Delta Optimist January 7 2015

Mixed message

Property values are up in Tsaw., but flat in Ladner

3

Seattle bound

Kyle McConkey heads south for treatment

5

Cracking the code Dementia expert to visit Delta

7

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Tree fire guts Ladner home

Tourney champions South Delta Midget Storm capture Richmond event

15

Health & Fitness

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WEDNESDAY, JANUARY 7, 2015

See Pages 10-12

Ringing in 2015 with an icy dip!

SCAN WITH TO REVEAL PHOTOS

Grateful family tells cautionary holiday tale

make it out of the home safely.

“My husband Brent and I are devastated and emotionally drained about the tragedy of the The Ladner family that lost everything after its Christmas tree house fire,” she said. “But we also know how lucky we were to get caught fire last week thought it away from the fire in under three was doing everything right. minutes. If I had not been there “We made sure two cups of in the living room and seen the water went into the holder every fire actually start, morning and who knows what the there were no result would have needles dropbeen.” ping,” Jamie Delta deputy Robinson told fire chief Paul the Optimist.

Scholfield said She said the the call came in lights on the at 10:49 p.m. last tree, which Tuesday. He said went up on the home on Green Dec. 20, were Place, a quiet culjust three years PHOTO BY JESSICA KERR de-sac just off 57th old and the This Green Place home was badly Street, was fully family only used one exten- damaged by a Christmas tree fire engulfed when firelast week. fighters arrived. sion cord.

Robinson said “This is a strong message that people should the family has been told it will take at least eight months to make hear, as we would hate for this to the home livable again. It has happen to anyone else,” she said. arranged temporary accommodaRobinson said she had a pot of tions but need to rent, and furnish, turkey soup on the stove and had a place by April. just sat down in the living room Friends have started an online with a cup of tea when the fire crowdfunding campaign to help started. the family out. Started on New She ran to the kitchen to get a Year’s Day, the fund has already towel to try and put it out, but by the time she returned, the tree was raised more than $6,400.

“We are so thankful to live fully engulfed. in this amazing community,” Robinson, her husband Brent, Robinson said. who was sleeping at the time, To make a donation, visit www. the couple’s son Brennan and his youcaring.com/help-a-neighbor/ girlfriend Caitlin Murphy, who recently moved back to Vancouver help-the-robinson-s-re-buildfrom London, England, along with their-home/285272 or email Lora Keady at keadys@gmail.com. the family dog, were all able to BY

JESSICA KERR

jkerr@delta-optimist.com

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January 7, 2015 The Delta Optimist A3

There are many ways to connect with the Optimist, both online and through social media.

Values up, just not in Ladner

2015 property assessment notices show increases in Tsawwassen and North Delta BY

SANDOR GYARMATI

sgyarmati@delta-optimist.com

What's Layared today "" Pages 1 & 13 Check out more from this year’s annual Polar Bear Swim. "" Page 15 See more photos from the South Delta Midget A1 Storm’s championship win last week.

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Many Delta homeowners have seen the assessed values of their properties rise by five to 10 per cent this year, except in Ladner, which has strangely bucked the trend.

B.C. Assessment recently released its 2015 assessment roll that shows many properties, particularly detached single-family homes, have jumped in value over the previous year.

Those assessment notices began arriving in the mail this week.

“Most homes in the South Fraser region are worth more in value compared to last year’s assessment roll,” said acting deputy assessor Brian Smith. “Most South Fraser homeowners will see modest changes in the zero per cent to plus 10 per cent range.”

The assessments for any given year are based on the market value of homes as of July 1 of the previous year.

Although individual assessments may vary, on a whole, the numbers show decent increases in the assessed values of single-family homes in North Delta, including older neighbourhoods as well as newer dwellings

PHOTO BY

SANDOR GYARMATI

Many properties in Tsawwassen and North Delta saw their assessments increase by five to 10 per cent, while Ladner values remained largely unchanged. in Sunshine Hills, while Tsawwassen has also seen similar hikes. Townhomes and condos in those communities also increased in value.

When it comes Ladner, however, assessed values remained relatively stagnant, either barley budging upward or, in many cases, below the previous year’s figure.

Those drops don’t seem to be in line with Real Estate Board of Greater Vancouver figures on

what homes are selling for in Ladner. According to the latest numbers for December 2014, the benchmark price of a detached house in Ladner was up eight per cent from a year earlier. Over that same period, Tsawwassen homes increased by 10 per cent.

Going a few months back to the real estate board’s June 2013 to June 2014 comparisons, Ladner homes were up four per cent, while Tsawwassen saw a 5.2 per cent increase.

Smith told the Optimist the difference between the real estate board’s calculations and the assessment authority’s figures is that B.C. Assessment looks at what properties sold for as of July 1 the previous year, and to get to that number, it looks at sales between April and September.

“We look at properties that have sold on either side of July 1. So when you look at the Greater Vancouver Real Estate (Board) website, you can see that,

for the most part, it was decreasing since June of 2013 and kind of flattened, but now we’re on more of an uptake... That may be something we’ll be looking at for this time next year in that Ladner is seeing more of an increase consistent with other areas of Delta,” he explained.

Lower assessed values could provide a silver lining for Ladner homeowners when it comes to municipal property taxes.

Vivian Koo, Delta’s manager of budgeting and taxation, noted Delta council looks at budget needs to determine a tax increase and, afterward, that’s when assessments come into play.

“Each individual property belongs to a property class. If your increase is higher than the average in your class, then your property tax increase is expected to be higher than what council has approved for Delta tax increases for the year,” she explained. “So for Ladner, in this case, if it is lower than the rest of the residential class in Delta, then those residents will not see the same amount of increase council has approved.”

Property owners who feel their assessment does not reflect market value as of July 1, 2014 should contact B.C. Assessment.

Home values on rise in Ladner too: realtor Fraser Elliott says assessment notices aren’t necessarily an accurate gauge of the market BY

SANDOR GYARMATI

sgyarmati@delta-optimist.com

Ladner homeowners can rest assured they are in a hot housing market.

That’s what local realtor Fraser Elliott had to say regarding the apparent discrepancy between Multiple Listing Services (MLS) sales figures and B.C. Assessment’s valuations of homes in the community, especially detached houses.

“We had an unbelievable year in Ladner last year.

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The market is up big time,” said Elliott, who sold 215 homes in 2014.

He said he spoke to a couple of Ladner homeowners this week that were taken aback by lower assessment notices. Elliott said he had to assure them the actual market value of their properties is much higher.

Homeowners should not cancel plans to sell or renovate because of those assessment notices that simply don’t jibe with the

marketplace, he said.

“I’ve talked about assessments many times because people think they’re an accurate gauge of the market when they’re not.”

Elliott noted B.C. Assessment’s figures might have been skewed in that market activity picked up substantially in the second half of last year.

“The housing price index from the real estate board (of Greater Vancouver) is what we’ve got to look at because that is taken for all

the sales that happened for all of Ladner,” he said. “If you’re thinking this (B.C. Assessment) is market value for your home, think again.”

According to the Real Estate Board of Greater Vancouver, detached homes continued to be the most sought after property type in the Greater Vancouver market. From December 2013 to December 2014, detached homes in Metro Vancouver increased in value by 8.1 per cent.

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A4 The Delta Optimist January 7, 2015

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Toys + Tech owner Marleen Flumerfelt presented $50 gift cards to Michael Mireault (left), Evan Steeves and Mikaela Baiza, who each won their age category in our 25th annual Christmas Colouring Contest.

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Notice of Intention to Dispose of an Interest in Municipal Property (Pursuant to Sections 26 and 94 of the Community Charter) Take notice that The Corporation of Delta intends to sell its fee simple interest in the following lands: Civic address:

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This property is a vacant lot approximately 0.298 acres (12,982 sq. ft.) in area. It is currently zoned I2 Heavy Industrial.

THIS NOTICE IS FOR THE PURPOSE OF PUBLIC NOTIFICATION AND INVITING THE PUBLIC TO MAKE INQUIRIES REGARDING THE POTENTIAL ACQUISITION OF THE ABOVE-MENTIONED PROPERTY. THE PROPERTY IS LISTED FOR SALE WITH CUSHMAN WAKEFIELD LTD. AT A LISTING PRICE OF $649,000.00 (SIX HUNDRED FORTY NINE THOUSAND DOLLARS), SUBJECT TO FUTURE ADJUSTMENT. Interested parties should contact the listing agents, Mr. Randy Swant or Mr. Lee Hester at 604-683-3111.

Offers to purchase must be presented to the listing agents, but are subject to approval by Delta Council.

The Corporation of Delta 4500 Clarence Taylor Crescent Delta, BC V4K 3E2 (604) 946-4141 www.delta.ca

Notice of Intention to Dispose of an Interest in Municipal Property (Pursuant to Sections 26 and 94 of the Community Charter) Take notice that The Corporation of Delta intends to sell its fee simple interest in the following lands: Civic address:

7046 Brown Street, Delta, British Columbia

Legal Description:

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This property is approximately 4.23 acres (184,200 sq. ft.) in area and contains a building of approximately 15,900 sq. ft., plus a covered loading dock of approximately 4,950 sq. ft.

It is currently zoned I2 Heavy Industrial.

THIS NOTICE IS FOR THE PURPOSE OF PUBLIC NOTIFICATION AND INVITING THE PUBLIC TO MAKE INQUIRIES REGARDING THE POTENTIAL ACQUISTION OF THE ABOVE-MENTIONED PROPERTY. THE PROPERTY IS LISTED FOR SALE WITH CUSHMAN WAKEFIELD LTD. AT A LISTING PRICE OF $6,850,000.00 (SIX MILLION EIGHT HUNDRED FIFTY THOUSAND DOLLARS), SUBJECT TO FUTURE ADJUSTMENT. Interested parties should contact the listing agents, Mr. Randy Swant or Mr. Lee Hester at 604-683-3111.

Offers to purchase must be presented to the listing agents, but are subject to approval by Delta Council.

The Corporation of Delta 4500 Clarence Taylor Crescent Delta BC V4K 3E2 (604) 946-4141 www.delta.ca

January 7, 2015 The Delta Optimist A5

Teen in Seattle for treatment

Man gunned down in driveway

Delta police are investigating Metro Vancouver’s first murder of the year after a man was fatally shot in North Delta last week.

Officers were called to a home in the 11800-block of 75A Avenue at around 8:30 p.m. last Friday.

Arundeep Cheema, 24, of Surrey, was fatally wounded in what police are calling a targeted shooting. He was sitting in his vehicle in the driveway of the home when he was shot.

The victim was known

Kyle McConkey makes trip south BY

JESSICA KERR

jkerr@delta-optimist.com

After almost a month of treatments and hospital stays as he fought off multiple infections, Tsawwassen’s Kyle McConkey left for Seattle Monday for his initial consultation for an experimental cancer treatment.

The 18-year-old was initially set to make the trip last month, however that was delayed after he developed infections.

The South Delta Secondary grad has been battling leukemia for more than two years. Initially diagnosed in July 2012, Kyle underwent chemotherapy, radiation and a bone marrow transplant from younger brother Keegan, followed by several months in hospital. The cancer was in remission for some time, however it returned last spring and was not responding to treatment.

After a second transplant involving stem cells

failed in November, the family was told Kyle had just weeks left. Kyle’s dad, Ross McConkey, was subsequently contacted by the mother of a young leukemia patient who has been cancer-free for 18 months following the experimental therapy.

The treatment at Seattle Children’s Hospital would see doctors harvest Kyle’s own T cells, a white blood cell that makes up part of the immune system. The cells are then re-engineered to fight the cancer before being transplanted back into the patient.

The treatment, however, isn’t covered and costs around $250,000.

The family started an online crowdfunding page in late November to try and raise the money to cover the treatment. The outpouring of support was overwhelming and the target was reached in less than a week.

Donations continue to come in and the total is now at more than $282,000.

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to police and the home was also known to officers, who had “various dealings with the occupants of the house,” said police spokesperson Sgt. Sarah Swallow.

Cheeema appears to have been at one time connected with Jujhar KhunKhun of the notorious Dhak gang.

Swallow said it was too early to tell if last Friday’s shooting was gang-related, but said investigators will look at that possibility.

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A6 The Delta Optimist January 7, 2015

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The Tsawwassen Boundary Bay Lions Annual Christmas Tree Chipping Held at South Delta Recreation Centre.

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Chipping sponsored by Royal Wood Tree Care.

Ringing in the year by rearranging furniture BARBARA GUNN

LIVING MATTERS OK, so there we were: post-holiday. Turkey done.

Friends gone. Wallet all but empty.

The husband and I sat in the living room, looking a tad exhausted. No wonder.

Three weeks of over-indulging can do that to you.

“Well,” he said, “what should we do now? I don’t think I can stomach another eggnog.”

Ditto. Same for the shortbread, the fruitcake and the chocolate. I’ve had my fill of seasonal movies and seasonal decorations, and even though I love Christmas carols as much as the next person, I could happily wait until next December before I hear another rendition of Frosty the Snowman.

“So what do we do?” I replied. “We rearrange the furniture, of course!”

At this, the husband startled a bit — but not from excitement, as much

as surprise. I imagine he expected that I would suggest a game of Scrabble, a walk on the dike, or a good-long afternoon nap.

He would not have expected me to propose something that included the words “rearrange” and “furniture.”

“That sounds a lot like work,” the husband said.

“And what’s wrong with work?” I said. “We’ve been doing nothing but eating and drinking since midDecember.”

The husband sighed.

As much as he claimed to be done with the seasonal excesses, it was clear he was not fully prepared to leap off the couch and get moving. Or, should I say, to leap off the couch and move it somewhere else.

A reconfiguring of the furniture, I suggested, would be a perfect way to change up the new year.

The husband, clearly bewildered, scratched his head.

“So how would this work?” he inquired. “Who does the rearranging?”

“We both do,” I said.

“You know, I’ll move the books. You take care of the

shelves.”

Oh, I said, it would be like having a brand-new home. If we felt like it, the dining room could become the den and the den the office and the office the dining room. The kitchen would have to stay put, given the challenges of moving the sink, the fridge and the oven, but no reason why we couldn’t put the chesterfield where the chairs are and the chairs where the shelves are and the shelves where the love seat is.

“Waaaait a minute,” the husband said. “This doesn’t just sound like a lot of work. This WOULD BE an awful lot of work.”

With that, he picked up a vase and a pair of candlesticks and traded their locations.

“There,” he said.

“Furniture. Rearranged.”

That done, he informed me he would have another glass of eggnog after all, and likely follow it with a snooze on the couch.

“Very good,” I said. The couch would stay, for that day, at least. We’ll move it when naptime is over.

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January 7, 2015 The Delta Optimist A7

Lecture to provide help to dementia caregivers

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Author Karen Tyrell to visit South Delta next weekend Lady Bug’z Lifestyle Assistant is bringing certified dementia practitioner Karen Tyrell to South Delta next week to help those caring for loved ones with dementia.

Cracking the Dementia Code is a free lecture that will take place at the South Delta Baptist Church in Tsawwassen from 11 a.m. to 12:30 p.m. on Saturday, Jan. 17.

“It will help you understand how to manage behaviours that are common,” Tyrell told the Optimist.

Saying she will be giving away her secret that will “crack the dementia code,” which is also the name of her book, Tyrell said many caregivers experience stress and frustration.

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Philosophers’ Café returns to McKee Promoting/Hindering • Feb. 13 — Ageism: Addressing Stigmas • March 13 — Is Growth Necessary for a Vibrant Economy?

• April 10 — How Do We Become More Ethical Consumers?

• May 8 — Is Human Conflict Inevitable?

• June 12 — What Does Being a Good Citizen Mean?

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Ladner’s popular Philosophers’ Café is back for another six thought-provoking sessions for the first half of 2015.

The McKee Seniors’ Recreation Centre introduced the program in 2012 based on the popular SFU Philosophers’ Café model of people coming together to discuss topics of mutual interest.

This round of sessions begins this week and takes place on the second Friday of each month from 1:30 to 3 p.m. in the McKee Centre lounge.

McKee Centre volunteers, Jim Flint, ML Burke and Robbin Whitbread coordinate the program and act as facilitators. The sessions include presenters knowledgeable about the subjects who start the conversation with a short introduction before opening the discussion to the floor.

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A8 The Delta Optimist January 7, 2015 Opinion Page Published every Wednesday & Friday by the Delta Optimist, a division of LMP Publication Limited Partnership #207 - 4840 Delta Street, Delta, BC V4K 2T6 Phone 604-946-4451 Fax 604-946-5680 www.delta-optimist.com Publisher: Alvin Brouwer abrouwer@ glaciermedia.ca

Region not on right track

General Manager: Dave Hamilton dhamilton@ delta-optimist.com Distribution: 604-942-3081 distribution@delta-optimist. com Classified: 604-630-3300 Fax: 604-630-4500 classifieds@van.net Editor: Ted Murphy editor@ delta-optimist.com Sports: Mark Booth mbooth@ delta-optimist.com Reporters: Sandor Gyarmati sgyarmati@ delta-optimist.com Dave Willis dwillis@ delta-optimist.com Jessica Kerr jkerr@ delta-optimist.com Photographer: Gord Goble ggoble@ delta-optimist.com Sales Representatives: John Gallinger jgallinger@ delta-optimist.com Ruth VanBruksvoort rbruks@ delta-optimist.com Jenelle Julien jjulien@ delta-optimist.com Features Manager: Bob Ferguson bferguson@ delta-optimist.com Sales Support: Linda Calendino lcalendino@ delta-optimist.com Canadian Publications Agreement #212490

CANADIAN COMMUNITY NEWSPAPER AWARD 2012

Wednesday’s circulation is 16,493 Friday’s circulation is 16,943 This paper is made of 40% recycled newsprint and printed using vegetable inks

Entire Contents © 2015 The Optimist. All Rights Reserved

The Delta Optimist is a member of the British Columbia Press Council, a self-regulatory body governing the province’s newspaper industry. The council considers complaints from the public about conduct of member newspapers. Directors oversee the mediation of complaints, with input from both the newspaper and complainant. If talking with the editor or publisher of this newspaper does not resolve your complaint about coverage or story treatment, you may contact the B.C. Press Council.

Your written concern, with documentation, should be sent to B.C. Press Council, 201 Selby Street, Nanaimo, B.C., V9R 2R2.

For further information, go to www.bcpresscouncil.org

TED MURPHY

MURPHY’S LAW I’m beginning to see what light rail advocates are talking about.

Last week I was in Portland with my son to see our beloved Toronto Raptors take on the Trail Blazers and although the visitors lost in overtime, I did enjoy the proverbial moral victory when it came to my choice of transportation.

We were staying at a hotel in the northern suburbs, which also happened to be a long block from a TriMet station. I figured rather than fight rush hour traffic on the I-5 and then try to find overpriced parking near the arena, we would take the Yellow Line on Portland’s expansive light rail system. It took 19 minutes, and cost just $3.75 combined, for the train to drop us at the steps of the Moda Center in the city’s Rose Quarter district.

We had a similar experience in San Diego last summer when we rode that city’s light rail network to get to both the USS Midway and to a Padres game at the new downtown ballpark.

The more I see light rail in action, the more it baffles me why transit planners here have been so resistant to embrace this form of transportation.

What struck me about the Portland experience, and what bugs me about the rapid transit situation in Greater Vancouver, is the scope, or lack thereof, of the network. Light rail in the Rose City serves pretty much the entire region, from Hillsboro in the west all the way to Gresham in the east. It stretches from the Columbia River and the airport in the north to Beaverton and Clackamas in the south.

There are four different lines, with a fifth on the way this fall, meaning it doesn’t matter where you live, you’re never too far from a light rail stop.

Contrast that with Greater Vancouver’s SkyTrain network, if you can call it that, which serves a select few areas, leaving all other transit users on buses that must compete with an ever-growing number of single-occupancy vehicles in the region.

SkyTrain is great if you happen to live/work close to a station, but we’re coming up on its 30th anniversary and we’ve only got three lines (a fourth is under construction), which means huge portions of the Lower Mainland, including this one, still don’t have any type of rapid transit.

Given you can build a kilometre of light rail for a fraction of what an elevated train costs, it’s no surprise many cities are turning to at-grade train tracks as a way to move the masses.

In Greater Vancouver, however, we cling to the prohibitively expensive SkyTrain system as we perpetuate a mistake of the past.

Resolutions are tough to keep, even the no-zucchini variety TOM SIBA

COMMUNITY COMMENT We are a week into the New Year and by now, any New Year’s resolutions that you might have made are probably forgotten. I don’t think there are too many people who actually make New Year’s resolutions, but the resolutions one hears about don’t change much year to year. They typically involve disposing of some action that you enjoy which has possible long-term detrimental effects.

New Year’s arrives at the end of an extended period of conviviality, which is often marked by overindulgence. So the resolutions often involve diet and exercise and you can see the local gyms fill up in January. By the end of January, they are back to normal.

In terms of diet, you can swear off any future consumption of gingerbread cookies and fruit cake.

That should drop your caloric intake substantially. You’re not

going to see them around anyways until next December.

Stopping smoking is a popular resolution with the less than 20 per cent of the B.C. population still smoking. With hardly anywhere you can smoke any more, this is a resolution that can work. You just have to throw away all your cigarettes at midnight on Dec. 31st.

Besides personal health, financial health provides an area for resolutions — usually of the spend less and save more variety.

There is regular bemoaning of the fact that personal debt as a percentage of personal income is at all-time high and an increase in rates is inevitable. The costs of carrying the high debt levels will then put many people in financial difficulty.

The “inevitable” increase has been prophesied for several years now with absolutely no change in the bank rate. Perhaps the current rates are the new normal. Back in Economics 101, one of the few things that stuck was the old supply and demand curve. If prices dropped, demand increased. This applies to debt as well as material products.

Back in 1979, when we bought our first house in Tsawwassen, the mortgage rate was 13.25 per cent.

The Optimist encourages readers to write letters to the editor. Letters are accepted on any topic, although preference is given to those on local matters. The Optimist reserves the right to edit letters and the decision to publish is at the discretion of the editor or publisher. All letters must be signed, dated and include the writer’s phone number

Currently, 35 years later, mortgage rates are about three per cent per annum — four-and-a-half times less — and have been for years. So the same income currently could handle a much larger debt. Of course, since real estate prices are so much higher, it takes a much larger debt.

But it is obvious that debt-toincome ratio can be a lot higher without causing a problem. Also the government doesn’t want you spending less, as we need consumer spending to boost the economy — especially with the price of oil dropping so precipitously.

With rates so low, it wouldn’t make sense to pass up a good investment (however you personally define that) just because we have historically high debt-to-income ratios.

Myself, I am swearing off zucchini once again. It is the one resolution I have no trouble keeping year after year. I’m using all the money I thereby save to pay down any debt I might have. A win-win action for another New Year’s resolution. p.s. After proofreading this column, my wife told me there was zucchini in the cabbage rolls we just had! Oh well, my resolution didn’t last a week.

(not for publication). The Optimist will not print “name withheld” letters. Copyright in letters and other materials submitted voluntarily to the publisher and accepted for publication remains with the author, but the publisher and its licensees may freely reproduce them in print, electronic or other forms.

January 7, 2015 The Delta Optimist A9 Letters to the Editor

ULTIMATE CLEARANCE

Woman grateful so many came to aid of husband Editor: Back in November my husband was working in the garden, and unbeknownst to me, he collapsed there. Our little dog was barking up a storm and I could not figure out what it was all about.

I went outside and saw my husband lying on his side. He was turning blue, was unresponsive and sweating. I called 911.

Trying to stay clam and not leaving my husband’s side, I tried to get him to respond to me, with no luck. Within minutes of the call, firefighters and para-

medics were on the scene.

The medical team worked on my husband for some time. Brian, the driver of the ambulance, kept me informed as to what the team inside was doing.

Erin and the team were trying to stabilize my husband. They were having a bit of a challenge, but their skills and dedication saved my husband’s life.

Many thanks to Erin, who stayed there with him until he was stable, and to all the highly skilled others.

To my neighbours, Barb, Andre and Liz, to Craig,

and to my devoted daughter Denise, the support was overwhelming and I owe a huge debt of gratitude to you all.

To the staff at Delta Hospital, nurses Carl and Clem, and the doctors, again thank you all.

My husband spent a week in St. Paul’s and without the care, comfort and dedication he received, he may not have been able to say he is resting comfortably at home now.

Thank you all so much for your dedication.

Ellen Gunn

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Try walking a mile in police officer’s shoes

Editor: Re: Apparently police officers need to be reminded they’re not above the law, letter to the editor, Dec. 24 Yes, the Delta Police Department has pulled the wristbands in support of Const. Jordan MacWilliams from its website, but raising awareness of the police officer’s investigation is not interfer-

ing with the law. Citizens have a right to make their opinions heard.

Don Halward is all about punishing and prosecuting everyone, and I don’t know what “cowboy” mentality Halward has seen in our police, since he doesn’t say. But, clearly, Canadian police cannot be likened to American police, which he seems to be doing.

I suggest Halward take

himself off to a casino and face an armed man in a standoff for five hours in the parking lot; that is, walk a mile in their shoes. I’m sure the police could learn a lot from how Halward would handle the situation.

(That said, however, we might want to look at the legality of sting operations.)

Cecilia Tanner

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Some people expect police officers to be perfect Editor: Re: Apparently police officers need to be reminded they’re not above the law, letter to the editor, Dec. 24 I don’t think Don Halward will be contributing to the policeman’s benevolent fund anytime soon.

People are certainly entitled to their opinion about the police but by the sound of Halward’s letter, it seems like he has a lot of built up issues with the police.

As a retired police officer, it amazes me how perfect some people expect the police to be. Police officers are also members of the public and like other citizens, should be entitled to support one of their own as long as they are not doing so with intimidation tactics.

Halward should ask to go on a ridealong program and maybe see things from another perspective.

D. Barker

Commendable intentions at start of year inevitably end as failed resolutions

Editor: Hopeful New Year’s resolutions: Bah Humbug!

Without fail, at the beginning of a New Year, we set ourselves up for failure by the making of New Year’s resolutions.

Perhaps one reason for the futility of New Year’s resolutions is they are expressed in such general terms as to end up in procrastination and ensuing personal disappointment at their non-accomplishment.

Commendable intentions such as losing

weight, exercising, more family time, quitting smoking, etc. are the familiar stuff New Year’s resolutions are made of ... only to be broken, leaving behind a sense of misgiving and despondency.

It’s been said that a New Year’s resolution is something that goes in-oneyear-and-out-the-other.

But Oscar Wilde maybe said it best: “Good resolutions are simply cheques that men draw on a bank where they have no account.”

E.W. Bopp

Uncover the meaning behind the behaviors through detective work; seek the Ph.A.C.T.S. ™ and learn creative approaches.

Busy ERs prompt call for clinics

Editor: In the past month two of my family members have been to two different emergency rooms, including the latest at Delta, and both times left before being attended to as the wait time was approaching the fourth hour.

Why is it that we continue to allow our hospital care to wallow in substandard efficiency? It is so frustrating to endure needless delays of service when one is sick or injured to begin with.

It is high time we start initiating total health care reform, including aroundthe-clock walk-in clinics.

Don Sukkau

Based on her published book.

“Cracking the Dementia Code

Creative Solutions to Cope with Changed Behaviours”

Saturday January 17th from 11:00am - 12:30pm www.DementiaSolutions.ca

PLEASE PLEASE REGISTER REGISTER

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To register contact Lady Bug’z Lifestyle Assistant Ltd. at 778-242-4558 or info@ladybugzbiz.com Seating is limited so please register early.

Please note the correct location of Dementia talk: South Delta Baptist Church, 1988 56 St. Tsawwassen.

The location was mistakenly published on Dec. 31ST . The Optimist apologizes for any confusion.

A10 The Delta Optimist January 7, 2015 Health & Fitness

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A healthy diet is essential to long-term health. When coupled with routine exercise, healthy diets can be an effective way for men and women to reduce their risk of contracting a variety of diseases, not to mention the positive impact that such a healthy lifestyle can have on an individual’s quality of life.

The following are a handful of easily found foods that pack a nutritious punch: • Whole wheat and multigrain pasta: Once difficult to find, these low-calorie alternatives to traditional pastas are now available in many large chain grocery stores as well as organic marketplaces. That’s good news, as a typical twoounce serving of whole wheat or multigrain pasta typically includes about seven grams of protein and six grams of fiber.

• Nonfat Greek yogurt: Nonfat Greek yogurt is a great low-calorie source of protein, making it a great snack option for men

Fresh spinach is loaded with vitamins and nutrients. and women who want a snack that can boost their afternoon energy levels without compromising their waistlines. Single serving containers of Greek yogurt tend to be right around six ounces, and that six ounces can include 120 grams of protein or more.

• Russet potatoes: If baked potatoes are a side dish you typically only enjoy in restaurants, you might want to consider eating more of them at home.

One medium-sized Russet potato is roughly 170 calories and includes three grams of fiber, five grams of protein and 25 per cent

of your daily recommended dosage of potassium.

• Fresh spinach: Popeye was on to something, as a four-cup serving of fresh bagged spinach is just 20 calories and loaded with vitamins and nutrients. Just one serving of fresh bagged spinach can provide 160 per cent of the recommended daily value of vitamin A and 40 per cent of the daily value of vitamin C. Spinach is also a great source of folic acid, which can help prevent heart disease, stroke and certain types of cancer.

• Dried lentils: Dried lentils make great additions to salads, soups and stews and pack a nutritious punch despite their relatively small serving size. A quarter-cup serving of dried lentils includes 10 grams of protein and 11 grams of fiber.

• Brown rice: A quartercup serving of brown rice has roughly 20 less calories than a similar serving of traditional white rice, and brown rice is also a much greater source of dietary fiber.

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January 7, 2015 The Delta Optimist A11 Health & Fitness

Weightlifting offers many benefits for women

Many women steer clear of the free-weight areas inside their gyms, opting instead for treadmills and other cardio machines.

Some women may not know how to use weights correctly, while others simply don’t want to add any bulk to their frames.

However, research shows that women who adhere to moderate strength-training programs two to three times per week can benefit in a variety of ways.

• Burn more calories: Many people exercise to burn calories and shed fat, and weight training is an efficient way for women to do just that. After a heavy weight-training session, the body continues to use oxygen, which increases a person’s basal metabolic rate.

In addition, as you increase lean muscle mass, your body burns even more calories as its muscles contract and it works to repair and build new muscle.

• Reverse metabolic decline: Lifting weights can help reverse the natural

Weight training can help strengthen the core muscles of the abdomen and back, which may help alleviate lower back pain. It’s important to use proper form when lifting weights to avoid exacerbating existing back pain or developing new injuries.

• Boost mood and combat depression: Lifting weights is not just good for the body, it’s also good for the mind. Women who strength train regularly can improve their feelings of well-being and may be able to reduce episodes of depression.

• Relieve stress: Any form of exercise can help to relieve stress, but according to the 2009 study Psychological Aspects of Resistance Training, those who regularly strength train tend to manage stress better and experience fewer adverse reactions to stressful situations than those who do not exercise.

• Increase energy levels: Lifting weights can boost mind power and provide a long-term energy boost.

slowing down of metabolism that begins in middle age. Keeping your body working out and your metabolism elevated for as long as possible can help keep you in top shape.

• Build stronger bones: Lifting weights does more than just build muscle.

Weightlifting also builds bone density. After menopause, women may lose up to 20 per cent of their bone mass. Women can look to weightlifting to help increase bone density and reduce their risk of fracture and osteoporosis.

• Reduce risk for heart disease: Cardiovascular disease claims the lives of 5.6 million women worldwide each year. Women are more likely to get heart disease than cancer. A study in The Journal of Strength and Conditioning found that women who lift weights are less likely to develop heart disease risk factors, such as large waist circumference, high triglycerides, hypertension and elevated glucose levels.

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A12 The Delta Optimist January 7, 2015 Health & Fitness

Three simple steps for a healthier 2015 Adding a few small changes to your daily routine will provide long-term benefits BY

simpler approach to your health goals.

By adding in a few small changes, you will be more successful and notice the benefits long term.

1. Stand More, Sit Less The issue: We are unfortunately a society of sitters. Sitting too much is a nation-wide epidemic.

Think of an average day of a non-active job. We get up. Sit and eat breakfast.

Sit and commute to work.

Sit at a desk all day. Sit and commute back home.

Sit and eat dinner. Sit and watch TV. Go to bed.

KRISTA POPOWYCH Optimist contributor

January is the month we are inundated with New Year’s resolutions. With a strong emphasis on fitness and health, it is no surprise that Canadians either avoid making resolutions all together or fail to keep them past Feb. 1.

Often taking on an exercise goal or making healthier lifestyle choices requires a commitment without the instantaneous results that many of us hope for. This year, I suggest a

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If you eat healthy, you feel healthier.

What to do: EAT

Repeat the next day. Even with some daily exercise, it’s not enough to reverse the effects of a sedentary lifestyle.

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Krista Popowych recovery time that occurs when we sleep.

What to Do: SLEEP 7-8 HOURS A NIGHT. Falling asleep or getting enough sleep can be a challenge for many of us. Establish a winding down routine, create a pleasant sleep environment and try to go to bed and get up at the same time every day. Even on the weekends.

Like anything, our bodies get used to certain routines.

It may take a while to break a bad sleep routine. but the long-term health and wellness benefits are well worth it.

Krista Popowych is an award-winning fitness professional and consultant based in Ladner.

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CLEAN. Eating clean means fueling your body with real food. Choose fruits, vegetables, grains, lean proteins and healthy fats over processed foods.

The Canadian Food Guide does a fantastic job at providing the proper nutrition guidelines across all ages.

Even making one small change of increasing your fruit and vegetable intake has significant benefits.

Before long, regularly filling up with healthy food will actually have you craving an apple versus a bag of chips.

3. Get More Sleep The issue: When we are constantly sleep deprived, we go through the motions of daily life without being fully engaged. With exhaustion, we have less energy or patience to do anything, including exercising or making healthy meals.

We crave sugar, fat and caffeine, hoping it will give us a boost. The levels of leptin, which is the hormone that makes us feel full, drop when we don’t get enough sleep, making us hungrier and causing weight gain. Our bodies also start to break down. We need the

Contrary to popular belief, adopting a healthy lifestyle is not a difficult undertaking. In certain instances, convenience may need to be sacrificed in favour of nutrition, but many people find that living healthy is not nearly as difficult as they assumed it would be when they initially decided to make a change.

• Eat more fruits and vegetables. Instead of unhealthy snacks like potato chips and cookies, snack on a piece of fruit, and never sit down to a meal unless you include some vegetables to go along with the main course. Studies have shown that men and women whose diets are high in fruits and vegetables are less likely to develop certain types of cancers, including cancers of the digestive tract.

• Slow down your eating routine. Some people may already be eating the right foods, but they may just be eating too much of them. It takes time for your body to let you know

it’s had too much to eat, so eating too fast can increase your risk of overeating.

While eating, try to limit distractions that can take your attention away from how much you’re eating. If you’re always watching TV or checking emails on your phone while eating, try a few days of distraction-free, careful eating, and you may find yourself eating less and feeling more energized after a meal.

• Skip the second glass of wine. The much publicized medical benefits of wine are somewhat misleading.

According to the Mayo Clinic, when consumed in moderation, red wine can help prevent heart disease.

That’s because alcohol and antioxidants found in red wine have been shown to increase levels of highdensity lipoprotein, often referred to as “good” cholesterol, and protect against artery damage. But wine also contains sugars that can fatten the liver, and a fatty liver can contribute to a host of serious health problems.

January 7, 2015 The Delta Optimist A13

Chilly start to 2015

More than 400 swimmers brave -5°C water in annual Polar Bear Swim More than 400 hearty souls raced into -5°C water in Delta’s 35th annual Polar Bear Swim on New Year’s Day. A crowd estimated in excess of 2,500 cheered on the 413 registered participants as they made the icy plunge into Boundary Bay at Centennial Beach.

Once the first three swimmers reached a bell anchored 25 metres from the shore, everyone was cleared from the water.

Prizes were awarded as follows: First: Morgan Bezembinder Second: Jacob Cowley Third: Mike Easingwood Oldest Swimmer: Liz MacDonald and Lorraine Bell

SCAN WITH TO REVEAL PHOTOS Swimmer from furthest away: Alexander Berenz and Joshua Lindhauer (from Germany) It was the third year in a row Bezembinder won first place.

Those in attendance enjoyed a children’s treasure hunt, drumming with Milton Randall, face painting with Fanny Starchild, fire juggling and entertainment by Mike Battie, as well as hot chocolate served by the Tsawwassen Boundary Bay Lions from their mobile Streetside Community Kitchen.

Photos by Gord Goble More photos at www.delta-optimist.com

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A14 The Delta Optimist January 7, 2015 Coming Events Clubs & Groups !3D Printing, Saturday, Jan. 10, 2 - 4 pm Tsawwassen Library. The future is now at FVRL! Join members of 3D604 for an afternoon of discussion and demonstrations of 3D printing. Drop in anytime during the program to discover this exciting technology in action. Bring your questions for our guest experts. !Enjoy your Baby, free course with baby minding provided at no extra charge.

10-11:30 a.m. Saturdays (Jan. 10, 17, 24, 31 and Feb. 7, 2015) at Ladner United Church. Further details and registration info at www. llttf.ca or call CMHA Delta 604-943-1878. !Sir John A. McDonald 200th Birthday Celebration with the Delta Amateur Radio Society, Sunday, Jan. 11, 11 am - 4 pm - Ladner Pioneer Library. The Delta Amateur Radio Society is celebrating the 200th birthday of Canada’s first Prime Minister by hosting a special amateur radio station (VC7SJAM) in his honour. Come watch the operation happen live at either the Ladner Pioneer or the George Mackie library, ask questions of the radio operators and possibly participate in the communication yourself! Of course, cake will be served! !Delta Nature invites you to a presentation by Paul Berlinguette, entitled, “Save our Wetlands and its Critters.” Learn how important wetlands are and how a diverse number

of species rely on them.

Time: Monday, Jan. 12 at 7:30 p.m. Place: Cammidge House in Boundary Bay Regional Park. No charge for event - everyone welcome. Info: Call Tom Bearss 604-940-9296. !The Arthritis Society presents: Understanding Arthritis on Tuesday, Jan. 13, 7 - 8:30 pm Tsawwassen Library. Learn how to better understand and manage your arthritis. This presentation will include information on pain management, exercise, medication and complimentary therapies as well as information on the Arthritis Society and the education programs and services available to you.

Learn about strategies and techniques to improve your lifestyle. Register with The Arthritis Society by calling 604-514-9902. !The South Delta Newcomers & Alumni meetings are held the third Thursday of each month at 7:15 pm at the Art Gallery, Kiwanis Longhouse, located at 1710-56th St., Tsawwassen. The club is for women who have moved to South Delta and Point Roberts, to introduce you to the community and help you make new friends. Join us on Thursday, Jan. 15.

Contact Holly at holly.hastie@uregina.ca. !eBooks and eReaders, Thursday, Jan. 15, 7 - 8 pm - Ladner Pioneer Library.

Did you receive a new eReader or tablet over the holidays? Are you looking for FREE eBooks to read

lottery calendar

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December 2014 Marco Escalante $100 Jessie Spear $100 Bonnie Ubial $100 Judy Cheng $1000 Wendy Baker $100

Rotary Clubs of Ladner &Tsawwassen

on it? Our knowledgeable library staff will cover all our eBook options for Kobo, Android and Apple devices in this fun and informative session. !Low Vision Support Group meets at Ladner Library the third Monday of most months. Next meeting is Monday, Jan. 19 from 1:30-2:30 pm. This month’s guest will be discussing emergency preparedness.

Note: sighted people are needed to help with organizing and with driving.

Please contact Pat Rogers at 946-2669 if you’re able to help out. !Ask An Investment Advisor - Living Fully...

Dying Neatly: How to Effectively Plan Your Exit - Wednesday, Jan. 21, 2:30 - 4 pm - Tsawwassen Library. Sheila Whitehead, Investment and Wealth Advisor with RBC Dominion Securities will be at the Delta Libraries to answer your questions about: minimizing probate and taxes; choosing the right executor and power of attorney, effectively transferring assets to heirs and/or charities, what’s the hold up when there is a will. Please RSVP jennifer. bishop@rbc.com or 604535-3837. !The Arthritis Society presents: Chronic Pain Management Workshop, Wednesday, Jan. 21, 6 8:30 pm - Ladner Pioneer Library. Based on the Arthritis Self-Management Program, this forum introduces participants to self-management skills

and the principles of pain management. Learn about - the physical causes of pain in arthritis; better managing stress and fatigue; the benefits of exercise and using medications wisely.

Register with The Arthritis Society by calling 604-5149902. !January 27 is Family Literacy Day. Delta Libraries (FVRL <http:// www.fvrl.bc.ca/>) and Delta Community Literacy Committee have joined forces to make this the year that Delta gets on the national map! The goal of National Literacy Day is to get you reading with your family for 15 short minutes a day but the goal of #ScreensOffDelta! is to get you UNPLUGGED for one whole hour! Participate as a family, a team, a class, a school, a business or as an individual! We invite you to begin engaging with us through various social media channels by sharing your experiences of how you can unplug and connect. !Delta Hospice Society will offer a Volunteer Training Program running Feb. 19 through March 21, 2015, Thursday evenings from 6:30-9 p.m. plus three Saturdays from 9:30-3 pm. For more information please call our Centre for Supportive Care at 604948-0660 and ask to set up an interview. Class size is limited, so we advise early registration. !The Delta Photo Club meets Wednesdays at the KinVillage Recreation

GIANTsale book

Please contribute to our

10th Annual Book Sale 9 AM 'TIL Noon Weekdays

KINVILLAGE COMMUNITY CENTRE Invites you to donate resaleable books, board games, DVDs & CDs

Centre, Tsawwassen. Set up and socialize 7 - 7:30.

Meeting 7:30 - 9:30 pm.

Photographers of all skill levels are welcome. www. deltaphotoclub.com. !The Next Chapter Book Club runs Tuesdays, 1:45 - 2:45 pm, at the Ladner Pioneer Library. The Next Chapter Book Club offers a weekly opportunity for people with developmental disabilities to read and learn together, talk about books, and make friends in a relaxed community setting.

Individual NCBCs usually consists of five to eight people with disabilities and two volunteer facilitators, some of whom also have disabilities.

Seniors !Come join the first Philosophers’ Café of the new year this Friday, Jan. 9, 1:30-3:00 pm at the McKee Seniors Centre, 5155 47th Ave., Ladner, where we’ll be exploring various aspects of multiculturalism - what it is and factors promoting or hindering it. Call 604-9461141 for further information. !McKee Seniors Recreation Centre presents a Tribute to the Grand Ole Opry produced and directed by the Newton Music Makers, Saturday, Jan. 10; 2 - 4 p.m. $5 members; $7 guests. Call 604-946-1411. !Shari’s Saturday Social will have a black and white theme on Saturday, Jan. 17.

Tickets will be available at the door. Cash or cheque only please. $10 for mem-

bers, $12 for non-members includes mid-evening coffee, tea, and assorted goodies. KinVillage Community Centre, 5430 10th Ave., Tsawwassen 604-943-0225.

Special Events !10th Anniversary Giant Sale of books, board games, DVDs, and CDs. Please bring in your gently used re-saleable items. Sorry, no digests, geographics, computer books or encyclopedia. Donations accepted Monday to Friday 9 am until noon through to Jan. 26. KinVillage Community Centre, 5430-10th Ave., Tsawwassen. Sale runs Thursday, Jan. 29 from 10 am to 6 pm, Jan. 30 from 9 am to 6 pm and Jan. 31 from 9 am to 3 pm. The Unique Boutique will be open 9 am to 3 pm on Saturday, Jan. 31.

Arts !Calling all singers to join the Delta Community Choir or Tapestry for our spring term. New members welcomed Jan. 12 and Jan. 19, with a small voice check for proper placement.

Meet Mondays 7 p.m. and 8:30 p.m. at Benediction Lutheran Church at 55756th Ave. Tsawwassen.

The Coming Events column is published every Wednesday as a community service. If you have a nonprofit event, mail, drop off, fax, or e-mail (events@ delta-optimist.com) the details to the Optimist by 3 p.m. Monday. Submissions are subject to space limitations (no phone calls, please).

Carrier theof Week Congratulations to ZACHARY OLSON

Zachary won a gift card courtesy of

No Digest, Geographics, Computer Books or Encyclopedia - Thank You

Sale Takes Place

Thurs. Jan. 29th 10am to 6pm Fri. Jan. 30th 9am to 6pm Sat. Jan. 31st 9am to 3pm 5430 - 10th Ave., Tsaw.

604-943-0225

McDonald’s • 1835 56th Street TSAWWASSEN • 5776 Ladner Trunk Road LADNER

If you are interested in becoming a carrier please call 604.942.3081

Delta Sports Sports Editor: Mark Booth

Phone: 604-946-4451

January 7, 2015 The Delta Optimist A15

Email: mbooth@delta-optimist.com

Midget Storm usher out 2014 in style South Delta rep hockey team survives marathon schedule to capture its division at 34th annual Richmond International BY

MARK BOOTH

mbooth@delta-optimist.com

South Delta Midget A1 Storm ushered out 2014 in grand style, capturing the tier two championship at the 34th annual Richmond Bantam Midget International Hockey Tournament.

The Storm completed an exhausting run with a 4-3 victory over California’s Golden State Elite Eagles on New Year’s Eve at Minoru Arenas. It was the team’s seventh game in five days and its third playoff tilt in less than 24 hours. South Delta produced 3-2 quar-

pack it in and we have three injuries as well. I’m very proud of this group and a lot of them haven’t been in a situation to win a tournament like this before. I feel really good for them.”

The limited roster was the main reason the Storm opted to enter the tournament’s tier two division.

What the program has also had to deal with is a significant number of Bantam and Midget age players leaving over the past two seasons to enroll in the South Delta Hockey Academy which enters teams in the Canadian Sport Hockey League.

SCAN WITH TO REVEAL PHOTOS PHOTOS

“There are definitely some challenges and we have lost some numbers,” continued Rogers. “But we have worked our way up to the middle of the pack in two tier (league play) and now will have some momentum to keep pushing forward in the new year.”

The Richmond International has an excellent reputation of attracting out-of-town teams and this year’s tournament was no exception. The 16-team tier two division featured eight from the U.S., including four from California.

The Storm opened

Tides at Tsawwassen Pacific Standard Time. Height in feet

MARK BOOTH

round-robin play by battling Burnaby Minor to a 3-3 draw, then dropped a wild 9-6 decision to the California AA Wave. A pair of goals from Bryn Davies and a goal and two assists from Trevor McDonald powered the locals to a 5-3 win over the Alaska Pioneers. They clinched a playoff spot by getting past the California ’99 Wave 52. Davies added two more goals, while Jordan Bogress had a goal and two helpers.

McDonald chipped in with three assists.

The quarter-final win over Nanaimo wasn’t decided until Mitchell Coppen’s

second of the game with 6:14 remaining broke a 2-2 deadlock.

A hat trick from Daniel Gulbrandsen helped lift South Delta past Cloverdale in a tight semi-final battle.

Golden State took a perfect 6-0-0 record into the championship game but was rocked by four unanswered South Delta goals in the opening period from McDonald, Davies and a pair from Greg Porter, who also earned an assist.

The Storm took a 4-1 lead into the final period when the Eagles made things interesting with a pair of goals and still plenty

THURSDAY, JANUARY 8 1:10 am 2:21 pm

3.6 9.5

8:17 pm 15.4 6:57 pm 12.1

SUNDAY, JANUARY 11 2:42 am 4:44 pm

6.6 7.9

9:42 am 15.1 9:49 pm 10.8

of time left on the clock.

Goaltender Jacob Tersigni was forced to make a number of outstanding saves in route to earning game MVP honours.

“We are more structured to play 2-1 and 3-2 games, and just play better in those type of tight games. Four goal leads don’t come around often for us and there were some challenges playing with a lead like that,” added Rogers,” who called a timeout to try and slow the Eagles’ third period momentum.

“Give them a lot of credit for pushing back the way they did. They were

pinching down the walls and coming at us hard. I just thought, at the time, we needed to take a deep breath.

McDonald was named the tournament’s most valuable player after leading his team in scoring with 16 points.

Other South Delta goal scorers included Hayden Iremonger, Kyle Sawyer and Hayden Dance. The roster also featured Noah Kelly, Dylan Kerr, Cam Turnbull, Ethan Fowler, AJ Warn and goalie Josh Morrell. On the injured list were Matt Rogers, Jesse Conroy and Liam Griffin.

FRIDAY, JANUARY 9 1:40 am 4.3 8:45 am 15.4 3:07 pm 9.2 7:46 pm 11.8

SATURDAY, JANUARY 10

MONDAY, JANUARY 12

These predictions are supplements to and not replacements for the Canadian Tide and Current Tables, which include the only authorized tidal predictions for Canada and are provided by Canadian Hydrographic Service.

3:18 am 5:34 pm

7.5 6.9

10:13 am 14.8 11:19 pm 10.5

2:10 am 3:54 pm

1.6 8.5

9:13 am 15.1 8:41 pm 11.2

01046786

South Delta Storm captains receive the championship trophy. ter-final win over Nanaimo on Tuesday afternoon, then returned to the ice later that evening to double the Cloverdale Colts 4-2 in the semi-finals. The championship game was played at 8:30 a.m. Wednesday.

Most of the time, the locals played with just 13 or 14 skaters and every game was 20 minute periods with full stop time.

“It’s a lot of hockey and we are beat up a bit,” smiled head coach Jay Rogers, a longtime volunteer with the association. “We lost a guy over Christmas who decided to

BY

South Delta Midget A1 Storm’s Jordan Bogress battles for the puck against a Golden State opponnent during the tier two championship game at the 34th annual Richmond Bantam Midget International Tournament. The Storm won 4-3.

A16 The Delta Optimist January 7, 2015

Close call for Tanaka at jr. provincials

Tunnel Town Curling club products help Abbotsford based rink just miss out on gold medal at B.C. championships A pair of Tunnel Town curling standouts came ever-so-close to capturing the provincial junior men’s championship on the weekend in Parksville.

Skip Cody Tanaka and lead Donny Mackintosh, who now curl out of Abbotsford with Kyle Habkirk (third) and Travis Cameron (second), lost a 9-8 heartbreaker to Victoria’s Paul Henderson rink in Saturday’s gold medal game.

Team Tanaka advanced directly to the final thanks to a 6-1 record in round-robin play that included a 6-4 win over Henderson three days earlier.

The Island rink stole three in the opening end but Tanaka answered with a superb draw to secure a point and the game was eventually tied at 5-5. Team Henderson then took three straight ends to lead 9-5 before Tanaka pulled two back. In the 10th, Henderson successfully cleared one of two Tanaka stones in the house to secure the victory.

He became the fourth rink from the Victoria Curling Centre to take the provincial title in as many years.

“It’s been my dream to win a BC title for longer than I can remember and it means the world to be able to represent British Columbia at nationals and test

our mettle against some of the best young teams in Canada,” said Henderson.

It was Tanaka’s first-ever appearance in a provincial final.

He and Mackintosh led South Delta to bronze at the 2012 provincial high school championships. They would later leave Tunnel Town to team up with Fraser Valley curlers, something

that is very common to be able to compete at the provincial level.

Another former Tunnel Town standout came close to making the playoffs in the provincial junior women’s playdowns which also took place in Parksville.

Shawna Jensen’s rink finished fourth in round-robin play with a 4-3 record, one game back of the final playoff spot.

The difference proved to be a 7-5 loss to Mariah Coulombe in her last round-robin game, giving the Victoria rink third place with a 5-2 record.

After curling with a Victoria based team last season, Jensen paired up with curlers from the Juan de Fuca and Power River Curling Clubs — Katherine Silversides (third), Michaela

Tsawwassen’s Cody Tanaka lines up a shot during Saturday’s provincial junior men’s curling final in Parksville.

Douglas (second), Rebecca Douglas (lead) and Sarah McCrady (fifth).

Jensen skipped South Delta to gold in her Grade 12 year at the 2012 provincial high school championships.

Meanwhile, it was also a close call for Delta Thistle’s Team Daniels as it fell 8-2 to Team Brown from Kamloops in the women’s final.

Daniels went unbeaten in roundrobin play to reach the championship game but fell behind early and never could recover.

“After losing to Team Daniels in round robin play, we knew it would take our A-game to have a chance at the title,” said winning skip Corryn Brown. “Our goal going in was to have a good team game as a whole and get off to a good start. We were fortunate to get a few steals early on and it was a well-played game by both teams, we just happened to come out on right side of things. I am so proud of how we played as a team and we have the utmost respect for Team Daniels and their playing abilities.”

Skip Sarah Daniels won’t be going to nationals but she will be representing B.C. at next month’s Canada Winter Games in Prince George, along with teammate Dezaray Hawes.

Thank You to all of our sponsors

The South Delta Storm give a big SHOUT OUT to all of the volunteers and sponsors who helped the 11th annual “Party in da House”a huge success.

Sumo/Matrix productions Apex Glass Acorn Heating and Gas Galbraith Plumbing and Heating Innovative Fitness Lentel Construction L.M.Vermeulen Group Inc. Bedard Resources The Hockey Shop Source for Sports Westwind Finishing Augustine House Batch Food Better Still Day Spa

Cobb’s Fresh Bread Dairy Queen Dancing Pig Delta Optimist Delta Cable Delta Islanders Kellog’s McDonalds Panago Pizza Pepsi Pets-n-Us Sticky’s Candy Stir Coffee Thrifty Foods Vancouver Giants

And of course to all of the players and coaches of the 21 teams (especially the first Pee Wee girls’ team) and families who filled the stands and made it a very special tournament.

Congratulations to the winners who will now represent the SDMHA in the annual Delta Cup against the NDMHA. Atom - SD Titans - Head Coach Greg Nobbs Pee Wee - SD Avalanche - Head Coach Brent Graham Bantam - SD Outlaws - Head Coach Ron Kee Midget - SD Chiefs - Head Coach Paul Skujins

A20 The Delta Optimist January 7, 2015

UnitedMMA.ca | 604.831.0531

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