Delta Optimist September 2 2016

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SCRAMBLED LEGS: Local family on bikes to benefit Parkinson’s, 21 TAKING FLIGHT: Delta Ice Hawks open new season Tuesday, 29 GOOD KIDS

Police hand out positive tickets, 5

NEWSSTAND $1

www.delta-optimist.com

FRIDAY, SEPTEMBER 2, 2016

The voice of Delta since 1922

Nine people overdose in 20 minutes DAVE WILLIS

d w i l l i s @ d e l t a - o p t i m i s t .c o m

PHOTO BY GORD GOBLE

Education Minister Mike Bernier (right) tours Delta Secondary Wednesday with school district facilities director Frank Geyer and school board chair Laura Dixon.

DSS is given a new look

$19.8-million seismic upgrade includes renovations for Ladner high school IAN JACQUES

C o n t r i b u t i n g Wr i t e r

Staff and students at Delta Secondary will be welcomed inside a renovated school come Tuesday morning. The $19.8-million seismic upgrade project is nearing completion with the remaining work, mostly on the outside of the school, to be finished by March 2017.

The project includes seismically upgrading 11 of the 13 blocks at the school, including the library, automotive and woodwork shops, learning centre and cafeteria, relocating the art and graphics room block and using the space to expand the courtyard to add more natural light. The capacity of the Ladner high school will be reduced from 1,400 to 1,300 to reflect enroll-

ment forecasts and cut down on operating costs. As part of the project, an additional $2.5 million was given to the Delta School District from the provincial government to make improvements to Genesis Theatre. On Wednesday morning, Education Minister Mike Bernier, along with school district staff, members of the media and workers from Unitech

Construction Management Ltd., took a tour of the building to see the renovations and upgrades first-hand. “It is a very complex seismic upgrade — probably the most difficult that Unitech has done in its history,” said president Rick Boates, adding the company has completed or is close to completing 28 seismic upgrades throughout the province. LARGEST: see Page 3

The Delta Police Department issued another warning about the dangers of illicit drugs after responding to multiple overdoses early Thursday morning in South Delta. There were reports of nine overdoses from what is believed to be fentanyl-tainted drugs at four separate locations over a 20-minute period, police said in a press release, adding the cases are suspected to be linked. “At this point, it is not enough to simply remind drug users to know your source. The motivation of drug dealing individuals to make money clearly supersedes their social responsibility in this equation and they are selling drugs contaminated with other more devastating drugs to unsuspecting users,” said police Chief Neil Dubord. “Despite the ongoing warnings and media coverage, many drug users still appear to be completely unaware or unprepared to deal with the presence of drugs like fentanyl in the drugs they are using. With last night’s overdoses, it is miraculous that all of the patients recovered and we are not this morning talking about nine overdose fatalities.” The victims reported respiratory breathing problems, including one person in full cardiac arrest, police said, adding they were recreational users who believed they were using cocaine. They were all young adults over the age of 19.

Tsawwassen Collision made my day, can’t wait to go for a drive.

A u t o b o d y. G e t i t d o n e r i g h t , g e t i t d o n e f o r s a f e t y a t T s a w w a s s e n C o l l i s i o n

604.943.6383

17-1835 56th St. Tsawwassen (Behind Mcdonalds) www.tsawwassencollision.com


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