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Thursday, March 19, 2015
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Kent mayor back home after crash John Van Laerhoven airlifted to hospital By Lorene Keitch The Observer
REC CENTRE Community Recreation
& Cultural Centre a busy place these days.
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LORENE KEITCH/ THE OBSERVER
The Village of Harrison Hot Springs Council is currently deliberating the “proliferation” of sandwich boards within the village.
Sandwich sign bylaw gets another look
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Concerns raised by the Chamber of Commerce over the proposed sign bylaw
Lorene Keitch THE OBSERVER
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INSIDE
Crash claims 3 . . . . . . . 2 Inmate sentenced . . . . 3 Opinion . . . . . . . . . . . . 6 Mailbag . . . . . . . . . . . . 7 Gardening . . . . . . . . . . 9 Classieds . . . . . . . . . 14
There has been seemingly endless discussion about a proposed sign bylaw amendment in the Village of Harrison Hot Springs. After multiple Council meetings and three readings, Council made the unusual decision Monday evening to send the bylaw back to staff for further revision. At the March 16 meeting, Coun. Sonja Reyerse shared concerns raised by the Chamber of Commerce over the proposed sign bylaw, which was on the agenda for what is usually a perfunctory fourth and final reading.
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Chamber directors proposed that signs would be allowed further from the business premises in the off-season months to attract the smaller volume of traffic towards businesses. "Business is tough enough in the off-season," Reyerse remarked. Other issues raised at the March 16 Council meeting included signage placement for home-based businesses, hours for sandwich boards to be allowed on display and consequences for not obeying the revised bylaw. So, Mayor Leo Facio recommended the bylaw be referred back to staff for clarification and then sent
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back to Council at a later date. The amended bylaw was first proposed to Council at the February 16 meeting, which included recommendations made by the Chamber of Commerce. After Council deliberation, the bylaw was altered then sent back to Council for the March 2 meeting. The proposed changes would allow a business only one sandwich board outside of their establishment. The board could be placed no further than five metres from the business premises and must not be placed on boulevards, at the curb or be a “nuisance or impediment”
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to foot traffic, amongst other requirements. The current bylaw allows multiple sandwich boards at a distance of up to 300 metres from the business premises. There was ample discussion by councillors March 2, ranging from businesses on Lillooet Ave. facing a negative impact, proposals for new directional signage, the need for bylaws to be equitable for all businesses, the distance a sandwich board should be placed from business premises and whether the village can dictate primary languages used on signage.
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District of Kent Mayor John Van Laerhoven is home and recovering following a crash last Friday, March 13. Van Laerhoven was riding his motorcycle southbound on Highway 9 near the Agassiz-Rosedale Bridge just before 12 p.m. when he crashed. He was airlifted to Royal Columbian Hospital where he was kept for three nights for observation. He had no broken bones and is making a "speedy recovery," according to District officials. The stretch of highway between the AgassizRosedale Bridge and the roundabout was closed for almost three hours, with southbound traffic diverted to Ferry Road, while RCMP and paramedics attended the scene. In his absence, Councillor Darcy Striker is the acting Deputy Mayor. Van Laerhoven was reelected for his second term as mayor in the November, 2014 municipal election. He served a term previous to that as a Councillor. He has lived in Agassiz since 1959, was a teacher in Agassiz for 18 years and Chilliwack for another 16. He is married with three children. He is chair of the Fraser Valley Regional Library Board, represents the District of Kent at the FVRD and sits on the Fraser Valley Regional Hospital District. Residents who want to send well wishes to Mayor Van Laerhoven may forward them to Executive Assistant Karin Ponciano at kponciano@district.kent. bc.ca.
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22 Agassiz Agassiz Harrison Harrison Observer Observer Thursday, Thursday, March March 19, 19, 2015 2015
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NOTICE OF OPEN HOUSE 2015-2019 Financial Plan
Pursuant to Section 166 of the Community Charter, members of the public are invited and encouraged to attend either of two open houses with respect to the proposed 2015-2019 Financial Plan. The open houses will be held on Monday, March 23, 2015 between 12:00 – 2:00 pm and again on Tuesday, March 24, 2015 from 7:00 – 9:00 pm, in the Centennial Centre at the Municipal Hall on 7170 Cheam Avenue, Agassiz, BC. The proposed Financial Plan will be presented to Council at the regular meeting on Monday, April 13, 2015 at 7:00pm, following which the Council of the District of Kent will be considering three (3) readings of the 2015-2019 Financial Plan Bylaw. For further information please contact the undersigned at (604)796-2235. Judy Lewis Director of Financial Services
Call for BC Artists and Cultural Workers
Photo: Sara Machtaler
Are you an artist or cultural worker active in promoting arts and culture in your community? If so, BC Culture Days invites you to apply to be the next BC Culture Days Ambassador! The top finalist will win a trip to the National Congress on Culture in Edmonton, May 7 & 8, 2015 and $2,500 towards the production of their Culture Days event, September 25-27, 2015! In addition, up to 10 finalists will be awarded $1,000 towards production of Culture Days events in their community. Deadline: April 13, 2015 For submission criteria and guidelines or details on upcoming Culture Days information sessions, please visit BC.CultureDays.ca To register your 2015 Culture Days event visit CultureDays.ca We gratefully acknowledge the financial support of the Province of British Columbia.
News
Crash takes three young lives
Local hockey communities are grieving the loss of three young men, killed in a single vehicle crash early Friday morning. The three cousins, 20-year-old Brad Webb of Hope; Devan KingPeters, 19, of Chilliwack; and, Philip Morgan Peters Jr., 18, also of Hope were travelling west on Highway 1 when their vehicle left the road. According the BC Coroners Service, the vehicle went into the ditch before slamming into the side of the Hunter Creek weigh station building. The force of the impact crumpled the side of the building and left the car a mangled wreck on its roof. All three men were pronounced dead at the scene. The incident occurred at around 4 a.m. But it
ERIN KNUTSON/ BLACK PRESS
Investigators on scene at a single vehicle accident outside Hope Friday that left three people dead.
wasn’t until a passing trucker noticed the scene that the accident was discovered. RCMP are asking any witnesses to contact Const. Clark at Fraser Valley Traffic Services, 604-702-4039. The tragedy has sent shock waves through the local minor hockey community. Jordan Peters was a well known player who competed at the junior C level.
Members of the Chilliwack Minor Hockey Association organized ice time at Prospera Centre on Tuesday. The intent was to give younger players and chance to offer condolences and show their support for the families of the men. Peters’ jersey was to be signed by local players and framed. Meanwhile there has been an outpouring
of support on social media. “They were inseparable, from young mischievous boys up to plotting and vowing pacts with spit handshakes,” writes a family member on a crowdfunding page. “I’m just asking for any financial support small or what have you to help the families make it through the tragic loss a bit easier for any unforeseen expenses that are sure to come. “This is a huge shock for this entire family. These are all the best people I have ever known and call my family.” An account is set up to help the families with expenses at www. gofundme.com/ovxyg4, according to one post. The cause of the crash is still under investigation.
Businesses, Village chew on sandwich board changes
From Front
"I'm hoping we can discuss what kind of position this puts businesses that find themselves on Lillooet," said Coun. Samantha Piper. "They don't benefit from improvements on Esplanade or heavy foot traffic." After the three readings passed with Piper opposed, the Village sent letters to business owners alerting them to the changes. Business owners had a lot to say on the matter. Kas and Tina Kassam have owned the Village Pizzeria for 19 years. They see countless pedestrians go up and down Esplanade Ave. and never make their way one street up to their Lillooet Ave. location. They’ve had customers call for a pizza from one of the hotels then go back to the hotel to get directions because they can’t find the Kassam’s restaurant. “It makes a major difference” having sandwich boards, says Kas Kassam. They used to have one board on Hot Springs Road and one out front of their business. Last month, they decided to buy one more sandwich board, at a cost of $300, to put on the corner of Esplanade Ave. and St. Alice Street. They estimate that in the last month alone, they have had at least a 25 per cent increase in business from that new sign. Lakefront Café owner Ryan Souliere says he’s not sure what the problem was with the way the bylaw was before and says the sign he places alongside Hot Springs Road helps draw traffic
Under the proposed amended bylaw, sandwich boards would not be allowed further than five metres from a business premises. Rocky Mountain Chocolate Factory owner Frank Peters says the Village should allow for seasonal differences with sandwich board regulations.
to his small restaurant. He says it’s no secret that the west side of Esplanade Ave. is the “hot spot” and businesses on the east side need to draw attention to visitors. Frank Peters owns the Rocky Mountain Chocolate Factory in Harrison. He says while he agrees that the Village needs to maintain proper aesthetics, the challenge for businesses is operating yearround in a primarily summerbased tourist destination. “I would like the Village to have their bylaws reflect the seasons, to allow us for the not-so-busy months to place our sandwich boards further,” says Peters. At the March 16 Council meeting, Hungry Chef owner Mike Ronen showed up to voice his concerns. He said while he understands the reasons for the whole issue - "At one point the
whole area was like the wild west of signage," he remarked, he feels it will hurt his Lillooet Ave. business to not be allowed at least one other sign for businesses on Lilloett Ave. While he was at it, he raised the possibility of lighting and sidewalks up Lillooet Ave. too. "We pay taxes too," he stated. "For the past 15 years, [there's] nothing happening on this street." The plan to change the current sign bylaw was first brought up at a committee of the whole meeting in July, 2014. According to a staff report, the committee discussed the "proliferation" of sandwich boards and wanted to look at limiting the number and distance of signs permitted per business.
Agassiz Harrison Observer Thursday, March 19, 2015 3 Agassiz Harrison Observer Thursday, March 19, 2015 3
Lorene Keitch THE OBSERVER
A Kent inmate has been sentenced to seven years for his violent slashing of a female guard in 2012. Kevin Beaulieu was serving seven and a half years in Kent Institution, a maximum security prison located in the District of Kent. On June 23, 2012, Beaulieu slashed the face and neck of corrections officer Charmaine Weiss with a razor blade. Beaulieu approached Weiss with a paper in his hand. As Weiss looked down, Beaulieu slashed her down her right cheek from just under her eye to under her chin. “It felt like my whole face split open, and instantly there was just tons of blood,” she told Black Press in July, 2012. She was taken to the prison’s health facility and an ambulance was called. But, the ‘profuse bleeding’ didn’t stop the cut artery. An air ambulance took her to Royal Columbian Hospital where she underwent almost three hours of surgery. In total, she lost four litres of blood. Beaulieu was heard after the incident commenting that it was a good day and that he said
Submitted
An inmate at Kent Institution slashed the face and neck of a female corrections officer with a razor blade on June 23, 2012.
he would do it. “He was also observed to be smiling and apparently pleased with himself,” according to court documents. Later on he was heard bragging, “Almost killed her. Best day of my life.” Beaulieu, 43, grew up in Surrey, B.C. He started using cocaine as a teenager and began committing property crime. According to Justice Blok, Beaulieu’s criminal record is “extensive.” Offences include convictions for dangerous
operation o a motor vehicle, property offence, robbery, arson, flight while being pursued by a police officer and mischief. He has 14 convictions for violent crimes, several that took place in prison. The sentence, handed down last month in Chilliwack’s Supreme Court, took into account sentences for other similar offences as well as the fact that the assault involved an element of premeditation, a random victim and an attack
that met all three definitions of aggravated assault (wounding, maiming and disfiguring). On February 11, 2015, Beaulieu pleaded guilty to the offence of aggravated assault. Justice Blok reported that Weiss has had a severe and long-lasting impact from the assault. She suffers from stress, post-traumatic stress disorder, depression, panic attacks, flashbacks and more. She avoids social gatherings, she has suffered financially and those close to her say her personality has changed. She has a large, prominent scar down the whole side of her face and part of her neck which causes her discomfort. Weiss went public with the incident in July, 2012 to highlight safety concerns at the maximum-security institution. At the time, she reported that she wished to remain working as a correctional officer. However, court documents state she has gone from working a a maximum-security institution to a minimumsecurity one but “this too has apparently proven too much for her and it appears that her career in Corrections, a career that she trained for and loved, may well be over.”
High court to decide right to pot cookies
Jeff Nagel
BLACK PRESS
Canada’s high court will weigh the constitutional rights of medical marijuana users for the first time on Friday. At stake in the case before the Supreme Court of Canada is whether approved legal cannabis users can be restricted to just using dried marijuana – the only authorized product under the new system of regulated producers – and denied access to oil extracts and other options, such as pot brownies and cookies. It flows from the 2009 drug trafficking arrest of Owen Smith, a Victoria
man who baked pot into various edibles for a cannabis buyers’ club. Medical pot patients have twice convinced lower courts in B.C. that it’s unconstitutional for them to be denied their medicine in different forms if they cannot or do not wish to smoke it. The B.C. Court of Appeal split 2-1 on the issue last August, agreeing federal regulations should simply state “marijuana” instead of “dried marijuana” but said actual changes to legislation should come from Parliament. Health Canada has so far refused to authorize alternative medical
marijuana products. “Other means that don’t involve smoking are less problematic for health,” said Abbotsford lawyer John Conroy, calling the restriction inconsistent with the medical marijuana regulation’s goal of protecting health. He said alternative forms are more effective for some people. “Sick people trying to enhance their quality of life should not be criminalized for their choice of medicine,” said lawyer Kirk Tousaw, who represents Smith. He will argue the current law limiting authorized users to dried marijuana
restricts the choice of treatment for serious illnesses and therefore violates the charter right to life, liberty and security of the person. Tousaw will urge the top court to simply
exempt medical marijuana possession from the Controlled Drugs and Substances Act. Medical pot could then still be regulated by
What do you think? Write us
email: news@ahobserver.com
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Thank You The Royal Canadian Legion, Agassiz Branch #32 wish to thank the people of our community for their very generous donations made to the 2014 Poppy Campaign.
A total of $10,079 was brought in, and after taking out $2,844 for poppy supplies we have $7,235 to assist our veterans. In the past year, we have assisted our veterans, donated to the training of PTSD service dogs, and awarded local school children for the Poster/Literacy Contest. With your continued donations, we can provide the support our veterans deserve.
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Kent inmate who slashed guard sentenced to seven years
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4 Agassiz Harrison Observer Thursday, March 19, 2015 4 Agassiz Harrison Observer Thursday, March 19, 2015
RCMP seek assistance after injured man found
RCMP are seeking Hot Springs Road, near assistance from the public Golf Road in the District as a result of a traffic of Kent. incident which occurred A 46 year old man on February 19, 2015 at was located on the road approximately 8:15 P.M. and taken to hospital flyers. coupons. deals. savings tips. The incident occurred on in critical but stable flyers. coupons. deals. savings tips. flyers. coupons. deals. savings tips. flyers. coupons. deals. savings tips.
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condition. Local RCMP confirm the victim has now been released from the hospital. Police are asking for assistance from the public to help to identify the driver of a dark colored pickup truck. The driver may have important information to aid in the investigation. “At this stage of the investigation it is unclear how the man was injured” said Sergeant J.D. Fredette. Agassiz RCMP ask anyone who may have any information about this incident to contact the Agassiz RCMP at 604-796-2211 or should you wish to remain anonymous to contact Crime Stoppers at 1-800222-847 (TIPS).
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News
LORENE KEITCH / OBSERVER
It was a scramble to get the best treats when the bake table opened at the St. Patrick’s Tea at Agassiz’ Friendship House held last Saturday, March 14.
Medical marijuana lawyers aim for big win From 3
other means by Ottawa, he said, but its users would be shielded from criminal prosecution. “You can keep your outdated, ineffective prohibition on recreational marijuana consumers and producers. But let’s take sick people off the front lines of this ridiculous war on this plant.” Police and federal authorities object because, unlike a bag of dried bud, it’s difficult to readily determine if personal possession limits are exceeded with products or extracts like brownies, cookies, oils and topical creams. Tousaw insists it’s a red herring and other jurisdictions have dealt with that issue. “To our immediate south in Washington, you can access all of these products, medically or recreationally, without fear of criminal sanction.” The one-day Supreme Court hearing on March 20 is just one
“To our immediate south in Washington, you can access all of these products, medically or recreationally, without fear of criminal sanction” Kirk Tousaw legal front in in a war between pot advocates and the federal government over how medical marijuana is controlled. The other key battleground is in Federal Court, where Conroy has sought to overturn the federal government’s ban on personal home growing by licensed users, which has continued under an injunction pending the outcome of the case. He is also making a constitutional argument on behalf of users who say
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they cannot afford to buy commercially grown marijuana under Ottawa’s new system and that it denies them control over the strains they use. The court heard conflicting evidence last week from fire chiefs from Surrey and Fort McMurray on the severity of public safety risks from authorized home grows. Conroy will argue Ottawa has insufficient justification for the ban in closing arguments set for the end of April. A win at the Supreme Court of Canada would likely have major implications for the case on home growing, Tousaw said, and could finally force reforms that the government has resisted, despite 15 years of litigation. “Canadians have had to fight for every inch they’ve been able to get in court and the system continues to cause people to suffer in an arbitrary way that’s unrelated to protecting health and public safety.”
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Agassiz Harrison Observer Thursday, March 19, 2015 5 Agassiz Harrison Observer Thursday, March 19, 2015 5
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Rec Centre alive with activity Almost 200 per cent increase in revenue January 2015
Lorene Keitch OBSERVER
The Community Recreation & Cultural Centre (CRCC) is thriving following its recent renovations. The 14,000 sq. ft. (1,300 sq. m) addition opened in October, 2014, followed by a grand opening in November. The addition includes a gymnasium, two multi-purpose rooms, a small kitchen and enhancements to the existing washrooms, change rooms and common area as well as the welcome / administration foyer. The recreation facility, located at 6660 Pioneer Avenue in Agassiz, has seen enormous growth in program and dropin attendance. There was a 198 per cent increase in registered program revenue in January 2015 compared to January 2014. There was an 89 per cent increase in drop-in sales and a 41 per cent increase in total facility usage. Total revenue increased 74 per cent for January 2015 over January 2014.
Registration for the 2015 Winter programs opened January 12. Within two days, several had either filled up or come close to capacity. Music Pups, a program for babies and young children that encourages musical development, filled up within two days and there was a wait list for a second session to operate. Little Kickers, which can now have an indoor session because of the new gym, was at near-capacity within days. In the arts programming, the Exploring Watercolour Painting course also saw high numbers within a couple days. All that is good news to staff at the centre. “It’s a dream come true,” says recreation programmer Kristen Patrice. Patrice explains that, before the new facility opened, it was often a challenge to organize off-site activities. Having everything in-house ensures they can run programs without the issues of maintenance,
access and equipment that were sometimes barriers to effective programming. “It is especially rewarding to be able to program for and meet the needs of our youth, as that wasn’t always possible before the expansion,” remarks recreation supervisor Kimberly Goulet. It bodes well for children as well, with more than 100 visits recorded so far in the After School Kids program since the start of the year. “We have seen a 20 per cent increase in attendance for family-friendly activities over the past month,” says Goulet. Thanks to the new gym, staff are able to offer programs such as After School Active Kids, family floor hockey, drop-in basketball, pickleball and more. Pickleball, popular amongst all ages but especially seniors, has grown so quickly, two more sessions have been added. Activities traditionally held outdoors during the spring and summer have “exploded” in popularity, with attendance
up month after month. Goulet reports that pass sales have increased in the past four months as users see financial benefits to the pass system over single drop-in fees. The expanded meeting room space has been used for facilitating meetings, open houses, training sessions, birthday parties and more. The January statistics were discussed at a recent District of Kent Council meeting. Coun. Sylvia Pranger said she hopes the CRCC can continue to organize programming for the younger families here. “It’s nice to see the facilities are being used as much as they have,” said Pranger. Coun. Susan Spaeti agreed, adding that her own children have participated in some of the programs and she liked seeing how the Agassiz instructors were able to share their own knowledge with local youth. “It’s great to see the facility so well used, and across the generations as well,” remarked Mayor John Van Laerhoven.
Lorene Keitch/ The Observer
Marge Hughes with her two grandchildren Aubree and Rylan Dahlman enjoying open playtime in the new gymnasium at the District of Kent Community Recreation & Cultural Centre.
Raise
Sylvia Pranger named to new provincial rural advisory council By Lorene Keitch THE OBSERVER
District of Kent councillor Sylvia Pranger has been chosen to sit on a new rural advisory council. Pranger was one of 14 individuals chosen from across the province to represent rural B.C. in an advisory role to the provincial government. The mandate of the council is to provide input to government policy decisions to best support thriving rural communities. Pranger volunteered to put her name forward after discussion at a recent Council meeting. Pranger is an active volunteer and former mayor in Agassiz. She cites in her advisory council biography that she wants to be a voice at the table to make sure rural issues are heard. “We’re a very rural, agricultural-based community and I think it’s important that the voice of rural British Columbia is heard,” says Pranger. Pranger already has some ideas she’d like to bring forward to the advisory council. “I want them to understand what agriculture contributes to the B.C. economy,” she says. “Before they institute new policies, I would like them to run it
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District of Kent councillor Sylvia Pranger
by some rural councils to see what kind of affect those policies might have in a rural community.” The council’s initial focus will be to provide advice on rural economic development, including rural access to capital and business development support for rural entrepreneurs and businesses. “There are promising economic opportunities on the horizon for British
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Columbia,” says Steve Thompson, the minister of forests, lands and natural resources. “We want to ensure that small and rural communities share fully in the benefits.” Donna Barnett, parliamentary secretary to the minister of forests, lands and natural resource operations for rural development, says “The Province recognizes the importance of rural communities; they are the lifeblood of B.C. and government is committed to fostering thriving rural communities. Members of the Rural Advisory Council will play a key role in bringing rural concerns to the forefront and ensuring that rural British Columbians have a stronger voice.” There were 87 applicants for the 14 positions. Other representatives come from Cache Creek, Fairmont Hot Springs, Kamloops, Williams Lake, Houston, Skidegate, Dawson Creek, Port McNeill, Christina Lake, Terrace, Armstrong, Vanderhoof and McBride. Members are expected to meet on a quarterly basis. Pranger is looking forward to the first meeting, to be held March 2627 in Victoria. “It’ll be interesting,” she predicts. OKANAGAN
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Agassiz Harrison Harrison Observer Observer Thursday, Thursday, March March 19, 19, 2015 2015 66 Agassiz
Opinion
Oversight of anti-terrorism activities is critical
QUESTION OF THE WEEK
Does Ottawa’s anti terror bill go too far? To answer, go to the Home Page of our website: www.agassizharrisonobserver.com
Over the weekend, there were numerous protests against the federal government’s Bill C-51, which proposes a number of new measures to combat the prospects of terrorism. The Conservative government has proposed giving additional powers to the RCMP and CSIS, the Canadian Security Intelligence Service. Many of those protesting say these new powers will strip privacy from many Canadian residents. They also argue that both the RCMP and CSIS do not have sufficient independent oversight. The Liberals have already said they will support the bill, and make amendments if they are elected as the government in the election this fall. NDP MPs, on the other hand, are stalwart foes of the bill. The very different reactions from the two opposition parties speak volumes about the perceptions of this bill. The Liberals are clearly banking on the broad support among Canadians for more counterterrorism measures, in the wake of the attack on Parliament Hill last fall and numerous homegrown terror plots. The NDP, on the other hands, is taking its traditional principled approach, in standing up for civil rights over enhanced anti-terrorism measures. The principled stance gets them plenty of positive mentions, but often does not translate into votes. Virtually all polls show the NDP will finish third in the election, barring a last-minute shift by voters. The need for enhanced anti-terrorism measures is pretty clear. However, there should be more oversight of both CSIS and the RCMP, should they be granted new powers. At the very least, there needs to be a Parliamentary committee with MPs from all sides taking an ongoing close look at just how these new powers are being used.
LAST WEEK WE ASKED:
Are you worried about the low snowpack?
Here’s how you responded: Yes 37% No 63%
~ Black Press
Auditor leak has B.C. Liberals bailing B.C. VIEWS
Tom Fletcher Victoria – March has been a good month for the B.C. NDP, and it’s been a while since I’ve been able to say that. Opposition critics fired a shot amidships at the B.C. Liberal government when they began questioning the lack of progress by the new Auditor General for Local Government. This experimental vessel was launched in Premier Christy Clark’s leadership campaign, and two years after it set sail, it is listing, taking on water and in danger of sinking. The original idea was to expand the B.C. Auditor General’s office so it could check the financial performance of local governments too. Business groups were concerned about municipal taxes going up too quickly, with staff
growing even as the province grappled with a hiring freeze. Mayors and councillors began to talk of mutiny over that plan, protesting that their budgets are already required to balance and are subject to annual audits. But this will be “performance auditing,” Clark insisted, not just making sure the figures add up. It will determine the public is receiving “value for money” on projects like arenas and services like police, by comparing different communities’ results. A new AGLG office opened in Surrey. The “value for money” promise is on the rocks. The government appointed a quasi-independent board (hello, BC Ferries and TransLink) that hired chartered accountant Basia Ruta, a veteran of the federal Auditor General office who had also served as chief financial officer at Environment Canada and had done local government audits in private practice. NDP local government critic
The Agassiz Y Harrison
Selina Robinson started asking why this office has spent $5.2 million and produced only one audit out of a promised 18. Community Minister Coralee Oakes, a former
“Municipal staffers have been dealing with new auditor demands as their councils grind away at their own budgets, and now they see signs that what they have contributed may well have been swept overboard.” Quesnel councillor in her first cabinet post, allowed that there had been some rough water but there is smooth sailing ahead. Then came a big leak, in the form
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of a “work environment review” of the good ship AGLG that was given to the NDP by a seasick crew member. It described chaos below decks, with “shifting priorities and unclear direction,” as well as “wasted time and work” and “inefficient use of consultant and staff resources.” Worse, the review noted a human resources monitor had been stationed at the office for most of January to maintain a “respectful workplace for all employees.” “A peacekeeper,” as NDP leader John Horgan described the grim scene. “This is like we’re in Cyprus.” Then it was confirmed that when the AGLG board tried to conduct a performance review, Ruta’s response was to hire a lawyer. Ruta seems to be decisive when protecting her job, if not when hiring, running the office or meeting her own work targets. Whatever goodwill had been restored with local governments over this experiment is likely gone. Municipal staffers have been OFFICE HOURS Tues.-Fri. 9 a.m. - 5 p.m. Closed Sat., Sun., & Mon.
dealing with new auditor demands as their councils grind away at their own budgets, and now they see signs that what they have contributed may well have been swept overboard. Oakes remains on deck, eyes fixed on the horizon. An audit of capital procurement in Rossland is finally scheduled to be done by the end of March, she said. Similar reports on Delta and Sechelt are due in April. The latest revision of that schedule is underway, no doubt in another series of long, acrimonious meetings. Clark addressed the situation in her last question period before the legislature’s spring break this week. She didn’t have a lot to say about the AGLG’s voyage of the damned, mostly familiar rhetoric about “lower taxes, less red tape” and so on. Tom Fletcher is legislature reporter and columnist for Black Press. Twitter: @tomfletcherbc Email: tfletcher@blackpress.ca
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Agassiz Agassiz Harrison Harrison Observer Observer Thursday, Thursday, March March 19, 19, 2015 2015 77
Mailbag Hwy 9 also a speedway
In response to the article Roads treated like raceways – 5 March 2015 I would like to add Highway 9 to the list of unsafe streets. I live at the south end of Mackay Crescent. In the summertime, and particularly on the weekends,
it is extremely difficult to make a left hand turn onto the highway. The posted speed limit is 50 km but is ignored by most drivers. However, it isn’t just the speed that is a problem; it is the volume of traffic which has to go through
Agassiz to get to Harrison. A light or even a 4-way stop at the corner would slow down traffic and make left hand turns safe. Sandy Wardle Agassiz
TB is alive and well in Canada
Thousands of years old and still a killer in 2015, tuberculosis is one awesome disease. Ask a younger person and they probably could not tell you much about it, but it still strikes fear in the heart of anyone over 50 as they remember the stories of people being sent to sanatoriums, away from loved ones for months at a time, and for some, never to return. At age 80, my mother in law still wept for her mother who died of TB when she was only 13 years of age. Can it still be fatal? Yes it can, and it can lay dormant and display
no symptoms. Babies and Grandmas and everyone in between can be infected. TB does not discriminate.1 in 3 worldwide has the disease and 1.3 million die of it annually and unecesarily. Yep, that’s scary. The good news for us is that it is also diagnosable, curable, and best of all, preventable. Keep that scary feeling in your belly for a moment and consider the mother in a region of the world where diagnosis, cure and prevention is not a given. Picture yourself holding a dying child,
maybe your son or your grandchild. This is still the reality for too many people. But what can you do? Plenty! Contact your MP and ask him or her to please encourage the government to recommit to an astoundingly successful program, TB Reach, which is under threat of cancellation. This program was initiated in 2009 by the Canadian government - something of which we can be proud. The program is about innovation and reaching the hardest to reach people who have TB. I was thrilled when
Change bike laws
Every time I hear of someone getting killed or injured while riding a bike, I always remember when we had a trailer at Harrison Holiday Park on Hot Springs Road. One day I was riding my bike on that narrow road facing traffic when a police car stopped. the officer opened the window and hollered, “Hey you must not travel against traffic – the law for bikes is to travel with traffic.” I was sure surprised because there’s hardly any shoulder on that road to ride on. Consequently, a few days later, I
did travel with traffic on this narrow road. A large van passed me and his righthand mirror just brushed my helmet. Luckily, I was able to keep my bike under control. Now, another cyclist’s death in Abbotsford could have been prevented. Here’s a suggestion for those narrow streets and roads around the country. Why not where there’s no marked bicycle lane, you can travel against traffic. Ernie Poignant
Lester Pearson’s challenge
I would like to congratulate the House of Lords for passing historic legislation which requires the British government to allocate 0.7% of their GDP to Overseas Development Assistance. Why this is of such interest to Canadians
is that was our Prime Minister, Lester Pearson, who in 1969, challenged the developed countries to achieve this level of funding to those countries less fortunate than us. Sweden, the Netherlands, Norway, Denmark, Luxemburg and now Britain have achieved that target.
Unfortunately, despite promises by several governments, Canada is still below 0.3%. Perhaps it is time for us to pass such a law in Ottawa and honour the memory of a great man. Sam Weller Victoria B.C.
The Observer welcomes letters to the editor, but reserves the right to edit for brevity, clarity and legality. All letters must be signed and include the writer’s phone number (for verification purposes only) Letters reflect the opinion of the writer and not necessarily that of The Observer or its staff. Email: news@ahobserver.com
MP Murray Rankin, personally canvassed the honourable Christian Paradis in this regard. I am going to ask him to do this again as time is running out and we need this to be funded to the tune of $120 million over five years. TB can be eradicated, not just in Canada, but around the world. Please do your part, pick up a pen, write a quick email or phone or tweet your MP. Do it *before* World TB Day on March 24th. Remember, it is an election year!
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8 Agassiz Harrison Observer Thursday, March 19, 2015 8 Agassiz Harrison Observer Thursday, March 19, 2015
News
Award-winning home in Harrison Mills
Lorene Keitch
THE OBSERVER
Milt and Mary Jorgensen had the home of their dreams custombuilt in Harrison Mills to spend their retirement years. It was all they wanted and more. What they didn’t expect was the accolades
the house would receive on a national level. Their Eagle Point home was recently crowned as best custom single-detached home in the 2,200-4,000 square foot category with a national Canadian Home Builders’ Association
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6873168
PUBLIC NOTICE The Village of Harrison Hot Springs is currently seeking applications from interested citizens for membership on a Residents’ Advisory Committee as a select Committee of Council.
Rueben Krabbe Photography
The Jorgensen's Eagle Point home recently won a national home-builder's association award.
Blum says there were some unique challenges with the property as it was an odd-shaped pie lot with a large dike and setback requirements. He is most proud of the execution of the house, how care and attention was put into the materials used, the details of the home and the use of many local contractors. The team focused
on achieving a high energy-efficiency rating, achieving platinum status which is “almost unprecedented,” says Blum. My House Design / Build Team was also nominated for three Georgie Awards, a B.C. home-building awards, in three categories for the Jorgensen’s home (best custom home valued between
$750,000 and $1.5 million, best innovative production or custom certified home and best outdoor living space). The Georgie Awards took place in February and the Jorgensens joined the company for an entertaining, though non-winning, awards night in Vancouver. The Jorgensens are pleased their home has been nominated at the
Georgies and won at the SAM Awards since they built the home for their own needs in mind, not for architectural glory. “We just wanted to build a house,” says Mary. “We didn’t expect all this fanfare.” My House Design / Build did a video on the Jorgensen’s home. To watch it, go to http:// myhousedesignbuild. com/feature-videos/
Local dairy industry in the spotlight
The Residents’ Advisory Committee will advise Council on matters such as the social well-being of residents, economic development opportunities, land use applications as they relate to OCP and Zoning amendments, community enhancement opportunities and any other matters that Council wishes referred to the Committee.
Dairy Herd Improvement awards night set for April 10
Lorene Keitch THE OBSERVER
Mayor and Council will appoint members for the Committee upon completion of the selection process.
6873149
We thank all applicants, however, only those short listed for the Residents’ Advisory Committee will be contacted. If you are interested in participating, please submit your application and resume summarizing relevant skills, background experience and knowledge you feel would benefit and contribute to the success of the Committee to the Village Office by 4:30 p.m. on March 27, 2015 addressed to: Corporate Officer Village of Harrison Hot Springs PO Box 160 495 Hot Springs Road Harrison Hot Springs, BC V0K 1K0
SAM award. “It doesn’t get any bigger than that in the industry,” says the home’s project manager Wilf Blum of My House Design / Build Team. The Jorgensens have lived at Eagle Point for eight years. They bought a home and the property where this house not sits. They used to drive out from Port Coquitlam on the weekends to their getaway place. Then in became long weekends and finally turned into full-time. Their dream home, only two doors up from where they were living before, backs onto the golf course and the Harrison River. They hired My House Design / Build Team Ltd., to “quarterback” the whole project, while they spent time popping in and out to see the progress and making decisions on everything from faucets to light fixtures. The Jorgensens love everything about their home. But their favourite feature is the great room, with its large glass windows and an incredible view beyond. “We have a great view of the river and the golf course, particularly when there’s eagles out there,” says Milt.
Come show your appreciation to local dairy farmers at the upcoming Dairy Herd Improvement (DHI) awards night. The awards night celebrates the best in the local dairy industry. “It’s basically to recognize herd cattle and herd accomplishments,” says DHI milk tester Jack van Dongen. Awards focus on categories like top producing-cow for ages one through five and
are split into smaller and larger farm categories to keep the competition fair. Local consensus is that the Agassiz DHI Awards night has been running at least 50 years. While the awards are a fun night in the farming industry, DHI testing is something farmers opt to have done throughout the year for data collection purposes. Testers study everything from volume of milk to the amount of butter fat and protein, amongst other details that are important to farmers for how to grow and
maintain their herd. It helps farmers make decisions based on up-to-date data, explains van Dongen. “They want to know which are their top cows, which are their most profitable cows and which ones aren’t,” he comments. “Being on DHI, they get the numbers to show what their herd is doing.” The awards night tends to bring out mostly dairy farmers, their friends and family. But organizers hope to get more of the general public out as well.
“Come to show your appreciation or interest in what’s happening within the agricultural community,” says van Dongen. The Kent DHI Awards night takes place April 10 at the Agassiz Agricultural Hall. There will be a buffet dinner by Lori’s Catering and entertainment by comedian / magician Randy Charach. Tickets are $40 and are available from Jack van Dongen by calling 604-9974625 or call Gerald Struys at 604-819-8901.
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In The Garden
Agassiz Harrison Observer Thursday, March 19, 2015 9 Agassiz Harrison Observer Thursday, March 19, 2015 9
Tips and answers to help get you gardening
Spring has arrived early perennial flower seeds in all its glory and has inside under warm given gardeners a chance conditions. IF the ground to start work earlier than is warm and the vegetable usual. Our bodies are one plot has been readied, year older and plant peas, may still be in chard, and “winter” mode, so spinach early pace yourselves in the month when starting out. and lettuce, The To-Do List radishes, turnips for March: and onion sets Bulbs: Mark the planted later in location of earlyMarch. spring bulbs. Fill Trees and JANE KIVETT the empty spots Shrubs: Spray by planting more Green fruit trees with Thumb in the fall. Mark dormant oil the calendar for before bud fall purchase as break. Prune a reminder. After the dead and crossing flowers fade, fertilize with branches while still an ultra-bloom fertilizer. dormant to prevent Start bulbs and tubers knocking off new buds. inside that flower in the Gardening Questions summer, i.e., dahlias, and Answers: begonias, cannas. Are moles eating my Perennials: Divide spring bulbs? Since moles and replant perennials eat worms and grubs when they show some they probably are not the growth. New gardeners culprits. Mice and voles appreciate a gift of a will use the mole tunnels divided plant as long as it to get to the bulbs and is not invasive and causing ruin a planned spring problems for them later. show of colour. Prune summer-blooming Why are the buds on clematis, which is usually my clematis disappearing? the large-flowering ones. The buds are being eaten Seeds: Start tomato, by an early emerging pepper, annual and caterpillar and slugs or
snails. Safer’s Slug and Snail Killer, which is ferric sodium and safe for pets and birds, can be used successfully for snails and slugs. If not eaten, iron is added to the soil! To treat the caterpillars, homemade safe insecticide solutions can be found on the Internet or let them run their short course and have lower flowers on the stem! Can I stop slugs from eating my lupines and delphiniums? Slug damage can be reduced by the purchased product mentioned and also to some extent by crushed egg shells, coffee grounds, and copper rings. I find copper tape to be less work because it is a one-time treatment and will still be in place the next year. It emits a small electrical charge disliked by slugs and snails. What is the advantage of raised bed gardening? It is easier to control the quality of the soil. Four parts good topsoil and one part well-rotted organic matter is ideal for most crops. Making the beds no more than 1.2M wide provides easier access
from each side without standing on the bed. They can bring the vegetables to a convenient height, saving the back. Raised beds warm up faster in the spring and allow better water drainage, needed in our climate. How should I prune my shrub roses? A desired vase or urn shape can be achieved by leaving just a few canes leaning out from the graft. To start the pruning remove dead and damaged canes, spindly or weak down to the graft and canes that cross over and interfere with the vase shape. Then the remaining canes can be pruned down to the desired height depending on where the shrub is located in the garden bed. For instance, if the shrub is located next to a walkway, it may be pruned shorter. More detailed information can be obtained from the Internet, Rose Societies and the Library. Happy rose growing! More gardening questions can be answered by sending them to news@ ahobserver.com
This picture shows how shrubs can be planted to complement each other.
GREEN IS THE NEW BLACK: HOW TO GROW AN ECO-FRIENDLY GARDEN (NC) Green is the new black as we become aware of the power of green gardening. So no matter whether you’re a landscape architect looking to support a recurring client , a condo dweller content with a couple of potted herbs, or a home owner looking to do your part for the environment, a little guidance from the world’s largest producer of outdoor power products will have you on trend in no time.
Take a look at these tips from Husqvarna:
∙ Compost: Improve soil fertility by using kitchen food scraps. You don’t need to throw away perfectly good plant food. Known as ‘gardener’s gold’, compost is an inexpensive way to give your soil high-powered nutrients.
∙ Harvest rainwater: Adding a rain barrel is an easy way to capture water for watering lawns, yards and gardens. Be sure to put a screen on top of your barrel to keep out unwanted debris and creatures.
∙ Updating tools: Is it time to trade in your lawn mower for a newer version? Newer lawn mowers are more fuel efficient and produce less harmful emissions. Also, you may want to consider a lightweight trimmer that is compatible with multiple attachments so you can work more efficiently.
∙ Bee friendly: Provide a pesticide-free sanctuary for butterflies and bees by growing a diverse variety of flowers. Flower such as wild lilac, goldenrod and lemon balm are particularly inviting to our flying friends.
∙ Give some breathing room: Soil loosening makes it possible for oxygen to reach the roots of the plants and also creates a better-looking flowerbed. In smaller beds you can get by with hand tools, but if you’re working with larger areas, a rotary cultivator is the way to go.
∙ One man’s mulch is another man’s fertilizer: Leave the clippings on your lawn. Not only do you eliminate the time to bag and dump the mulch, but the clippings fertilize the soil and lawn.
More lawn tips and information about tool options for green gardening can be found online at www.husqvarna.ca
Take me to your peeler. From seeds and soils to the newest fruit & vegetable varieties, we’ve got all you need to ‘grow your own’ this season! Nursery Florist Fashion Lifestyle 10015 Young Rd.Chilliwack www.mintergardens.com
10 10 Agassiz AgassizHarrison HarrisonObserver Observer Thursday, Thursday,March March19, 19,2015 2015
Communi t y Corner
MARCH 2015
Community FVRD Species At Risk
Community Events
m - Saturday, The Kent Harrison Arts Council presents: Terra Diversity, Workshop on Anti-Racis 6904 Anglican, Saints All at 9am-4pm from March 11 April through Now Wadsley Helena by rma Infi 29 at the Ranger Station Art Gallery, 98 Rockwell Dr., Harrison Hot Springs. The Sound of the World - March 6-27 from 10:15am-11am at the Agassiz Library. Celebrate World Cultures Month and enjoy stories, songs, and sounds from around the world during Friday storytime!
Lougheed Hwy. Workshop is free with morning snack & light lunch provided for$10. To register call 796-3553 and leave your name & number or email allsaints-agassiz@shaw.ca. Closing date for registration is April 5.
Agassiz Monday Painters 54th Annual Art Show - Saturday, April 18 from 10am-4pm at the
The District of Kent and FVRL Agassiz Agassiz United Church Hall, 6860 Lougheed Hwy. Branch present Magician Matthew Johnson All invited to come enjoy the talents of the 25 - Wednesday, March 25 from 11am-11:45am at the participating artists who work in a variety of media.
Community Cultural and Recreation Centre. Enjoy Admission free with refreshments available by an interactive blend of magic, juggling, comedy donation. FMI call Lynda at 794-5554. and music. Great fun for the whole family! Free admission. JESSICA PETERS / OBSERVER
Groups & Activities For Everyone
the Ag-Rec Hall, 6800 Pioneer Ave. FMI call Joey at 604-796-9951
• Hope Christian Women’s Club Brunch - Free nursery by reservation as well. For info & reservations • Hooked on Books: Agassiz Library Book Club call Raye 604-869-5420 takes place on the third Thursday of every month, starting at 6:30pm at the Agassiz Library. Love to • Agassiz Harrison Community Drivers read and want to talk about what you’re reading? You Program - A community based volunteer driver don’t have to be a member, just drop in when you program providing rides to all local, Fraser Valley can. Pick up the book at the library any time before & Lower Mainland medical appointme nts & other the meeting and get ready to share your opinions! personal services. Always looking for more drivers. • Scrabble Club - Wednesdays, 2 pm - 4 pm at Call 604-798-6228, email agharcommdrivers@ Agassiz Library. Free, drop in, all skill levels welcome. outlook.com or visit 7046 Pioneer Ave., Agassiz. Enjoy the game, friendship and a cup of coffee. • Agassiz Monday Painters est.1961 - Meets • Stitch “n” Rip - Every Tuesday from 9 am - 1 pm. every Mon. from 11 am - 3 pm at Agassiz United Come to the Harrison Mills Hall with any unfinished sewing, stitching, knitting projects, etc. FMI call Kim Church. FMI call Linda 604-794-5554 604-796-2336. • Harrison Community Social Club Drop-in • Olive Branch Dinners - Come join us for a free every Thurs. at Harrison Hot Springs Memorial home cooked meal. Tuesdays 5 - 6 pm. 7571 Morrow Hall, 9:30 am: cards, darts, games & coffee. Contact Rd, ACS gym. No expectations, enjoy community Jacquie 604-796-3105 or Suzanne 604-796-1269. companionship. Families & all ages welcome. • Friendship House Nickel Bingo on Mon. at 1 • The Harrison-Kent Community Singers - Meet pm, Tues. Bridge and Cribbage at 1 pm, Sit and Be every Monday at 7:00 pm at the Memorial Hall. FMI Fit 10:30 am Mon. & Fri., Drop-in Floor Curling 7 pm call Carol at 604-796-2749. Thurs. • T.O.P.S. - Meets Thursdays at 9:30 am, or 5:45 pm., • Kent-Harrison Arts Council - KHAC meets the at the Agassiz Christian Church. third Sunday of each month. FMI call (604) 796-8604 • Agassiz-Harrison Community Services Thrift Store - We’re looking for volunteers! Open Monday or email us at kentharrisonartscouncil@shaw.ca - Saturday from 10 am - 4 pm. Feel free to come by • Harrison International All-weather Tennis 6919 Cheam Avenue or call 604-796-9932 FMI. Club - Drop-in tennis at 8 am daily at the Spring • Royal Canadian Legion - Hosts drop-in “Fun Park tennis complex. All are welcome. Good fun and Darts” every Mon. at 4 pm & Fri. at 8 pm, Players exercise is guaranteed at no cost. FMI contact John needed, arrive early to register. Cribbage daily. Non- Allen 796-9117 members welcome. Call 604-796-2332 • Jam Session - Every 1st & 3rd Saturday of the • The Wednesday Walkers - Easy hiking every month from 7pm - 10:30pm by donation. Everyone Wednesday. FMI call Eleanor 604-795-0076 welcome, bring an instrument and a friend! OAP Hall, • Knitting/Crochet Sisters Group - Projects for Friendship Hall. FMI call Derry at 604-796-1084 worthy causes. Contact Alice 604-796-3060 or email • Lions TV Bingo - Thursday nights at 6 pm on agisborne@shaw.ca • Agassiz Al-Anon. - Is someone’s drinking Shaw Cable. Pick up your bingo cards at The Source affecting you? FMI call Shirley 604-796-9865 or Anne - Chehalis Store & Ledoux Hardware 604-793-3103 • The Chilliwack MS Multiple Sclerosis Self• Agassiz Elks Lounge - 1824 #9 Hwy, open daily Help Group - Meets every third Wednesday of each 3pm till closing. Everyone welcome month from noon to 2pm at the lunchroom of the • Agassiz-Harrison Garden Club - Meets the Royal Cafe 45886 Wellington St., Chilliwack. New second Wednesday of each month from Oct-July in members welcome. FYI call Owen at 604-795-5216 the foyer of the Ag Hall at 7:30 pm. FMI 604-796-3291 • Hit the Stix - Free drop in floor hockey Mondays or 604-796-2423 from 4:30pm - 6pm at the Cultural Recreation & • Agassiz-Harrison Lions - Meet at 7 pm on the Cultural Centre. Now through June 15. All equipment 4th Wednesday of each month at the Lion’s Den in provided. 6660 Pioneer ave. FMI call 604-796-8891
District of Kent Coun. Duane Post (left) speaks with Ian Parnell of Canadian Wildlife Services at an open house held by Environment Canada March 12. The open house, held at Evergreen Hall in Chilliwack, focused on the Species at Risk Act and terrestrial species at risk, some of which have been identified within the district’s borders including the Oregon Forest Snail, the Salish Sucker and the Oregon Spotted Frog.
Celebrate water with yoga
On March 21, during Canada Water Week, yoga practitioners from across the Lower Mainland are invited to the banks of the Harrison River to connect with the watershed. #MyWatershedMoment aims to engage yoga communities and inspire tangible actions toward protecting local watersheds. Watershed Watch Salmon Society is collaborating with The WaterWealth Project, Actively Creating an Exceptional Society (ACES) and local yoga instructor Cynthia Berger to host this event and inspire action through meditation. Yoga and the dialogue around conservation ecology have many commonalities. We are beginning to understand that spiritual and physical well-being — quality of life — is closely linked to nature’s well-being. Yoga instructor and ACES member Cynthia Berger is pleased to be part of My Watershed Moment, “Collaborating with like-minded folks to raise awareness around water issues is vital and we hope to inspire people to really think about water and to value and care for it. It's been said that water is to earth
Meeting at the Ag Hall 6800 Pioneer Ave. www.central365.org
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to many different pressures in the local watersheds, such as continued gravel extraction from the river, quarrying along the mountain slopes, approvals for water bottling plants, and more. These actions have direct impacts on water flows, ecosystem connectivity and water temperature which in turn impacts the spawning sites of local salmon populations and their overall health. WaterWealth Acting Executive Director Ian Stephens calls this “an opportunity to appreciate the holistic benefits we enjoy from healthy, abundant watersheds.” To learn more and participate in a yoga class on the banks of the Harrison River, come out to My Watershed Moment on Saturday March 21st from 1 – 3pm at the Kilby Provincial Park, Harrison Mills in the beautiful Fraser Valley. For more information contact Lina, lina@watershedwatch.ca or 604-537-2341. Please RSVP as parking is limited. Visit our website: watershedwatch.ca and find us on Facebook, Watershed Watch Salmon Society, and Twitter @WatershedWatch_.
Diversity, a workshop on anti-racism
By Monica Gibson-Pugsley
Agassiz Campus Sunday, 10:30 am Kids’ Ministry
what blood is to the body and waterways are likened to arteries and veins in living beings. With this in mind we need to deeply consider how we treat it.” “Many of us live in a society characterized by urbanization; however our physiological functions are still adapted to nature,” said Lina Azeez, engagement coordinator for Watershed Watch, “this means there is a lack of harmony between what our bodies need and our everyday high paced environments provide. It shows in our stress levels and our overly stimulated nervous systems.” The answer? Spend more time outdoors, in natural spaces, to slow down these highly stimulated, stress inducing functions and allow the body to heal. “Understanding the links between human well-being and the health of forests and its potential for improving healthy lifestyles is invaluable. The message is simple yet effective – maintaining healthy, dynamic ecosystems ensures our long term health and vitality.” My Watershed Moment along the Harrison River brings light
SPECIAL TO THE OBSERVER
Earlier in the year, a couple of parishioners from All Saints Anglican attended a workshop on antiracism presented by a team of clergy and lay people from Vancouver. The workshop included talks, interaction, and a documentary that was
emotionally charged. It is a mandate of the Anglican Church to share how we can live in diverse communities and eliminate racism, whether intended or not. In the global village we are called to treat all with dignity and respect irrespective of race or creed. It was such an
interesting day that we are bringing the team to Agassiz to offer the same workshop on Saturday, April 11, 2015 from 9 a.m. to 4 p.m. at All Saints Anglican, 6904 Lougheed Hwy. The workshop is free, and a morning snack of beverages and muffins, along with a light lunch will be provided
at a cost of $10. Those wishing to attend are asked to phone All Saints at 604-796-3553 and leave a message along with their name and phone number, or email allsaints-agassiz@ shaw.ca . Registration is limited to 25 people and closes on the morning of April 5.
AgassizHarrison HarrisonObserver Observer Thursday, Thursday,March March19, 19,2015 2015 11 11 Agassiz
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Agassiz resident Bev Kennedy has been appointed to the newlyformed council of seniors. Kennedy joins 29 other members from across the province, whose role will be to advise the B.C. Seniors Advocate Isobel Mackenzie on matters related to seniors. “I thought I could add a rural and small-town perspective to the advisory council,” shares Kennedy. Kennedy is heavily involved in the heritage community, sitting for many years on various heritage boards. She has worked at all the local historic sites and has an administrative background. She has run municipal, provincial and federal elections as an elections officer and has first-hand knowledge of navigating the health-care system with aging parents. Kennedy was raised in Harrison Hot Springs and has spent the rest of her life in the Agassiz area. Mackenzie has stated that this council will be used to provide advice and feedback on senior’s issues. “We can help shape the priorities,” explains Kennedy.
Bev Kennedy was the chief electoral officer in the 2014 municipal election, which included a session to candidates on how the election process works. Kennedy has been appointed to the newly-formed provincial council of seniors.
“We can liason with seniors in our communities for the current issues that they’re seeing and talking about, and then relay it back to her.” The council will be focusing on the “big picture,” primarily in the areas of health care, personal care, housing, transportation and income support.
Advisers range from 65 to 85, live in 26 municipalities in all regions of B.C., and come from diverse cultures and communities. Recommendations for council members were made by the Council of Senior Citizens’ Organizations of British Columbia on behalf of the
Advocate, after reviewing more than 300 applications. The Seniors Advocate Council of Advisors will be meeting face to face twice a year, with conference call meetings in between. They had their first meeting Friday, March 6. Kennedy says that session focused on some key issues, especially the ineffectiveness of communication of services and programs targeted to seniors. The second issue was the affordability of housing and home support, and the third was concern about transportation, especially in rural areas. Kennedy was pleased with the first meeting and her impressions of Mackenzie are positive. “I think she’s the right person for that job. She has the background, she has the skills and she is a valuable person to have in that role,” says Kennedy. “For what she’s done, just in a year now in that position, it’s really magnificent.” Kennedy will be spending time attending meetings as she is invited and able. She has already been to various meetings in Agassiz and Harrison as well as in Chilliwack. For any questions, call her at 604-796-2459
Indian Road, Mimico and other places
With its closeness to public transportation, High Park and the school in walking distance, not to forget a Swiss deli just around the corner to keep my mother happy, the Indian Road area was ideal to start our new life in Canada. We also found a place there for Heinz’s sister, Lotte, and her family when their arrival in the following spring concluded the Altendorf-Bischoff exodus. They, too, arrived by ship, a way of travelling soon to be replaced by the more convenient way of flying. I still think, however, that coming to Canada by ship gave us a better chance to grasp the immense distance between the two continents, between the old and the new country. During our first year in Canada, we were introduced by family and friends to the Ontario Lakeland with which we instantly fell in love. Though we were also taken to Niagara Falls and other attractions, it was the Lakeland where we would spend many vacations in the future, often close to the place where Heinz had spent four years during the war. After not much more than a year, however, our little group of new-comers became restless - there were so many chances and opportunities - and things started to change. My sister and her fiancé decided to get married and had a big city wedding and my brother Rudy - ever the adventurer - found his dream job and moved to Montreal after amicably divorcing from a marriage that did not work out. Gunther, my brother-in-law and an engineer by profession, had started to
work for CN/CP and soon moved with his family to Newfoundland for four years to help install a T.V. network. We, ourselves, moved to a larger and more modern apartment in Mimico, a part of Toronto predominantly populated by Italian immigrants. My mother moved with us and looked after the girls while we were working and the weekends were RUTH ALTENDORF reserved for trips to Senior nearby nature parks Happenings such as “Heart Lake” and “Albion Hills”. We bought a secondhand Chevy big enough to accommodate our family and any girlfriends who wanted to come along. We also were introduced to such delights as “pizzas” by Italian neighbours and I still remember an older Italian neighbour starting every morning - come rain or shine - by singing “O Sole Mio” on the balcony. The biggest event during those years was the birth of our son, Eric, and not to miss anything, my motherin-law came for her first extended visit. We had a very good time in Mimico and when we, after another three years, moved to our new house in Bramalea (now Brampton) it was not without a tearful farewell! Like many other things, to buy a house in those days was relatively easy. We had followed the plan to build a satellite city - Bramalea - for some time and when
we visited the grand opening of the first section it all fell into place. With a small down payment and a mortgage not much higher than the rent we paid for the apartment, it was an easy decision. The semi-detached split level on Alton Court was ideal for us and our growing family and we lived there for 16 years. All three children graduated from high school there and often, during the summer, our daughters hosted their cousins from Germany. When Heinz and I retired from the same two companies we had started to work for one week after coming to Canada, we sold the house and moved to Waterloo for the next six years. Not only did this help our son to get through university, but also allowed us to explore another region of Ontario. However, when our son decided to go for his doctorate at Simon Fraser University in British Columbia, it was the last straw for us to follow, especially since our daughters had made the move already a number of years ago. We bought a house in Harrison Hot Springs and, as they say: “the rest is history!” But, I often remember all those family dinners we had here and Heinz looking around the table declaring: “Just imagine, if we would not have done all the things we did, none of us would be here!” Which again, is true in more than one way! Ruth Altendorf is an occasional columnist in The AgassizHarrison Observer. Here, she shares a slice of her own history instead of her usual tales of Harrison folks and happenings. This is part five of a six-column series to appear in The Observer over the coming weeks.
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Andrew Morris of Crickey Mor holds his Bodhran while singing an Irish shanty, ‘I’m a Rover’, as Jeremy Walsh admires the crowd during Saturday evening’s Harrison Festival Society show at the Memorial Hall.
New rules to ensure access for guide dogs
Legislation includes housing rights, stiffer fines Jeff Nagel
BLACK PRESS
People with disabilities who use guide dogs or service dogs are being promised equal access to public places such as restaurants and the transit system under planned provincial reforms. New legislation introduced Thursday would guarantee them the same access rights and privileges as anyone else, and ensure those rights override any pet restrictions imposed in housing complexes by landlords or stratas. Retired guide and service dogs will also be protected under the housing rules so they don’t have to be separated from their owners even if a new dog has taken up their old role. “With these changes we can make sure that a fully certified dog will be appropriately recognized and won’t result in someone with a disability being turned away from a service,” Social Development Minister Michelle Stilwell said. Violators such as stores and restaurants who refuse entry to service dogs will also face stiffer fines of as much as $3,000. Disability Alliance BC executive director Jane Dyson said tougher penalties were long overdue and the current maximum fine of $200 was “grossly inadequate.” She said complaints from service dog owners are rare in Vancouver, but said it can be a bigger problem in other parts of the province.
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“Hopefully fines will be a last resort,” she said. The new legislation would require guide and service dogs to be trained by an accredited facility, or to get certified to those standards if they are brought in from outside B.C. Certified service dogs will have to wear visible standardized ID tags or cards to make their status clear to business owners, landlords and transit staff. Dyson said the consistent identification – replacing various methods used to date – should help ensure businesses and other service providers understand their responsibilities. Certified trainers will also be able to take dogs and puppies-in-training into any public place a fully certified dog is allowed. That’s intended to give them more exposure to new and diverse environments before they go into actual service.
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YOUR COMMUNITY YOUR CLASSIFIEDS Phone: 604.796.4300 Toll Free: 1.866.865.4460 email: classified@ahobserver.com
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6877668
COPYRIGHT
130
108 BUSINESS OPPORTUNITIES
NORTHSTARS PAINTING www.northstars-painting.com Master Painters at Students Rates. We will BEAT any Qualified Quotes. 778.344.1069
The Canadian division of Black Press has a challenging opportunity in the Finance Department for a Senior Accountant.
225
.21st Century Flea Market. Mar 22 10am-3pm. Croatian Cultural Ctr. 3250 Commercial Dr. Adm $5.
Advertisers are reminded that Provincial legislation forbids the publication of any advertisement which discriminates against any person because of race, religion, sex, color, nationality, ancestry or place of origin, or age, unless the condition is justified by a bona fide requirement for the work involved.
Copyright and/or properties subsist in all advertisements and in all other material appearing in this edition of bcclassified.com. Permission to reproduce wholly or in part and in any form whatsoever, particularly by a photographic or offset process in a publication must be obtained in writing from the publisher. Any unauthorized reproduction will be subject to recourse by law.
Seeking 3 farm workers, F/T, permanent needed as soon as possible for L&R Resources Ltd. (25377 - 124 Ave, Maple Ridge, BC, V4R 1T8) to work on a Christmas tree farm and fruit orchard. Duties: cultivating, plowing, planting, pruning, irrigate crops, operate farm machinery & equipment. Must be physically able. No education or exp. req’d, will train. English req’d. Location of work in Maple Ridge/Harrison Mills, 40 hours/week, $11/hr. Apply with resume to: murphytreefarms@yahoo.com
A heartfelt thank you to all the home health workers and nurses from Agassiz who gave wonderful care to Sam during his illness. You all were special to him and to me. Also, a thank you to all our neighbours and friends for phone calls, cards, flowers and visits. Your love and support help us through this sad time.
329 PAINTING & DECORATING
HOME/BUSINESS SERVICES
Accountant
FARM WORKERS FARM WORKERS
10
HOME/BUSINESS SERVICES
Excavator & Backhoe Operator Training. Be employable in 4-6wks. Call 604-546-7600. www.rayway.ca
AGREEMENT
DISCRIMINATORY LEGISLATION
FINANCIAL SERVICES
LARGE FUND Borrowers Wanted Start saving hundreds of dollars today! We can easily approve you by phone. 1st, 2nd or 3rd mortgage money is available right now. Rates start at Prime. Equity counts. We don’t rely on credit, age or income. Call Anytime 1-800-639-2274 or 604-430-1498. Apply online www.capitaldirect.ca
TIMESHARE
CANCEL YOUR TIMESHARE. NO Risk Program STOP Mortgage & Maintenance Payments Today. 100% Money Back Guarantee. FREE Consultation. Call Us NOW. We Can Help! 1-888-356-5248
RENTALS ......................................703-757
bcclassified.com reserves the right to revise, edit, classify or reject any advertisement and to retain any answers directed to the bcclassified.com Box Reply Service and to repay the customer the sum paid for the advertisement and box rental.
182
TRAVEL
PETS & LIVESTOCK ......................453-483
bcclassified.com cannot be responsible for errors after the first day of publication of any advertisement. Notice of errors on the first day should immediately be called to the attention of the Classified Department to be corrected for the following edition.
EDUCATION
HIP OR KNEE Replacement? Problems Walking or Getting Dressed? The Disability Tax Credit $1,500 Yearly Tax Credit. $15,000 Lump Sum Refund (on avg). For assistance Call: 1-844-453-5372.
TRAVEL.............................................61-76
It is agreed by any Display or Classified Advertiser requesting space that the liability of the paper in the event of failure to publish an advertisement shall be limited to the amount paid by the advertiser for that portion of the advertising space occupied by the incorrect item only, and that there shall be no liability in any event beyond the amount paid for such advertisement. The publisher shall not be liable for slight changes for typographical errors that do not lessen the value of an advertisement.
PERSONAL SERVICES
knoke trucking
320
MOVING & STORAGE
1PRO MOVING & SHIPPING Across the street - across the world Real Professionals, Reas. Rates. Best in every way! 604-721-4555.
329 PAINTING & DECORATING www.paintspecial.com 604.339.1989 Lower Mainland 604.996.8128 Fraser Valley Running this ad for 10yrs
PAINT SPECIAL 3 rooms for $299 2 coats any colour
(Ceiling & Trim extra) Price incls Cloverdale Premium quality paint.
NO PAYMENT until Job is completed. Ask us about our Laminate Flooring.
This position offers a competitive salary and an attractive benefits and pension package. If you are an energetic self-motivated individual looking to expand your skills, this is a tremendous opportunity with a company that has experienced continued growth over the years. Please apply today with a cover letter to: e-mail: sschotts@blackpress.ca Competition closes: March 31, 2015 We thank all those who are interested in this position; however only those selected for an interview will be contacted.
blackpress.ca X bclocalnews.com
Thursday, March 19, 2015, Agassiz Harrison Observer 15
HOME/BUSINESS SERVICES 356
RUBBISH REMOVAL
HOME/BUSINESS SERVICES 362
SECURITY/ ALARM SYSTEMS
We Service all Makes • • •
ADT’s, DSC’s, Brinks & all others Medical & Fire Free* Alarm Systems 604-792-8055 / 854-8055
HOME/BUSINESS SERVICES 378
VACUUMS
RENTALS 706
APARTMENT/CONDO
AGASSIZ 2 bdrm gr flr corner unit in Woodside Terrace, clean, quiet, well mngd bldg. Refs. Avail. now. $750 + utils & D.D. (604)588-6665
from $499 (Made in BC) Repairs & Service. We extend warranties to all makes. Vacuum needs a service every 5 years just like an oil change! 604-792-8055 / 854-8055
RENTALS
DISCOVER BEAUTIFUL AGASSIZ
747
477
T. Marlowe Manor Spacious and bright 1 bdrm....$600/m. Also, new construction,
TRANSPORTATION
condo quality l bdrm...$650
845
PETS
CATS OF ALL DESCRIPTION
130
HELP WANTED
in need of caring homes! All cats are spayed, neutered, vaccinated and dewormed. Visit us at:
fraservalleyhumanesociety.com or call 1 (604)820-2977
Credit and Collections Manager
CHIHUAHUA male pup, vet checked 1st shots. $650. Ph 1 (604)792-9946
Black Press is home to some of the oldest, most trusted community newspapers in North America. Market by market these are the leading newspapers in their communities.
NEED A GOOD HOME for a good dog or a good dog for a good home? We adopt dogs! Call 604856-3647 or www.856-dogs.com
Prkg, coin laundry, elevator & balcony, 5 min walk to all conveniences. Available now. Call 604-703-3405
Must have an intermediate to advanced proficiency level with Microsoft Excel, and demonstrate successful leadership with the ability to communicate effectively in all forms. The Credit and Collections Manager will engage, manage and work to directly improve the activities of the credit department. Additionally, he/she will manage the administration of all credit activities including the credit approval process, collection of accounts receivables and the credit support function. Specifically, the Credit and Collections Manager will: • Supervise the work of 8 credit personnel • Develop/recommend/implement credit and collections policies and procedures • Make decisions regarding bad debt write-offs • Recommend and oversee both third party action and bankruptcy claims • Facilitate the balance between sales growth and credit risk Preference will be given to those with five plus years of managerial experience and who have completed or are currently enrolled in the Certified Credit Professional (CCP) Program. Your application should include a resume plus references and a cover letter outlining any relevant experience. Please apply today with a cover letter to: e-mail: sschotts@blackpress.ca Competition closes: March 31, 2015 We thank all those who are interested in this position; however only those selected for an interview will be contacted.
blackpress.ca X bclocalnews.com
Harrison Hot Springs, 450 Esplanade Ave.,2nd floor studio apt. facing the lake, incl balcony, 1 bath, f/s. 500sq ft, no pets, avail. April 1, $550/m, Ross Fullbrook, Royal Lepage, 604-792-0077 SCRAP CARS & METALS - CA$H for CARS Up to $300. No Wheels - No Problem! Friendly &
Professional Service. Servicing the Fraser Valley 1-855-771-2855
733 MOBILE HOMES & PADS Wanted: Class C Mobile home 20ft to 28ft. Call Dennis 604-796-2809
736
HOMES FOR RENT
Agassiz- 1/2 duplex for rent. 3 bedroom, 2 bath. N/P, N/S. DD + ref req’d. $1000/mo + util. Avail. to Rent. call: 604-845-2705 pick a part
509
AUCTIONS
SEIZED VEHICLE Auction, City New West, Sat. Mar. 28th @ 10:30 am www.allcityauctioneers.com
524
UNDER $200
Deep Freezer, older model 11.4 $75. Treadmill Tempo 611T -$200 Call: 604-796-2513
526
UNDER $400
Two-story Ferret Cage, $350 or OBO ph: 604-799-2363
560
MISC. FOR SALE
SAWMILLS from only $4,397 MAKE MONEY & SAVE MONEY with your own bandmill - Cut lumber any dimension. In stock ready to ship. FREE Info & DVD: www.NorwoodSawmills.com/400OT 1-800566-6899 Ext:400OT. STEEL BUILDINGS...”SPRING SALES WITH HOT SAVINGS!” All steel building models and sizes are now on sale. Get your building deal while it’s hot. Pioneer Steel 1-800668-5422 www.pioneersteel.ca
REAL ESTATE 627
HOMES WANTED WE BUY HOMES BC • All Prices • All Situations • • All Conditions • www.webuyhomesbc.com 604-657-9422
RENTALS 706
APARTMENT/CONDO
Agassiz - 1 bdrm for rent Woodside Terrace 1735-9 hwy. Newly renovated, well mng’d blding. $650/mth call: 604-703-3335 or 604-796-0442
ANSWERS
The ideal candidate will have experience in a business-to-business credit and collections environment.
MERCHANDISE FOR SALE
March 19, 2015
Located in Abbotsford, our BC Finance Division is looking for a Credit and Collections Manager for its BC and Alberta Divisions.
PITTBULL pups purebred, born Feb 24th. Avail for viewing. Great bloodlines. $1000-$1500. 604-765-0453
Sudoku
As the largest independently owned newspaper company in Canada, with more than 150 titles in print and online, Black Press has operations in British Columbia, Alberta, Washington, Hawaii, California and Ohio. The company has 3,500 employees, and newsrooms with history dating back to the 1800s.
Chihuahua pups, playful, cuddly, family raised, vet check, 1st shots, avail now. $675. 1-604-794-5844
THE CONTENTS that were abandoned at 883A Hotsprings Road have been placed in storage. These items must be claimed by April 15, 2015. Please contact us at gum2015@yahoo.com or 604-7943030.
SCRAP CAR REMOVAL
The Scrapper
HARRISON - Studio Apartment, Nice quiet & safe building, suitable for single person. Newly renovated, $595 & $625/month includes utilities. Call 604-819-6422
SCRAP CAR REMOVAL In the matter of a seizure & sale of a vehicle under the Residential Tenancy Act: Gilles Brouillette (Landlord), and Richard Wayne Papp (Tenant) of the address: 1857 Agassiz Ave., Agassiz, BC, V0M 1A3; for money owned totalling $3000. If this amount is not paid on or before April 30, 2015, the Vehicle: 2008 Harley Davidson VRod 1250cc VIN:5HD1HMH128K805376 will be sold from 1710 Beaman Drive, Agassiz, BC at a later date to settle the unpaid amount owing.
1755 - #9 Hwy, Agassiz
CATS GALORE, TLC has for adoption spayed & neutered adult cats. 604-309-5388 / 604-856-4866
HELP WANTED
845
Rosedale. RV pads available. $420/month + hydro. Cable & Wifi avail. Laundry facilities onsite. Washrooms open year round. RV storage @ $75/mo available. call 604-794-7361
and 2 bdrm...$799/m
130
RV PADS
(Under new Management)
PETS JUNK REMOVAL By RECYCLE-IT! 604.587.5865 www.recycleitcanada.ca
TRANSPORTATION
16 Agassiz Harrison Observer Thursday, March 19, 2015
COMMUNITY NEWS COVERING MARCH 2015 UPCOMING COUNCIL MEETINGS Monday, March 23 Monday, April 13 Monday April 27 Centennial Centre, Municipal Hall 7:00 PM Details on the upcoming Open House with respect to the proposed 2015-2019 Financial Plan, see ad on page 2 of this newspaper.
RECREATION AT A GLANCE PRESCHOOL VARIETY PLAY Spring Session T/Th Apr 9 - Jun 11 9:00 a.m. - 11:00 a.m. 3 - 5 years
LITTLE KICKERS SOCCER Sat Apr 18 - Jun 6 Junior Kickers 18 months - 3 years 3:45 p.m. - 4:15 p.m. Mighty Kickers 3 - 6 years 2:45 p.m. - 3:30 p.m.
CHILDREN KIDS’ NIGHT OUT Fri April 24 5:00 p.m. - 8:30 p.m. 6 - 12 years
ADULT SUPPLEMENTS 101 Th April 9 6:30 - 8:30 p.m.
CHRONIC PAIN MANAGEMENT WORKSHOP Wed April 8 6:00 - 8:30 p.m.
FALLS PREVENTION MOBILE CLINIC Wed April 8 6:00 - 8:30 p.m.
WEEDS! New date – Wed April 29 6:30 - 7:30 p.m.
FITNESS NEW FITNESS CLASS! Flexibility & Strength Fri 9:35 a.m. - 10:35 a.m.
SPEED WATCH
MOTORCYCLE ACCIDENT
Speed Watch is an educational program aimed at reducing incidents of speeding. Safe driving habits are promoted by alerting drivers of their vehicle’s speed in school zones and on busy roadways.
On Friday March 13, 2015 at approximately 12:00 p.m. a motorcycle accident occurred along the #9 Agassiz-Rosedale Highway. The District of Kent confirms that the rider of the motorbike was identified as Mayor John Van Laerhoven. He was airlifted from the scene to Royal Columbian Hospital and family members have been notified. In the interim, Deputy Mayor Darcy Striker will be acting on Mayor Van Laerhoven’s behalf until further notice.
Speed Watch checks are operated by dedicated and trained volunteers who: •are equipped with a radar and speed reader board to give drivers instant feedback regarding their speed •record licence plate numbers, the vehicle’s speed, and a letter is sent to inform the vehicle’s registered owner of the driving infraction Please contact the local Agassiz RCMP Detachment at (604) 796-2211 for more information regarding the Speed Watch Program.
PUBLIC OPEN HOUSE Mayor Van Laerhoven and Council have retained LEES + ASSOCIATES – Landscape Architects and Planners to undertake the development of a future Parks Acquisition, Improvement and Trail Development Program. The completed document will provide short and long term direction for managing and developing parks and trails in the District. The process is intended to reflect the values and needs of the community. We are seeking your input! We are holding a public open house event on Wednesday, March 25th from 6pm to 8pm at the Community Recreation & Cultural Centre (6660 Pioneer Avenue, Agassiz). Presentation panels will display key findings and recommendations from the Draft Program. Consultants will be on hand for informal discussion, and a short questionnaire will be made available. All residents are welcome. The presentation panels and an online questionnaire will be posted to www. district.kent.bc.ca from March 25th to April 6th, 2015 for those who are unable to attend and would like to provide feedback online. For further information, call Kerry Hilts, Director of Community Services at 604-796-2235.
PUBLIC OPEN HOUSE Approximately 30 or more members of the public attended the 2nd Public Open House for the District of Kent`s Transportation Network Plan. Feedback and input was gathered from the community on the proposed improvements to the road network. The completed document is to provide existing and future road network analysis with growth related short and long term road improvement projects including road classifications, cross-sections, sidewalks, pedestrian and cycling networks.
SPRING BREAK! SPRING BREAK FESTIVITIES
The Mayor is now working on a full recovery and residents looking to send well wishes to Mayor Van Laerhoven may forward them to Executive Assistant Karin Ponciano at kponciano@district. kent.bc.ca.
SPRING CLEANUP SPRING CLEANUP 2015 YARD WASTE EVENT 2015 YARD WASTE EVENT March March2828& &May May2,2,2015 2015 9:00 AM TO 4:00 PM 9:00 AM TO 4:00 PM
Municipal MunicipalGravel GravelPit, Pit,Cemetery CemeteryRoad Road
Hosted byby thethe Agassiz Community Gardens Society Hosted Agassiz Community Gardens Society THE FOLLOWING YARD WASTE MATERIALS THE FOLLOWING YARD WASTE MATERIALS WILL BEBE ACCEPTED ATAT NONO CHARGE WILL ACCEPTED CHARGE tree branches or limbs up to 5” (125mm) diameter tree branches or limbs up to 5” (125mm) diameter prunings • leaves • soil • discarded shrubs prunings • leaves • soil • discarded shrubs sand or or finefine gravel • grass sods & clippings sand gravel • grass sods & clippings NOTE: Residents will be required to to separate wood NOTE: Residents will be required separate wood waste, branches and prunings from soil or similar waste, branches and prunings from soil or similar materials to to process through a chipper. materials process through a chipper. ALL OTHER MATERIALS ARE PROHIBITED ALL OTHER MATERIALS ARE PROHIBITED Including tree stumps and branches greater than Including tree stumps and branches greater than 5” 5” (125mm)diameter, domestic refuse, (125mm)diameter, domestic refuse, animal waste and household hazardous wastes. animal waste and household hazardous wastes.
For further information contact the Municipal Hall For further information contact the Municipal Hall 604-796-2235 • www.district.kent.bc.ca 604-796-2235 • www.district.kent.bc.ca
LOST AND FOUND A hearing aid was found outside the Municipal Hall. To claim please see the front desk staff, or call 604-796-2235.
THANK YOU
Mar 23 - Mar 27 9:00 a.m. - 3:00 p.m. 5-10 years
SPRING BREAK SPORTS SAMPLER Mar 23 - Mar 27 9:00 a.m. - 3:00 p.m. 6 -12 years
PROP MASTERS Mar 23 - Mar 25 1:30 p.m. - 4:30 p.m. 12 -16 year
To register for programs call 604-796-8891
TO FIREFIGHTER DWIGHT & FIREFIGHTER ROSS
Community Recreation & Cultural Centre 6660 Pioneer Ave.
Thank you for visiting and teaching us about your job! From your friends at Agassiz Christian Presschool Antonella Dakota Henry Rylee Briar Eva Jeremiah Taeo Celia Franchize Kyle Tamara Cesco Gabriella Rebecca
Box 70, 7170 Cheam Ave, Agassiz | Tel 604.796.2235 | www.district.kent. bc.ca