CHALLENGE ISSUED: Chief urging drivers to make roads safer, 10 BOUNCING BACK: Sun Devils making progress in boys hoops, 27 HELP FOR OWEN
NEWSSTAND $1
Bottle drive a big success, 4
www.delta-optimist.com
WEDNESDAY, JANUARY 25, 2017
The voice of Delta since 1922
GP ranks to get a boost
Pacers soar past Eagles
Six new doctors now in South Delta with at least another five on way SANDOR GYARMATI
s g y a r m a t i @ d e l t a - o p t i m i s t .c o m
More family doctors are headed to South Delta. Since beginning a recruitment drive over a year ago, the Delta Division of Family Practice has managed to recruit almost a dozen GPs to help ease the crunch of residents seeking a physician, one made all the more intense last year when five local doctors retired. Delta Division of Family Practice executive director Geri McGrath told the Optimist six new doctors are now practicing in the community with another five on their way this year. There are also 19 locums, substitute doctors that help ease the pressure on full-time physicians
Catching up with the past
PHOTO BY GORD GOBLE
Jas Singh and the Delta Pacers senior boys basketball team came through with an impressive 87-72 win over No. 9 “AAA” ranked MEI Eagles of Abbotsford last Friday night in Ladner.
Have you wondered whatever happened to newsmakers of yesteryear? You know, those people who were regularly featured in the pages of the Optimist but haven’t been heard from in a while? Well, we set out to catch up with some of them to see what they’re doing these days. Check out what we found on pages 17 to 22.
who want to take time off. A couple of those locums are looking at setting up on a permanent basis here. The only two walk-in clinics in South Delta are located in Ladner but a new one will be opening tomorrow at the Walmart in Tsawwassen Commons. Two of the physicians that have been recruited will be on staff at that clinic, but an additional two are also likely to be on staff, further increasing the complement of physicians in South Delta. “We understand and appreciate how difficult it has been for people who have been waiting for doctors and some people have been on our list for quite some time. PATIENTS: see Page 3
Where are they
NOW
The Optimist catches up with newsmakers of yesteryear
It’s all perfectly clear to me now, Mildred! Of course it is John. The windshield was fixed by Tsawwassen Collision W i n d s h i e l d R e p a i r. G e t i t d o n e r i g h t , g e t i t d o n e f o r s a f e t y a t T s a w w a s s e n C o l l i s i o n
604.943.6383
17-1835 56th St. Tsawwassen (Behind Mcdonalds) www.tsawwassencollision.com