Maple Ridge Pitt Meadows Times January 28 2014

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Home Town Hero ro Victor Bartley is featured in today’s y’s sports section...

Tuesday, T uesday, January January y 28, 2014

Page A13 3 Walmart

• LOCAL NEWS • mrtimes.com • 604-463-2281 • 16 PAGESS Development

Growth ‘too slow’

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Jersey-clad students collect for KidSport

Councillor Michael Morden wants faster development. by Maria Rantanen

mrantanen@mrtimes.com

One Maple Ridge councillor is frustrated at the slow pace of development. Maintaining job growth targets, and stopping retail “leakage” to other communities are top of mind for Councillor Michael Morden as council moves forward with its commercial/industrial plan. Last Monday, Maple Ridge council looked at a number of commercial and industrial properties and gave staff direction on how to proceed with them. But Morden said he would like to see council be more “aggressive” with facilitating development.

Webster’s Corners students Zoe Olson, Sarah Weber, principal Tanya Dailey (back row), Maggie Tomlinson, Abby Barnier, and Conrad Brierley (middle row), and Kiarah Smith, Courtney Holm, and Danny Thai were out promoting Jersey Day, a fundraiser for KidSport. See more, page A9…

continued on page A5...

Troy Landreville/TIMES

Wildlife

Injured deer sighting angers resident

After taking a picture of a deer with an arrow stuck into its side on Jan. 16, Karen Morris hasn’t seen it since – neither have conservation officers. by Troy Landreville and Eric Zimmer

editorial@mrtimes.com

Last Thursday, Karen Morris was shocked and upset to spot a deer with an arrow attached to its side, near her house in the area of 227th Street and Abernethy Way. And, as of Monday afternoon, conservation officer Cody Ambrose said the deer still has not been found. Morris, who lives in a private area at the end of a cul de sac, said she was “pretty horrified” by the sight. “It’s so bad to hit an animal like that and leave it, and not track it down and put it down,” Morris said. She initially spotted the distressed animal with her binoculars. She grabbed her camera and took a picture of it, and hasn’t seen it since then. “I don’t know if the arrow’s in or out right now,” she said. She believes an urban poacher was the culprit. “There’s no other way to think about it,” she said.

Karen Morris took a picture of a deer with an arrow stuck to its side, which she spotted in her neighbourhood.

Injured? Apply a legal remedy. www.beckerlawyers.ca

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“It was on private property where it got hit with an arrow,” she speculated. Morris put posters up in the area and urged anyone who has seen the injured deer to call authorities. Ambrose said they “have had calls come in,” regarding sightings of the injured beast, but so far to they have not been able to find it. “We’ve followed up on tips, but there’s been no further sightings [of the deer,]” he explained. He added it’s possible the animal may have wandered off to a different area from where it was last seen, or to another secluded place to die. For her part, Morris said she has no problem with legal hunting, but definitely not this type of activity. “I think it’s just fine, but I don’t think true hunters like poachers,” he said. “They’d probably be angry about this, as well.” Morris said she sees a lot of wildlife, including deer, wandering by her home in central Maple Ridge and enjoys seeing the animals. “But to see a deer come through with an arrow through its side, I get really p**ed off,” she added. Ambrose said that when it comes to the question of who actually shot the deer, they “haven’t found who’s responsible.”

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Tuesday, January 28 , 2014

Maple Ridge & Pitt Meadows Times

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Maple Ridge & Pitt Meadows Times

Tuesday, January 28, 2014

UpFront Click

for community

A3

Pitt Meadows

Police office expands, gets facelift

RCMP Insp. Dave Fleugel shares details about upgrades being made to the Pitt Meadows community policing office. mrtimes.com

Noises Off is on stage until Feb. 15.

Noises Off staged Theatre in the Country, located in Whonnock, kicked off Noises Off last week and the play continues until Feb. 15. The play, which gives the audience a look into the backstage world of theatre, is performed Friday and Saturday nights at 6:30 p.m. and Saturday at 12:30 p.m. Info: www.theatreinthecountry.com. • More at www.mrtimes.com

Starting Early by Kathy Booth

Family Day is a start With the second annual Family Day approaching, TIMES columnist Kathy Booth – whose monthly column usually focuses on early childhood education – sees the recognized holiday as a good start to refocusing people’s priorities on the family in today’s society. Such a celebration of family should expand beyond just one day. • More at www.mrtimes.com

For the record The water pump station that is being built near the Golden Ears is a water pump station only. Contrary to previous reports [Walls end phase one of pumphouse build, Jan. 23, The TIMES], it will be used for the transmission of drinking water – not sewage or wastewater. • More at www.mrtimes.com

Experience Some images and advertisements in today’s edition of The TIMES have been enriched with Layar and contain digital content that you can view using your smartphone or tablet.

by Troy Landreville tlandreville@mrtimes.com

A vision that the City of Pitt Meadows had for several years to upgrade its community policing office (CPO), is coming into focus. The City approved a capital plan to renovate the existing CPO, along with separate funding to do a major overhaul and improve the City’s recreational facility, noted Insp. Dave Fleugel, the officer in charge of the Ridge Meadows RCMP. Fleugel described the structural changes to the building as “significant” with a new roof line, removal of an outside wall, new footings, and foundation to expand the space. Troy Landreville/TIMES The CPO renovations are scheduled to be Construction is underway to renovate the Pitt Meadows Policing Office. completed sometime this spring. In the fall of 2012, City council approved with those activities moved to the newly con- the main detachment throughout their shift,” the project after reviewing several options. structed seniors pavilion, Fleugel explained. Fleugel said. “As the region is poised to “The RCMP has been consulted through“That space is being used for expanded City grow, it made a lot of sense to get this infraout and are very excited about the plans for operated recreational facility.” structure in place. It gives us some room to the future and the vision from City council,” There was an art room in the original expand, also.” Fleugel said. building that the RCMP will occupy, and the Ultimately, Fleugel believes the CPO will “The RCMP also had to work closely with building is being expanded to the north for transform into a more effective police office. our building experts at Division HQ [headthe CPO renovation. The RCMP in Pitt Meadows will continue quarters] as there are certain “In all, the RCMP will about to depend on volunteers to deliver crime predesign and security standards double the original space and vention programs, or for initial contact with in any RCMP-occupied space, of course, the City is also folks who frequently come in or call in for even if City-owned,” he said. working on the new recreainformation or a referral, Fleugel said. This CPO renovation is haptional facility, with [a] new “Pitt Meadows operations will be more pening at the same time as a weight room,” Fleugel said. effective when the changes are complete, major remodel to the adjoinThis work was long overbut this will not be a fully functional police ing recreational facility. due, in the inspector’s opindetachment and will not replace the services While the two uses are ion. He added that the CPO delivered from the main Ridge Meadows contained in the same buildTroy Landreville/TIMES in its former state was no detachment,” he added. ing, the RCMP project is a longer adequate and needed Those in custody will not be held at the The Pitt Meadows Community separate project with specific CPO, and there are no increases to civilbuilding requirements, Fleugel Policing Officehas temporarily been attention to meet standards of today, as well as public ian staff and no increased administration is remarked. relocated to allow for construction. expectations. planned, as all record-processing functions Construction began with the “For example, there was no private space are consolidated in the main detachment. demolition of the current interior space. for citizens to talk to police, and not a good The fact that Pitt Meadows members will While the work is going on, CPO operarrangement to secure property or drugs be able to spend more time in town and less ations has moved temporarily to the Citythat were turned into the police at the CPO,” time commuting back to the main detachowned former library building in the courtment should make it more efficient to keep yard of the Pitt Meadows civic centre – just a Fleugel said. Officers who work full time from the CPO “those precious resources even more active quick stroll across the courtyard. also didn’t have a functional work space. in Pitt Meadows,” said Fleugel, who credited “We have several signs to direct citizens to “By having access to the necessary tools the vision and leadership from City council the temporary space,” Fleugel said. right in Pitt Meadows, it will create efficienfor making the upgrades possible. The space inside the original building con• More at www.mrtimes.com, search “Fleugel” cies by not having those officers return to tained a seniors’ area that has been vacated,

Police files

Unmarked SUV collides with truck while following speeder

Emergency lights and sirens were going as an RCMP traffic officer was attempting to stop a speeder early Saturday morning, when the unmarked police SUV collided with a pickup truck at Laity Street and Lougheed

Highway just before 1 a.m. Fortunately, no one was injured in the crash between the pickup truck and unmarked Chevy Tahoe. Unfortunately, the suspected speeder got away, said Cpl. Alanna Dunlop.

The pickup truck, which had been westbound on Lougheed, suffered damage to the passenger’s side door, while the front bumper on the police SUV was sheared off as the officer turned west on Lougheed, off Laity.

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Because of distance, the officer was not able to clock the rate of speed of the suspect vehicle. However, Dunlop said the driver was believed to be travelling well in excess of the posted limit.

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Tuesday, January 28 , 2014

Maple Ridge & Pitt Meadows Times

View photos with or online at

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Eric Zimmer/TIMES

Leonard Stanga, a Vancouver storyteller, enthralled the audience at the Maple Ridge library on Saturday, while Mary Poppins – also known as library technician Janice McAusland (above) – was also happy to be a part of family literacy day.

Books

Mayor reads to attentive children St. Patrick’s private school as well as Maple Ridge Library both marked literacy day with events. by Eric Zimmer ezimmer@mrtimes.com

Mayor Ernie Daykin’s story of the Big Election captivated his audience on Friday afternoon, but he wasn’t officially on the campaign trail. Instead, he was sitting at a table, in the gym of St. Patrick’s School, reading a children’s book out loud. The mayor was one of four guest

readers during the afternoon literacy day assembly at the school. His audience was the wide-eyed, energetic but attentive students of the school, and The Big Election story was that of Father Bear, from the well known and much loved children’s series, The Berenstain Bears. The event also featured GlobalBC traffic reporter Kaitlyn Herbst, superintendent of Catholic Independent Schools Vancouver Archdiocese Doug Lawson, and cartoonist Julian Lawrence. “St. Patrick’s School participates in family literacy day yearly,” said school principal Clive Heah.

“It provides another way to help promote the importance of literacy in the home.” National family literacy day was on Saturday, but the school decided to mark it one day early. On Saturday, the Maple Ridge Library was abuzz with staff dressed up as their favourite fictional story characters, and marking the day with an afternoon of activities and entertainment, including Vancouver storyteller Leonard Stanga.

Supervisor of information services, Christine McPhee said the event “has been going on for a number of years.” • More at www.mrtimes.com, search “literacy”

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GRADE 7

PARENT INFORMATION NIGHTS

7 pm JANUARY 29 Garibaldi Secondary School 24789 Dewdney Trunk Rd, Maple Ridge 7 pm JANUARY 30 Pitt Meadows Secondary 19438 - 116B Ave, Pitt Meadows 7 pm FEBRUARY 4 Maple Ridge Secondary 21911 - 122nd Ave, Maple Ridge 7 pm FEBRUARY 5 Thomas Haney Secondary 23000 - 116th Ave, Maple Ridge 7 pm FEBRUARY 6 Samuel Robertson Technical 10445 - 245 St, Maple Ridge 7 pm FEBRUARY 12 Westview Secondary School 20905 Wicklund Ave, Maple Ridge MAY 28 Full day visit for all secondary schools

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Join us on our information night and learn all about the district’s prestigious IB programme.


Maple Ridge & Pitt Meadows Times

Tuesday, January 28, 2014

A5

Pitt Meadows

Budget motion rejected

A last-minute motion to lower taxes was defeated 4-3 last Tuesday. by Eric Zimmer ezimmer@mrtimes.com

Amidst an already heated meeting at Pitt Meadows City hall last week, the proposed budget became another source of contention. A motion to carry forward a 1.9-percent tax increase looked like a given, until Councillor Dave Murray asked about the possibility of lowering the increase to just one per cent. “We can’t continue to tax and spend,” he said. The motion seemed to catch council off guard, and Coun. Gwen O’Connell asked him how he would go about doing that. Murray offered suggestions like cutting back on things such as City lawn mowing

and janitorial services. Councillors Janis Elkerton and Bruce Bell supported Murray’s idea. But speaking via conference call from Prince George, Coun. Doug Bing expressed disappointment that Murray had not said anything about this sooner. Mayor Deb Walters agreed, and said she took the fact that this idea wasn’t brought up during budget discussions before the holidays as a sign that all councillors were on the same page. She added that if they cut back on things like what Murray suggested, the public would then have a problem with the lack of care and maintenance. In the end, the original motion, with the 1.9-per-cent increase, was carried. According to finance director Mark Roberts, the increase means that an average single family home in Pitt Meadows, with an assessed value of $450,000, will have $52 added to its bill.

Rollo suggests lower job targets

...continued from page A1

“From my perspective, I didn’t think what we were doing was good enough,” Morden said about council’s recommendations to staff on how to move forward with the CommercialIndustrial Strategy 20122042 prepared by Rollo & Associates. Morden is concerned about some facts in the report, for example, that

Maple Ridge lost about $128 million in retail and commerce in 2012 to other communities, what the report calls “net retail spending leakage.” He also doesn’t want employment targets lowered by 200 jobs a year until 2040 as suggested by the Rollo report. But Maple Ridge Mayor Ernie Daykin said he doesn’t want to get hung up on numbers.

“If it’s a range from 42 [thousand] to 48 [thousand], I’m good with that,” he said. “The District is a facilitator for creating an environment where people want to live, invest their money, and open up business.” The District could set a goal of 48,000 but have a “crummy plan” in place, Daykin added, and not reach that number.

• More online at www.mrtimes.com

NOTICE OF INTENTION TO AMEND PITT MEADOWS OFFICIAL COMMUNITY PLAN

TAKE NOTICE THAT a Public Hearing will be held in the Council Chamber of the Pitt Meadows City Hall, 12007 Harris Road, Pitt Meadows, BC on Tuesday February 4th, 2014 at 7:00 p.m. to consider the following amendment to Official Community Plan Bylaw No. 2352, 2007, the Official Community Plan for the City of Pitt Meadows: City of Pitt Meadows Official Community Plan Amendment Bylaw No. 2623, 2013 The following sections will be amended as follows: Chapter 3 – Regional Context Statement: Replace with a new Regional Context Statement; Chapter 4.6 – Residential: Incorporate new policies regarding rental housing, non-market housing, supporting regional housing efforts and housing choices; Chapter 2 – Community Overview, Section 2.4 Demographics: Include new population and housing projections; The following Map Schedules will be revised in order to maintain consistency with Chapter 3, Regional Context Statement: Schedule 1: Urban Containment Boundary and Agricultural Land Reserve Schedule2: Metro Vancouver Livable Region Strategic Plan Green Zone Schedule 3A: Urban Land Use Schedule 3B: Rural Land Use Schedule 12A: Urban Development Permit Areas Schedule 12B: Rural Development Permit Areas Also included in the bylaw are various minor text amendments. The Bylaw and associated staff report may be viewed at City Hall, 12007 Harris Road, Pitt Meadows, between January 24th, 2014 and February 4th, 2014 from 8:30 a.m. – 4:30 p.m., excluding weekends and statutory holidays. Please direct inquiries to the Development Services Department at 604-465-2428. AND FURTHER TAKE NOTICE ALL PERSONS who deem themselves affected hereby shall be afforded an opportunity to be heard at the Public Hearing before Council on the matters contained herein or by making a written submission (or email) by 3:00 pm on February 4th, 2014 to the attention of the Manager of Legislative Services. All submissions will become part of the public record. Kelly Kenney Manager of Legislative Services, 604-465-2433 kkenney@pittmeadows.bc.ca

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Resumes may be submitted to: Director of Human Resources City of Pitt Meadows 12007 Harris Road Pitt Meadows, BC V3Y 2B5 Email: resumes@pittmeadows.bc.ca Closing date: 4:30 pm, Friday, January 31, 2014 We thank all applicants, however, only those selected for an interview will be contacted. Candidates will require a satisfactory Criminal Record Check and Driver’s Abstract

12007 Harris Road Pitt Meadows, BC V3Y 2B5 604.465.5454 www.pittmeadows.bc.ca

NOTICE OF INTENTION TO AMEND ZONING BYLAW TAKE NOTICE THAT a Public Hearing will be held in the Council Chamber of the Pitt Meadows City Hall, 12007 Harris Road, Pitt Meadows, BC on Tuesday February 4th, 2014 at 7:00 p.m. to consider the following amendment to Zoning Bylaw No. 2505, 2011 the Zoning Bylaw for the City of Pitt Meadows: City of Pitt Meadows Zoning Bylaw Amendment No. 2642, 2013 The purpose of this text amendment is to permit office uses on the first floor of buildings in the MC (Mainstreet Commercial) Zone. The Mainstreet Commercial Zone is shown boldly outlined and shaded on the attached map. The Bylaw and associated staff report may be viewed at City Hall, 12007 Harris Road, Pitt Meadows, between January 24th, 2014 and February 4th, 2014 from 8:30 a.m. – 4:30 p.m., excluding weekends and statutory holidays. Please direct inquiries to the Development Services Department at 604-465-2428. AND FURTHER TAKE NOTICE ALL PERSONS who deem themselves affected hereby shall be afforded an opportunity to be heard at the Public Hearing before Council on the matters contained herein or by making a written submission (or email) by 3:00 pm on Tuesday February 4th, 2014 to the attention of the Manager of Legislative Services. Kelly Kenney Manager of Legislative Services, 604-465-2433 kkenney@pittmeadows.bc.ca

12007 Harris Road Pitt Meadows, BC V3Y 2B5 The Natural Place Phone: 604.465.5454 Fax: 604.465.2404


A6

Tuesday, January 28, 2014

Opinion Who we are The Maple Ridge & Pitt Meadows TIMES newspaper is a division of LMP Publication Limited Partnership. We’re located at 22345 North Avenue, Maple Ridge, B.C. The TIMES has a CCAB audited circulation of 29,950.

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rhooper@mrtimes.com Assistant Editor Editorial Maria Rantanen Sylver McLaren Troy Landreville Eric Zimmer Advertising Ralph De Adder Nick Hiam Anne Gordon Sheryl Jones Distribution Supervisor Wendy Bradley Administration Rebecca Nickerson

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Our View

Ten years to same result Once again our provincial government has spun for us a cautionary tale. This one is rooted deeply enough in the past to qualify as historic. It was 2002. British Columbians had elected a new government about a year earlier. It was a brand new government. Gordon Campbell’s Liberals had trounced a scandal-ridden NDP government at the polls with a phenomenal majority. The Liberals had 77 of 79 seats in the legislature, and the NDP, with just two seats, didn’t even qualify for full party status. The Liberals were on a mission, and they tackled it with a vengeance. Anyone who had supported the NDP was to pay for the previous decade. Nurses and health care workers had already been put in their place, and now it was the teachers’ turn. A signed and sealed contract between teachers and their employer – effectively, the province of B.C. – included such provisions as limits to class sizes. No more. The Liberals enacted legislation that effectively nullified that contract. And they virtually dared the B.C. Teachers’ Federation to do something about it. The BCTF took up the gauntlet – and took the government to court. And they won. The court declared the Liberal legislation illegal. But like any 0schoolyard bully feeling bolstered by overwhelming might, the Liberal government responded by enacting new legislation… which the courts have again ruled against, awarding the BCTF $2 million in damages. The hard feelings that the Liberals’ ill-conceived reactionary efforts have engendered won’t abate soon. But there might be some hope… if the government gives up its folly, and finally gives the teachers their courtordered due. – B.G.

This Week’s Question Is a provincial apology for historic wrongs to the Chinese community enough? ■ Your View Last week’s question, results… What’s the best way to deal with health care costs associated with tobacco smoke?

Increase tobacco taxes. Make smokers pay user fees when sick.

35 % 9%

Ban all second-hand (public) smoke.

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Ban tobacco outright.

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Smokers have rights, too.

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Vote online at: www.mrtimes.com

Opinion

Babbling from the sidelines Is this deja vu, or have I really moment, and I am running out been here before? of time. I’m sitting here, looking at a (Truth be known, I actually blank piece of paper. ran out of time about 10 minActually, it’s a blank computer utes ago, and the presses are screen, but I grew up in the days impatiently waiting.) when people still wrote on paper, It occurs to me that I have now and so the old cliches still work pretty much filled a little over for me. half of my allotted space for this In fact, more exactly, it’s not week, and I have thus far maneven a blank computer screen in aged to say something that is front of me – what I have before somewhere between very little by Bob Groeneveld me is an electronic representaand nothing at all. tion of a nearly finished Editorial And to think, I could have used Page (which we now call the the exact same space to expound “Opinion” page, nevertheless once again, the some deep, philosophical truths pertaining to cliches ever hearken us back to the days of our Maple Ridge or Pitt Meadows municipal political youth). circumstances. Even the blank space which is left for me to fill I might have exploded some all-consumisn’t really blank. ing myth about the power – or the detriment There are vertical blue lines to guide me into – of political alliances and/or voting blocs at the appropriate columns as I write, blue lines the municipal level, and compared them to the which you never get to see, as they are invisadvantages and disadvantages that have accrued ible to the press, and therefore to all our readers from party politics that have completely taken who only get to see the post-press results of my over the way our federal and provincial governmental meandering, so I suppose I am sort of in ing bodies operate. a privileged position here. I could have waxed philosophical about how Nevertheless, also inside the blank space is a ordinary people might be better served by greatpicture of myself, which quite frankly is staring er independence for the representatives that we at me accusingly at this very moment – accusing send to Victoria and Ottawa, and how importme of writing such awful drivel. ant it is for local representatives to maintain the As awful as this digressive drivel has been, independence they have, to represent their conhowever, I suspect it may have given you, the stituents, rather than those who may erroneously reader, something of an insight into the process perceive themselves their political masters. by which my mind operates – a small insight Whatever that means. into a small mind? I could have mentioned Albion or tax rates. In addition to offering you that probably I could have delved deep into the cracks and unnecessary insight, my ramblings filled slightly crannies of the nether reaches of my brain and less than half of the space that I must fill, by edi- dragged up some reminiscences about how the torial decree (and since I am the editor, I shrink more local politics change, the more they stay from denigrating the importance of editorial the same. decrees). I guess it’s up to you to decide whether this Perhaps it’s time to insert something pithy, space would have been better used in such a witty, or maybe sentimental. manner. I just can’t think of any such thing at the But me? I’m just babbling from the sidelines.

Odd Thoughts


editorial@mrtimes.com

Maple Ridge & Pitt Meadows Times

Public works

No thought for environment

TUE & THURS $2.99 BELLINIS

Tuesday, January 28, 2014

THE HANEY ... public house ...

THURSDAY 12 CENT WINGS!

est 1948

Since no residents or anyone who may Dear Editor, have an interest in preserving this tree corIt seems our councillors just take it upon ridor for resident wildlife as a highway bufthemselves to go ahead with any project fer and green space were informed, I doubt they fancy, with no public input or prior specialists were contacted. notice and no thought about how As a resident and taxpayer the decision may impact residents or of Maple Ridge, having lived urban wildlife. here and enjoyed the presence I looked out my back window this to of these trees for 25 years, I am morning and saw municipal workers the upset that residents have no say using chain saws and a tree chipper about what decisions are made on the municipal side of my fence in areas close to their homes. which runs along Lougheed Highway. This affects our quality of livWe have a lovely barrier of laurel ing, and there are so few areas trees and weeping willow which left for small wildlife to survive in, does leads down to the very sensitive area of our council give any thought to the lives McKinney Creek. I had a bit of a panic impacted by their decisions? attack and immediately drove out to find While council is busy clearing green out what was going on. spaces for sidewalks, two-block bike paths, I was saddened to see that much of the and underground pipes, we have teenagers foliage had already been cut back, although risking their lives crossing the Lougheed the worker assured me they were not Highway every day at 210th, between 207th actually removing the trees near the fence. and Laity, on their way to and from school. Did the municipality contact an arborist to determine if this drastic cut will harm the Perhaps that could be addressed before someone is killed? trees? Will they be able to survive this haphazard butchering? Dana Lacroix, Maple Ridge

Letters

Editor

Just Saying

Anti-bully efforts undone by writer

Dear Editor, I am appalled at Mr. Robson’s comments suggesting our mayor go home and be the “dough image” for his daughter’s company [There are people with

bigger issues, Jan. 21 Just Saying, TIMES]. The public and school boards are spending millions of dollars trying to stop bullying and name-calling in the schoolyard and in

Just Saying

Columnist exposed as bully

Dear Editor, We tell our children over and over that bullying is not acceptable or any way to treat another human. After reading Gordy Robson’s column [There are people with bigger issues, Jan. 21 Just Saying, TIMES] I see why it is such an uphill battle when he is allowed to write that garbage for all to see. No different than a schoolyard bully… just saying. Jason Exner, Maple Ridge

the workplace. Apparently, Mr. Robson does not consider name-calling as bullying. It makes one wonder if, at one time, he was a school yard bully. Perhaps he would have had less problems allowing people to play on his golf course if he had actually followed the rules and applied to have his property rezoned, instead of suggesting that it is a nonprofit company. Perhaps Mr. Robson could tell us how much money he has donated from his golf course, and to whom did he donate it? Ron Mitchell, Maple Ridge

Assessments

More value in vacant, deteriorating house

Dear Editor, I was bemused at your article, “Maple Ridge climbs, Pitt Meadows climbs higher [Jan. 7, TIMES].” Upon receiving my B.C. Assessment notice for 2014, I noticed that the value of my dwelling had dropped 34 per cent from the previous year. I asked B.C. Assessment for an explana-

What you’re telling us on Facebook

A deer was shot with an arrow and left to suffer in Maple Ridge. Readers react with a mix of anger, outrage. “That is sick., how can people do this.” – Sue Kahlen Welsch “ENRAGED!!”

– Jason Burke “Wow, unbelievable.” – James Buddy Rogers “No fingerprints?” – Giti Attar

“Absolutely disgusting!!! I hope they catch the idiot...” – Jannette Kotze “Coward!”

– Marian Schwaiger “Someone should do the same to the person who did it to the deer.” – Alvin Cohen

Share your views. Like us on Facebook at: www.facebook.com/MapleRidgePittMeadowsTimes

tion, and was told a mass survey done in my area caused the revaluation based on the year the dwelling was built and its legal description, i.e. square footage, number of bedrooms, bathrooms, etc. I started surveying other properties in my area with the same description and found most were devaluing nine to 16 per cent. When I told B.C. Assessment that I had done significant exterior upgrades to my dwelling compared to others fitting my legal description, I was told that, contrary to what was stated in your article, the physical condition of my dwelling had no effect on the revaluation and assessment. That explains why a dwelling two properties away, which has been sitting vacant for three years in total disrepair and waiting to be demolished, actually went up in value. It will be interesting to see if my property taxes will go down this year, although I won’t hold my breath. Doug Stanger, Maple Ridge

Conundrum

Popularity lacks truth

Dear Editor, Liars are seldom, if ever, popular. The head honcho at Lulu Lemon said something to the effect of women with hefty thighs perhaps should not be wearing their slacks, because when the heavy thighs rub together they’ll cause pills. It now appears that telling the truth is not all that popular, either. Robert W. Stirling, Maple Ridge

LETTERS POLICY: 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. Letters are also subject to editing for content and length. The Maple Ridge-Pitt Meadows TIMES is a division of LMP Publication Limited Partnership.

22222 Lougheed Highway, Maple Ridge BC • 604-463-3811 • www.haneypub.com

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editorial@mrtimes.com

Tuesday, January 28, 2014

Maple Ridge & Pitt Meadows Times

Saving agricultural land

Albion Flats is not the only option available to council

A

rriving at the Vancouver airport after my time away with Mary, our cab took us down Marine Drive through Vancouver and Burnaby. I couldn’t help noticing that all the remaining first class, fertile lands are converting to residential and industrial uses. As Derek Corrigan, mayor of Burnaby told me, they are preserving agricultural land (the Vancouver Golf Course), which ironically is located in Burnaby. The thousands and thousands of apartments, on top of commercial activity, has reduced the amount of farm and wetlands along the Fraser River through Coquitlam to Burnaby and Vancouver to almost zero. After I got home and got caught up on our councils, I couldn’t help but be bemused by their activities. Pitt Meadows council – with a vote by speaker-phone from their unpaid councillor (MLA Doug Bing) – by a 4-3 margin, passed a motion for development of the Park family farm and adjacent lands. Very strange, indeed. On the Maple Ridge council side, apparently, they are again reviewing many

Just Saying by Gordy Robson

reports – which tells them we have an unsustainable community. Our community is dependent on more than 90 per cent residential tax base. They are again considering the Pelton property, which by the way, does not have as good soil as the lands being developed in Burnaby and Coquitlam. But, to do this, they would have to take on [former NDP MLA Michael] Sather, [Sather’s partner and local environmentalist Annette] LeBox, and friends. So they pass on this option. The reports council has been reading teases them about the opportunity they have to develop lands in the 128th

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Avenue and 232nd Street area, which are not in the Agricultural Land Reserve (ALR). There is no soil there, it is primarily river gravel base, and they could actually do it without asking regional or Agricultural Land Commission approval. Although there are easily 40 acres there that could be developed, every time council raises that possibility, dozens of signs mysteriously appear. Apparently, the neighbourhood action is supported by people who have made investments in that area, who would take a loss of value if it was designated as employment lands. The next option is the Albion land, which has good soil, bad drainage, and is in a floodplain protected by dikes (and it will flood again, that’s why they call it a floodplain). During all this dithering which has gone on for years, council has failed to address the zoned industrial lands south of the CPR track. Mayor [Ernie] Daykin, unless his memory has conveniently disappeared, owned and operated one of the businesses that disappeared because they couldn’t get cooperation from the municipality. Through council decisions, the

most immediate land that is available for employment is the approved and developed Kanaka Creek Industrial Park on north 256th Street. A hundredplus acres (reclamation of the historic Kirkpatrick gravel extraction) are ready for occupation, and the only tenant they have been able to get so far is apparently BC Hydro’s emergency response vehicles. (Go figure). The rest of the land can’t be sold because there is no access or a plan to provide it. Our councillors appear willfully blind that they have an industrial park already developed. No one wants to buy a piece of industrial property that you cannot get to efficiently. Mayor Daykin and his current council are committed to not offending anybody. Perhaps their personal political agendas trump their decisions to do the right thing. So the question is; “Are we protecting farmland? Or is it politics? Just saying… Gordy Robson’s column appears Tuesdays in the print and/or online versions of The TIMES. Reactions can be emailed c/o editorial@mrtimes.com.

St. Patrick’s School Open House February 6, 2014 at 6:00 pm

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FEBRUARY CALENDAR OF EVENTS • H&R Block – Tax Services ...................................................................... February 1 – April 30

• Family Day Mall Hours - Noon to 5:00 pm.................................. February 10 • Variety Children’s Charity of BC – Gold Hearts Fundraiser................................February 14 • Maple Ridge Festival of Lights – Raffle Tickets & Information..........................February 21 • Maple Ridge Festival of Lights – Celebration 4-9 pm.........................................February 28

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Maple Ridge & Pitt Meadows Times

&places

Part of your Community for over 40 years

faces Maple Ridge & Pitt Meadows

Showcasing some of this community’s people and happenings

Josh Lasko Photog

Tuesday, January 28, 2014

Call

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604.343.2036

Staff with the City of Pitt Meadows got into the spirit of Jersey Day in support of KidSport on Thursday. Left to right were Cheryl Harding, Martin Brown, Kelly Kenney, Charity Igiri, Kathleen Wilson, Chantal Gemperle, Mike Sproule, Rebecca Vaughan, and Don Jolley. Participants donated a toonie to KidSport, which helps young people play sports. Troy Landreville/TIMES

raphy

Maple Ridge and the gang at Lena Speckman s Thursday to sed up in jersey Volkswagen dres ort for KidSport. show their supp

Fundraiser

Kids help kids play sports by Maria Rantanen mrantanen@mrtimes.com

S

tudents at Webster’s Corners would really like to make sure that all kids can play sports. That was their motivation to organize the second annual Jersey Day on Thursday, and they appealed to students and staff at all schools in the Maple Ridge-Pitt Meadows school district, local government staff, and businesses to don a jersey and donate a toonie to KidSport, a charity that helps pay for kids to take part in organized sports. Fifty jars were distributed throughout schools, government buildings, and businesses to collect money to raise money for KidSport. “Everyone should have a chance to play sports,” said Webster’s Corners Elementary student Courtney Holm, who is part of the Me-toWe group at the school that is in charge of the community-wide fundraiser. • More at www.mrtimes.com, search “Jersey”

KidSport president Len Walters was elated to see that the annual Jersey Day fundraiser for his organization has grown this year. On Thursday, it expanded from the elementary schools and City halls to the officers and support staff at Ridge Meadows RCMP (above) and out into the business community, including Re-Max Lifestyles Realty (top).

Ian Speckman and the gang at Maple Ridge Chrysler donned jerseys to show support Thursday for the local chapter of KidSport.

Westminster Savings has been a huge supporter of KidSport, and staff at two of their local branches, the Landmark (left) and Maple Ridge (below) locations, dressed up in jerseys Thursday to show their support as part of Jersey Day. The credit union staff will also be organizing a fundraising barbecue. “I know our teams really love getting involved so it should be lots of fun,” said Tammy Banning, cash services manager of the Landmark location.

How can you share? Do you have a local photo of someone or some place you’d like to share with the rest of Maple Ridge and Pitt Meadows? Email it to us as a high-resolution .JPEG to editorial@mrtimes.com. Please include a brief description – including everyone’s first and last name. Put “faces & places” in the subject line of your email.

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Tuesday, January 28 , 2014

Maple Ridge & Pitt Meadows Times

Who am I?

Like us & win with

Let’s test your Home Town Hero trivia with this week’s Who Am I? This Facebook feature is part of a twice-weekly TIMES giveaway, where readers are asked to identify people from this community’s distant and recent past. For instance, who’s the subject of this week’s picture? Like us on Facebook and correctly answer before 9 a.m. Friday to be entered. Last week’s picture was of blues musician James Thorhaug. Congratulations to Stacey Rogers MacEachern for correctly identifying Thorhaug. MacEachern and others who answered correctly are automatically entered for the grand-prize giveaway next month.

LOST SOMETHING AT THE PITT MEADOWS FAMILY REC CENTRE? From eyeglasses to watches to cameras, lost and found items may be identified and claimed at the front desk of City Hall, located at 12007 Harris Road. All items must be claimed before February 17, 2014. Any unclaimed items will be disposed of or destroyed.

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Maple Ridge & Pitt Meadows Times

Tuesday, January 28, 2014

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RCMP

Students keep WITS about them A new program helps students stand up to bullies.

An anti-bullying program is being promoted by the RCMP, fire departments, and the school district. The WITS program – which stands for Walk away, Ignore, Talk it out and Seek help – is a program designed to prevent kids from becoming victims of bullying. It has been developed in partnership with the University of Victoria, the RCMP, and the fire department. The WITS assembly introduces the program and the problem-solving model to the school community. The assembly is followed up by a visit from a community leader, for example, police, fire fighters, paramedics, or volunteers, to help stu-

dents use the program to deal with bullying or peer victimization. “It is important for students to know that there are people around them that are available to support them and assist when required,” said Ridge Meadows RCMP Cpl. Alanna Dunlop. “The WITS program demonstrates that the whole community is engaged and interested in anti-bullying and preventing peer victimization.” The program is a part of their youth programming strategic plan, Dunlop added, which also includes programs like DARE, Internet Safety, Graduated Licensing awareness, the RCMP Youth Academy, and SPURS.

The WITS leads program is for students in grades 4 to 6, and enlists senior students at the elementary level to be school leaders and educated bystanders. Building school communities of care and safety where students feel included is important to student success, said Sherri Skerratt, a counsellor with the school district. “Our students will be learning language and strategies that will move beyond the classroom and school into the community,” she added. “We have heard it said many times, it takes a village to raise a child; this WITS initiative begins to do just that.” For information on the WITS program, visit www.witsprogram.ca.

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Welcoming the New Businesses of

2013 2013 has come to an end, and what a year it has been for downtown Maple Ridge! We’ve welcomed many new businesses in the past year, and we’d like to introduce some of them to you. There are some businesses that have moved here from other locations, some that have opened a new location here, and some brand new businesses that have started up. If you’ve resolved to get in better shape this year, there are a couple of new downtown businesses you might be interested in. Dance FX School of Dance has moved downtown if you’d like to learn how to dance, and Trevor Linden Fitness is opening their downtown Maple Ridge location on January 16th. If you’re looking for something to quench your thirst after a workout, Booster Juice offers many healthy options. And downtown Maple Ridge is becoming an even better place to treat yourself to a relaxing spa day! Just this past year we’ve welcomed Beyond Devine Day Spa, Cameo Spa & Laser Clinic, and Spa Le Rhine. You can easily get away from it all without leaving Maple Ridge! If you just can’t wait until summer to get your skin looking tanned again, maybe stop by Platinum Glow Tanning Salon or Phazes Tanning & Beauty Salon. If a pedicure or manicure is right up your alley, visit Cloud Nine Nail Bar, the newest nail bar in town. Or if you’re just looking for a simple hair cut, give Dennis’s Hair & Repair Barber Shop a try. If it’s your house that needs the spa treatment, Jani-Clean Janitorial Services offers residential cleaning as well as office and commercial cleaning, and the people at AK Designer Home Improvements can give your entire house a makeover. If your car is the one that needs to be treated well, consider taking it to Express Care. There were a few new businesses that made headlines with their arrivals. Target has arrived in Haney Place Mall, and Chances Maple Ridge has taken the place of the bingo hall. The Well is a restaurant that opened up inside Chances, and Bombay Restaurant is another great new option for a meal downtown. We also have a number of speciality stores to welcome! The British Store has opened up a Maple Ridge location, selling many traditional British food and sweets. There’s a new place with great pulled pork sandwiches called The Meat Shop, and a new movie rental store called Once Upon a Movie. If you’re looking for a place that specializes in bargains, Dollar Tree is the newest dollar store in town. All these new businesses, plus the hundreds of businesses already established in downtown, make 2014 a great year for shopping local. Shopping at local independent businesses means that your money will stay right here in Maple Ridge. You’ll be helping local entrepreneurs, and investing in a stable, local economy. You’ll also save money on gas by shopping in downtown Maple Ridge, and it’s a beautiful place to walk around.

free batteries for life!*

Hope you’ll try our suggestions and let us know your experiences on Facebook, or email inquiries@downtownmapleridge.ca with your favourites. You can also ‘Like’ our Facebook page at www.facebook.com/shopmapleridge and stay in touch with happenings in your downtown, including new businesses!

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Tuesday, January 28 , 2014

Post events 10 days in advance by email to:

editorial@ mrtimes.com

What’s On

www.mrtimes.com January 28: Celtic Jam

• Come join Nigel Tucker and his band of merry musicians for a Celtic jam at The ACT, 11944 Haney Pl., Maple Ridge, from 7 to 9 p.m. Bring an instrument, voice, or just come and listen.

January 28: Weavers

• Whonnock Weavers and Spinners Guild will be meeting at Whonnock Lake Centre, 27871 113rd Ave., Maple Ridge, at 7:30 p.m. The group welcomes felters, knitters, basket makers, and anyone else interested in any other fibre arts. Info: Marie at 604-462-9059.

January 28: Pitt Meadows Library

• Learn About Finance seminar runs from 7 to 8 p.m. Join Vancity Pitt Meadows Community Branch for a series of financial seminars at the library. This month the topic will be credit cards and prepaid cards – participants will learn about the advantages and disadvantages of credit, types of credit and features of credit.

January 29: Bereavement

• Ridge Meadows Hospice Society is offering an eight-week bereavement support group starting Wednesday, Jan. 29, noon to 2 p.m. The group meets once a week for eight weeks. Info: 604-463-7722.

January 29: Resumes

• WorkBC Employment Services Centre and the Maple Ridge Library will be offering a workshop on creating a resume from

Maple Ridge & Pitt Meadows Times 5 to 7 p.m. This workshop will be held at WorkBC, at #170-22470 Dewdney Trunk Rd. Participants should bring their current resume on a USB stick or email it to a web-accessible email. This program is for ages 15 to 30. Register: 604-467-7417

January 29: Volunteer info session

• The Learning Room, located at the CEED Centre, needs more volunteers. For example, one-on-one tutors of adult learners, book club monitors, literacy committee ambassadors, scribes, and newsletter writers are needed. A volunteer information session will be held at Riverside Centre, 20575 Thorne Ave., Maple Ridge, at 6:30 p.m. Info: 604-463-2229.

January 29: Diversity

• A workshop, “Living, Working and Serving Effectively with Canada’s Increasing Diversity,” runs from 8:30 a.m. to noon, Maple Ridge Library, 11995 Haney Pl. and from 2 to 5 p.m. at Pitt Meadows City hall, 12007 Harris Rd. Register for one event only at www.eventbrite.ca or look for a link at www.welcomingcommunities.familyed.bc.ca.

January 30: Philosophers

• Philosophers’ Cafe meets at 7 p.m. in the lobby of The ACT. This month’s topic is: What does compassion mean to you? How do you know that someone is showing you compassion? Have you experienced compassion in your life? Registration and experience not required. Info: interdisciplinary-cs@sfu.ca or www.philosopherscafe.net.

Late French Immersion registration begins on February 12, 2014 on a first come, first on list basis

January 31: Support group

February 1: Comedy show

• The Comic Strippers and Gloria’s Happy Hour will be at The ACT, 11944 Haney Pl., starting at 8 p.m. For tickets and info, go to www.theactmapleridge.org, email info@ mract.org or call 604-476-2787. 22225 Brown Avenue, Maple Ridge, BC V2X 8N6 Tel. 604.463.4200

• Full list: www.mrtimes.com

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Late French Immersion begins in Grade 6. Students who are currently in Grade 5 are eligible to begin Late French Immersion in September 2014 at Golden Ears Elementary School. For further information, please contact Joanne Rowen at 604.465.5828 or joanne_rowen@sd42.ca

• Hominum Fraser Valley, an informal discussion and support group to help gay, bisexual, and questioning men, meets at 7:30 p.m. For information and meeting location, call Art 604-462-9813 or Don 604-329-9760.

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Tuesday, February 11, 2014

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Maple Ridge & Pitt Meadows Times

Sports On Deck

Coaches named Maple Ridge Burrards will have a strong presence behind the bench during this summer’s 2014 box lacrosse nationals. The BC Lacrosse Association (BCLA) announced five head coaches for the midget, bantam, peewee, female midget, and female bantam 2014 Team BC – box lacrosse programs. Burrards general manager Daren Fridge and head coach Chris Gill are among the coaches, as is Maple Ridge resident Curt Malawsky. • More at www.mrtimes.com, click “Sports”

Tuesday, January 28, 2014

Recreation

Reach The TIMES' sports desk: Phone: 604-463-2281 or email: sports@mrtimes.com

Home Town Heroes

Mom still helping from sidelines

Last week, organizers of the annual Home Town Heroes program announced three athletes were selected for the honour for 2013. This is the second in a series of profiles on these outstanding local sports personalities.

View video with or online at

www.mrtimes.com

Hero profiles

All three of the 2013 Home Town Heroes are profiled by The TIMES. Last Thursday, we brought you the story on boxer Rick Funk, and how he went from fighting on the streets to battling in boxing ring around the world. Today, we’re focusing on hockey player Victor Bartley, and how he’s gone from fooling around on a backyard rink in Ontario to playing for the Nashville Predators. And, on Thursday, we’ll bring you a feature story on Ron VandenBrink, and how – always drawn to physical sports – he grew to excel at the sport of rugby at the provincial and national levels.

by Troy Landreville tlandreville@mrtimes.com

Maurader Graham Smith went for two points during the semifinals.

Triumph in semis Marauders head coach Rich Goulet described his team’s semifinal game as a “war.” The Pitt Meadows Secondary team, with home court advantage during the Air Show basketball tournament, went up against the Heritage Woods Kodiaks. The two clubs, which started competing against each other in Grade 9, “have a history,” he said. Though the two teams have traded victories and losses in the past, the Mauraders had not beat the Kodiaks in league play this year. That changed Jan. 18, when the Mauraders emerged victorious 70-59. • More online: www.mrtimes.com, click on “Sports”

Making a splash Pitt Meadows swimmer and Simon Fraser University student Ciaran McDonnell played a key part this past Saturday during a competition against Division I Seattle University. The SFU Clan took the first two races of the day, as the men’s and women’s teams both won in the 200-yard medley relay, of which McDonnell was a part. • More at www.mrtimes.com, click “Sports”

Send your scores and game reports to sports@mrtimes.com

A13

Victor Bartley grew up emulating his big brother. This ardent admiration of older sibling Mitch helped drive the now 25-year-old Victor to a destination most hockey players dream about, but a select few ever get a chance to see: the National Hockey League. Mitch Bartley played from 2001 to ’08 including one season with the B.C. Hockey League’s Burnaby Bulldogs, four with the WHL’s Vancouver Giants, and two more with the University of British Columbia. “[Mitch] had a big influence in my life, growing up,” Victor said. “He [is] three years older than me and was always the star growing up all through minor hockey in Maple Ridge. I always wanted to follow in his shoes. Growing up, you always seek the approval of your older brother and that was one of the main things that kept pushing me day after day to train harder, work on my game, and continue to improve.” Victor forged his own hockey path, and an impressive one, at that. His journey has led him to Music City USA, where he is a second-year defenceman with the NHL’s Nashville Predators. He played his first NHL game with the Nashville Predators during their 6-0 victory over the Edmonton Oilers on March 8, 2013. The details of his first shift were a blur to Victor, who said “All I could recall when it was over is that I thought to myself, ‘You belong here.’” In his rookie year in the NHL, the 6’ 200 pound blueliner notched seven assists in 24 games, with a plus-two rating. Born Feb. 17, 1988 in Ottawa, Victor moved to Maple Ridge when he was five years old.

My good life is setting a healthy example for my children.

John A. Russell/Nashville Predators

Victor Bartley is one of the most recently crowned Home Town Heroes. He plays defenceman for the Nashville Predators. When Victor and his family arrived in Maple Ridge from Ontario, he began playing organized hockey at the tyke level locally. From that point, Victor played all of his minor hockey with the Ridge Meadows Minor Hockey Association, from atom A1 through to bantam. Away from the rink, Victor attended Eric Langton elementary school and was in French immersion. He went on to attend Thomas Haney Secondary where he was a good student, with a B average. Victor was a multi-sport athlete, and played football and soccer up to the age of 14, when he had to make a decision on which activity

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!*%& # '#"*& $&% &#$ '+() ! "

to stick with. He chose hockey because, he said, “that’s what I knew I was born to do and I couldn’t have been happier with my choice.” Once he turned 15, Victor opted out of playing midget hockey and instead elected to take the junior B route with the Delta Ice Hawks. He left behind a treasure trove of memories, the fondest of which was his bantam AAA team making it into the “Final Four” and taking on the Burnaby Winter Club. “I still think back to that memory all the time and remember how no one thought we could get there, but we all came together and made it happen,” he recalled. Victor remains a hometown boy. He returns to Maple Ridge

every summer to train with Adam Francilia of Fit Life Sports Performance. “I’ve been with Adam for six years now, and he’s had a tremendous impact on my hockey career,” Victor said. “He’s not just my trainer. I consider him a close friend.” Growing up playing hockey in Maple Ridge, Victor had some strong role models to follow, including a handful of coaches who had a part in his development: Georgio Nicolato, Greg Bodnarchuk, and Steve Hunt. But Victor’s biggest influence was, and still is, his parents. “They always saw the little things in my game that would make me a better player,” Victor said. “I can’t thank them enough for all they’ve done for me.” He added with a chuckle, “My mom still tries to tell me how to play.”

Meadowtown Centre Women’s Club

201-19800 Lougheed Hwy, 2nd Floor Real Canadian Superstore

604-460-0348

goodlifefitness.com *Based on the purchase of a 2 year membership. Bi-weekly payments will commence based on your start date. Applicable tax applies. No additional fees are required above the regular membership fee. Membership fees vary based on club and the membership option chosen. Offer valid at participating locations only. Please check goodlifefitness.com or with club for hours of operation. Other conditions apply, see club for details.




A16

Tuesday, January 28 , 2014

Maple Ridge & Pitt Meadows Times

SALE EVENT

30" ELECTRIC CONVECTION RANGE

30" ELECTRIC RANGE

• Air Convection • Self Clean Racks • Warming Zone

• True Temp System • Dual Element • Air Convection

Reg. $1,299

SALE $879

Reg. $1,199

30" ELECTRIC RANGE • Self Clean • Power Outlet • Quick Set lll Oven Control

Reg. $749

SALE $549

SALE $799

JCBP800STSS

30" ELECTRIC CONVECTION RANGE

30" ELECTRIC RANGE • Self Clean • Power Outlet • 6 Pass Bake Element

• European Convection • Warming Drawer • 5.0 cu. ft. Capacity • Self Clean

Reg. $649

Reg. $1,499 JCBP620DTWW

SALE $899

JCBP800DTWW

JCBP840STSS

SALE $499

JCBP240DTWW


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