INSIDE: New English skills come in handy Pg. 3 T U E S D A Y July 2, 2013
7 Pipeline leaks again N E W S ,
SPORTS,
WEATHER
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E N T E R T A I N M E N T chilliwacktimes.com
Spreading out Early Success
Dubious distinction for fallen Paramount
Some parents wonder,‘If it’s not broken, why fix it?’
BY PAUL J. HENDERSON phenderson@chilliwacktimes.com
C
hilliwack’s flattened Paramount Theatre has made it onto the dubious list of worst losses of heritage buildings in 2013, according to the Heritage Canada Foundation (HCF). Calling the decision by city council “shortsighted,” HCF included the Paramount along with the Moose Jaw Civic Centre in Moose Jaw, Sask., and the Hamilton Education Centre in Hamilton, On., both of which were demolished last summer. “Over the past 30 years, Canada has lost 23 per cent of its historic building stock in urban areas and 21 per cent in rural areas,” an intro to the worst-losses list on the HCF website said. “This rate of destruction is disturbing both in terms of lost heritage and increased environmental waste.” The inclusion on the worst losses list isn’t surprising given that a year ago, the HCF had included the Paramount on its top 10 list of most endangered heritage sites in Canada. HCF is a national membershipbased, non-profit organization. In its write-up on the Paramount, the HCF listing says the Save the Paramount group had a proposal that “looked promising” to save the theatre and run it as a repertory-style cinema. But it was the Chilliwack Economic Partners Corporation (CEPCO) offer to demolish the building at no cost that proved too enticing, leading to the six-to-one vote at city council to demolish. “Luckily the building’s contents went to Chilliwack Museum to be eventually put on display,” the HCF site said. The most recent discussion about the Paramount site at city council was approval to create community gardens on the lot.
BY CORNELIA NAYLOR cnaylor@chilliwacktimes.com
Cornelia Naylor/TIMES
Mika and Cathy Raynor serve customers at the Cottonwood 4 Cinemas’ monthly movie day for adults with intellectual disability last month.
A reel special day
Each month adults with disabilities enjoy a free movie thanks to Cottonwood 4 Cinemas
Cottonwood owner Cathy Raynor’s daughter Mika, leans over the counter to take her fiver, beams a big smile and exchanges a few friendly words before handing over her pop and popcorn. Katie makes her way into one of the theatres to enjoy the movie, but Mika and Cathy Raynor both know that won’t be her favourite part of the morning. “[Katie] loves to help sweep at the end,” Raynor says with a laugh. “That’s the reason she wants to come, so she can help sweep popcorn, never mind the movie.” Welcome to Cottonwood’s monthly movie day for BY CORNELIA NAYLOR adults with disabilities. cnaylor@chilliwacktimes.com Raynor inherited the event when she bought the theatre four years ago, and now she wouldn’t trade it t’s 10 a.m. on a Friday morning and Chilliwack’s for the world. Cottonwood 4 Cinemas is alive with the rat-tat“It’s my favourite day of the month tat of exploding popcorn and the because nobody complains and everybustle of 200 adults with intellecbody’s so grateful,” she says laughing. tual disabilities wheeling and walking SEE MORE PHOTOS layar When Raynor took over, it was a into the theatre in a steady stream. once-a-year affair that saw clients from In the concession lineup, customjust one local non-profit come to the ers—most on their own, some getting theatre to watch a movie for free. a little help from support workers—unzip wallets and Today it draws clients from programs all over Chillifanny packs and Ziploc plastic baggies and pull out wack and from as far away as Hope every month. five dollar bills, the flat rate for popcorn and a drink. Stepping up to the front is a regular who’s been coming to movie day for five years; let’s call her Katie. See REEL, Page 4
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arents of struggling primary students are upset by the Chilliwack school district’s decision to close two of its four socalled Early Success classes. “It’s just heartbreaking,” Diane Alling told the Times. Alling was one of a handful of parents who wrote superintendent Evelyn Novak and the school board urging them to reconsider the closures. Alling’s son, a Grade 2 student at Unsworth elementary, went through the two-and-a-half month program at Watson elementary from January to March, and she said the results were nothing short of miraculous. Before the program, her son’s frustration with reading had sometimes culminated in him throwing books. “He would say to me, ‘Mom, am I dumb? Am I stupid? Why can’t I do this?’” Alling said. But changes came quickly after he entered the Early Success class. “Within two weeks he was coming home, picking up books that were at his level and even a little bit harder, sitting down and really trying to read,” Alling said. “Even now, I’m getting tear-y just talking about it now. It’s so amazing.” She doesn’t think it’s right for the district to shut down the program in what she sees as a money-saving move.
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