THE FRIDAY
2010 WINNER
MARCH 9, 2012 www.tricitynews.com
TRI-CITY NEWS Does bilingualism work?
Take health challenge
SEE FACE TO FACE, PAGE A11
SEE, PAGE A22
INSIDE Letters/A12 Things-to-do Guide/A21 Elaine Golds/A27 Sports/A50
Spring forward and play it safe this weekend Port Coquitlam Fire and Eme Emergency Services is reminding people to check their smoke alarms when they set their clocks forward this weekend. week Taking a few minutes every six months to maintain a smoke alarm can save lives and firefighters enco encourage homeowners to change the batteries, test and clean their devices every time the clocks change. B Beyond the twice-yearly check-ups, firefighters recommend people follow the manufacturer’s instructions instru for maintenance and even check smoke alarms each week by pushing the test button. Batteries Batte should be chanced twice a year and the devices can be cleaned by gently vacuuming the inside ins using the soft-brush attachment to remove dust from the sensors. Alarms should be replaced repla every 10 years and installed outside each sleeping area on every level of the home. Besides B checking smoke alarms this weekend, the Insurance Bureau of Canada is also urging u Canadians to prepare for an emergency as they spring forward. IBC suggests you prepare or restock emergency supplies kits — for use during a disaster such as a major earthquake — in your home and vehicle. • For more information about smoke alarms, visit www.portcoquitlam.ca/fire or contact the Port Coquitlam fire department at fire@portcoquitlam.ca or 604-927-5466. Without a smoke alarm, you’re 74% more likely to die in a fire, according to a study of almost 50,000 fires in B.C., Alberta and Ontario between 2006 and 2011. The study also found, however, that a quarter of all smoke alarms found at fire locations do not function properly.
Search called off for missing PM woman A Port Moody woman has gone missing while on a cruise off the coast of Florida. Fariba Amani, 47, was reported missing from the Bahamas Celebration ship on Feb. 29 after the ship returned from a two-night trip between Grand Bahama Island and the Port of Palm Beach, Florida, according to media reports. Her boyfriend, 46-year-old Ramiz Golshani, has told reporters he last saw Amani at 1 a.m. at the gift shop before he headed to the casino. When he woke up later that day, she still hadn’t returned. He reported Amani missing when the ship docked. Crew members searched the ship but did not find her. The U.S. Coast Guard called off its intensive air and sea search after two days.
Strike ended, spring break about to begin Fewer students in schools in 2nd, 3rd days of job action By Diane Strandberg THE TRI-CITY NEWS
SUBMITTED PHOTO
Fariba Amani, who went missing from a cruise ship Feb. 29. The Port Moody Police are assisting the FBI’s missing person investigation. Golshani did not respond to messages left by The TriCity News. spayne@tricitynews.com
School District 43 teachers and students are wrapping up a week of job action, rallies and study sessions — followed by two days of classes — and looking forward to a two-week spring break. The week was marked by orderly protests outside TriCity public schools and a student sit-in at the district
board office to raise awareness of youth concerns. As well, fewer students made it to classrooms as the week progressed and job action to protest Bill 22 closed schools. Only four elementary and three middle school students showed up to schools on Tuesday, and five elementary school students on Wednesday, according to School District 43. More high school students have been showing up, about 20 on Tuesday and 58 on Wednesday, but it was mostly Terry Fox students who wanted to take part in sports.
On Monday, 56 students showed up at schools, about half of them high school students. One of the reasons for the drop in numbers of elementary students attending schools could be the district’s decision Monday to allow onsite private daycares to extend their hours to include the period from 9 a.m. to 3 p.m. during the strike. Also this week, a group of drama students met at the district board office on Tuesday to raise awareness about the effect of job action on a Terry Fox musical. see PEACEFUL PEACEFUL,, page A19
DIANE STRANDBERG/THE TRI-CITY NEWS
Port Moody secondary school teachers Mike Proniuk (TOC) and Wendy Hawkin (English) strike on Monday.