The Chilliwack
Progress Friday
9
27
39
Feature
Scene
Sports
Justice Denied
Illusion
Bruins
You won’t believe your eyes
Gore stops 77 in shootout loss
Start of a five-part series on B.C.’s legal system
120 YEARS YOUR COMMUNITY
NEWSPAPER
1891-2011
Y O U R C O M M U N I T Y N E W S PA P E R • F O U N D E D I N 1 8 9 1 • W W W. T H E P R O G R E S S . C O M • F R I D AY, M A R C H 1 8 , 2 0 1 1
RCMP look for possible victims of Facebook sex attacks Robert Freeman The Progress Teenagers who have gone to parties advertised on Facebook, similar to one where a 15-year-old girl was allegedly sexually assaulted by an older man, are being asked to come forward and talk to police. Parents are also being asked by the police to monitor their kids’ activities on social networking sites, and to ask them if they have been to parties like the one where the assault was alleged. “At this point, the RCMP are trying to determine if there have been more parties like this or if this was an isolated incident,” Cpl. Tammy Hollingsworth said. In an earlier news release, the Chilliwack RCMP reported that a “disturbing trend” appeared to be occurring in the Fraser Valley, of older men advertising parties on Facebook, and then supplying young party-goers with liquor to lower their resistance to sexual attacks. But Const. Tracy Wolbeck later clarified that the “disturbing trend” referred to reports last year of “LG parties” or little girl parties hosted by older males who used alcohol or drugs to lure underage girls into sex acts. So far, only one girl has alleged she was sexually attacked at a Feb. 22 party, which had been advertised on Facebook by a 32-year-old man. The accused male has not been charged, and was released on a promise to appear later in court. But Hollingsworth said a news release that “police have reason to
JENNA HAUCK/ PROGRESS
Getting the number on homelessness Jennifer Feinberg The Progress Volunteers with the 2011 Homeless Count head out into the streets early Wednesday morning, armed with clipboards, snacks, drinks, and friendly smiles. They sport bright yellow buttons that read ‘Homeless Count’ in big block letters. It’s about 11:30 a.m. on count day and folks are starting to line up for lunch. Soft-spoken street worker Mishia Bakstad explains she has already filled out a questionnaire, as she waits for a hot lunch to
be served up at the local soup kitchen attached to the Chilliwack Salvation Army Care and Share Centre. Bakstad was happy to answer questions with a count volunteer after arriving at the emergency shelter run by Chilliwack Salvation Army the night before. “I think the count is great. There’s so many of us,” she says about the local street population. “Often they’re full up at the shelter. They had to put up a cot for me.” Articulate and friendly, the young woman agrees to share part of her story of trying to survive on
DLN 8692
Continued: INTERNET/ p7
UFV student Laura Gilburg was one of the volunteers for the 2011 Homeless Count outside the Sally Ann soup kitchen on Wednesday.
$1.25
Harry Mertin
45930 Airport Road 604-795-9104
the streets of Chilliwack for the past year. “I was attacked twice in the past month,” she says. “Finally, I came here and had a safe night’s sleep at the shelter.” She doesn’t sugar-coat things. “It’s hard,” she admits. “People give you dirty looks when you’re on the street, but they don’t know what you’ve been through. “Other times it’s like we don’t even exist. But we’re people, too. It’s not like we chose to be here.” Fed up with working the streets to pay for her drug habit, Bakstad is now desperately trying to get into a detox facility so she can get
clean and get off the streets. “I’m phoning three times a day to see if I can get in,” she says. If she can stay clean, there’s a camp job waiting for her up in the Yukon. Most of local homeless advocates have said they expect to find more people living on the streets with this year’s count. About 30 volunteers with the 2011 Homeless Count spread out across Chilliwack this week, but the results won’t be announced until all the numbers are in. “Alarmingly” there are more Continued: COUNT/ p7
2011 GMC TERRAIN SLE Back up camera, USB port, cruise control, keyless entry, telescopic steering
all from justt * incorporates GM Loyalty Bonus if applicable. Documentation fee and taxes not included. Stk#17-4448
3-11F M18
46 MPG ECONOMY!