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SOCIAL ISSUES
Local Muslim family endures bigotry BY CHRIS SIMON
csimon@yrmg.com
Sometimes, outlying incidents have the biggest effect on our lives. That appears to be the case with Newmarket resident Aicha Harrachou, who is still clearly shaken after allegedly becoming a target for harassment because of her religious beliefs. The proud and dedicated Moroccan-born Muslim woman, who wears a traditional hijab on her head, has lived in Newmarket for about a decade. During that time, she’s developed a good relationship with neighbours and has rarely felt discriminated against in northern York Region. However, an incident at Upper Canada Mall Sept. 21 has left Harrachou proudly defending her belief structure. Harrachou says she was deliberately targeted by a fellow shopper, who followed her through
a portion of the mall around Sears. The woman then approached Harrachou — who was talking on a cell phone at the time — and kicked her shopping basket. “She was giving me bad looks; I ignored her and just walked away,” Harrachou said. “She passed by me and kicked my basket. I was so upset. I told her she wasn’t going to get away with this and we need to call the police to see what’s going on. I don’t know you. Why are you doing that to me? The lady was laughing at me. I was crying and shaking. She’s not native; if you look at her background, (perhaps) her grandparents, she’s an immigrant like me.” Following the incident, Harrachou found two security guards and pleaded her case to contact York Regional Police. At that point, one guard allegedly attempted to dissuade her from making the call. During the argument, the shop-
per in question apparently left the mall, Harrachou said. “I was told to just ignore this,” she said. “I’m not going to ignore this. It’s not right. I have a right to shop like her.” Strangely, that was the second time members of the family were targeted for harassment based on religion within days — Youssef Mazouni’s pregnant wife, Siham Asri, was sworn at and told to “go back” to where she came from by someone in the parking lot of the Aurora Walmart Sept. 17. Harrachou is Mazouni’s aunt. “There was a big black pickup truck next to our (van),” Mazouni said. “I had picked up McDonald’s… I suggested to my wife that she sit in the back and eat with our girls so they don’t make a mess. She opened
See page A9.
Susie Kockerscheidt/Metroland
Aicha Harrachou says she was the victim of discrimination at Upper Canada Mall last week. Her nephew and his wife also say they were the target of similar bullying outside Aurora’s Walmart recently.
BUSINESS
Magna headquarters staying until 2022 BY TERESA LATCHFORD
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M
agna International Inc. headquarters will remain in Aurora until 2022. The manufacturing giant has announced the construction of a new corporate headquarters building to be located in King Township has been put on hold and the company has reached an agreement with its current landlord to extend the lease at its Aurora location at 337 Magna Drive just off Wellington St. E., north of Leslie Street. This provides Magna an opportunity to monitor the macro-economic conditions impacting the automotive industry and to continue evaluating future needs, Magna spokesperson Tracy Fuerst wrote in a statement. “We are extremely appreciative to King Township for their hard work, support and professionalism provided throughout the development process.” When asked if there was a possibility the move to King could be scrapped, Fuerst didn’t reply. Magna announced its intention to move to King from Aurora in May 2015. The proposed complex included a one-storey, 120,000-square-foot research and development building, an underground parking lot, softball diamonds and a pool.
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Susie Kockerscheidt/Metroland
Magna International Inc. headquarters will remain in Aurora until 2022. The international auto parts giant purchased a 105-acre property located at Jane Street and King Road with the intention of constructing the new headquarters by December 2017. In August, Fuerst confirmed that date had been pushed to the summer of 2018.
King Township Mayor Steve Pellegrini, who was previously said this was the best thing that ever happened to King, confirmed the town is aware of the recent decision made by Magna. “I’ll admit it is a little disappointing, but we are hopeful things will continue to
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move along,” Pellegrini said. “They have been given renewal opportunity that will allow them to monitor the market conditions and give them the chance to ride it out a little.” Pellegrini confirmed town staff continues to work with Magna on rezoning the property in King. Aurora is pleased Magna will be staying longer as they have been part of the town’s landscape for many years, Mayor Geoff Dawe said. For many years, the company has been a great community partner that has supported the community with fundraisers such as the Magna Hoedown, which raises funds for local charities year after year. This delay gives us more horizon to work with the owner of the property, Granite Realty, to get the property occupied once it is vacated, he added. As for rumours in the community, Dawe said there have not been any requests submitted to the town to rezone the property, with the exception of adding a butcher shop to the existing building, which was before council weeks ago.
COMMUNITY
Chicken confidential: breaking municipal law 1 egg at a time BY SIMON MARTIN
smartin@yrmg.com
Some laws are made to be broken. That’s at least how Dave Farlow sees it. The King Township resident walks around on egg shells worried that bylaw officers will get wind of his backyard chickens. That’s why he’s using a fake name for this interview. “I’m always worried about getting caught,” he said. Farlow has been tending to backyard chickens since 2012 and can’t recommend it enough for others to try, even though it is against the law. Growing up on a farm, Farlow said the motivation to get backyard chickens was simple. “I wanted to be closer to my food,” he said. After reading a few books on raising the animals, Farlow built a coop and got his neighbours on board so they wouldn’t turn him in. Bylaw works on a complaint basis, so Farlow said it’s important to have a good relationship with your neighbours if you do something like this. He finds the town’s bylaws outdated. “I think they are worried about the thin
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edge of the wedge,” he said. “That if they give an inch, people will take a mile.” Farlow’s three chickens produce roughly 14 eggs a week. “That’s good healthy food with minimal effort,” he said. What is of greater importance for Farlow is that the chickens in his backyard have a far better life than those at a factory farm. They can roam free in his backyard in the evening before heading into the coop for the night. “We have great enjoyment watching them,” he said. Farlow is one of many York Region residents flouting municipalities’ bylaws in order to raise chickens. Albert Wong (not his real name) is another Mike Barrett/Metroland
Backyard chicken egg enthusiasts worry they will get their wings clipped by the authorities if they reveal their identities.
See page A9.
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