12
The Delta Board of Education and Delta School District wish all of our students and staff a wonderful summer. The 2012/13 school year has been one exemplified by innovative teaching and student success. A glimpse into this incredible teaching and learning is captured in the school district’s blog 180daysoflearning.com. If you have not been following it throughout the school year, it will make a great summer read. Innovation as a means of enabling all learners to succeed and to be fully prepared for their futures is the underpinning of the Delta School District’s Bold Vision. We are starting to see this Vision come alive! While the summer may be a break from school for most of our students and staff, it continues to be a time of learning. Education takes place in all parts of the community in many different ways. On behalf of the Delta Board of Education and the Delta School District, we hope you enjoy a summer filled with fun and exciting learning. — Dianne Turner, Superintendent, Delta School District — Laura Dixon, Chair, Delta Board of Education Delta Fire celebrates 50 years The communities of Ladner, Tsawwassen, and North Delta have changed over the past half century, and so has the Delta Fire Department. See B5 Firefighters in Delta face some of the most hazard- ous terrains and unstoppable fires in the Lower Main- land. One of the most dangerously flammable areas in the Lower Mainland is Burns Bog. Between 1994 and 1996 there were five major fires in Burns Bog, many of which lasted for weeks. One fire in 1996 covered Metro Vancouver in smoke and ash for two days straight. According to Fire Chief Dan Copeland, bog fires burn both above and below ground, making them very dan- gerous and unpredictable. Former fire chiefs Walter Husband and John Tapio were born and raised in the Delta area, so when they were asked to join the volunteer fire department in the 1950s, they both jumped at the chance to help their community. Unique challenges for local firefighters JUNE ∙ 2013 CONNECTING THE NORTH WITH THE SOUTH Dinner among friends P3 North Delta church brings together community with monthly meal Every whittle detail P4 North Delta carver Barry Parker has a wood quality of life Delta firefighters give back to their community every day of their working life. But their concern for their community extends far beyond the job. The Delta Firefighters’ Charitable Society was created in 1994 by members of the fire department who wanted to raise and distribute funds for char- ities in Delta and across the country. Delta has launched Facebook, Twitter & YouTube Ex-chiefs recall history of DFD See story, P.9 See story, P.10 Delta Firefighters give back See story, P.11

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Page 1: Special Features - DeltaLeader_06_June2013

The Delta Board of Education and Delta School District wish all of our students and staff a wonderful summer. The 2012/13 school year has been one exemplified by innovative teaching and student success. A glimpse into this incredible teaching and learning is captured in the school district’s blog 180daysoflearning.com. If you have not been following it throughout the school year, it will make a great summer read. Innovation as a means of enabling all learners to succeed and to be fully prepared for their futures is the underpinning of the Delta School District’s Bold Vision. We are starting to see this Vision come alive!

While the summer may be a break from school for most of our students and staff, it continues to be a time of learning. Education takes place in all parts of the community in many different ways. On behalf of the Delta Board of Education and the Delta School District, we hope you enjoy a summer filled with fun and exciting learning.

— Dianne Turner, Superintendent, Delta School District — Laura Dixon, Chair, Delta Board of Education

❙ Delta Fire celebrates 50 yearsThe communities of Ladner, Tsawwassen, and North Delta have changed over the past half century, and so has the Delta Fire Department. See B5

Fire� ghters in Delta face some of the most hazard-ous terrains and unstoppable � res in the Lower Main-land. One of the most dangerously � ammable areas in the Lower Mainland is Burns Bog.

Between 1994 and 1996 there were � ve major � res in Burns Bog, many of which lasted for weeks. One � re in 1996 covered Metro Vancouver in smoke and ash for two days straight.

According to Fire Chief Dan Copeland, bog � res burn both above and below ground, making them very dan-gerous and unpredictable.

Former � re chiefs Walter Husband and John Tapio were born and raised in the Delta area, so when they were asked to join the volunteer � re department in the 1950s, they both jumped at the chance to help their community.

Unique challenges for local � re� ghters

JUNE ∙ 2013 ❙ CONNECTING THE NORTH WITH THE SOUTH

Dinner among friends ❙ P3North Delta church brings together community with monthly meal

Every whittle detail ❙ P4North Delta carver Barry Parker has a wood quality of life

Delta firefighters give back to their community every day of their working life. But their concern for their community extends far beyond the job.

The Delta Firefighters’ Charitable Society was created in 1994 by members of the fire department who wanted to raise and distribute funds for char-ities in Delta and across the country.

Delta has launched Facebook, Twitter & YouTube

CorpofDelta_2x2_DL1223.indd 1 12/15/11 4:34:07 PM

Ex-chiefs recall history of DFD

❙ See story, P.9

❙ See story, P.10

Delta Fire� ghters give back

❙ See story, P.11

Page 2: Special Features - DeltaLeader_06_June2013

B2 ❙ JUNE 2013 the delta leader

Delta Community Update

JUNE 2013

Firehall Farmers Market

Come to the Firehall Centre for the Arts in North Delta on June 30th from 10:00 am to 2:00 pm for the first ever Firehall Farmers Market! The market features farm fresh produce, artisans, crafts, food trucks, entertainment, and musicians. The market continues throughout the summer – be sure to check delta.ca so you don’t miss out!

Canada Day Celebrations

Delta will be alive throughout the day on July 1st with Canada Day celebrations. Enjoy the festivities in Ladner at Delta Museum at 9:00 am and Kirkland House at noon, in Tsawwassen at Diefenbaker Park at 10:00 am, and evening events in North Delta at Chalmers Park beginning at 6:00 pm and ending with fireworks at dark.

Tour de Delta

The 13th annual Tour de Delta runs July 5, 6, and 7. This exciting event features criterium races in North Delta’s Social Heart on July 5 and Ladner Village on July 6. This year’s highlight is the White Spot Delta Road Race on July 7, which promises to be even more exciting than previous years now that it is sanctioned by Union Cycliste International (UCI), the only such race in Western Canada.

Boundary Bay Airshow

On July 27, visit Boundary Bay Airport for the always popular Boundary Bay Airshow. This free family event features exciting aerial acts, displays of vintage and modern aircraft, prize draws, food vendors, and children’s activities! Gates open at 11:00 am and the Airshow starts at 1:00 pm.

Visit delta.ca/events for more information on these and other events.

Delta Community Update

JUNE 2013

Firehall Farmers Market

Come to the Firehall Centre for the Arts in North Delta on June 30th from 10:00 am to 2:00 pm for the first ever Firehall Farmers Market! The market features farm fresh produce, artisans, crafts, food trucks, entertainment, and musicians. The market continues throughout the summer – be sure to check delta.ca so you don’t miss out!

Canada Day Celebrations

Delta will be alive throughout the day on July 1st with Canada Day celebrations. Enjoy the festivities in Ladner at Delta Museum at 9:00 am and Kirkland House at noon, in Tsawwassen at Diefenbaker Park at 10:00 am, and evening events in North Delta at Chalmers Park beginning at 6:00 pm and ending with fireworks at dark.

Tour de Delta

The 13th annual Tour de Delta runs July 5, 6, and 7. This exciting event features criterium races in North Delta’s Social Heart on July 5 and Ladner Village on July 6. This year’s highlight is the White Spot Delta Road Race on July 7, which promises to be even more exciting than previous years now that it is sanctioned by Union Cycliste International (UCI), the only such race in Western Canada.

Boundary Bay Airshow

On July 27, visit Boundary Bay Airport for the always popular Boundary Bay Airshow. This free family event features exciting aerial acts, displays of vintage and modern aircraft, prize draws, food vendors, and children’s activities! Gates open at 11:00 am and the Airshow starts at 1:00 pm.

Visit delta.ca/events for more information on these and other events.

Page 3: Special Features - DeltaLeader_06_June2013

the delta leader JUNE 2013 ❙ B3

Your Source for SAFETY InformationNFPA Public Education Division • 1 Batterymarch Park, Quincy, MA 02169 www.nfpa.org/education

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June 2013 Delta Leader B3

Volunteers Minda Dobres and Alma Dulona don’t yet know what they’re making as they gather ingredients from a storage room and fridge in the kitchen of Crossroads United Church.

The pair, part of a team which will grow throughout this Saturday after-noon, begins with dessert.

The pile on their wheel cart grows: Evaporated milk, eggs, sugar, coco-nut milk, vanilla extract and an ex-otic-looking box of Mochiko-brand sweet rice flour.

“I’ve never made one of these crazy recipes before,” says Jason Hodgins as he hands out sheets to the first vol-unteers of the day.

They learn the dessert is a Hawai-ian treat called butter mochi, which will be the finishing touch of a three-course meal offered for the needy at the North Delta church – a monthly event for more than a year now.

Hodgins, tinkering with the church’s new gas stoves provided by the con-gregation, the Scottsdale Lions and the North Delta Rotary Club, says the 100 meals are put together and served by team of 30 to 40 rotating volun-teers, who help with food purchase, advanced prep, chopping, cooking, greeting, serving and cleaning up.

Dobres, a church member for three years and self-described doorkeeper for the Sunday School, says it’s the first time she and her niece Dulona have volunteered with the dinner program.

There’s lots of work ahead of them.Today, it’ll be chicken teriyaki on

a bed of cabbage and carrots, with bean sprouts, and a salad – with op-tional tofu for vegetarians.

“It’s a served meal, not a buffet line,” says Hodgins, the Community Dinners program coordinator who daylights as a teacher with the Delta School District.

A few numbers for the logistically inclined: The prep involves 36 pounds of chicken, 12 cabbages, 38 green on-ions, 40 cups of bean sprouts, and 12.5 cups of sugar for the dessert.

The vision for the Community Din-ners program began as Crossroads evolved from an amalgamation of Royal Heights United Church and St. John’s Strawberry Hill United Church a few years ago.

“As part of that (amalgamation) process, we did a visioning process about what we’re called to do in our community,” explains Hodgins. “A big thing people identified was energy and a feeling… a call... to serve the wider neighbourhood.

“Food is definitely a part of it, but it’s the tip of the iceberg. The big thing we’re trying to do is create a space where everyone that comes feels welcome and comfortable.”

And they have come: Lower-income families with children, seniors and recent immigrants.

The first meals served about 45 guests in early 2012, and the numbers have grown to a steady 100 or so.

Crossroads Community Church is located at 7655 120 St. Community dinners take place the fourth Satur-day of each month.

Doors open at 4:30 p.m. and dinner is served at 5 p.m. Remaining dinners in 2013 will be held on July 27, Aug. 24, Sept. 28, Oct. 26, Nov. 23 and Dec. 28.

For more information, call 778-593-1043 or visit www.crossroads-unit-ed-church.ca

❙ Volunteers Alma Dulona (left) and Betty Boyd measure some of the 12.5 cups of sugar needed for their butter mochi recipe – dessert for some 100 guests at Crossroads United Church’s free monthly Community Dinner. Boaz Joseph photo

Dinner among friends at North Delta church❙ Boaz Joseph reporter North Delta-Surrey Leader

Page 4: Special Features - DeltaLeader_06_June2013

B4 ❙ JUNE 2013 the delta leader

1-888-SCOUTS-NOW | Scouts.ca

For camp dates and more information go to:www.fraservalley.scouts.caor contact:Ladia MacPherson604.583.4323 (evenings)

[email protected]

Jim [email protected]

OR

Register today.

It starts with Scouts.

Come and join us for 2 free meetings and experience Scouting

fi rst hand!

Register today.

For meeting times and locations contact the following:

Ladner:Grant EdwardsGroup Commissioner, 1st [email protected]

Tsawwassen: Brian MartinGroup Commissioner, 3rd Boundary [email protected]

North Delta: Barney [email protected]

1-888-SCOUTS-NOW | Scouts.ca

B4 Delta Leader June 2013

Copyright and property rights subsist in all display advertising and other material appearing in the South Delta Leader and Surrey North Delta Leader. If, in the Publisher's opinion, an error is made that materially affects the value of the ad to the advertiser, a corrected advertisement will be inserted upon demand without further charge. Make good insertions are not granted on minor errors which do not lessen the value of the advertisement. Notice of error is required before second insertion. Opinions expressed in columns and letters to the Editor are not necessarily shared by the Publisher. The South Delta Leader and Surrey North Delta Leader are members of the British Columbia Press Council, a self-regulatory body governing the province’s newspaper industry. The council considers complaints from the public about the conduct of member newspapers. Directors oversee the mediation of complaints, with input from both the newspaper and the complaint holder. If talking with the editor or publisher does not resolve your complaint about coverage or story treatment, you may contact the B.C. Press Council. Your written concern, with documentation, should be sent to B.C. Press Council, 201 Selby St., Nanaimo, B.C. V9R 2R2. For information, phone 888-687-2213 or go to www.bcpresscouncil.org.

behind the scenesEditorialRobert Mangelsdorf South Delta Leader, Editor 604-948-3640 ext. 122 [email protected] Carlson Surrey North Delta Lead-er,Editor 604-575-5337 [email protected] MacNair South Delta Leader, Reporter 604-948-3640 ext. 126 [email protected] Bowker South Delta Leader604 948-3640 ext. 123 [email protected]

Jim Mihaly Surrey North Delta Leader 604-575-5347 [email protected] Ilott South Delta Leader, Advertising Consultant  604-948-3640 ext. 127 [email protected] JulienSouth Delta LeaderAdvertising Consultant604-948-3640 [email protected] Services Sarah Kelloway South Delta Leader [email protected]

CirculationKristene Murray  South Delta Leader 604-948-3640 ext. 125 [email protected] Pasion Surrey North Delta Leader 604-575-5312 ext. 312 [email protected]

AUDIT

There was serious karma sur-rounding this particular casino table – petty crime, bad luck, and finally a sense of redemption.

Barry Parker, putting together a display for a wood carving compe-tition, suddenly needed a cigarette.

Coming from a non-smoking fam-ily, he and wife Joanne conspired to sneak into a pub to steal a discard-ed cigarette butt just to see what it looked like up close.

The reason: Detail, part of a mas-ter plan to carve out a win with wood-only carvings of everyday items. The results were so realistic, that on the day of the event in Seat-tle, two events chipped away at his chances.

First, someone tried to swipe the realistic-looking wooden cigarettes. Then the judges disqualified the en-try because they thought the wine bottle was made of plastic.

But the man walked away with a best-in-show ribbon.

Parker is not an easy man to pin down – not only from the fact that

the long-time-ago North Deltan is back after decades in Steveston, New Westminster and Princeton, but because he doesn’t focus on a particular genre of carving.

“It all depends on how I feel,” says the 70-year-old.

Back “home” since the end of April, he’s building a 350-square-foot backyard shed for carving, and his house is already a museum dedi-cated to a 30-year hobby.

Parker and his wife are happy to talk like curators.

He’s got aboriginal totems from his recent native art phase, a pair of non-matching boots that were a request from Joanne, a series of wooden “pictures” of labouring 19th-century Chinese peasants (the idea came from a book), a sprung hobby horse small enough for a child’s hands, a sprung hobby horse big enough to hold a 225-pound man, a detailed hooded merganser, a walking stick resembling the neck of a sandhill crane, and a realistic cooper’s hawk with glass eyes that came from Denmark – like most of his birds.

Feathered creatures have always

been part of the picture, ever since his first attempt at carving an abor-tive wooden decoy of a female mal-lard, where he learned that poorly measured proportions made for distorted birds.

He must still often draw and mea-sure things properly, but admits “I can see something in a block of wood right away without much trouble.”

His tools are sharp enough to shave with.

His three favourite working mate-rials are bass wood ( from the U.S. Deep South, just slightly heavier than balsa), pine and red cedar.

On occasion, he’ll goes on a hikes in search of his canvas, finding the odd treasure in the woods or aban-doned industrial buildings. Some years ago, he picked up what were said to be 100-year-old grape vine roots that were sold from the back of a truck on the side of the road.

Parker, a former pressman, is now semi-retired. He’s not averse to the idea of a part-time job, but is con-tent to keep busy whittling away.

Not set up online yet, Barry Parker can be reached at 604-679-4340.

❙ Barry Parker moved back to North Delta from Princeton in April, and is putting together a shop in his backyard so he can get back to wood carving. He’s photographed here with a cooper’s hawk at the Watershed Artworks Whole Lotta Art market. Boaz Joseph photo

❙ Boaz Joseph reporter Surrey North Delta Leader

Every whittle detail

Page 5: Special Features - DeltaLeader_06_June2013

the delta leader JUNE 2013 ❙ B5

www.deltafire.ca

Delta Fire & Emergency Services would like to thank the community for its support over the last 50 years of career fi re fi ghting in Delta.

We look forward to the next 50 years of providing timely and professional services to this community staying true to our vision to remain a dynamic fi re service, always responsive to community needs, delivered by well trained personnel with broad roles and skills.

Delta Fire & Emergency ServicesCelebrates Our 50th AnniversaryDelta Fire & Emergency Services would

support over the last 50 years of career

services to this community staying true

service, always responsive to community

Celebrates Our 50th Anniversary

Over a hundred years ago, Ladner was just a small fishing village

settled on the banks of the Fraser River. The river not only provided the town with rich waters for fishing, but fertile soil for farming as well. By the turn of the century, Ladner had expanded to a thriving agricultural town with a small wharf for farmers ship their goods to Victoria and Va n c o u v e r . The waterfront became a com-mercial hub and the population quickly grew to over 800 people.

As the population grew, so did the risk of fires. The farm-ers and fishermen fought fires by bucket brigade, us-ing water gathered from the nearby wells and drainage ditches. The brigades weren’t fast enough and as a result,

many homes and barns burned down before the wa-ter was even collected.

The first water hydrants in the area were employed by the Ladner municipality in 1911. Local residents con-cerned for the town’s safety contributed their own mon-ey to purchase a fire hose

and several 40 gallon chemical extin-guishers. Howev-er, it wasn’t until four years later that the first Fire Brigade

was assembled by brave volun-

teers from the lo-cal community.

The first volunteer fire-fighters met in a municipal barn at the north end of El-liot Street. They used a crude alarm system set up by the B.C. Telephone Company, with a large fire bell placed on top of the United Church so the alarm could be heard

all the way across town. Although the men in the

brigade were willing and able, they still didn’t have the man-power or resources to keep

up with the ever-growing population. It wasn’t until 1929, when a fire along the riverfront burned down half of Ladner’s Chinatown, that

the municipality decided it needed an official fire de-partment to combat the in-creasing fire risks. The local government passed the Delta

Fire Bylaw and the fledgling fire department, led by Cecil Lambert and Chief of Police S.C. Fenton, was born.

June 2013 Delta Leader B5

Delta Fire Department celebrates 50 years

❙ Delta Firefighters’ Association president Brad Wilson (on left) and Delta fire chief Dan Copeland celebrate Delta Fire and Emergency Services’ 50th anniversary this month at the Harris Barn in Ladner. Adrian MacNair photo

The communities of Ladner, Tsawwassen, and North Delta have changed over the past half century, and so too has the Delta Fire Department❙ Clayton Andres contributor South Delta Leader

❙ Continued on P.6

Page 6: Special Features - DeltaLeader_06_June2013

B6 ❙ JUNE 2013 the delta leader

Congratulations Delta Fire on 50 years of

professional service!

5381 Ladner Trunk Road | Delta BC | Deltacable.com

778.434.3001

The fire department received its first major upgrades during the First World War, when the Canadian Air Raid Patrol took control of the fire hall, bringing in modern equipment and communication tech-nology.

After the war ended, the municipality was able to purchase the leftover equipment in addition to a Ford Chassis which was converted into the town’s first firetruck.

By 1948, Beach Grove, then populated by sev-eral small residential areas and a few gravel roads, was given a grant to build a small fire hall and purchase their own firetruck. Since most of employment was only available outside the town, there were no men around to occupy the fire hall during the daytime. Thankfully, six Beach Grove women selflessly volunteered to cover the day shifts of the firemen while they went off at work every day.

Shortly after, North Delta had its own fire hall built by community volunteers on 120 Street, with local resident Joe Love purchasing a used firetruck from Vancouver with money from his own pocket.

Over the next few de-cades, the completion of the George Massey Tun-nel and the Tsawwassen Ferry Terminal brought in massive population and economic growth to the Lower Mainland.

“After the tunnel was built,” says former Fire Chief Walter Husband. “Everything exploded.”

Most of the gravel roads were paved over and a shopping centre popped up in Tsawwassen. The economic boom allowed the fire department to buy a chicken barn on the Butler Property for the fourth fire hall.

The East Delta hall was the first to be built by professional builders in-

stead of volunteers. Gor-don Huff was chief there from 1960 to 1988, the longest serving volunteer fire chief in Delta.

Eventually, the munic-ipality was able to afford to hire several full-time career firemen in 1963, when the modern fire de-partment was founded.

B6 Delta Leader June 2013

❙ One of Delta’s first firetrucks, this 1959 GMC was stationed at the volunteer Fire Hall No. 4 in East Delta for three decades before it was mothballed and stored in a number of barns for years. It was recently donated back to the Fire Department in April by local farmer Ivan Peterson for use in the 50th Anniversary celebrations. Peter-son came by the fire truck, which has only 14,000 miles (22,500 km) on it, during an auction 21 years ago for $450. Adrian MacNair photo

❙ From P.5

❙ Continued on P.7

Start your day with the South Delta Leader

Make your homepage southdeltaleader.com and always stay in the know.

Page 7: Special Features - DeltaLeader_06_June2013

THE DELTA LEADER JUNE 2013 ❙ B7

Mayor Lois E. Jackson and Delta Council congratulate Delta Fire & Emergency Services for 50 years of service to Delta. Every day you fulfill your mission by protecting

life, property, and the environment.

Thank you for your invaluable work, we are grateful for your dedication to protecting Delta!

Delta Fire & Emergency Services

Front row: Cllr Jeannie Kanakos, Mayor Lois E. Jackson, Cllr Sylvia Bishop. Back row: Cllrs Ian Paton, Scott Hamilton, Robert Campbell, Bruce McDonald.

The Corporation of Delta4500 Clarence Taylor CrescentDelta BC V4K 3E2(604) 946-4141www.delta.ca

www.guillevinsafety.com

THANK YOUfor the 50 years

of service.

June 2013 Delta Leader B7

The first four paid staff members of the fire de-partment included Hus-band and his fellow fire-men Kenneth Campbell, L.A. Davidson, and John Tapio, with Cliff Cory serving as the fire coor-dinator.

The career firefighters worked alongside the vol-unteers, although there was some confusion over who was officially in charge.

John Tapio, who later became fire chief, noted that all the paid firefight-ers were over 30 years old, but still had to take orders from the younger volunteers while on the job.

The confusion was fi-nally ended when Cory was promoted to be the first paid fire chief over all the fire halls in Delta.

The career firefighters had no official work-ing agreement, howev-er. Wanting to become unionized, the four fire-fighters joined the Rich-mond Local 1286 in 1964, not having the minimum seven members to form their own union.

“It was a great thing to join with [Richmond], but we had to build our-selves up,” says Tapio. Four years later, the Del-ta fire department had enough employees to form the Local 1763.

By 1973, the popula-tion in Delta had grown so much that the fire halls were needed to be kept open 24 hours a day. However, the firefighters were not given a two-pla-toon system to keep up with the demands of the full-day schedule and a year later the fire depart-ment sued the munici-pality.

Although they were suc-cessful, the Delta depart-ment joined Richmond, Coquitlam, and North Vancouver for a two-day strike one year later. The strike led to the creation of the Provincial Services Act, which made it so fire departments and other essential services in B.C. had to keep running ba-sic duties while in labour dispute.

“There’s been a lot of changes over the years, thousands of them,” says Tapio. One of the biggest changes he remembers was the completion of the Alex Fraser Bridge in 1986, giving the fire department easy access to Annacis Island. Since Annacis was virtually unreachable from Delta, firefighting duties on the island had to be contract-ed out to the City of New Westminster for around

$1 million a year. “The bridge made it

much simpler to get over there,” says Tapio, noting how much money was saved after it was fin-ished.

And the changes kept on coming. “In my ca-

reer, our equipment has evolved dramatically,” says Delta Firefighters Association President Brad Wilson. Firefight-ers in Delta now carry self-contained breathing apparatuses and drive trucks equipped with

state-of-the-art commu-nications systems. Delta firefighters can also ac-cess key information on persons and locations while already en route to emergencies using Proj-ect Fires.

❙ The Delta Firefighters’ Association, IAFF Local 1763, was founded in 1968, five years after the modern fire department was founded. Adrian MacNair photo

❙ From P.6

❙ Continued on P.8

Page 8: Special Features - DeltaLeader_06_June2013

B8 ❙ JUNE 2013 the delta leader

who do you know that makes a

difference to delta?Hats Off to Excellence

Gala Awards

Deadline for Nominations is July 12, 2013Submit your nomination online

www.deltachamber.ca/delta_events /hats-off-galaor contact administration 604 946 4232All finalists will attend as our guests at the November Gala

6201 60th Avenue Delta, British Columbia V4K 4E2phone: 604 946 4232 fax: 604 946 5285 email: [email protected] us online: www.deltachamber.ca

This is your opportunity to recognize them!

> VOluNTEEr Of THE YEAr AwArD> riSiNG STAr AwArD> BuSiNESS Of THE YEAr AwArD> EmplOYEE ExTrAOrDiNAirE AwArD> SpECiAl EVENTS & TOuriSm AwArD> CiTizEN Of THE YEAr AwArD

Friday, March 07 2014 at the Harris Barn

Encouraging and nurturing business partnership, collaboration and community involvement.

2

Save The DaTe• •

the south delta leader’s 6th annual

For sponsorship opportunities & tickets call Chrissie Bowker, [email protected]

604 948 3640

projectbloomIn support of International Women’s day

Since the fire depart-ment is called in for hazardous material emergencies on an al-most regular basis, fire-fighters must carry spe-cial hazmat equipment, which Wilson notes is “second to none.”

With the designated hazmat hall built in Tilbury and plans for an-other hall near the Boundary Bay airport and 80 street o v e r p a s s , Delta Fire and Emergency Services is still expanding to keep fighting fires in North Delta, Ladner, and Tsaw-wassen.

Only a few years ago, Delta opened up a cen-tralized office for train-ing in special scenarios in the old fire hall in east Delta.

Fire Hall No. 4 was the last fully volunteer-run fire hall in Delta and closed down in 2010 due to a lack of available firefighters. Wilson wel-comes the new training centre, seeing it as neces-sary “to keep up with all the diverse training the is required for our mem-bers to hone their skills in preparation for the next call.”

Even though the clos-ing of this hall marked the end of the volunteer firefighters in Delta, the fire department, just like Delta itself, didn’t show any signs of slowing down.

On June 14, the Del-ta Fire and Emergency Services celebrated their 50th anniversary with a event at the Kirkland House. The event hon-oured fire department staff past and present who have provided fire-fighting, safety, and med-ical service to residents of the Lower Mainland. Present at the anniversa-ry celebration were some of the Delta Fire Depart-ments most senior mem-bers, including Tapio and Husband. Mayor Lois Jackson, MLA Vicki Hun-tington, and Councillor Scott Hamilton were also in attendance.

The Delta fire depart-ment has been fueled by some of the most dedi-cated men and women in the area, and every firefighter in Delta has at least one favourite mem-ory of working in Delta.

For Wilson, it was de-livering a baby girl while on duty in 2001. For Chief

Dan Copeland, it’s impossible to decide.

“What can I say? This is the best career in

the world. You know the

quote about when you find a job

you love, you never have to work another day in your life. It’s cliche but it’s so true in this case. I take great pride in serv-ing others and that’s what we as firefighters do best.”

B8 Delta Leader June 2013

❙ From P.7

❙ Clockwise from left: A Delta firefighter puts out a blaze at the Tsawwas-sen Town Centre Mall in 2009; Delta’s Team Westshore firefighting combat challenge team during spring training; Delta’s Junior Firefighters program gives kids a chance to play.

Page 9: Special Features - DeltaLeader_06_June2013

the delta leader JUNE 2013 ❙ B9

The British Columbia Professional Fire Fighters’ Association wishes to congratulate the Delta Fire Fighters’ Local 1763 on 50 years of proudly serving their community.

www.bcpffa.orgwww.burnfund.org

June 2013 Delta Leader B9

Battling Burns BogFirefighters in Delta face some of

the most hazardous terrains and unstoppable fires in the Lower Mainland.

In 1999, a State of Emergency was declared in Delta when the Shake and Shingle Landfill in Til-bury erupted in flames. The landfill owner attempted to put out the flames alone, but only accelerat-ed the spread of the flames Nearly 230,000 cubic meters of disposed construction material caught fire and continued burning rapidly for the next weeks, covering Vancou-ver in a thick haze. At its strongest point, the landfill fire covered over a hectare of land and burned 20 meters deep.

This fire was particularly danger-ous as it was located nearby a natu-ral gas line and a high voltage pow-er line. The Delta firefighters closed off a 200 meter burn zone and re-moved and doused larger parts of the burning material to slow down the spread of the flames. The fire cost over $4 million and took 6 months to extinguish.

But one of the most dangerous-ly flammable areas in the Lower Mainland is Burns Bog.

Between 1994 and 1996 there were 5 major fires in Burns Bog, many of which lasted for weeks. One fire in 1996 covered Metro

Vancouver in smoke and ash for 2 days straight.

According to Fire Chief Dan Co-peland, Bog fires burn both above and below ground, making them very dangerous and unpredictable. “You can be putting out one part of the fire and have flames creeping up behind you out of the ground,” says Copeland.

The wind plays a significant role as it can rapidly accelerate the spread of the flames at a moment’s notice. The topography of the bog is also a factor, as firefighters have to continually watch that they don’t fall into sinkholes.

It wasn’t until the Bog was de-clared an ecological reserve in 2004 that the Delta fire department was

able to get the help it needed to fight the bog fires from the Provin-cial government. When another bog fire erupted in 2005, the fire department partnered with BC Forestry Fire Services, using top of line water bombers and the world’s largest air tankers to douse the flames.

According to Copeland, one of the reasons the Bog keeps catching fire is because the old peat harvesters dug deep channels which lowered the water table and allowed nonlo-cal vegetation to enter in, providing more dried fodder for the flames.

Only recently have people started to dam up the channels again to help the water table rise back to its normal levels.

❙ Burns Bog has provided some unique challenges to firefighters over the years. File photo

❙ Clayton Andres contributor South Delta Leader

Proud to support Delta Firefighters

A deserved salute…Westshore Terminals congratulates the men and women of the Delta Fire Department on your milestone 50th anniversary. We know we can count on you for a highly professional job. Westshore has been long-term supporters of the firefighter team in its efforts to educate children in fire safety. We are also proud of Team Westshore Terminals as they continue to excel and hone their personal skills to be the best in the international global firefighter combat challenge series.

And that’s what we try to be in our sphere – Canada’s premier coal export facility – by giving the best possible service in an environmentally responsible manner.

www.westshore.com

Page 10: Special Features - DeltaLeader_06_June2013

B10 ❙ JUNE 2013 the delta leader

Learn to skate, be part of a team and just have fun!

REGISTER NOW FOR FALL RINGETTE

Delta Ringette Association

WWW.DELTARINGETTE.CA EMAIL US: [email protected]

• Ages 5 to 50, all skating levels welcome• Non-contact sport• Lots of fun and fast play• You could participate in BC or Canada Winter Games

• Delta is home to many BC Winter Games and Canadian Champions• Registration information and forms on our website, or register in person on Tuesday, August 20 from 1 to 4 pm at Tilbury Ice, 7187 Vantage Way

@sdleader | facebook.com/ | sdleadersouthdeltaleader.com | 604.948.3640

Chrissie Bowker,Publisher

Jane Ilott,Sales

Jenelle Julien,Sales

Kristene Murray,Circulation Manager

Katie Engelland District Advisor

Sarah Kelloway, Creative Services

Adrian McNairReporter

Robert MangelsdorfEditor

Thank you to the Delta Fire Department for keeping our community safe.

B10 Delta Leader June 2013

Former fire chiefs Walter Husband and John Tapio were born and raised in the Delta area, so when they were asked to join the volunteer fire de-partment in the 1950s, they both jumped at the chance to help their community.

Tapio was a c o m m e r c i a l f i s h e r m a n when he was asked to join the volunteer force in 1959, while Hus-band had a successful construction business.

Husband joined in 1953, and like Tapio, had to work to put bread on the table in between fighting fires.

While Husband’s job as a construction worker came in handy for helping to build additional fire halls in Delta, Tapio was often too busy fish-ing to attend regular training practices.

After the ferry terminal and the George Massey tunnel were completed, Husband’s building company benefited immensely from the sudden population and the industry boom. But he and Tapio left

their work behind when they were offered full-time paid positions in the fire depart-ment.

Husband and Tapio per-formed the same duties they had when they were volun-teers, although it was very

different working as paid firefighters along-

side the other vol-unteers .

“Now I won’t go into it, but there were a few wrin-

kles starting out,” says Hus-

band. “But it went smooth in a way. We had

our problems but it all turned out OK.”

Tapio had it a bit easier in North Delta. “We had a good hall,” says Tapio, “and we were born there, so they accepted us. The guys were pretty dedi-cated to the work, but it was a transition no question.”

At first, the career fighters were called ‘custodians.’ Hus-band suspects that the reason they were called that was so the municipality didn’t have to pay them full fireman’s wages.

Since there was no official working agreement for the career firefighters, wages

were as low as $320 a month. “All we had was a set of cover-alls and a broom,” Tapio says.

“Our wages,” says Husband, “let’s just say they weren’t the tops.”

In 1964, the Delta firefight-ers decided they needed better bargaining rights and joined the Richmond Local 1286, since they didn’t have enough staff to form their own Local. Four years lat-

er, the Delta Local 1763 was created and Tapio served as both Vice President and Pres-ident on the Local executive, helping gain parity wages for officers in Greater Vancouver, Richmond, and Delta.

In a few short years, Hus-band was given the role of assistant chief over the whole department, however he still had to provide his own vehi-cle.

“I drove a half-ton truck which had a fire radio they put in it for me,” says Hus-band. When Dougal Morri-son became mayor, he was shocked to find out the heads of the fire department were driving their own cars.

When Fire Chief Cliff Cory retired in 1969, Husband was asked to take his place until a full-time replacement could be found.

“I was told I was going to be a ‘standstill fire chief,’” says Husband, “and I was told to carry on as it was before.” He only served as fire chief for 8 months, but returned to his regular firefighting duties af-ter stepping down.

Tapio was later promoted to Assistant Fire Chief in 1977 and then Fire Chief the very next year.

“I was commanded to be Fire Chief and away it went,” says Tapio. “It was bigger sur-prise for all the men at the fire hall than it was to me.”

Tapio has given much of himself to fighting fires all over Delta and Burns Bog, but he still feels that the hon-ours belong to the unsung heroes of the fire department. Speaking of former volunteer Fire Chief Gordon Huff, “He was a great help. Volunteers like him supported us right through.”

“The Fire Service is much more than any one person,” Tapio shares. “[We] all work together to accomplish the task at hand it’s this team ef-fort where everything counts.”

Husband retired in 1985, while Tapio retired from his role as Chief in 1991, both pro-viding over 30 years of service to the Delta fire department.

Fire chiefs recall history of department

❙ Former Delta fire chiefs Walter Husband (on left) and John Tapio. Adrian MacNair photo

❙ Clayton Andres contributor South Delta Leader

Page 11: Special Features - DeltaLeader_06_June2013

the delta leader JUNE 2013 ❙ B11June 2013 Delta Leader B11

Delta firefighters give back to their community every day of their work-ing life. But their concern for their community extends far beyond the job.

The Delta Firefighters Charitable Society was created in 1994 by members of the fire department who wanted to raise and distribute funds for charities in Delta and across the country.

The DFCS puts on events in Delta to fund-raise for charities and causes chosen by the fire-fighters themselves. Delta Fire-fighters Association President Brad Wilson says the firefighters choose charities that are near and dear to them and personally help raise funds for “charities and programs within our community and our province.”

Just this year, the fire department will allow firefighters to donate out of their own pockets through a vol-untary payroll deduction. According to Wilson, 93 per cent of the depart-ment’s members voluntarily signed up for the initiative, guaranteeing a

whopping $30,000 donation annually. Some of the charities supported by

the Delta fire department are Mus-cular Dystrophy Canada, B.C. Profes-sional Firefighter’s Burn Fund, Del-ta Hospital Foundation, B.C. Guide Dogs, and many other development and children’s programs.

The fire department’s annual Muscular Dystrophy Boot

Drive continues to be a huge success. Local fire-fighters were recently recognized for donat-ing more money to the cause than any other

fire department in the province for several years

straight.Just this year, Delta Firefight-

ers Association members committed $100,000 toward the first B.C. Fire-fighters Association Burn Building. The building will be located on Main Street in Vancouver and will provide free housing for the families of burn victims, cancer patients, and others with serious illnesses.

“I am very proud of what we do in our community,” says Wilson.

For more information on the Delta Firefighters Charitable Society, go to www.deltafirefighters.com/charita-ble-society

Delta firefighters give back❙ Clayton Andres contributor South Delta Leader

❙ (Above) The Delta Firefighters’ Charitable Society helped raise $30,000 towards the purchase of a wheelchair-accessible van for firefighter Mike Bjarnason’s wife, Jennifer Rumley, after she was paralyzed last year. Now Rumley says she can get back to being a mom again, and drive her three-year-old son Cameron and five-year-old daughter Kaitlyn instead of having to rely on others.(Left) The Delta Firefighters’ Charitable Society has been a longtime supporter of B.C. Alberta Guide Dog Services, and named one of the newest recruits, Delta.Adrian MacNair photo

604-940-0329

24 Hours a day • 365 days a year

delta fire department on your

50th anniversaryWhether you have a flat tire, are locked out, have an automotive emergency or just need to tow your boat or motorcycle across town, call Roadway Towing for all your wrecker towing and recovery needs.

Servicing greater vancouver including delta, ladner, tSawwaSSen, Surrey and richmond.

Congratulat ions

Page 12: Special Features - DeltaLeader_06_June2013

B12 ❙ JUNE 2013 the delta leader

Delta Hospital Auxiliary

Delta Hospital Auxiliary5800 Mountain View Blvd. Delta, B.C.

604-946-1121 LOCAL 783212www.deltahospitalauxiliary.org

Your Brigade in Blue at Delta HospitalPRESENTS

A tax receipt will be issued for every cash donation to the Delta Hospital Auxiliary. Registered charity number 13952-5596 RR001

Upon arrival to the hospital, the

volunteers in Blue are there to greet

you, and provide support during your hospital visit. You will also fi nd them in emergency, acute care and performing

daily one-on-one interactions

with patients in residential care.

Become a Friends of Seniors Volunteer at Mountain

View Manor: We are now accepting volunteer

applications from High School students aged 14 plus. The Friends of Seniors program promotes friendship and understanding between youth and older adults. Successful candidates

will be trained and thoughtfully matched to

visit with seniors once a week between October and May.

Volunteering is a great way to explore potential career paths, meet new friends and gain new skills. If you are interested in this unique volunteer opportunity please email [email protected] or call 604-535-4500 ext 757477 for more information.

Become a Friends of Seniors Volunteer at Mountain

View Manor:accepting volunteer

applications from High School students aged 14 plus. The Friends of Seniors program promotes friendship and understanding between youth and older adults. Successful candidates

will be trained and thoughtfully matched to

visit with seniors once a week between October and May.

Volunteering is a great way to

Ladner Market Sundays are a perfect time to come and learn more about us and the work we do. The Auxiliary Thrift shop will also be open every market Sunday and will feature our Treasure Tent with a different kind of “treasure” featured each market.

Proceeds to benefi t patient care & comforts at our Delta Hospital.

Upon arrival to Upon arrival to the hospital, the

volunteers in Blue are there to greet

you, and provide support during your hospital visit. You will also fi nd them in emergency, acute care and performing

daily one-on-one interactions

with patients in residential care.

Ladner

Market Sundays

have arrived!

Volunteer!

Proud collaborators with other volunteer organizations contributing to healthcare in our community.

Do you have some spare time? Are you recently retired and looking to meet and socialize with new acquaintances? Becoming a volunteer might be a perfect opportunity for you. We have openings! Choose to donate you time in one of our seven units: Lifeline, Thrift Shop, Gift Shop, Hospital Unit, Ways and Means, Auxiliary Offi ce and Café.

Evergreen Garden Club Executive donation to the Auxiliary.

The funds came from the Club’s plant sale which was held in May and will be used to

purchase shade trees and planter for the outside of Mountain View Manor.