The Tri-Cities Now March 11 2015 by Coquitlam Now

WEDNESDAY MARCH 11, 2015

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Will bridge finally open this month?

COQUITLAM, NEW WEST MAYORS HOPEFUL BAILEY BRIDGE SAGA NEARING END

John KURUCZ jkurucz@thenownews.com A more than two-decades-long saga between New Westminster and Coquitlam may soon be water under the bridge, albeit with a slight last-minute hiccup. New Westminster Mayor Jonathan Cote told the Tri-Cities NOW Tuesday the Bailey bridge replacement should be finalized by the end of this month. A leaky water main pushed back the work timelines last week, leading to paving crews having to dig up parts of the road on the New Westminster side of the crossing. “We’re at the very end of the project and we’re hoping that even by the next week or two that the project will actually be completed once the paving work is finished,” Cote said. Built in 1994, the bridge has been the subject of repeated delays, provincial arbitration and even a court case between the two cities. Despite all those historic barriers, Coquitlam Mayor Richard Stewart said he’s optimistic the two single-lane bridges will actually open this time around. “I believe [New Westminster] is motivated,” Stewart said. “If there was a barrier toward getting a timely completion, I think that barrier has been removed.” Last week’s development came almost one year to the day after the last prolonged closure of the Brunette River crossing. CONTINUED ON PAGE 4

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“I was scared because she was screaming, the lady, because she thinks her husband is in the garage with the fire,” neighbour Mark Cholewinski recalls of Monday’s blaze.

Fire sends 2 to hospital BLAZE STARTED IN GARAGE OF SINGLE-FAMILY HOME

Jeremy DEUTSCH jdeutsch@thenownews.com For the third time in less than two months, a fire has caused major damage to several buildings in Coquitlam. This time, fire crews were called to a housing development in the 3000 block of Riverbend Drive after a blaze broke

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out Monday evening in the garage of one of the single-family homes. The fire quickly moved from the garage to the home, which was in the middle of five units in the development. By the time the fire was out, the flames had spread to all five homes in the row, causing extensive damage to three buildings. Two people were taken to hospital

with minor burns, while 15 people were displaced at least for the evening, but likely longer. A couple with adult kids were said to live in the home, but the kids were not inside at the time. Mark Cholewinski lives across from the home where the fire began. CONTINUED ON PAGE 4

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THE TRI-CITIES NOW

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THE TRI-CITIES NOW | WEDNESDAY, MARCH 11, 2015

Abandoned buildings ‘a threat’

COQUITLAM FIRE CHIEF WANTS ACTION AFTER CREWS CALLED TO BOARDED-UP HOME

Jeremy DEUTSCH jdeutsch@thenownews.com A weekend fire at a boarded-up home on Glen Drive has Coquitlam’s fire chief calling for the municipality to look at ways of dealing with unoccupied residences. On Sunday afternoon, crews were called to the 3000 block of Glen Drive near Pinetree Way after a fire broke out in an empty home. No one was in the house, but fire officials and police are treating the blaze as suspicious. Fire chief Wade Pierlot noted there were no services hooked up to the home and police saw people running from the area. “When we get a residential occupancy that has no services hooked up to it and it catches on fire, it’s suspicious right away,” he told the Tri-Cities NOW. While the fire was doused quickly, Pierlot said a call to an unoccupied home is always a concern. He suggested a boarded-up home presents a hazard for firefighters both in the way they access the structure and that the home needs to be searched in case someone’s inside. “We still risk our firefighters there because quite often we think there might be a homeless person inside,” Pierlot said, noting the problem is similar to a situation in the city a few years back when homes were bought and boarded up due to impending Evergreen Line construction. “I consider all those abandoned buildings a threat,” he said, acknowledging that although it would be tough to enforce any type of

JEREMY DEUTSCH/NOW

Investigators are calling a fire at this abandoned home on Glen Drive near Pinetree Way suspicious, and say such homes pose a danger to firefighters. bylaw, he would like to see the city offer incentives to owners of empty buildings to have them torn down right away. In this case, the home that caught fire was beside a couple of other empty homes on Glen. Coquitlam Mayor Richard Stewart acknowledged that some derelict properties are a

problem, but suggested there isn’t much the city can do until the properties are declared a hazard. “Owning a property you don’t rent out isn’t a crime. We can’t just step in and order the building torn down,” he said, adding it’s a problem many cities wrestle with.

The mayor noted the city has cleared the understorey (a layer of vegetation beneath the main canopy of a forest) on some of the vacant properties in the City Centre to make the area safer. As for an incentive program, Stewart argued the unintended consequence would be that homeowners do whatever it takes to earn the incentive, suggesting homes that would have been torn down stay up until the city pays. Instead, he suggested a permit system could be put in place to inspect derelict homes, and the fee could be waived if the house is torn down. The city’s official community plan designates the city blocks in question to eventually become multi-family residential units, potentially highrises. Meanwhile, Coquitlam RCMP are working with the fire department on the case, but were unable to provide information on the investigation. However, police are asking anyone who might have seen something suspicious in the area at the time of the fire to call the local detachment. The fire also highlighted another danger facing a good portion of the city. Pierlot noted the home on Glen was surrounded by trees and had it been a little drier, the surrounding area could have been at risk of an interface fire. With a drier than usual winter, he’s expecting an early start to the wildfire season.

Drivers upset as bridge discount pulled HOV LANE USERS MAY PAY MORE TO USE BRIDGE, AFTER CHANGES TO EXIT 44

Jeremy DEUTSCH jdeutsch@thenownews.com The company tasked with maintaining the Port Mann Bridge is standing by recent changes to traffic configuration, despite howls from some users. Transportation Investment Corp., the company that operates the Port Mann/ Highway 1 Improvement Project, said recent changes — which force HOV lane users wanting to take Exit 44 into Coquitlam to get out of the lane in Surrey or stay in it

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until past the bridge — won’t be reversed. TI Corp. spokesman Max Logan said the changes, which were implemented over the weekend, are designed to reduce weaving and competition for space among vehicles, while also improving safety on the bridge. Specifically, the westbound exit point for Exit 44 to Coquitlam has been moved to before the Port Mann Bridge at the 152nd Street interchange in Surrey.

But the move means HOV users heading west will either have to leave the HOV lane in Surrey and forgo the 25-percent HOV discount or stay on the highway until the Brunette Avenue exit to get to Coquitlam. A discount of 25 per cent is offered to Port Mann users who use the HOV lanes during peak hours from 6:30 to 8:30 a.m. and 4 to 6 p.m. One driver affected by the new traffic pattern, Tiffany Willis, e-mailed the Tri-Cities NOW to express her opposition to the change. The PoCo resident said she travels to school daily to the Fraser Valley and the HOV discount makes the bridge affordable for her family.

“It is enough of [a] burden to be sandwiched between two toll bridges, now with the dedicated lanes operating on the Port Mann if you want to use the HOV lane you cannot exit at the Cape Horn,” Willis wrote. However, Logan argued only one to two per cent of bridge traffic is adversely affected by the change, while everyone will benefit from the safety improvements. “We recognize that some drivers, and it is a relatively small number, but there are some drivers who would prefer to keep it in its previous configuration, but allowing those drivers to take the first exit to Coquitlam would mean that we’d have to elim-

NOW FILE PHOTO

TReO stands to collect more in tolls from some Port Mann HOV lane users following changes to Exit 44. inate those new lanes and it really means a compromise on safety and efficiency of the bridge,” he said.

Logan also noted the configuration has always been a part of the design, even before the bridge was built.

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THE TRI-CITIES NOW

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NEWSN0W

Bridge to open this month? COQUITLAM, NEW WEST MAYORS SAY IT WILL HAPPEN

CONT. FROM PAGE 1 Structural defects — large cracks on the underside of the bridge — closed the crossing in March 2014. It was the subject of another long-term closure in February 2013 as well. After considerable back and forth between the two cities didn’t arrive at a solution, a provincial arbitrator

stepped in last July and ruled in favour of a two-lane span. At the time, the project was expected to be finished within seven weeks and a Sept. 15 opening date was agreed upon by the two cities. However, complications associated with pile driving around the second bridge stalled the project yet again in December of last year. “It’s been unfortunate that

there’s been a number of delays in the project,” Cote said. “I think there’s been more complications than when we first started that we didn’t realize. Certainly I’m looking forward to, and I know the mayor of Coquitlam is looking forward, to this project being completed.” Despite the many delays, Stewart said he believes New

West’s latest promise to see the project through to its final completion. “I do want to build a good relationship with New Westminster and I’ll take at face value the new commitments made,” he said. “I’m hopeful that we can have this critical-goodsmovement link opened as quickly as possible, albeit a little bit late.”

LISA KING/NOW

The Bailey bridge linking Coquitlam and New Westminster was supposed to open last September, but various delays have stalled the project.

Explosion heard as fire burned garage

CONTINUED FROM PAGE 1

It was about 6:20 p.m. when he went outside to get some construction materials from his van, just a few feet from the home. As Cholewinski started walking back, he said the garage blew up and the fire started right away. He ran inside and told his wife to call 911, while he grabbed a garden hose to try and fight the flames, but it was to no avail. “Inside the smoke was so huge — I tried,” Cholewinski told the Tri-Cities NOW. “I was scared, because she was screaming, the lady [resident], because she thinks her husband is in the garage with the fire.” He described the family in the home as a “nice couple.” It’s unclear whether they were the two people taken to hospital with injuries. “It’s so sad,” Cholewinski said of the destruction caused by the damage. His own home suffered slight damage on the outside of the garage, but he said it’s nothing compared to what his neighbours have to deal with. The fire was Don Layabon and his parents blazing and live next to the five homes in roaring before the development. He and other people living there were any nearby said they heard a large explosions. bang or explosion at the time – Don Layabon, of the fire. Neighbour By the time he ran outside, the flames were already as high as the top of the house. “The fire was blazing and roaring before there were any explosions,” Layabon said, adding neighbours were trying to put the fire out with hoses before firefighters arrived. He noted it’s the first major incident in the development since he moved in with his parents six years ago. “You see this kind of stuff in movies. It’s like ‘OK, cool’, but when you see it in real life, it’s ‘Oh my God — it’s real and it’s in front of me,’” he said. In all, 32 firefighters and plenty more paramedics and police were on hand while the two-alarm fire was burning. Coquitlam fire chief Wade Pierlot said investigators will likely be on scene Tuesday to determine a cause, but added there is nothing to suggest the blaze was suspicious. “It appeared the fire started in the garage and burned with such an intensity that it started the exterior of the home on fire,” he said. Monday’s fire comes three weeks after 24 townhouse units were destroyed in a massive blaze on Glen Drive that displaced more than 100 residents, and less than two months after a late-night fire razed two businesses at a strip mall on Barnet Highway. Pierlot suggested the busy start to 2015 for the department is just a coincidence. “It’s just the nature of the business,” he said, adding things could be quiet now on the major-fire front for a while. twitter.com/jertricitiesnow

THE TRI-CITIES NOW | WEDNESDAY, MARCH 11, 2015

NEWSN0W

Pickton’s brother subject of civil suit jdeutsch@thenownews.com A trial date has been set in a sexual assault lawsuit involving the brother of one of Canada’s most notorious serial killers. The trial for David Pickton, who is being sued by a woman over an alleged sexual assault, is scheduled for seven days starting June 22 in B.C. Supreme Court. According to the original notice of claim filed back in November 2013, the woman, whom the Tri-Cities NOW is identifying as F.N. because she is an alleged sexual assault victim, claims she was assaulted by Pickton at a construction site in Burnaby on Aug. 12, 1991. She claims Pickton, who is listed in court documents as an owner operator of a demolition business living on Burns Road in PoCo, came across her while she was sweeping a trailer at a construction site. She alleged he pushed his hand down her pants and touched her genitalia through her pants, before the assault was interrupted by an unknown person entering the trailer. F.N. also alleged that as Pickton was leaving the trailer, he said “I’m going to rape you. I’m going to rape you.” She reported the incident to Burnaby RCMP, who investigated the next day. Pickton was charged and eventually convicted of the sexual assault in 1992. However, in an interview with the Canadian Press at the time of the original suit, he said he didn’t recall being convicted. The allegations in the civil claim have not

been proven in court. The woman also made a number of claims that she was threatened after the incident. She alleged that a day or two after police left, a heavy equipment operator employed by Robert Pickton told her “You better get out of here. Get your kid and get out of town. They’re going to kill you. They’re going to cut you up and spread you all over where you won’t be found.” She inferred from the tone of the equipment operator that he was relaying a threat from his employer, David Pickton. The suit claims the assault and threats interfered with her employment and housing, causing her psychological distress and loss of income. She is seeking general, special and punitive damages in her suit. In a response to the suit, Pickton denied the allegations. He claimed he caught F.N. trespassing, apparently about to steal items from the trailer, that she appeared embarrassed and that he ordered her to leave. He claimed the woman seemed reluctant to comply and that he “administered the minimum amount of force required to expel her.” Pickton is asking for the suit to be dismissed. The Pickton family’s PoCo pig farm was raided by police, who eventually linked Robert Pickton to numerous murders of women living on Vancouver’s Downtown Eastside. Robert Pickton, now convicted of killing six women, confessed in jail to killing 49, although the search found DNA or remains of only 33 women at his farm.

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THE TRI-CITIES NOW

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pened over the weekend, as the Coquitlam Search and Rescue team was called out for two separate rescues in the area. The first was on Saturday evening, after a couple of men in their 20s got their canoe stuck on a sandbar as they paddled through Widgeon Slough near Pitt Lake. The pair called for help and were found, with the help of location service software, and taken to safety. One man had actually fallen into the water and was hypothermic and non-verbal by the time search crews arrived. The men were lightly dressed and rescuers believed they wouldn’t have survived the night if they hadn’t gotten help. The men were treated by paramedics and were said to be responding well at the time. The second rescue came about 24 hours later when a couple in their 50s got lost after dark while hiking in Minnekhada Park. In this case, the couple was located quickly and were able to walk to the parking lot. Team manager Michael Coyle suggested the couple did the right things by being dressed properly and calling for help without moving around. However, they didn’t have a flashlight. With spring weather arriving early, he said the team is expecting to be busier than usual for this time of year. Coyle noted typically, March is fairly rainy, but with a low snow pack and the ski season pretty much lost, he suspects more people will be venturing into the outdoors. “I think what it is, we’re kinda having an unseasonably good weather stretch,” he told the Tri-Cities NOW. “Our calls tend to come around good weather.” Coyle noted the busiest time for the team is typically July and August. And as usual, the team is reminding people to be prepared when they go out into the back country or on the water, which means bringing along the “10 essentials” like extra food and clothing. Coyle also noted a flashlight is also important, even if it’s for a short walk in a park. To see a list of the 10 essentials, go to the team’s website at www.coquitlam-sar.bc.ca.

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THE TRI-CITIES NOW | WEDNESDAY, MARCH 11, 2015

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PoCo backs Yes side as polls favour No jdeutsch@thenownews.com Despite polls showing support for the Yes side in the upcoming transit plebiscite lagging behind that of the No side, the mayor of PoCo, who is also one of the leaders for the Yes movement, isn’t deterred by the negativity around the campaign. Mayor Greg Moore said the Yes side remains focused on the message that with the population growing around the region, more transportation and transit solutions are needed. “We’ve always known increasing taxes is not a popular thing to do,” he told the Tri-Cities NOW on Monday in response to the latest poll numbers. The poll by Insights West suggested 55 per cent of adult Metro Vancouverites

PoCo Mayor Greg Moore say they will definitely or probably vote no in the plebiscite, compared to 33 per cent who claim they will definitely or probably vote yes. Moore also noted the Yes campaign continues to focus

on what a Yes vote for the plan will mean for local residents. The mayor offered up a couple of examples, including the ability for Port Coquitlam to apply to TransLink’s major road network program to help fund the Fremont Connector project and increased service to the No. 159 bus on the south side of the city to every 15 minutes from every 30 minutes. “If people are to focus on the challenge we have ahead of us and how the plan addresses it, I think they’re in favour of supporting it,” Moore said. “If they want to look backwards at challenges that they might have with TransLink decisions or even the fact we have to go through a referendum, that’s their choice to make, but it doesn’t solve the

PoCo pair in plane crash

A pair of PoCo residents walked away unscathed after their small plane crashed in Surrey over the weekend. Emergency crews were called at 10:30 a.m. Sunday after getting word that a small plane had crashed on a private landing strip along the Serpentine River in the 4700 block of King George Boulevard.

RCMP said the single-engine plane was in the process of taking off when it dipped to the right. The landing gear got caught in bushes at the end of the runway, and the plane nosedived into the ground Both people on the plane said they were uninjured, though there was visible damage to the plane.

problem ahead of us.” The Mayors’ Council on Regional Transportation Strategy calls for a $7.5-billion investment over 10 years using a regional 0.5-per-cent “congestion improvement tax” or PST levy to help pay for the plan. Asked if he’s worried the No side will prevail, Moore said the Mayors’ Council was concerned about the plebiscite from the start, arguing a referendum is not an appro-

priate tool for making these types of decisions. The PoCo mayor also noted the voting period lasts for more than two months and the Yes side will need to sustain its education program and ensure good information is provided to voters during that time. Last month, Port Moody council endorsed the Yes side in the campaign, and just last week the city of Coquitlam followed suit.

PoCo won’t be passing a specific resolution, but will be providing in-kind support to the Yes campaign for things like bus stop advertising. Meanwhile, Elections BC said transit plebiscite voting packages will be mailed out to each registered voter in Metro Vancouver this week, which amounts to more than 1.56 million people. Voting for the mail-in plebiscite will begin March 16 and end March 29.

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OPINION THE TRI-CITIES NOW

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Do we really need Harper to save us?

rime Minster Stephen Harper rode in to our rescue last week to announce his government is once again getting tough on crime. This time, it’s the baddest of the bad that our government is determined to save us from. They’ll be locked up and the key tossed into a deep, dark well, with no possibility of parole. Never mind that Canada is experiencing its lowest rate of violent crime in 40 years. Or that first-degree murderers represent a teeny tiny fraction of even those dwindling statistics. Forget that we already have dangerous offender legislation that essentially covers the same ground and offers the public the same protection. That’s not the point. The point is to remind Canadians that the bogeyman is still out there. The point is a bump in the polls from Canadians who respond favourably to a crackdown on what we fear, especially in an election year. It won’t actually make us safer. And, like every piece of legislation that lengthens prison sentences, this will come with massive costs. A prison cell is an extremely expensive place for a Canadian to be. That’s money that could be spent mitigating the problems we know actually lead to crime: addiction, poverty and untreated mental illness. Sadly this is part of another well-established Tory pattern. The last time Canada’s murder rate was this low, Lester B. Pearson was prime minister. It seems the safer Canadians get, the more our federal government wants to scare the wits out of them. That’s by design. Don’t fall for it. — Guest editorial from the North Shore News

IT LOOKS LIKE SOMEONE’S TRYING TO POISON DOGS NEAR THE POCO TRAIL My mom lives in north Port Coquitlam, and a few times over the course of a few months has noticed meat bones and food scraps around the fence of our family home, in our backyard. One of our dogs has been getting sick on and off, throwing up, and recently, both of my mom’s dogs were really sick, to the point she called her vet. The vet said to rush the dogs to the emergency animal hospital. They did tests and found our dogs had poison in them. My mom mentioned that she has been finding bones and food scraps around the yard and the vet said that’s most likely the cause — our house backs onto a park and the PoCo Trail, so anyone can come up to the fence and throw food over. I am writing to let other people in the area know that someone is trying to poison dogs. So far, our dogs are the only ones we know of that have been sick, but we’re concerned for other dog owners in the area. So please look around your yards to make sure they’re safe. Amanda Kells Maple Ridge

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The Yes side is in trouble

he transit plebiscite ballots are set to arrive in homes starting this week, which means the campaign over whether or not to hike the sales tax by a half point in Metro Vancouver is really just beginning. Up until now, much of the “debate” between the Yes side and the No side (which largely takes place in media news stories) has been lost on most voters. I suspect few people have been paying close attention to the arguments for and against the tax hike, and won’t really focus on the issue at hand until they have that ballot in their hands. But what has become clear, judging from comments on social media and media web sites, is that the No side has uncovered a simmering anger directed at the organization that is most directly linked to the plebiscite issue: TransLink. I pointed out several weeks ago that the Yes side had to get voters focused on potential transit improvements flowing from that tax increase, and away from thinking about TransLink when they ponder how to fill out that ballot. But I see no evidence that the Yes side has been successful on that front, at least not yet. Last week, the mayors’ council announced that billionaire Jimmy Pattison, who oozes credibility, will chair a committee to oversee the money collected by the tax hike. All well and good, but I doubt Pattison’s appointment will trump the ill will directed at TransLink over a number of issues. For example, TransLink’s decision to change its CEO, while a good one, became a public relations fiasco when its board admitted it was actually going to keep the outgoing CEO on full salary while paying the new CEO a full salary

VIEW FROM THE LEDGE Keith Baldrey

as well. That was done to avoid a huge severance payment, but any rational explanation was lost in the furor over the bad optics of paying two huge salaries. The new CEO, Doug Allen, is a highly regarded former senior civil servant in the provincial government. In his first few weeks on the job he has discovered TransLink has a deeply embedded “bunker mentality” that will be hard to remove. “TransLink has no friends,” he told me. The mayors don’t want ownership of the organization, and neither does the provincial government. While most transit experts rank the TransLink system as one of the best in North America and other jurisdictions, it has earned a reputation (unfairly at times) as a bloated, wasteful and tonedeaf organization with many of the people who rely on its services. Allen should be able to make some much-needed changes. TransLink is also getting a capable new communications director — Marc Riddell, with whom I worked at Global TV — which should also lead to some improvements. But to turn TransLink’s public image into a positive one will take a lot longer than the few weeks voters will have their hands on those plebiscite ballots for. The Yes side seems increasingly

desperate, as it flings out big numbers when it comes to reduced travel times or costs if the tax hike is approved and suggests an apocalyptic outcome if it is not. But all of that talk, I suspect, is nothing more than noise for most folks. What isn’t noise, however, are those entrenched negative attitudes towards TransLink. And that is reason enough to worry about the Yes side. ••• ad to note the recent passing of former B.C. cabinet minister Peter Dueck. He was a cabinet minister during the tumultuous years of Bill Vander Zalm’s government and I remember him as a principled, gentle man who established his own personal honour in an administration composed of many people who were challenged on that front. Dueck is also forever tied to a historical moment in B.C. politics. He resigned his Matsqui seat in 1993, paving the way for Mike de Jong of the upstart BC Liberals to win the byelection there a few months later. In the byelection, de Jong narrowly defeated Social Credit icon Grace McCarthy. There are many who think that if McCarthy had won that fight, she may have been able to rebuild the Socreds and in doing so may have been able to push the BC Liberals back onto the political margins. But she lost, the once-powerful Socreds faded out of existence and the BC Liberals emerged as the dynastic “free enterprise coalition” in this province.

Keith Baldrey is chief political reporter for Global BC.

LETTERS DEPUTY CEO OF BC HYDRO SPEAKS OUT ON BURRARD THERMAL

BC Hydro will cease electricity production at the Burrard Generating Station in 2016. This will save our customers about $14-million a year. BC Hydro has plans to replace the capacity from this natural gas facility with capacity from a hydroelectric facility providing clean power. In recent years, Burrard has been operated very infrequently and has supplied just 0.2 per cent of B.C.’s energy. Its role has been to be available as a back-up source of power. The cost of retaining Burrard’s generating capacity is too great for the limited benefit it would provide. Upgrading Burrard to a fully operating generation facility for long-term use would require a substantial capital investment. BC Hydro’s job is to ensure British Columbians have power when they need it. This includes having back-up plans in place and having redundancy in the system. Burrard’s capacity will no longer be required after the addition of

two new units at Mica Generating Station, completion of the new Interior to Lower Mainland transmission line and the addition of a new transformer at Meridian substation in Coquitlam. With these upgrades, BC Hydro will have five 500-kilovolt transmission lines coming into the Lower Mainland from within B.C. by 2016. The cost of maintaining this facility, with inefficient technology and natural-gas generation, is simply too high. The energy required by the Lower Mainland will be provided by clean hydro-electricity. Chris O’Riley Deputy CEO BC Hydro

BURRARD THERMAL CONTROVERSY ‘NOT A LEFT OR RIGHT THING’ I was disappointed to read a letter by BC Liberal MLA Linda Reimer regarding closing of Burrard Thermal in the Feb 20th edition of the Tri-Cities NOW. In her letter, Ms. Reimer stated NDP MLA Selena Robinson was

misleading constituents and creating an issue where there isn’t one. I submit Ms. Reimer is the one misleading constituents when speaking of a $14-million-a-year saving to B.C. ratepayers. I invite her response to the BC Liberal decision to proceed with more private power contracts, of which the recently approved Narrows Inlet Hydro project on the Sunshine Coast is a prime example. Based on their Energy Purchase Agreement from BC Hydro, this project alone will represent an approximate $10-million-peryear obligation by BC Hydro ratepayers. This project is not “run-of-river.” It involves draining alpine lakes by levels of 60 feet in depth, diverting waterfalls and clearcutting lineal swaths for power lines and penstocks. This will permanently industrialize a local pristine fjord for the sole purpose of private profit. Unlike Burrard Thermal, and like the majority of IPP (independent power producer) hydro projects, it cannot provide power when we most need it. The water mysteriously goes hard in the winter. The Narrows Inlet project is far removed from

THE TRI-CITIES NOW | WEDNESDAY, MARCH 11, 2015

point of use, and unlike Burrard Thermal, relies on a spider web of transmission lines to supply power to our area. Narrows Inlet is but one example of approving private projects over the continuing use of our already paid for, economically feasible and publicly owned Burrard Thermal. It is with equal disappointment I see Ms. Reimer disregard comments made by Martin Cavin in his letter to the editor of Feb 27, which refuted all of Ms. Reimer’s comments. This is not a left or right thing; it is about looking after our province. Our current (no pun intended) provincial government is following the lead of the federal Harper government by way of stifling those knowledgeable in the field. I challenge Ms. Reimer to justify her concern for greenhouse gas emissions and local pollution when Premier Christy Clark has proclaimed burning of natural gas exempt from any such worries if used for LNG export purposes, yet not the case when a publicly owned facility is involved. Ken Holowanky Coquitlam

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10 ;

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THE TRI-CITIES NOW

| WEDNESDAY, MARCH 11, 2015

COMMUNITY&LIFE

SUCCESS event SHARE talk on kids, drugs for newcomers John KURUCZ

jkurucz@thenownews.com

John KURUCZ jkurucz@thenownews.com The SUCCESS Society is partnering with the Coquitlam Public Library to host a free workshop around the foreign accreditation process, set for Friday, March 13. Called “From Skilled Immigrant to Medical Physician — International Medical Graduate (IMG) Panel,” the workshop is geared towards those in the medical field. Attendees will discuss a series of topics, including: • An overview of the licensure process for IMGs • Registration and licensing • Assessment with the Medical Council of Canada • UBC’s IMG program

• Clinical fellowship and residency • Financial resources to help achieve goals A panel of experts leading the discussion will include representatives from SUCCESS’s Foreign Credential Recognition Loan Project team, UBC’s IMG Program, the Association of International Medical Graduates of B.C., the College of Physicians and Surgeons and the Canadian Resident Matching System. This event runs from 9:30 to 11:30 a.m. at the City Centre branch, located at 1169 Pinetree Way. To register or for more information, visit www.success.bc.ca/ FCRloan/events or call 604-2321100.

Outside of the birds and bees, it could be the most important conversation parents have with their kids. The SHARE Family & Community Services Society will host an information session for parents and caregivers on Monday, March 30 to examine how to talk to kids about drug and alcohol use. The event aims to help adults prepare for the discussion itself, while offering options to make that talk a productive one. “We don’t promote any particular one right answer and we’re not an abstinence-based program,” said Lisa Ackerman, SHARE’s supervisor of youth substance use services. “We look at a whole spectrum of what’s going to be best for different people and how you decide that.” The session will focus on having those discussions with youths

between the ages of 12 and 18. Information available on the Internet, listening skills, setting boundaries and adjusting to cultural norms will be some of the aspects covered. However, Ackerman stressed the importance of setting the stage for an environment where both the child and parent are comfortable with having that conversation to begin with. “There aren’t any wrong answers,” Ackerman said. “You have to frame it in the context that as a parent you do have personal opinions, but that how you respond to these questions might be different than a teacher, an uncle, a sibling or a friend. It’s important for parents to articulate that they do have personal values around this and that they really want to hear what their young person thinks.” The discussion will also be broken down to hone in on specific age groups and developmental levels. Parents of 12 year olds, for example, may need to discuss proper diet and food types

or the importance of understanding what prescription drugs are and how they’re used. Emotional and cognitive awareness will also examined: how kids process information and react to it, how they deal with friends’ use and what types of factors influence their decisions. “If you’re having an issue with what they say then maybe you’re not really prepared for the conversation quite yet,” Ackerman said. “You want to be able to get to a place where if they respond in a particular way you’re able to handle it in a way where you’re keeping your cool and responding in a way that’s respectful of their opinions.” The March 30 session is the first of its kind this year, and is modelled around similar programs the society offers to educators, parents and individual school classes. It runs from 7 to 9 p.m. at the SHARE offices at 2615 Clarke St. in Port Moody. To register, call Tanya at 604-936-3900 ext. 175.

EXPERT ADVICE ON WHAT IS IMPORTANT TO YOU LAWYER

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S M Y T H & C O M PA N Y BARRISTERS & SOLICITORS Q: My spouseto and I are separating but with he Q: I want move to Ontario my refuses to leave the house. What can I do? daughter but my ex-husband has refused to You give hisforce permission. do? A: can’t the other outWhat of the can homeIwithout All written aA:You written or a Court willagreement need an agreement or a Order. court order so that agreements shouldSometimes be prepared by a can lawyer you can relocate. an agreement be experienced law. If you cannot livecan together negotiated if inthefamily parent who is left behind make while you attempt to settle the legal matters, you up access with the child at different times during the TARYNNESANDHU HOOVER RAVINA may leave the home yourself. If you have children year, or if adjustments are made for travel costs for visits. Otherwise, you and your spouse is not capable of caring for them, you should not leave will need to apply court forgopermission move. A judge the children. If thetochildren with you,to it’s important thatmust you weigh ensurea number of factors including theare child obtain the move, your spouse knows where the the beneﬁt children andwill is able to from contact them. the having time with the other and Youeffect may of also offer less arrangements forother your parent, spousehow to see thefamily children. Leaving therelationships home does would not constitute “abandonment” community be affected, and the effectoron“desertion”. the child’s However there may be important considerations to support, care education. In some cases, the child’s opinion is relating also taken into account. of judge the children or division the familytoproperty and debts, ought A will consider the of advantages you of moving, butwhich your child’s to be reviewed with experienced legal counsel before you decide to leave best interests will be most important. It is important to determine whether the home. If violence is an issue, you must ensure your safety and that you may move with your daughter before you make plans which can’t be of any children in the home. Call 911 if there is an incident where your cancelled. ResolutionYou of may this matter negotiation or application safety is threatened. go to athrough transition house with to court may take longer than youLegal expect, so you should your children, for your protection. advice ought to be VIEW consult with a lawyer when the possibility of a move arises. MORE obtained immediately. CALL FOR A FREE CONSULTATION

WITH

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People living in the tropics are continuingly competing with bacteria and viruses with their food sources. Tropical flies are always a problem from the open food markets to their kitchens. Lemon juice, lemongrass and coconut milk come to the rescue, for they contain natural antibacterial, antiviral, and antifungal ingredients. They help protect your body and help you to fight infection. These are just as beneficial in colder climates during cold and flu season. This is why our Tom Ka Gai soup is so popular. Most of our ingredients are detoxifying, revitalizing, medicinal, therapeutic, and aromatic. Heated herbs like chili, galangal, ginger, black pepper and basil also help to heighten your metabolism.

INSURANCE

Q. Should I spay/neuter my pet? We have heard Bob Barker for years on television tell us to “Help control the pet Dr. Nenan Karil, population, have your pet DVM & Assoc. Spayed or Neutered”. This is an important reason, but there are other medical and behavioral reasons for Spaying and Neutering your pet. MEDICAL: By having your pet Spayed or Neutered they become protected against potentially deadly diseases such as: • Bacterial Infections • Reproductive Tract Diseases • Several types of Cancer Unspayed female cats and dogs have a far greater chance of developing pyometra (a fatal uterine infection), uterine cancer, and other cancers of the reproductive system. Male pets who are neutered eliminate their chances of getting testicular cancer. BEHAVIORAL: Reduces or eliminates undesirable behaviors including: • Roaming • Fighting • Humping • Spraying While getting your pets spayed/neutered can help curb undesirable behaviors, it will not change their fundamental personality. Contact your Veterinarian for further information about the benefits of Spaying and Neutering your pet.

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DENTIST What is the best age for my child to have orthodontic treatment? The American Association of Orthodontists recommends that all children have an orthodontic screening no later than age 7. Some orthodontic problems are best corrected early, and can potentially prevent more problems in the future. Early, or Phase 1, orthodontic treatment usually starts before the eruption of permanent teeth or when very few permanent teeth are present. The goal of early Dr. Myrna Pearce orthodontic treatment is to guide the growth of the upper and/or lower jaw to: achieve an esthetic facial profile, accommodate the eruption of permanent teeth, prevent or minimize future TMJ or jaw joint problems, and prevent orthodontic problems from becoming more serious and more difficult to treat in the future. Early orthodontic treatment also aims to correct harmful habits such as thumb sucking or tongue thrusting and address airway issues that may cause problems such as snoring and mouth breathing. Phase 2 orthodontic treatment involves correcting issues with the position or alignment of the teeth, usually with braces. As many of the orthodontic problems would have already been corrected in early, or Phase 1, treatment, overall orthodontic treatment is often less complex, less timely, and less costly than if the patient were to wait until all his permanent teeth are erupted and be treated with braces alone.

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&places

faces Tri-Cities

Showcasing local people and events

NOW PHOTOS BY CHUNG CHOW

Imagine Hamper Challenge: Fairmont Hotels & Resorts’ sous chef Bruce Nollert, left, joins PoCo Mayor Greg Moore at SHARE’s gala at the Hard Rock Casino Vancouver.

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Do you have a photo of a local person or place you’d like to share with the rest of the Tri-Cities? E-mail it as a high-resolution JPG file to editorial@thenownews.com. Include a brief writeup, and the first and last names of everyone in the photo, from left to right. Put “Faces and Places” in the subject line of your e-mail.

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Eagle Ridg LISA KING/NOW e Hospital: Operating room nurses thank Shoppe rs Drug Mart, which raised more than $17K for the hosp ital’s founda tion.

The Year of the Goat: Students from Mellado Dance Elite (above) entertain the crowds during Lunar New Year festivities at Coquitlam’s Henderson Place Mall. Below: Coquitlam-Maillardville MLA Selina Robinson kicks off the celebrations by dotting the eyes of the lion.

PEDIATRIC DENTISTRY

THE TRI-CITIES NOW | WEDNESDAY, MARCH 11, 2015

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Additional Locations In Vancouver, Richmond & Delta

PHOTO BY ALAN KATOWITZ

Eat Your Heart Out: Excited diners pose in front of one of the trolley buses that transported participants to area restaurants as part of this Eagle Ridge Hospital Foundation fundraiser. PoCo Kinsmen 50th Anniversary Dinner: Derrick Hill, left, joins Man in Motion Rick Hansen, Walter Van Drimmelen and PoCo Mayor Greg Moore.

THE TRI-CITIES NOW

| WEDNESDAY, MARCH 11, 2015

COMMUNITY&LIFE

Options abound for kids on spring break

Jeremy DEUTSCH

jdeutsch@thenownews.com Nothing signals the end of Old Man Winter’s wrath better than Spring Break. It’s the first major stretch of time off in the year for students all around the Tri-Cities, but the trick for many parents is keeping the kids busy over the two-week holiday. Fortunately, there are a number of events and camps to entertain even the hardest-toplease child. City of Coquitlam activities include: Nature and Adventure Camp — Kids seven to 12 years old can expect a week full

of exploration, nature-based activities and outdoor adventure. This camp runs out of Victoria Drive Park (3435 Victoria Dr.) from 9 a.m. to 3 p.m. The cost is $140.25 per week. Rock Climbing Half Day Camp — Kids and teens eight to 15 years old can test their climbing skills. Climbing camps will cover the proper use of safety equipment, belaying (rope management), knot tying and safety protocols. The friendly and certified staff at Climb Base5 will instruct your child on the basics of climbing technique and provide tutorials on all aspects of climbing movement. The camp runs out of Base5 Climbing (98 Brigantine Dr.) from 9 a.m. to 1 p.m., Monday to Friday. The cost is $200 per week.

FULL ACCOUNTING CYCLE AND TAXATION SERVICE

Golf Camps — These full and half day camps are a great opportunity for kids and teens seven to 15 years old to learn the game of golf with certified professionals. Participants will work on their swing, play on the mini putt and nine-hole golf course. This camps runs in partnership with Eaglequest Golf. Half day camps (9 a.m. to noon and 1 to 4 p.m.) are $208 per week; full day camps (9 a.m. to 4 p.m.) are $313.95 per week. Find a full listing of camps online at www. coquitlam.ca/springbreak or call 604-9274386 for details.

In Port Moody, the EPIC Youth Camp for students in grades 6 to 12 will keep youth active and engaged during spring break with activities including paintball, rock climbing, swimming and bowling. The camp runs

FAMILY AND COSMETIC DENTISTRY

Drs. Matthew Ng, Victor Taddei, Steven Chau and Their Friendly Staff Welcome All Patients to Visit Our Practice

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The City of Port Coquitlam has such an extensive list of things to do, we can’t reprint them all here. For full details, go to www.portcoquitlam. ca/camps. CONTINUED ON PAGE 13

Dr. Matthew S. Ng

Personal, Business, and Corporate Accounting PROVIDING ACCOUNTING SERVICES AT CLIENT LOCATIONS!

Monday to Friday, from March 16 to 20, from 9 a.m. to 4 p.m. Girls in Training Youth Spring Break Camp is for girls in grades 6 to 12. Girls will be able to have fun while training and receiving certification in Babysitter’s Training and CPR-C and AED. In between training days the camp goes on the road for swimming and bowling. The camp runs from Monday to Friday, March 16 to 20, from 9 a.m. to 4 p.m. For more information go to the city’s website at portmoody.ca.

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S P R I N G T E R M S T A R T S M A R C H 16

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MARIE LYONS

Well I crashed and burned tonight. I ended up leaving the class 15 minutes before the end. No reflection on the instructor, just stifling hot in there and I didn’t quite have the talent to attempt some new exercises. I will be back on Wednesday, Friday and Sunday. I think 4 times a week works best for me. I am beginning to wonder what I am going to do when it is all over. I think I am getting hooked because I feel so good afterwards. If anyone had ever suggested that I do yoga I would have laughed at them, but hot yoga is wonderful. No words of wisdom just worrying about the end. I hope we all do well and we all succeed for you and ourselves.

DAWN MARCHAND

So far this journey has been great! I’m enjoying yoga, the physical and mental benefits and the experience. I recently placed third in the province for darts and will be traveling to the nationals in June. Yoga, I feel, has improved my core, and also aided in my overall mindset. This journey hasn’t been without a few setbacks, but you never reach your goals if you don’t keep climbing the mountain. Namaste.

SEAN ST. JEAN

I am totally excited about the ways my life has changed over the past six weeks. My flexibility and strength have noticeably improved. I have dropped a couple of pant sizes. I can see my body getting stronger. More importantly, the changes to my emotional state have been profound. It feels great to know that I am no longer denying myself the chance to be calm, to have a sense of flow, and to build the energy I need to pursue my dreams. Track my progress at seanstjean.wordpress.com.

RYAN WILDGRUBE

I was unfortunately sick for a few days so I was unable to make it to the gym or yoga for a couple of days. Despite that my weight still went down a bit, and I am back to going every day I can. I find that some of the classes can be extremely challenging, but that so far I have been able to push myself through (except Saturday I was dead tired). It is a fun challenge to push yourself through some of the difficult stances and stretches.

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