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Sunday, July 7, 2013
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RCMP talk down armed 95-year-old
Man taken to Lions Gate Hospital after two-hour standoff in Upper Lonsdale
Brent Richter brichter@nsnews.com
NORTH Vancouver RCMP successfully brought a peaceful end to a tense standoff with an emotionally distraught 95-year-old armed with a handgun Thursday night. Police responded to the 100-block of Carisbrooke Crescent around 6 p.m. “We attended and secured the area and brought in our RCMP negotiator and (Emergency Response Team) and did surveillance with the helicopter and attempted to gain a line of communication with him,” said Cpl. Richard De Jong, North Vancouver RCMP spokesman. By 7:45 p.m., the man had surrendered to police without incident. “No shots fired, no injuries to himself or anyone else and he was subsequently taken to Lions Gate Hospital for assessment,” De Jong said. The man was licensed to own the restricted weapon, De Jong said, but RCMP are now reviewing whether he will be allowed to keep his firearms licence. Police can request that anyone hand over their licence but if the owner refuses, police must first get a court order. The RCMP just finished a month-long gun amnesty. While the amnesty is over, police will still take the effort to collect potentially dangerous weapons. “By all means. It’s the same process. Call the North Vancouver RCMP. If you wish to relinquish ownership of your firearm, we will attend your residence and we will pick it up no questions asked,” said De Jong.
WV man retraces his father’s footsteps in invasion of Sicily Anne Watson awatson@nsnews.com
TRAVERSING the mountainous roads of Sicily in blistering summer heat might not appeal to everyone, but for an adventurous group of Canadians it’s a chance to retrace history. Wednesday July 10 will mark the 70th anniversary of the invasion of Sicily in 1943 by the 1st Canadian Division, a collection of battalions from across Canada that included the Seaforth Highlanders. The group will retrace the steps of the soldiers who grappled with heat and lack of transport to march inland to Agira. For Rod Hoffmeister of West Vancouver, the journey will be a memorable one. Hoffmeister’s father, Lt.-Col. B.M. Hoffmeister, was commanding officer of the Seaforth Highlanders and led them into Sicily, earning him the Distinguished Service Order while in combat. It would be his first of three, as Hoffmeister became one of See Regimental page 5
Inspiring
NEWS photo Cindy Goodman
WORKERS from Eagle Scaffolding admire the restoration of the spires of St. Paul’s Indian Catholic Church Thursday after removing the tarps that have covered them for years. The church is accepting donations to further the restoration and operation of the North Vancouver National Historical Heritage Site. Scan with Layar for more photos.
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