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An advocate fights for increased accessibility in the theatre arts. P7
A deaf-blind father hopes to secure a more accessible future for his son. P4
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Players in a blind hockey tournament say the game is still its classic self. P8
NOVEMBER 28, 2018 • VOL. 50 NO. 8 • VANCOUVER, B.C.
RCMP under fire
Witness testified force 'betrayed' senior officer By NICK LABA
T
he RCMP sacrificed one of its own senior officers in order to shift focus from its role in the death of a Polish immigrant, a witness testified Tuesday at the inquest into the suicide of Sergeant Pierre Lemaitre. Atoya Montague, a former communications strategist for Canada’s national police force, testified Tuesday about her working relationship with Pierre Lemaitre whose death was the subject of the coroner’s inquest. Park board officials oversee the draining of the pond at Dr. Sun Yat-Sen Classical Chinese Garden. MATHILDA DE VILLIERS PHOTO
Koi survive otter madness An otter is the talk of the town after eating rare koi in garden
By MATHILDA DE VILLIERS
T
en precious koi fish were the cost of a crafty otter’s habitation in the Dr. Sun Yat-Sen Classical Chinese Garden in Vancouver’s Chinatown neighbourhood. Since the otter took its first helping of koi two weeks ago, the Vancouver Park Board has attempted to capture and relocate it without success. The mammal outsmarted authorities and continued to enjoy its new territory in the garden. The critter has been identified as a northern river otter, known to inhabit Burrard Inlet and False
Creek. It’s not uncommon for them said. to travel tens of kilometres to find The Chinese garden’s Facebook new territory, according to Chris page said on Saturday that “after Stinson at the Beaty Biodiversity several hours spent in and around Museum in the water, we Vancouver. were at last able “If a predator sees Stinson, who to get one koi specializes in an opportunity to Vancouver mammals, repAquarium for they'll take it.” tiles and amsafekeeping.” phibians, said It took the — MICHAEL MANALANG, VANCOUVER AQUARIUM that otters can Vancouver Park migrate from their regular environ- Board several hours to capture the ment for a number of reasons. koi, with three fish still left in the “If there is any changes from ei- pond. They are now draining the ther human interactions, or changes garden's pond to capture the rein climate, or natural things, they’ll maining fish. move to a better food source,” he Michael Manalang, the Vancou-
THE SNACKING HABITS OF OTTERS » Hungry critters
Sea otters eat 25 per cent of their body weight in food every day.
» Favourite foods
Otters like to eat sea urchins, clams, mussels and crabs.
» Crafty eaters Otters are clever eaters: they use rocks to open clams and carry food in their loose armpit skin.
ver Aquarium’s primary freshwater biologist, said that the behaviour of the otter is not uncommon, as residential fish ponds are regularly raided by creatures like river otters, raccoons and herons. “If a predator sees an opportunity they’ll take it,” he said. Manalang believes that the story is getting a lot of attention because the garden is a staple for Vancouver tourism, and the staff who work there have built relationships with the animals. “There’s such diverse wildlife in this province so anything relating to wild otters, river otters, people really latch onto it,” he said.
SOURCE: WORLDWILDLIFE.ORG
» Deep divers
River otters can hold their breath for eight minutes while swimming for food.
» Seaweed isn't
for snacking
Otters will wrap themselves in seaweed and float together in their sleep.
“It was the single biggest institutional betrayal I've witnessed.” — ATOYA MONTAGUE, FORMER COMMUNICATIONS STRATEGIST
“It was the single biggest institutional betrayal I’ve witnessed in my 15 years,” Montague said Tuesday at the inquest being held in Burnaby. She said on the witness stand that the RCMP “sacrificed” Lemaitre by not allowing him to correct inaccurate information, giving him a reputation as the force’s “spin doctor.” Lemaitre was the media relations officer who ac ted as the RC MP spokesperson after four officers were involved in the taser death of Robert Dziekanski at Vancouver International Airport in 2007. A coroner’s inquest into Lemaitre’s death began on Monday. He died by suicide in July 2013 after battling clinical depression, anxiety and PTSD for the better part of a decade. The coroner’s office is responsible for investigating unexpected deaths in the province and making recommendations to improve public safety. Dziekanski died after being surrounded by four RCMP officers who were called to the International arrivals area after reports of an agitated man. Please see INQUEST HEARS, page 2