their money, andopen up business.”

The District could set agoal of 48,000 but have a“crummy plan” in place,Daykin added, and notreach that number.• More online at www.mrtimes.com

Rollo suggests lower job targets

Maple Ridge & Pitt Meadows Times Tuesday, January 28, 2014 A5

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NOTICE OF INTENTION TO AMENDZONING BYLAW

TAKE NOTICE THAT a Public Hearing will be held in the Council Chamber of the Pitt Meadows City Hall,12007 Harris Road, Pitt Meadows, BC on Tuesday February 4th, 2014 at 7:00 p.m. to consider the follow-ing amendment to Zoning Bylaw No. 2505, 2011 the Zoning Bylaw for the City of Pitt Meadows:

City of Pitt Meadows Zoning Bylaw Amendment No. 2642, 2013The purpose of this text amendment is to permit office uses on the first floor of buildings in the MC (Main-street Commercial) Zone. The Mainstreet Commercial Zone is shown boldly outlined and shaded on theattached map.

The Bylaw and associated staff report may beviewed at City Hall, 12007 Harris Road, PittMeadows, between January 24th, 2014 andFebruary 4th, 2014 from 8:30 a.m. – 4:30 p.m.,excluding weekends and statutory holidays.Please direct inquiries to the DevelopmentServices Department at 604-465-2428.

AND FURTHER TAKE NOTICE ALLPERSONS who deem themselves affectedhereby shall be afforded an opportunity to beheard at the Public Hearing before Councilon the matters contained herein or by makinga written submission (or email) by 3:00 pm onTuesday February 4th, 2014 to the attentionof the Manager of Legislative Services.

Kelly KenneyManager of Legislative Services,604-465-2433kkenney@pittmeadows.bc.ca

12007 Harris Road Pitt Meadows, BC V3Y 2B5Phone: 604.465.5454 Fax: 604.465.2404 TheNatural Place

NOTICE OF INTENTION TO AMEND PITTMEADOWS OFFICIAL COMMUNITY PLAN

Kelly KenneyManager of Legislative Services,604-465-2433kkenney@pittmeadows.bc.ca

TAKE NOTICE THAT a Public Hearing will be held in the Council Chamber of the Pitt Meadows City Hall, 12007Harris Road, Pitt Meadows, BC on Tuesday February 4th, 2014 at 7:00 p.m. to consider the following amendmentto Official Community Plan Bylaw No. 2352, 2007, the Official Community Plan for the City of Pitt Meadows:

City of Pitt Meadows Official Community Plan Amendment Bylaw No. 2623, 2013

The following sections will be amended as follows:

Chapter 3 – Regional Context Statement: Replace with a new Regional Context Statement;

Chapter 4.6 – Residential: Incorporate new policies regarding rental housing, non-market housing,supporting regional housing efforts and housing choices;

Chapter 2 – Community Overview, Section 2.4 Demographics: Include new population and housingprojections;

The following Map Schedules will be revised in order to maintain consistency with Chapter 3, RegionalContext Statement:

Schedule 1: Urban Containment Boundary and Agricultural Land ReserveSchedule2: Metro Vancouver Livable Region Strategic Plan Green ZoneSchedule 3A: Urban Land UseSchedule 3B: Rural Land UseSchedule 12A: Urban Development Permit AreasSchedule 12B: Rural Development Permit Areas

Also included in the bylaw are various minor text amendments.

The Bylaw and associated staff report may be viewed at City Hall, 12007 Harris Road, Pitt Meadows, betweenJanuary 24th, 2014 and February 4th, 2014 from 8:30 a.m. – 4:30 p.m., excluding weekends and statutoryholidays. Please direct inquiries to the Development Services Department at 604-465-2428.

AND FURTHER TAKE NOTICE ALL PERSONS who deem themselves affected hereby shall be afforded anopportunity to be heard at the Public Hearing before Council on the matters contained herein or by making awritten submission (or email) by 3:00 pm on February 4th, 2014 to the attention of the Manager of LegislativeServices.

All submissions will become part of the public record.

12007 Harris Road Pitt Meadows, BC V3Y 2B5Phone: 604.465.5454 Fax: 604.465.2404 TheNatural Place

OpinionA6 Tuesday, January 28, 2014

Our View

Ten years tosame result

Once again our provincial govern-ment has spun for us a cautionary tale.

This one is rooted deeply enough inthe past to qualify as historic.

It was 2002. British Columbians hadelected a new government about a yearearlier. It was a brand new govern-ment. Gordon Campbell’s Liberals hadtrounced a scandal-ridden NDP govern-ment at the polls with a phenomenalmajority. The Liberals had 77 of 79seats in the legislature, and the NDP,with just two seats, didn’t even qualifyfor full party status.

The Liberals were on a mission,and they tackled it with a vengeance.Anyone who had supported the NDPwas to pay for the previous decade.

Nurses and health care workers hadalready been put in their place, andnow it was the teachers’ turn.

A signed and sealed contract betweenteachers and their employer – effective-ly, the province of B.C. – included suchprovisions as limits to class sizes.

No more. The Liberals enacted legis-lation that effectively nullified that con-tract. And they virtually dared the B.C.Teachers’ Federation to do somethingabout it.

The BCTF took up the gauntlet – andtook the government to court.

And they won. The court declaredthe Liberal legislation illegal.

But like any 0schoolyard bully feelingbolstered by overwhelming might, theLiberal government responded by enact-ing new legislation… which the courtshave again ruled against, awarding theBCTF $2 million in damages.

The hard feelings that the Liberals’ill-conceived reactionary efforts haveengendered won’t abate soon.

But there might be some hope… ifthe government gives up its folly, andfinally gives the teachers their court-ordered due.

– B.G.

Is this deja vu, or have I reallybeen here before?

I’m sitting here, looking at ablank piece of paper.

Actually, it’s a blank computerscreen, but I grew up in the dayswhen people still wrote on paper,and so the old cliches still workfor me.

In fact, more exactly, it’s noteven a blank computer screen infront of me – what I have beforeme is an electronic representa-tion of a nearly finished EditorialPage (which we now call the“Opinion” page, nevertheless once again, thecliches ever hearken us back to the days of ouryouth).

Even the blank space which is left for me to fillisn’t really blank.

There are vertical blue lines to guide me intothe appropriate columns as I write, blue lineswhich you never get to see, as they are invis-ible to the press, and therefore to all our readerswho only get to see the post-press results of mymental meandering, so I suppose I am sort of ina privileged position here.

Nevertheless, also inside the blank space is apicture of myself, which quite frankly is staringat me accusingly at this very moment – accusingme of writing such awful drivel.

As awful as this digressive drivel has been,however, I suspect it may have given you, thereader, something of an insight into the processby which my mind operates – a small insightinto a small mind?

In addition to offering you that probablyunnecessary insight, my ramblings filled slightlyless than half of the space that I must fill, by edi-torial decree (and since I am the editor, I shrinkfrom denigrating the importance of editorialdecrees).

Perhaps it’s time to insert something pithy,witty, or maybe sentimental.

I just can’t think of any such thing at the

moment, and I am running outof time.

(Truth be known, I actuallyran out of time about 10 min-utes ago, and the presses areimpatiently waiting.)

It occurs to me that I have nowpretty much filled a little overhalf of my allotted space for thisweek, and I have thus far man-aged to say something that issomewhere between very littleand nothing at all.

And to think, I could have usedthe exact same space to expound

some deep, philosophical truths pertaining toMaple Ridge or Pitt Meadows municipal politicalcircumstances.

I might have exploded some all-consum-ing myth about the power – or the detriment– of political alliances and/or voting blocs atthe municipal level, and compared them to theadvantages and disadvantages that have accruedfrom party politics that have completely takenover the way our federal and provincial govern-ing bodies operate.

I could have waxed philosophical about howordinary people might be better served by great-er independence for the representatives that wesend to Victoria and Ottawa, and how import-ant it is for local representatives to maintain theindependence they have, to represent their con-stituents, rather than those who may erroneouslyperceive themselves their political masters.

Whatever that means.I could have mentioned Albion or tax rates.I could have delved deep into the cracks and

crannies of the nether reaches of my brain anddragged up some reminiscences about how themore local politics change, the more they staythe same.

I guess it’s up to you to decide whether thisspace would have been better used in such amanner.

But me? I’m just babbling from the sidelines.

Opinion

Odd Thoughtsby Bob Groeneveld

Babbling from the sidelines

Opinion

Increase tobacco taxes.

Make smokers pay user fees when sick.

Ban all second-hand (public) smoke.

Ban tobacco outright.

Smokers have rights, too.

Smokers die younger, so cost less

This Week’s QuestionIs a provincial apology for historic wrongs tothe Chinese community enough?

■ Your ViewLast week’s question, results…

What’s the best way to deal with health care costsassociated with tobacco smoke?

Vote online at: www.mrtimes.com

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Who we are

EditorialMaria RantanenSylver McLarenTroy Landreville

Eric Zimmer

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Maple Ridge & Pitt Meadows Times Tuesday, January 28, 2014 A7editorial@mrtimes.com

LETTERS POLICY: Copyright in letters and other materials submitted voluntarily to the Publisher and accepted for publication remainswith the author, but the Publisher and its licensees may freely reproduce them in print, electronic, or other forms. Letters are also subjectto editing for content and length. The Maple Ridge-Pitt Meadows TIMES is a division of LMP Publication Limited Partnership.

Dear Editor,It seems our councillors just take it upon

themselves to go ahead with any projectthey fancy, with no public input or priornotice and no thought about howthe decision may impact residents orurban wildlife.

I looked out my back window thismorning and saw municipal workersusing chain saws and a tree chipperon the municipal side of my fencewhich runs along Lougheed Highway.

We have a lovely barrier of laureltrees and weeping willow whichleads down to the very sensitive area ofMcKinney Creek. I had a bit of a panicattack and immediately drove out to findout what was going on.

I was saddened to see that much of thefoliage had already been cut back, althoughthe worker assured me they were notactually removing the trees near the fence.

Did the municipality contact an arboristto determine if this drastic cut will harm thetrees? Will they be able to survive this hap-hazard butchering?

Since no residents or anyone who mayhave an interest in preserving this tree cor-ridor for resident wildlife as a highway buf-fer and green space were informed, I doubt

specialists were contacted.As a resident and taxpayer

of Maple Ridge, having livedhere and enjoyed the presenceof these trees for 25 years, I amupset that residents have no sayabout what decisions are madein areas close to their homes.This affects our quality of liv-ing, and there are so few areas

left for small wildlife to survive in, doesour council give any thought to the livesimpacted by their decisions?

While council is busy clearing greenspaces for sidewalks, two-block bike paths,and underground pipes, we have teenagersrisking their lives crossing the LougheedHighway every day at 210th, between 207thand Laity, on their way to and from school.Perhaps that could be addressed beforesomeone is killed?

Dana Lacroix, Maple Ridge

Public works

No thought for environment

LettersLetterstothe

Editor

Conundrum

Popularity lacks truthDear Editor,

Liars are seldom, if ever, popular.The head honcho at Lulu Lemon said

something to the effect of women withhefty thighs perhaps should not be wearingtheir slacks, because when the heavy thighsrub together they’ll cause pills.

It now appears that telling the truth is notall that popular, either.

Robert W. Stirling, Maple Ridge

Dear Editor,I was bemused at your article, “Maple

Ridge climbs, Pitt Meadows climbs higher[Jan. 7, TIMES].” Upon receiving my B.C.Assessment notice for 2014, I noticed thatthe value of my dwelling had dropped 34 percent from the previous year.

I asked B.C. Assessment for an explana-

tion, and was told a mass survey done inmy area caused the revaluation based onthe year the dwelling was built and its legaldescription, i.e. square footage, number ofbedrooms, bathrooms, etc.

I started surveying other properties in myarea with the same description and foundmost were devaluing nine to 16 per cent.

When I told B.C. Assessment that I haddone significant exterior upgrades to mydwelling compared to others fitting my legaldescription, I was told that, contrary to whatwas stated in your article, the physical con-dition of my dwelling had no effect on therevaluation and assessment.

That explains why a dwelling two proper-ties away, which has been sitting vacant forthree years in total disrepair and waiting tobe demolished, actually went up in value.

It will be interesting to see if my propertytaxes will go down this year, although Iwon’t hold my breath.

Doug Stanger, Maple Ridge

Assessments

More value in vacant, deteriorating house

• A deer was shot with an arrow andleft to suffer in Maple Ridge. Readersreact with a mix of anger, outrage.

“That is sick., how can people do this.”– Sue Kahlen Welsch

“ENRAGED!!” – Jason Burke“Wow, unbelievable.”

– James Buddy Rogers“No fingerprints?” – Giti Attar“Absolutely disgusting!!! I hope they catchthe idiot...” – Jannette Kotze“Coward!” – Marian Schwaiger“Someone should do the same to theperson who did it to the deer.”

– Alvin Cohen

What you’re telling uson Facebook

Share your views.Like us on Facebook at:

www.facebook.com/MapleRidgePittMeadowsTimes

Dear Editor,I am appalled at Mr.

Robson’s comments sug-gesting our mayor go homeand be the “dough image”for his daughter’s company[There are people with

bigger issues, Jan. 21 JustSaying, TIMES].

The public and schoolboards are spending mil-lions of dollars trying tostop bullying and name-call-ing in the schoolyard and in

the workplace. Apparently,Mr. Robson does not consid-er name-calling as bullying.

It makes one wonder if, atone time, he was a schoolyard bully.

Perhaps he would havehad less problems allowingpeople to play on his golfcourse if he had actuallyfollowed the rules andapplied to have his prop-erty rezoned, instead ofsuggesting that it is a non-profit company. Perhaps Mr.Robson could tell us howmuch money he has donat-ed from his golf course, andto whom did he donate it?

Ron Mitchell, Maple Ridge

Just Saying

Anti-bully efforts undone by writer

Just Saying

Columnist exposed as bullyDear Editor,

We tell our children over and over that bullying is notacceptable or any way to treat another human. After read-ing Gordy Robson’s column [There are people with biggerissues, Jan. 21 Just Saying, TIMES] I see why it is such anuphill battle when he is allowed to write that garbage for allto see. No different than a schoolyard bully… just saying.

Jason Exner, Maple Ridge

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A8 Tuesday, January 28, 2014 Maple Ridge & Pitt Meadows Timeseditorial@mrtimes.com

Arriving at the Vancouver airportafter my time away with Mary,our cab took us down MarineDrive through Vancouver and

Burnaby.I couldn’t help noticing that all the

remaining first class, fertile lands are con-verting to residential and industrial uses.

As Derek Corrigan, mayor of Burnabytold me, they are preserving agriculturalland (the Vancouver Golf Course), whichironically is located in Burnaby.

The thousands and thousands of apart-ments, on top of commercial activity, hasreduced the amount of farm and wetlandsalong the Fraser River through Coquitlamto Burnaby and Vancouver to almostzero.

After I got home and got caught upon our councils, I couldn’t help but bebemused by their activities.

Pitt Meadows council – with a vote byspeaker-phone from their unpaid council-lor (MLA Doug Bing) – by a 4-3 margin,passed a motion for development of thePark family farm and adjacent lands.

Very strange, indeed.On the Maple Ridge council side, appar-

ently, they are again reviewing many

reports – which tells them we have anunsustainable community. Our commun-ity is dependent on more than 90 per centresidential tax base.

They are again considering the Peltonproperty, which by the way, does nothave as good soil as the lands beingdeveloped in Burnaby and Coquitlam.But, to do this, they would have to takeon [former NDP MLA Michael] Sather,[Sather’s partner and local environment-alist Annette] LeBox, and friends. So theypass on this option.

The reports council has been read-ing teases them about the opportunitythey have to develop lands in the 128th

Avenue and 232nd Street area, whichare not in the Agricultural Land Reserve(ALR). There is no soil there, it is pri-marily river gravel base, and they couldactually do it without asking regional orAgricultural Land Commission approval.

Although there are easily 40 acres therethat could be developed, every timecouncil raises that possibility, dozens ofsigns mysteriously appear. Apparently,the neighbourhood action is supportedby people who have made investments inthat area, who would take a loss of valueif it was designated as employment lands.

The next option is the Albion land,which has good soil, bad drainage, and isin a floodplain protected by dikes (and itwill flood again, that’s why they call it afloodplain).

During all this dithering which has goneon for years, council has failed to addressthe zoned industrial lands south of theCPR track.

Mayor [Ernie] Daykin, unless his mem-ory has conveniently disappeared, ownedand operated one of the businesses thatdisappeared because they couldn’t getcooperation from the municipality.

Through council decisions, the

most immediate land that is availablefor employment is the approved anddeveloped Kanaka Creek IndustrialPark on north 256th Street. A hundred-plus acres (reclamation of the historicKirkpatrick gravel extraction) are readyfor occupation, and the only tenant theyhave been able to get so far is apparentlyBC Hydro’s emergency response vehicles.(Go figure).

The rest of the land can’t be soldbecause there is no access or a plan toprovide it.

Our councillors appear willfully blindthat they have an industrial park alreadydeveloped. No one wants to buy a pieceof industrial property that you cannot getto efficiently.

Mayor Daykin and his current councilare committed to not offending anybody.Perhaps their personal political agendastrump their decisions to do the rightthing.

So the question is; “Are we protectingfarmland? Or is it politics?

Just saying…Gordy Robson’s column appears Tuesdays in the print

and/or online versions of The TIMES.Reactions can be emailed c/o editorial@mrtimes.com.

Saving agricultural land

Albion Flats is not the only option available to council

Just SayingJust Sayingby Gordy Robson

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Ian Speckmanand the gangat MapleRidge Chryslerdonnedjerseys toshow supportThursdayfor the localchapter ofKidSport.

Staff with the City of Pitt Meadows got into the spirit of Jersey Day in supportof KidSport on Thursday. Left to right were Cheryl Harding, Martin Brown,

Kelly Kenney, Charity Igiri, Kathleen Wilson, Chantal Gemperle, Mike Sproule,Rebecca Vaughan, and Don Jolley. Participants donated a toonie to KidSport,

which helps young people play sports.Troy Landreville/TIMES

How can you share?Do you have a local photo of someone or some place you’d like to share with the rest of Maple Ridge and PittMeadows? Email it to us as a high-resolution .JPEG to editorial@mrtimes.com. Please include a brief description– including everyone’s first and last name. Put “faces & places” in the subject line of your email.

KidSport president Len Walterswas elated to see that the annualJersey Day fundraiser for hisorganization has grown this year.On Thursday, it expanded from theelementary schools and City hallsto the officers and support staff atRidge Meadows RCMP (above) andout into the business community,including Re-Max Lifestyles Realty(top).

Josh Lasko Photography

Lena Speckman and the gang at Maple Ridge

Volkswagen dressed up in jerseys Thursday to

show their support for KidSport.

Maple Ridge & Pitt Meadows

Westminster Savings has been a huge supporter ofKidSport, and staff at two of their local branches, theLandmark (left) and Maple Ridge (below) locations,dressed up in jerseys Thursday to show their supportas part of Jersey Day. The credit union staff will alsobe organizing a fundraising barbecue. “I know ourteams really love getting involved so it should be lotsof fun,” said Tammy Banning, cash services managerof the Landmark location.

Showcasing someof this community’speople and happenings&facesplaces

Fundraiser

Kids help kidsplay sportsby Maria Rantanenmrantanen@mrtimes.com

Students at Webster’s Corners wouldreally like to make sure that all kids canplay sports.

That was their motivation to organ-ize the second annual Jersey Day on Thursday,and they appealed to students and staff at allschools in the Maple Ridge-Pitt Meadows schooldistrict, local government staff, and businessesto don a jersey and donate a toonie to KidSport,a charity that helps pay for kids to take part inorganized sports.

Fifty jars were distributed throughout schools,government buildings, and businesses to collectmoney to raise money for KidSport.

“Everyone should have a chance to playsports,” said Webster’s Corners Elementary stu-dent Courtney Holm, who is part of the Me-to-We group at the school that is in charge of thecommunity-wide fundraiser.

• More at www.mrtimes.com, search “Jersey”

Maple Ridge & Pitt Meadows Times Tuesday, January 28, 2014 A9

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Who am I?Let’s test your Home Town Herotrivia with this week’s WhoAm I? This Facebook feature ispart of a twice-weekly TIMESgiveaway, where readers areasked to identify people fromthis community’s distant andrecent past. For instance, who’sthe subject of this week’s picture?Like us on Facebook and correctlyanswer before 9 a.m. Friday to beentered. Last week’s picture wasof blues musician James Thorhaug.Congratulations to StaceyRogers MacEachern for correctlyidentifying Thorhaug. MacEachernand others who answered correctlyare automatically entered for thegrand-prize giveaway next month.

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A new program helps studentsstand up to bullies.

An anti-bullying program is beingpromoted by the RCMP, fire depart-ments, and the school district.

The WITS program – whichstands for Walk away, Ignore, Talkit out and Seek help – is a pro-gram designed to prevent kids frombecoming victims of bullying.

It has been developed in partner-ship with the University of Victoria,the RCMP, and the fire department.

The WITS assembly introduces theprogram and the problem-solvingmodel to the school community.

The assembly is followed up by avisit from a community leader, forexample, police, fire fighters, para-medics, or volunteers, to help stu-

dents use the program to deal withbullying or peer victimization.

“It is important for students toknow that there are people aroundthem that are avail-able to support themand assist whenrequired,” said RidgeMeadows RCMPCpl. Alanna Dunlop.“The WITS programdemonstrates that thewhole community isengaged and inter-ested in anti-bullyingand preventing peer victimization.”

The program is a part of theiryouth programming strategic plan,Dunlop added, which also includesprograms like DARE, Internet Safety,Graduated Licensing awareness, theRCMP Youth Academy, and SPURS.

The WITS leads program is forstudents in grades 4 to 6, and enlistssenior students at the elementarylevel to be school leaders and edu-

cated bystanders.Building school com-

munities of care and safetywhere students feel includ-ed is important to studentsuccess, said Sherri Skerratt,a counsellor with the schooldistrict.

“Our students will belearning language and strat-egies that will move beyond

the classroom and school into thecommunity,” she added. “We haveheard it said many times, it takesa village to raise a child; this WITSinitiative begins to do just that.”

For information on the WITS pro-gram, visit www.witsprogram.ca.

RCMP

Students keepWITS about themMaple Ridge & Pitt Meadows Times Tuesday, January 28, 2014 A11

2013 has come to an end, and what a year it has been for downtown

Maple Ridge! We’ve welcomed many new businesses in the past year,

and we’d like to introduce some of them to you. There are some businesses

that have moved here from other locations, some that have opened a new

location here, and some brand new businesses that have started up.

If you’ve resolved to get in better shape this year, there are a

couple of new downtown businesses you might be interested in.

Dance FX School of Dance has moved downtown if you’d like to learn how

to dance, and Trevor Linden Fitness is opening their downtown Maple Ridge

location on January 16th. If you’re looking for something to quench your thirst

after a workout, Booster Juice offers many healthy options.

And downtown Maple Ridge is becoming an even better place to treat

yourself to a relaxing spa day! Just this past year we’ve welcomed

Beyond Devine Day Spa, Cameo Spa & Laser Clinic, and Spa Le Rhine.

You can easily get away from it all without leaving Maple Ridge! If you just

can’t wait until summer to get your skin looking tanned again, maybe stop by

Platinum Glow Tanning Salon or Phazes Tanning & Beauty Salon.

If a pedicure or manicure is right up your alley, visit Cloud Nine Nail Bar,

the newest nail bar in town. Or if you’re just looking for a simple hair cut, give

Dennis’s Hair & Repair Barber Shop a try.

If it’s your house that needs the spa treatment, Jani-Clean

Janitorial Services offers residential cleaning as well as office

and commercial cleaning, and the people at AK Designer

Home Improvements can give your entire house a makeover. If your car is

the one that needs to be treated well, consider taking it to Express Care.

There were a few new businesses that made headlines with their arrivals.

Target has arrived in Haney Place Mall, and Chances Maple Ridge

has taken the place of the bingo hall. The Well is a restaurant that opened

up inside Chances, and Bombay Restaurant is another great new

option for a meal downtown.

We also have a number of speciality stores to welcome! The British Store

has opened up a Maple Ridge location, selling many traditional British food

and sweets. There’s a new place with great pulled pork sandwiches called

The Meat Shop, and a new movie rental store called Once Upon a Movie.

If you’re looking for a place that specializes in bargains, Dollar Tree is the

newest dollar store in town.

All these newbusinesses,plus the hundreds of businesses already established

in downtown, make 2014 a great year for shopping local. Shopping at local

independent businesses means that your money will stay right here in

Maple Ridge. You’ll be helping local entrepreneurs, and investing in a stable,

local economy. You’ll also save money on gas by shopping in downtown

Maple Ridge, and it’s a beautiful place to walk around.

Hope you’ll try our suggestions and let us know your experiences on Facebook,

or email inquiries@downtownmapleridge.ca with your favourites. You can

also ‘Like’ our Facebook page at www.facebook.com/shopmapleridge and

stay in touch with happenings in your downtown, including new businesses!

Welcomingthe New Businesses of

2013

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A12 Tuesday, January 28 , 2014 Maple Ridge & Pitt Meadows Times

January 28: Celtic Jam• Come join Nigel Tucker and his band ofmerry musicians for a Celtic jam at The ACT,11944 Haney Pl., Maple Ridge, from 7 to 9p.m. Bring an instrument, voice, or just comeand listen.

January 28: Weavers• Whonnock Weavers and Spinners Guildwill be meeting at Whonnock Lake Centre,27871 113rd Ave., Maple Ridge, at 7:30 p.m.The group welcomes felters, knitters, basketmakers, and anyone else interested in anyother fibre arts. Info: Marie at 604-462-9059.

January 28: Pitt Meadows Library• Learn About Finance seminar runs from7 to 8 p.m. Join Vancity Pitt MeadowsCommunity Branch for a series of financialseminars at the library. This month the topicwill be credit cards and prepaid cards – par-ticipants will learn about the advantages anddisadvantages of credit, types of credit andfeatures of credit.

January 29: Bereavement• Ridge Meadows Hospice Society is offeringan eight-week bereavement support groupstarting Wednesday, Jan. 29, noon to 2p.m. The group meets once a week for eightweeks. Info: 604-463-7722.

January 29: Resumes• WorkBC Employment Services Centreand the Maple Ridge Library will be offer-ing a workshop on creating a resume from

5 to 7 p.m. This workshop will be held atWorkBC, at #170-22470 Dewdney Trunk Rd.Participants should bring their current resumeon a USB stick or email it to a web-access-ible email. This program is for ages 15 to 30.Register: 604-467-7417

January 29: Volunteer info session• The Learning Room, located at the CEEDCentre, needs more volunteers. For example,one-on-one tutors of adult learners, book clubmonitors, literacy committee ambassadors,scribes, and newsletter writers are needed. Avolunteer information session will be held atRiverside Centre, 20575 Thorne Ave., MapleRidge, at 6:30 p.m. Info: 604-463-2229.

January 29: Diversity• A workshop, “Living, Working andServing Effectively with Canada’s IncreasingDiversity,” runs from 8:30 a.m. to noon,Maple Ridge Library, 11995 Haney Pl. andfrom 2 to 5 p.m. at Pitt Meadows City hall,12007 Harris Rd. Register for one event onlyat www.eventbrite.ca or look for a link atwww.welcomingcommunities.familyed.bc.ca.

January 30: Philosophers• Philosophers’ Cafe meets at 7 p.m. in thelobby of The ACT. This month’s topic is:What does compassion mean to you? How doyou know that someone is showing you com-passion? Have you experienced compassionin your life? Registration and experience notrequired. Info: interdisciplinary-cs@sfu.ca orwww.philosopherscafe.net.

January 31: Support group• Hominum Fraser Valley, an informal discus-sion and support group to help gay, bisexual,and questioning men, meets at 7:30 p.m. Forinformation and meeting location, call Art604-462-9813 or Don 604-329-9760.

February 1: Comedy show• The Comic Strippers and Gloria’s HappyHour will be at The ACT, 11944 Haney Pl.,starting at 8 p.m. For tickets and info, goto www.theactmapleridge.org, email info@mract.org or call 604-476-2787.

• Full list: www.mrtimes.com

Post events10 days inadvance byemail to:

editorial@mrtimes.com

What’s Onwww.mrtimes.com

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Tuesday, February 11, 2014

Late French Immersion registration begins onFebruary 12, 2014 on a first come, first on list basis

Late French Immersion begins in Grade 6. Students who are currently inGrade 5 are eligible to begin Late French Immersion in September 2014 atGolden Ears Elementary School.For further information, please contact Joanne Rowen at 604.465.5828 orjoanne_rowen@sd42.ca

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Last week, organizers of theannual Home Town Heroesprogram announced threeathletes were selected for thehonour for 2013. This is thesecond in a series of profileson these outstanding localsports personalities.by Troy Landrevilletlandreville@mrtimes.com

Victor Bartley grew up emulatinghis big brother.

This ardent admiration of oldersibling Mitch helped drive the now25-year-old Victor to a destinationmost hockey players dream about,but a select few ever get a chanceto see: the National HockeyLeague.

Mitch Bartley played from 2001to ’08 including one season withthe B.C. Hockey League’s BurnabyBulldogs, four with the WHL’sVancouver Giants, and two morewith the University of BritishColumbia.

“[Mitch] had a big influence inmy life, growing up,” Victor said.“He [is] three years older than meand was always the star growingup all through minor hockey inMaple Ridge. I always wanted tofollow in his shoes. Growing up,you always seek the approval ofyour older brother and that wasone of the main things that keptpushing me day after day to trainharder, work on my game, andcontinue to improve.”

Victor forged his own hockeypath, and an impressive one, atthat. His journey has led him toMusic City USA, where he is asecond-year defenceman with theNHL’s Nashville Predators.

He played his first NHL gamewith the Nashville Predators dur-ing their 6-0 victory over theEdmonton Oilers on March 8,2013.

The details of his first shift werea blur to Victor, who said “AllI could recall when it was overis that I thought to myself, ‘Youbelong here.’”

In his rookie year in the NHL,the 6’ 200 pound blueliner notchedseven assists in 24 games, with aplus-two rating.

Born Feb. 17, 1988 in Ottawa,Victor moved to Maple Ridgewhen he was five years old.

When Victor and his fam-ily arrived in Maple Ridge fromOntario, he began playing organ-ized hockey at the tyke levellocally.

From that point, Victor playedall of his minor hockey with theRidge Meadows Minor HockeyAssociation, from atom A1 throughto bantam.

Away from the rink, Victorattended Eric Langton elementaryschool and was in French immer-sion.

He went on to attend ThomasHaney Secondary where he was agood student, with a B average.

Victor was a multi-sport athlete,and played football and soccer upto the age of 14, when he had tomake a decision on which activity

to stick with.He chose hockey because, he

said, “that’s what I knew I wasborn to do and I couldn’t havebeen happier with my choice.”

Once he turned 15, Victor optedout of playing midget hockey andinstead elected to take the junior Broute with the Delta Ice Hawks.

He left behind a treasure troveof memories, the fondest of whichwas his bantam AAA team makingit into the “Final Four” and takingon the Burnaby Winter Club.

“I still think back to that mem-ory all the time and rememberhow no one thought we could getthere, but we all came togetherand made it happen,” he recalled.

Victor remains a hometownboy. He returns to Maple Ridge

every summer to train withAdam Francilia of Fit Life SportsPerformance.

“I’ve been with Adam for sixyears now, and he’s had a tre-mendous impact on my hockeycareer,” Victor said. “He’s not justmy trainer. I consider him a closefriend.”

Growing up playing hockey inMaple Ridge, Victor had somestrong role models to follow,including a handful of coacheswho had a part in his develop-ment: Georgio Nicolato, GregBodnarchuk, and Steve Hunt.

But Victor’s biggest influencewas, and still is, his parents.

“They always saw the littlethings in my game that wouldmake me a better player,” Victorsaid. “I can’t thank them enoughfor all they’ve done for me.”

He added with a chuckle, “Mymom still tries to tell me how toplay.”

On Deck

Send your scoresand game reports tosports@mrtimes.com

Making a splashPitt Meadows swimmer and

Simon Fraser University studentCiaran McDonnell played a keypart this past Saturday duringa competition against Division ISeattle University.

The SFU Clan took the first tworaces of the day, as the men’s andwomen’s teams both won in the200-yard medley relay, of whichMcDonnell was a part.

• More at www.mrtimes.com,click “Sports”

Triumph in semisMarauders head coach Rich

Goulet described his team’s semi-final game as a “war.” The PittMeadows Secondary team, withhome court advantage during theAir Show basketball tournament,went up against the HeritageWoods Kodiaks.

The two clubs, which startedcompeting against each other inGrade 9, “have a history,” he said.

Though the two teams havetraded victories and losses in thepast, the Mauraders had not beatthe Kodiaks in league play thisyear. That changed Jan. 18, whenthe Mauraders emerged victor-ious 70-59.• More online: www.mrtimes.com,

click on “Sports”

Coaches namedMaple Ridge Burrards will have

a strong presence behind thebench during this summer’s 2014box lacrosse nationals.

The BC Lacrosse Association(BCLA) announced five headcoaches for the midget, bantam,peewee, female midget, andfemale bantam 2014 Team BC– box lacrosse programs.

Burrards general managerDaren Fridge and head coachChris Gill are among the coaches,as is Maple Ridge resident CurtMalawsky.

• More at www.mrtimes.com,click “Sports”

SportsMaple Ridge & Pitt Meadows Times Tuesday, January 28, 2014 A13

Recreation Reach The TIMES' sports desk: Phone: 604-463-2281 or email: sports@mrtimes.com

Maurader Graham Smith went fortwo points during the semifinals.

John A. Russell/Nashville Predators

Victor Bartley is one of the most recently crowned Home Town Heroes. He plays defencemanfor the Nashville Predators.

Home Town Heroes

Mom still helping from sidelines

Hero profilesAll three of the 2013 Home TownHeroes are profiled by The TIMES.

Last Thursday, webrought you thestory on boxerRick Funk, andhow he went fromfighting on thestreets to battlingin boxing ringaround the world.Today, we’refocusing on hockeyplayer VictorBartley, and howhe’s gone fromfooling around ona backyard rink inOntario to playingfor the NashvillePredators.And, on Thursday,we’ll bringyou a featurestory on RonVandenBrink,and how – alwaysdrawn to physicalsports – he grewto excel at thesport of rugby atthe provincial andnational levels.

www.mrtimes.com

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