Maple Ridge Pitt Meadows Times November 4 2014 by Maple Ridge Times

A tribute to Maple Ridge son Greg Moore, who we lost 15 years ago and much too early…

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Tuesday, November 4, 2014

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A mother and children escaped a Maple Ridge house fire this weekend, thanks to a smoke alarm. The family was alerted to a fire in a home in the 10300 block of 240th Street in Albion just after 7 p.m. on Sunday evening. All occupants were able to get out without injury, said Maple Ridge fire chief Dane Spence, crediting smoke alarm for helping alert the family. “At this time, it appears that a defective metal chimney pipe from a wood-burning appliance may be the cause of the fire that started in the attic of the older, rancher-style home,” he said. The home, Spence added, suffered “substantial damage.” Earlier this week, assistant Maple Ridge fire chief Timo Juurakko reminded local residents to use the weekend’s time change as a reminder to change the batteries in their smoke alarms.

Symbol of honour, caring available Diane Cougar is the co-chair of the 2014 Poppy Campaign for Royal Canadian Legion Branch 88. The campaign started Friday, and runs until Nov. 10 in both Maple Ridge and Pitt Meadows. See story, page A12... Troy Landreville/TIMES

Animal welfare

Homeless rooster adopted by Pitt neighbours

Residents of a townhouse complex hope to find a permanent home for ‘Rudy.’

Story and photo by Troy Landreville tlandreville@mrtimes.com

Someone in Pitt Meadows is missing a rooster. And it seems as though this rooster is also missing its owners. Nicknamed “Rudy,” this friendly foul is the cock of the walk at the Shoreline Townhouse Complex in the Osprey Village

area, where residents have adopted it as their own – for now. The goal for Rudy’s de facto foster parents is to find a permanent, safe home for the bird. “Everyone felt bad but no one knew what to do,” said Marion Beck, who lives at the complex. Beck said the rooster was first seen wandering the area Oct. 21. “He just appeared out by our mail kiosk and wound his way down, and spent two or three days scratching through this area,” Beck said. Her neighbours across the street, Don and Karen Langford,

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have been caring SPCA, who Beck for the bird, feedsaid, “didn’t want ing and leaving anything to do water for it. with him.” “He’s so tame,” “So they [the Beck said. “We Langfords] called think he’s somethe bylaws one’s pet.” [office] and left Those living in a message and the neighbourabout four days Pitt Meadows neighbours hope hood all know later bylaws got to find a permanent home for a about Rudy, who back to them, left homeless rooster named Rudy. has turned into a message with quite the celebthem… and that rity. got nowhere,” Beck said. “Everyone’s been out taking Beck’s husband Mike visited pictures of him,” Beck said. a farm nearby and was told the Calls were recently made to the rooster wasn’t theirs and that

they didn’t want to take it in. She fears Rudy could become a late-night snack for raccoons or coyotes that might wander into the neighbourhood. “We don’t want to just leave him here to perish,” she said. Anyone interesting in adopting the rooster can call Beck at 604465-7995. “I’m not an expert on who should have him, or qualifying someone who might just want to put him in a pot, you know?” Beck said. “All of us would prefer to see him go to a farm where they have some chickens. We’d like to get a home for him.”

Participants must email their poems to editorial@mrtimes.com, making sure to include their full name, email address, phone number, and community. One poem per person, please. The keyword “Veterans” should be in the subject of the email. Deadline for submissions extended to 3 p.m. on Friday, Nov. 7. See story, page A12. Online, all the time...

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Maple Ridge & Pitt Meadows Times

Tuesday, November 4, 2014

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Flu season arrives Typically, the flu season tends to arrive closer to the beginning of December. That’s not the case this year, said Fraser Health medical officer, Dr. Michelle Murti. “We’re seeing an early start this year,” she said. “Vaccinations are now available to the public and are recommended.” • More at www.mrtimes.com

Education cheques The $520 cheques to parents from the B.C. government have started hitting mailboxes. Families that registered for the Temporary Education Support Payment program can expect to receive their cheques in the mail. • More at www.mrtimes.com

Energy manager Maple Ridge-Pitt Meadows school district is hiring an energy manager. The position, which BC Hydro will pay up to 75 per cent of the $100,000 salary for, will be a temporary position for a minimum of one year, up to a maximum of five years. The position will be mandated to identify inefficiencies and make recommendations to reduce the school district’s carbon footprint and reduce hydro costs. Current energy saving projects the district is undergoing includes upgrading the HVAC and ligthing at Webster’s Corner Elementary and Thomas Haney Secondary will cost $550,000, but save $93,000 annually. • More at www.mrtimes.com Discover the joys of flora and fauna in our rural areas. Liz welcomes questions at g.hancock@ uniserve.com

River Talk by Liz Hancock

Beware gliding ghosts TIMES columnist and environmentalist Liz Hancock shares some insight into the historic white sturgeon that occupy the Mighty Fraser River and Pitt Lake, and their continued presence in our local waterways. • More at www.mrtimes.com

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Downtown deterioration

Addicts not welcomed into shelter

This is the second in a series of stories where The TIMES delves into issues of homelessness, addiction, and crime, plaguing Maple Ridge. by Christopher Sun

csun@mrtimes.com

Each school day, 175 less fortunate kids in Maple Ridge are provided with a school lunch bag, courtesy of the Salvation Army. Every day, the faith-based organization serves up to 150 lunches and 250 dinners to individuals, including financially struggling seniors and families. In the past year, the local Salvation Army sent 50 vulnerable children to camp on the Sunshine Coast, provided 223 back-to-school kids with backpacks full of school supplies, provided 57,876 meals to families, seniors, and individuals, helped 64 people find housing, and 46 people find treatment for substance abuse. However, it is the 25 shelter beds and up to 30 extreme weather, emergency beds that seem to get the most attention, even though it makes up a fraction of the Caring Place’s clientele. Backlash and complaints has been growing since the Salvation Army opened the Caring Place in 2003. The Caring Place is often blamed for the homelessness, prostitution and crime problems in downtown Maple Ridge, and many believe if the organization moved out of its Lougheed Highway and 222 Street location, it would alleviate social problems in the downtown core. However, all this blame is misguided, said Amelia Norrie, who handles public relations for the Caring Place. “We are an easy target,” Norrie said, explaining they would not be able to easily serve the majority of their clientele, made up of families, children and seniors, if they moved outside of the centre core. “We are in the east end of town; we are on Lougheed so people drive past us everyday.” The Caring Place provides 25 emergency shelter beds each night and 15 transitional housing beds. An additional 30 emergency beds is provided through

Christopher Sun/TIMES

Salvation Army Caring Place cook Jaspal Sandhu, director Darrell Pilgrim and volunteer Gwen Wallis prepared sandwiches for the school lunch program on Monday. The community-minded organization provides 175 school lunhces to children, five days a week. B.C. Housing’s extreme weather program for when the temperature goes below zero Celsius. The cold, wet weather service – which provided 30 beds from November to March – was cancelled due to funding cuts. The wooded, ravine area behind the Caring Place attracts most of the homeless and drug addicts, which residents commonly associate with the shelter, Norrie explained. However, anyone who hangs out in that area is actually banned from the Caring Place. “If any one of our staff mem-

bers find one of our clients there, they are barred for a certain period of time,” Norrie said. “They are not allowed to sleep at the shelter or use our food services.” That wooded area is one of few places in the city where marginalized people socialize at, which has been going on since before the Salvation Army purchased the Lougheed Highway property in 2002. “There are a couple of areas in the city where they get together to talk to friends and meet up with people, and one of those areas is that wooded area,”

Homelessness

Homeless camp needed Former Friends in Need Food Bank chair Bob Goos wonders if a permanent, homeless camp could be a solution to Maple Ridge’s homeless problems. Goos referred to Portland, Oregon’s s Dignity Village, which houses up to 60 homeless people, near the airport. Closer to home, Abbotsford Dignitarian Society is seeking that city’s approval to create a

similar community there. “It’s not a solution for everybody but it is a solution for some, for sure,” Goos said. “In Portland, about 1,000 people have gone through it.” With homelessness a big issue in Maple Ridge, Goos is hoping the City’s new council will have an open mind and look at the feasibility of having something similar here.

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Norrie said. “Thing is, it’s right in our faces because it’s right on the bypass and it’s right by the Caring Place.” While it may seem the homeless problem has been getting worse over the years, official counts has found the opposite. According to Metro Vancouver’s 2014 homeless count, which is a 24-hour snapshot of homeless people counted on the streets on March 12, 2014, a total of 2,770 people were counted in the entire region, up from 2,650 in 2011. However in Maple Ridge and Pitt Meadows, 84 people were counted, which is down from 110 counted in 2011. “In actuality, there are 84 homeless people and we house 40 in the shelter, so it’s a small group of people,” Norrie said. “The vast majority of people we serve are not homeless, they are just trying to make ends meet.” Caring Place director Darrell Pilgrim has been in the community for six years and with the Salvation Army for 17 years. Accusations that the Caring Place attracts homelessness and addicts is untrue, he said. continued on page A4…

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Not all homeless seeking help

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“What we all need to realize is we would not exist if homelessness did not exist in Maple Ridge,” Pilgrim said. “The shelter was built to help people who are homeless and living in the community.” “A lot of people don’t recognize that a lot of homeless people don’t come to our shelter. They are choosing to live outside and that happens to be around the shelter because its in the downtown core,” he added. In the early 1990s, a task force made up of six organizations and a few community partners was created to look at homelessness in Maple Ridge. They recognized a need for a year-round shelter in the community. At the time, the only large building available was the Caring Place’s current location. The central location was viewed positively as it allowed for easy access to those requiring the Caring Place’s services the most, seniors and families. The majority of the homeless are long-time Maple Ridge residents, with more than 60 per cent of them living in this community for more then 10 years. “A lot of them went

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Salvation Army Caring Place director Darrell Pilgrim stood outside the Lougheed Highway building, where a number of services are offered. to MRSS (Maple Ridge Secondary school),” Pilgrim explained. “These are people from our community, who are homeless in their community.” There are also people who are employed full time but they sleep at the shelter because they can’t find affordable housing. “At minimum wage, working 40 hours a week, that’s $1,600 a month, which is about $1,200 after taxes and the minimum rent here is $700 to $750,” Pilgrim explained. “This is not counting someone who makes less because they are on disability or EI (Employment Insurance).” The Caring Place serves

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500 people each month and the majority of them, and the homeless using the facility, do not cause any problems, Pilgrim added. The majority of homeless people have mental health issues, with some falling into a life of addiction. Ridge Meadows RCMP Corporal Alanna Dunlop said it is often just a few individuals, causing the most problems in a community. She cited Surrey’s RCMP detachment where eight mental health patients were the cause of 1,500 calls to the police in four years, from 2008 to 2012.

• Stay tuned to The TIMES for the next installment in this series

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Maple Ridge & Pitt Meadows Times

Tuesday, November 4, 2014

Safety on the streets

Police files

Man robbed of cellphone

Mounties raid two Ridge drug houses

Mounties advise people to be alert in downtown Maple Ridge following another brazen personal robbery. Despite the fact Mounties have increased “proactive policing strategies” in Maple Ridge’s town centre during the past several months, RCMP are once again prompted to issue a warning. Resident are asked to be extra vigilant following another brazen personal robbery in downtown Haney last Wednesday night, said Cpl. Alanna Dunlop. Just before 8 p.m., a lone man standing near the intersection of Lougheed Highway and 224th Street was approached and robbed by two other men, Dunlop explained. The two assailants approached the man, one saying he wanted to sell a cellphone. Cpl. Alanna Dunlop “The victim informed Ridge Meadows RCMP the suspect he already had a phone and showed it to them,” Dunlop recounted. After a further exchange, one of the men “gained possession” of the victim’s cellphone, and ran off. “Ridge Meadows RCMP are aware that there are increased community concerns in the downtown core,” Dunlop said. “The public feedback regarding our increased visibility is appreciated by our officers,” she added.

• More at www.mrtimes.com. search “cellphone”

RCMP seized guns, illegal drugs, and made two arrests in two simultaneous searches Thursday. by Roxanne Hooper rhooper@mrtimes.com

Raids on two Maple Ridge homes late last week resulted in some major seizures and arrests. The RCMP’s SWAT-like regional Emergency Response Team and members of the Ridge Meadows RCMP street enforcement unit rolled up on two Maple Ridge homes simultaneously Thursday, Oct. 30 armed with search warrants. One of the homes was located on 132nd Avenue in north Maple Ridge, the other was the west half of a duplex at Lougheed Highway at Carshill Street, explained Sgt. Warren Krahenbil, head of the street enforcement unit. Krahenbil said the search warrants were issued under the controlled drugs and substance act. Police arrested 37-year-old Maciej Kranc and 30-year-old Pamela Hunink, before searching the two residences. During their search, they seized what is believed to be heroin and crack cocaine, along with a loaded handgun. A substantial amount of money and two vehicles were also seized and Mounties will be making application through the courts to have the items forfeited, claiming they were bought with money from criminal activities. “Ridge Meadows RCMP have now searched a total of five homes since

Troy Landreville/TIMES

Police simultaneously raided two Maple Ridge homes on Thursday, during the early afternoon, including this home at Lougheed Highway and Carshill Street. Oct. 8,” said Ridge Meadows RCMP Cpl. Alanna Dunlop. “In these searches police have recommended charges against three people, all of who are known to be deeply involved in the distribution of illegal drugs in our town centre,” she added. “The arrest of these people and the subsequent searches of houses associated has resulted in the seizure of heroin, fentanyl, and cocaine that was aimed at more than 900 individuals.” Police believe a good portion of the drugs were destined for sale in the downtown core. “We have also taken firearms away from people who do not have a legal

right to possess them, which makes our streets much safer,” Dunlop said. Through crime analysis, police are say there is a link between drug addiction and minor property crimes. “Over the past three weeks we have made significant progress in reducing the availability of street level drugs which will hopefully reduce property crimes,” she said. Karnc appeared in Port Coquitlam provincial court Friday and has been remanded in custody pending his next court appearance on Nov. 19. His co-accused was released. Her first court appearance is in early December.

•More at www.mrtimes.com, search “Karnc”

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Pitt Meadows Regional Airport is where all the action started in a multijurisdictional police case that netted two break-in suspects and the recovering of stolen property. TIMES files

Police files

Foiled airport heist nets arrests An investigation that began in Pitt Meadows crossed several borders.

Moody, and into North Vancouver. “The deployment of a tire deflation device on Lynn Valley Road in North Vancouver led to the vehicle being stopped in that community, and to the by Roxanne Hooper arrest of both suspects,” Linteau said. rhooper@mrtimes.com She emphasized that no one was injured during this incident. Gun-wielding bandits, who were foiled Aaron Dutiaume, 24, has been charged while attempting to break into a business with using a firearm during the commisat Pitt Meadows Regional Airport, led sion of an offence, two counts of break police on a ground and air hunt that covand enter, two counts of possession of ered much of the Lower Mainland. stolen property obtained by crime, dangerAnd that multi-agency investigation led ous operation of a motor vehicle, operatto the ultimate arrest and charge of two ing a motor vehicle while disqualified, and prolific offenders, announced RCMP Sgt. two counts of breach of probation. Annie Linteau. Dutiaume appeared in court Oct. 27, and Fifteen charges have been recommended has been remanded in custody. His next against two men who first appeared on court appearance is Nov. 24. the Ridge Meadows RCMP radar just His co-accused is Brandon Russell before 11 p.m. on Oct. 24 at the airport. A witness spotted the men attempting to Cumming-Hobson 23. He faces charges of two counts of break and enter, operating a break into the airport-based business, and motor vehicle while disqualified, and three was “allegedly threatened” counts of breach of probawith a firearm before the tion. He, too, appeared in suspects fled the scene. “The success of this court on Oct. 27 and 28. Bordering police agencies investigation speaks Police say they are conand Air 1 were immediatetinuing their investigation, to our efforts in ly informed of the incident, and additional charges and asked to be on the sharing information…” against both accused men lookout for the suspects. Assistant Commander Dan Malo are expected. Less than an hour later, “The success of this Coquitlam RCMP received investigation speaks to a tip of an interrupted break and enter our efforts in sharing information within and three other attempted thefts involving the policing community and effectivethe same suspect vehicle – a BMW previness in apprehending prolific offenders ously reported stolen out of White Rock responsible for property-related offences,” and bearing a B.C. licence plate stolen said Lower Mainland District’s Assistant from Surrey. Commander Dan Malo. “Coquitlam RCMP members observed “We have seen an increase in these the vehicle, occupied by two individuals, types of offences throughout the Lower flee the area at a high rate of speed,” Mainland district, and given that crimes Linteau explained. have no boundaries, we will continue to Police confirmed there was no chase or adopt a district-wide approach to strategicpursuit involved. ally target the small number of individuals However, a short time later, the police who are responsible for the majority of helicopter spotted the same vehicle westproperty crimes,” Malo said. bound on Lougheed Highway and fol• More at www.mrtimes.com, search “airport” lowed it through Coquitlam, Burnaby, Port

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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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Our View

Real respect in plastic poppy ’Tis the season for remembering. As we approach Remembrance Day, the uniformed old men – and more and more women – come into focus. Phrases like “We Remember” and “Lest We Forget” are tossed about like maple leaves on the first windy day of autumn. We all go out and buy our obligatory plastic poppies from the nearest Legionnaire and dutifully pin them to our lapels or collars or shirt pockets to signify the respect we all have for those who fought for our freedoms in the great wars past. Some of us will even visit Legion halls and cenotaphs on Remembrance Day and stand respectfully still as the Last Post sounds at 11 a.m. on Nov. 11, braving the cold and wet (even more of us when the weatherman allows cool and dry) to emphasize our respect for our country’s veterans. This time, try to remember more than just the usual stuff that we’re asked to remember on Remembrance Day. Try to remember that, though there are no more veterans from the First World War to add solemnity to the occasion, there are still plenty left over from the Second World War. And the Korean War. And from Vietnam (yes, many Canadians did fight in that “police action”). And from Bosnia. And from Afghanistan. And from all of the many peacekeeping functions attended by Canadians in between. Never fret, it seems that, as veterans age and threaten to dwindle in numbers, the world has a way of providing us with more. And try to remember also that our veterans don’t just pop up this time of year like mushrooms after a big rain. They’re with us all year round – try to remember that. While you’re remembering those things, remember that when you buy one of those plastic poppies, you’re supporting an organization, the Legion, that supports our veterans all year round. That’s real respect. – B.G.

This Week’s Question Have you bought your Remembrance Day poppy?

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Community celebration.

How do you celebrate Halloween?

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.

56 %

Private gathering.

Trick-or-treating.

All of the above.

14 %

We don’t celebrate Halloween.

14 %

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Opinion

Remembering never foolish

With Remembrance Day just The folly of the world’s leaders around the corner, we can expect in 1914 cost millions of lives. the 100th anniversary of World And those “boys” who set off War One any day now. to conquer the world for King Ahh! I know what you’re thinkand Country when the clarion ing. sounded… they really were just You’re shaking your head right boys, remember. now and thinking I ought to get Most of the eager recruits who my facts straight. couldn’t wait to bag themselves You’re thinking I started writsome glory at the expense of a ing without thinking, and that few Huns were teenagers – many my dates are off by a full four of them 16 or 17, if they could by Bob Groeneveld years… and how could the proof get their parents to sign off their readers have let such an error get fates… some only 15 or even 14, by them? if they were big for their age and You’re thinking, “What a goof!” canny enough to put one over on a recruiting Well, you’d be right… and you’d be wrong. sergeant who, truth be told, was often enough You see, if I’m a goof for suggesting that the eager to have one put over on him. 100th anniversary of the end of the war is near, With the wisdom of hindsight, we know what then the whole world was filled with goofs in horror they were really getting themselves into 1914. It was common knowledge 100 years ago – the mud, the trenches, the endless shelling, the that the war was going to be over soon – the gas, the blood, the lost limbs and lost lives. “boys” would be home by Christmas. But they weren’t stupid. Never believe that. That’s one of the reasons the “boys” were They weren’t even foolish. lining up in droves to get in on the action. The men who goaded those boys into it were They could hardly wait to pull on a slick, new both. uniform, shoulder one of the king’s own rifles, But not the boys themselves. and get on the boat to Europe – maybe take in They were just young. some of the sights along the way while they’re Our wisdom of hindsight has come from the over there, eh? – and let that nasty ol’ Kaiser men who returned from the mud and the blood have what-for. and the lost comrades. If they didn’t hurry to enlist, all the fun and There are no First World War veterans left, of excitement would be finished before they could course. They’ve all gone to join the friends and get in on it. If they didn’t hurry, the war would relatives they left in the trenches so long ago be over and done with. By Christmas. that… well, they’re all gone now. So if I seem to be a bit of a goof for suggesting But we remember them – those old men with that we’re very near the 100th anniversary of the heads bowed, their uniforms adorned with medend of World War One, so be it. als and campaign ribbons, standing solemnly at In fact, the First World War didn’t end on Nov. the cenotaph on Remembrance Day (or quietly 11, 1918, anyway. It’s just when the armistice seated because they had grown too old and tired – a formal cease-fire agreement – was signed. to stand). The war didn’t actually end until the Treaty of They were the old men who had become wiser Versailles was signed on June 28, 1919. than they were when they rushed to join a war In any case, my folly – if you see it that way that would be over by Christmas. – catches no one any serious harm. We remember.

Odd Thoughts

Maple Ridge & Pitt Meadows Times

editorial@mrtimes.com

Tuesday, November 4, 2014

Road safety

Signalling a small, safe courtesy

ing wheel that needs to be moved up when Dear Editor, you make a right turn and needs to Recently my son received his N, be moved down when you need to but beforehand, he took driving les- Letters make a left turn. sons through the Mercedes Benz In the past week of driving around Driving Academy. to the town, I have been a witness to Now, I thought I was a pretty good almost a half dozen accidents due driver and did not need to learn to people not letting others know in things my son had learned and was Editor which direction they are heading. eager to share with me. Honestly, it doesn’t take much to However, I did listen, and boy has turn your blinker on to let others know the it opened my eyes. direction you are going, and once you start One major thing I have noticed in Maple doing it, it becomes a habit. Ridge drivers is the lack of using their sigMake it your habit! nal indicator – you know, that little stick thing that is on the left side of your steerBeverley, Head domestic engineer of Stuive home

Animal welfare

Don’t count on dogs being friendly

Dear Editor, I was on a bicycle, taking my dogs for a run on one of the Pitt Meadows dikes. In the distance, I saw another person walking dogs. I leashed my dogs. The dog owner leashed one small dog and picked up and carried a second small dog, leaving a third large-sized dog unleashed. When I was about 60 feet away, the large dog charged me and my dogs, barking aggressively. I got off my bike and positioned it between myself and the aggressive dog. The owner shouted he is

friendly, but the dog continued aggressively towards me. I attempted to shoo the barking dog off, repeatedly requesting the person to leash their dog. The owner repeated that the dog was really friendly. I then yelled more at the dog and approached with authority. The dog backed down. I called that I would be passing. The dog was still barking and aggressive. As we passed, I noticed another leash around the dog owner’s neck. Utterly flabbergasted, I admit I yelled some profanity. The owner said this was

What you’re telling us on Facebook TIMES kicked off a series of stories on •theThedeterioration of downtown Maple Ridge in

Thursday’s edition. The first installment looked at homelessness and its impact on the core. Readers reacted strongly to the first story...

“If Maple Ridge doesn’t clean up, we are selling and are out of here.” – Jason Martin “Have a look in the lots surrounding the Caring Place, riddled with drug addicts. Crawling actually, like an infestation. All the Caring Place is a place to eat for free. It’s clearly not doing any other good for these folk. They don’t want help, they want to cash their welfare cheque and get high. Period. Those addicts and prostitutes and dealers, are they the ones voting and paying taxes? Nope, time for a change... I’m tired of not feeling safe in Maple Ridge. ” – Carrie Savard “It’s the same every where. Open your eyes…” – Linda Howard “…it may not be the Caring Place, but the problem did get worse once the shelter got built because lots of them come from Mission, Abby, or even from Vancouver so it’s hard to say what’s at fault.” – Angel Jasper Bruhn “I’m very grateful the shelter was there when I lived in B.C. back in 2002. If it wasn’t for them being there with open arms, I would of been on the streets with no where to sleep. Came out there from New Brunswick with my boyfriend at the time, and where we thought we could stay backfired. We had no place to go... I have never done drugs in my life. Just fell hard and needed a place till we got back on our feet... the staff was great… to this day I still think of them often… thankful such loving caring people came into my life when I needed them... no matter where you go you are gonna find drugs homeless people, etc.” – Laciee Dawnn “Society is at fault… not the Caring Place. They are trying to help with no support or resources to really solve problem...” – Aaron Mcneill “We used to live in what is apparently known as Haney Harlem around 224th and Lougheed. We had so much theft it was crazy!” – Gloria Archambault

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an off-leash area. The dike areas that are off-leash are clearly marked at both ends; this was not one of them. I felt threatened by the dog, for my own safety and that of my dogs. Dogs can be unpredictable. I only want to prevent unpleasant incidents – for you and for me. Please leash your dogs, especially when you see others have their dogs leashed. Do not assume all dogs are friendly in all situations. Do you shake hands and meet and greet everyone you encounter in your day? I think not. Don’t assume my dogs want to meet and greet with yours. They are rescue dogs and have come a long way – your disrespect for their rights belies your claim to be a dog-lover. The dikes and trails in Maple Ridge and Pitt Meadows are a treasure for all of us. Please let us respect each other, whether we be bikers, runners, walkers, with dogs, or with horses. Be aware when you are walking, call out if you are passing at speed. Control your non-human companions. Gordon Menzies, Pitt Meadows

Painful Truth

View welcome

Dear Editor, I want to thank Matthew Claxton for a well written, insightful, and intelligent column [Another side of pax Romana, Oct. 16 Painful Truth, TIMES]. It made me think of how our thoughts are often controlled by history books and the media – not so much in a malicious way, but because we often see things from our own perspective. It is so sad that 2000 years later, we are still shooting, killing, and raping to get our point across. Thank you again for making us think from the other side of the mirror. Erick Rimes, Pitt Meadows Letters on this page have been edited for space. For longer versions, or more letters to the editor visit... www.mrtimes.com – Click on Opinion, or search the writers’ names.

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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Tuesday, November 4, 2014

Maple Ridge & Pitt Meadows Times

Did you Know…

Maple Ridge / Pitt Meadows Community Services is a local charity helping those in Need…

YOUR DONATION WILL MAKE A DIFFERENCE! Rick Moyer/TIMES

Ghost Ridge, an annual haunted house at the Albion Fairgrounds, incorporates a number of actors who add so much to the experience.

Ghost Ridge

Haunted house paid dividends

Three local groups benefited greatly thanks to the week-long charity event.

www.mrtimes.com

more than a haunted house. We help three non-profit groups to achieve their mandates and goals,” Bates recounted. The three charities that benefit from It’s unclear if torrential rain, hockey the week-long haunted house are the games, or simply apathy kept some people Ridge Meadows Bruins Rugby Club, the away from this year’s charity haunted Live Action Roleplay Group (LARP), house in Maple Ridge. and the founding organization, Country But numbers were definitely down Fest. Maple Ridge Lions hosted the a bit said founder and co-organizer Halloweenland carnival for younger Lorraine Bates. attendees. Ghost Ridge, as it’s known, celeBates was impressed with the high More brated its 12th anniversary this year, school students who earned communPhotos Online and while it was “great,” Bates said ity hours towards graduation while ticket sales and ultimately numbers helping organize this charity event, of people through the Albion Fairground and actors who she hailed as “amazing.” gates were down “slightly.” “The best part for me personally, same This year’s event raised about $18,000, at the fair and the Christmas Hamper, is which she said was actually only down at the end of the event, the exhausted about $1,000 from 2013 figures. volunteers and students are already talk“The decline in receipts was disappointing about next year. That makes this old ing, but I told some of the players that we lady happy, and that – in my opinion – is have to remind ourselves we are actually the smell of success,” she concluded.

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ADVANCED POLL OPPORTUNITIES • Wednesday, November 5, 2014, Pitt Meadows City Hall, 12007 Harris Rd., 8:00 am - 8:00 pm • Friday, November 7, 2014, Pitt Meadows City Hall, 12007 Harris Rd., 8:00 am - 8:00 pm • Saturday, November 8, 2014, South Bonson Community Centre, 10932 Barnston View Rd., 9:00 am - 6:00 pm • Sunday, November 9, 2014, South Bonson Community Centre, 10932 Barnston View Rd., 9:00 am - 6:00 pm

Authorized by the official agent Sharon Murray

604-562-7166

604-442-6534

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Maple Ridge & Pitt Meadows Times

&places

faces

Tuesday, November 4, 2014

WE PAY CASH for Used Cars

Maple Ridge & Pitt Meadows

Call

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Showcasing some of this community’s people and happenings

rray Kristina Mu Ridge f o e) tr en (c ospital Meadows H cepts ac n io at Found andh “adorable” caps y ab b knitted ts of from residen o r o an wh Greystone M y hours an m spent e caps for crafting thes at RMH. the babies

The Township 7 Winery in Langley recently hosted a Grape Stomp for charity. Several teams competed including a squad from Maple Ridge called Squeeze Me, Please Me, Make Me Wine. Members included (left to right) Jodi Wijenberg, Lesley MacSorley (front), Brad Griffin, Ernie Wijenberg and Don MacSorley. Heather Colpitts/Glacier Media

River Road resident Mirae Campbell was the grand prize winner in a BC Hydro, Power Smart, Power Down photo contest. Out of almost 300 entries from around the province, this Maple Ridge photographer was able to capture a powerful image of an activity that didn’t require electricity. She won a folding bicycle valued at $650.

Post events 10 days in advance by email to:

editorial@mrtimes.com

Nov. 4: Caregiver Support

• A support group for caregivers, family, and friends of people with Parkinson’s disease will be held from 10 a.m. to noon. For details, including location, contact Julie at 604-459-9071 or at djlloyd1@shaw. ca, or Joanne at 604-462-97335 or at joanne.long@shaw.ca

Nov. 5: Blues singer

• Juno winner and B.C. Entertainment Hall of Famer Jim Byrnes performs at The ACT. He’s joined by special guest Babe Gurr. Tickets are $32.50. Call 604-4762787 or visit www.theactmapleridge.org. Doors open at 7 p.m.

Nov. 8: Diwali

Mirae Campbell photo

• Maple Ridge Library hosts Diwali (Festival of Lights) celebrations from 2 to 4 p.m. Includes entertainment and refreshments.

Local Rotarians, sponsors, and beneficiaries of this year’s Rotary Duck Race, along with representatives from KidSport, were all on hand recently to be recognized and/or receive cash during the annual dinner at Meadow Gardens in Pitt Meadows. In total, 19 different local youth groups and sports clubs received cash to support their causes.

Eric Zimmer/

What’s On

www.mrtimes.com

Nov. 8: Demonstration

• Whonnock Weavers and Spinners will hold a demonstration at Valley Fair Mall on Saturday, Nov. 8 and Sunday, Nov. 9, from 10 a.m. to 4 p.m. Info: Dale at: realqueenofeverything@gmail.com.

Nov. 8: Celebrity chefs

Peter Davies (left) was recognized by Papa Duck aka: Bob Shantz, for his help and contribution to the annual duck race.

TIMES

t) Shantz) (lef (a.k.a. Bob ck n u D Le a ’s p rt Pa Spo oney to Kid om presented m rt received $23,035 fr o Sp id K . rs te Wal uck race. this year’s d

Don Lekei (above) was one of the three finalists in the Douglas College SelfEmployment Program’s entrepreneur of the year awards (high-tech category). His Maple Ridge business, Help-My-Tech, helps people with computer problems. The awards (below) were presented at the Executive Plaza Hotel on Oct. 21.

Eric Zimmer/TIMES

• Haney Farmers Market’s Celebrity Chefs Cooking Classes welcome Chefs Mike Mulcahy (10 a.m.), Brenda Cortez (noon) and Anahi English (2 p.m.) in the Studio in the garden of Grow & Gather, 24565 Dewdney Trunk Rd. Seating is limited. Call Eileen 604-467-8424 to sign up. Admission by donation. Info: www.haneyfarmersmarket.org.

Nov. 9: Naturalists

• Alouette Field Naturalists meet for a walk at Minnekhada Park. Contact Duanne for details at 604463-8743.

Nov. 9: Musical

• Arts Club ON TOUR presents Avenue Q at The ACT, at 2 p.m. the musical story of a bright-eyed college graduate who arrives in New York City looking for love, a job, and his purpose in life. Tickets and info at: www.theactmapleridge.org.

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.

•Full list: www.mrtimes.com.

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Tuesday, November 4, 2014

Remembrance Day

Bracelets added to poppy effort

Proceeds from the local poppy campaign go back to veterans and organizations in this community.

Maple Ridge & Pitt Meadows Times

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The huge amount of support that people in Maple Roxanne Hooper/TIMES Ridge and Pitt Meadows gave to Legion Branch Maple Ridge Mayor Ernie Daykin was pinned with the first official 88’s poppy campaign last Remembrance Day poppy last Wednesday by Royal Canadian Legion year didn’t surprise Diane member and poppy campaign co-chair Diane Cougar. Cougar. Even so, Cougar, who co- and Pitt Meadows, such as don’t understand how chairs the annual campaign much work goes into “getChristmas Haven, as well along with Gail Springer, ting things to where they as for student bursaries. was thrilled after more than need to be.” “It’s amazing how grate$72,000 in donations was “For example, for the ful these students are to get raised in the neighbouring poppies that are in the these bursaries,” Cougar communities. schools, there’s an incredsaid.. “The people are extremeible amount of work that The legion has had difly generous here in Maple goes into that by a very ficulty finding volunteers to Ridge and Pitt Meadows,” small group of dedicated hand out poppies for donaCougar said. “Last year, ladies,” Cougar said. tions. About four per cent it [the funds generated] Led by Springer, this of local legion members worked out to almost $1 volunteer for the campaign. group of three women puts for every man, woman, and in the equivalent of a full You don’t have to be a child in the communities.” work week just to prepare legion member to volunShe’s hoping folks will be teer. Anyone interested in the poppies and deliver in a giving spirit this year them to schools in Pitt helping out can visit the for a campaign that kicked Meadows and Maple Ridge. poppy tables set up at the off Friday, Oct. 31 and runs back of the legion’s Fireside “Each school has thouuntil Monday, Nov. 10. sands of poppies that have Lounge. “Lest We to be counted out and “We’re Forget” braceorganized for each classlooking “The people lets, at $3 room, and containers that for lots of are extremely apiece, will have to be put together volunteers,” generous here…” also be sold Cougar said. for the schools, so that in at some locaitself took over 40 hours of “We have Diane Cougar tions and at ‘woman-power,’” Cougar many blank the legion. said. “There is so much spaces.” Funds raised through involved in getting the She is also looking for donations in return for pop- volunteers to “tag” (hand Poppy Campaign organpies go to veterans in need, ized for the public, and you out poppies in exchange Cougar said, helping to pay know what? Everybody for donations) at both for such items as accessible does it with joy and laughthe Maple Ridge and Pitt bathtubs and wheelchairs. ter, because it’s something Meadows cenotaphs for Money generated from that we believe in.” about an hour and a half the campaign is also re-dirVisit the legion’s website on Remembrance Day, ected into the communities at www.legion88.com. Tuesday, Nov. 11. for events in Maple Ridge Cougar said many people • More at www.mrtimes.com

Honouring Our Veterans

Deadline for poetry extends Recent peacekeeper deaths in Eastern Canada prompt submissions to an annual contest.

words to recognize peacekeeping efforts – past and present. “The theme this year seems even more relevant after the recent tragic event in Ottawa,” he said. “Our soldiers and veterans who have served since the by Roxanne Hooper beginning of the Cold War and rhooper@mrtimes.com overseas as peacekeepers in More prizes are up for grabs, Afghanistan, Iraq, Bosnia, and but fewer entries have been Somalia – to name a few of the received from local poets who more well known fronts – have wish to pay tribute to veterans. given and suffered as much as For the fourth year runthose in the two great wars,” ning, local writer and poet Joe Robinsmith said. Robinsmith has partnered with “We stand and salute you… Joe Robinsmith The TIMES, and now the Royal Let us recognize their sacrifice Canadian Legion Branch 88, to and realize that peace is not Contest founder present a poetry contest specific achieved merely by ignoring or to Remembrance Day. turning the other cheek but by strong men Given that submissions have been slow and women who are willing to put their to come in, Robinsmith has extended the lives on the line each time they put their deadline by a few days, “to allow poets to uniforms on,” he concluded. complete their works and still get them in Only three poems will be accepted from to allow the judges time to go through the each writer. Submissions must be emailed selection process.” before 3 p.m. on Nov. 7 to editorial@ The theme for this year’s poetry is mrtimes.com. Please including Honouring more than simply Remembrance Day or Our Veterans in the subject line. Honouring Our Veterans, as in past. Winners will be invited to read their This year, he’s asking poets to use their works Nov. 11, 1 p.m. at The ACT.

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Maple Ridge & Pitt Meadows Times

Tuesday, November 4, 2014

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Chamber of commerce

Nominees recognized at inaugural luncheon by Eric Zimmer ezimmer@mrtimes.com

Thirty nine different local businesses and non-profits in Maple Ridge and Pitt Meadows were recognized in seven different categories that ranged from agribusiness to non-profit, during an inaugural Business Excellence Award nominees luncheon on Thursday. The event took place at the Pitt Meadows Golf Course, and was presented by the Chamber

inees,” said chamber president Terry Becker. “We’re truly part of an amazMore ing community,” Photos she said. Online “The categories of awards go to show what a diverse business community and range of dedication we have in Maple Ridge and Pitt Meadows.” Eric Zimmer/TIMES Becker also noted Lorraine Bates and Tom Cameron accepted their nomination from Maple Ridge and Pitt Meadows Chamber that not all the nomof Commerce president Terry Becker at a special business excellence nominees luncheon last week. inees were members of Commerce Serving Maple ing was an “opportunity to recof the chamber. ognize all of the hard work and Ridge and Pitt Meadows. “I think that goes to say a lot dedication of this year’s nomThe special noon time gatheras well,” Becker said. www.mrtimes.com

A special lunch was held last week to honour business leaders in the community.

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“Small businesses are the life blood of the community.” The Business Excellence Awards Gala themselves take place on February 21. “Our seven awards categories have drawn representation from diverse industry groups,” said Andrea Madden, executive director of the chamber. “Their stories are inspiring, motivating, and unique.” Next up for the chamber is a luncheon at the ACT today with mayoral candidates. For more information on the nominees, the selection process and the awards, visit: www. RidgeMeadowsChamber.com.

• Full list of nominees and photographs from the event online at www.mrtimes.com

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Tuesday, November 4, 2014

Maple Ridge & Pitt Meadows Times

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Maple Ridge & Pitt Meadows Times

Sports

Tuesday, November 4, 2014

Recreation

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In memoriam

Remembering a Maple Ridge legend Halloween marked 15 years since the passing of race driver Greg Moore. k

by Brendan McAleer

Greg Moore’s biggest supporter, his father Ric, wished his son luck before a qulaifying race at the Vancouver Indy in 1999. Below: Moore relaxed in 1997 in Homestead, Fla, at Indy Car spring training.

Special to the TIMES

I’m sitting in the parking lot of a Maple Ridge McDonald’s. Rumour had it that this McDonald’s once had a trophy case dedicated to hometown hero Greg Moore, but I can’t find it. It’s a newish place, more of a bunker than the cheery redroofed restaurant across the line in Pitt Meadows, so perhaps it’s missing as a result of renovation. I move on down the road to the local Chrysler dealership. In the 1980s, this parking lot was where Greg Moore first climbed behind the wheel, into a go-kart with the plastic body of a pint-sized Chevy van. There’s a picture of him leaning on it - towheaded, scuffed shoes, hockey helmet in his right hand - with a steady, serious gaze. He’s got the same look on his face on the front cover of his 2000 biography, Greg Moore: A Legacy of Spirit, though this time he’s head-to-toe in a blue-andwhite racing suit and standing in front of his winning Player’s-liveried 850-hp Reynard racing car. But here’s where the youngest winner of a CART-sanctioned race first started out, bouncing off drain pipes at his father’s dealership on a lazy Sunday. At the time, he was like any other normal kid, obsessed with hockey, with a Big Wheels trike, and Transformers in the toybox, and superhero lunch boxes However, unlike many other kids, in the town where Moore lived, there was a racetrack; his father raced on it, and there Greg would get his first taste of competitive driving. It takes a while to get from

Nick Procaylo/Province

Maple Ridge to Coquitlam, and a little longer to head up into the hills and housing developments of Eagle Mountain. From 1959 to 1990, this was the home of Westwood Motorsport Park, a reasonably treacherous course that blitzed through the forest with a tricky hump that could send drivers heavenward, and essentially no run-off. It was Canada’s earliest dedicated race course, and many of the greats drove here: Rosberg, Rahal, Villeneuve, Andretti - and Moore. As a junior karter, Moore’s membership number was 99, coincidentally the digits of another famous Canadian, and ones that he’d race under his whole life. He started out quickly, under his father Ric’s no-nonsense tutelage. The drifting rains that are plucking the leaves from the trees today were a constant

challenge with the slick tires of the racing karts, and played a part in developing Moore’s phenomenal car control. At 14, a slim bespectacled lad who seemed more chess club than hardcharging racer, he won the 1989 North American Enduro KART racing championship, racing in the rain. The next year, he won it again. The next year, at 16, he moved up to Formula Fords, and in his second year of competition, won a race, placed fourth overall, and was named rookie of the year In 1993 he started racing in the Indy Lights series; in 1994, at the age of 18, he became the youngest-ever winner of a CART race with a win at the season opener

in Phoenix, Ariz. In 1995, he won 10 out of 12 races, five on the trot. Like so many young racers struggling to get their breakthrough, money was always an issue. Greg’s success wasn’t merely owed to his father’s coaching, but to Ric’s constant work at creating opportunities for his son to excel. At one point, essentially all the property in the family’s name was mortgaged to the hilt, every stop pulled out in order to make those racing dreams a reality. The other part of the story is how Moore handled his newfound fame. He never left behind his childhood friends, even as he made

new ones in Indy and around the world. The Fraser Valley would always be home, and while the life of a race car driver soon became a whirlwind of travel and the attendant circus that followed the races, Moore would always come back to his roots, phoning at all hours from around the globe. One week he’d be in Australia, hammering through the apexes, and the next week he’d be casting for trout in the same streams where his grandfather taught him to fly-fish. It’s not difficult to find Moore’s memorial, sitting against a mossy cedar and bearing his smiling picture and a set of crossed checkered flags around the number 99. After a brief bio of his life and legacy are two phrases, written in red: “Red gloves rule,” and “See you up front.” At the BC Sports Hall of Fame, you walk past displays dedicated to Terry Fox and Rick Hansen on the way back to an exhibit set up to honour Moore. There’s a full-sized Indy car back here, as well as glass cases filled with photos, racing suits, his old racing carts and trophies. There are signed pairs of his red gloves too: while the Player’s racing colours were blue, Moore always wore red gloves as a mark of Canadian pride. Moore died in a crash on the tenth lap of the CART season’s last race in Fontana, Calif., on Oct. 31, 1999. He was just 24. His legacy can be found in a foundation that seeks to carry on this work, running youth centres and providing scholarships to young people. Moore’s legacy can also be seen in how he was: He knew the importance of family and friendships, and how to be a good role model. Fifteen years later, we still miss our hometown boy.

-Brendan McAleer writes for the Vancouver Sun

•More at www.mrtimes.com, search “Greg Moore”

Speed skating

Local speed skaters see solid start to season A number of athletes are already seeing positive results as a new skating season gets underway.

The Ridge Meadow Racers speed skating club enjoyed a successful season kick-off, as they took part in one of three provincewide opening season meets at the end of October, in Langley. Carina McDonald raced in the Juniors Division 2 and saw personal bests in all the distances. She also took 15 seconds off her 1,500 metre time. Racers Pascal Chassay, Janie Green, Marshall Shupe, and Tim Song skated in the T2T Division 3 skating 200, 400, 500 and 1,500 metre distances. Green & Song

Mark-Erik Dibiase photo

Ridge Meadows Racers’ Marshall Shupe finished first. all had personal bests in the 500 metre races, and Shupe finished first overall in the division. In the T2T Division 4, Tahlon Flamma and Annabelle Green had solid performances skating similar distances with Green having three personal best scores (PBS) and Flamma achieving PBS in all the distances.

In the T2T Division 6, Stephania Kamagianis and Regan Custance skated 200, 400 and 500 metre distances, and had solid appearances, with Custance scoring PBS in all the distances. In the LT2 Division 9, Adam Abbott, Jared Bolland, Sammy Green and Rohan Chassay skated 200, 300, 400 and 1,200 metre distances, each of them seeing PBS, with Green achieving two and Chassay in all distances. The L2T/FUNd Division 10 saw skaters Aliyah Adomi with three PBS as well as Danica Custance, Cole Lindsay, Willa Ludeman and Mackenzy Clark with PBS in all their races. Jack Hayhoe, a first time speed skater, enjoyed his experience and is looking forward to more racing this coming season. The L2T/FUNd Division 11 saw siblings

Zayda & Shay Jones, along with Hailey & Piper Friesen skated great times in the 200, 300, and 400-metre races. FUNd Divison 12 saw Zahara & Nathan Adomi skate away with PBS in their races. In FUNd Division 13, Bronte Clark and Finn Ludeman were able to set new PBS for themselves, while new skater Breanna Fontaine had fun on the ice getting her first official times. The Active Start skater Jared Custance, enjoyed his season opener giving it his all in the 50, 100, and 200 metre distances. Overall, Ridge Meadows had a great season opener and things look promising. In national speed skating news, Michelle Mackay finished 11th overall during the Calgary World Cup Selection this past September.

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Maple Ridge & Pitt Meadows Times

Carrier of the week Karolina Lavrikova Congratulations on doing a fantastic job. As winner of one of our Good Sport Awards you get

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The Meadow Ridge Moose female hockey team faced off against the Victoria Phantoms on Friday night. Playing at Pitt Meadows Arena, the Moose dominated much of the game, and ultimately won the match by a score of 6-2. The victory came courtesy of a pair of goals from Dayna Briggs and Emily Jude. And it was Sterra Rai and Sarah Boehringer who rounded out the scoring for the Moose. The next home game for the girls is Saturday, Nov. 15 at the Pitt Meadows Arena. Game time is 8:30 p.m.

Cycling

Pumpkin Cross brings out bikers The 8th annual fall cycling event took place at the North Alouette Greenway on Sunday.

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It was muddy madness and a rolling good time on Sunday at the North Alouette Greenway in Maple Ridge today, as the Layar or 8th annual Pumpkin Cross took online place. More than 220 riders took part in the annual migration to Maple Ridge to compete alongside some of the best riders in B.C. and to do battle for the coveted prize for best costume. “The day could not have turned out any better,” said event organizer Barry Lyster of Local Ride. “One of Eric Zimmer/TIMES the most impressive moments was the field of 30 beginner women, who Rider of all ages, abilities and costume garb took part in this year’s Pumpkin Cross cycling event on took part in the event.” Sunday. More than 220 riders took part, and many more spectators watched from the sidelines. The day itself presented riders The event also saw a strong group gun Rhys Verner rounding out the with a soggy field under cloudy of youngsters participate in the free top three. skies. kid’s race. Of course, the day also included However, the rain held off, and In addition, the Ridge Meadows prizes for best costume in the varihundreds of spectators enjoyed the Child Development Centre held a ous categories. cycolcross action and crazy costume Specialty Wheel Race for children on Tim Sherstobitoff dressed as antics. adapted bikes, trikes, and chairs. “Devo” proudly took the top-step as Sandra Walter, a recent medal In the Elite women’s category, the men’s winner while Walter took winner in the Elite category at the it was Walter, who ripped up the the women’s victory. Canadian Cyclocross Championships course in her “Cow” costume, putA young Werewolf took the kid’s in Winnipeg, led a free novice ting the hooves to her competition. award, and the Glotman Simpson women’s clinic the day before the Andreane Lanthier-Nadeau came Cycling team won the Moosehead race, giving an enthusiastic group of from out-of-province to grab second Team Award. women who are new to the sport a spot, while Maple Ridge’s very own Lyster also thanked the sponsores sneak peek at the course, as well as Maggie Coles-Lyster, dressed as “The of Pumpkin Cross: Cycles Lambert, sharing lots of useful tips and skills Princess of Maple Ridge,” bested Giant Canada, MEC, Moosehead that helped make Pumpkin Cross cyclocross veteran and orange tutu Beer, Kicking Horse Coffee, Golden even more enjoyable for them. wearing Kelly Jones for third place. Ears Physio, Pedal Magazine, “We have worked hard over the A scantily clad Craig Ritchey conCycling BC, City of Maple Ridge, years to support and grow women’s tinued his domination in the Elite Maple Ridge Equi-Sport Centre, New cycling,” Lyster explained. “With Men’s category by taking the win Balance, Local Ride Racing and the a coordinated effort from the other on Sunday, with Kevin Calhoun in Ridge Meadows Child Development B.C. organizers, we are now starting second, and Team Squamish’s young Centre. to see the fruits of our labour.”

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Maple Ridge & Pitt Meadows Times

NOVEMBER

2014

Tuesday, November 4, 2014

This month at The ACT

Maple Ridge Art Gallery The Federation of Canadian Artists: Fraser Valley Chapter October 18 - November 15

We are delighted to be able to host the Federation of Canadian Painters: Fraser Valley Chapter’s annual exhibition.

Ensemble 2014 - November 22 - December 20

Professional and emerging artists are shown ‘ensemble’ in this annual juried exhibition that offers each artist the opportunity to make their statement with a small but representative grouping of their artwork.

Opening Reception

Saturday, November 22, 2:00 - 4:00 p.m

Arts Club ON TOUR: Avenue Q Saturday, November 8, 8:00 p.m. Sunday, November 9, 2:00 p.m.

Michael Kaeshammer Saturday, November 22, 8:00 p.m.

Michael Kaeshammer has been called a triple-threat combo of piano virtuosity, vocal ability and charisma.

The Nutcracker Sunday, November 23rd, 1:00 p.m. and 4:00 p.m.

This Christmas season, Royal City Youth Ballet Company again presents the traditional “Nutcracker”, loved by all, and a holiday tradition for many.

GEMS: Cas & Dylan Monday, November 24, 7:30 p.m.

On discovering he is terminally ill Dr. Cas Pepper makes the abrupt decision to drive from Winnipeg to British Columbia, with aspiring young writer Dylan along for the ride. Rated 14A

The Broadway Musical for Adults! Avenue Q is the musical story of Princeton, a bright-eyed college graduate who arrives in New York City looking for love, a job, and his purpose in life. 18+

The Maple Ridge Concert Band’s Winter Concert is a great musical performance for all ages!

Dal Richards Tuesday, November 11 – 2:00 p.m.

Classical Coffee Concerts with Sarah Hagen Wednesday, November 26, 10:00 am

Join us as we make memories together at Dal’s last performance at The ACT after eight consecutive years.

The Very Hungry Caterpillar and other Eric Carle Favourites Sunday, November 16, 2:00 p.m.

Three beloved stories by Eric Carle, award-winning children’s book illustrator and author, are retold on stage through the magic of black light and fanciful puppets by Mermaid Theatre of Nova Scotia

Colours Tuesday, November 25, 7:30 p.m.

On select Wednesdays join us for an up close and personal music experience with shared stories, musical insights, coffee and treats. With special guest Soprano Anne Grimm.

12th Annual Christmas Country Benefit Concert for Meals on Wheels Saturday, November 29, 1:30 p.m

This annual event, produced by Rob Hess, is a wonderful holiday event in support of Meals on Wheels.

Visit www.theactmapleridge.org for schedules. | Register at recreg4u.ca or 604-465-2470.

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Tuesday, November 4, 2014

Maple Ridge & Pitt Meadows Times

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