Delta Optimist May 29 2013

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Tenants confirmed

TFN mall to include Walmart, Canadian Tire

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Block Party

Delta Hospital hosting family-friendly event

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Barn now open

Heritage structure turned into public amenity

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Optimist

Change at the top

Delta Islanders quickly fill general manager vacancy

Delta

Newsstand $1

YOUR SOURCE FOR LOCAL SPORTS, NEWS, WEATHER AND ENTERTAINMENT! WWW.DELTA-OPTIMIST.COM The Voice of Delta since 1922 WEDNESDAY, MAY 29, 2013

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Art unveiled

See Page 9

Head over heels for May Days! PHOTOS BY

View photo gallery with

Museum totem pole to be returned to earth Civic politicians approve removing 80-year-old Ladner landmark BY

JESSICA KERR

jkerr@delta-optimist.com

Civic politicians approved the removal of a local landmark this week. On Monday night, Delta council approved the removal of the taller of two totem poles in front of the Delta Museum in Ladner Village. Chief Wilkes James of the Snuneymuxw First Nation, a

Coast Salish group in Nanaimo, carved the totem pole in 1931. It was carved from a large cedar tree felled in North Delta and presented to the Corporation of Delta in the summer of 1932. The five figures represent the journey of Tsaatsen, Tsawwassen’s first settler. James carved the pole as a memento of his wife’s Tsawwassen roots. However, more than 80 years exposed to the elements have

taken a toll and the pole is now in “generally poor condition,” according to a report to council from Ken Kuntz, Delta’s director of parks, recreation and culture. Through the years it has endured bad weather, bird nesting and minor structural damage that required reinforcement. “There are points in that pole where you could literally push See TOTEM page 3

GORD GOBLE

Everyone had a good time at Ladner Pioneer May Days last weekend, including Mayor Lois Jackson (above). More photos on Page 18 and at www.delta-optimist.com.

Mayor’s preference is to avoid costly municipal by-election BY

TOM ZYTARUK

Optimist contributor

Scott Hamilton is still Liberal MLA for Delta North but how long he’ll continue to sit on municipal council remains to be seen. The final tally of votes this week saw him defeat fellow municipal councillor and NDP rival Sylvia Bishop by 203 votes to secure the provincial seat. Preliminary counting on election night indicated he won by 302 votes. Will a civic by-election be held as a result? “Everybody’s telling me

they don’t want a by-election,” Hamilton said Monday. He could opt for an unpaid leave of absence, he said, or stay on council and donate his civic earnings to the community. He said he will decide what to do within a week or so, “now that I know it (his MLA win) is all official.” Mayor Lois Jackson wants him to stay on council until January so a by-election isn’t madatory. “My preference would be we don’t have a by-election, mainly due to the cost to the taxpayer,” she said. The next civic election is on Nov. 15, 2014.


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