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A ‘very tough week’ for Chilliwack, says Mayor Jennifer Feinberg The Progress There’s been a community uproar of sorts this week in the aftermath of stabbing incidents, and other violence that spilled into downtown Chilliwack. Swift action is being demanded of City of Chilliwack officials and the RCMP. “It’s been a very tough week for our beautiful little Chilliwack,” Mayor Sharon Gaetz told The Progress. She and other members of council have been watching in shock like everyone else, as the incidents played out in rrapid succession like a horrible ballet. h Strong reactions PPeople l are from citizens are comfeeling ing in to this week’s reports of sevpanicky, but multiple eral stabbings and a it’s good to fatal train incident, with several posting their keep in mind fears and concerns and more policthey are not demanding ing patrols for downthe targets town. “People are feeling panicky, but it’s good to ~ Sharon keep in mind they are not the targets,” Gaetz Gaetz stated. The stabbings in downtown Chilliwack are believed ed by iinvestigating officers to have a common theme, she said. “That’s the nature of the criminal element. They go after each other, they fight each other, and that may push our crime stats really high, but the average citizen is not the target in these crimes.” Victims were all targeted because of their criminal activity, except for the unfortunate cyclist who was struck while in the “wrong place at the wrong time.” She said 90 per cent of the crimes are committed by the 10 per cent of repeat offenders. “We are working hard to get these prolific offenders off the streets.”
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Forensic investigators continue to gather evidence Wednesday from two vehicles connected to the stabbing death of a 49-year-old Chilliwack man Tuesday. (Below) A single bouquet was all that remained at the scene Thursday morning. For video from the incident, go to www.theprogress.com. SAM BATES/ THE PROGRESS
Murder charge laid in parking lot stabbing Greg Knill The Progress A 63-year-old man was charged with second degree murder Wednesday following a stabbing that left one person dead and onlookers shaken and horrified. Gerald Leslie Dolman was arrested at the scene Tuesday following a series of events that finally lead to the death of a 49-year-old Chilliwack man in the crowded parking lot of a downtown supermarket. According to the Integrated Homicide Team, they believe Dolman and the victim knew each other. The incident began around 3 p.m. with a hit-and-run on First Ave between Spadina and Young. A cyclist was down and paramedics were on route. According to police, witnesses said it appeared Dolman was following the victim in his car when Dolman struck the cyclist. The two vehicles carried on through the busy SaveOnFoods parking lot before colliding at the Yale Road entrance. An altercation ensued and one driver chased the other on foot into the parking lot where he stabbed the second driver
IN TR O D U C IN G
multiple times. Police were on scene within minutes. The suspect was taken into custody while frantic efforts were made to resuscitate the victim. While one woman sobbed inconsolably, and a clutch of middle school students looked on, police, firefighters and paramedics struggled unsuccessfully to revive the man. There’s no word on the condition of the cyclist. The incident left parts of downtown Chilliwack behind police tape for nearly 24 hours as police gathered evidence. Yale Road was finally reopened just
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after 1 p.m. Wednesday, after the two vehicles involved were secured and towed away. By Thursday morning all that remained was a single bouquet of flowers propped against the hedge near where the victim lay. Sgt. Stephanie Ashton, media relations officer for IHIT, praised the police actions. “The quick action of UFVRD RCMP led to the speedy arrest of Mr. Dolman, ensuring evidence was preserved and the risk to the public was mitigated. “The response from the public in providing information about this incident played a part in ensuring IHIT obtained charge approval,” she added, “however there may still be witnesses who have not spoken to police, we ask that those people contact IHIT investigators as soon as possible.” Anyone with information about this incident can contact IHIT by telephone at 1-877-551-IHIT(4448) or by email at ihitinfo@rcmp-grc.gc.ca If they wish to remain anonymous they can contact Crimestoppers at 1-800-2228477 or on the web at solvecrime.ca.
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Friday, May 6, 2016 The Chilliwack Progress
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The Chilliwack Progress is published by Black Press Group Ltd., every Wednesday and Friday at 45860 Spadina Ave., Chilliwack. The Progress is a member of the Canadian Community Newspaper Association, British Columbia and Yukon Community Newspaper Association and B.C. Press Council.
Let’s get loud this week about mental health
The Chilliwack
Progress
R AESIDE
Talking about mental health doesn’t need to be a whispered conversation. This week, the Canadian Mental Health Association is asking people to get loud. It’s Mental Health Week (May 2-8), and while we are sure to know people who suffer from mental illness, there are many more whom we don’t know who are suffering in silence. They may be unwilling to ask for help. They may believe that others won’t care. They may not know that what they’re going through is out of the ordinary. They may not know that their mental health can get better. That’s why it’s important to get loud. Not talking is easier than talking. Not listening is easier than listening. But people who are depressed need to find the strength to speak up loudly enough that others will listen. Their friends and family members need to ask, ‘How are you doing?’ And even if the answer is ‘fine,’ that needs to be the beginning of the conversation, not the end. If we are willing and able to talk about mental health, then we can become more familiar with the resources, services and care that is available. There are physicians, psychiatrists, addictions counsellors and crisis line operators, for example, who can help, but any of us can have a role in outreach, doing what we can to ensure those we care about seek the help they need. Those are some of the most important messages in the Canadian Mental Health Association’s ‘Get Loud’ campaign. Organizers also want people to spread the message in workplaces, in the community and across social media platforms and ask federal and provincial politicians for further funding for mental health programs and services. The campaign consists of a simple concept that is harder than it sounds. It’s easy to talk about things that don’t matter; we do that every day. It’s hard to talk about something that matters so much. But when it comes to mental health in our community, we might have to get loud before we can get well. ~ Black Press
L OCALLY G LOBAL
Hunger count report offers food for thought On Wednesday, Chilliwack’s Salvation Army held its citywide food drive. Service clubs, churches, sports teams, and various groups went door-to-door collecting non-perishable food items to restock shelves that have been getting alarmingly empty. “The food bank is in desperate need of food,” said Don Armstrong, food bank co-ordinator. “We have less than a month’s supplies and the need has doubled over the last year. There are a lot of seniors in need and we are getting a lot of people on a low income or minimum wages who are struggling.” It’s really tough to make ends meet for those on a minimum wage, low income, or a pension. Chilliwack Progress reporter Sam Bates wrote last month that the Chilliwack Food Bank served 5,499 people in March. That rep-
resented an increase of 1,000 people over the February number of 4,433. Both those months were a big spike from February 2015 when 3,240 people were helped and March 2015 when 3,771 people received food. And the pain is everywhere. On Monday, Food Banks Margaret Canada launched its second annuEVANS al “Ever y Plate Full” summer campaign. The aim is to urge Canadians to continue making donations to food banks and help address the 26,548,725 summer meal gaps hungr y Canadians cope with. Food donations are often at their lowest from June to August. Yet the need doesn’t
go away. This month, over 120 food organizations across the country are aiming to raise critical amounts of food and funds in order to put food on the shelves during the summer. “Over 918,000 men, women and children will have a really difficult time accessing enough food during the summer months,” says Pam Jolliffe, executive director, Food Banks Canada. “In turn, food banks will also find themselves under strain to meet the need as food bank shelves slowly get bare.” In November 2015, Food Banks Canada released its annual Hunger Count Report. In March last year, 852,137 people received food from a food bank somewhere in Canada. More than one-third of them were children. That’s an increase of 1.3 per cent
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over 2014 and a huge 26 per cent jump over 2008 when a low point was reach of 675,735 people with food needs. The total number of people who turned to food banks in British Columbia in 2015 reached 100,086, a huge jump from the 78,101 people receiving help in 2008. Last year’s number also represents a 2.8 per cent increase over 2014 with 31.5 per cent of the people being children. According to the report, it’s the highest level of food bank use on record in the province with 59.3 per cent of food banks reporting an increase. Those receiving help included single people (53.6 per cent) living in a rental home (74.0 per cent), on social assistance (33.l per cent) or on disabilityrelated income support (31.7 per cent). Some people might have a
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Knill 604.702.5570 • editor@theprogress.com
Jennifer Feinberg, 604.702.5573 / jfeinberg@theprogress.com Eric J. Welsh, 604.702.5572 / sports@theprogress.com
stereotypical image of someone needing food as a homeless person. But in reality it could be anyone. It could be a friend, a neighbour, a family down the road where both parents are working but don’t have enough money after paying bills to properly feed their children. It could be a senior struggling alone, someone who was happily employed but had an accident and is now on disability, or a person who had a good job but was laid off due to cutbacks and can’t find employment. Food banks are at best a stopgap measure. They aren’t the solution to a family’s food insecurity. Affordable housing, an overhaul of the welfare system, and education and skills training for gainful employment in growth industries would all help to put job opportunities within reach of those in need.
creative services manager Sarah
Driediger 604.702.5581 • sarah@theprogress.com
Jenna Hauck, 604.702.5576, photo@theprogress.com Jessica Peters, 604.702.5575 / jpeters@theprogress.com
The Chilliwack Progress Friday, May 6, 2016
www.theprogress.com
OPTOMETRIST
Community
WALK-INS WELCOME!
Students promote mental health awareness
Residents invited to ‘walk with their doc’ on Monday Take a walk with your doctor and Mayor Gaetz in Chilliwack on Monday, May 9. Now in its seventh year, Walk with your Doc provides an opportunity for doctors to walk sideby-side with their patients, families and friends. The informal atmosphere is a great way to discuss the benefits of daily activity on overall physical and mental health. Participants can receive a free pedometer at the event (while quantities last) by signing up online. The Chilliwack walk takes place at Townsend Park (45130 Wolfe Rd) on May 9 from 12:15 to 1:15 p.m. Learn more about this Doctors of B.C. initiative and register online at walkwithyourdoc.ca.
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