WEDNESDAY December
9 2015
BRIGHT LIGHTS 12
Hi-Light Festival FEATURE 32
Holiday Guide TASTE 39
Black Forest deli $1.25
NEWSSTAND PRICE INCLUDES GST
Local News . Local Matters
INTERACT WITH THE NEWS at N S N E W S .C O M
Community urged to ‘rescue the rescuer’
Campaign launched to aid paramedic battling cancer JUSTIN BEDDALL newsroom@nsnews.com
North Shore Rescue launched “Operation Christmas Spirit” on Saturday. Nearly three dozen
red jacket-clad rescuers arrived unexpectedly at the doorstep of one of their own, Jay Piggot, a paramedic and member of NSR’s elite helicopter team who was recently diagnosed with an
aggressive form of cancer called cholangiocarcinoma. With help from members of the BC Ambulance Service, NSR’s mission included hanging Piggot’s outdoor Christmas lights, cleaning his gutters, trimming the hedges, playing with his two young children in the backyard and ordering
plenty of pizza. “It brought tears to my eyes. It was just like (It’s a) Wonderful Life,” the 1946 Hollywood movie that has become a Christmas classic. “It’s been amazing. My wife and I have been floored by this,” said Piggot, 34. NSR team leader Mike Danks was one of the
members busy at work in Piggot’s yard on Saturday. “It was very emotional to be honest. It was a sea of red. It seemed surreal. We got so much work done in such a short period of time. Our team is really rallying around Jay.” NSR members have also arranged to help Jay’s wife Denise with the kids each
evening and set up a “meal train” – an online schedule that allows family, friends and co-workers to sign up to cook for the Piggots. To alleviate the financial burden facing the family, NSR has started the Jay Piggot Trust Fund at BlueShore Financial. See Trust page 5
West Van to curb monster homes JUSTIN BEDDALL newsroom@nsews.com
SEVENTH HEAVEN Carson Graham quarterback Tyler Nylander racks up rushing yards during a 53-34 win over Abbotsford in the provincial AA football final Saturday at BC Place. Nylander scored seven touchdowns in the win. See page 47 for the full story. PHOTO CINDY GOODMAN
This Christmas, believe again.
The demolition of smaller homes in favour of super-sized houses has become a polarizing topic in West Van. On Monday, council took a small step toward dealing with monster homes and neighbourhood character, voting unanimously in favour of a set of proposed bylaws that address “building bulk” in a way that staff describe as “incremental in nature and phased over time.” “This is an issue in the community and now we are seeing what we can do about it,” said Coun. Craig Cameron. “There’s still too much housing being built that’s extremely insensitive – the entire lot is razed unnecessarily and levelled in a way that doesn’t have respect to the topography or the neighbours or the neighbourhood character and we need to somehow address that.” Following a packed and See New page 9
The Peak of Christmas • Nov 27-Jan 4 grousemountain.com/christmas