The Tri-Cities Now December 31 2014 by Coquitlam Now

WEDNESDAY DECEMBER 31, 2014

TRI-CITIES

the next day — with our roundup of events

A FINAL LOOK BACK With one last look at the biggest

stories of 2014, we say goodbye to the year that was

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THE TRI-CITIES NOW

| WEDNESDAY, DECEMBER 31, 2014

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InTHE NOW

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PHOTO OF THE DAY: Natasha Calder and Dustin Stratford will host a fireworks show on New Year’s Eve at Maple Creek Middle School in Port Coquitlam. For details, and more New Year’s Eve events, see story on Page 7.

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THE TRI-CITIES NOW | WEDNESDAY, DECEMBER 31, 2014

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The Tri-Cities NOW will not publish on Friday, Jan. 2. Our next edition will come out on Wednesday, Jan. 7. For breaking news, visit us at www. thenownews.com. Penguin Plunge photos will be posted online on Friday, Jan. 2.

WEB EXTRA

Visit us online at www. thenownews. com to view photo galleries of local people and events. CONTACT US editorial@thenownews.com sports@thenownews.com advertising@thenownews.com distribution@thenownews.com (for delivery concerns)

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NEWSNOW THE TRI-CITIES NOW

| WEDNESDAY, DECEMBER 31, 2014

The biggest local stories of 2014 FROM SCIENTIFIC DISCOVERY TO OUTRAGE OVER AN $800K BONUS, IT WAS A BUSY YEAR

been known for having fewer big-box stores than other communities, something that was a draw for her own business. “It’s really about what we want Port Moody to look like. If people don’t make those choices [to shop locally], the stores won’t exist anymore, basically,” she says. While the benefit of the program to the customer comes in the form of a discount, there is also a positive for the business. To join, businesses must be local, independently owned and have a storefront in Port Moody. Cuthbert explains that independents don’t always have the same opportunities as major retailers to pool the costs of marketing, which this group does. “As a business, it’s standing for the unified position of shopping local, even if it means partnering with people that are our competition,” she says.

s 2014 winds down, we take a look back at the biggest stories of the year in the Tri-Cities. If you missed Part 1 of our review, which covered January through June, you can catch it online at www.thenownews.com.

JULY

Charges are laid against a 73-year-old PoCo man in relation to a hit-and-run crash that killed a Riverside Secondary student. Irwin Richard Franz is charged with failing to stop at the scene of an accident causing bodily harm or death. The charge carries a maximum sentence of life in prison. The incident occurred on Sept. 10, 2013 at a crosswalk near the intersection of Mary Hill and Pitt River roads, killing 16-year-old Annie Leung. Leung’s family is informed of the development but does not attend the press conference announcing the charges, instead requesting privacy. “Their daughter is gone,” Coquitlam RCMP spokesman Cpl. Jamie Chung says. “No criminal charges are going to bring her back. But this is going to provide some closure for the family so they can close this chapter and move on with their lives.” Chung says more than 100 tips came in over the course of the investigation. He declines to offer details on the evidence that led to the charge, but confirms that search warrants were executed at Franz’s home and on his truck. Police released surveillance video of the crash shortly after it took place in 2013. The video shows a man getting out of a black truck and assessing the accident scene. The case is still before the courts.

AUGUST In an exclusive interview with the TriCities NOW, the chief of the Kwikwetlem First Nation defends the whopping salary he took home last year. Chief Ron Giesbrecht tells the Tri-Cities NOW he made about $800,000 as a bonus after taking over the role of economic development officer for the band. According to remuneration numbers posted on the band’s website, and as part of the federal government’s new First Nations Financial Transparency Act, Giesbrecht made $914,219 in 2013-14. A further breakdown provided by the band shows he made $4,800 in his role as chief, $80,000 as economic development officer and $800,000 in the form of a 10-per-cent bonus for being economic development officer. Giesbrecht explains he took over the role in September 2013 after the former economic development officer left, in order to keep millions of dollars worth of projects moving forward. He says the 10-per-cent bonus was built into the position three years ago to create an incentive to get contracts. “Whoever thought the bonus would be this much? I tell you, I never would have,” he says, noting in light of the situation, the band will likely hire someone else to take over as economic development officer. “I just pushed for a lot of jobs and partnerships and it just excelled.” Giesbrecht said when he learned of the

NOVEMBER FILE PHOTO BY LISA KING/NOW

PoCo company International Submarine Engineering Ltd. developed technology that played a role in the discovery of a ship lost during the Franklin Expedition. bonus structure, he personally removed it from the position. Despite considerable outcry from across the country, and among band members, Giesbrecht does not step down as chief. He also decides to keep all of the money he made. “[Band members] didn’t think I needed to [return the money]. They thought that I earned it and I did a good job and I brought in just about $10 million through generating economic development opportunities,” he says.

SEPTEMBER Somewhere inside the vast and inhospitable part of the world that is the Canadian Arctic lies a mystery that spans two centuries. And a PoCo company is front and centre in getting to the bottom of that mystery. International Submarine Engineering (ISE) Ltd. manufactures and sells two Arctic Explorer AUVs to Defense Research and Development Canada, a member of the expedition to find a doomed English fleet led by British explorer Sir John Franklin in 1845. The vehicles play an integral role in helping gather data and objective evidence to support Canada’s claim for expanding its sovereign continental shelf in the Arctic. James A.R. McFarlane, the founder’s son and ISE’s executive vice-president, suggests the mystery of Franklin’s expedition still carries interest to this day. “People want to know,” he tells the TriCities NOW. “These vessels of Franklin’s — they want to know what happened, they want to know where they ended up. They want to see if they can find anything on the bottom.” As far as historians can tell, Franklin’s expedition got caught up in the ice in Victoria Strait, near Nunavut, and none of the crew, including Franklin, were seen again. In the years that followed, countless expeditions were launched to try and find the lost

ships, but none succeeded — until this year. Prime Minister Stephen Harper confirms in early October that one of the discoveries made on the trip is the Erebus, the boat Franklin was believed to have gone down on.

OCTOBER Strolling through a local independent shop can make for exciting discoveries. Unlike the big-box stores that dot the retail landscape, small businesses have the potential to offer both a unique experience and products. At least that’s what a group of Port Moody businesses are hoping residents will consider when it comes time to spend their money. A group called “Shop Local Port Moody” launches an initiative designed to shift consumer spending toward just that: shopping local. A number of independent businesses sign on to the campaign, which is spearheaded by a handful of local business owners. Rocky Point Ice Cream owner Yvette Cuthbert notes the group has 28 member businesses signed up within a month. “The more businesses we get involved, the more consumers will see the logo and understand what shopping local means,” she tells the Tri-Cities NOW. The lynchpin of the initiative is the Super Local Shopper program, which acts as a reward system for shopping at participating local businesses. Kirsten Anderson, owner of the Village Toy Shop in Newport Village and a member of the group, says there’s been good uptake of the program at her store. “A lot of customers talk about wanting to shop at more local, independent small businesses where they get to know the owner,” she says. Anderson sees the Shop Local group as providing a reminder for those who want to park their dollars with a local business. She also suggests Port Moody has always

Significant changes are seen across the TriCities in the Nov. 15 municipal election, none more so than on the school board. Half the trustees fail to win re-election, Gail Alty and Gerri Wallis, vice-chair Holly Butterfield and chair Melissa Hyndes are gone, along with retiring trustees Brian Robinson and John Keryluk. Replacing them are Michael Thomas, Kerri Palmer-Isaak, Lisa Park, Chuck Denison, Barb Hobson and Carol Cahoon. “The CUPE union had a vow to usurp the board and, I think, along with a movement from the NDP, they were successful in doing so,” Hyndes says after the election. More than 40 years of political service also ends in Coquitlam, as Lou Sekora’s bid to return to the mayor’s chair is defeated by a nearly three-to-one margin — incumbent Richard Stewart is re-elected with 15,002 votes compared to the 5,705 ballots cast for Sekora. “It’s like being in the army or in the police force for 42 years and then all of a sudden, you’ve taken that load off your shoulders,” Sekora says after his defeat. “It’s probably the greatest thing to happen to me that I got beat. You wouldn’t believe how well I sleep at night and how relaxed I am. It’s just great.” Neal Nicholson is the lone incumbent councillor not to be re-elected, and the two council vacancies are filled by Dennis Marsden and Teri Towner. The City of the Arts puts its confidence behind the youngest councillor ever elected in Port Moody, as 22-year-old Robert Vagramov garners 3,285 votes. Incumbent Mayor Mike Clay edges out challenger Gaetan Royer with 4,261 votes, compared to 3,450 for Royer. Incumbents Gerry Nuttall and Rosemary Small are outside of the top six and lose their seats to Meghan Lahti and Barbara Junker. In PoCo, Michael Wright loses his council seat after more than three decades of public service and is replaced by political neophyte Laura Dupont. Elected to a third term, Mayor Greg Moore handily wins the city’s top post, polling more than 7,500 votes over his only challenger, Eric Hirvonen. Election night sees a tale of two villages emerge as far as Anmore and Belcarra are concerned: Anmore voters choose change, CONTINUED ON PAGE 6

my astoria. my home.

THE TRI-CITIES NOW | WEDNESDAY, DECEMBER 31, 2014

GOT NEWS?

Contact the editorial team

Phone: 604-444-3451 Fax: 604-444-3460 Email: editorial@thenownews.com

PoCo woman upset by mailbox thefts Jeremy DEUTSCH

Take possession by Dec. 31st, for exclusive year-end rates, plus

jdeutsch@thenownews.com At the corner of Citadel Drive and Gateway Place in PoCo stands a community mailbox, tucked beside some hedges. The box has been left open, and some of the mail slot doors have been pulled off or are barely hanging on. It’s a situation nearby resident Trish Lyons has come across all too often. The mailbox behind her home was broken into and damaged the week before Christmas, and she knows of a couple of other boxes along the street that have also been targeted by thieves. In one case, mail was left out in the rain for a day. Lyons phoned police and was told the area is a “hot spot” for mail crooks and that officers would do extra patrols. “It’s just totally unsafe to have your mail [there]. We’re getting broken into so often,” she told the Tri-Cities NOW. “Is that supposed to be acceptable that your mail’s left out on the ground? It’s ridiculous.” Lyons noted the mailboxes have been broken into in the past, but the incidents are becoming more frequent. The situation has the PoCo resident considering having

one month

Rose and Millie (with Buddy) at Rocky Point

I love the water, so choosing a new home for me and my dog was an easy one. JEREMY DEUTSCH/NOW

What would make it feel like home for you?

These mailboxes in PoCo were hit before Christmas. her mail delivered to a drug store post office rather than the community mailbox, despite the inconvenience that would cause. Lyons says part of the problem is the mailboxes’ location next to hedges. She’s calling on Canada Post to make them more secure, suggesting the boxes be placed where they can be seen from homes, and the locks changed more often. “They have to do something else to secure your mail if it’s getting stolen all the time,” she said. A spokesman for Canada Post told the Tri-Cities NOW less than one per cent of community mailboxes are target-

ed by vandals or thieves, but a large percentage of those are in the Lower Mainland. Eugene Knapik said Canada Post is working with police on the issue, noting there have been several arrests this year related to mailbox theft and destruction. He also said Canada Post is using multiple strategies to tackle the problem, including “bait mail” to catch thieves at the source. Canada Post is also asking residents to remove mail daily, especially if there’s been a break-in in the area. Knapik noted it could take a couple of days or weeks to replace a box, depending on the extent of the damage.

Gunfire wounds man on Christmas Day

INJURIES CALLED ‘NON-LIFE-THREATENING’

Jeremy DEUTSCH jdeutsch@thenownews.com It wasn’t a completely quiet Christmas Day in the TriCities, as police were called out to an early-morning shooting in Port Coquitlam. A man in his 30s was shot at a home in the 2400 block of Kitchener Avenue. He was taken to hospital with non-life-threatening injuries, while police continued to look for suspects. Neighbours on the quiet residential street woke up on Dec. 25 to find a house behind police tape, with several officers at the scene. “We heard a policeman yelling, ‘Get out of the house,’” said neighbour Ann Pratt, who was awakened by the commotion around 5:20 a.m. At one point, there were two ambulances, two fire

FREE!

JEREMY DEUTSCH/NOW

This Kitchener Street home was behind police tape on Christmas Day, after a man was shot inside. trucks, and at least seven police cruisers surrounding the house, she said. A K-9 unit also searched the neighbourhood without success. By mid-day, the home was still under police tape, while

officers could be seen canvassing the area. Neighbours say the occupants moved into the house last summer. — with files from The Province

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THE TRI-CITIES NOW

| WEDNESDAY, DECEMBER 31, 2014

NEWSN0W

2014: Politics takes centre stage locally

GOING INTO 2015, TRI-CITIES MAYORS PLAN TO LOBBY FOR THE TRANSIT REFERENDUM

CONT. FROM PAGE 4 electing challenger John McEwen over incumbent mayor Heather Anderson, by 442 votes to 335. In Belcarra, the longest serving mayor in the region gets another term, as Ralph Drew defeats Michael Robson 183 to 138.

DECEMBER If the easy part was coming up with the question, the tough part begins with the sale. Metro Vancouver mayors approve a transit referendum question asking residents whether they support a 0.5per-cent hike in the provincial sales tax to fund a major transportation plan. The Mayors’ Council on Regional Transportation Strategy calls for a $7.5-billion investment over 10 years for projects around the region. The tax increase is expect-

FILE PHOTO BY LISA KING/NOW

Tri-Cities voters turfed half the school board in November, after a tumultuous year in education that saw a teachers’ strike, protests and a $13.4-million deficit. ed to cost the average Metro Vancouver household about $128 a year.

The mayors’ decision is later supported by the province, though the question is

modified slightly and changes from a referendum to a plebiscite to reflect input from Elections BC. The vote will be administered by Elections BC as a mail-in ballot plebiscite, likely some time this spring. The Tri-Cities Chamber of Commerce supports the

move, as does the Better Transit and Transportation Coalition, which includes the BC Chamber of Commerce, Vancouver Board of Trade and David Suzuki Foundation. Coquitlam Mayor Richard Stewart argues the region needs the significant investment in transportation, adding doing nothing is not an option. He intends to make the case that municipalities will be left to make transit improvements individually, if the referendum fails, which will be even more costly. “We have some work to do to make sure everyone understands the choices before us, and I really believe once people understand those choices they will support these investments,” Stewart says. PoCo Mayor Greg Moore says he’ll campaign for the yes side, and to win over voters he’ll focus on what the issue means for PoCo residents: the plan calls for two B-Line buses on Lougheed

Highway every five minutes. The PoCo mayor suggests if the referendum fails, there is no Plan B and people will get stuck in more congestion, while goods will take longer to get around the region. Port Moody Mayor Mike Clay says he suspects the yes side will get greater support in Port Moody, Burnaby and Vancouver, where residents understand the benefits of transit more, but it will likely be a tougher sell in more outlying communities like Langley and Maple Ridge. As for the 0.5-per-cent sales tax increase, Clay suggests it’s the cleanest and easiest option for people to understand. “It seems to be the most equitable way to do it,” he says. “Everybody’s paying a percentage of it.” To see a selection of our best photos from 2014, turn to Page 9. For Part 2 of sports editor Dan Olson’s Year in Review, see Page 16.

Yes, its back!

Christmas Tree Chip When: 9am–4pm on Sat, January 3 and Sun, January 4, 2015 Where: NEW LOCATION! Inlet Centre Fire Hall, 150 Newport Drive, Port Moody Cost: By donation ($5 minimum)

All proceeds go to BC Professional Fire Fighter’s Burn Fund.

• Port Moody Firefighters Local 2399 are chipping Christmas trees this January. Coffee, hot chocolate and vehicle vacuuming are also available. • Firefighters will also demonstrate how quickly a Christmas tree can go up in flames. • Please remove all tinsel and decorations before bringing your tree down.

604.469.4526 www.portmoody.ca

“Biggest Looser”

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How does it work? Write an email to Brendon at o2pomo@gmail.com & let him know wh why you should be invited to join this contest (your our health goals & reason why we should choose you) by January 14, 2015. When does the contest start? J January 26th with the selected contestants ann being announced in the Tri Cities Now January 28th. You have just ove er 2 months to push yourself to the ultimate test of commitment & self-discipline. T person who has the biggest weight loss The after the 2 months will win a 6 month free membership & a $1000 prize pack! Contestants will be contacted January 19th by Brendon.

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THE TRI-CITIES NOW | WEDNESDAY, DECEMBER 31, 2014

NEWSN0W

CITY OF P RT COQUITLAM

Ring in the new year Jeremy DEUTSCH

jdeutsch@thenownews.com It’s been 12 months, or 365 days, or a whole lot of hours, but 2014 is coming to an end. And if staying home isn’t your fancy, there are plenty of things to do in the Tri-Cities to ring in the new year. In what’s become a tradition, the Quiring Chamber Players return for their seventh-annual New Year’s Eve celebration at the Evergreen Cultural Centre. The program includes Mozart’s Clarinet Quintet, Bright Sheng’s “Tibetan Dance” for clarinet, violin and piano, and the Brahms A Major Piano Quartet Op. 26. There is a “sparkling reception” after the concert. Tickets ($38 for adults, $34 for seniors and $15 for students) are available at the box office or at evergreenculturalcentre.ca. If breaking out the dancing shoes is in order, the Evergreen Cultural Centre has got you covered for that too with what’s becoming another tradition, the New Year’s Eve Latin Dance Party, 2015 edition. It features all-night dancing with salsa, merengue, bachata, cha-cha-cha, cumbia and a salsa performance with Hot Salsa Dance Zone. There will

be appetizers and desserts and champagne at midnight. The event runs from 9 p.m. to 2 a.m. Tickets are $40 at the door. Call 604-725-4654 or 604-808-2311 for details. If you want to get your rock on, look no further than the Hard Rock Casino Vancouver. Canadian icons Loverboy will play The Theatre, while rockers Harlequin will be doing their thing on the Asylum Sound Stage. For details, go to www. hardrockcasinovancouver. com. There are also a number of pubs in the Tri-Cities offering options for New Year’s Eve. The John B Pub, at 1000 Austin Ave. in Coquitlam, is hosting a party with live music featuring The Score and a three-course dinner. Tickets are $45. To reserve a spot, call Owen or Barb at 604-931-5115. Roo’s Public House, at 2962 Christmas Way in Coquitlam, is hosting a party boasting the biggest balloon drop in Coquitlam. There are no tickets or cover, but there is a DJ and live dancing. PoCo’s Cat & Fiddle Sports Bar will host a party until 4 a.m., at 1979 Brown St. Tickets are $20, and include a DJ, door prizes and free champagne at midnight.

If explosions are what you like, then PoCo is where you want to be. Natasha Calder and Dustin Stratford will again light up the night sky with a New Year’s Eve fireworks show at Maple Creek Middle School, at 3700 Hastings St. The Dec. 31 event kicks off at 10 p.m. with a combination of holiday songs and memorable tunes from 2014. It runs from midnight until 12:20 a.m. on Jan. 1, though Stratford advises attendees to arrive around 10:45 p.m. on Dec. 31 to secure a spot. While New Year’s Eve is a good excuse to party, there’s no excuse to drink and drive. If you’re looking for a safe way to get home, look no further than Operation Red Nose. Service starts at 9 p.m. and runs until 3 a.m. For a ride, call 778-866-6673. And if you’re feeling a little under the weather the next day, shake it off by taking a dip in the inlet. The Penguin Plunge is back at Rocky Point Park in Port Moody. Registration opens at 11 a.m. and costs $5 per person and $10 per family. The plunge is at 1 p.m. The Tri-Cities NOW will have a photographer at the Penguin Plunge. Visit us online Friday to see all of our photos from this event.

OPINION

THE TRI-CITIES NOW

| WEDNESDAY, DECEMBER 31, 2014

Tri-Cities NOW is a division of LMP Publication Limited Partnership. Our offices are located at 216-3190 St. Johns Street, Port Moody BC V3H 2C7 Phone: 604-444-3451

Make a vow you can keep

e’ve all been there. You make a new year’s resolution — either in the days leading up to the big event, or in a burst of enthusiasm before breaking into a chorus of Auld Lang Syne. Losing weight, quitting smoking, saving money — they’re all worthwhile goals, yet how many of us have vowed repeatedly to do one or all of those things, but still haven’t crossed any off the list? Chances are, the people achieving their goals are the ones who have a specific plan, like working out five times a week, versus a vague idea of what they want to do, like “lose weight.” Regardless, there’s an alternative to big resolutions that take weeks or months to achieve. How about vowing to do something specific just once, then actually doing it? Something that would make a difference. Two things come to mind: visit www.transplant.bc.ca and sign up to be an organ donor or call 1-888-2-DONATE and book an appointment to give blood. Either one could save a life, and you’ll have achieved your resolution before most people have even drafted theirs. This year, make a vow you can keep.

WATER-RATE DEBATE CONTINUES

Re: “Two-tiered water rate riles homeowner in Coquitlam,” letter to the editor, Wednesday, Dec. 24. Thanks to Sarah Strom for letting the rest of us know what is happening in our City Hall. As to Ms. Strom’s points about who should pay for infrastructure in a new area, yes it should be the developers; they make the profits. If a city needs to dangle incentives to developers then don’t have them develop. Maybe we should focus less on being a bedroom community for Vancouver business and be more business selfsufficient ourselves. As to Ms. Strom’s point about the number of people who use the water in a condo as opposed to in a single-family dwelling: Five people in a condo equals five people in a house. Has there been a study on amount of water use in and about the lands that the condos need to tend? I don’t remember the last time I saw a condo with a brown lawn. That is water use as well, is it not? Once again thanks, Ms. Strom. And for shame on City Hall. Rob Dean Coquitlam ••• Letter writer Sarah Strom was skeptical that people living in a condo or townhouse use half the water of a singlefamily house. The single-family home likely has a front and rear lawn that needs routine watering even through summer restrictions. Some have underground sprinklers on timers that operate while it is raining! The single-family home is likely to have several vehicles that will be washed in the driveway from time to time. [The condo residents likely take their car to a car wash.] Finally, many so-called single-family homes have secondary suites whose occupants consume water too. But I agree with Strom’s main complaint. The Tri-Cities municipalities should recover the costs of utilities in new developments from the developers and the new residents over a 30-year amortization term — not from existing residents and businesses. D. Wilson Port Moody Copyright in letters and other materials submitted voluntarily to the Publisher and accepted for publication remains with the author, but the Publisher and its licensees may freely reproduce them in print, electronic or other forms. The publisher shall not be liable for minor changes or typographical errors that do not lessen the value of an advertisement. The publisher’s liability for other errors or omissions with respect to any advertisement is limited to publication of the advertisement in a subsequent issue or the refund of monies paid for the advertisement.

Resolutions for politicians

t’s that time of year when B.C. politicians should start thinking about some New Year’s resolutions for a bit of political selfimprovement. So, in the spirit of giving, here are five ideas for politicians to consider as they set their resolutions for 2015. 1. Do the shuffle In keeping with the season’s “out with the old, in with the new” theme, a cabinet shuffle is overdue. But a real one — trading deck chairs between Andrew Wilkinson and Amrik Virk a week before Christmas doesn’t count. And what was Premier Christy Clark thinking when she put Virk in charge of Technology, Innovation and Citizens’ Services as a political demotion, when technology clearly wasn’t his strong suit at Kwantlen University? Virk needs some shifts in the minors, not a far seat at the cabinet table. Todd Stone would likely appreciate a new portfolio after the S.S. Minnow — err, MV Nimpkish — affair. Bet Mary Polak might prefer a change too. And talking about trading deck chairs, how about Andrew Wilkinson for Justice and Suzanne Anton for Advanced Education? 2. Remember: the secret to survivin’ is knowin’ what to throw away and knowin’ what to keep Back in 2011, the B.C. government predicted that the first liquified natural gas plant would be operational by 2015. Doesn’t look promising. Despite cutting its proposed income tax on the LNG industry in half and inking agreements with China to facilitate the use of foreign workers in B.C. to help build the facilities — that is if they’re built here at all and not just floated in — it’s doubtful anyone from

government will be cutting the ribbon at an LNG plant any time soon. However, there’s one take-away lesson from this: if you’re going to play cards with the high rollers, it doesn’t hurt to know the rules. So a little advice from Kenny Rogers: “You’ve got to know when to hold ’em. Know when to fold ’em. Know when to walk away. And know when to run. You never count your money when you’re sittin’ at the table. There’ll be time enough for countin’ when the dealin’s done.” 3. Stop counting your chickens before they’re hatched A quick review of Petronas headlines sums this one up well: “Petronas LNG pullout threat just a negotiating tactic: Premier” (Sept. 25), “Petronas warns of possible delay of $11-billion B.C. LNG project” (Oct. 6), “B.C. in ‘good shape’ to close $10-billion LNG deal: Premier” (Dec. 2), “Petronas defers decision on $36 billion BC LNG project” (Dec. 3), and “Christy Clark says Petronas LNG project is a ‘done deal’ despite delay” (Dec. 8). Yes, folks do want to know what’s going on, but not if it makes them dizzy. 4. Stop stating the obvious Back in August, Energy and Mines Minister Bill Bennett had this to say about the tailings pond breach at Mt. Polley Mine: “This is a serious incident that should not have happened.” Very true, that. In November, Health Minister Terry Lake called the decision of the B.C. Cancer Foundation (a registered charity) to top up the salary of the former head of the B.C. Cancer Agency (a government body): “questionable.” At the very least. And here’s what B.C. Lottery Corp.

chairman Bud Smith said reacting to a government audit of the BCLC that found a move to cut staffing costs ended up costing $25 million instead: “The execution wasn’t good.” You don’t say. Stating the obvious can leave you open to ridicule, unless it’s accompanied with a sincere mea culpa and a genuine promise for improvement. 5. Cancel “That ’90s Show” “I’ll meet your fast ferries and raise you one B.C. Place Stadium roof.” In mere hours, it’ll be 2015. Can anyone think of a better time for the B.C. Liberal party and the NDP to finally put the 1990s behind them? A little something for supporters of the B.C. Liberal party to consider as well: lobbing those fast ferries at the NDP may be the equivalent of a political grenade backfiring. It doesn’t speak well of the government’s acumen, if supporters have to call up the fast ferries’ debacle to counter criticism. Think of it as the theory of political equivalence. And Happy New Year. Dermod Travis is the executive director of IntegrityBC.

WHAT DO YOU THINK? Share your opinion on this column or anything else you read in The Tri-Cities NOW by sending a letter to the editor to editorial@thenownews.com, with “letter to the editor” in the subject line. We edit for taste, legality and length, and both letters to the editor and opinion columns may be reproduced on The Tri-Cities NOW website, www.thenownews.com.

THE TRI-CITIES NOW | WEDNESDAY, DECEMBER 31, 2014

COMMUNITY&LIFE

LOOKNOW

GOT AN EVENT WE CAN SHOOT? LET US KNOW! Contact The Tri-Cities NOW: Phone: 604-444-3451

Email: editorial@thenownews.com

Tri-Cities NOW photographer Lisa King has chosen some of her favourite photos from 2014 to share with readers. Above left: surveying the damage after a cabin arson. Above right: aerial yoga comes to the Tri-Cities.

Clockwise from above left: Carter, 7, gets pegged by his sister during a snowball fight in their front yard; food is scattered everywhere after a car rams through the front entrance of Giancarlo Deli on Austin Avenue; Marissa, 5, joins the can-can dancers at Golden Spike Days; and tunnelling along Barnet Highway for the Evergreen Line.

THE TRI-CITIES NOW

#TRASHTALK

| WEDNESDAY, DECEMBER 31, 2014

COQUITLAM.CA/TRASHTALK

@CITYOFCOQUITLAM

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NEWSN0W

WorkSafeBC fines psychiatric hospital Jeremy DEUTSCH

jdeutsch@thenownews.com The Forensic Psychiatric Hospital in Coquitlam has been fined a five-figure amount for several safety violations over the last two years. The hospital was fined $75,000 by WorkSafeBC earlier this month for violations following inspections by the safety organization. According to a WorkSafeBC inspection report, on March 4, 2013, a patient at the hospital assaulted a health worker during a blood withdrawal procedure in one of the hospital’s maximum-security wards. An investigation found GOT A

This holiday season, reduce waste by disposing of your natural Christmas tree at one of the following chipping events:

NEWS TIP?

Kinsmen Club and 1st Kinsmen Scout Group Date: Saturday, January 3 and Sunday January 4 Time: 8:00am - 5:00pm Location: Town Centre Stadium Parking Lot A

Kinsmen Club and Centennial Music Department Date: Sunday, January 4 Time: 8:00am - 5:00pm Location: Centennial Secondary School

The Friends of Mundy Park Heritage Society Date: Saturday, January 3 and Sunday, January 4 Time: 10:00am - 4:00pm Location: Mundy Park Gravel Lot (off Hillcrest Ave)

editorial@thenownews.com 604-444-3451

there had been a violation of regulations, notably that the employer must instruct workers who may be exposed to the risk of violence. A few months later on June 18, 2013, the hospital was again found in violation of the rules, for failing to instruct staff on how to safely provide care for a potentially aggressive patient in a room that had not been designated for that purpose, and for other deficiencies. The most serious incident noted in the report happened on Sept. 12, 2012, when a patient stabbed an occupational therapist during a oneon-one therapeutic cooking activity. The report noted the worker was stabbed through the right side of the chest wall, resulting in a serious injury. Robert Anthony Schroyen, who had been a patient at the hospital since 2011, was charged with attempted murder and aggravated assault following the incident. A judge later determined Schroyen was not criminally responsible because of mental disorder. Court heard the 25 year old

suffered from both delusions and hallucinations, and at the time of the stabbing believed a group called the “Infiniti Clan” was instructing him to kill the therapist. In outlining the fines, the WorkSafeBC report found the hospital failed to take sufficient precautions for the prevention of work-related injuries or illness, had not maintained a safe workplace or safe working conditions and did not exercise due diligence to prevent the circumstances of the incidents. The $75,000 penalty was based on two recommendations, but was combined for one amount. There have been other violent incidents at the hospital over the years. In 2012, a patient who attacked child killer Allan Schoenborn with a pool ball, and also stabbed an employee with a homemade shank, was sentenced to two years in jail. Matthew Poore pleaded guilty to assault with a weapon and assault causing bodily harm in connection with the incidents. twitter.com/jertricitiesnow

January 5, 2015

6:00 p.m. – 9:00 p.m. Poirier Sport & Leisure Complex 633 Poirier Street

Scouts Francophones de Maillardville

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Date: Saturday, January 3 Time: 9:00am - 4:00pm Location: Canadian Tire (1200 Seguin Drive, off Lougheed near IKEA)

Trees must be tinsel and decoration free. Tree chipping is by donation to support community groups. Christmas trees can also be put in your Green Cart as long as the lid is completely closed and the tree is cut in 1m lengths and a maximum 10cm diameter. Whole or cut trees can also be dropped off at the Yard Trimmings Drop Off Facility – 995 United Boulevard. Remember to remove all tinsel, decorations, and stands.

For more information on tree disposal, please contact: RCBC Recycling Hotline: 604-732-9253 Compost Hotline: 604-736-2250 Engineering & Public Works Customer Service: 604-927-3500

SEPARATE YOUR WASTE. Coquitlam’s waste collection program FOR MORE INFORMATION, VISIT COQUITLAM.CA/TRASHTALK OR PHONE 604 927 3500

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Start the New Year with an energy boost! Try classes like indoor cycling, cardio kick and trigger point therapy. Visit coquitlam.ca/pslc to see a full class schedule. * Must be purchased in person at City Centre Aquatic Complex or Poirier Sport & Leisure Complex. Offer valid January 5, 2015.

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THE TRI-CITIES NOW | WEDNESDAY, DECEMBER 31, 2014

COMMUNITY&LIFE

Recycle your Christmas tree Jeremy DEUTSCH

jdeutsch@thenownews.com Now that the holiday season is coming to an end and all of the presents have been opened, it’s time to get rid of that Christmas tree. Fortunately, there are quite a few opportunities in the TriCities to give a proper sendoff to the tree, with a number of chipping events planned in the new year. In Coquitlam, the Kinsmen Club and 1st Kinsmen Scout Group will take to Town Centre Stadium parking lot A on Saturday, Jan. 3 and Sunday, Jan. 4 from 8 a.m. to 5 p.m. The Kinsmen will also team up with Centennial Secondary’s music department on Sunday, Jan. 4 from 8 a.m. to 5 p.m. at the school. The Friends of Mundy Park Heritage Society’s event runs on Saturday, Jan. 3 and Sunday, Jan. 4 at the Mundy Park gravel lot off Hillcrest Avenue, from 10 a.m. to 4

p.m. The Scouts Francophones de Maillardville will offer their services from 9 a.m. to 4 p.m. on Saturday, Jan. 3 at the Canadian Tire on Seguin Drive. A City of Coquitlam press release notes trees must be free of any decorations or tinsel and all chipping is by donation to support the community groups organizing the events. Natural Christmas trees can also be put into your green cart, as long as the lid is completely closed and the tree is cut into one-metre (three-foot) lengths that are a maximum of 10 centimetres (four inches) in diameter. Whole or cut trees can also be dropped off for free at the Coquitlam Yard Trimmings Drop Off Facility, at 995 United Blvd. In Port Coquitlam, trees without tinsel or chemical sprays can be chopped up and placed in city green carts in pieces in the same dimensions as in Coquitlam.

REQUEST FOR OFFERS SINGLE-FAMILY DEVELOPMENT OPPORTUNITY Coquitlam School District is inviting offers by public tender to purchase, in a single transaction, fee simple title to a proposed subdivision of 8 single family lots in Central Coquitlam at Como Lake Avenue and Poirier Street. The 1.4 ac project has received preliminary layout approval with RS-3 zoning, conditions for which have been partially satisfied including approval of detailed engineering design. The satisfaction of remaining conditions, completion of the subdivision and completion of predetermined upgrades to offsite municipal infrastructure, including construction of a new lane in accordance with detailed engineering design approved by the City, will be the responsibility of the purchaser. Offer closing date is January 16, 2015. The land is surplus for the delivery of educational services and the funds will be used for capital improvements within the District to supplement, not replace, the funding provided by the provincial Ministry of Education. A copy of the Request for Offers package can be picked up upon payment of a $50 document fee, from the School Board Office (8:30am to 4:00pm): 550 Poirier Street Coquitlam, BC V3J 6A7 Phone 604-939-9201 Purchasing@sd43.bc.ca

“Learning, Land & Neighbourhoods”

There are also several tree chipping events in PoCo. Trees can be taken to the No.1 Fire Hall on Broadway Street from 9 a.m. to 4 p.m. on Saturday, Jan. 3 and Sunday, Jan. 4 for a minimum $5 donation to the BC Professional Fire Fighters Burn Fund. Residents can also call 604-927-5405 to arrange for a pickup (for a minimum $10 donation). Firefighters donate their time for this event and all wood chips created are used in city parks and on trails. Art Knapp Plantland

& Florist will also accept trees from Wednesday, Jan. 7 through Saturday, Jan. 31 from 10 a.m. to 5 p.m. daily. Each $5 donation goes towards juvenile diabetes research. In Port Moody, firefighters will chip trees by donation ($5 minimum) on Saturday, Jan. 3 and Sunday, Jan. 4 from 9 a.m. to 4 p.m. at the new Inlet Centre Fire Hall. Firefighters will offer treeburning demos to show just how quickly a tree can go up in flames. All proceeds will go to the Children’s Burn Fund.

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CARING FOR TRI-CITIES KIDS 2 WAYS TO DONATE COINS FOR KIDS

Accepted at these locations: The Tri-Cities NOW’s ofﬁce, at 216-3190 St Johns St., Port Moody (from 9am-5pm weekdays) RCMP and Community Police Stations

• RCMP detachment, 2986 Guildford Way, Coquitlam • Burquitlam Community Police Station 560 Clarke Rd., Coquitlam • Ridgeway Community Police Station, 1059 Ridgeway Ave. Coquitlam • Port Coquitlam Community Police Station, 2581 Mary Hill Rd. • Port Moody Police Station, 3051 St. Johns St.

Scotiabank Locations

Scotiabank will match donations made at its branches up to a maximum of $5,000. • 953 Brunette Ave. Coquitlam • 465 North Rd., Coquitlam • Coquitlam Centre • 4100-2850 Shaughnessy St., Port Coquitlam • 2501 St. Johns St., Port Moody • 2115 Hawkins St., Fremont Village, PoCo

CROWD FUNDING FOR KIDS Is it easier for you to donate online? We’ve made it as simple as hitting the “contribute” button. Any amount, large or small, can make a difference. You can also use the convenient social media buttons to let your friends and family know that you are sharing the spirit of the season. Go to www.fundaid.ca/tricitieskids

PENNIES accepted! 100 per cent of proceeds go to the Caring for Tri-Cities Kids campaign, which has raised more than $150,000 for local children since its inception in 1990. All proceeds stay in the community. Cheques should be made payable to SHARE Family and Community Services Society. Donations will be accepted through Dec. 31, 2014. For more information, call The Tri-Cities NOW at 604-492-4492.

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THE TRI-CITIES NOW | WEDNESDAY, DECEMBER 31, 2014

ARTS&ENTERTAINMENT

Entries wanted for Our critic’s Top 10 short film contest John KURUCZ

jkurucz@thenownews.com At just 18 years old, Josh Cabrita’s moxie for movies is taking him into uncharted territory. A film columnist for the Tri-Cities NOW, Cabrita was recently named acting artistic director of next year’s Port Moody Canadian Film Festival. The PoCo resident is tasked with selecting the feature films that will be screened at the popular festival, attracting sponsorship dollars and other odds and ends associated with pulling off a multiday event. “The frightening aspect is that I’m programming films for an audience that will not entirely be pleased with my choices,” he said. “No matter what I choose people are going to be upset with some of the films. Everyone has different tastes in movies. Although I tried to pick some films for a mass audience, I also stayed true to my own tastes.” Long-time festival cohort Brad Williams recruited Cabrita over the last year, and he’s still in charge of programming the short films that are screened prior to each feature film. The feature films Cabrita chose for next year’s event — which runs from March 11 to 15 — include Violent, Mommy, Just Eat It, Bang,

Tri-Cities NOW movie reviewer Josh Cabrita is acting artistic director of the Port Moody Film Festival, and is looking for entries for a University Shorts contest. Bang Baby and Little Terrors. Those selections were made to adhere to the structure of past film festivals: one documentary, one comedy, one Quebecois-themed film, one drama, one “unconventionally weird festival type movie” and a personal pick. “It’s kind of a taboo subject in Canadian film where you go to film festivals and they are self-congratulatory about how good the Canadian film industry is when, quite frankly, we mostly suck,” he said. “Canadian cinema as a whole is in a crisis but there is a bright light that seems to be appearing. A new generation of storytellers [is] delivering some very original and striking works.”

While the feature films have been picked, those vying for the University Shorts Contest still need to be selected. That portion of the festival aims to identify some of the best local short films made by up-andcoming filmmakers. Eligibility criteria include: applicants must attend a local college or university in B.C. in an undergraduate program, the shorts must be under 20 minutes in length, and films can’t be backed by outside funding from organizations. The winners will be awarded $1,000 in cash. Though Cabrita won’t be adjudicating those short films, he does have some advice for applicants. “I’m looking more to see a personal touch — I’m less concerned with technical proficiency than with the ideas and execution of them,” he said. “I see around 200 movies a year, so I want these short films to break past formulaic conventions and become something memorable.” Those wanting to enter the University Shorts contest have until Feb. 1, 2015 to do so. Applicants are asked to mail a Blu-ray or DVD copy of their films to: Devin Jain, City of Port Moody, 100 Newport Drive, PO Box 36, Port Moody, B.C., V3H 3E1. For more information, see http://pmfilm.ca.

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After seeing approximately 200 movies in 2014, Tri-Cities NOW film columnist Josh Cabrita writes, none were better than these: 10. Men, Women & Children Masterfully written and directed by Jason Reitman, the genius behind Juno, this film encapsulates our times by examining the effects of social media, texting and the Internet on the psyche of everyone in society. 9. Tusk In all my time watching movies, I can’t say that I have ever seen anything quite like this, nor have I had the “willies” scared out of me this much. Kevin Smith’s daring horror film is about a podcaster who is surgically transformed into a walrus. Yes, a walrus! Part fable, part comedy, all horrifying: Tusk is far better than it has any right to be. 8. Gone Girl It is a twisted and hilarious satire on western life; by far the best thriller of the year. This film twists and turns, changing perspectives and what the audience thinks of each character. Rosamund Pike and Ben Affleck deliver memorable performances in their archetypal roles as they challenge our perceptions of the hot blond and the hard-working American white man. 7. Boyhood Shot over the course of 12 years, the film jumps from one year to the next as the actors age on screen. Never has a film reflected reality and time so closely. 6. Ida Ida is an understated and subtly powerful film about not only an orphaned teenager’s identity but the identity of an entire nation. At first glance this is a simple story of discovery but look closer and this is a haunting portrait of Poland in a specific time and place in which they had no idea who they were. 5. The Immigrant This story of a Polish immigrant who moves to America during the 1920s offers up a pal-

ette of characters that are battered, broken and stuck in horrible places, while treating their decisions and backgrounds with respect and compassion. Trust me; your eyes will water profusely. 4. The Lego Movie Don’t judge a book or a movie by its cover! The best animated film since Wall-E follows an average Lego person as he fulfills an ancient prophecy to help defeat the evil Lord Business, who wants to glue the world on Taco Tuesday. The film deserves not only that patrons take in the pleasures of its masterfully conceived animation but also that they delve into the profundity of its themes: faith, art and the way big business affects everyday life. 3. Citizenfour This documentary made by Laura Poitras takes place over eight days in the confinement of a hotel room in Hong Kong where Edward Snowden and journalists sort out how they are going to release top-secret NSA documents. This is definitely the most important movie of the year. 2. Enemy Denis Villeneuve is the greatest Canadian director working today. Enemy, starring Jake Gyllenhaal, is his most remarkable achievement to date — a dense and stylish examination of the internal psyche of a man caught in an affair. This surreal and eery film gets in your head and refuses to leave. You’ll be dreaming of tarantulas for a long time. 1. Birdman or (The Unexpected Virtue of Ignorance) The glory of Birdman is that it never ceases to entertain while being a profound artistic statement. It challenges academia’s view that something populist, starring Michael Keaton (as a washed-up actor trying to regain his prestige on Broadway), can have profound things to say about its own medium. It’s technically innovative, intellectually challenging, gut-bustlingly funny and entirely dazzling.

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THE TRI-CITIES NOW

| WEDNESDAY, DECEMBER 31, 2014

SPORTSNOW

GOT SPORTS? Contact Dan

Phone: 604-444-3094 Fax: 640-444-3460 Email: sports@thenownews.com

Personal bests, in life and sport

MORE EPIC RUNS AND FANTASTIC FINISHES, IN THE SPORTS YEAR THAT WAS 2014 Dan OLSON sports@thenownews.com

Last week’s top-four highlights from 2014 didn’t do full justice to all the wonderful results and efforts registered throughout the calendar year. Here is a longer list of some of the many achievements worth celebrating, as reported on by the Tri-Cities NOW:

change in coaches and clubs coincided with a huge leap forward for Port Coquitlam gymnast Robert Watson. The 20 year old improved his allaround game to capture the senior men’s national title, despite his best individual event being a bronze mark. Port Moody’s Ciara McCrae and Jessica Nowicki were in the zone at the B.C. High School wrestling championships, each collecting gold in their divisions (51- and 69-kilogram, respectively). They both registered silver a year earlier. Coquitlam Metro-Ford’s Sara Maglio is inducted into the SFU Hall of Fame, honouring a standout soccer career that included four All-American honours. The Port Coquitlam-based B.C. Christian Academy Panthers bounce back from a tough semifinal defeat to finish third at the Single-A boys basketball provincials. Both Kosia Cauw and Dean Johnston are named as all-stars. Chanell Botsis and Brittni Wolczyk venture to the American Youth Olympic Trials in Florida and return with silver medals. Botsis registers a hammer throw of 58.71 metres, while Wolczyk posts a 48.02m toss with the javelin. For a second consecutive year, Port Coquitlam’s Chanel Walter is voted Metro Select Soccer League Player of the Year. The centre back jumps up into the under-18 circuit and establishes herself as team captain. Coquitlam’s Jennifer Yang is named to the PAC-12 women’s golf all-academic all-star team. The junior, who recorded a 3.52 grade point average, is a big part of the University of Washington’s golf team. Port Moody’s Isaac Mendoza is happy to contribute — and contribute and contribute. The diminutive striker leads the Fraser Valley Soccer League’s premier division in scoring with 21 and walks off with both the Golden Boot and MVP awards, helping the Lordco Gunners claim the league’s regular season title. Port Coquitlam’s Nathan Wadhwani strides to gold medals in both the 1500- and 3000-metre races at the B.C. High School track and field championships. The Terry Fox runner leads a strong district showing, with other golds going to Gleneagle’s Eric Chatten (in sr. boys high jump), Dr. Charles Best’s Addy Townsend (in the sr. girls 800m) and Archbishop Carney’s Brittni Wolczyk (in javelin). The PoCo Castilians demonstrate enormous resilience en route to the provincial men’s over-35 soccer title, blanking North Delta 3-0 in the Deryl Hughes Cup final. Coquitlam native Wesley Berg contributes to Canada’s historic win over the U.S. at the World Field Lacrosse championships in Denver. The Tri-City Indians emerge as champions at the B.C. midget AAA baseball final, trumping Kamloops 11-5 to collect provincial bragging rights.

QUOTES OF 2014 We emptied the tank. There were no shifts off. That’s the way the game is. –Neil Doddridge Coquitlam Jr. Adanacs Doddridge after the Game 6 loss that saw the Coquitlam Jr. Adanacs fall 4-2 in the Minto Cup final against Six Nations.

NOW FILE PHOTOS BY LISA KING

GOING FOR IT: Despite the April rains, the annual Como Lake Relays are a hit among the hundreds of elementary school kids taking part. Powered by a lot of Tri-Cities talent, Team B.C. cashes in at the box lacrosse nationals with golds in boys midget and girls bantam and midget divisions. In the span of a couple of months, Port Moody senior Gudmund Lindbjerg secures a pair of super-senior golf titles. The 65-year-old wins the B.C. super-senior crown, then adds the Washington State title to his mantle. The ice-dancing duo of Port Moody’s Brianna Delmaestro and Burnaby’s Timothy Lum reap a medal haul in the fall, including silver and bronze on the ISU Junior Grand Prix tour representing Canada. The pair also take top honours at the Skate Canada Challenge. Geri Donnelly and Chris Bennett leads a wave of TriCities people into the Canadian Soccer Hall of Fame in Toronto. Donnelly is honoured for her playing career with the Canadian women’s soccer program, scoring the first two goals in Canada’s first CONCACAF win, while Bennett is inducted into the builders category for having coached a number of stellar national teams. Joining them are members of Canada’s men’s 2000 team — Jeff Clarke, Carlo Corazzin, Craig Forrest, Davide Xausa and Les Wilson. Cold and snowy conditions may have put a chill in game preparation, but they aren’t the reason why No. 1-ranked Terry Fox Ravens see their season end one game short of their goal in late November. The Ravens, who were looking to reach the B.C. final for a second straight season, are upset 16-13 by the upstart South Delta Sun Devils — who go on to capture the B.C. crown a week later.

I was 165 pounds of tungsten carbide back in those days. I was very fit. –Chris Bennett Coquitlam soccer player Bennett reflects on his 50 years around the beautiful game as he prepares to be inducted into the Canadian Soccer Hall of Fame in November.

A young Coquitlam Adanac takes aim at the Pitt Meadows net during the annual Trevor Wingrove Memorial Lacrosse Tournament in June. The Terry Fox junior Ravens pick up the torch that the senior program had knocked from their hands and carry it into the end zone in early December. Led by MVP Jeremy Kankolongo, the Ravens win the B.C. high school junior football championship, overwhelming Notre Dame 34-14 at BC Place. twitter.com/thenowsports

It is hard to adjust. After work or after school, soccer is just the way to relax. It’s what makes me happy. –Isaac Mendoza Port Moody Gunners Mendoza speaks to his transition into Canadian culture after coming to Canada five years ago from Guadalajara, Mexico. Soccer is where he finds his comfort zone.

Losing to STM last year sucked. That just gave us motivation. We had a second chance, which teams don’t get too much. We took advantage of it. –Jeremy Kankolongo Terry Fox Jr. Ravens Kankolongo offers his take on a second chance at provincial gridiron glory.

THE TRI-CITIES NOW | WEDNESDAY, DECEMBER 31, 2014

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| WEDNESDAY, DECEMBER 31, 2014

THE TRI-CITIES NOW | WEDNESDAY, DECEMBER 31, 2014

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