Delta Optimist March 18 2015

Dayhu double

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Huge industrial park is taking shape at airport

Series premiere

Tsawwassen’s Josette Jorge stars in new YTV show

5

Rich habitat

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Marsh provides ideal spot for snake den

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Hazy future as dredging wraps up

That’s close enough!

$10-million program clears river channels, but long-term plan for sediment lacking BY

JESSICA KERR

jkerr@delta-optimist.com

PHOTO BY

GORD GOBLE

Not everyone in the crowd at the Tsawwassen Town Centre Mall Monday was excited to see what Mike Larson, owner/operator of Mike’s Critters, brought along to share. The mall is offering free drop-in activities at 1 p.m. every weekday during Spring Break. For more photos, visit www.delta-optimist.com; for a list of mall activities, visit www. tsawwassentowncentremall.com.

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As the port authority and all three levels of government marked completion of the dredging of the Fraser River’s secondary channels last week, others were left wondering what will happen next.

Port Metro Vancouver president and CEO Robin Silvester, MP Kerry-Lynne Findlay, provincial Transportation Minister Todd Stone, Delta Mayor Lois Jackson and Richmond Mayor Malcolm Brodie all touted the work done by $10-million program to clear local waterways, which had been filling with sediment for more than a decade.

“I’m proud that Port Metro Vancouver is the first port authority in Canada to provide funding contributions for local communities with waterways falling outside of the main shipping channels,” Silvester said.

Findlay called the completion of the project “an important milestone in ensuring the continued accessibility of secondary channels in Ladner and Steveston.

“Ladner Harbour, Deas Slough, Sea Reach and Cannery Channel are essential to the economic activity of the lower Fraser River and this dredging work helps sus-

FILE PHOTO

Recently-completed dredging has improved navigation of secondary channels, but there are concerns that without a long-term plan sediment will just build up again.

tain jobs, growth and prosperity in our communities,” she said.

The Ladner Sediment Group, which has been working to get secondary channels dredged since 2009, is pleased the work, which began last January, has now been completed but is concerned by what the future holds.

“We’re certainly happy with what’s been done,” said John Roscoe, chair of the Ladner Sediment Group, adding that opening up of the Ferry Road boat launch and Deas Slough, both of which were becoming impassable at low tide, will be a boon to local boaters.

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A2 The Delta Optimist March 18, 2015

Group opposed to jet fuel plan must now play waiting game BY

SANDOR GYARMATI

sgyarmati@delta-optimist.com

FILE PHOTO

VAPOR members Jim Ronback (left), Carol Day and Otto Langer hope that a judge agrees the 180-day limit on public input for the jet fuel delivery project constrained adequate and meaningful consultation.

The citizens’ group hoping to stop a jet fuel tank farm from being built on the banks of the Fraser River now must wait and see whether it has persuaded the courts to halt the project.

A judicial hear-

ing wrapped up in B.C. Supreme Court last month in a case that’s pitted Vancouver Airport Project Opposition for Richmond (VAPOR) against the Vancouver Airport Fuel Facilities Corporation, owned by a consortium of airlines that use YVR. A decision has been reserved while the judge weighs

arguments from both sides.

The fuel corporation wants to ship jet fuel up the river to a tank farm that would be built on an industrial site on the Richmond side on the south arm of the Fraser. An underground pipeline would then send the fuel to the airport.

In December 2013, the province announced that a

Why should South Delta voteYES? MORE CANADA LINE SERVICE With 20 more train cars providing more frequent service, you’ll have a less crowded and more comfortable commute.

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ROAD AND BRIDGE UPGRADES Road upgrades will ensure people, goods and services move more freely, efficiently and safely, while also addressing critical bottlenecks.

Together, these projects and many more meet the demands of an expected population growth of 1 million in the next 30 years, which would otherwise put unimaginable strain on an already overcrowded transportation network.

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conditional environmental assessment certificate would be issued. That decision was made after a review led by the B.C. Environmental Assessment Office.

VAPOR contends the consultation process was completely unfair, saying the public was not given enough time to review and respond.

VAPOR’s Otto Langer, who was a petitioner in the legal proceeding, told the Optimist last week the group could only challenge the procedural fairness of the public consultation process and not the lack of merit or the risks of the project.

Langer said no timetable was given when a decision would be issued, but win or lose, he said VAPOR made its point that someone needs to challenge the provincial and federal governments’ “white-washing” of environmental reviews and protection.

“We must have a clearly understandable environmental review system that truly facilitates procedural fairness and considers public input and is powerful on protecting the environment and the public safety,” he told VAPOR members in a recent newsletter.

According to the proponent, the project’s benefits include removing 1,000 tanker trucks per month from B.C.’s roads, thereby eliminating the existing risks of fuel spills from those trucks.

A civic staff report to Delta council last year noted the existing pipeline meets approximately 80 per cent of the aviation fuel demand at YVR and the remainder is delivered by up to 35 tanker truck round trips per day that travel through Delta. Growth in fuel demand is being met by increasing tanker truck deliveries.

Although removing those trucks from the road is seen as a benefit for Delta, the municipality has conveyed a number of concerns about the project, including the risk of a catastrophic spill in the Fraser River.

In a letter to Ottawa, Mayor Lois Jackson said Delta feels greater effort is required to fully and independently assess potential options that would avoid the introduction of fuel tankers, a fuel offloading facility and a fuel storage facility to the ecologically sensitive south arm of the river.

March 18, 2015 The Delta Optimist A3

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Second phase underway

Huge industrial park adjacent to airport to add 430,000 square feet of warehouse space BY

What's Layared today "" Page 1 Check out more photos from Monday’s Spring Break critter presentation at the Tsawwassen Town Centre Mall. "" Page 5 Check out a sneak peek of YTV’s The Stanley Dynamic, starring Tsawwassen’s Josette Jorge.

Viewing Layared content in the Optimist is easy. Just download the free app from www.layar.com or your app store for your iOS or Android phone and then scan the page where you see the Layar logo. That way you'll be able to access additional content like videos, photos and more.

Get exclusive online-only content, like Tom Bearss blog about the DNCB’s latest outing to Birds on the Bay at Boundary Bay Regional Park, at: www.delta-optimist.com

Follow the Optimist in the Twittersphere:

@DeltaOptimist @tedmurphydelta @Optimist_sports @GyarmatiSandor @willis_optimist @JessicaEKerr

SANDOR GYARMATI

sgyarmati@delta-optimist.com

Construction began last week on the second phase of a huge industrial park in East Ladner.

Billed as Metro Vancouver’s largest industrial development, Boundary Bay Industrial Park, adjacent to the Boundary Bay Airport, has already fully leased out the first phase, which comprises 440,000 square feet of warehouse space.

The leasing campaign has now been launched for the next phase, an additional 430,000 square feet to accommodate demand for large-scale warehouse space in the region.

The Dayhu Group of Companies, the firm behind the project, announced the first phase had been snapped up within months of being on the market last year to tenants whose business depends on proximity to the port and the new South Fraser Perimeter Road.

The four tenants already leasing in the first phase are Petvalu Canada, Inc, Farrow Distribution, Specialty Distribution and Apps Cargo.

When it’s completed, Boundary Bay Industrial Park will become be an 870,000-square-foot facility, the size of about 15 football fields.

“There’s a very limited supply for this size and quality of warehouse in Metro Vancouver,” said

SUBMITTED PHOTO

With the first phase fully leased, construction has now begun on the second phase of the Boundary Bay Industrial Park.

Dayhu COO Paul Tilbury.

“There are older buildings in the area but they don’t allow tenants to fully embrace new technology in the market nor offer essentials such as on-site trailer storage or extra ceiling height.”

The second phase is already seeing strong interest from businesses that are dependent on imports and that require proximity to the port and access to highways, according to a Dayhu news release.

According to Chris MacCauley, vice-president of the real estate services company CBRE, phase two is set to even outperform the first phase.

“Boundary Bay is the most successful specula-

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Roscoe praised the work done, saying the cleared channels now have open water most of the time, not just at high tide.

“The next phase, of course, is what do we do now? That is the $64,000dollar question.”

Roscoe said the group had initially hoped that some of the $10 million would be used on long-term planning, however, there isn’t any money left.

The funding was not

enough to even cover all of the planned dredging due to an increase in the amount of sediment and disposal costs.

Roscoe said the group has had some preliminary discussions about long-term planning but has had little response.

“To date, we’ve really had no response from any level of government,” he said, adding it means the group will have to start lobbying for funding all over

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tive project I’ve seen in the last five years. With the success of Phase One, it demonstrates there’s a pent up demand from companies looking for opportunities in B.C. to avoid going to markets in Alberta.”

Once complete in the fall of 2015, Dayhu says the Boundary Bay Industrial Park will be on its way towards generating close to $1 billion of economic activity, including logistics and trade, and will provide about 1,000 new industrial jobs for the area.

“The port expansion and the replacement of the George Massey Tunnel with a bridge will continue to drive tenants to the Delta market,” said Tilbury. “We believe our facility will

attract businesses dependent on the port and we are confident our economy will enjoy relative vibrancy compared to the rest of Canada because of our position as the Pacific gateway.”

Five years ago, Delta amended the airport’s zoning in an effort to attract development to airport lands that do not have direct access to the apron or runways. The amendment widened the range of permitted industrial uses.

The first non-aviation business to set up shop there was BC Fresh.

Alpha Aviation, which has a long-term lease to operate the municipally-owned airport, later received a proposal

from the Dayhu Group of Companies to construct commercial distribution warehousing. Rather than lease the site on Churchill Street from Alpha, Dayhu requested to purchase the 18.4-hectare (46-acre) parcel from Delta, which was granted.

The municipality was also able to negotiate a deal with the Ministry of Transportation and Infrastructure to undertake highway improvements requested by Dayhu.

The company purchased the site for $23.5 million and also provided several million toward services. The money was divided between Alpha and Delta with all proceeds going back into the airport.

again.

“It would be a catastrophe if the sediment all filled in again,” Roscoe said.

Delta South MLA Vicki Huntington drove that point home in Victoria last fall when she called on the provincial government to come up with a long-term plan for local waterways. She stressed that one-time funding is not enough, telling Stone that a long-term plan is necessary.

Huntington said this week she’s had no response from the government.

“So far, nobody’s talking

long-term plan,” she said, adding the provincial and federal governments are walking away from an historic duty.

In September, Roscoe wrote to the B.C. Standing Committee on Finance asking for $750,000 in annual funding to maintain the local channels.

An engineering study has indicated an estimated 48,000 cubic metres of silt will settle in the secondary channels every year. The annual funding would be used to help clear the sediment to ensure safe navi-

gation and assist in flood control.

Until 1998, dredging of all channels was a federal responsibility. In 1999, the port authority took over dredging only the main navigational channel. Since then, silt has built up in secondary channels, wreaking havoc on float homes and making some channels impassable at low tide.

In 2013, $10 million in funding, which included contributions from Port Metro Vancouver, Delta, Richmond and the province, was announced.

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Brad Quenville worked with his daughter Jennica on the new documentary Volunteers Unleashed.

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Tsawwassen filmmaker Brad Quenville delves into “voluntourism” with his new documentary Volunteers Unleashed.

It has become a huge trend and has also grown into a controversial part of the travel sector, he said.

The documentary, which follows volunteers to South America, Southeast Asia and Africa, is set to air

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Critical look at voluntourism

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tomorrow night on CBC. Critics say the practice displaces locals and the locations where you do voluntourism tend to be places where it isn’t necessarily the area of greatest need, Quenville said.

The film was inspired by his daughter Jennica’s experience volunteering in Tanzania in 2012. She also worked on the film as a researcher and field coordinator.

“The challenge was, here we are doing a fairly critical look at this industry, when it was something that was very meaningful to her,” he said.

Having been there and done it, she provided access to situations that would’ve been very difficult to access without her there, Quenville said.

“The way that the voluntourism industry operates, is that it’s trying to cater to the volunteer. It isn’t necessarily catering to the needs of the local people as much as it’s catering to the needs

of the volunteer, making sure they’ve got a wonderful experience,” he said.

The issues the film looks at paint a fairly dark picture at times but voluntourism is still something Quenville hopes people see as an interesting new alternative to typical ways of traveling like hanging out at the beach or backpacking.

“It’s not a perfect solution but it’s a great way for people to connect with other cultures in a way they may not have in the past,” he said.

“You’re not just backpacking through, you’re really integrating with the community, you really understand some of the issues and you’re getting to know the people.”

The broadcast premiere of Volunteers Unleashed on CBC TV’s Doc Zone is scheduled for tomorrow at 9 p.m.

The project has a Facebook page set up at www.facebook.com/ VolunteersUnleashed.

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Local actress is excited for debut of YTV series

Tsawwassen’s Josette Jorge in The Stanley Dynamic BY

DAVE WILLIS

dwillis@delta-optimist.com

Josette Jorge is having a blast working on a new YTV show.

The actress from Tsawwassen is part of the cast of The Stanley Dynamic, a family comedy set to debut tomorrow.

“I grew up watching YTV’s The Hit List, The Zone and Are You Afraid of The Dark to name a few,” Jorge told the Optimist.

“My inner child was so excited when I got the part.

The cast and crew on the show are amazing.

“After shooting over 20 episodes together, we’ve become a family. And we laugh a lot. Every time I walk into the studio in Toronto, I feel so thankful that I am working my dream job.”

The show is about the Stanleys, a typical family with a big twist — one of their sons, Luke, is animated.

Jorge plays Pam, the manager of the Brockdale Community Centre where the Stanley parents work and the Stanley kids hang out.

Jorge said her character, who causes a lot of the conflict on the show, loves enforcing the rules and being the boss.

“She may appear strong and confident, however she also has her vulnerable moments. In my opinion, those vulnerable moments when things go wrong are when Pam is the funniest.”

People often ask if she is anything like her character, Jorge said.

“I find that as an actor, a part of me is in every character I play. I try not to judge the characters I portray, even if they’re the antagonists of the story. I do my best to discover what makes Pam human and likeable. And I think that’s where I find the humour and fun in playing Pam.” The Stanley Dynamic airs on YTV on Thursday, March 19 at 7:30 p.m.

Jorge said she’ll be live tweeting the West Coast premiere of the show and also plans on live tweeting during every new episode.

Follow her on Twitter at @ josettejorge.

Despite the fact that Luke is a cartoon, in the eyes of the Stanleys and the world around them, Luke is accepted as a regular kid living in a three-dimen-

March 18, 2015 The Delta Optimist A5

We are looking for ALL our past gymnasts, parents, and supporters!

This June, Delta Gymnastics will be celebrating its 40th Anniversary.

Relive some of your memories!

We’ll be posting old photos & memorabilia leading up to the celebration.

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Josette Jorge says her character, a community centre manager, causes a lot of conflict on the show. sional world, according to a press release.

“YTV viewers will love the laugh-a-minute wit and humour of the show, which is taken to the next level by the squash and stretch physical comedy of Luke,” said Jamie Piekarz, director of content, Corus Kids.

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A6 The Delta Optimist March 18, 2015 Business

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The Delta-Richmond area is expected to see a respectable hiring climate over the next few months, according to a recent report from Manpower.

“Survey data reveals that 19 per cent of employers plan to hire for the upcoming quarter (April to June), while three per cent anticipate cutbacks,” said Jeff Polkinghorne, who is with Manpower’s Vancouver office.

According to the report, another 74 per cent of employers plan to maintain current staff levels, while the remaining four per cent are unsure of their hiring intentions.

“With seasonal variations removed from the data, Richmond-Delta’s second quarter net employment outlook of 15 per cent is a slight increase of two percentage points when compared to the previous quarterly outlook,” Polkinghorne said. “It is also a one percentage point decrease from the Outlook reported during the same time last year. Yet, the outlook still indicates a steady hiring pace for the upcoming months.” *** Delta Cable’s parent company, Eastlink, was recently named one of Canada’s Best Managed Companied

by Deloitte Canada for the ninth consecutive year.

The announcement comes as Eastlink, which purchased Delta Cable in

2007, heads into its 45th year in the telecommunications industry.

briefs “We’re so proud to once again have met the stringent standards of Deloitte Canada’s Best Managed Companies program,” said Eastlink CEO Lee Bragg.

“Consistently winning this designation over the past nine years is a direct reflection of our employees’ unwavering commitment to innovation and customer service.” *** March is National Fraud Prevention Month and Envision Financial, in partnership with Iron Mountain and the Delta Police Department, is hosting a Shred It and Forget It! confidential document shredding event for Delta residents.

This Saturday, residents are invited to bring their confidential documents to the Sunshine Hills branch of Envision Financial in North Delta where Iron Mountain will provide onsite, secure paper shredding by donation.

Envision Financial will be accepting food and cash donations for The Full Cupboard, its community program designed to raise food, funds and awareness

for local food banks.

Delta police officers will also be on hand providing fraud awareness information.

“Identity theft is one of the fastest growing crimes across Canada right now,” said Delta police spokesperson Sgt. Sarah Swallow.

Swallow said one of the best ways to prevent identity theft is to properly dispose of personal documents.

Shred It and Forget It! runs from 10 a.m. until 2 p.m. at the Sunshine Hills branch of Envision Financial (6481 Scott Rd.). *** March 15 to 21 is Canadian Agriculture Safety Week and WorkSafeBC is launching an initiative aimed at reducing equipment and machinery-related injuries on the province’s farms.

Since 2009, there have been 145 equipment and machinery-related serious injuries on B.C. farms and ranches — 11 of them fatal.

The initiative includes a new web page with several free online resources, including downloadable frequently asked questions of working safely with tractors, an equipment and machine safety checklist and a video on how to prevent tractor rollovers.

For more on the initiative visit http://www2.worksafebc.com/Portals/Agriculture/ WCBInitiatives.asp.

FREE TAX PREPARATION CLINICS Community Volunteer Income Tax Program (CVITP) Tsawwassen Alliance Church drop in clinic Saturdays 9 am to 1 pm

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March 18, 2015 The Delta Optimist A7 Business

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Delta-Richmond East MP Kerry-Lynne Findlay, the minister of national revenue, speaks at an announcement last Friday at Deltassist’s North Delta headquarters.

Findlay visits Deltassist to announce tax return help

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Feds add $1 million to community volunteer program BY

SANDOR GYARMATI

sgyarmati@delta-optimist.com

Delta-Richmond East MP Kerry-Lynne Findlay was at the Deltassist Family and Community Services Society headquarters in North Delta last Friday to announce new federal funding to help low-income Canadians file their tax returns.

An additional $1 million of federal money will strengthen and promote the Community Volunteer Income Tax Program.

Deltassist is one of more than 2,000 community organizations that offer tax clinics that help Canadians with modest incomes to file their returns, making sure they don’t miss out on any benefits or credits for which they may be eligible.

“This annual collaboration between the Canada

Revenue Agency and more than 2,000 community organizations across the country make it possible to reach out and deliver such an important service to the people who need it,” said Findlay, the minister of national revenue.

She also used the announcement as an opportunity to talk about the Conservative government’s new family tax cut as well as increases to the universal child care benefit and the child care expenses deduction. She also slammed the opposition, saying they wouldn’t have introduced such initiatives.

Findlay stressed it’s important for people with even very low incomes to file a tax return to ensure they don’t miss out on any benefits.

Across the country, more than 16,000 Community

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Volunteer Income Tax Program volunteers help complete over 500,000 individual income tax and benefit returns annually.

Deltassist helped around 700 individuals last year, said executive director Doug Sabourin.

Deltassist Family and Community Services Society was created in 1999 by the amalgamation of Delta Family Services Society and Deltassist Community Services Society.

Deltassist wouldn’t be able to provide its range of services without the tremendous support of the organization’s volunteers, said Sabourin.

For more information on what Deltassist offers, including the Community Volunteer Income Tax Program, call 604-5943455.

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A8 The Delta Optimist March 18, 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

Fight over towers now in court

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

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TED MURPHY

MURPHY’S LAW A lot of time and money have been invested in the issue thus far, so it’s not surprising in the least that the application to erect radio towers in Point Roberts has now found its way into the U.S. court system.

BBC Broadcasting Inc. is appealing Whatcom County’s decision to reject the towers in a case that will be heard to the south in Skagit County Superior Court, likely sometime this summer.

The applicant has nothing to lose but more money at this point, but approval to put transmission towers on a lot just south of the Tsawwassen border would be such a windfall that an appeal is obviously being looked upon as a gamble worth taking.

Courts can work in mysterious ways, but it’s hard to see this appeal being successful given it’s a review of a land use decision that looks pretty darn airtight.

Last fall the county’s hearing examiner rejected the application, ruling the proposed towers exceed height limits specific to the tiny American peninsula, a decision that was subsequently upheld by the county council in January.

The towers aren’t getting any smaller and there’s no appetite to relax the restrictions (in fact, there’s a move afoot to adopt even stricter zoning so this situation can’t happen again), so it doesn’t look like there’s a lot of ambiguity in this one.

The suggestion the towers would be some sort of public utility infrastructure, so therefore they should be exempt from height restrictions that are in place for Point Roberts, is one mighty stretch. If these towers were meant to benefit the Point, they would only need a fraction of the 50,000-watt signal to reach the population.

In reality, these towers are being proposed so a radio station can beam a stronger signal to its South Asian audience in the Lower Mainland, an undertaking that would provide absolutely no benefit to those in the Point, but one that could cause all sorts of havoc with household electronics in the area thanks to blanketing interference.

The Cross Border Coalition to Stop the Towers, a group that’s been fighting the project for the better part of two years, isn’t taking anything for granted and wants to have its lawyer involved in the Skagit County proceedings. That comes with a cost, so the coalition will once again be asking its supporters to dig a little deeper.

Given there are additional legal avenues available to the applicant beyond the current appeal, it’s a good bet that Round 3 in Skagit County won’t be the last.

The campaign is over, so time to take issues more seriously BRAD SHERWIN

COMMUNITY COMMENT “New trustee calls premier a bully.”

That was the headline that screamed from the paper a couple of weeks ago. I wasn’t surprised to read it, after what I had heard through the election campaign for school trustee, but I found it a bit shocking nonetheless.

With anti-bullying day in February still fresh in our minds, it was an easy term to grab attention.

Regardless, I don’t think it’s true.

It’s a word that gets thrown around so easily these days. In many cases, it’s used when people simply don’t agree with another approach or point of view. It’s like people saying, “You’re not listening.” Listening doesn’t necessarily mean agreeing; it just means your opinion has been heard and considered.

This all came about because the government told school districts to cut administrations costs by $29

million for this upcoming school year and another $25 million next year. For districts such as Delta and Surrey, this will be a difficult task, as they have already found many efficiencies over the past few years and have the some of the lowest administration costs in the province. These boards have been proactive in making the budget work hard, which is what I would expect.

Instead of looking for ways to save money, many districts will blame the government for insufficient funding. We hear every day how money is being “wasted” in government, but when it comes time to eliminate the waste, the response is “we can’t.” It’s often until you have no choice but to act that something changes, which is what the government is pushing for this time.

For years there has been pressure to be more efficient in the education system. Some have, others haven’t. There’s not a lot of trust going around on either side. Just look at what happened last week with the Vancouver school board.

It predicted a significant funding shortfall, a proclamation made virtually every year. Yet year after year there is an operating surplus, now totaling $28 million. It’s hard to convince anyone that you don’t have enough when you end up with

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

a surplus.

But does asking for districts to be more efficient constitute bullying? I don’t think so. A difference of opinion, a difference in philosophy, but not bullying.

Mike Schneider’s last column was about being bullied. That was a tough story to read, and I know there are many, many others. Kids bullying other kids, adults bullying adults, bullying in the workplace — it’s out there. To use the term for the premier further demeans and belittles those who are actually being bullied.

I don’t agree with every decision made in Victoria. Don’t get me started about the school transportation budget, I’m still fuming over that one. Instead of calling people names, I work on trying to prove my case.

That’s what I expect out of my elected officials. It’s great to stand up and advocate for our students, just don’t compromise your credibility in the process.

The premier, in this case, is not a bully. Tough? Demanding? Seeking accountability? Yes. Unreasonable?

Perhaps, but not a bully.

Say what you want during an election campaign, it doesn’t really mean much. But after being elected, words do matter. Just ask anyone who has been bullied.

(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.

March 18, 2015 The Delta Optimist A9 Letters to the Editor

Question as much about competency as funding

Editor: Re: Delta seeking feedback before taking stance on referendum, March 11 The GVRD (Metro Vancouver) has for decades cherished responsibility for transit in the Lower Mainland. In 1981, GVRD planned to build a light rail system, but an Ontario Crown corporation offered B.C.’s Urban Transportation Authority (now B.C. Transit) what became known as SkyTrain. It cost the same as the planned GVRD light rail and preserved provincial responsibility for transit. B.C. signed the contract.

In 1997, GVRD decided it could do a better job than B.C. running transit in the Lower Mainland. They formed a committee to see what could be done. Delta’s mayor at the time, Beth Johnson, was co-chair.

Detailed responsibilities and funding sources were negotiated with B.C. and agreed. Extensive public

consultation was held. Delta council ignored those who argued that Delta taxpayers would share significant costs but receive little benefit. In 1999, TransLink was born.

It seems to me the question should not now be whether to grant TransLink an additional funding source. It should be whether Metro and TransLink have proven themselves competent to provide the needed service.

GVRD first chose to govern TransLink with elected officials. That failed. GVRD was then given a choice of skilled professionals from which to form a TransLink board.

Now even they are called into question.

And most troubling, it seems the mayors now governing Metro are unable to convincingly state what TransLink would do with the added funding if it got it.

Within the terms of their

1999 agreement, Metro and TransLink arguably failed.

Should they be granted more revenue in hope they now succeed? Or should their request be denied and an initiative undertaken to transfer responsibility for Lower Mainland transit back to the province?

One wonders if the latter might be a more likely path to success?

Ed Ries

Increase sales tax to fund education

Editor: This is an open letter to the Ministry of Education and the B.C. Teachers’ Federation.

You know how you want to reduce class size and provide more resources for special needs students? I’m guessing you likely have a bunch more things on your wish list as well. The problem has simply been finding enough money in the general budget without causing huge tax increases.

of the Lower Mainland (19 per cent by rail and five per cent by truck). Of all import containers, 27 per cent are for B.C. As about 90 per cent of import containers leave the Vancouver area, it makes business sense to transload at Ashcroft Terminal where Canada’s major rail lines meet (CNR and CPR).

Do we really want to use Canada’s best farmland and scarce Vancouver-area properties to store empty containers and reload containers to send across Canada and into the U.S., which together account for 73 per cent of Vancouver’s container business?

Susan Jones

taxes. If people complain about it, you can just say you were heeding the wishes of the people.

As an added bonus, you can start shifting existing education costs over to this “electorate approved” tax source, leaving the general tax fund for more whimsical ideas. Brilliant!

Speak with those behind the current transportation referendum for implementation details.

Allan Alton

MARCH 19–22

Ashcroft makes business sense Editor: Re: Ashcroft isn’t a realistic option for supply chain, letter to the editor, March 6 It was discouraging to read that a large, publiclytraded American company is challenging the logistics of Ashcroft Terminal as a solution to container congestion in the Lower Mainland.

According to a 2014 Port Metro Vancouver study, the majority of import containers leave Vancouver directly, 68 per cent by train and eight per cent by truck.

The other 24 per cent are trucked to facilities where most are reloaded into 53foot containers and sent out

I have an amazing idea for you.

My idea is to raise the sales tax by an amount that is dedicated to education.

Start out with something small like 0.5 per cent. You can always raise it later.

Put it to a referendum so the people take responsibility. Call it an Education Improvement Tax. Few would dare vote against our children’s future.

It’s a sure fire winner and you don’t raise regular

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No expiry date on proposed tax Editor: Here are some reasons why voting “yes” in the transportation referendum is a mistake: • Politicians will control the money and they can’t be trusted. No matter what the issue, there is no guarantee the politicians will do as they promise.

• TransLink will be spending this money. Oh what a vote of confidence this is. Heaven forbid anyone would think they are wasteful with our money.

• The “yes” side has now engaged Jim Pattison to

oversee how the money is applied to the transit situation. I say appoint Pattison to run TransLink and I bet the first task he would do is fire the entire upper management team. They are incompetent.

• Voters must remember there is no expiry date on this tax hike. Thirty years from now it will still be collected and do you really think future governments will honour its purpose or will they roll it into general revenue and waste it as usual?

Barrie McDonald

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A10 The Delta Optimist March 18, 2015

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Letters to the Editor

Budget is more than numbers

Editor: Re: Different view of hospital, Murphy’s Law, March 4 Delta Hospital should have a full surgical program (or acute surgical services) where local residents are able to have surgeries that require an in-patient bed and hospital stay in their own community. Delta Hospital’s acute surgical program and special care beds were taken away in 2002.

The Fraser Health Authority apparently divided health care resources to find “the right mix” by cutting and re-distributing services.

This approach to balance the budget would seem

reasonable, but prioritizing the budget over the health outcomes of local residents is unreasonable and inconsistent with what other communities do for their residents.

In other community hospitals you can have an appendectomy done 24/7.

At Delta Hospital, someone suffering severe abdominal pain from an inflamed appendix finds surgery is not possible, if the event occurs too late in the day, because the operating room closes at 3 p.m. due to budget cuts.

And there are no longer any in-patient surgical beds because they were turned into office space. A ride to another hospital by ambu-

lance or personal automobile is required.

The 5,000 surgeries that are reported to take place at Delta Hospital each year are day procedures (colonoscopies, gastroscopies) and the patient leaves the hospital on the same day.

Balancing the budget before the health and lives of residents needs to stop.

Delta Hospital had a fully funded, well-functioning acute surgical program until a decade ago. Obtaining funding for four acute surgical beds that are necessary for the health and safety of residents is nothing short of reasonable and is a responsible allocation of resources.

Sharon Stunder

Real issue is how to fund improved transit Editor: Re: Transit referendum event disrupted, letter to the editor, March 6 I did not attend the Council of Canadians’ transit forum/propaganda tour and nor would I as the issue is not whether we need better transit but how we are going to fund it.

Perhaps those who interrupted the love-in were just frustrated the “yes” side does not see the big picture that this is not about better transit but how it is going to be funded.

I found the analogy of “building more roads to solve traffic congestion is

like trying to cure obesity by loosening your belt” quite amusing as it also brings to mind other sayings such as “throwing good money after bad” or “a fool and his money are soon parted.”

The transit authority has made no attempt to reduce costs. Instead of looking for savings first, transit fired its CEO (which cost more and would not have been done if it were not for the referendum), are spending $4 million on this campaign and now out of desperation have retained an 86-yearold billionaire as an “overseer” with no power to do

anything.

Don’t get me wrong, I love Jimmy Pattison and what he did for Expo 86 was fantastic, but he had control of that operation. I hate to be a soothsayer here but I’m pretty sure the tax will not expire when Jimmy does, nor do I think Jimmy is going to live forever (sorry, Jimmy).

The truth is, it’s the “no” side that has the big picture in mind. First you have to put your financial house in order and then you come to me for more money.

Otherwise you are putting the cart before the horse.

Jim Rogers

Store provides another good reason to shop locally

Editor: Here’s another reason for shopping locally: Our dear 102-year-old mother, who still lives independently, needed some

vacuum cleaner repairs.

We took it to Stephen at Vacuum Works in Ladner.

He took it all apart and put it together so it works just like a new machine.

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He wouldn’t accept a fee for servicing such an antique, saying he likes to help seniors. Hats off to Vacuum Works.

Glennis and Dan Wilson

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March 18, 2015 The Delta Optimist A11

Snakes show richness of our marsh habitat Over 500 found hibernating on dike in Beach Grove different sizes. This is to be expected as females are larger than males, ANNE MURRAY and snakes keep growing throughout their lives, with

BY THE the rate of growth slowing with age.

BAY Western garter snakes are common in Fraser marshes, The 500 hibernating where they readily enter garter snakes unexpectedly found during Boundary Bay water, despite their “terresdike repairs at Beach Grove trial” name. They consume late last month have attract- a varied diet of slugs, earthworms, fish, frogs, nestling ed a lot of attention. When birds and small mammals, the snakes were disturbed and have a primitive conand began to wake up, the stricting ability, sometimes decision was made to take coiling their bodies around them to Burnaby’s Wildlife mammal prey while biting Rescue Association.

After being cooled down, them. Their saliva may be mildly poisonous. the snakes were stored in Live young are buckets with damp sawdust. born between July and They will be kept in hiberSeptember and in fall the nation until their den site is snakes cool and lower their metabolic rate, before entering a den (hibernaculum) for the winter. The Boundary Bay hibernaculum is much larger than average for our region, but in other SUBMITTED PHOTO areas of North America, The Wildlife Rescue Association is storing the snakes until temperatures become warm winter dens of hundreds enough to release them. or thousands restored and temperatures of garter snakes have been become warm enough to found. release them.

This very large congreI asked herpetologist gation of western garter professor Patrick Gregory snakes on Boundary Bay of the University of Victoria is an indication of the richabout the snakes, which he ness of our marsh habitat. identified from photographs Snakes are a well-adapted, as western terrestrial garessential component of the ter snakes (Thamnophis delta environment. It is elegans), also known as most unfortunate they were western garter snakes, a disturbed, and moving them species widely-distributed was a very risky strategy, in Western Canada. He only suitable for an emerexplained that garter snakes gency situation. are very variable in colour Hopefully their den and size, so can be confuscan be reconstructed so ing for even experienced the snakes can be safely naturalists to identify. returned, and monitoring Typically, the western will be done by the provgarter is greyish-brown with ince to ensure the populathree paler-coloured stripes tion survives. down its back. The stripes Anne Murray is a local are broken by two rows of naturalist and writer. Her alternating, dark-coloured books on Delta’s natural blotches, the top row of and ecological history, A which invades the mid-dorNature Guide to Boundary sal stripe, giving it a variBay and Tracing Our ably wavy appearance.

Past, a Heritage Guide to Yolanda Brooks at the Boundary Bay, are availWildlife Rescue Association able in local stores or from told me the snakes are www.natureguidesbc.com.

She blogs at www.natureguidesbc.wordpress.com.

SUBMITTED PHOTO

Western garter snakes vary in colour and size.

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A12 The Delta Optimist March 18, 2015

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March 18, 2015 The Delta Optimist A13 Spring Car Care

Don’t cut corners on car maintenance

Temptation to put off work in order to save a few bucks can result in significant consequences down the road With the myriad of expenses that we face every day, you may be tempted to put off vehicle maintenance to save a few bucks — and you certainly wouldn’t be alone — but is saving a few bucks worth risking your life?

On average, five people die on Canada’s roads each day. Though many of these collisions can be attributed to driving under the influence, driving distracted or poor driving conditions, it would be ignorant to overlook the importance of the mechanical integrity.

Today’s cars are safer than ever before, but with wear and tear, many of your car’s critical safety components can degrade. Ignoring this fact can put you and your family at risk of having a collision or of being seriously injured in the event of a crash.

Brakes It’s no secret your brakes are one of your car’s most important safety components, but with use, your brake pads/shoes wear out, rubber seals and hoses deteriorate causing brake fluid leaks, and metal components can rust and corrode.

As these parts degrade, you are required to use an increasing amount of force on the pedal to stop your vehicle and need an increasing amount of time to stop.

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Today’s cars are safer than ever before, but they still endure wear and tear that requires regular maintenance.

When you only have a few seconds to react to a dangerous situation on the road, the condition of your brakes can make all the difference, so have them inspected regularly and never put off needed repairs.

Lights Your lights are essential to ensuring proper vis-

ibility on the road. Give yourself the best chance to arrive safely by regularly inspecting your lights and replacing them when necessary. You should also check your light covers to ensure they are clean and clear.

With time, the plastic can degrade and cloud, distorting your light and reducing your field of view in the

dark. The further you can see, the more time you have to react.

Steering and suspension Like most of your car’s components, the parts that make up your steering and suspension system are prone to wear and tear dam-

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age and may lead to dangerous situations. For example, if your tie rod ends fail, you will lose all steering control of your vehicle and risk veering sharply on the road, and if your ball joints fail, your suspension can collapse, also causing you to

lose all steering control.

When navigating city streets or busy highways, a loss of steering control can be catastrophic, so be sure to have your steering and suspension system inspected regularly and replace any worn parts.

Tires Your tires are your car’s point of contact with the road and play a crucial role in your car’s safety.

Underinflated tires can cause your tires to overheat and blow out, while overinflated tires reduce your contact with the road and wear more quickly. Uneven tread wear and bald spots also cause problems because they reduce your control on the road, increase your stopping distance and increase your risk of hydroplaning or skidding.

Though vehicle safety technology is ever-improving, your car is not immune to wear and tear. Be sure to have your vehicle inspected regularly and to budget for unexpected repairs to avoid dangerous collisions.

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A14 The Delta Optimist March 18, 2015

ADVICE FROM THE PROS QUESTION:

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What is estate valuation-appraisal?

ANSWER:

storage or fat burning mode.

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For the most productive weight loss strategy, consult a licensed

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individualized weight loss plan.

QUESTION:

QUESTION:

How likely is it to find coins or banknotes in you change that have extra value or potential for extra value?

Dad is just home from the hospital after a fall. How can we make him safer at home?

ANSWER:

There are chances for you to find treasures in circulating coins and bills.

To start with, one first has to know what to look for.

So many of our customers say they research everything online. I suppose this might work if you know all about everything you are looking up.

In reality 90% of people bringing items they researched have major errors on the information they came up with.

ANSWER: Employing a qualified home support team to evaluate and assist with daily tasks is a great place to start. An experienced Assistant will visit your dad regularly and able to monitor and manage his needs, to help him focus on gaining strength.

It’s also imperative to identify absent safety features & possible hazards. Your care team can help direct you to qualified businesses that specialize in specific aids and modifications.

Rhonda Doram HoneyDo

Lifestyle Assistant Inc.

604-809-7605

honeydoinfo@gmail.com honeydolifestyle.com

A few things to consider: • Explore installing LifeLine for seniors living alone • Discover the local senior resources and services available • Arrange health assessment to access possible complimentary services • Shop for a mobility aid, ie: walker or cane • Install safety bars & raised toilet seats • Install bedside railing & ceiling poles to assist at bedtime • Remove throw rugs to avoid trips • Clear busy areas for easy walking access • Discuss POA & Health Representation agreements • Organize collective family involvement

This is how suboptimal metabolism works against weight loss efforts and how weight loss can be a challenge despite dedicated “dieting” and exercise.

Even after burning calories during exercise, calories are converted into fat as a

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metabolic process into fat storage mode opposed to fat burning.

Here are a few examples of items that have been in circulation in the past decade that with a proper coin or banknote catalogue someone could have found a valuable item.

Starting with the new plastic $5.00 bills. The $5 was the last of the plastic notes to be issued and were coming out with the same signatures (Tiff Macklem and Mark Carney) as the $10 to $100.

Mark Carney resigned as our Bank of Canada governor and only a small amount of bills were issued two years ago.

Collectors with the Charlton Paper Money catalogue could see that this was a scarce bill and had a good value.

In February of this years the banks brought in new condition banknotes for Chinese New Year red envelopes.We were very surprised to find many of the rare signatures in these $5 bills, two years after they were fist released.

Jim Richardson, owner Western Coin and Stamp

A few years ago when the last paper $10 paper peacekeeper bill was still in circulation we found 10 of them with the BEL prefix. I sold the last one for $750.00.

Last year a 1986 $2 bird note with the prefix AUG sold for $20,000.00.

In coins there was the 2005 non-magnetic penny which for a while was selling for $5,000.00 and more.

For the year 2006 there were 6 different types of pennies and on version still sells for $50.00 and up.

In the 1992 125th Provincial quarter series there are 4 different quarters with die rotations that can make them worth up to $1,000.00 each The same rotation occurs on some 1999 Millennium quarters as well as a different portrait of the Queen.

Again these quarters can be worth up to $500.00 We have special sale prices on both the Charlton Government Paper money and Charlton Canadian Coin catalogues. Only $9.95 each, this is as savings of more than 50%.

With these two catalogues you can now see all the scarce and rare versions of these banknotes and coins and tell them apart from the common versions

Our HoneyDo Assistants are qualified to assist you on your return home. We can guide your safety along your way to wellness.

Western Coin & Stamp

VOTED #1 for CUSTOMER SERVICE 2013 ONE OF DELTA’S BEST LOCAL ENTREPRENEURS 2012/13

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QUESTION:

QUESTION:

Are we better off Renovating or Re-Locating? That’s the Big Money question!

RRSP or Mortgage or payment?

ANSWER:

ANSWER:

Lisa Manwaring AMP

At this time every year the perennial question arises, pay down the mortgage or top up the RRSP? Traditionally the answer has been, top up the retirement savings and use the tax refund to make an extra mortgage payment. It is not bad advise but there are those who say, “mortgage first”.

Many professionals will argue that paying off your mortgage will give you much more financial freedom.

No mortgage payments means more money in the bank and if you need to borrow you can use a home equity line of credit with a preferred interest rate. They also point out that price appreciation on your home is a permanent, tax free capital gain. RRSP contributions are just a tax deferral. Further, they say, any unused RSP contribution room is always available, it never expires.

You can use it whenever you have the money.

Either way though - mortgage or RRSP - they say doing one or the other is better than doing nothing.

Mike Phillips owner

For obvious reasons your realtor will make a good case to simply re-locate (ah, but not so simple!) Conversely, a good Renovator can take that existing house and make it your Dream Home! In my opinion there are 3 main factors to consider: 1. Do we enjoy living in our present location, as it is a lot of work and expense to re-locate.

2. Can we work with this existing house and bring our ideas to life here.

3. How long do we foresee ourselves in this location.

All very important considerations indeed! First is going to be personal for each family and I just take into consideration the upheaval involved to re-locate.

Second is where consultation with a professional Renovator can help you in the re-configuration or addition to your existing layout.

Third and most important with regards to your investment in any renovation is your commitment to location.

If you have a short 1-3 year plan in mind then cosmetics and immediate repairs only or you risk losing most of your investment. If you foresee a 5-10 year stay then I feel you are safe in the 50K to 150K investment into your property upgrades as you are now renovating to increase the value in your home plus adding livability and quality to your lifestyle!

Beyond that time frame it’s only about wants vs. needs and the total affordability of your Dream Project! MRP Renovations is here to solve all your renovating Want’s and Need’s!

For a free consultation call Mike Phillips Owner MRP Renovations.

Call us today!

LOCALLY OWNED & OPERATED

Meridian Southwest Mortgage Group Ltd. Email: lisa@southwestmortgage.ca

604-943-8943 www.lisamanwaring.com Fax: 604-943-8942

OFFICE

Where quality counts

604.946.1594

CELL

604.861.3250

We are “Red Seal” Certified Journeymen. Don’t risk your greatest asset to those who aren’t.

March 18, 2015 The Delta Optimist A15

ADVICE

FROM THE PROS Q: What can my Strata do if I don’t pay my monthly strata fees?

A: In tough financial times, it may be tempting to avoid paying a few bills in order to

get through to the next month. However, your strata fees are one obligation you don’t want to skip.

Cam Mitchner Lawyer

Learning more about Delta’s academies PHOTOS BY

GORD GOBLE

The Delta school district held a pair of recent open houses to showcase academy opportunities for students. Richard Cox (above) discusses the film program, while students and parents (right) get information about the soccer academy.

So this is one bill you can’t afford to ignore. If you’re already in arrears, keep the lines of communication open with your Strata Management Company – they may consider terms – and make a plan to pay off your outstanding fees as soon as possible.

DELTA LAW OFFICE

4873 Delta Street, Delta, BC V4K 2T9 • 604-946-2199

QUESTION:

SCAN WITH

As a Travel Consultant specializing in cruises, the most asked question I get is “Do you have a favourite Cruise Line?”

ANSWER:

TO REVEAL PHOTOS

Green Can converts get others to join the party BARBARA GUNN

LIVING MATTERS Let’s just say we’re late to the party. Very, very late.

By the time we arrived, the party was in full swing, and pretty much everyone was playing the game.

The game involves no musical chairs, no hot potatoes, no pinning tails on donkeys. It’s all about chicken bones. And tea bags. And paper towels.

Everyone, it seems, has been clear on the rules.

Only now have we started to learn them.

“What about egg shells?” asked the husband.

“They’re good,” I said.

“Wax paper?”

“Not so much.”

We are, at long last, jumping into the Green Can. OK, so we’re not exactly jumping into the can — that would be decidedly smelly — so much as we’re leaping on board with the program. Which is to

Most strata corporations will act quickly and aggressively to collect unpaid fees. Under the Strata Act, a Strata is only required to give the owner two weeks’ notice of unpaid fees prior to filing a lien against your unit.They will notify your bank of the unpaid fees, which may make refinancing more difficult. The Strata can even force the sale of your unit to recover outstanding fees. This includes unpaid special levies for things such as a new roof. In addition to harsh collection procedures, the Strata can charge interest on outstanding amounts and may levy fines for unpaid assessments. These fines can be recurring monthly until the bill is paid, and can quickly approach or exceed the value of the initial bill. I have been consulted about arrears in the thousands of dollars resulting from one or two missed monthly payments.

say, we’re putting less stuff in the trash.

Most of our pals are on to the drill. For us, it’s work in progress.

“What did you do just now?” I asked the son, who was home for the weekend.

“I cleared off my plate,” he said.

“You put your leftover waffles in the garbage!” I said.

He looked at me.

Confused. He hadn’t been home for a bit.

“Oh,” he said. “Should I have buried them?”

“Yes,” I said. “In a manner of speaking.”

He cocked his head, apparently wondering what kind of gardening his mother was into.

“This is how it goes,” I explained. “You put your waffles in the bucket under the sink. When the bucket’s full, we empty it into the Green Can. And when the Green Can’s full, we put it on the curb.”

“Oh,” the son said again.

So this is how it goes.

The husband and I have become not only Green Can converts. We’re also Green

Can police.

The other day, it was the couple who came for dinner. The couple, like us, had been completely late to the party. In fact, they’ve yet to arrive.

Between courses, the female half of the couple who came for dinner decided to help out. Which is to say, she cleared the dishes and placed the leftovers in the garbage.

I said nothing, but went to work when I thought she wasn’t looking.

“Hey,” she asked, stepping back into the kitchen.

“What are you doing?”

I was elbow deep in the garbage can. I was retrieving leftover Caesar salad and uneaten broccoli and half-eaten pickles and bits and pieces of salmon.

“Go sit down!” I commanded. “I’ll get you more wine. Um, as soon as I wash my hands.”

It may have been an uncomfortable scene, but that’s the price of going green.

You don’t have to join the party, but watch out when you come to mine.

Sandy Drover

This question is probably one of the easiest for me to answer. While I have loved all of the lines I have travelled with, there is one that tops the list, Azamara Club Cruise Lines, they are absolutely “AZAmazing!”

As the newest deluxe cruise line in the industry, Azamara Club Cruises will offer a one-of-a- kind experience. With only two ships in the fleet, the Azamara Quest and the Azamara Journey, they specialize in destination immersion. This means Azamara guests will enjoy longer stays, more overnights and evening tours in ports, known as their “AZAmazing Evening!”

I traveled for eleven days from Athens to Istanbul onboard the Azamara Quest.

Initially I was apprehensive sailing on a ship of under 700 passengers, but once onboard and I felt the welcoming atmosphere, my concerns just slipped away.

As I walked through the ship seeing all of the officers and even the Captain in plain view, extending their hands to welcome me, I knew I was in for a trip of a life time.

One of my favourite moments was standing at the gangway chatting to a young man from India who worked in security. I asked, “What does Azamara mean?”

He smiled and said, “I don’t know what the word means, but to all of the crew on board, it means happiness.”

Because at Expedia CruiseShipCenters we believe in brand standards and bringing you the best information, we are hosting an “AZAmazing Evening!” Come join us at Beach Grove Golf Course on April 8 th to hear more about Azamara Club Cruises and her sister brand, Royal Caribbean International.

We would love to see you there! Space is limited, so RSVP today.

Expedia CruiseShipCenters 152-4857 Elliott St (Ladner Harbour Center) 604-946-7444

Q: I’m hearing that its a sellers market right now because there are less

houses to buy causing more than one offer at a time? Is this true? And what is the protocol for this type of scenario?

A:

Amber Haklander

VP of Sales at Fraser Elliott Real Estate Group

RE/MAX Progroup Realty 5360 12th Avenue Delta 604.728.2845 www.fraserelliott.com Top 100 RE/MAX REALTORS® WORLDWIDE 2011+2012** #1 Agent in Ladner/Tsawwassen* *Based on # of Sales in 2010, 2011, 2012, 2013 and 2014!

This is very true there is a strong market for sellers right now in Ladner & Tsawwassen. Inventory levels are incredibly low meaning that home buyers have much less to choose from and end up very often competing with other buyers.

This is a great scenario for homeowners selling their homes. It is very important to make sure your home gets exposed to the entire market long enough to give all potential buyers a chance at putting in an offer. We recommend making sure the home has been listed on MLS for several days, has taken advantage of all of your online marketing campaigns, your newspaper advertising, and all other marketing campaigns; so that any buyers looking at that time can get a chance to view the home. If you are getting a lot of showing interest and requests to view the home, you can set a day and time a few days in the future that you will entertain offers. There are a large percentage of buyers coming from Vancouver and Richmond and it is important to make sure those buyers are aware the home is for sale before accepting an offer on the property. The local market may be aware the home is for sale days before the Vancouver Buyers are so it is key to maximizing the sale price on your home that you make sure that everyone is aware the home is for sale. There are SO MANY instances this year where we have received multiple offers on properties listed and the seller had been able to negotiate magnificent terms and pricing on their homes. In many instances sellers have even received more money than their original asking price! One scenario in Ladner last week, a seller received $100,000 more than their listing price with 13 offers on the property.

We would love to help you with this process. Our team had over 215 has sales in 2014 and sold over $100,000,000 of real estate!

A16 The Delta Optimist March 18, 2015 Feedback

Ballots are beginning to be mailed out this week for the upcoming transit referendum. The Yes and No sides of the Metro Vancouver Congestion Improvement Tax debate are campaigning to help voters

make up their minds. The proposal would see a 0.5 per cent increase to the provincial sales tax, money that would go towards regional transportation improvements. The Optimist asked:

How do you think the vote will go?

Don Goodman No. It’s just way too much overhead for the service they offer. Way too much overhead. We should take back the bus system; keep it in our own community.

Dave Park The vote’s already decided, I think. I think it’s going to be “no.” I don’t think people are happy with TransLink.

You can have your say on this issue by taking part in our web poll at www. delta-optimist.com

MJ Wood I think it’ll be very tight but I think “yes” will get in because of the population of Surrey. This new TransLink plan will serve Surrey. With their population, just the numbers will swing it their way.

Trevor Bee I think we’ll go for it ... it will be good for Vancouver.

Peggy McMaster It’s going to go “no.” Our taxes are high enough and I don’t trust the committee that’s going to oversee the money.

Last time we asked you:

How are you taking advantage of the weather?

• 45 per cent said: going for walks.

• 10 per cent said: playing sports outside.

16th Annual Delta Triathlon Saturday, April 25, 6:00 - 1:00pm

VOLUNTEERS NEEDED!

• 29 per cent said: tackling some lawn/garden work.

• 16 per cent said: it’s still a little cold for me.

The Rotary Club of Tsawwassen extends a

Big Thank You

to the businesses and individuals who supported this year’s 13th Annual Wine Gala and helped make it a great success. The items donated, corporately and personally, were very much appreciated and created some good spirited bidding wars. The wineries/agents displayed some great wines for the tasting and the attendees made it a special night.

The catering by the chef and staff at Beach Grove Golf Club was excellent.

Live Auction Donors

Beach Grove Golf Club BioMaxx Wastewater Solutions Breakaway Vacations, LloydsTravel Budget Foods Columbia Crest Winery & Seven Gables B&B

Wineries/Agents

Vintage West Marketing Blasted Church Christopher Stewart Therapy Vineyards

Expedia CruiseShip Centers Pacific Flying Club Bruce Gamage Jeroen Vermeulen

Forbidden Fruit Renaissance Wine Ex Nihilo Vineyards

Prize Donors

Hillmar Industries Ltd. Lawlor Goldsmith Shoppe

Silent Auction Donors

AdamTobias Alfa Greco-Roman Cuisine AlluraTravel - Christine Vetter Atlantis Day Spa BC Ferries BC Lions Football Club Best Service Pros Bosa Foods Dr. Brian Standerwick Browns SocialHouse Central City Brewers & Distillers Cliffhanger CoastTsawwassen Inn Delta Law Office Everything Wine Flowers Beautiful GowayTravel Henk Veldhuis

Delta.ca/Triathlon

Hester Creek Ingrid’s Hair Salon Iris Kathleen Beaton Kings Links By the Sea Live Nation Lone Willow Mario’s Kitchen Meridian Meats & Seafood Muscle Memory Mud Bay Wines Ossie’s Deli & Meats Panago Pizza,Tsawwassen Painted with Love Parks, Recreation & Culture, Corp. of Delta Pryke, Lambert, Leathley, Russell LLP Quail’s Gate Raymond James – Warren Hughes

Rick & Carlene Lewall Rose & Crown Neighbourhood Pub Rosedale on Robson Suite Hotel RunInn Save on Foods Sea to Sky Gondola SpaTime Starbucks Swim Blue Pools & HotTubs Swim Clo Aquatic & Fitness Tasco Sales & Marketing Ltd. Thrifty Foods Travel Professional International Tsawwassen Optometry Clinic TunnelTown Curling Club Urban Village Catering

And a special thanks to Rotarians Sara Kirby, Shane Todhunter, Laura Dixon, Rob Gillespie, Dan McGrath, Leslie Abramson, Shari Merritt, Holly Doolan, Jill Moore and committee member Nicole Sjoberg for their hard work.

March 18, 2015 The Delta Optimist A17 Coming Events Clubs & Groups !The Heart and Stroke Foundation requires your help in bringing the “Living with Stroke Program” to South Delta. We require volunteer facilitators to provide this program designed to help stroke survivors adapt and adjust to being back in the community.

LWS encourages successful recovery. Training is provided. For role information and application go to www. heartandstroke.bc.ca/volunteer or call Deborah at 778372-8012. !The Delta Museum & Archives Society is pleased to present their latest exhibit - That’s Different! Join us in the Delta Museum’s Temporary Gallery to view some of our most eclectic items from our Collection.

These are items that tell their own individual stories, with some not having had the chance to be on display before due to their uniqueness! To learn more about our exhibits, public programming and services visit www.deltamuseum.ca.

The Delta Museum is open Tuesday through Friday 9:30am to 4:30pm. !The Probus Club of South Delta, a non-profit, fellowship club for retired and semi-retired professional and business people will hold its Monthly Meeting at 10 a.m. on Wednesday, March 18. This meeting will be held in the Benediction Lutheran Church, corner of 56th Street and 6th Avenue, Tsawwassen. Our guest speaker is Bill Sexsmith, Director, Probus Canada.

All members are urged to attend. Guests are welcome.

Please call Dick Williams at 604-940-6542 for information. !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, March 19. Contact Holly at holly. hastie@uregina.ca or by phone at 604-943-6447. !Spring Break Performer Magician Matthew Johnson, Tsawwassen Library, Friday, March 20, 11 11:45 am. Join us as awardwinning magician Matthew Johnson weaves his hilarious spell over the library!

Matthew’s show is a highly entertaining and interactive blend of magic, juggling, comedy and music. He has performed all over the world and now he is here to add some magic to your spring break. He’ll be at the Ladner Pioneer Library Friday, March 20, 2 - 2:45 pm. !Canadian Mental Health Association Delta offers a Depression/Bi-Polar Support Group for individuals with depression/bi-polar or experiencing symptoms.

Meetings are on the second and fourth Monday of each month from 7 - 8:45 p.m.

The next meeting is on Monday, March 23 at the Ladner Library. Please Call CMHA Delta at 604-9431878 to be registered for your first meeting. !Wednesday, March 25, the South Delta Single Parents Support Group wishes to invite single parents with dependant children to a free dinner at the Ladner Christian Reformed Church, 4594-54A St. Delta. Doors open at 5:10pm. Dinner at 5:30pm. For further information contact Diane at 604-946-7033. !Living a Healthy Life

with Chronic Conditions Free workshop runs Tuesdays, 10 am to 12:30 pm at Kennedy Seniors Centre in North Delta starting March 24. Learn tools for living well with a chronic health condition. To register call UVic at 604940-1273 or go to www. selfmanagementbc.ca. !CFUW - South Delta presents: “Children & the Global Ecological Crisis: Seeing Beyond Climate Change to the Big Picture” a presentation by Alison Johnston, one of our annual bursary recipients. Ms. Johnston has organized expert forums on environmental topics within the Unite Nations (UN) and authored an award-winning book. Her passion is community-based work bridging cultures and generations.

Please join us, everyone welcome! Tuesday, March 24, 7 pm - Benediction Lutheran Church, Tsawwassen. !Teen Pizza & Games, Thursday, March 26, 5:30 - 8:30 pm - Ladner Pioneer Library, 4683-51st St., Delta. Do you love to play board games? Are you between 12 and 19 years old? Then come to the library for a fun night of gaming and free pizza.

Games and snacks provided

by Imperial Hobbies. !Tsawwassen Lawn Bowling Club. NW corner of Winskill Park. Open house, Saturday, April 11 from noon to 2 p.m. Club members will greet you and introduce you to the game of lawn bowling. !On Saturday, April 11, avoid identity theft by shredding your confidential documents at the Ladner United Church Shredathon.

Urban Impact’s secure shred truck will be there from 9noon. All shredding is by donation. Ladner United

Church is located at 496048th Ave, Ladner Village. !The Delta Museum & Archives Society is pleased to present their newest public program - Mystery in the Museum! Someone has robbed the Mc & Mc store in Ladner (yikes!) and we need a good detective to solve the crime. Cost is $5 per kit. Drop in or pre-registration welcome.

Ages 7-11, or younger to be accompanied by an adult.

Find more information at www.deltamuseum.ca. !Garage sales will be held bi-weekly starting Sunday, April 12 at IOOF Hall, 5425 Ladner Trunk Rd., from 9 a.m. to 4 p.m. For table rentals contact Leroy at 604-219-2703.

Seniors !KinVillage Community Centre is having a Springtime High Tea from 3-4:30 on Friday, March 20 with piano player Doug Ross. Tickets $8 for members, $10 for non-members.

Don your favorite hat and join us at 5430-10th Ave., Tsawwassen. Call for tickets 604-943-0225 Visa, MasterCard or drop in to purchase by March 18. !Learn to dance the Cha Cha for FREE from 5:15 to 6:30 on Sunday, March 22 at KinVillage Community Centre, 5430-10th Ave., Tsawwassen. Instructors George & Wendy Pytlik will also demonstrate a couple of other types of dance and there will be time for questions and answers. !Shari’s Saturday Social, a Roaring 20s Flapper Frolic, April 11. Doors open at 7 pm - Dancing 7:30-11 pm. Dress is optional but theme appropriate would be nice. Dance the night away to a wide variety of great CD music. Tickets available at the door $10 members $12 non-mem-

bers. Cash or cheque only.

Mid-evening coffee, tea and assorted goodies included.

To reserve a table call Shari at 943-8755 before Friday, April 10. !KinVillage Travel, open 10:30 a.m. to 12:30 p.m.

Tuesday to Thursday at KinVillage Community Centre and McKee, presents Coquitlam casino trips on April 27, Aug. 24 and Oct. 5 for $7. Call 604-9430225.

Fund Raisers !IODE Boundary Bay Chapter fundraiser, Bridge and Afternoon Tea Wednesday, April 22, 1 - 4 pm at All Saints Anglican Church, 4755 Arthur Dr., Ladner. $15 per person.

Tea/Coffee and snacks will be provided and prizes awarded. Tickets will not be available at the door, so arrange your table of players quickly as this event sells out quickly. Call Frances at 604-943-1119 for tickets. IODE is a registered charitable organization.

Special Events !To celebrate Earth Day, the Burns Bog Conservation Society is hosting an annual Pilgrimage walk through the beautiful Delta Nature Reserve. There will be live music from Aline Laflamme - the Daughters of Drum and Singers of the Sacred Web. Come experience the Burns Bog environment.

Date: Sunday, April 26, 1-4 p.m. at The Delta Nature Reserve (outside Planet Ice. Delta) 10388 Nordel Court.

Arts !ArtShow - until March 31, “Birds and their Habitat” - a display of paintings and photo prints by local artists. Reception on March 21, 6:30 refreshments. Birds in Focus - A Visual Presentation, Tsawwassen Arts Centre,

1172-56th St., Saturday, March 21, 7:30 - 9:30 pm. Jim Martin, Alfredo Fernandez and Connor Stefanison will show their digital presentations of the wonderful birds that migrate through the Lower Mainland and beyond. All ages, $5. !The eighth “Wander Inn Cafe” will be open Saturday, March 21, 7-10 p.m. Enjoy our featured singer/songwriters Adam Briscoe, Alex Toney and Allan des Noyers as they bring a mix of pop, rock, gospel, and Canadian folk songs. Held at Ladner Christian Fellowship, 5545 Ladner Trunk Rd., entrance is a suggested $5 donation and covers all beverages/ goodies. All welcome! !The Delta Concert Band will be performing numbers highlighting the music for their upcoming tour in Europe. Saturday, March 28, 2:30 to 3:30 at the KinVillage Community Centre, 5430-10th Ave., Tsawwassen. Admission is by donation. !The Delta Photo Club meets Wednesdays 7 9:30 pm at the KinVillage Recreation Centre, Tsawwassen. Photographers of all skill levels are welcome. The DPC exhibition “Exposed” runs until March 30 at the Firehall Centre of the Arts, 11489-84th Ave, Delta. www.deltaphotoclub. com.

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).

Centre for Supportive Care SOUTH DELTA

Relaxation Circle

FAMILY DENTAL CARE 604.943.4112

Drop in Tuesdays 10:30am – 12pm to the

Accepting New Patients Families Welcome

Harold & Veronica Savage Centre for Supportive Care 4631 Clarence Taylor Crescent, Ladner The relaxation circle welcomes anyone diagnosed with cancer, other life-threatening or progressive illness, family and friends.

Family and Cosmetic Dentistry Orthodontic and Invisalign Treatment TMJ Therapy and Sedation Dentistry Botox Cosmetic™

Dr. Jonathan Brown, DMD and Dr. W. Earle Nind DDS

Faciliated by:

Gilly Heaps Counsellor

1216 56 Street Tsawwassen | myfantasticsmile.com

Practising stress reduction can be helpful when experiencing pain, anxiety, worry, exhaustion, sleeplessness or other sypmtoms.

For more information please call 604.948.0660

Delta Sports A18 The Delta Optimist March 18, 2015

Sports Editor: Mark Booth

Phone: 604-946-4451

Email: mbooth@delta-optimist.com

Coach thrilled to receive WISE Fund $1,000 grant will help Delta Deas Rowing Club para coach Julie Stevens and her athletes travel to events BY

DAVE WILLIS

dwillis@delta-optimist.com

PHOTO BY

Julie Stevens helped start the para program at Delta Deas Rowing Club in 2012.

“We’re always working with so many changing elements and it’s fun to think on your feet, be quick on your feet.”

She said it’s a really special moment to share someone’s achievement milestone with them, especially when those moments might be more difficult to come by because of a disability.

There are health benefits to the sport and it’s a great

Tides at Tsawwassen Pacific Standard Time. Height in feet

social outlet, she adds.

“It’s not something that

ability think they can do.

I am always surprised at

“Some of the larger competitions are over on the (Vancouver) Island and they would be out of pocket expenses for me and for my athletes. And that would be limiting. Now we can go over and I can accompany them and support them.”

Julie Stevens

I think a lot of people once they are faced with a dis-

who can do this sport. We don’t tackle it from a con-

ventional way all the time,” she said.

Stevens, who lives in North Delta, has been coaching recreational rowers since 1992 and has been involved in rowing since the late 1980s.

She said she wanted to express her gratitude to CAAWS, Rowing BC, Rowing Canada and ViaSportBC. “CAAWS is pleased to support the WISE Fund

grant recipients and recognize their efforts in developing their own leadership skills as coaches or officials and in offering sport programs that will give girls and women an opportunity to be actively engaged,” said CAAWS executive director, Karin Lofstrom on the association’s website.

For more information on the local club and its programs, visit www.deltadeas. com.

THURSDAY, MARCH 19

SATURDAY, MARCH 21

MONDAY, MARCH 23

5:39 am 14.1 5:26 pm 13.1

12:28 am 1:10 pm

2:03 am 2:42 pm

11:42 am 6.9 11:42 pm 4.6

FRIDAY, MARCH 20 6:13 am 14.4 12:26 pm 5.9 6:25 pm 13.5

5.2 4.9

6:47 am 14.4 7:24 pm 13.5

SUNDAY, MARCH 22 1:15 am 6.2 7:22 am 14.4 1:56 pm 4.3 8:24 pm 13.5

GORD GOBLE

7.2 3.6

7:57 am 14.1 9:26 pm 13.5

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.

01068030

Delta Deas Rowing Club para coach Julie Stevens was one of the recipients of a 2015 Women in Sport Encouragement Fund grant worth $1,000, it was announced last week.

Stevens said she was thrilled and surprised to get the grant.

The Canadian Association for the Advancement of Women and Sport and Physical Activity, with support from Sport Canada, awards 10 of the grants annually.

The funds go towards travel expenses to regattas, said Stevens, who helped start the para program at Delta Deas in 2012.

“Some of the larger competitions are over on the (Vancouver) Island and they would be out of pocket expenses for me and for my athletes. And that would be limiting. Now we can go over and I can accompany them and support them.”

It will also be used for a learn to row program at the club.

While para rowing is a branding, Stevens said she prefers the term “adaptive” rower.

Para rowing, to her, “infers people in wheelchairs and that’s not who we’re only trying to reach,” she said.

The Delta Deas website notes “adaptive rowing is suitable for a wide range of disabilities, including (but not limited to) paraplegia, autism, visual impairment, blindness, cerebral palsy, amputee, intellectual impairment, spina bifida, Down syndrome and hearing impairment.”

Asked what she enjoys about coaching, Stevens said no two days are ever the same.

March 18, 2015 The Delta Optimist A19

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