Tap into Sapsucker secrets with syrup festival Cowichan women’s soccer team on the rise
LIVING, Page 10 SPORTS, Page 19
A New Year’s Resolution to Keep!
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Friday, January 24, 2014
Change the law: witness drafts new Animal Welfare Bill ANDREA RONDEAU CITIZEN
Witnessing an alleged act of dog abuse has inspired Chris and Leigh Davies to try to change Canadian law. “What really sort of grinded with me in particular was the fact that despite us witnessing the incident, the dog still remained with the owner, and everybody hid behind the law,” said Chris Davies. Claims that the law isn’t strong enough didn’t sit well with him. “My reaction to that…was, well, change the law.” To tha t end, on T uesday, Jan. 21, the Davies met with
Nanaimo-Cowichan MP Jean Crowder and presented her with the Animal Welfare Bill, which they are very hopeful will be put before parliament to amend the Criminal Code of Canada. It’s the culmination of months of work on Davies’s part. He began with an examination of the criminal code, then moved on to examine animal rights laws around the world, with a particular focus on Europe and Australia, cobbling together a set of best practices. “Even Hong Kong has better See Animals sentient • page 4
MP Crowder announces she will not run in 2015 KEVIN ROTHBAUER CITIZEN
Cowichan Secondary School’s Josh Charles can’t be stopped as he drops two more points on the G.P. Vanier Towhees during the Thunderbirds’ 72-48 win over their rivals from Courtenay on Tuesday evening. See page 20 for the full game story. [KEVIN ROTHBAUER/CITIZEN]
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An emotional Jean Crowder announced on Thursday morning that her name won’t be appearing on the ballot in the next federal election, expected in 2015. After a decade as the New Democrat Member of Parliament for Nanaimo-Cowichan, Crowder will be leaving the door open in the redrawn Cowichan-Malahat-Lang-
ford and Nanaimo-Ladysmith ridings in 2015. “After 10 years, I think it’s time to take time out for my family,” Crowder said. Crowder noted that she has “three adorable grandchildren who live on the other side of the continent,” that she would like to see more often, and that she will
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