Maple Ridge Pitt Meadows Times January 11 2014 by Maple Ridge Times

Nylons deliver Valentine wishes – a capella style – at The ACT Friday…

Tuesday, T ue y February 11, 2014

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Paddler’s journey protests pipeline A Pitt Meadows canoeist announces he’s making a three-month journey to Alaska to spotlight what’s at stake along the B.C. Coast. by Roxanne Hooper rhooper@mrtimes.com

Pitt Meadows adventurer Chris Cooper will be launching a three-month canoe trip along the B.C. Coast this summer intent on bringing awareness to its fragile ecosystem and the potential dangers an oil pipeline could pose. On June 1, this acclaimed canoeist, along with a small support team, depart from the Kwantlen tribal lands in Fort Langley. Cooper begins one of the longest treks of his life, a Chris Cooper 1,200-kilometre, 90-day paddle north along the B.C. coastline to Pitt Meadows adventurer the Alaskan border. The 65-year-old adventurer is doing what he loves – paddling in a canoe, as he’s done around the globe for decades. But this trek – labelled the Spirit of the Coast – is a project closer to home and closer to his heart. It’s been almost two years in the making, and Cooper was elated to unveil the plans to The TIMES’ readers this week. Although he and his wife Barb have travelled the world, which have included numerous paddling adventures through the British Isles, the Yorkshireborn man said he feels an unshakable bond with the province he’s called home since the late 1950s, and a need to help preserve all that he’s discovered since first traversing the entire coastline in a canoe in 2004.

continued on page A20…

Chris Cooper photo

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Tuesday, February 11, 2014

Maple Ridge & Pitt Meadows Times

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Maple Ridge & Pitt Meadows Times

Tuesday, February 11, 2014

UpFront Click

for community

Road work

Bridge to Silver Valley opens

A 70-year-old wooden bridge was replaced this winter in north Maple Ridge. mrtimes.com

Nominations sought The provincial government is asking people to nominate deserving citizens for the 2014 Order of British Columbia. Nominations must be received by the first Friday in March to be considered this year. Forms are available online at www.orderofbc.gov.bc.ca. For information, call 250--387-1616. • More at www.mrtimes.com

Harris is one of Pitt Meadows’ centennial mascots.

Pitt looks for citizens The City of Pitt Meadows wants to identify 100 outstanding individuals as part of their centennial celebrations. The centennial committee will choose the 100 “Citizens of the Century” based on historical significance, length of service to the community, legacy and impact on the community, enhancement to the community, and breadth of impact. Ten youth will also be recognized as Future Leaders. The deadline for nominations is Feb. 28 at 4:30 p.m. Info: ljones@pittmeadows. bc.ca or call 604-465-5454. • More at www.mrtimes.com

Babies are welcome

The provincial government won’t appeal a court ruling that allows babies to stay with their incarcerated mothers. A Mother-Baby program was cancelled at Alouette Correctional Centre for Women in 2008, but a recent court ruling concluded the cancellation violated the rights of two women affected by the decision. • 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.

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March, but that will depend on how warm it is, noting that it’s been unseasonably cold this winter. “It’s totally weather dependent,” he said about the construction project. “If it would warm up, that would help a lot.” The bridge replaced the old wooden bridge that was almost 70 years old. The new one is raised above the 200-year flood level, and meets the new national building code earthquake standards. It will also be able to handle heavy vehicles, which the previous one couldn’t. The new structure is also designed to support expansion to four lanes. A temporary pedestrian bridge was built for the construction period, and this also needs to be disassembled.

by Maria Rantanen & Cindy St. Laurent

editorial@mrtimes.com

The 232nd Street bridge opened up to cars early last week, but with ongoing construction, workers are asking people to slow down. The two-lane bridge, which is located near Maple Ridge Park over the North Alouette River, has been under construction since July 2013. The pedestrian crossings on the sides, however, are still under construction, and workers are there despite the traffic. Donna Lanphier, who has now been flagging at the bridge for the past week, is worried about the safety of workers on the project. She asked that cars slow down and watch out for workers. Lanphier said she believes when people receive their license, they should have to be a flagger for a week in order to learn the importance of slowing down. “Would you drive that way if you were going towards your kid?” she said. The bridge construction began in August and is largely being funded through development cost charges. The original budget for the bridge was $4.75 million, but

Maria Rantanen/TIMES

Donna Lanphier (above) is asking drivers to slow down as construction continues on the 232nd Street Bridge. Mike O’Keefe and Jesse Doerksen (inset) were a couple of the workers on the bridge last Thursday. Jeff Boehmer with the District’s engineering department, said the cost is coming in about 20 per cent under budget.

The District is hoping work will be finished by the end of February or early

Pitt Meadows

City closes door on Osprey zoning changes Council isn’t changing the types of businesses allowed in South Bonson. by Eric Zimmer ezimmer@mrtimes.com

There won’t be any doctors offices coming to Osprey Village any time soon. An application brought to the City of Pitt Meadows last fall to change the zoning on Barnston View Road was rejected by council on Feb. 4. The amendment would have allowed businesses not classified as “commercial retail” to move in and set up shop in Osprey

Village. But Pitt Meadows Mayor Deb Walters said at this point the amendment “really isn’t necessary.” “All the storefronts have been sold as retail – there’s no space down there that needed to be filled,” she explained. Rick Mudie, who lives in Osprey Village, said he is “not unhappy” with the decision. “I moved here on the thought that there’d be a little village I could use: a little restaurant, grocery store – I’d love to see a little deli,” he said. “If the concept was initially that this would be kept commercial retail, then I’d like to see it kept that way.”

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Osprey Village resident Rick Mudie said he supports the City’s decision not to amend a zoning bylaw.

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Tuesday, February 11, 2014

Maple Ridge & Pitt Meadows Times

Pitt Meadows

Bing bids goodbye to his council role

After eight years in municipal politics, Doug Bing addressed fellow councillors for the last time last week.

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Doug Bing said his goodbyes during the Feb. 4 council meeting, while councillors Janis Elkerton (left) and Tracy Miyashta looked on.

by Eric Zimmer ezimmer@mrtimes.com

Pitt Meadows City councillor and provincial MLA Doug Bing addressed City council for the last time as a councillor on Tuesday, Feb. 4. The now full-time provincial MLA will be based out of his constituent office, and focused solely on serving the community in a provincial capacity. Bing had a few parting words for council and the City during the meeting. “They say time flies when you’re having fun,” he quipped. “It’s been a fun eight years.” Councillor Bruce Bell wished Bing the best in his new role, but added that “he would be missed” on council. Mayor Deb Walters said she knows that Bing will “represent us well” at the provincial level. For his part, Bing said he had “phenomenal time” attending his last council meeting and that “everyone’s kind words of support were very touching.” As for any interaction with council, from now on, Bing said on Wednesday

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that “basically, that’s it.” “Any future interaction I have with City council will be as MLA,” he said. Bing’s confident he’s leaving Pitt Meadows in a good place. “There’s been a number of outstanding projects I’ve worked on and have seen come to fruition,” he said. “I’ve also always tried to maintain the small-town feel of this place.” While he has enjoyed working in both roles, Bing said it’s “a nice relief” to be finished his council duties, and to be able to focus now on just one job. Bing’s recently opened his MLA office at #10420130 Lougheed Hwy., near the Maple Ridge and Pitt Meadows border. His email is dougbing.mla@ leg.bc.ca.

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Maple Ridge & Pitt Meadows Times

Police files

Tracking device leads to arrest by Roxanne Hooper rhooper@mrtimes.com

A software tracker helped police nab a computer thief this week. A staff member from the local school district had a laptop stolen recently, during a residential break-in in Surrey, explained RCMP Cpl. Alanna Dunlop. “What the thief didn’t know is all computers in the school district have tracking software. Police are alerted to the signal from the computer,” she explained, noting it pinpoints the computer’s location. Working in partnership with Surrey RCMP’s property crime target team, local Mounties were able to obtain a search warrant, seize all of the items stolen from the home, and consequently arrest a suspect. “This case fully illustrates how all police agencies, RCMP, and municipal police forces, are interconnected in the Lower Mainland,” Dunlop said. Ridge Meadows RCMP had a similar case in 2012. Police were able to recover four laptop computers that were stolen from schools in Maple Ridge and Pitt Meadows. The technology has also allowed the local school district and RCMP to be “proactive” in any theft of a school computer, she added. “This allows police to leverage advances in technology with respect to locating stolen school district property,” Dunlop said.

Tuesday, February 11, 2014

Road safety

Responders teach youth driving rules

Last year’s pilot project worked so well, that police, firefighters, and ICBC are back in the class again.

A number of agencies, including police and fire, are once again working with Grade 10 students in Maple Ridge and Pitt Meadows to educate them about driving and how to avoid accidents.

by Roxanne Hooper rhooper@mrtimes.com

Police officer and firefighters hate attending accidents involving young people from this community, so they’re taking steps to reduce such encounters. Ridge Meadows RCMP and local fire departments, are partnering with ICBC for the second year in a row on a program to educate Grade 10 students about how to be safe drivers. It’s an interactive program called The Graduated Licensing Program: Three points of contact, explained Kate Woochuk, the local road safety coordinator for ICBC. “It’s important that we do what we can to help B.C. youth understand the importance of making smart driving decisions,” she said. Woochuk explained that students hear from an ICBC driver examiner about the process involved in getting their Class 7 driver’s licence. “The reality is that car crashes are the number one preventable cause of death for youth in B.C. We want to strengthen young people’s decision-making skills and teach them to think twice before taking risks behind the wheel.” The program was introduced last year at five high schools. After evaluating it, police, ICBC, and the fire department decided to update it and present it again this year, explained Maple Ridge assistant fire chief Timo Juurakko.

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“We are hoping that coordinated prevention messaging will reduce the incidences of our interactions with young people at crash scenes,” he said. While Mounties educate the students about negative driving behaviour, ICBC share videos created by young B.C. adults about the consequences of speeding, distracted driving, and impaired driving. And firefighters provide their perspective on possible consequences of negative and inattentive driving behaviour, while demonstrating some of their equipment, such as jaws of life. Pitt Meadows Fire & Rescue Service is “happy to participate” in this program, said assistant fire chief Brad Perrie. “Youth coming of age to attain their

learner’s licence need to understand that driving a motor vehicle is a huge responsibility and demands their full attention. Distracted driving is a huge problem. Youth programs like this bring an awareness to the issue and empower our youth to make a positive change,” Perrie said. RCMP Cpl. Alanna Dunlop lauded the program: “The presentation includes videos, interactive student participation segments, and important safety messaging for new drivers. They learn about the steps to take to become licensed, hear from an actual driver examiner, learn about the most common new driver violations under the Motor Vehicle Act, and that bad habits can lead to unfortunate consequences,” Dunlop said.

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Tuesday, February 11, 2014

Maple Ridge & Pitt Meadows Times

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History

Finnish hall stands empty

A heritage building isn’t currently in use, and has fallen into disrepair. by Maria Rantanen

mrantanen@mrtimes.com

A hall in Webster’s Corners, built almost a century ago by immigrants from Finland, sits empty in east Maple Ridge. Before the war, Sampo Hall in Webster’s Corners was the centre of activity for the Finnish population. With the Finns divided politically into reds and whites, however, the government shut it down during the Second

World War, fearful there would be some communist activity. After the war, activity died down in the hall, and it was sold to a private owner. The building is on the District of Maple Ridge’s heritage inventory, but it is not on the heritage registry. Although municipalities can put buildings on the registry, Maple Ridge council has never done that without an application from the owners, said Jim Charlebois, District manager of community planning. “The District isn’t in the position to take any steps [to protect it]... it’s in private hands,” Charlebois said.

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Sampo Hall was built by Finnish immigrants who settled in Webster’s Corners more than 100 years ago. The hall is currently in private ownership.

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Tuesday, February 11, 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.

Shannon Balla

sballa@mrtimes.com Publisher

Bob Groeneveld

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Roxanne Hooper

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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The Maple Ridge & Pitt Meadows TIMES, a division of LMP Publication Limited Partnership, respects your privacy. We collect, use and disclose your personal information in accordance with our Privacy Statement which is available at www.mrtimes.com. The Maple Ridge & Pitt Meadows TIMES is a member of the British Columbia Press Council, a self-regulatory body governing the province’s newspaper industry. The council considers complaints from the public about conduct of member newspapers. Directors oversee the mediation of complaints, with input from both the newspaper and complainant. If talking with the editor or publisher of this newspaper does not resolve your complaint about coverage or story treatment, you may contact the B.C. Press Council. Your written concern, with documentation, should be sent to B.C. Press Council, 201 Selby Street, Nanaimo, B.C., V9R 2R2. For further information, go to www.bcpresscouncil.org.

Our View

Samaritans beware ICBC Police, ICBC, the courts, the Solicitor General’s office – anyone with a bit of sense – repeatedly encourage those who drink any alcohol at all to keep out from behind the wheel of their car. Drinking and driving kills people, we are reminded through public statements and advertising in a variety of media. Indeed, we’ve done our best to pass along the message ourselves. If you drink, don’t drive. Call a cab. Take a bus. Walk. Appoint a friend to be your designated driver… oh wait!… after last week’s court ruling, your friend might not want you in the car. A sober woman driving her drunk boyfriend home got in an accident – caused when her inebriated passenger grabbed the steering wheel. The boyfriend was killed, but the driver was badly hurt, and her costs have mounted into hundreds of thousands of dollars. After first getting as much as she could from the boyfriend’s estate – after all, he caused the accident – she went to ICBC for the rest. But ICBC refused, and the case went to court… where a judge regretted having to agree with ICBC: under current regulations, if the car had hit someone else, that person would have been covered – but the driver is out of luck. The ruling could deter friends – or strangers, in the case of groups like Operation Red Nose – from being designated drivers. Who will risk loss of insurance coverage? One of the very reasons ICBC was created was to get past the mercenary spirit of private sector insurance companies. This case has damaged ICBC’s own campaign to get drinking drivers off the street. Clearly, ICBC has outgrown the conscience it was born with in the 1970s. If there’s no new direction from the Court of Appeal, it is up to the provincial government to act quickly to close the hole in the law, and re-establish the principle that no one should have to risk being penalized for being a Good Samaritan. – B.G.

This Week’s Question Given the recent court ruling that a driver is not insured against an accident caused by a drunk passenger, would you agree to be a designated driver? ■ Your View Last week’s question, results… Is plastic ever a wise choice for you?

It’s there, let’s use it. Yes, in some applications. It’s better than burning the oil. We just need to recycle more of it.

5% 20 % 7% 37 %

Natural (wood, glass, etc.) always better. 32 %

Vote online at: www.mrtimes.com

Opinion

A billion dollars is a lot, or not How much is a billion dollars? and pick out about 2,000 “averIt depends on your perspective. age” homes. Imagine them all in And what do you plan to do one subdivision… and there you with it? have it: a visual representation of If you’re a politician, a billion “how much is a billion dollars.” dollars can be a lot more – or a At the rate housing prices have lot less – than they seem. changed historically in this area, Let’s suppose you have a bilthe likelihood is that waiting 10 lion dollars in your pocket (we’re years to pick out your billion dolassuming you have a very BIG lars worth of average homes will pocket, of course). make your job easier, just as, if For starters, if you make an you’d attempted the feat a decby Bob Groeneveld average Canadian income of ade or two ago, you would have about $928 per week, it would had to have sought out a few take you somewhat more than a million weeks hundred more homes than you would today. – actually about 20,722 years – to pocket one And that brings us to the moral of our story: billion dollars. And that presumes that you pay the politics of a billion dollars. no taxes and buy absolutely nothing with that In his announcement that the provincial govmoney, so every penny goes into your pocket. ernment was going to appeal the B.C. Supreme And naturally, you’ll need to find a way to live Court’s ruling requiring re-instatement of an a little longer that the average Canadian (the rest illegally torn-up contract agreement, Education of us can expect about 81 years). Minister Peter Fassbender pointed out that, Even if you put every penny in a savings since the 2000-01 school year, the Ministry of account with compound interest, turn your $928 Education had put one billion more dollars into per week into a billion dollars will require you to educating our kids. live several times as long as Methuselah’s amazSo I checked, and indeed, the ministry’s opering 960-plus years. ating budget – the amount from which per pupil A billion dollars worth of $100 bills would funding is calculated – rose almost exactly a bilmake a stack somewhat more than a kilometre lion dollars, to $4.725 billion. high. But face it, unless your family has been Impressive… until you pop the numbers into stuffing mattresses for a lot of generations, an inflation index calculator. It turns out the you’re not going to be able to stack a pile of $3.744 billion budgeted in 2000 is $4.750 billion your own money to help you visualize how in today’s money. much a billion dollars is. That means the budget was actually reduced So let’s look around and see if we can do it by one per cent. another way. Let’s try real estate. But before the teachers cheer too loudly, the According to the BC Assessment Authority, number of students in B.C. has dropped more the value of an average family home in the comthan nine per cent, so Fassbender is right: stumunities in and around Pitt Meadows and Maple dents have more money for education now than Ridge is just a few thousands of dollars shy of before the BC Liberals came to power. $500,000. But still, the B.C. Supreme Court doesn’t seem For ease of calculation, let’s round that off to to think that that justifies illegally tearing up a about half a million per home. contract. As there are one thousand millions in a billion, And it remains to be seen whether the rest of all you need to do to visualize a billion dollars is the province is okay with spending millions of to drive around Maple Ridge and Pitt Meadows dollars to prove the B.C. Supreme Court wrong.

Odd Thoughts

editorial@mrtimes.com

Maple Ridge & Pitt Meadows Times

Postal service

Tuesday, February 11, 2014

Whole day lost to pick up parcels

Dear Editor, I recently had a seizure while driving. Soon after that I was diagnosed with epilepsy. I also have type-1 (juvenile) diabetes. I had to give up my work vehicle and began taking transit to work in Vancouver and New Westminster, Monday to Friday 8 a.m.-4 p.m. The transit commute there and back is 1½ to two hours each way. When Canada Post delivers a package Letters that does not fit into my community mail box, or one that requires a sigto nature, it gets sent to Whonnock Post the Whonnock Post Office Office, seven kilometres east of my There is a Shoppers Drug house off Lougheed Highway. Editor Mart with a post office seven The post office is literally a shack in kilometres west of my house the middle of nowhere, and it is only that is easy to get to by transit and is open open Monday to Friday 8:30 a.m. to 5 p.m. 9 a.m. to 9 p.m. on weekdays and is open It is not open on weekends. on weekends. It seems ideal, but they won’t How is someone who works a day job send my packages there. supposed to make it out there? It’s 40 minI can’t imagine how hard this is for utes by bus (each way) plus 20 minutes people with worse disabilities. walking on Lougheed Highway where there I’ve addressed my concerns with Canada are no sidewalks – not ideal for a person at Post, but of course, I’m told there is nothing risk of having a seizure. they can do about it. I don’t live in the middle of nowhere. I live in the Albion area, a few blocks from Kevin Jones, Maple Ridge Planet Ice, schools, and stores. The post [Note: A fuller version of this letter, with office is east, in a rural, wooded area. more photos, is online at www.mrtimes. To get my deliveries, I’m expected to take com. Click on Opinion, or search the writer’s an unpaid day off of work. name.]

Family Day

Beer gardens not a good fit for festivals

Dear Editor, Just because the government changes the rules about beer gardens doesn’t mean our local festivals have to follow suit. A family festival should be just that.

Memories of parents sitting in beer gardens, drinking far too much while children are left to roam or sit outside aren’t pleasant, and should have no part of a family day. Annette Code, Pitt Meadows

Response

Politics are never black-and-white

Dear Editor, Wayne Clark has added his “Om” to the mix [Trickle-down not part of real world, Jan. 30 Letters, TIMES]. My problem with this “Liberal” is the black-and-white stance he takes. All the wealthy are evil and all the poor are noble. There is a growing inequality in the world, and many wealthy people attempt to address it. Bill Gates gave $28 billion for education. Warren Buffet gave up $8.3 billion and signed up 69 individuals to a

What you’re telling us on Facebook

•

Each week, The TIMES and Ridge Meadows RCMP partner to bring the top four people on the police’s “wanted” list. This information is often shared on our Facebook page, too. One reader offered her thoughts. “When you look at these pictures it is obvious that the young girl is addicted to some kind of drug. Jail is not going to help her… she is sick and needs help. She cannot get help as long as she is on the street and likely needs housing. When are people going to realize that putting people with addictions in jail is not the answer and will not make the problem go away. Communities need to come up with some kind of plan to house these people so they can get healthy enough to make a decision to change their lives. Seems to me we have become a society that would rather judge people than have compassion..” – Carol Young Bagshaw

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

pledge to give the majority of their wealth to philanthropy. George Soros gave $8 billion for human rights causes, Carlos Slim Helu, $4 billion for nutrition and disease reasearch, George Kaiser, $9.8 billion for medical clinics, Eli Broad, $2.6 billion to reform public education and stem cell research, Michael Bloomberg, $1.8 billion to 850 charities, and Li Ka-Shing, to children’s centres and to combat child obesity. Also google Canadian philanthropists. These are just a few of the wealthy people that give back. They also pay the majority of personal income tax. That money is not trickling down, it’s a flood of money to societies. Usually, wealth is created by entrepreneurship and hard work. Those are the attributes I admire. I do not love money. Unless Mr. Clark gives credit where credit is due, to both sides (as a Liberal) of the debate, he is a proponent of “class warfare” and is envious. Cherryl Katnich, Maple Ridge

Politics

More need to vote

Dear Editor, Only 25 per cent voted in the last municipal election. That’s really awful. Elected councillors come and go, the bureaucrats stay on forever. They are the ones with the clout – why not those who are elected? What’s wrong with this picture? If Corisa Bell contemplates running for the mayor’s chair, I hope she is elected. She’s had to put up with the strong disapproval of fellow councillors. Doing the business of Maple Ridge must be open and transparent. It does not look or sound like it, though. Robert W. Stirling, Maple Ridge For more letters to the editor visit... www.mrtimes.com – Click on Opinion/Letters.

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.

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A10

editorial@mrtimes.com

Tuesday, February 11, 2014

Maple Ridge & Pitt Meadows Times

TransLink

Referendum move saves seats

A FRESH EXPRESSION OF CHURCH

he big city mayors get their train set have legislation passed to accomplish it back. within three months. Minister of Transportation Todd Through TransLink’s history, Mayor Stone, on behalf of the provincial Derek Corrigan has made sure Burnaby is government, announced a few months ago the prime beneficiary of transit. Burnaby that they were going to put TransLink fundacquired lots of land, most of it still vacant, ing on a ballot for a referendum – to be held close to transit stations. Seven years ago he at the same time as municiclaimed they had more than pal elections in November. $500 million worth of land In the past few months, value in the city’s property there have been many division, at cost. discussions held amongst The amazing growth mayors and councillors who around the Canada Line stastarted analyzing how that tions proves the concept of might affect their own politdensifying around transit. ical outcome. Hopefully, this time Transit I think most concluded director Corrigan will conthat the TransLink fundvince Mayor Corrigan that ing issue would get many it is time for Burnaby to by Gordy Robson more people out to vote, develop those properties. and they wouldn’t be friends The logical idea of havof incumbents. So meaningful negotiations ing a small benefit area tax around transit have taken place. stations, which would subsidize the cost of You’d think the provincial government transit, makes the most sense. would have learned its lesson about referenIt is not likely that Mayor Corrigan and dums during the HST fiasco. I wouldn’t be Mayor Moonbeam from Vancouver will surprised if Minister Stone also learned that allow that to happen, because their taxpaytrying to get a ballot question supported by ers would be the primary funders. Of course, the mayors would be an impossible feat. they would and should be, because they are Minister Stone announced last Thursday the primary benefactors. Transit stations! he was going to get the legislature to proThe good thing about this move is Mayor vide more powers for the Greater Vancouver Derek and his friends will not be able to regional mayors to govern TransLink. blame the provincial government for the lack The change apparently comes with expect- of transit funding. They are in charge; they ations the mayors will lead a transit funding have to make a plan, cost it out, and ask referendum (an election promise by the BC the taxpayers. Let’s see how well they play Liberals), and the date of the referendum together this time. was moved to June 30, 2015, to give mayors To my friend Derek, from all of us who more time to make a plan, and coincidenthave had the pleasure of sitting on a board ally avoid getting thrown out of office. with him, please: “Say what you have to say “This is indeed what the mayors’ council and the first time you come to a sentence has been asking for,” Stone said. He promwith a grammatical ending, sit down.” ised issues such as pay and fare increases, Just saying… long-range strategy, and short-term plans are A longer version of Gordy Robson’s column now expected to rest with the mayors. this week appears online at www.mrtimes.com. Click on Opinion/Just Saying. He gave them TransLink and hopes to

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Maple Ridge & Pitt Meadows Times

&places

Tuesday, February 11, 2014

Part of your Community for over 40 years

faces Maple Ridge & Pitt Meadows

Showcasing some of this community’s people and happenings

Call

A11

604.343.2036

Mission’s Erik Wakely, seven, and his little brother Logan, six, both attended a recent Ridge Meadows Flames hockey game at Planet Ice in Maple Ridge. They had their photo taken with Flames player #15, Danny Wilson, their cousin. Rick Moyer/TIMES

Ridge ea M dows Flames fan, five-year-old Devon Baker of Maple Ridge, had a bunch of the players – seen sitting behind him in the picture – sign his Flames T-shirt at a recent game. Rick Moyer/TIMES

omic Maple Ridge’s econ ffers sta nt me develop ght) (ri ne sto ing Liv e Bruc ned joi e and Sandy Blu ki Vic r nto me business the ng eri off in od Le Mc rs for first of many semina They . urs ne pre local entre gram, pro w ne a ed uc introd T, that called BusinessSTAR Invest by d ize an is being org to in the North Fraser the in ess sin help grow bu region.

ed eurs attend g entrepren in by ir p ed as st f o o h orkshop A number s startup w free t es n ex si n u e b t Th rs . the fi Ridge RT in Maple om 3 to BusinessSTA , Feb. 12, fr ay d es n ed W gister, is re p o to worksh ation and rm fo in ge. re o m w.maplerid 4 p.m. For : http://ww to . e am lin gr n o o Pr go nessSTARTpeople can ca/460/Busi

Jennifer Zickerman, of Field to Fork Herbs, attended the first BusinessSTART session held Jan. 30, and was impressed. As a relatively new agriculturebased business, she found the workshop informative. Her reaction is on her website at fieldtoforkherbs.com.

Motherpren eur author Christina Wascuko, o f Maple Rid ge, was among the guests w ho attended th e launch of the new BusinessSTA RT program which kicked off o n Jan. 30.

Alana MacTavish Railton, from Envision/EAC, and Jana Tulloch, from Tulloch Consulting, were among those who attended the kickoff for BusinessSTART, a free program for home, small, and micro businesses. It’s designed to connect companies with the right information and resources to get a solid start, before getting a business licence.

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.

Maple R idg persona e bride-to-be B renda G lity Mon arc te D My Wed Ronda Pa ding sho urham, of Say ia recently met up with yne/TIMES w. Read Y guru in TV about G es to the Dress All Abou : arcia’s e tW Media, a ncounte Atlanta at the It nd avail eddings 2014, r wit ’s a able at T Maple R he TIME magazine prod h the fashion idge. uced by S office, G #2-2234 5 North lacier Ave. in

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A12

Tuesday, February 11, 2014

Maple Ridge & Pitt Meadows Times

Like us & win with

      Here is your chance to have your artwork seen by everyone in Pi Meadows! We are looking for artwork about the Pi Meadows 100 Year Anniversary that can be printed onto banners and displayed throughout the community! The winning entries will receive a full-size colour banner of their artwork! Requirements: 

Artwork must be about the Pi Meadows Centennial!



Designs should be simple with bold, contrasng colours. Please refer to the Artwork Guidelines for more ps!



You must be a Pi Meadows resident or a student at a Pi Meadows school to enter



Entries will be accepted unl February 19, 2014 at 4:30pm at City Hall

Contest: Contest ﬁnalists will be posted to the City of Pi Meadows Facebook page by February 24, 2014. Between February 24 unl February 28 at 3pm the public can vote for their favourite banners by “liking” the banner on Facebook.

Who am I?

TIMES files

This Who Am I? 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 community volunteer and environmental advocate Ross Davies. Congratulations to Julie Elzinga Boivin for correctly identifying Davies. Boivin and others who answered correctly are automatically entered for the grand-prize giveaway.

Tell your friend and neighbours! The FOUR banners that receive the most “likes” will win the contest and have their artwork converted in community banners. Winners will also receive a full-size copy of their banner! Good Luck and Happy Centennial! For more informaon visit pimeadows.bc.ca or call 604-465-5454.

    

Maple Ridge-Pitt Meadows Times | Tuesday, February 11, 2014 A13

The ACT

Valentine vocals reverberate

Maple Ridge’s Fiona Blackburn brings her girls choir to her hometown this Feb. 14.

alentine’s Day at The ACT will feature Canadian legends The Nylons and the British Columbia Girls Choir whose artistic director hails from Maple Ridge. The Nylons, the four-member Canadian vocal group, is known world-wide for their a cappella sound, dazzling harmonies, and smooth arrangements. The group, founded in 1978, have 22 albums and seven gold and platinum recordings to their credit with hits like Up The Ladder To The Roof and The Lion Sleeps Tonight, and they have performed worldwide including at Carnegie Hall. The band’s current lineup includes Claude Morrison (tenor), Garth Mosbaugh (tenor), Gavin Hope (baritone), and Tyrone Gabriel (bass). Morrison is the only original

member still with the band today. The Nylons’ most recent album, Skin Tight is peppered with a slick jazz flavour, and is the catchiest collection of signature Nylons harmonies to date. The 12-track album overflows with reimagined classic songs including a cover of the Doobie Brothers classic track What A Fool Believes featuring saxophone virtuoso Dave Koz, and a heartfelt version of Michael Jackson’s Gone Too Soon – a dedication to their late founding group member, Canadian singer/actor Denis Simpson. For The Nylons, Skin Tight is definitive proof that the show doesn’t just go on, but gets better over time. The British Columbia Girls Choir starts off the evening as a complement to the Nylons under the artistic direction of Maple Ridge’s Fiona

Blackburn. The girls choir offers a number of auditioned and non-auditioned choir levels for singers from as young as five to young adults. The girls come together every week from all regions of the Lower Mainland and they develop their love for the art of singing, their talent and poise, and a sense of team spirit in a friendly and supportive environment. For more information on the choir, go to www.bcgirlschoir. org. The concert featuring The Nylons and the British Columbia Girls Choir takes place Friday, Feb. 14 at 8 p.m. at The ACT, 11944 Haney Pl., Maple Ridge. Tickets are $35 for adults, $30 for seniors, and $15 for students. For tickets, call 604-476-2787 or go online to www.theactmapleridge.org.

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A14

Tuesday, February 11, 2014 | Maple Ridge-Pitt Meadows Times

Golden Ears

Jewellers Eric Zimmer/TIMES

Judy Spear, (left) president of the Maple Ridge chapter of the Army and Navy Veterans Club, and member Lorne Burrell, invite anyone and everyone over the age of 19 to the club’s Valentine’s Day dance.

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Judy Spear extends a ‘heartfelt’ invitation to everyone in town – of age – to consider attending. by Eric Zimmer ezimmer@mrtimes.com

he Maple Ridge chapter of the Army and Navy Veterans Club is hosting a Valentine’s Day dinner and dance on Saturday, Feb 15. The club, which is at 22326 North Ave., will be offering up a buffet-style beef dip and coleslaw dinner for $7.50.

The dinner, which begins at 6 p.m., will be followed by live musical entertainment, featuring a local four-piece rock band, Sweet Water. They take the stage at 7 p.m. Judy Spear, president of the club, stressed that the event is open to anyone in the community who would like to attend – not just club members. “Everybody thinks that outsiders can’t come in to our events,” she said. “They can – just as long as they sign in at the guest registry when they get here.” For more information on the 19-plus event, or on the club itself, people can call 604-463-6333.

Maple Ridge-Pitt Meadows Times | Tuesday, February 11, 2014 A15 time with the British Columbia Girls Choir. The concert is at 8 p.m. For tickets and info, go to www.theactmapleridge.org or call 604476-2787.

Valentine’s fundraiser

• The Local Chords, a six-piece ensemble from the Bergthorson Academy of Musical Arts, will be delivering music on Valentine’s Day. Choose one of three songs: I Can’t Help Falling in Love by Elvis Presley, Make You Feel My Love by Bob Dylan (in the style of Adele), or Your Song by Elton John. The cost is $30 ($20 more for a bouquet of flowers or $15 more for an extra song). Bookings available in Maple Ridge from 6 to 10 p.m. on Feb. 14. To book a singing Valentine, contact Cosette Meynders at 604313-5036. All proceeds go to The Heart & Stroke Foundation (they only accept cash or cheques made out to The Heart & Stroke Foundation).

February 15: Valentine’s

• Valentine’s dinner and dance takes place at the Army & Navy Veterans Club, 22326 North Ave., Maple Ridge. A beef dip dinner is $7.50 Music is by Sweet Water.

February 14: Seniors

February 14: Nylons and BC Girls Choir

• Share the love this Valentine’s day with The Nylons, as they return to The ACT this

Sweet Heart H

• Pitt Meadows seniors celebrate Valentine’s Day and the one-year anniversary of their new seniors centre at 19065 119B Ave. Festivities kick off at 1:30 p.m. with coffee, tea, and cake. In the evening there will be a Valentine’s Day dance with Allen Boolinoff from 7 to 9 p.m. in the main hall. Tickets are $5. Info: 604-457-4771. • More calendar listings: www.mrtimes.com

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Tuesday, February 11, 2014

What’s On

www.mrtimes.com Post events 10 days in advance by email to:

editorial@mrtimes.com February 11: Garden

• The Intergenerational Garden is having a volunteer information meeting from 2:30 to 4 p.m. at the Hive at Eric Langton Elementary, 12138 Edge St., Maple Ridge. Register: Sue Fleming at 604837-8915 or gardencoord@ gmail.com.

February 11: Pintrest

• Stay on top of cutting-edge social media by learning the basics of Pinterest. This program is at the Maple Ridge Library, 22470 Dewdney Trunk Rd. at 2 p.m.

February 11: Songstage

• Canadian musician Ivan Boudreau hosts an evening’s mix of eclectic musicians and facilitates discussion on the art and craft of the songwriting process. Songstage is in the lobby of The ACT, 11944 Haney Pl., from 7 to 9 p.m.

funds for the Stephen Lewis Foundation which supports African grandmothers who care for children orphaned by the AIDS pandemic. Info: Lynn Rajala at lrajala@shaw. ca or 604-467-1235.

February 13: Ex-service

• Ridge Meadows Ex-Service Women meet at the Royal Canadian Legion, 12101 224th St., Maple Ridge. They have lunch at noon and hold their meeting at 1 p.m.

February 14: The ACT

• The Nylons return to The ACT, 11944 Haney Pl., Maple

Ridge, this time with the British Columbia Girls Choir at 8 p.m. Tickets and info: go to www.theactmapleridge.org or call 604-476-2787.

Maple Ridge Art Gallery • In Wait, a show with seven contemporary printmakers who call themselves Full Circle Art Collective, will be at the Maple Ridge Art Gallery from Feb. 15 to March 16 with an opening reception on Feb. 15 from 2 to 4 p.m. The gallery is at The ACT, 11944 Haney Pl., Maple Ridge. Info: www. theactmapleridge.org.

February 15: Valentine’s

• Valentine’s dinner and dance takes place at the Army & Navy Veterans Club, 22326 North Ave., Maple Ridge. A beef dip dinner with coleslaw is $7.50 Music is by Sweet Water.

Call for entries

• Artists and artisans living in Maple Ridge and Pitt Meadows are invited to participate in the 16th annual art studio tour on May 10 and 11 from 10 a.m. to 4 p.m. Deadline for submission is Feb. 15. For more information, contact Kerry McLaren at kerrymclaren@shaw.ca, or go to www.artstudiotour.ca.

• Full list: www.mrtimes.com

February 12: WorkBC

February 12: Support

February 11: Spinning

February 12: Gogos

• Maple Ridge Library, in partnership with VanCity, will be offering a workshop on Saving Your Money at 7 p.m. Learn about the benefits and pitfalls of various forms of investment, discover how to pay lower taxes, take advantage of the home

• Golden Ears Gogos will meet at 6:30 p.m. in the Fraser Room of the Maple Ridge Library. They raise

buyers plan, and save for retirement. Info: Maple Ridge Library at 604-467-7417.

• Maple Ridge Library, in partnership with WorkBC Employment Services Centre, will be offering a Young Adult Job Workshop on how to create a cover letter. This workshop takes place at 5 p.m. at WorkBC #170–22470 Dewdney Trunk Rd., and is open to persons aged 15 to 30. Bring a resume. Register: 604-467-7417. • Maple Ridge/Pitt Meadows Parkinson’s Support Group meets from 2 to 4 p.m. at the seniors centre, 12150 224th St. This meeting is open to anyone with Parkinson’s, their caregivers, families, and friends. Info: Peta Purdy at 604-463-1332 or rpcoco@ telus.net or Edith Elliott at 604-463-6018 or elliotte12@ telus.net.

• Whonnock Weavers and Spinners Guild hosts a free spin-in at The ACT. Knitters, weavers, spinners and other fibre artists are welcome, as well as anyone interested in learning about fibre arts. Bring your own supplies and join in the conversation from 7 to 9 p.m. at The ACT.

Maple Ridge & Pitt Meadows Times

February 13: Finances

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Maple Ridge & Pitt Meadows Times

Tuesday, February 11, 2014

A17

Seed catalogues Anthony Anzulovich of Maple Ridge, a contractor with Do-Rite Renovations, works with TIMES columnist Morgan Jensen occasionally. He recently helped tear apart this kitchen.

Home improvements

Cupboard options plentiful

Fix It Up by Morgan Jensen

Handyman Morgan Jensen will answer your home improvement questions. Visit his website at www.jbshomeimprovement.ca or send your questions to morganjensen@shaw.ca.

much as $200 a lineal foot for quartz or granite. A 24-foot kitchen layout will run between $5,800 and $9,600 depending on the counter. 2. Pre-built, boxed cabinets, installed yourself – generally cookie-cutter sizes and shapes, that again can be found at places like Home Depot and Rona, but that usu-

ally come fully assembled and with fronts. Knobs or handles are extra, as is the countertop and installation. They can often cost about the same as number one, but, the selection of shapes and sizes will be very limited. 3. Number 1 or 2, but installed – You can basically add at least $100 per linear foot for installation of these types of cabinets, probably more, and this is mostly because installers generally don’t like building and putting in these kinds of cabinets. Often pieces are missing, the sizes don’t work, or they are just difficult to work with.

– Handyman Morgan Jensen will answer your home improvement questions. Visit his website at www. jbshomeimprovement.ca or send your questions to morganjensen@shaw.ca.

• More at www.mrtimes.com

egetable seed listings are now have a lot to offer. Starburst (a watera glorious circus of heirlooms, melon type) has red flesh inside white new colours, worldwide skin. The heirloom Black Spanish Round sources, and increased resisthas white flesh and black skin, while ance to pests. Plant breeders are also White Icicle grows an all-white root up to tackling solutions to climate problems. 15 centimetres (six inches) long. In small garden spaces, ornamental The Rat-Tail heirloom radish, dating vegetables are a wonderful bonus (at at least from 1860, is still occasionally least until you harvest them). listed. The roots aren’t edible, but the Peppermint chard is ahead of this seed pods give a lengthy harvest and are game, since you can cut-and-come-again crunchy, nicely peppery, and best when till frost. Its stems are red they reach about 25 cm at the base, merging up (10 inches) long. into white. Edible pod peas are For container gardenvery practical, wherever ers, this type of food crop you grow them, because is very practical. Cos if you miss the early pod lettuces such as the redharvest, you can still use tinged Paris Island can them as shelled peas. also keep on producing The most height choices for many weeks, if you are for standard white harvest the oldest, outflowers/green pods. side leaves first. I have But some heirloom pod by Anne Marrison also seen red cabbage peas are available with used this way in containinteresting pod colours Anne Marrison is happy to answer garden ers. and sometimes two-tone questions. Send them to amarrison@shaw.ca Coloured carrots are flowers. Their names always offered separately, include Blue Pod Desiree but some catalogues list a Rainbow blend Pea, Dwarf Grey Sugar with purple of carrots, which gives a long harvest flowers on an approximately 90 cm (36 since different kinds mature at various inch) plant, and Golden Sweet Edible Pod times. with yellow pods and two-tone purple Beet collections in mixed colours also flowers. offer the same extended harvest. Winter hardiness can be a major issue There’s also the new cauliflower, with kale in some areas, especially if it’s Graffiti, which is said to be deep purple combined with intolerance of wet soil. and show an improved tolerance to heat. Winterbor kale is one of the favourites Different colours apparently show for hardiness and productivity. unique qualities. Lime-green cauliflowers But the English heirloom Dwarf Green are said to accept low-nitrogen soil, Curled (a.k.a. Dwarf Curlies) promises while orange heads demonstrate high more. This one is said to tolerate cold, levels of beta-carotene. windswept, unsheltered gardens with Purple-tinged leeks are popular now, wet, poor soil. It’s described as growing and not entirely for their beauty. They’re up to 45 cm (18 inches) with tender, also exceptionally cold hardy. They are delicate leaves. sold under many names, including the Some edible and pretty vegetables may French heirloom Blue Solaise and Darcy’s be too much of a good thing. GoldenPurple Leek. leaved purslane is pretty and delicious, For brilliantly coloured salads, radishes but almost as invasive as the green form.

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veryone would like to renovate their kitchen, it’s a fact. Actually, I’ve come across homeowners who would like to blow up their kitchens, and start over. In reality, though, changing almost anything in a kitchen is going to be both challenging and costly, no matter what anyone tells you. Today we have an abundance of choices when beginning a kitchen renovation, especially when it comes to cabinets. I have completed a few kitchens through the years and they have ranged from the basic out-of-the-box, cookie-cutter type all the way up to full-custom, allinclusive kitchens. I enjoy challenging layouts, the kind that some designers and contractors hate to even consider, but, that doesn’t mean I’m an expert by any means. Homeowners should get lots of help and advice from broad sources before ever starting a major project that will probably cost tens of thousands of dollars. Here is my take on some of the local choices when considering kitchen cabinetry: 1. Build it yourself, install it yourself – These are the cabinets that you find at places like Home Depot, Ikea, Rona, and even manufacturers like Eurorite. Each cabinet will require multiple boxes, one for the actual box frame, one for the drawers, the backing, the fronts, and so on. Knobs, kick boards, etc. are usually extra. You definitely need help determining what to buy according to your plan, and I can guarantee you that you will always miss something. I have. The cost will depend on style and colour, but $200 a linear foot (that covers upper and lower) is close. You would then add the counters on top of that, an additional $35 to $40 for laminate installed, or as

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A18

Tuesday, February 11, 2014

health Valentine’s Day

Maple Ridge & Pitt Meadows Times

wellness

AND THE GOODLIFE

New centre celebrates one year of reaching out to seniors The Pitt Meadows Seniors Centre will host a celebration to mark not one, but two special occasions on Feb. 14.

members alike, are encouraged to attend a Valentine’s Day tea and anniversary party on the big day, Rodway said. Festivities kick off at the centre at 1:30 p.m. featuring coffee, tea, cake, and friendly conversation. Then, in the evening, the centre will host a Valentine’s Day dance by Eric Zimmer with Allen Boolinoff. That runs 7 ezimmer@mrtimes.com to 9 p.m. in the main hall. or the Pitt Meadows SenThe music is billed as heartiors Centre (PMSC), Feb. warming and toe-tapping, Rodway 14 will be about more than said, who noted that those who just a day to celebrate love. attend don’t necessarily have to It’s also the day that Wesbrooke dance, though. and PMSC are joining forces to “They can just come and listen celebrate their first year anniverto the music and have a good sary. time,” she said. “[People] can just come The centre, which Tickets for the opened one year event are $5, and and listen to the music ago this week, those looking for and have a good time.” will be marking more information Kathie Rodway the occasion – and on this, or any other simultaneously celeevents at the centre brating Valentine’s Day on Friday, are encouraged to call 604-457explained facilities coordinator 4771. Kathie Rodway. When Rodway began her job last Members of the centre and nonJuly, there “weren’t a lot of pro-

Eric Zimmer/TIMES

Pitt Meadows Seniors Centre members Linda Celeseino, Doris Krisko, Pam Logan, and Luci Anglehart Barnes are getting in the Valentine’s Day spirit heading into the centre’s anniversary and Valentine’s celebration. grams going on.” Now, she boasted, the new centre features activities that include partners bridge, Hawaiian dance, carpet bowling, gentle fit-

ness classes, German lessons, cribbage, line dancing, snooker, Tai Chi, Spanish lessons, and crafts. In addition to this month’s combined anniversary, and

Valentine’s celebration, the centre offers monthly main events. That’s included a country fair in September, Chinese lunches, and a Christmas party. Still to come March 20 will be an Italian lunch, followed April 20 by the centre’s Spring Fling. June 5 is the first day of seniors week, and Rodway is in the midst of preparing for a strawberry social. The centre also offers a lunch program every Tuesday and Thursday, where a full meal is just $7.25, as well as a foot clinics the last Friday of every month, and a wellness program that takes place on the first and third Friday of every month. New members are always welcome. A yearly membership to the centre is just $25 and the facilities are open from 9 a.m. to 4 p.m. Monday through Friday. In its first year of operation, the seniors centre saw 5,657 members attend classes and activities. The centre is located at 19065 119B Ave. in Pitt Meadows.

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Maple Ridge-Pitt Meadows Times | Tuesday, February 11, 2014 A19

Non-profits

Rotary supports education

Annika Polegato, executive director of Alouette Addictions, received a cheque of $1,500 from the Meadow Ridge Rotary Club from Rotary rep Angie Edmonds.

Alouette Addictions helps parents learn about drug and alcohol issues.

ducation is one of the most important things in fighting drug and alcohol addiction, according to Annika Polegato, the executive director of Alouette Addictions. A recent donation from Meadow Ridge Rotary Club of $1,500 will go toward putting on parent drug information evenings by the agency that has been based in Maple Ridge for 20 years. “It seems that every single person I meet has been affected by drug and/or alcohol abuse. No matter what our income level, our education or our age, the devastation that comes from addiction and mental health issues has touched our lives,” Polegato said. “How do we stop the cycle? Education. It is essential to prevention. The recent donation of $1,500 from Meadow Ridge Rotary to Alouette Addictions to help fund our Parent Drug Forums will make a tremendous difference in the education and prevention of drug use amongst youth.” Alouette Addiction Services is a non-profit agency in Maple Ridge that provides counselling free of charge to anyone affected, directly or indirectly, by drug or alcohol abuse and mental health issues. Their services include drop-in counselling, oneon-one counselling, and a variety of group support programs. Education is a big focus for Alouette Addictions Services as well. The team provides information sessions to PAC meetings and school assemblies and offers Parent Drug Forums on an annual basis. The Parent Drug Forums

Thursdays in Maple Ridge 7-8:30 pm

$10

Everyone welcome!

CEED Centre www.dorjechang.ca

are available, free of charge, for anyone to attend. Parents can learn about the types of drugs that are on the market, what kind of behaviours to watch for, how to talk to kids about drugs and where to turn if worried that a child may be using drugs. “Studies report that on average kids as young as 14 have experimented with drugs and alcohol,” Polegato said. “It is critical that we offer educational opportunities for parents to learn more about the challenges our kids are facing, and how to recognize signs if our child is in trouble. This grant of $1,500 from Meadow Ridge Rotary helps make it possible for us to offer these educational events free of charge. I cannot thank them enough for their support.” Rotary representative Angie Edmonds said the club is happy to support Alouette Addictions and their programs. “Many people in our community don’t even know about this wonderful resource, but we are hoping that this sponsorship will help raise awareness and promote drug and alcohol awareness for our youth,” she said. For more information about Rotary and their work, visit www.meadowridgerotary.ca. For information about Alouette Addictions and their services, go to www. alouetteaddictions.org.

Session looks at dementia eniors are invited to come to the Maple Ridge Library on Feb. 20 at 7 p.m. to hear and talk about dementia. The session is part of the Aging Gracefully speaker series put on by the Maple RidgePitt Meadows-Katzie Seniors Network. There will be an opportunity for discussion at the event, said Heather Treleaven, coordinator for the seniors network. “This is often the best part of the session as participants get to share their experiences and stories,” she said.

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Seniors

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for the headlines in Maple Ridge and Pitt Meadows

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A20

Tuesday, February 11, 2014

Maple Ridge & Pitt Meadows Times

Canoeist ventures along coast …continued from page A1

“Spirit of the Coast ties in many things, the coastal waters we are travelling through, the people we meet along the way, the marine life we shall see, and the stunning bird life and wildlife,” Cooper said. “But, the overall purpose of this canoe journey is to bring attention to our B.C. Coast and how beautiful it is… Canadians need to know about it, as it is very threatened at this point in time with the proposed pipeline to Kitimat, and the thought of shipping oil to Asia is far too risky…,” he added. His goal in making this trek will be to educate, Cooper explained, noting a videographer and friend is coming along – sailing beside the canoe the entire trip – to capture their experiences. Also joining Cooper on the journey will be friends Brandon Gabriel, a member of the Kwantlen First Nation, as well as Kye Valongo, a fellow outdoor enthusiast from Orkney, Scotland. Valongo, who is also helping Cooper write his autobiography, is the webmaster for Cooper’s www. spiritdancercanoejourneys.ca, and will join Cooper in blogging during the trip. A number of other supporters will join the three-member canoe team and videographer for short periods during the excursion, including Cooper’s wife Barbara, who will participate in two different legs of the journey, and a Maple Ridge nurse Nancy Preston, and a local couple Joan and Charlie Whittaker. The TIMES is also proud to be partnering with the Spirit of the Coast project, and will be bringing readers regular updates in the newspaper, as well as links to video footage, photographs, and blog posts from the participants. “We’re delighted to be involved,” said publisher Shannon Balla. “Thanks to

Deadline for Nominations - March , 

Maple Ridge

Chris Cooper and his team expect to canoe into a number of stunning inlets and coves along the coast. technology, readers will be able to learn all about Chris Cooper and his team, and follow along with them on this exciting, challenging, and incredibly rewarding journey…” While it’s going to be a long trek and take them a long distance from family and friends, Cooper said it’s a meaningful trip that he is greatly looking forward to. “The experience of travelling the coast by canoe is very unique and seldom ever done this way,” said Cooper, who’s participated in more than 30 different expeditions up and down the coast. “The experience of travelling this way is like going back into time, you are at peace with the environment,” he added. In the coming weeks, in preparation for the trip, Cooper and his mates will be doing some extensive training and testing of equipment for this “risky” undertaking, and Cooper will be reaching out to about a dozen other First Nation groups they wish to visit with during the excursion.

• Stay tuned to The TIMES for more on the Spirit of the Coast project

COMMUNITY FOUNDATION

“We ARE Maple Ridge” Do you know someone who has made a difference in the community? If so, please nominate them for

Maple Ridge

Citizen of the Year

The purpose of this award is to recognize and honour a dedicated individual who has made outstanding volunteer contributions to enhance the quality of life in Maple Ridge or to enhance the image of Maple Ridge in the larger community. Those contributions can be broad based, and may be in the areas of art, culture, athletics, social service or business. Nominators should provide a recent photograph, a supporting biography, resume, curriculum vitae, or reasons why the nominee should be chosen. Other letters of support will be welcome and can be attached to nomination form. Nomination forms available on our website: www.mrcf.ca Applications can be emailed to: execassist@mrcf.ca or Mailed to: PO Box , Maple Ridge, BC VX K or For information to nominate or get tickets contact Jacquie Montgomery .. Johnston Meier Insurance Agencies Group

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Maple Ridge & Pitt Meadows Times

Sports

Tuesday, February 11, 2014

Recreation

A21

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

BC Winter Games

Teen one of two to make team

Matthew Norris will be representing Maple Ridge in Mission, as part of wheelchair basketball squad. by Eric Zimmer ezimmer@mrtimes.com

Rich Goulet Marauders coach

Basketball

Marauders season winds down For Pitt Meadows Marauders, good health is key to successful playoffs. by Eric Zimmer

ezimmer@mrtimes.com

Pitt Meadows’ Marauders senior basketball teams have wrapped up the regular season, and are heading into district playoffs this week. Though coming out on top is always important, senior boys head coach Rich Goulet said he hopes another factor will work in the team’s favour during the playoff run: health. ‘We have not been healthy these past couple weeks,” Goulet said. He explained that the team has been dealing with things like a bad flu bug that has been working its way through the team. However, things look to be on the mend, the coach said. “We’re getting healthy now and I’m just hoping we can stay healthy enough to compete.” In the meantime, the girls squad begins its playoff run today (Feb. 11), while the boys have their first game Feb. 12. The final day of the district playoffs is Saturday, Feb. 15, then next on the agenda for the teams will be the Fraser Valley playoffs, which are set to begin on Feb. 19. In the meantime, the Marauders boys team finished up their regular season play (after press deadline) on Friday, Feb. 7, playing the last game at Terry Fox Secondary in Port Coquitlam. They also participated in a series of graduating players’ nights last week. “They were good nights for the grads – and the parents who attended,” said Goulet.

• More basketball playoff coverage at www.mrtimes.com

It was an unassuming glance at his mom’s iPad late last year that gave Matthew Norris the news he had been hoping for. The 13-year-old Maple Ridge resident received notice that he had been selected to the Zone 3 wheelchair basketball team that will compete at this year’s BC Winter Games at the end of this month. “I went to the BC Junior Challenge in Burnaby, at a high school in November,” Matthew explained. “Then in December, I saw the email about the BC Winter Games, and that me and my team had made it.” For the young teen, the selection came about in a rather unexpected way, beginning with a back surgery three-and-a-half years ago. “I was out of school for two months at Sunnyhill [Health Centre in Vancouver,]” he explained. “A few weeks after I had been in Sunnyhill, a guy from wheelchair basketball came and asked me if I wanted to try out a new sports chair, so I kind of got into basketball when I got out of Sunnyhill.” Now, after “kind of getting into it,” Norris is one of only two Maple Ridge kids on a team of seven that has been selected for the Zone 3 team. “He’s worked hard,” said his dad, Scott. “There were a lot of other kids he had to beat out to be on the team. As for the tryout process itself, Scott explained that there were about 12 prospective kids in total who tried out for the team. He added that the coaches and supervisors already had their eyes on three of them, and that the rest of the team (including Matthew,) had to try out to secure a spot on the team. The team does practise, but not on an overly strict schedule. “Basically all the kids who are on the team practise together every Sunday and Tuesday,” noted Scott. Practice and games mostly take place in Langley and/or Surrey, as “there’s not too much here in Maple Ridge, yet,” Dad explained. The sport involves a specialized wheelchair, with a third small wheel, enabling the chair to pivot on a dime.

Eric Zimmer/TIMES

Wheelchair basketball athlete Matthew Norris is happy he will get the chance to represent Maple Ridge at this year’s BC Winter Games. In addition, there isn’t any braking system, like the ones that are found on traditional wheelchairs. “Everything is operated purely by hand,” said Scott. Looking forward to the games, Matthew said he doesn’t have any specific big expectations, but he’s glad he gets to be a part of them. “I’m just happy I made the team,” he said. “I have some friends who I’ve known for a

year now that I’m happy are on the team, too.” The Games run from Feb. 20 to 23, and will include participants from across B.C. competing in 18 different sports. Athletes competing range in age from nine to 40 years old. Most of the competitions will take place in Mission, with select events taking place in Pitt Meadows, Langley, Abbotsford, Hemlock Mountain, and Whistler.

Track and field

Track squads represent B.C. in Toronto

High school track teams from both Maple Ridge and Pitt Meadows will be taking the competiton to Toronto this spring, competing amongst 23 other high schools from across the country. The boys’ track team from Pitt Meadows Secondary and the Girls track team from Maple Ridge Secondary were recently chosen to represent B.C. in the 2014 Nike High School Grand Prix. The event, now in its third

year, is the first Canadian track and field invitiational for high school students. “The Nike High School Grand Prix is truly a unique opportunity for Canadian track and field student athletes,” said Karen Richard, president of School Sport Canada. “It’s a once-in-a-lifetime experience to bond with and compete against student athletes from across the country.” Both local teams consist of 13 athletes and two adults.

Pitt Meadows Mayor Deb Walters has pledged a personal donation of $300, and said she challenges “all local businesses to match or beat my pledge to help support our track and field team.” Ken Elphick, the track and field coach at Maple Ridge Secondary, said all parents and kids involved are “super excited.” Though the teams were selected by the Grand Prix, individual team member selection

remained with the coaches. And Elphick said selecting just 13 girls out of a team of 35 was not an easy task. “There’s 35 girls on the team, so at first I tried to just take the kids that seemed the most devoted to the team – training all the time and stuff,” he said. “Even then, I had too many to choose from.” He said that if he could, he’d bring everybody on the team. Elphick himself will be accompanying the team on the trip.

A24

Tuesday, February 11, 2014

Maple Ridge & Pitt Meadows Times

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RED BELL PEPPER

Product of California (3 LB Clam Shell)

Product of California ($1.72/kg)

/ea.

CLEMENTINE MANDARINE

$ 99

ASIAN CUT BROCCOLI CROWN

Product of California

199/lb.

Chicken Breast S/L (B/L)

Beef Striploin Steak (FP)

$10.98/kg ..................................

$19.78/kg .............................................

499/lb.

GROCERY Bragg

Bragg

Liquid Aminos

$ 99

/ea. 473ml................

Liquid Aminos

$ 49

/ea. 946ml..............

Money’s Sliced

Mushroom

$ 99

/ea. 284ml........ 2 for

899/lb.

Mediterranean Gourmet

$ 00

Sunﬂower Oil 1L..............

$ 29

/ea.

BAKERY Hot Cross Bun 400g................................................... $180/ea. Almond Cookies 300g ........................................... $250/ea. DELI Grimms

Festive Ham (new)

100g...........................................................

Freybe

Hot Lean Cappicoli

100g............................................................

$ 18

Swiss Cheese

100g ...........................................................

Your choice. Our honour. Our Effort. Our award.

WE ARE HIRING! FOR THE FOLLOWING POSITIONS: • Meat Cutter • Baker

2013 - 2014

Specials valid February 11 - February 16 while quantities last

PITT MEADOWS

LOUGHEED HWY.

LANGLEY FARM MARKET

12438 Harris Road

604-460-7122

$ 48

2013-2014

LFM LANGLEY FARM MARKET

For fresh and quality foods For freshness & quality you can count on!

T Thank you to all our valued cKsL cKsLomHGs foG yoKG ongoing sKppoGL

MAPLE RIDGE

#1-22621 Lougheed Hwy

604-466-0281

LOUGHEED HWY.

NeW HOurS: MondIy - SILKGdIy 8:30 Im Lo 7:00 pm. SKndIy Ind HolidIy is 9:00 Im Lo 6:00 pm.