PEOPLE 3
She’s saving animals
ENTERTAINMENT 11
A Fiddler and some fools
FAMILY TIES 16
Lots of fun for littles in Lougheed
5
THINGS TO DO THIS WEEKEND FRIDAY APRIL 1, 2016
LOCAL NEWS – LOCAL MATTERS
There’s more at Burnabynow.com
SEE PAGE 15
ON YOUR MARK: At left, kids are ready for action at the Grandparent and Family Easter Egg Hunt held March 26 at the Bonsor Seniors’ Centre. Above, a young searcher hops to it on his quest for eggs. The event gave kids aged 1.5 to 10 years old a chance to hunt for eggs, make crafts and decorate Easter baskets, alongside their grandparents and other family members. PHOTOS JENNIFER GAUTHIER
PUBLIC SAFETY FORUM
‘There are no places that we are safe’ By Janaya Fuller-Evans
editorial@burnabynow.com
About 150 people, mostly women, gathered for a safety session at Burnaby Mountain Secondary on Wednesday night with questions for police about attacks in the city. The personal safety forum took place near the sites of two recent daytime
sexual assaults.There have been five sexual assaults in Burnaby over the past two months. The session, led by Burnaby city staffer and retired RCMP officer Chris Drouin, focused on steps people – women in particular – can take to protect themselves.While most of the tips were common sense, Drouin said common sense
isn’t always common practice. “This presentation is to help you not become a victim of crime,” he said, adding that violence is not the fault of victims, but it won’t end until perpetrators stop assaulting people. “There are no places that we are safe from the effects of violence,” Drouin told the crowd. But he added
Your brain is the ultimate weapon against violence that women can take control of their safety by limiting opportunities for attack. Some of the tips included being aware of surround-
ings, walking with confidence, limiting distractions, planning routes ahead of time to avoid isolated areas, wearing footwear that doesn’t hinder movement, and parking in well-lit areas. Drouin also suggested wearing a personal safety alarm, which emits a high, piercing sound when activated. It can cause an attacker to run, he said, giving
women time to escape. But most importantly, women should trust their instincts and ignore the impulse to be polite, he said. “Your brain is the ultimate weapon against violence,” Drouin said. If a stranger tries to strike up a conversation, it may be an attempt to gauge a woman’s vulnerability, according Continued on page 4
SERVICE, PARTS AND SALES
NEW LOCATION 4451 STILL CREEK DRIVE, BURNABY
Shop for Toyota, Scion and Pre-Owned Vehicles •
Check our Facebook Page for Updates & Job Postings •
/DestinationToyota