Delta Optimist December 29 2022

Carriers

Topstoriesof2022:AchievingforDelta sweepscouncilseatsinmunicipalelection

Mayor George Harvie and the Achieving for Delta team rolled to a big victory in this year ’ s municipal election, taking all the council seats and all but one of the school board seats

First elected mayor in 2018, the former longtime Delta city manager won by a wide margin over mayoralty challengers Peter van der Velden and Joginder Randhawa.

Proudly making note that council for the first time in its history has two people of South Asian decent, Harvie on election night (Oct 15), said the demographics of Delta are changing, and so is council.

Incumbent Alicia Guichon topped the polls again among council candidates, followed by incumbent Dylan Kruger New to council are Daniel Boisvert and Jessie Dosanjh, both school board trustees who made the switch to run for council, as well

as newcomers Jennifer Johal and Rod Binder.

Council was guaranteed to have a new-look with Lois Jackson, Bruce McDonald, Jeannie Kanakos and Dan Copeland not seeking reelection

McDonald was first elected to council in 1988 and served nine terms, while Kanakos had served all but one term since 2005. Copeland served one term

Jackson was the longest serving member of council in Delta’s history, first elected as alderman in 1972 and serving continuously, expect for one term, until she became mayor in 1999. She didn’t seek re-election as mayor in 2018 but came back that election for one more term as councillor

Harvie would later be elected chair of Metro Vancouver by the regional board of directors

Meanwhile, the changes on the school board also saw trustee Laura

It was a big election night

team.

Dixon not seek re-election, while Bruce Reid ran but lost his seat.

Topping the polls was incumbent Erica Beard, followed by incumbent

Val Windsor, who later became board chair once again

New to school board are Ammen Dhillon, Masako Gooch, Nimmi

Top stories of 2022: A change in leadership at TFN

Tsawwassen First Nation Chief Ken Baird passed away in August after a courageous and lengthy battle with cancer

A soft-spoken man dedicated to the betterment of his people, Chief Baird, 61, passed away peacefully, surrounded by his family.

Baird served as an elected leader in the Tsawwassen Legislature since 2009, including one term as squiqel (Speaker) of the Legislature from 2013 to 2016.

brother as very appreciative of his culture and identity and proud of his heritage.

Ken Baird, a couple of months earlier, described 2022 National Indigenous Peoples Day (June 21) as important to acknowledge injustices of the past, learning about Indigenous neighbours and embracing opportunities for meaningful reconciliation

deliver every Thursday in Ladner and Tsawwassen Call Kristene at 604-9465171 or email: kmurray@ glaciermedia.ca

He was elected chief in 2019 and was determined to run again, said his sister, former Chief Kim Baird, during a touching eulogy at a memorial service, remembering her

Valerie Cross was appointed Acting Chief until this October’s General Election

The election saw TFN members elect Laura Cassidy as the new Chief.

Sheila Williams was the other candidate running for the position

TFN members also elected Legislators to form the Tsawwassen Government.

The four legislators with the most votes form

the Executive Council with the Chief.

The legislators who are now part of the Executive Council this term are Bryce Williams, a former

Chief who had the most votes among all the candidates in the election, as well as Tia Williams, Valerie Cross and Taylor Baker

Daula and Joe Muego

The final seat went to incumbent Nick Kanakos, the only non-Achieving for Delta member on school board.

FILE PHOTO

win for George Harvie and the Achieving for Delta

FILE PHOTOS

Tsawwassen First Nation Chief Ken Baird passed away in August following a lengthy battle with cancer Laura Cassidy was then elected as the new Chief following elections in October.

Topstoriesof2022:Residents saynotoboundarychanges

Delta residents could find themselves voting in new federal and provincial electoral boundaries

Both South Delta and North Delta are now one federal riding, currently represented by Delta MP Carla Qualtrough, but that could drastically change and it’s not going over well with Delta residents

Proposing to also redraw other boundaries, the Federal Electoral Boundaries Commission is recommending the Delta riding be carved into three with some areas lumped into Richmond and Surrey

At a commission public hearing in June at the Coast Tsawwassen Inn, more than 100 residents attended, and those who signed up to speak reiterated concerns about Delta losing effective representation in Parliament.

At the hearing, Qualtrough told the commission that the community does not need to be unnecessarily fragmented She warned Delta would lose quality of service, outreach and advocacy tailored for the community and

that Delta’s priorities would not be the same as the other cities

Meanwhile, in a separate process, the comment period on proposed changes to B C ’ s provincial electoral districts has wrapped up, changes which include the ridings of Delta North and Delta South.

The BC Electoral Boundaries Commission this October released its preliminary report,

recommending the creation of six new provincial ridings and changes to the boundaries of many existing electoral districts

The commission’s preliminary report recommends moving the area south of 64th Avenue out of the Delta North, currently held by the NDP’s Ravi Kahlon, into Delta South, which is currently held by Liberal MLA Ian Paton

Top stories of 2022: A big year for cannabis stores

It looks like nine will be enough in Delta when it comes to cannabis shops.

Eight applications have, so far, been approved with some of the stores throughout the city already open for business

Mayor George Harvie, during a November council meeting, said the current city moratorium on accepting and considering new applications will be indefinite

A year ago council imposed the freeze, but agreed to consider the applications that had already been submitted and were in the system.

Harvie noted that a report will be coming back from police and staff later in 2023 on any issues or concerns that have resulted from the dispensary operations

Community Planning Director Marcy Sangret said that while the

ones that have already opened have not been open in Delta for long, there’s been no issues raised, so far Council in November approved sending the ninth and final rezoning application to a public hearing

That dispensary would operate within a unit of an existing industrial building at 7550 River Road., in an area surrounded by industrial properties which are primarily zoned Medium Impact Industrial.

Operating under the business name 4Twenty Cannabis, the proponent asked that the application be pulled from a public hearing agenda in December. The planning department notes the application is still active

Applications also require the approval of the province’s Liquor and Cannabis Regulation Branch

FILE PHOTO

The Federal Electoral Boundaries Commission heard from more than 100 residents in June that they do not want the proposed boundary changes for Delta.

Topstoriesof2022:CascadesCasinoDeltaopens

A major new entertainment attraction in South Delta officially opened for business as Gateway Casinos & Entertainment celebrated the grand opening of the Cascades Casino Delta in September.

It features 160,000 square feet of entertainment space with a gaming floor as well as Gateway’s signature restaurants – The Buffet, Summit Bar and MATCH Eatery & Public House, which features a multi-

Top

Many new housing development projects that were approved or are still in the application process are steadily changing Delta

In addition to new townhouse developments getting council’s blessing on busy North Delta corridors, a proposed 29-storey high-rise on Scott Road

season patio and the Bud Room

The gaming features 500 slots, 18 table games and stadium-style gaming

The BC Lottery Corporation approved the project four years ago, following Delta council’s earlier approval, but the provincial Ministry of Transportation didn’t sign off on the project until 2019

Construction slowed down when the COVID19 pandemic hit.

of

also got final approval Still in the application process is, among other proposals, a plan to build a 281-unit condo development at 119A St, while just a few blocks away on Scott Road a separate application would see 813 residential units built.

An application to build a condo com-

The project has created hundreds of new jobs in Delta.

This December also saw the opening of an adjoining hotel, Delta Hotels by MarriottVancouver Delta

Located next to the interchange of Highways 99 and 17A, the 124room hotel also features a fitness centre and meeting space. More amenities will be added in the coming weeks.

It’s the first hotel to open in Delta in decades.

Development projects in

plex fronting the new casino got third reading by council following a public hearing, while new housing continues to be completed at the Southlands.

Some of the projects that received final approval in South Delta include a two-phase, 198-unit non-market housing redevelop-

ment on Evergreen Lane and a four-to-six storey seniors’ affordable rental apartment building with 152 units at KinVillage, part of an overall master plan for that site.

An application to redevelop the Ladner Willows complex with a 150-unit non-market rental apartment building was defeated fol-

lowing a public hearing where emotions ran high

Meanwhile, the city is looking at streamlining the development application process to get more housing approved faster, while the province introduced more legislative amendments to give local governments powers to simplify and speed

up approvals

One change in Delta will see the removal of the requirement for public hearings for applications that comply with Official Community Plans, which will include the application to redevelop the Dunbar Lumber site in Ladner Village into a mixed-use development.

FILE PHOTO

Gateway Casinos & Entertainment opened the Cascades Casino Delta in September

Topstoriesof2022:DeltansstepuptohelpUkraine

Delta residents, business and various groups stepped up this year to help Ukraine as well as its displaced people.

Whether it was paramedic Jeff Burko, a Tsawwassen resident, going to the war-ravaged country to deliver medical supplies, or faith-based groups mobilizing and connecting with Ukrainian community groups, the

community showed its support

City staff also fundraised and worked with the school district to identify and assist newcomers most in need, including refugees from other nations

Some Ukrainian refugees have settled in Delta.

More recently, the city notes that, behind Surrey and Burnaby,

Delta ranks third highest in B C for number of refugees welcomed in the last year They come from various nations including Sudan and Syria

Despite that statistic, there are few immigrant service agencies located or operating in Delta The city was recently notified it will receive a federal grant to work with community part-

ners and agencies to enhance services for newcomers and reduce systemic inequities

Delta’s application included a request for funding to support a position to advance the project, starting in early 2023.

Top stories of 2022: Point Roberts border

It was a tough go for the community of Point Roberts

The COVID-19 counter measures slapped onto the Point Roberts border crossing during the pandemic may be over, however, a spokesman for businesses in the tiny U.S. community later in 2022 said the effects were still lingering.

Brian Calder, president of the Point Roberts Chamber of Commerce, said the number of boats in the marina dropped with most now moored only on a monthly basis.

He also said the community has to prepare for the next time something similar happens and borders are closed on tiny U S communities with road connections only through the Canadian border

“We simply cannot survive another shutdown,” said Calder

To prepare for next time, Canadian and U.S. agencies should do a post-mortem of the pandemic response for those areas, he suggests adding that U S federal, state and local officials are not familiar with the issues

facing Point Roberts

He has previously criticized border restrictions, calling them unnecessary and damaging to the local economy

In September, the Public Health Agency of Canada confirmed that all COVID-19-related border measures have been cancelled, effective Oct. 1.

That means travellers, regardless of citizenship, no longer will have to provide proof of vaccination against COVID-19, nor will they have to meet testing, quarantine or isolation requirements.

Cruise ship measures were also lifted, and travellers no longer will be required to have preboard tests, be vaccinated, or use ArriveCAN Guidelines will remain to protect passengers and crew, which will align with the approach used in the United States.

Canada closed its borders to all but essential crossings on March 21, 2020. The border reopened in August 2021 to fully vaccinated residents and U S citizens

FILE PHOTO

The Ukrainian flag was flown in front of Delta City Hall in a show of solidairity.

The Optimist news team and our teams of Glacier Media reporters produced a lot of web content in the past year Thanks to our loyal readers from inside – and outside the community, the Optimist website averaged between 320,000 and 400,000 story views per month in 2022

Here are the top stories for each month:

January

Province looking at extending BC vaccine card past January expiration date – A Glacier Media syndicated story (8,161 views)

February

Point Roberts businesses wished more Canadians were aware of special border rules – Mark Booth/Optimist (5,222 views).

March

Point Roberts busi-

nesses wished more Canadians were aware of special border rules – Mark Booth/Optimist (9,923 views)

April

Border rules catch families by surprise after trips to Point Roberts –Mark Booth/Optimist (25,668 views).

May

Many soon-to-be retired Canadians considering changing retirement date – A Glacier Media syndicated story (9,035 views)

June

RCMP tried to breathalyze BC man after breaking his leg, court claim says – A Glacier Media syndicated story (8,995 views)

July

Truck carrying excavator strikes highway 99 overpass in Delta – Mark Booth/Optimist (4,197

views)

August

BC researchers make insulin pill breakthrough – A Glacier Media syndicated story (7,011 views)

September

Gateway gives update on new casino opening – Sandor Gyarmati/ Optimist (4,707 views)

October

Cruise ships could be making a stop in Delta – Sandor Gyarmati/ Optimist (7,903 views).

November

Halloween night of horrors for Delta Police and Fire – Ian Jacques/ Optimist (16,699 views).

December

Could driving without winter tires void your B.C. insurance – A Glacier Media syndicated story (25,020 web views)

-Ian Jacques

PUBLISHER:

Pierre Pelletier ppelletier@delta-optimist com

Theyear thatwas…

Only after something has been taken away from us do we truly appreciate what we once had And that was the case with COVID-19

This year marks the first time since early spring 2020 that people - living, breathing human beings - gathered at events instead of being cancelled or presented virtually.

Our reporters were finally able to write stories that didn’t lead with, “Due to COVID-19 restrictions ” – and life as we knew it began to stumble forward

SALES

DISTRIBUTION: Kristene Murray 604-946-5171 kmurray@glaciermedia ca Roya Sarwary rsarwary@delta-optimist com

For us at the Optimist, we celebrated our 100th year in operation, ironically publishing our first issue in 1922, only a couple of years removed from the last world-altering pandemic

Over those 100 years, generations of Deltans grew up with the Optimist; often their first connection with the paper was as a carrier, delivering the Optimist as kids then becoming readers, while in a few years many also became advertisers.

As kids, their photos in the paper playing baseball or performing in the school play were taped to the family fridge and then tucked away in a photo album Many became prominent in the community and were mentioned or quoted in the paper or had their photo taken for a Chamber or community function.

The Optimist has always been there to record life in Delta – good or bad.

Now in 2022, the demand for creditable, local content is even more important – and continues to grow Because of this demand, we had to increase the number of newspapers we printed this year. On-line, the Optimist website consistently gets over 350,000 articles read every month – and growing

So, as we close out our 100th year, I want to thank the readers for always engaging the Optimist with such loyalty; thank you to the advertisers for wanting to attract those readers and supporting your local newspaper; and thank you to all the Optimist staff who work tirelessly weekdays and weekends to help record and deliver the stories of life in Delta

From all of us at the Delta Optimist, the very best of the New Year and please be kind to one another in 2023.

Meaningful highlights from 2022

MAYOR GEORGE HARVIE Guest writer

With the New Year approaching, I’d like to take a moment to reflect on some meaningful highlights of the past year that I’m grateful for, both personally and professionally

The birth of our second granddaughter, Rayna, has undoubtedly been the greatest gift to our family this year. I treasure spending time with and learning from our granddaughters, who are an endless source of pride and love.

Receiving the Queen Elizabeth II Platinum Jubilee Pin for service to the community from our Delta Member of Parliament, the Hon Carla Qualtrough, was a great honour for me, especially alongside such an incredible group of recipients equally passionate about our community

Throughout the year, we had many successes as a city

Thanks to the support of council, staff, and our commu-

nity partners, we delivered amenities that will support our residents now and into the future

The grand opening of the North Delta Centre for the Arts, Douglas J. Husband Discovery Centre, and the Ladner covered multi-sport court were key highlights for 2022, along with the return of the much-loved Boundary Bay Airshow.

Another 2022 highlight was the installation of new rainbow street banners along Delta’s major road corridors to celebrate Pride Month I couldn’t be more proud of the progress we ’ ve made so far and of the City’s commitment to advancing inclusion and creating safe and welcoming spaces in Delta

The recent soft opening of the Guru Nanak Food Bank in North Delta, just in time for the holidays, is also a great achievement. Thanks to community collaboration and advocacy, North Delta residents and families now have access to more food assistance in their community – something we can all celebrate

Key projects I’m excited for

the City to move forward with next year include rebuilding the aging Winskill Aquatic Centre, placing a cover on the North Delta outdoor pool, constructing a second turf field at Mackie Park, and completing the Cromie Park Master Plan, including plans for a new indoor training facility for Ladner Minor Baseball

Serving as Mayor of Delta, along with my re-election this fall with overwhelming support from our community, has been a tremendous honour. I will continue to work hard to represent and advocate for the residents and businesses of Delta to the very best of my ability, including in my new role as chair of the Metro Vancouver board of directors.

During the holiday season, let’s remember that this time of year can be difficult for some; my hope is that we all try to connect and reach out to those living alone or in need to spread some cheer A small, kind gesture can have a great impact.

Wishing everyone in our community a healthy and happy New Year!

Whenwillenoughbeenough?

Editor:

The recent Auditor Generals’ report shows $1 billion worth of COVID vaccine was wasted by the federal government and $27 4 billion was disbursed to Canadians ineligible to receive COVID money

Now I don’t know about you, but if I screwed up funding in these amounts I’d immediately be fired and if I were Prime Minister I’d be forced by my party to resign and any deal I made with the NDP would also be withdrawn if the leader of that party had any credibility at all

What’s it going to take to take back our country? Should we be passing legislation like Alberta limiting our partici-

pation in Confederation based on the federal governments’ performance?

People in Canada are struggling with inflation and poverty is visiting households across the country like never before. People are having to make decisions to buy food or get their prescriptions filled and, yet, Justin Trudeau is spending taxpayers’ money like a drunken sailor.

He can’t seem to afford to pay our veterans or look after their needs or even think about increasing our Canada pension or OAS, but he just loves to stand on a world stage and announce aid packages to whomever will listen internationally

Wayne W. Kinna

Glad we still have the tunnel

Editor:

I am extremely glad that we will be getting a tunnel to replace the existing Massey Tunnel

With the extreme winter weather we had in the last few days, seeing that the Alex Fraser was closed for 20 hours and the Port Mann Bridge even longer, it was nice to know that with the tunnel we could still get to places north if we needed too.

I can understand that maybe engineers were caught off guard when they designed the Port Mann and by having cables going over the traffic potential accidents could occur, but the Alex Fraser

Bridge has been in operation since 1986 and it has only started to be shut down in the years since the Port Mann was built

Why doesn’t the Golden Ears Bridge suffer the same closures?

Why is the replacement Pattullo Bridge also going to be cable stayed? Will it too suffer potential closures?

The Alex Fraser, Golden Ears and design pictures for the Pattullo all have cables that are outside the lanes of traffic, but still have the ability to have ice form on them.

Boy am I glad that we have the tunnel and will continue to do so!

Steve Colby

Provincialreportisaself-servingploy

Editor:

Re: Retired ER doc: B.C. pandemic report ‘embodies everything that was wrong ’ (Optimist, online edition)

I agree with everything the author says about this so-called ‘report’

Late on Dec 2, the provincial government released its “independent” report of its handling of the COVID pandemic.

How can this report be independent if it is written by three former civil servants? The report generally said good things about the prov-

ince for its handling of the health emergency I suggest the families of the 4,715 people that died so far would disagree with that There have been numerous documented failings that the province made during the pandemic including lack of oversight of long-term care facilities, lack of transparency and quality of health data during the pandemic. Even the mayors of numerous cities including Delta wanted more data about COVID in their city, but it took months to provide a meagre summary even

after the province reluctantly agreed to provide this data.

This report is a selfserving ploy to have the citizens of B C think their government did a good job during the pandemic Only a public inquiry into this large topic with significant public input will provide real improvements After the NDP came to power, David Eby was quick to create the money laundering public inquiry So will he be as quick to create a public inquiry into his province’s handing of the pandemic?

Keith Munro

OWNER: 0804656 BC Ltd 5668 Manitoba Street Vancouver, BC V5Y 3Y8

APPLICANT: Quadrant Management Scott Hamilton 8769 Stegavik Court Delta, BC V4C 0C6

LOCATION: 6955 120 Street (as shown on the enclosed map and marked “Subject Property”)

PURPOSE: This application is for a Temporary Use Permit to allow a liquor store on the ground floor of the existing building until June

Decisions are still pending on a pair of major industrial projects in Delta.

The Port of Vancouver is expecting a decision from the federal government on the proposed Terminal 2 (T2) project, which would see a new three-berth container terminal built on a manmade island adjacent to the existing port facility at Roberts Bank.

Global Container Terminals (GCT), the operator of the threeberth Deltaport container terminal, asked for the decision to be paused in order for the government to consider GCT’s competing proposal to build

a fourth berth at the current facility.

The proposed Deltaport Fourth Berth (DP4) project is winding its way through a lengthy application process

Meanwhile, the environmental assessment continues for FortisBC’s Tilbury Phase 2 LNG Expansion Project, which would see an increase in the facility’s LNG production capacity by more than 50 per cent, up to 7 700 tonnes of LNG per day for an operational life of at least 40 years.

The Metro Vancouver board of directors this summer voted in favour of a motion put forward by director, and Delta

The board was set to vote on a recommendation from Metro’s Climate Action Committee for the regional district to convey opposition to the plant expansion, as well as the adjacent Tilbury Marine Jetty Project, because “of overall concerns related to upstream and downstream greenhouse gas emissions and inconsistency with Metro Vancouver climate targets.”

Mayor George Harvie to defer deciding on a position on the project until the combined provincial and federal environmental assessment is done.

The Port of Vancouver is expecting a decision from the federal government on the proposed Terminal 2 T2 project.

Topstoriesof2022:Novembersnowstorm createstrafficchaos

Following the Lower Mainland’s traffic chaos during the Nov 29 snowstorm, Mayor George Harvie sent a letter to the Minister of Transportation and Infrastructure, asking for a review of the contract currently in place for winter maintenance of the Lower Mainland provincial highway network

The mayor described the commute, which started in the afternoon of a snowstorm and

went right into the next day, as a failure.

The shutting down of the Alex Fraser Bridge for an extended period, as well as the George Massey Tunnel having major problems, made the commute a nightmare for motorists as many spent 10 or more hours stuck on the road

Also following the disastrous commute, Surrey Coun. Linda Annis and New Westminster Coun. Daniel Fontaine co-

signed a letter calling for a “ snow summit” to analyze what went wrong and how to prevent a repeat They also asked Harvie, who chairs the Metro Vancouver board, and Fleming to bring municipal officials and transportation agencies for the meeting

The province and Mainroad Group made sure to issue advisories for motorists to be prepared during subsequent snowfall warnings

Top stories of 2022: Legacy of Doug Husband celebrated with museum opening

The City of Delta this spring officially opened the Douglas J Husband Discovery Centre.

It was a project more than four years in the making, with the public opening delayed the past two years due to the COVID-19 pandemic

Named after the former mayor, it replaces the former Delta Museum and Archives

The new cultural centre features interactive experiences for visitors to learn about the many layers and facets of Delta. The various kiosks enable visitors to customize their tour to discover various artifacts

The state-of-the-art museum and cultural centre combines spaces that are inclusive, supportive and reflective of

Delta’s diverse and evolving communities

It’s located in the former courthouse building in the Ladner Civic Precinct

Delta has assumed operational control of the

museum, but the Delta Heritage Society still has a role

Before his passing, Husband was on hand for a naming ceremony at the facility a couple of years prior

FILE PHOTO

The Nov. 29th snowstorm created a traffic nightmare throughout the Lower Mainland. Our Optimist editorial staff were also caught in the chaos as two of our reporters took close to six hours to get home.

FILE PHOTO

Delta council and invited guests celebrated the opening of the Douglas J. Husband Discovery Centre in April.

The Great Canadian Baking Show saw Tsawwassen’s Lauren Tjoe finish as champion, earning her the title of Canada’s Best Amateur Baker

Tjoe finished first out of three in the finale of the show, which aired this November on CBC

Tjoe was named top baker after eight grueling episodes where competitors had to bake three dishes for each show

In the finale, for the signature bake, competitors had to make a Paris-Brest pastry and a technical bake which required baking a Cassata which is sponge cake, marzipan and candied fruit The final task, the last Show Stopper of the season was a gar-

den party dessert centrepiece.

Her jelly art cake named Dino Island got her into the contest’s final.

She considered it a good representation of her family and upbringing

She said she’s a completely different baker than she was when the show started, for which she credited her fellow bakers

Local Delta music legend

Jerry Doucette passed away on April 18 of cancer at the Irene Thomas Hospice in Ladner, surrounded by family He was 70

The singer, songwriter, guitarist and Juno Award winner perhaps best known for his

song Mama Let Him Play from the album with same title, which was certified Platinum in Canada in 1978, as well as hitting the Billboard Top 100

The South Delta resident’s band, Doucette, won the 1979 Juno for Most Promising Group

of the Year

Born in Montreal he grew up in Hamilton and began playing guitar at the age of six.

He moved to Vancouver in 1972 and played with The Seeds of Time and The Rocket Norton Band before he was

signed as a solo act by the legendary Mushroom Records

A news release following his passing noted that the title for Doucette’s hit song was inspired by something his dad said when he was growing up “Mama let him play!”

Doucette recalled his father saying “Later I thought, what a great title I finished the song in about an hour.”

He was a frequent regular at several South Delta venues and also participated in many local fundraisers.

FILE PHOTO

Tsawwassen’s Lauren Tjoe was crowned The Great Canadian Baking Show champion in late November following the month-long contest on CBC television.

Topstoriesof2022:Optimist celebrates100years

It’s not very often that you put yourself into the news, but that is exactly what we did this year as the Optimist celebrated its 100th anniversary

Our year-long celebration started in January with a slightly different look to our newspaper design with a 100th logo on our front page and inside pages

We also partnered with the Delta Heritage Society and Delta Archives who provided us with a weekly historical photo that we had on our op-ed page This photo helped provide a historical perspective and a look back on a weekly basis

Behind the scenes, our editorial and sales teams were working hard on our anniversary supplement, which came out in September

The 76-page magazine was a milestone achievement for us in a milestone year We thank the community for their support – our readers and advertisers who made this anniversary publication so special

In this day and age, there are not that many businesses that can boast they have been

around for 100 years. In the newspaper business, even less can say that Community newspapers such as the Optimist matter to their communities because they reflect the community in which they serve

One hundred years. It’s quite a milestone for any business, but to think that the Optimist

has been around for 100 years is something to celebrate and we did just that in 2022

Our commemorative 76-page 100th anniversary magazine was published in September. Some additional copies are still available at our office.

to stay active

Physical activity is an important component of overall health

Health experts advise that exercise can increase lean body mass, prevent conditions like diabetes and cardiovascular disease, improve balance, and positively affect mental health/cognition. Exercise also can foster socialization with others, helping people overcome boredom and isolation

As individuals get older, they may not be able to participate in all of the activities they enjoyed as youths, but that doesn’t mean older adults must resign themselves to sedentary lifestyles.

There are plenty of entertaining ways to remain physically active that can accommodate any limitations a person may have

Explore these methods for staying active

Explore senior centre offerings

Community senior centers often fill calendars with a vast array of activities, some of which can include physical activities

Hikes, walking tours, dances, and other activities all

serve as entertaining ways to get out and about while meeting some fitness goals

Garden or do yard work

Adults should get 150 minutes of moderate exercise per week Raking leaves, mowing the lawn, digging in flower beds, trimming bushes, and

other outdoor tasks could help a person meet this quota in a way that doesn’t seem like exercise at all.

Play games with grandchildren

Little kids may inspire older adults to be more active, as it can be difficult to keep up

with those youngsters Take infants or toddlers for walks or push them in strollers Attach a child seat or towing carriage to a bicycle and ride around the neighborhood. Play games that require movement, such as hide-and-seek or Marco Polo in the pool If it’s snowing, have a snowball fight or make a snowman in the yard

Take up a new hobby

Find hobbies that incorporate physical activity Perhaps learning to salsa dance or taking Zumba will be fun?

Pickleball has caught on across the nation The sport is a mix of tennis, racquetball and badminton that caters to all ages. Joining a lawn bowling club is another way to get active and meet new people.

Physical activity is important at any age. Seniors can explore fun ways to stay in shape and be active

-Metro Creative

METRO CREATIVE PHOTO

age-related bodily changes

The human body is a marvel How the body transforms over the course of an individual’s life is one of its more remarkable qualities, and those changes never cease, even as individuals near retirement age.

The changes associated with aging include physical transformations but also more subtle shifts the naked eye cannot see For example, metabolism slows as individuals grow older, and aging also can lead to a decrease in bone density and muscle mass These changes affect how men and women at or nearing retirement age should approach their diets in recognition of the various ways their nutritional needs change at this point in their lives Any modifications to a diet should first be discussed with a physician, but the following are some ways aging adults can use diet to combat age-related changes to their bodies

*Prioritize protein: The authors of a 2010 study published in the journal Current Opinion in Nutrition and Metabolic Care recommended that older adults consume between 25 and 30 grams of protein with each meal The researchers behind the study con-

cluded that such consumption could limit inactivity-mediated losses of muscle mass and function

*Overcome reduced production of vitamin D: WebMD notes that people over 65 typically experience a decrease in natural production of vitamin D Vitamin D is not naturally found in many foods, so aging men and women may need to rely on supplementation to ensure their bodies get enough of it Vitamin D helps with anti-inflammation, immune system support and muscle function, among other benefits So it’s vital that aging men and women find ways to get sufficient vitamin D

*Consume ample dietary fiber: The National Resource Center on Nutrition & Aging notes that fiber plays an important role in the health of older adults Fiber has been linked with heart health, healthy digestion, feeling full, and preventing constipation, which the online medical resource Healthline notes is a common health problem among the elderly

Though the NRCNA notes that older adults need slightly less fiber than their younger counterparts, it’s still a vital component of a nutritious diet. The

feeling of fullness that fiber consumption can provide also is significant, as it can ensure adults who aren’t burning as many calories as they used to aren’t overeating in order to feel satisfied That can make it easier for such adults to maintain a healthy weight

*Monitor intake of vitamin B12: The NRCNA notes that vitamin B12 is involved in a host of important functions in the body, including nerve func-

tion and the formation of red blood cells. Vitamin B12 is most easily found in animal products, which many aging men and women must largely avoid due to other health concerns In such instances, men and women can discuss supplementation with their physicians as well as alternative food sources of B12, such as fortified cereals, salmon and other items

-Metro Creative

Community

I want a better life

As we approach 2023 a good question to ask yourself is: What do I want?

This is a tricky question because usually there are three motivational thoughts guiding that answer. I want it now, I want it my way, and I want it to be pleasurable The idea that we have to wait or work for it is not pleasing to us and causes us to change our wants and adapt to what is easy, quick and satisfying.

The Bible is God’s word and I love it because it is God’s manual for us on how we are to live our lives It reveals how to get the most out of life, what life will bring across your path and how to navigate through it It’s a life guide, a manual, based on a relationship with God. And even if you don’t believe in

Minister’s Minute

ANDREAS BASSON LIFE CHURCH

God, the principles we find in His word will work.

For example, Galatians 5 says, But what happens when we live God’s way? He brings gifts into our lives, much the same way that fruit appears in an orchard things like affection for others, exuberance about life, serenity.

We develop a will-

ingness to stick with things, a sense of compassion in the heart able to marshal and direct our energies wisely

To live God’s way in 2023, means things like dedication, hard work and perseverance become part of us It means we must embrace humility, kindness, grace, love, and forgiveness Imagine a year filled with those qualities?

It also means that there is a standard for morality and truth, and I truly believe you will never get what you really want in life until you do things God’s way. Not because He is withholding anything from you, but because you are withholding it from yourself

Change your life and apply Gods principles. You will never regret it

NOTICE OF PROPOSAL TO DISCHARGE LAND USE CONTRACTS

Notice is hereby given that at the Regular Meeting of Council to be held on Monday, January 9, 2023 at 4:00 p.m in the North Delta Centre for the Arts, Theatre, 11425 84 Avenue, Delta, BC and by electronic means as authorized by the Council Procedure Bylaw No 5000, Delta City Council will consider first, second, and third readings of the following bylaws to discharge land use contracts:

Land Use Contract Discharge Bylaw No. 8193

Location: 61 Alpenwood Lane

File No.: LU009482

Purpose: To discharge Land Use Contract S.A. No. 2886 for the subject property in order to permit construction of a new single detached residential dwelling with an in-ground basement This bylaw is consistent with Delta’s Official Community Plan

Bylaw No. 8193

Land Use Contract Discharge Bylaw No. 8194

Location: 5205 4 Avenue

File No.: LU009480

Purpose: To discharge Land Use Contract S.A. No. 2629 for the subject property in order to permit construction of a secondary suite within the existing dwelling. This bylaw is consistent with Delta’s Official Community Plan.

Bylaw No. 8194

Land Use Contract Discharge Bylaw No. 8170

Location: 11900 Sunwood Place

File No.: LU009457

Purpose: To discharge Land Use Contract S.A. No. 3413 for the subject property in order to permit construction of a secondary suite within the existing dwelling This bylaw is consistent with Delta’s Official Community Plan

Bylaw No. 8170

Land Use Contract Discharge

Bylaw No. 8210

Location: 5740 Goldenrod Crescent

File No.: LU009474

Purpose: To discharge Land Use Contract S A No 3158 for the subject property in order to permit the existing secondary suite within the existing dwelling This bylaw is consistent with Delta’s Official Community Plan

Bylaw No. 8210

DELTASPORTS

Contact Mark at mbooth@deltaoptimist com or 604-946-4451

Bringinghomenational&provincialtitles

2022 saw breakthrough wins on big stage for Pioneers, 15U Blue Jays, U18 Storm & Sun Devils

MARK BOOTH mbooth@delta-optimist com

Breakthrough triumphs at the national and provincial levels made 2022 a special year for sports in Delta

The Optimist looks back at some of those special achievements over the past 12 months:

All the President’s Men

It’s a lacrosse tournament like no other and the Ladner Pioneers produced a memorable week in Edmonton back in early September to capture the President’s Cup national championship

It was the third title in franchise history and the first since 2004 It took eight games in seven days, including an 8-6 win over Can-Am League champions Akwesasne Bucks in the gold medal game

Among the number of pro players joining Ladner last summer was hometown standout Logan Schuss

He scored twice in the gold medal game and duplicated the feat his father (Ed) pulled off as one of the team’s alltime great players

“I grew up a Pioneer. I have been going to Ladner arena since I could walk. This one is special to be bringing it back to Ladner,” said Schuss

Bringing the Ray Carter Cup back to his field

The Delta Blue Jays capped their dream summer by capturing Baseball Canada’s 15U Ray Carter Cup in Saskatoon back in August with a 4-2 victory over Quebec in the gold medal game Ironically, Carter is a longtime Tsawwassen resident and Delta Sports Hall of Fame inductee who served for many years on Baseball Canada’s executive Their home diamond at Winskill Park in Tsawwassen is also named after him

“Our guys have worked so hard I got to say I’m pretty demanding,” head coach Cam Frick said “We play a ton of games. We practice more than anybody and we want to play the best teams

“We want to challenge our guys and I think every year it seems we peak at the right time.”

A Devil of a time in Cloverdale

The South Delta Sun Devils captured their second provincial banner in school history back in early June with a dramatic 3-2 overtime win over Richmond’s McMath Wildcats in a steady downpour at Cloverdale Athletic Park.

The senior girls soccer team showed its resiliency to twice battle back from one goal deficits to pull out the victory, capped by Gemma Dumas’ go-ahead tally in the first overtime half It was a script similar to the semi-final that saw South Delta rally for a 2-1 win over Argyle, also in extra time

Top scorer Brianna Jassman was named tournament MVP and defender Teila Noble was named an all-star.

“There were times this season where the girls had to dig deep and they always did it with the belief in their football and themselves,” said Sun Devils co-coach Brent Sweeney “They just have the resiliency to not hang their heads and they did that twice today”

A Storm to remember in Campbell River

The South Delta Minor Hockey Association (SDMHA) had to make room at the Ladner Leisure Centre for its first provincial championship banner in 15 years thanks to a thrilling victory in Campbell River back in March

The A1 Storm won B.C. Hockey’s U18 tier two provincial championship after edging Hollyburn 3-2 in double overtime Blueliner Dylan Van Poelgeest ended nearly 90 minutes of drama when he jumped on a turnover in the late stages of the second sudden-death session.

“I don’t even know what the right word is The excitement The chaos The parents were going nuts and the guys were going nuts,” said Storm head coach Ken Priestlay of the euphoria that followed the overtime goal “We didn’t even know if we would be getting the (championship) banner right away until they brought it out (for the medal ceremony) and then you realize even more what the boys have accomplished and that’s coming back to South Delta

Not forgotten…

-The South Delta Sun Devils senior girls basketball team enjoyed their best season in 17 years, winning the South Fraser championship and finishing 10th at the provincial tournament. The Devils begin the 2022-23 campaign ranked among the top teams in B.C. - Delta Ice Hawks nearly won it all on home ice, falling to Pacific Junior Hockey League rival Langley Trappers

in the Cyclone Taylor Cup provincial junior “B” championship game

-It was a dream debut for the Delta Coastal Selects at B.C. Soccer’s Provincial “A” Cup Championships The girls rep team culminated a fantastic inaugural season by capturing the U13 title with a come-frombehind 2-1 win over league rival Port Coquitlam Reign in the final played in July at South Surrey Athletic Park

OPTIMIST FILE PHOTOS

Clockwise from top: Ladner Pioneers, South Delta Sun Devils, 15U Delta Blue Jays and U18 South Delta Storm all produced championship wins in 2022.

COORDINATOR

FRAILTY HEALTH COACHING STUDY

Seeking an individual to assist the Director to implement a study testing an intervention to slow down and/or prevent the progression of frailty.

The study will take place in the Fraser Health Region between Feb 2023 and April 2024 with the possibility of an extension. The research design will be a waitlist RCT involving two groups (60 in each group) of older persons with questionnaires completed at three time points

Candidate duties will include:

• Recruitment activities

• Explaining the study to interested persons

• Distribution and collection of Consent Forms and questionnaires

• Distribution and collection of assistive devices (i.e., watch and sleep pad) to and from study participants

• Pairing coaches with participants

Candidate qualifications:

• University degree in the field of healthcare

• Healthcare planning experience

• Experience working with community groups in the volunteer sector

• Familiarity with chronic health conditions

The full-time position includes a comprehensive salary and benefits package The Coordinator will work under the direction of the Self-Management BC Director at the University of Victoria Ladner Office

Please email a letter of application and resume to Naida Khan at nkhan@uvic.ca by January 13, 2023.

NOTICEOFFIRST,SECONDANDTHIRDREADINGS

Notice is hereby given that at the Regular Meeting of Council to be held on Monday, January 9, 2023 at 4:00 p m in the North Delta Centre for the Arts, Theatre, 11425 84 Avenue, Delta, BC, Delta City Council will consider first, second, and third readings of the following bylaws:

Bylaw No. 8183

File No.: LU009347

Location: 9423, 9433 & 9443 119A Street

Applicant: Jaspal Cheema, Satori Homes Ltd.

Purpose: To rezone the subject properties from Duplex/Single Detached Residential 3 (RD3) to Single Detached Residential 7 (RS7) in order to permit subdivision into five single detached lots. This bylaw is consistent with the Official Community Plan

A development variance permit is required to vary Section 11.70.8 of “Delta Zoning Bylaw No. 7600, 2017” by reducing the minimum lot width for subdivision in the RS7 zone from 11 m to 10 2 m for proposed Lot 1

BylawNo 8183

Bylaw No. 8192

File No.: LU009328

Location: 7590, 7664 & 7688 80 Street

Applicant: Carl Funk, Beedie (South Perimeter) Holdings Ltd.

Purpose: To rezone the property at 7590 80 Street from Extraction Industrial (I3) to Medium Impact Industrial (I2) to match the zoning of the properties at 7664 and 7688 80 Street in order to consolidate the properties for industrial development This bylaw is consistent with the Official Community Plan

A development variance permit is required for the subject properties to vary provisions in “Delta Subdivision and Development Standards Bylaw No 7162, 2015” to modify the industrial road standard along 80 Street and allow the existing driveway at 7664 80 Street to be retained.

BylawNo 8192

Bylaw No. 8169

File No.: LU009173

Location: 7759 115 Street

Applicant: Sat Mann, S Mann Design Group

Purpose: To rezone the subject property from Single Detached Residential 1 (RS1) to Single Detached Residential 7 (RS7) in order to permit subdivision into two single detached lots. This bylaw is consistent with the Official Community Plan

BylawNo 8169

Materials related to the bylaw amendments such as the proposed bylaws, detailed maps and other information may be inspected at Delta City Hall, 4500 Clarence Taylor Crescent, Delta, BC, Monday to Friday, excluding statutory holidays from 8:30 a.m. to 4:45 p.m. from Thursday, December 29, 2022 to Monday, January 9, 2023.

If you have a question regarding the proposed bylaw amendments or if you would like to inspect any relevant materials, please contact the Community Planning and Development Department by email at cpd@delta ca or by phone at 604-946-3380

Comments?

Those wishing to provide comment on the proposed bylaw amendments may do so in the followings ways:

Email mayor-council@delta.ca

OR Write to:

Mayor and Council

City of Delta

4500 Clarence Taylor Crescent Delta, BC V4K 3E2

Correspondence addressed to Council must include your name and full address and will form part of the public record for this bylaw amendment and be published on the City’s website. Correspondence must be received by the Office of the City Clerk no later than 10:00 a m on Wednesday, January 4, 2023 to be included with the Agenda materials