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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Change at the top
Delta Islanders quickly fill general manager vacancy
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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
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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.