Richmond News December 13 2013

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Pipeline gets approved

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The province announced approval for the VAFFC jet fuel delivery plan, which sees fuel shipped up the Fraser River.

Check www.richmondnews.com for updates.

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A2 December 13, 2013 The Richmond News

The Richmond News December 13, 2013 A3 T H E

R I C H M O N D

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News

Province approves jet fuel plan

BY ALAN CAMPBELL

acampbell@richmond-news.com

INTERACTIVE PRINT

Download the free Layar App

The B.C. government’s decision to grant an airline consortium environmental approval of its plan to barge jet fuel up the Fraser River has been branded “pathetic” and “misguided.”

Otto Langer, a former federal fisheries biologist and member of protest group VAPOR, didn’t mince his words when asked for reaction to Environment Minister Mary Polak’s 3 p.m. announcement on Thursday — almost three years into what

BY PHILIP RAPHAEL

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decision.

“The writing was on the wall long before today and the only reason they delayed this decision earlier this year was because of the election.”

Langer rubbished Polak’s claim of the decision-making process being “rigorous,” adding there’s not even been one public hearing and that alternatives to the approved plan were ignored.

Also ignored, according to Langer and the City of Richmond, were concerns of the public and the city’s fire-rescue department, the latter of which has said it can’t respond in

time to any major incident at or near the proposed fuel off-loading facility.

In a conference call Thursday afternoon involving the News, Minister Polak gave assurances that the onus on responding to a major fire at the facility has been placed on VAFFC, with conditions to match that responsibility.

Polak added there will be “rigorous” follow-up inspections, a “series of reports” and “ongoing monitoring” of the project in the coming months and years. ! For more on this breaking story, go to www.richmond-news.com.

Mental health care a ‘revolving door’ praphael@richmond-news.com

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should have been a 180-day process.

Langer, however, was as unsurprised as he was dismayed by the issuance of a conditional environmental certificate to proponents VAFFC to barge the fuel up the south arm of the Fraser, off-load it at a terminal on the banks of the river and then pipe it up Highway 99 and through north Richmond to YVR. “There’s nothing new here and we could have told you a year ago about these conditions,” said Langer, in reference to the 64 conditions placed on VAFFC and of the air of inevitability he and VAPOR felt hung over the

A Richmond father is speaking out about what he likened to a revolving door of mental health care locally, following a study by the Canadian Institute for Health Information (CIHI) rating Richmond Hospital with the highest percentage of repeat hospital stays in B.C. for patients with mental illness.

Sam, not his real name for reasons of privacy, told the Richmond News, his son has averaged three to four visits to Richmond Hospital annually since his diagnosis for schizophrenia in 2001.

“That’s too many times. That’s once every three to four months,” Sam said.

The CIHI’s study pegged the rate of repeat hospital stays for mental illness in Richmond at 19 per cent for patients making at least three visits annually.

The provincial average is 13.2 per cent, while nationally the rate is 10.9 per cent.

According to Statistics Canada, the CIHI collects and analyzes information on health and health care in Canada and makes it publicly available.

Re-admission rates almost double national average: CIHI

FILE PHOTO

Re-admission rates rates for mental health patients at Richmond Hospital have dropped after several new programs have been introduced.

Canada’s federal, provincial and territorial governments created CIHI as a not-for-profit, independent organization dedicated to forging a common approach to Canadian health information, and provide timely, accurate and comparable information.

Sam said he believes inadequate follow up care for mental health patients is the reason for the high percentage of repeat visits locally.

“Essentially, what happens is you

visit the hospital, where you do get good care, and receive the medication for your condition. And then you are left on your own,” he said. “It seems like the hospital’s job is just to make that person stable. There’s no continued help once you leave like you would expect with other conditions, say a heart patient.”

That has left Sam trying for the past 12 years to cope with the needs of his son who has had varying

degrees of success dealing with his illness as he battles the side effects of his medications.

Sam believes better connectivity with health providers outside the hospital setting would help lessen the number of repeat visits, and ultimately provide a better life for his son.

“Follow ups, one-on-one counselling, that would help a lot,” he said.

But those services do exist in Richmond, are readily available, and the initiatives are producing some encouraging re-admission rates, said Dr. Peter Gibson, medical director and head of psychiatry at Richmond Hospital.

“We look at a seven-day and 28day re-admission rates,” Gibson said, adding the shorter period is more of a reflection of care in the hospital, while the four-week span is indicative of community-based follow up.

“Richmond actually has the best rates, within our health region for mental health and addiction programs. And that’s at 3.7 per cent,” Gibson said.

For the 28-day period, re-admission was rated at 10.4 per cent.

For full story go to www.richmond-news.com

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A4 December 13, 2013 The Richmond News

News

Senior dies Malls keeping shoppers safe after Steveston Highway collision stall spaces, but wider than usual connecting roadways, Roberts said. Plus, changes to the exterior lighting has made navigating the lot better when darkness falls.

“We have changed all of our exterior lighting to these very bright LEDs, and I think that makes a big difference in terms of safety,” Roberts said.

At Aberdeen Centre, mall spokesperson Joey Kwan said traffic through the mall is usually quite steady during the holiday shopping, unlike some other malls which experience a significant spike in traffic at this time of the year.

“Because of that, we don’t see much in the way of many problems,” Kwan said.

The mall is open through the Christmas holidays, even on Dec. 25 when most other outlets are closed.

“That way we can cater to the really late Christmas shoppers,” Kwan quipped.

Aberdeen Centre’s busiest time of the year, though, is at Chinese New Year, which in 2014 is on Jan. 30 and 31.

BY PHILIP RAPHAEL

praphael@richmond-news.com

BY ALAN CAMPBELL

acampbell@richmond-news.com

An 80-year-old man who was knocked down by a car while crossing Steveston Highway has died.

The man sustained serious head injuries while crossing the highway at Trimaran Gate, near Railway Avenue, around 5:30 p.m. on Nov. 18.

He was taken to Vancouver General Hospital before he finally succumbed to his injuries last Monday, Dec. 2.

Richmond RCMP’s Road Safety Unit is continuing to investigate the incident.

Meanwhile, Richmond Mounties continue to seek witnesses who may have present when a man was shot in front of a business at the 11200 block of Bridgeport Road on Dec. 4.

The shooting victim remained in hospital as of Wednesday and is still being treated for injuries he sustained when he was shot.

“While the investigation is in the early stages, it is believed this was not a random act,” said Cpl. Stephanie Ashton, Richmond RCMP’s media relations officer.

Police are asking anyone who was in the area of Bridgeport Road around 6:30 p.m. that evening to contact Richmond RCMP if they saw something.

Christmas shoppers rushing to and from the mall with their treasures need to take care.

According to accident figures from ICBC it showed two Richmond malls —Richmond Centre and Yaohan Centre — among the top dozen in the Lower Mainland with the most incidents involving crashes and injuries between 2008 and 2012.

At Richmond Centre, fourth among the malls for incidents, there were 1,820 crashes, and 64 injuries that included 15 pedestrians.

Yaohan Centre’s numbers — 352 crashes with 13 injured, including four pedestrians — put it in ninth place.

To address that Richmond Centre officials said to help monitor the safety of pedestrian and vehicle traffic there are security patrols on foot and bike dedicated to cruising the parking lots.

In an email, mall officials said shoppers should remember that during the holidays the volume of traffic can be higher than normal.

“We recommend that if possible, guests try and leave themselves some extra time in order to safely find a parking space,” the email stated.

Meanwhile, at Lansdowne Centre, which did not appear among the top 12 malls for incidents, the number of security staff is increased to help with the rise in shopping traffic, said Jason Roberts, the mall’s general manager.

“We do that starting in mid-November and carry it through until the end of December,” Roberts said, adding that is some occasions that extra help can be used to direct traffic around the 3,500 parking stall lot.

“In the past we’ve had a third party company do that, as well,” he said.

One of the reasons why Lansdowne does not show up among the malls with a higher number of incidents is owed to the expansive parking lot that has not only generous

Top 10 malls for accidents

1. Metropolis at Metrotown, Burnaby — 3,590 crashes with 231 injured, including 32 pedestrians 2. Coquitlam Centre, Coquitlam — 1,610 crashes with 99 injured, including 17 pedestrians 3. Park Royal Mall, West Vancouver — 2,490 crashes with 182 injured, including 17 pedestrians 4. Richmond Centre, Richmond — 1,820 crashes with 64 injured, including 15 pedestrians 5. Guildford Mall, Surrey — 1,840 crashes with 134 injured, including 14 pedestrians 6. Willowbrook Mall, Langley — 1,540 crashes with 160 injured, including 11 pedestrians 7. Oakridge Mall, Vancouver — 1,490 crashes with 89 injured, including 10 pedestrians 8. Brentwood Mall, Burnaby — 1,090 crashes with 53 injured, including five pedestrians 9. Yaohan Centre, Richmond — 352 crashes with 13 injured, including four pedestrians 10. Meadowtown Centre, Pitt Meadows — 156 crashes with 50 injured, including four pedestrians Source: ICBC

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The Richmond News December 13, 2013 A5

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A6 December 13, 2013 The Richmond News

News CITY HALL

Leftover city cash expected to near $7 million

BY ALAN CAMPBELL

acampbell@richmond-news.com

The City of Richmond is forecasting almost $7 million left over from its 2013 budget.

According to figures released last week by the city’s financial experts, around $6.8 million is expected to be unused by the end of the year — up significantly from $3.7 million in 2012.

As with previous years, the majority

of the predicted surplus has come from unfilled vacancies in the RCMP ($2.7 million) and Richmond Fire-Rescue ($1.17 million).

Any surplus is earmarked by city council to be transferred to the rate stabilization account (RSA), which is supposed to minimize future tax increases and to supplement one-time expenditures.

Despite efforts by a minority on council, namely the Richmond First slate of councillors — Bill McNulty, Ken

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The majority argued last week that one per cent of the increase is still needed to be placed in the city’s reserves to deal with future infrastructure demands.

One-time expenditures for 2014, also approved Monday night by city council, totaled $3.4 million, which would leave a balance of $2.1 million in the RSA before

any 2013 surplus is added.

Next year’s one-time expenditures include: ! Air handling units and exhaust fans for Watermania ($950,000) ! Major Events Provision Fund ($450,000) ! Sister city activities ($220,000) ! Let’s Talk Richmond (online public participation tool) ($63,000).

‘Angels’ ready with shovels Winter weather has arrived and Richmond’s Snow Angel program is back for the fifth year, ready to lend a hand to those in need.

Heavy winter snowfall can cause challenges for some residents such as elderly citizens and persons with health or mobility challenges. Richmond’s Snow Angels offer voluntary assistance with snow removal from sidewalks, walkways or driveways.

Residents in need are encouraged to contact a Snow Angel coordinator in advance of a forecasted winter storm (five or more centimetres of snow).

They can call city hall at 604-276-4000, the city’s community services department

at 604-244-1208 or their local community centre.

A full contact list of Snow Angel coordinators is available at www.richmond. ca/winter.

The Snow Angel program is dependent on resources, severity of the storm, the number of volunteers available and the priority needs of callers.

And although assistance is not guaranteed, the participating organizations will make every effort to help all qualified callers.

For more information on snow removal service providers, volunteering as a Snow Angel and other winter preparedness information, visit www.richmond.ca/winter.

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A8 December 13, 2013 The Richmond News

Opinion T H E

Published every Wednesday & Friday by the Richmond News, a member of the Glacier Media Group.

5731 No. 3 Road, Richmond, B.C. V6X 2C9 Phone: 604-270-8031 Fax: 604-270-2248 www.richmond-news.com

EDITORIAL OPINION

Publisher: Gary Hollick ghollick@ richmond-news.com

Editor: Eve Edmonds editor@richmond-news.com Sports: Mark Booth mbooth@ richmond-news.com Reporters: Alan Campbell acampbell@ richmond-news.com Yvonne Robertson yrobertson@ richmond-news.com Philip Raphael praphael@ richmond-news.com

Director of Advertising: Rob Akimow rakimow@ richmond-news.com Sales Representatives: Angela Nottingham anottingham@ richmond-news.com Lori Kininmont lkininmont@ richmond-news.com Lee Fruhstorfer lfruhstorfer@ richmond-news.com Danny Cheng dcheng@ richmond-news.com Georgia Storey gstorey@ richmond-news.com Digital Sales: Olivia Hui ohui@ glaciermedia.ca Sales Support:

Joyce Ang jang@richmond-news.com

Delivery: 604-942-3081 distribution@richmond-news. com Classified: 604-630-3300 Fax: 604-630-4500 classified@van.net The Richmond News is a member of the Glacier Media Group. The News respects your privacy. We collect, use and disclose your personal information in accordance with our Privacy Statement which is available at www.richmond-news.com.

The Richmond News is also a member of the British Columbia Press Council, a self-regulartory body. The council considers complaints from the public about conduct of member newspapers. If talking with the editor or publisher does not resolve your complaint, contact the council. Your written concern with documentation should be sent to 201 Selby St., Nanaimo, B.C. V9R 2R2. www.bcpresscouncil.org.

R I C H M O N D

N E W S

Legal pot on the way Let’s just consider it a trial balloon, or perhaps a trial doobie.

Sensible B.C. — the group trying to spark a referendum on decriminalizing pot — has come up short.

It needed close to 300,000 petition signatures to force a referendum on the issue, and it achieved 200,000.

But that’s a first-time run at the process during a 90-day window using volunteers.

The group was certainly buoyed by Washington and Colorado’s recent decriminalization of marijuana and lots of support from politicians and police.

It is, however, still hampered by rural folks who aren’t as fast to embrace the pot movement.

Getting high isn’t high on a lot of folks’ lists.

In fact, there’s still a good percentage of B.C. taxpayers who think that more giggling and getting the munchies is not what will propel the B.C. economy forward.

But those folks are quickly becoming the minority.

We think that Sensible B.C. has probably figured out that they just have to work harder to get the undecideds and potential pot supporters off their duffs to offset the anti-pot folks.

Sensible B.C. appears ready to keep working, since their Twitter account proclaimed this week: “210,000 signatures is a remarkable accomplishment. Thanks to all volunteers & canvassers. This is just the beginning!”

They’re undoubtedly right, and it is just a matter of time.

Our society is looking for more ways to zone out, and pot is probably one of the milder alternatives.

When you consider all the pharmaceuticals available and, of course, booze, pot may soon become just another option on the menu in the quest for altered states of consciousness.

CHOICE WORDS

They’re waiting for my call The Editor I understand the men and women of Richmond FireRescue have been in their halls waiting for a call and I did not call them.

I am comforted to know that if I had needed them they were there, ready, waiting to help anytime of the day or night.

I also did not call the RCMP and I know they were there, driving around looking for trouble, so that trouble would not find me or my family.

Last but not least, a long-time friend did call the BC Ambulance Service about a year ago when he was having a heart attack. It was their response and intervention that saved my friend’s life.

I don’t think I have to say any more than that about the Paramedics in BC. To the folks I have mentioned, I know you were waiting for my call, I am not sorry I did not call. I hope I don’t call you in 2014 and thanks for being by the phone just in case.

Merry Christmas and a safe New Year!

Scott Stewart Richmond

Letters policy The editor reserves the right to edit letters for brevity, clarity, legality and good taste. Letters must include the author’s telephone number for verification. We do not publish anonymous letters.

Send letters to The Editor, Richmond News, 5731 No. 3 Road Richmond, B.C. V6X 2C9 Fax: 604-270-2248 or e-mail: editor@richmond-news.com

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odern technology is making life better and creepier at the same time.

Extortion, of all crimes, is going through a major change right before our eyes.

Kevin Christopher Bollaert, a 27-year-old from San Diego, was arrested this week and charged with 31 counts, including identity theft and extortion.

His crime? He created a web site and urged people to send in “revenge porn.”

Revenge porn is what happens when you have a society in which digital cameras are embedded in pretty much every device, from your laptop to your phone to your washing machine.

Young and dumb and in love, people send one another sexy self-taken photos. Then the relationship goes sour and (usually) the guy turns out to be a jerk.

He posts naked photos of his ex online.

For the angry ex-lovers, revenge is the point. But some crooks realized they could turn a profit by creating websites storing lots and lots and lots of user generated revenge porn photos.

Bollaert ran such a site, ugotposted.com, and he made about $900 a month in advertising. But prosecutors say that’s not where he was making his real money. He allegedly set up a parallel site called changemyreputation.com.

For a fee of $299 to $350, this site would get your pic-

Matthew Claxton PAINFUL TRUTH

ture taken off of ugotposted. com.

The pitch to the victims is that the sites are unrelated, but the prosecution alleges they were both run by the same guy, making this outright extortion, if true.

Sadly, this isn’t a new scheme. There have been at least a couple of others like it in the past few years.

Obviously, this is a horrible experience for the victims, who have their real names and social media contact information linked to their images.

This is done for maximum humiliation, so that when their relatives or prospective employers Google the names, they find nude pictures.

Of course, it could be worse.

The last major distributed extortion scheme in North America went by the name of the Black Hand.

Different sources will give you differing accounts of the Black Hand, with some claiming it was an actual secret society, a forerunner of the Mafia. But in New York and Chicago, at the turn of the 19th century, it was a crime anyone could try.

Typically, recent Italian

immigrants would get a letter with a threat, and a demand to pay up. Or else.

If they didn’t pay, then they might be beaten, their shop or home burned, they might even be killed.

Today, Black Hand tactics would be difficult to pull off. Email can be tracked, physical mail can be forensically analyzed.

Drop something in a mail slot and you’re likely on security camera.

Around the turn of the century, police were adding things like fingerprints and mug shots to their arsenal of investigative tools.

They could use telephone and telegraph to compare notes with other investigators, they could use cars to rush to the scenes of crimes.

As police investigation and response times improved, largely thanks to technology, the Black Hand threat evaporated.

It became harder and harder to get away with anonymous violence. Your photo was in a book at the police station, your car’s licence plate number was on record.

But it became easier and easier to transmit images and information, first text, then images, then video, finally leading us to today’s modern version of the ancient crime.

It’s based on shame, not violence, but that’s small comfort for the victims.

Matthew Claxton is a reporter at the Langley Advance.

The Richmond News December 13, 2013 A9

Letters EDUCATION

Funding hopes fueled Open letter to B.C.’s Education Minister Peter Fassbender: This letter follows a Sept. 20 School District 38 (Richmond) presentation to the select Standing Committee on Finance and Government Services by the school board and our stakeholders.

The three recommendations made by School District 38 were as follows: 1. Ensure that public education receives increased, stable and consistent funding.

2. Reinstate a capital plan for facilities.

3. Provide support for proposed new initiatives in education.

The board has been gratified to note that

the Select Standing Committee has acknowledged the cost pressures on school boards across the province, and has recommended that the budget reflect increased funding for the public education system and its facilities.

We look forward to these recommendations being implemented in the upcoming budget, and thank you in advance for your efforts to maximize the resources available for public education in B.C. Donna Sargent Chairperson On behalf of the Board of Education (Richmond)

POLITICS

The Senate — to reform or abolish?

The Editor, On Dec. 6 there was a town hall public forum in Richmond on “The Senate - Reform or Abolish?”

It was evident from the attendees that there was considerable dissatisfaction with the Senate. The opening remarks by the chair outlined the constitutional difficulties to make substantial changes to the Senate, and the even more difficult hurdles to abolish it.

Two people who have, in the past, worked for government in Ottawa and have first-hand experience of the workings of the Senate

indicated that while the Senate has served as a meaningful part of government in the past, it was now in need of reform.

A number of the participants expressed concern about senate accountability, transparency, high salaries and methods of appointment.

At the end of the meeting, by a show of hands, 60 per cent of attendees were for reform, 12 per cent for abolishing and 28 per cent did not respond.

Doug Symons Richmond

SCHOOL REGIS GISTRATION f o r S e p t e m b e r 2 014 0 Commencing January 13th, 2014 registration for September 2014 will be accepted at Richmond Elementary Schools.

Children who will be five (5) on or before December 31, 2014 are eligible for entry into Kindergarten.

The school district offers parents the following program options for their children: w o reW np_ n _tmp n n o tt Y w p _ vp g po t reWR np_ n | pot X zp X x jt X i tp X ht X c n X Z n o Y d n vp g po t ripV np_ n x pX c b _X Z n o Y ct n ootp reW np_ n i p y n_X c e _X \n l oY RY e p pn p onp n t t mpo n n n n o tt nk f m p_ R RX QSR V ] onp n t tp o mon t s n in person _ n s p n tp m p V | n p f m p_ RX QSR p onp n t o k n s n n \ tt x onp n y np ] onp n t a~ V QY g ss _ tp w p _ tp d n vp g po t tp ct n ootp X n s p n tp m p mon ot t n pt n n n o tt X n n n t p onp n t X x onp n `pt p asn t o |ss n t vtp V [ o tp mon ptss t in person n n \ tt x onp n y np ] onp n t a~ r RR ip l |l m Y nk n tmpo t SS SS s f m p_ R RX QSR V | oo nt n vp g po t ct n ootp spt p o o n ptm onp nWk p k spt oo k n o sp tp n_ (siblings must be in the same program at the same school and at the same time).

Information meetings for parents will be held as noted below: KINDERGARTEN PARENT EVENINGS: [m o _X f m p_ n SS s n Alfred Dixon Elementary and R.C. Talmey Elementary EARLY FRENCH IMMERSION KINDERGARTEN / GR.1 PARENT EVENING: ct _X f m p_ R n SS s n William Bridge Elementary LATE FRENCH IMMERSION (GR.6) PARENT EVENING: [ mpo _X f m p_ n SS s at Kathleen McNeely Elementary MONTESSORI KINDERGARTEN - GR.4 PARENT EVENING: [m o _X f m p_ R n SS s at James McKinney Elementary KINDERGARTEN EVENING FOR PARENTS OF STUDENTS WITH SPECIAL NEEDS: [ mpo _X f m p_ R n SS s at William Cook Elementary For further information, please consult the district website at

www.sd38.bc.ca

TOP SALES PERSON ~ NOV. 2013

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IMPORTANT DATES TO NOTE January 13 |n S X n n o tt o Y z sn tp n QSR UQSR o tt _ p p pn p onp n t oV Y x onp mn x onp n `pt p asn t o |ss n t o tp w p _U d n vp g po t ct n ootp V Y x onp n `pt p asn t o |ss n t o sn n n \ tt x onp n y np ] onp n t a~ V January 20 \ tt o sn np o p ss n t o n SS January 31 x r SS s Y tp ss n t tp o tp w p _Ud n vp g po t ct n ootp nt p l n n \ tt x onp n y np ] onp n t a~ V February 11 x onp n k p ko n s tp w p _Ud n g po t ct n ootp V February 28 x r SS s Y tp s p no nt t }p sn t n s n oo n ptm n onp nWk p k tp x onp n `pt p asn t oV February 28 x r SS s Y tp s p no nt om n np o p ss n t o nt o tt oV March 14 d nn po nt s p no l o n t n on nmo t n p uo np o p ss n t V June 13 x r SS s Y g tp p tp onm n nt m p n ostn n p n n o tt X oU p p onp W n t mon spt oo n y np ] onp n t _ n o n V \nm no p on p n p n o n _ l nt s n o tt tn p n n p n n o tt V DOCUMENTATION REQUIRED AT TIME OF REGISTRATION RY ap pn pn } n tp n rnp o n _ tn p_ sm tn w o Y QY `ptt t on nmo y rR t n t tk tp onm n s p nY W ` p n ] o n y p X W y n ^ o s y p X tp W y z pn y pn } n Y `ptt t ] t p o rR t n t tk Y W ympp n spts pn_ n j tn X W vtp p n tp o p nX W \ yt np n t `mp o \ k n n stoo oo t n om no p tl X tp W yt }p n t t ] o _ tp k n n tk puo mpp n spts pn_ n j tn Y Y g m ^ n t p tp tp n V btn \ tt np_ tton po p p qm p tp e p pn V yt n n ] t h n \ pl o tp mpn p tp n t r S WQ W R SYV Y `p l tmo p stpn p p qm p r j sn e p pn Y

A10 December 13, 2013 The Richmond News

Letters RETAIL

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The Editor, As I sat down to write this letter, I was thinking about the unimportance of what I had in mind when compared to the trials and tribulations of millions of people in the human family around the world.

People are suffering under appalling poverty and disease, fleeing homelands as refugees, threatened by various forms of imposed tyranny, while nations armed to the teeth are willing to fight over control of pieces of real estate that will ultimately become our common burial ground.

But then I thought what was bothering me in the microcosm of little ol’ Richmond was really what was troubling the world — a growing lack of trust amongst and between peoples, nations, politicians, corporations, and present-day systems of governance and other decision-making bodies that are inadequate to address the exigencies of today’s world.

So, here’s my “little” concern — deceit (and hence a lack of trust) in pricing commodities.

One store advertised a product “2 for $6 ($3 each) and a “saving” of so many cents and another, the same product, “5 for $10 ($2 each).” Where’s the saving?

Another example is trying to find the best price for toilet paper.

Here a calculator, scratch pad and plenty of time is needed — packages come in 4,12,16 or 24 rolls, with one roll having 165,

176,280,270,264,187,319 or 352 sheets/roll.

(No, I didn’t count them — that is what was “helpfully” claimed).

If one assumes equal quality and size of sheet, and notes whether each sheet is single, double or triple, only then can a proper cost analysis be made to determine the “best buy.”

And everyone in the system knows that no one will take the time to make the calculations (except me, as a teacher, trying to help students become smart consumers).

Do such numbers reflect any effort on the part of corporate manufacturers, distributors and consumer protection organizations to be of service to and to earn the trust (and respect) of their customers?

Gratefully, I still trust God, my very close friends and the intuition of most women.

Merrill Muttart Richmond

Letters policy The editor reserves the right to edit letters for brevity, clarity, legality and good taste. Letters must include the author’s telephone number for verification. We do not publish anonymous letters.

Send letters to The Editor, Richmond News, 5731 No. 3 Road Richmond, B.C. V6X 2C9 Fax: 604-270-2248 or e-mail: editor@richmond-news.com

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The Richmond News December 13, 2013 A11

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No. 2 Rd & Blundell Rd

A12 December 13, 2013 The Richmond News

the

Friday Feature PAGANISM

Religions intertwine during the winter solstice

BY Y VONNE ROBERTSON

yrobertson@richmond-news.com

It’s no coincidence that decking the halls, lighting candles and feasting with friends and family are all hallmarks of the season — be it in celebration of Christmas, Hanukkah or Diwali.

It’s also no coinciFor a dence that they all hapvideo pen around the time of of the the winter solstice. winter Many of the tradisolstice tions in today’s organized religions have roots that extend back to the days of pagan rituals.

Putting up a Christmas tree, for example, comes from early Germanic pagans who used the evergreen as a symbol of something that would last through the winter and bring hope for the spring.

The Druids, a pagan subsect, were agricultural folk, and used the winter solstice to honour the land.

“Because it’s cold and the days are getting darker, we haven’t been able to — Suzi spend that much time outside,” said Suzi Stretton, manager at Serendipity’s Backyard in Steveston.

“So instead, we bring the greenery into our homes. It’s another way to become closer to nature and honour it,” added Stretton, a

At the end of the year, many festivities and traditions overlap across cultures self-identified pagan.

In pre-Christian times, pagans believed greenery would encourage growth in the spring.

They would also hang mistletoe as a symbol of peace and prosperity, as well as a way to bury grudges (kiss and make up).

Hoping the sun returns

“The winter solstice is really a time to honour and celebrate life, like many other religions and cultures during this time,” said Stretton. “What’s cool about it is that it goes way, way back, and it’s interesting to see how these stories develop and tweak along the way, whether it be into Christianity or other religions.”

The main purpose of the celebration was to encourage the sun to return after the darkest days of winter.

Not understanding the days would become Stretton longer regardless, ancient pagans would light candles to aid in bringing the sun back.

“They figured these rituals were working, so they kept doing it,” said Stretton.

Candles would symbolize hope and warmth. Ultimately, it became about defeating the darkness and celebrating the Unconquered Sun. “It’s interesting that Christianity celebrates the rebirth of the son, while winter solstice celebrates the rebirth of the sun,” said Stretton. “But in both cases, light means hope.”

Similarly, the play of light and darkness features in Judaism and Hinduism as well around this time of year.

The lighting of the menorah during Hanukkah symbolizes overcoming politically darker days of oppression, while Diwali (the festival of lights) signifies the victory of light over darkness and knowledge over ignorance.

Across the board, the celebrations encourage perseverance through the darkest days of the year.

“The dead of winter was a tough time back then,” said Stretton. “It was the time when people lived or died, they had to be careful. If you got sick during this time, there was a good chance you wouldn’t survive. Managing the food supply was important.”

Food and feasting, whether in the shape of a traditional GORD GOBLE/SPECIAL TO THE NEWS Christian turkey dinner or a mithai (sweets) consumed Diwali, a Hindu tradition, celebrates the victory of during Diwali, remains an light over darkness every fall.

“...it’s interesting to see how these stories develop and tweak along the way...”

YVONNE ROBERTSON/RICHMOND NEWS

Suzi Stretton, manager at Serendipity’s Backyard, is a pagan who practices the Wiccan faith. She discusses the history of the upcoming winter solstice and how many traditions overlap with religions today. Below, light and fire are significant to the celebration of winter solstice, as they symbolize the rebirth of the sun. integral part of the end-of-year festivities.

Early Christians celebrated in January

The Druids were the ones to mark Dec. 21 as winter solstice after careful mathematical calculations concerning the position of the sun.

Centuries after them, the date of winter solstice shifted to Dec. 25, according to the Julius Caesar calendar (a miscalculation eventually resulted in the return to the Dec. 21 date).

During the beginnings of Christianity, Christmas was celebrated on Jan. 6, the night of the Epiphany. However, since early Christians were having a hard time convincing pagans and the newly converted to stop celebrating winter solstice, they changed the date of Christmas to Dec. 25.

As winter solstice celebrates the return of the sun and the lengthening of the days, early

Christians would connect the sun symbolism with the figure of Jesus Christ.

While Christmas continues to be by far the largest celebration in December, there is also a growing trend back toward pagan roots.

According to the 2011 National Household Survey, 25,495 Canadians identify as pagans, up from 21,085 in 2001.

“There is a type of reclamation happening, especially around the Wiccan religion,” said Stretton, who distinguishes between Wicca, the religion, and the practice of witchcraft, a term that has led to previous negative connotations surrounding witches.

Wiccan versus witchcraft

Where witchcraft focuses on the magical aspect, Wicca, like other pagan subcultures, celebrates nature and humans’ connection see Wiccan page 13

The Richmond News December 13, 2013 A13

the

Friday Feature PAGANISM

Bringing rituals, superstitions into secular society

BY YVONNE ROBERTSON

yrobertson@richmond-news.com

Humans continue to believe in certain routines or dates that are unlucky

So many people suffer from a phobia of this date — known as friggatriskaidekaphobia — that the Stress Management Center and Phobia Institute in North Carolina has declared it the most feared date of the year in the U.S. Ironically, it’s cited as the date with the fewest incidents and accidents because people are so careful, avoiding any risks on this day.

Although mention of Friday the 13th is scarce before the 1800s, the origin of the superstition is believed to be an amalgamation of the unluckiness of Friday and the number 13 throughout history.

While 12 is considered a divine number — referring to the amount of hours in a day, months in a year, gods in Olympus, Apostles of Christ — 13 becomes irregular and unlucky.

In Norse mythology, Loki, the god of mischief, sat at the 13th seat at the table, while, in Christianity, 13 people dined during the Last Supper.

As for Friday, it was considered unlucky in Chaucer’s Canterbury Tales and was the day Jesus was crucified, among other things.

Today, both day and number still come loaded with baggage.

Many fishermen refuse to schedule their first sail of the spring on a Friday, as it is supposed to bring bad luck.

“I’m not sure where that one came from, but I’ve heard it all my life,” said Mike Rekis, a longtime fisherman who works at Steveston FILE PHOTO Harbour Authority. “It’s passed on through generations even though we Many hotels and apartment buildings skip the know it’s a superstition.”

13th floor for fear it’s unlucky.

Asked if he would ever have his Centuries and centuries ago, pagans and other religions followed certain rituals and believed in certain superstitions to explain things they didn’t understand.

During the darkest days of winter, ancient pagans brought greenery into the home to encourage growth in the spring and lit candles to encourage the return of the sun.

Although we may know better today, we’re not without our own more secular superstitions and rituals. We still might automatically hold our breath when walking past a graveyard, avoid a black cat or stepping under a ladder.

Our persistent following of superstitions becomes all the more clear on a day like today — the dreaded Friday the 13th.

“I think humans are just a little OCD, it’s our nature to believe in superstitions and rituals,” said Suzi Stretton, manager at Serendipity’s Backyard. “They’re ingrained in us. It makes us feel safe, it’s almost like we want to be better safe than sorry.”

Wiccan: It’s about learning to live with the seasons

FILE PHOTO

Fishermen are one of the most superstitious people as a way to deal with the force that is Mother Nature, according to Steveston fisherman Mike Rekis. first sail on a Friday, Rekis responds with when it comes to missing 13th floors.

“Most of the hotels I’ve worked at, a resolute “nope.” including this one, don’t have a 13th “Fishermen are really bad when it floor,” said Yannick comes to superstitions, Simovic, the general we have so many,” he manager at the Marriott said. “We almost have to Hotel in Richmond. be superstitious because “It’s sometimes skipped of our surroundings completely or renamed out on the water. We’re the pool floor. It’s against Mother Nature, something we do for something bigger than the guests because of us, and we don’t want to — Mike Rekis the superstition.” upset the balance.”

The Marriott also At the same time, the avoids using the numnumber 13 and its negative connotations infiltrate secular society ber four as it is considered unlucky amongst Asian cultures. in a number of ways, most frequently

Continued from page 12 with their surrounding environment.

“It’s about learning to live with the seasons and understanding how we feel during specific times,” said Stretton.

On Stretton’s mantle at home, sits a broom, cauldron and candles. Each item symbolizes something from the

“We’re against Mother Nature... and we don’t want to upset the balance.”

Wiccan culture. The broom represents clearing space and clutter — an antithesis to the mode of transportation for the evil witch — while the cauldron is for fire, which purifies and rids the space of bad energy. The greenery and holly honour nature.

While few would call themselves

pagan, many on the west coast do call themselves spiritual, but not religious.

And that spirituality is rooted in their relationship with nature.

The quest for meaning, a connection with nature and the celebration of food, friends and family appear to be rooted in all forms of faith.

A14 December 13, 2013 The Richmond News

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The happiest place on Earth It was the first Christmas Disneyland!” without my mom who had The third surprise was died in April, and we dreaded Denny’s the next morning the grief and longing that before our first day in the would come with what was park and meeting my brother, once the happiest of times his wife and their children. for our family.

As we entered the “hapThe pain of loss slowly piest place on earth,” I told HEALTHWISE ebbs over time, but surges the kids to note how much with special occasions. happier all the families were My young children were a great consola- once they entered the gates. Of course, we tion. In each of them, I could see some of saw grownups arguing, some screaming at my mom, and the love I shared with them their kids and kids throwing tantrums. was a continuation of my mother’s love.

It was a gentle reminder that happiness My daughter was five and my sons were can’t be found in another place where everynine and 11. Their joy would bring me joy. thing is perfect. There is no such place.

We decided to go away that first Happiness can’t be found in a perfect Christmas, and because they were young, we relationship with a perfect partner because would make it a surprise. none of us is perfect.

One night just before Christmas, my wife We all travel with baggage, though we and I packed each of their little suitcases could choose what to pack. and loaded them in our van. On what they Ten years later, my children are much thought would be another lazy day at home, older and their lives too complicated for us we woke them up early and told them we to pack their bags and wake them up for were going on a mystery trip. another mystery trip.

At the airport was the first surprise.

Happiness can only be found in the presGrampa was there with Auntie Lisa and ent and in our own hearts. It requires accepUncle Barry. The kids picked up clues along tance of the past and the present and apprethe way and each of them guessed where ciation of what we have, particularly the we were going at different points on our people in our lives today. To be happy is to journey. graciously make the most of what we have.

The magical moment was when we drove Dr. Davidicus Wong is a family physician past the Magic Kingdom and I saw my son’s and his columns can be found at davidicusdimpled smile as he said, “We’re going to wong.wordpress.com.

Davidicus Wong, M.D.

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The Richmond News December 13, 2013 A15

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*Pricing applies to a 2014 Forester 2.5i 6MT (EJ1 X0) / 2014 XV Crosstrek Touring 5MT (EX1-TP) with MSRP of $28,070 / $26, 570 including freight & PDI ($1,650), documentation fees ($395) and battery and tire tax ($30). License, taxes, insurance and registration extra. Model shown is a 2014 Forester 2.0XT Limited Package CVT (EJ2 XTL) with MSRP of $37,570 including freight & PDI ($1,650), documentation fees ($395) and battery and tire taxes ($30). Taxes, license, registration and insurance are extra. Vehicle shown solely for purposes of illustration, and may not be equipped exactly as shown. Roof sport rack and accessories not included. Dealers may sell for less or may have to order or trade. **1.9% finance and lease rates available on all new 2014 Forester models / 2014 XV Crosstrek models for a 24-month term. Financing and leasing programs available through Toyota Credit Canada Inc. on approved credit. †$500 bonus accessories offer applies to lease, finance and cash agreements for all new 2013 and 2014 Subaru models (excluding the 2014 XV Crosstrek Hybrid) and can be combined with Stackable Cash, Alternate Cash and Legacy VIP program, concluded respectively with TCCI. **/ † Offers valid until January 2, 2013. See your local Subaru dealer or visit www.western.subarudealer.ca for complete program details. ◆ Ratings of “Good” are the highest rating awarded for performance in five safety tests (moderate overlap front, small overlap front, side, rollover and rear) conducted by the Insurance Institute for Highway Safety (IIHS) (www.iihs.org).▼ To earn a 2013 TOP SAFETY PICK+, a vehicle must receive a “Good” rating in at least four of the five tests and a “Good” or “Acceptable” rating in the fifth test. ^ See dealer for details.

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The Richmond News December 13, 2013 A17

A16 December 13, 2013 The Richmond News

We will pay your first 6 Payments

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“Model codes are as follows- 2014 Versa Note (B5RG14 AA00), 2013 Rogue (W6RG13 BK00), 2014 Titan (3CAG74 AA00), 2014 Pathfinder (5XRG14 AA00), 2013 Frontier (2KLG73 AE00), 2013 Sentra (C4LG13 AE00), 2013 Juke (N5RT53 AA00) and 2013 Altima Sedan (T4LG13 AA00). The vehicles that qualify for the “Three Month’s No Payments” are 2014 Versa Note, 13/14 Sentra, 13/14 Altima Sedan, 13/14 Juke and the 2013 Rogue. Customer can choose the NF Rebate of $500-$1000 or they can take the “Three Month’s No Payments”. The NF Rebate and the “Three Month’s No Payment’s” can not be combined. It is either one or the other. All of the posted special prices are for cash or Nissan Finance regular bank rates.

“Three Years No-Charge Oil and Filter” is not available on GTR or European vehicles. Vehicles are subject to availability and the dealer may need to locate the desired vehicle. NF Rebate on the Versa Note is for sub vented rates only through Nissan finance, cash deals and leases do not qualify. All vehicles are plus $499 doc fee and taxes.”

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View MORE with

A18 December 13, 2013 The Richmond News

AroundTown

Saturday

QUALITY

LIVING

FOR

ACTIVE

SENIORS

JOIN US FOR CHRISTMAS CRANBERRY TEA Tuesday, December 17th 3:30-5:00 pm Open House - please join us for tea, a tour and some old-fashioned Christmas carols.

STUDIO & ONE BEDROOM SUITES AVAILABLE RSVP by Monday, December 16th Gilmore Gardens Seniors Community 4088 Blundell Road, Richmond, BC 604 271 7222 info.gilmore@diversicare.ca www.gilmoregardens.com

The Hamilton Community Centre hosts Brunch with Santa on Saturday, Dec. 14 from 10:15-11:45 a.m. at the community centre, 5140 Smith Dr. The event includes brunch, activities, entertainment and a visit from Santa. Space is limited, so register at the community centre.

Tickets are $9 per person and a parent needs to attend. For more information, call 604-7188055.

The Thompson Community Association hosts Breakfast with Santa on Saturday, Dec. 14 from 10 a.m.-12 p.m. at 5151 Granville Ave. Tickets are $10 per child, $6 per adult and includes breakfast, a child gift, crafts and entertainment.

Space is limited. Call 604-238-8422 to register or visit www.richmond. ca/thompson.

Looking for something to do on the weekends? Come enjoy an afternoon movie and coffee social on the second and fourth Saturday of every month from 2

to 4 p.m. at the South Arm Community Centre, 8880 Williams Rd., Seniors Lounge. Bring a non-perishable food item for donation to the Richmond Food Bank.

No cost or registration required. For show titles, call South Arm at 604718-8060.

to the River Rock Casino on Sunday, Dec. 15, as part of his North American tour. Popovich, a world champion juggler, trains cats dogs, parrots and mice in one humourous show with skits and tricks. Show starts at 5:30 p.m. and tickets start at $35.

Sunday

Richmond Youth Honour Choir holds its annual Festive Holiday concert on Sunday, Dec. 15 at Peace Mennonite Church, 11571 Daniels Rd. from 7-8 p.m. Tickets are $10 for adults and $5 for youth/seniors. The concert includes both secular and sacred music.

For more information, visit www.ryhc.org or call 604-723-4040.

Lingyen Mountain Temple, 10060 No. 5 Rd., is holding a food drive for the Richmond Food Bank on Sunday, Dec. 15. Bring a vegetarian, non-perishable food item anytime between 10 a.m.-2 p.m. Come enjoy light refreshments and holiday cheer, while helping families in need.

Storyteller Justyn Rees and singer/guitar player Russ Rosen form Christmas Tales and will retell the story of the ďŹ rst Christmas in a funny, non-traditional way at Broadmoor Baptist Church, 8140 Saunders Rd., on Sunday, Dec. 15 from 6:30-8 p.m.

Gregory Popovich, Las Vegas star, brings his Comedy Pet Theatre

Tuesday

Minoru Place Activity Centre (Seniors Centre) hosts its Christmas Sing-A-Long for Seniors on Tuesday, Dec. 17 from 3-5 p.m.

Refreshments will be served and the event costs $3 plus tax. Event is for those 55 and over.

For more information, call 604-238-8450.

GIVE WHERE YOU LIVE The Lingyen Mountain Temple invites you to support the Richmond Food Bank this holiday season. You can also view our proposed expansion plans.

Date:

Sunday, December 15, 2013

Time:

10:00am - 2:00pm

Location: Lingyen Mountain Temple 10060 No. 5 Rd

Please bring non-perishable vegetarian food items.

Light refreshments will be served.

We wish you and your family a Happy Winter Holiday!

The Richmond News December 13, 2013 A19

Community

Richmond Youth Service Agency’s U-Connect Crew will be hosting its 8th Annual Community Winter Dinner on Friday, Dec. 13 at the Thompson Community Centre Banquet Hall.

The dinner is run and prepared by the youth of U-Connect crew — a leadership group that allows youth to connect to their community through self-directed projects and an online magazine, Clix Magazine.

The dinner welcomes those who are new to Richmond and would appreciate a warm meal with their family and friends.

U-Connect has been planning for the dinner since October and fundraised to cover the costs of the food.

This year, members managed to raise $230 through a Krispy Kreme fundraiser at Canadian Tire.

Friday’s meal serves up both familystyle and buffet-style dishes along with refreshments and dessert.

Entertainment includes performances by a jazz band, carollers (U-Connect members), children’s crafts and activities, a family winter photo booth and gifts for each family to take home.

The dinner is free of charge to the community and takes place from 6-8 p.m.

For more information, contact 604271-7600, or visit www.rysa.bc.ca. To learn more about Clix Magazine, visit www.clixmag.ca.

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A20 December 13, 2013 The Richmond News

Community

Enough stuff already, help fight cancer instead

BY ALAN CAMPBELL

acampbelll@richmond-news.com

If there’s one thing that can alleviate the stress that comes with gift buying at Christmas, it’s a little dose of perspective.

While some of us are sweating over that thoughtful present for a loved one, friend or even your boss, it might be worth remembering there’s more to life than material possessions.

One charity — Ride to Conquer Cancer — is asking for you to ponder that thought and wants you to consider them this Christmas when it comes to putting presents under the tree or into the secret Santa hat at work. And one of the ride’s participants, Richmond’s Garth McFadden, would love people to think of the gift of donation this Christmas.

“It’s about giving back and it’s thinking about the kids as well,” said McFadden, a corporate sales executive who lives in the Shell and Williams roads area.

“How about helping to make a world free

of cancer by making a donation and by giving a gift that’s going to make a difference.”

Any kind of donation would be very much appreciated by McFadden, who got involved in the Ride to Conquer Cancer — a two-day, 250-kilometre cycle from Vancouver to Seattle — this year For after losing his brother-in-law, Paul photos Bannon, to cancer in 2012 at the age and to of 56. donate “He died from brain cancer in July 2012 and he only found out a month before that there was a problem,” said McFadden. “He was one of the most healthy guys you could meet. My sister was so touched when I told her I was taking part in the ride this year that she went out and bought a bike and began cycling for the first time in 20 years.

“She got into training for the ride and flew over from Ontario and did the event with me.”

McFadden has cycled more than 2,000 kilometres this year and took part in the 2013 event as part of the “Brainiacs” team, as he will in the 2014 event.

PHOTO SUBMITTED

Cycling for a good cause in the Ride to Conquer Cancer is what Garth McFadden (left) did this year in memory of his brother in law, Paul Bannon (right). If you would like to donate to the event and gift it to a significant other this Christmas, go to www.conquercancer.ca or garthmcfadden.com.

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The Richmond News December 13, 2013 A21

20 14 #"!$

“Soul of Motion”) design approach that includes an attractive, but less gimmicky grille. The rest of the sedan and hatchback’s bodywork is equally tasty from any vantage point. Like its Mazda6 and CX-5 brand mates, the Mazda3 benefits greatly from the SkyActiv suite of structural and powertrain enhancements. The former includes a stiffer platform and finely tuned suspension and steering components geared sports-car-like precision. But the real show stoppers are the powerplants. The base engine is a 2.0-litre four-cylinder that makes 155 horsepower and 150 pound-feet of torque. Optional is a 2.5-litre four-cylinder with Overall: The latest Mazda3 series 184 horsepower and 185 pound-feet of torque. Both sets the pace for all other compact cars with great eat are available with six-speed manual transmissions, looks, impressive powertrains and comfy cabins. while six-speed automatics are optional. Interestingly, both engines are closely matched in fuel consumption, with the Drivetrain: Review: nod going to the 2.0’s official rating, The thrifty 155-horsepower 2.0-litre Mazda’s redesigned sedan and with the automatic transmission, of “SkyActiv” engine is augmented by hatchback models now emulate the 6.7 l/100 km in the city and 4.7 on an optional 184-horse 2.5-litre fourmid-size Mazda6 sedan and the CX-5 the highway. The 2.5 rings up 7.5/5.4, cylinder version. No sign of the top wagon, which means they no longer but both numbers improve to 7.1/5.0 performing Mazdaspeed3 . . . yet. wear Cheshire-cat grins affixed to their with the optional “i-ELOOP” capacitor snouts. Instead, both have adopted that stores electricity generated Mazda’s latest Kodo (Japanese for

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The driver is unaware that i-Eloop is operating. The Mazda3 base GX sedan includes the usual poweroperated accessories plus push-button start. The base GX and GX Sport hatchback are also available in GS and GT trim, the latter fitted with enough standard and available comfort and safety content to rival many socalled luxury vehicles. Regardless of your choice, the new Mazda3 is an impressive piece of work that will be appreciated by those who really enjoy driving something sporty, but without the space limitations that traditional sports cars impose.

Mileage: (L/100 km, city/highway) 6.7/4.7 (2.0, AT) Specs: Four-door • front-wheeldrive compact sedan and hatchback wagon • 2.0-litre DOHC I4 (155hp) • Optional 2.5-litre DOHC I4 (184hp) • Front engine, front-wheel-drive • Sixspeed manual; six-speed automatic (opt.) • Front airbags; side-impact airbags; side-curtain airbags (opt.) • anti-lock brakes • traction control • stability control • 1268 kg.

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A22 December 13, 2013 The Richmond News

%

Arts&Life

PLEASE FILL On Select

Models

YOUTH

Texting in class fractures focus

Interest Limited Offer*

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The News... keeping Richmond families informed.

Anna Toth STUDENT BY DAY

I

magine for a moment a scene in which a father is building Lego castles with his little boy.

The two of them sit on the carpet as the man con-

DL #11029

structs the foundation.

Excitedly, he adds a few colourful layers, placing one piece on top of another.

He wants to impress his son; show him what can be created with a few simple blocks and a bit of imagination.

But imagine … right before the towers begin to form an impressive shape, that the baby reaches out in impatient boredom and

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smashes the beginnings of the castle so that all the blocks scatter across the floor and the remaining structure is reduced to rubble.

They’re back to square one.

Now, imagine a classroom filled with students.

They each have cell phones in their pockets.

The teacher is giving a lecture made up of simple points that carefully piece together to form a big picture.

It’s not kindergarten anymore.

The simple points require attention, engagement, some element of critical thinking and analysis to be fully understood.

The teacher pauses to let the information sink in, and a few students see a window of opportunity to check whether they have any notifications or messages.

Ten minutes later the phones are out again.

Sure, it’s just a quick sentence. Sure, they can catch up with the notes later.

But three months later, will that message they couldn’t wait 30 minutes to send mean anything in the grand scheme of their futures?

Probably not.

So, maybe it’s an exaggerated comparison, but as a student who has, on occasion, been guilty of taking out her phone in the middle of class, I have to admit that I don’t remember the classes I texted in half as well as the ones I gave my complete attention to.

I know the excuses and

the desperate justifications I tell myself by heart.

Yes, it’s true that the Internet is a key to instant unlimited information, and it’s true that maybe one day there will be a giant earthquake in which my family will be wrenched apart, in which case my phone would be the only tool by which I would then be able to communicate with them.

But seriously now.

Really?

Texting in class used to be something scandalous, something the rebellious kids did.

Yet, somewhere along the line it’s developed into an undeniable right all students inherit the moment they walk into a classroom.

“Teach me, teacher. Tell me something entertaining. If you get boring, I’ll just tune you out.”

Whether we like it or not, this is the message students send teachers every single time they take out their phones.

It’s disrespectful and it’s not fair.

Learning requires the expertise of the teacher AND the active participation and desire to learn from the student.

It is not often an exhilarating and fantastical experience, but the skills one learns by paying attention anyway and focusing, the questions one finds when one takes the time to silently wonder … those are the simple blocks that are needed, to, piece by piece, build a castle.

Anna Toth is a JN Burnett graduate and currently attends UBC.

PHOTO SUBMITTED

This board provides a reminder to students before they enter the classroom.

The Richmond News December 13, 2013 A23

Arts&Life

The

VOCABULARY

Language worth wearing

F

or many centuries now, those of us living in non-tropical places — for instance, Canada and Great Britain — have spent more time dressed than undressed.

With clothes so much a part of our lives, it was easy for dress terminology to slip off the body and reappear in a figurative role in our language.

What sparked my curiosity about this was bombast — a word that can be traced back to “bombyx,” the Latin for silk (and silkworm).

By the 16th century, bombast denoted cotton or wool padding in clothes.

Soon afterwards, bombast appeared as a term for padded or puffed up speech.

Jonathan Swift, in “A Tale of a Tub,” used the word bombastry to mean bombastic composition.

Fustian travelled the same road as bombast.

It’s now an old-fashioned word for nonsense, but originally fustian was a cloth for padding clothes.

The source is the medieval Latin “fustaneum,” which some believe is based on Fostat, a locality in Egypt where the cloth was produced.

In former times, clothes said a lot about the person wearing them.

The colour and cut of a man’s coat constituted his badge of identity.

The word turncoat — literally someone who turns his coat inside out — is recorded as early as 1557.

It soon became a synonym for deserter, renegade or opportunist.

Sabine Eiche IN OTHER WORDS

An infamous turncoat in history is the Duke of Saxony, whose lands were a battleground for Spain and France during the Thirty Years’ War (161848).

He’d show the colours of his blue-white reversible coat according to who was winning — blue for Spain, or white for France.

The physical characteristics of an item of clothing were not lost when the word wandered away to play a different part in the language.

Take the example of collar, which derives from the Latin “collum,” neck.

It was used already in the 16th century as a verb meaning to seize or capture, literally to grab someone by their collar.

Similar, though much gentler in effect, is the verb to buttonhole.

It dates from the 19th century. If you buttonhole someone, you’re detaining him, often against his will — as though preventing his escape by inserting

0

%

your finger in the buttonhole of his lapel.

The shoe inspired a number of 20th century expressions. Around 1938, Americans took the word heel — the back and lowest part of a shoe — and turned it into a synonym for an untrustworthy man.

A human heel is a low fellow. In the 1960s, shoestring — the thin cord for tying up shoes — was introduced as a colloquial word for a small amount of money.

To live or do something on a shoestring means doing it with limited funds. It wasn’t until the 1550s that lace (from the Latin “laqueus,” noose) referred to ornamental threadwork.

Then, both sexes favoured lace as decorative trim for collars and cuffs.

By the next century, lace was serving as a verb as well as a noun, meaning to add a dash of spirits to a beverage — if real lace is trimming for a dress, lacing with spirits is trimming for a drink.

Dress fills an enormous wardrobe with expressions. Watch for a future column on idioms of dress.

Sabine Eiche is a writer and art historian (http:// members.shaw.ca/seiche/).

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Wise customers read the fine print: •, *, ‡, § The Be S’elfish Sales Event offers are limited time offers which apply to retail deliveries of selected new and unused models purchased from participating dealers on or after December 3, 2013. Offers subject to change and may be extended without notice. All pricing includes freight ($1,695) and excludes licence, insurance, registration, any dealer administration fees, other dealer charges and other applicable fees and taxes. Dealer order/trade may be necessary. Dealer may sell for less. •$19,998 Purchase Price applies to 2014 Dodge Grand Caravan Canada Value Package (29E) only and includes $8,100 Consumer Cash Discount. *Consumer Cash Discounts are offered on select new 2014 vehicles and are deducted from the negotiated price before taxes. ‡4.29% purchase financing for up to 96 months available on the new 2014 Dodge Grand Caravan Canada Value Package model to qualified customers on approved credit through Royal Bank of Canada, Scotiabank and TD Auto Finance. Example: 2014 Dodge Grand Caravan Canada Value Package with a Purchase Price of $19,998 (including applicable Consumer Cash Discounts) financed at 4.29% over 96 months with $0 down payment equals 208 bi-weekly payments of $114 with a cost of borrowing of $3,644 and a total obligation of $23,642. §2014 Dodge Grand Caravan Crew Plus shown. Price including applicable Consumer Cash Discount. ¥Holiday Bonus Cash of up to $1,500 is available on most new 2013 Dodge Dart, Ram Heavy Duty trucks and FIAT models (excluding the FIAT 500 Pop and Ram Cab & Chassis) and on most new 2014 Chrysler, Jeep, Dodge, Ram and FIAT models, excluding the following: Chrysler 200 LX, Dodge Dart, Grand Caravan CVP, Journey CVP/ SE, Avenger CVP, Viper, Jeep Compass Sport 4x2/4x4, Patriot Sport 4x2/4x4, Cherokee, Ram 1500 Reg Cab trucks, Ram Cab & Chassis, Ram Cargo Van, Ram ProMaster, FIAT 500 Pop, 500C, 500T and Abarth models. Bonus Cash will be deducted from the negotiated price after taxes.

See your dealer for complete details. ¤Based on 2014 EnerGuide Fuel Consumption Guide ratings published by Natural Resources Canada.

Transport Canada test methods used. Your actual fuel consumption will vary based on powertrain, driving habits and other factors. 2014 Dodge Grand Caravan – Hwy: 7.9 L/100 km (36 MPG) and City: 12.2 L/100 km (23 MPG). ❖Real Deals. Real Time. Use your mobile device to build and price any model. TMThe SiriusXM logo is a registered trademark of SiriusXM Satellite Radio Inc. ®Jeep is a registered trademark of Chrysler Group LLC.

A24 December 13, 2013 The Richmond News

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FINANCE

espite positive performance in the broad markets, many stocks remain in negative territory.

Gold, materials, and mining sectors have been especially hard hit, with declines into double digits.

The positive news is that there are more gainers than losers.

If any winners have been sold and generated reportable capital gains, investors can offset them by selling losers.

Generally speaking, most retail investors conduct tax loss selling during the latter part of November and the first two weeks of December.

After taking a hardnosed look at their portfolios, and deciding which stocks to cut from the lineup, they sell in order to apply the capital losses to their tax returns.

Mutual fund managers also discard their losers.

Known as “window dressing,” some managers sell their biggest losers so they are not reported as part of the fund’s holdings in year-end reports.

According buy equities to Credit cheaper over Suisse, the coming approximately weeks.

50 per cent of This is U.S. mutual positive news funds have for those a fiscal year doing their MONEY MATTERS end between tax loss sellOctober and December. ing now.

If a large number of In order to crystallize retail investors and fund a capital loss, investors managers conduct tax loss must abide by superficial selling in December, it is loss rules and wait 30 days reasonable to expect some before repurchasing the market volatility. investment.

This puts investors, who Losses in non-regisconduct tax loss selling tered accounts are applied early, in a cash position against current year capital and able to take advantage gains. Excess losses are of potential buying opporeither carried forward or tunities before the later applied to capital gains sellers can re-enter the accrued in the past three markets. years.

They also enjoy the There are options for benefit of time to anainvestors who wish to reallyze potential purchases, ize losses, but still want to without the distraction of maintain exposure. having to focus on tax-loss They can buy an decisions. exchange-traded fund that According to is linked to the desired Canaccord Genuity U.S. sector, or purchase shares Portfolio Strategist Tony of a similar company.

Dwyer, the combination For instance, an invesof near-term overbought tor who wants to sell conditions with positive Barrick Gold (TSX: ABX) investor sentiment means but is still bullish on a greater likelihood that gold could purchase the investors may be able to iShares S&P/TSX Global

Kim Inglis

Gold Index (TSX: XGD).

Alternatively, they could acquire shares of a different gold producer.

Investors who plan on selling an exchange-traded fund (ETF) and then repurchasing in the same asset class should be careful.

It is not enough just to replace one ETF with another. Investors must be sure they aren’t selling and purchasing ETFs based on the same index.

A stock that is down shouldn’t be sold just to trigger a loss.

It isn’t crystallized as either a winner or a loser until it is sold so, if you believe it will recover, you may want to keep it. There should always be a good reason to part with a stock.

Kim Inglis, CIM, PFP, FCSI, AIFP is an investment advisor and portfolio manager with Canaccord Genuity Wealth Management, a division of Canaccord Genuity Corp.

The views in this column are solely those of the author.

YVR

Daily service to Tokyo announced YVR has made another international connection.

On Monday it was announced daily, non-stop service from Vancouver to Tokyo Haneda Airport (HND) will begin March 30, 2014 aboard All Nippon Airways (ANA).

The new route marks ANA’s first flight to Canada and will use Boeing 767-300 aircraft, with capacity for 214 passengers.

Flights will arrive at YVR at 2:55 p.m. and depart at 4:55 p.m.

“This new service will offer B.C. businesses more options to reach customers in central Tokyo, but also throughout Japan and Asia thanks to ANA’s strong domestic and international networks,” said Craig Richmond, president and CEO, Vancouver Airport Authority. “ANA’s decision to fly to YVR further strengthens our position as North America’s gateway of choice to the Asia-Pacific region.”

PHOTO SUBMITTED

All Nippon Airways (ANA) will start their new service from Vancouver in March.

The new service is made possible by recent liberalization of Canada’s air-service agreement with Japan and will increase YVR’s overall capacity to Tokyo by 30 per cent, complementing existing daily service to Narita International Airport (NRT), which is located approximately 60 km from Tokyo’s downtown core.

Originally the main international airport for Tokyo until NRT opened in 1978, HND — the second

busiest airport in Asia and the fourth busiest in the world — is located just 15 km from Tokyo’s core.

“We are very pleased to announce the launch of long-haul international services from Tokyo to Vancouver,” said Osamu Shinobe, president and CEO, ANA. “Vancouver will be the first destination in Canada for ANA, and we are confident that passenger demand will be high, not only in Japan but in other Asian cities.”

The new air link is expected to generate 356 jobs both at YVR and in B.C.’s hotels, restaurants, shops and tourist attractions, adding to the 1,494 local jobs already created by existing flights to Japan.

In total, YVR’s three daily flights to Japan will generate an estimated $64.8 million in wages, $36.1 million in taxes and $99.3 million in added Gross Domestic Product for the province.

Japan and British Columbia have a long and significant history of cultural and economic links.

As the world’s thirdlargest economy, Japan offers B.C. businesses many opportunities to increase exports by taking advantage of its high demand for energy resources, raw materials, seafood and international education.

In 2012, $101 million worth of B.C. exports left YVR for Japan, making it the third largest market, by value from the airport.

The Richmond News December 13, 2013 A25

Community IMMIGRATION

City guide released in Punjabi

The City of Richmond’s Newcomer’s Guide is now available in Punjabi.

Mayor Malcolm Brodie helped launch the guide last week, which is published with the help of the Richmond Intercultural Advisory Committee (RIAC).

Punjabi is the fourth language in which the guide has been published, following the release in recent years in Chinese, English and Filipino.

The guide provides new Richmond residents with an upto-date, central information source at their fingertips, informing them about the city in general, local government and services provided by different organizations.

“The City of Richmond is always happy to welcome new residents and the Newcomers Guide is an important tool to help people settle in,” said Brodie in a press release.

“We are glad to present the Punjabi edition of the guide as, according to the 2011 Census, nearly 6,000 of Richmond residents have Punjabi as their mother tongue.”

Punjabi is the fifth largest language group in the city after English, Mandarin, Cantonese and Filipino.

The Punjabi version of the guide is a project resulting from one of the rec-

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Richmond has a growing number of new residents and introducing the guide in different languages will make for a smoother transition into the community, claims the city.

“This guide is a project our whole community can be very proud of,” said Lawrence Lim, RIAC member and chair of the Newcomer’s Guide

sub-committee. “We’re delighted to have this resource available for our new neighbours who speak Punjabi, and we are sure they will find it very useful as they settle into their new community.”

The guides can be found online at www.richmond.ca/discover/about/ newcomersguide.

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Community

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The Richmond News December 13, 2013 A27

Sports

Canadians riding five game win streak to Prince George

The Greater Vancouver Canadians are rewarding themselves for their best stretch of the season with a rare Christmas at home.

Typically, the B.C. Major Midget Hockey League team is headed to Calgary during the holidays for the Macs Tournament which gets underway on Boxing Day. However, a slow start to the season basically took them out of consideration for the prestigious event. Instead of other tournament options, including the Richmond Minor International in their own backyard, head coach Phil Alalouf has decided to give his team a rare week off.

“At the time of the decision for the Mac’s (tournament) we were sitting in eighth place and we needed to be in the top five,” said Alalouf. “It was upsetting at first but I think we have all come to realize the chance to stay home (for Christmas) this year isn’t a bad thing.”

After a perfect pre-season that led the unrealistic expectations for a young team that is carrying a whopping nine 15-yearolds, the Canadians got off to a 4-8 start in league play and were hit with a rash of injuries.

At one point, seven regulars were out of the line-up, including assistant captain Phoenix Worth who suffered a serious shoulder injury in the second game of the regular season back on Sept. 22. The veteran blueliner still doesn’t have his full range back and may require season-ending surgery in the new year.

When the other injured players finally

MARK BOOTH/RICHMOND NEWS

Ryan Wilkinson fires towards the net during the Greater Vancouver Canadians 5-2 win over the Fraser Valley Thunderbirds last Sunday at the Richmond Olympic Oval.

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returned, the Canadians showed what they are capable of with a 4-3 win over league-leading Okanagan back on Nov. 17.

They haven’t lost since — sweeping series against the Kootenay Ice and Fraser Valley Thunderbirds to climb above the .500 mark 11-10-1 for the first time since week one.

Thanks to plenty of parity in the league this season, the record is good enough for fourth place yet five teams are within five points as Greater Vancouver heads to Prince George this weekend for two games against the eighth place Cariboo Cougars.

“For the first time in a while we’re actually pretty healthy and that’s a big thing,” said Alalouf. “Our focus is finishing in the top four and getting home ice for the first round of playoffs. We’re now in position to do just that.”

The team has also benefited from the return of sophomore forward Alex Whitwham who was a late cut of the WHL’s Spokane Chiefs after a strong training camp. The 17-year-old Richmond native has 19 points in 16 games.

Josh Murphy led the way in Sunday’s 52 win over Fraser Valley at the Richmond Olympic Oval with a goal and three assists.

Victoria Royals top Bantam draft pick Dante Hannoun scored twice to continue his fine rookie season with a team-leading 26 points, including 13 goals. Ryan Jones and Nathan McCarnan had the other tallies.

Richmond’s Owen Seidel had a goal and an assist in Saturday’s 4-1 win to open the series.

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A28 December 13, 2013 The Richmond News

Sports

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3 Charity-Minded Secret Santa gifts The only thing that feels better than giving a great gift is knowing that proceeds from the purchase are helping others, too. Herewith a selection of gifts (all under $40) that will make you the hero of the gift exchange.

Almost everyone has a need for a reusable water bottle – but not many help to build wells. This 500ml glass water bottle ($29) from Obakki features a silicone sleeve and 100 per cent of proceeds go to drill water wells in South Sudan.

Drink up! At Obakki.com You’ve been wearing your heart on your sleeve with Cause We Care bracelets. Now the Vancouver charity has teamed up with La Notte to cre;CI CDBE <B(BCI" I"BCB#& =,EDBGC 7*824 9I&I6CB&F local families in need. Now you can wear your heart on your… heart. At Aritzia.com

Tradeworks employs women at risk in their Vancouver Downtown Eastside Women’s Workshop and trains them in life, employ(I&C- ;&" $;G!I&CG' E>B<<E+ =DIEI GI6<<;9<I maple wood pens ($40) are made from reclaimed Canadian hardwoods and include engraving at no extra cost. At Tradeworks.com

So Bad It’s Good

Glow Getter

Maria Tallarico

Christine Laroche

We like our holiday ornaments and party dresses sparkly. Our face? Not so much.

You knew the inevitable was coming: an invite to an ugly sweater party.

Aversion to shimmer is what makes us skeptical about products deemed “illuminating” or “luminizing.” Call us crazy but a face full of glitter is a far cry from a J.Lo glow.

But with the plethora of options, it seems that 6&"B&F E#(ICDB&F CD;C BE C;$>' I&#AFD C# EC;&" #AC D;E 9I$#(I B&$GI;EB&F<' "BH6$A<C+ =DBE year, you can DIY the fug with with the Ugly Christmas Sweater Kit. ($20), which provides a GI" E)I;CIG- HI<C ;$$IEE#GBIE 7CDB&> E&#)3;>IE and reindeer), glitter glue, jingle bells, pom poms and a sewing kit. Remember, when going for ugly, more is more.

Finally, we’ve found a keeper for the lit-fromwithin look: Josie Maran’s Argan Illuminizer (included in the Escape to Morocco Holiday Lights & Brights Set. We love it mixed into our foundation but it’s also gorgeous as a highlighter. Another beautiful thing about this formula? It’s rich in moisturizing, vitamin E-rich argan oil. $35 at www.sephora.com

We’re Up All Night to Get Lucky’s

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Considering leaving a few out for Santa this year (or risk a coal full of stocking in 2014).

At Lucky’s Dougnuts, 2902 Main St., VAncouver and 2198 W. 4th Avenue, Vancouver, www.luckysdoughnuts.com

Because if Bridget Jones taught us anything, it’s that true love can be found wearing a reindeer jumper. $20 online at www.spencersonline.com

We’re in Hot Water

Sara Samson

It’s the most widely consumed beverage in the world after water - whether you like classic cup of Earl Grey or a partake in some of the CGI&"BIG 3;@#AGE <B>I 0BGCD";' .;>I- ; &B$I cup of tea feels oh-so-grownup.

Just in time for the holidays, our favourite cookware line, Le Creuset , has expanded their Café Collection to include ceramic teapots and presses. The Large Teapot comes with a stainless steel infuser ($60) for loose leaf teas, it’s great for entertaining and looks pretty sitting on a stack of coffee table books. The Tea for One set ($40, pictured) includes a teapot that sits atop of a teacup, perfect for those cozy afternoons alone. At www.lecreuset.ca

subscribe for free to WIN Email info@vitamindaily.com to subscribe to VitaminDaily.com’s free Vancouver edition and you will be automatically entered to win 1 of 5 blo Blow Dry Bar gift cards (valued at $35/each).

Terms and conditions apply. Contest closes Nov 30, 2013.

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Future looks promising for rugby at McMath secondary thanks to a strong Grade 9 group that came ever-so-close to winning the Vancouver and District Championship.

After an undefeated run to the final, the Wildcats were edged 34-26 by perennial West Vancouver powerhouse Collingwood. Earlier wins came against Prince of Wales, Point Grey, Kitsilano Secondary, John Oliver, Cambie and McRoberts. The boys then defeated Cambie again to claim the Richmond Cup. Standouts on the team included Jason Kaus, Zach Balen, Spencer Normann, Alex Ball, Aidan Viloria and Jordan Roberts.

They provide a solid foundation as the team moves onto junior and eventually the senior ranks.

Panther Cheer Athletics to begin 2014 in new home Panther Cheer Athletics will begin 2014 in a brand new home.

The expanding Richmond based club will be leaving the Olympic Oval and running all its at 12080 Horseshoe Way — located within the Wayland Sports Complex behind the Ironwood Shopping Centre.

“With the increasing popularity of our all-star cheer and tumbling classes we needed to find a new location to meet our needs,” explained Panther Cheer co-founder Stephanie Kennedy. “We are excited to have our own home and the increase in programming options this move will have for

our families. Moving close to (Highway 99) also increases our accessibility for families outside of Richmond.”

Panther Cheer passionately believes that through the sport of all-star cheer, they can help athletes become independent, assertive and self-confident young adults.

The club offers many different types of classes including their very popular tumbling classes, all-star PREP team classes and individual instruction. Winter registration is open NOW and is fast & easy with our online system.

For more information visit www.panthercheerathletics.com.

Taunton among new inductees for B.C. Sports Hall of Fame Dr. Jack Taunton is among the B.C. Sports Hall of Fame ‘s induction class of 2014.

The longtime Richmond resident has been recognized in the builder’s category for his outstanding work.

Considered one of the grandfathers of sports medicine in Canada, the 66-year-old served as Chief Medical Officer for the Vancouver 2010 Olympic and Paralympics Winter

0

%

Games. He as also been a sports medicine consultant for a variety of international sports events around the world.

Taunton’s legacy includes a huge contributor to the running community as co-founder of the Vancouver Marathon and Vancouver Sun Run. He was attracted to medicine after suffering from polio as a child and a severe car accident as a teen. To strengthen his

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body and his passion for fitness, Taunton took up running. He co-founded both the SportMed B.C. and Allan McGavin Sports Medicine Centre over 30 years ago.

He will be officially inducted into the B.C. Sports Hall of Fame during the 46th annual Banquet of Champions slated for next September at the Vancouver Convention Centre.

The 2014 class also includes — Athlete: Greg Athans (freestyle skiing), Sarah Burke (freestyle skiing), Lars Hansen (basketball), Scott Niedermayer (hockey), Joanne Sargent (basketball). Builder — Bob Nicholson (hockey). Pioneer — Robert Powell (tennis). Media: Paul Carson (CKVU Sports Page/TEAM 1040).

The Richmond News December 13, 2013 A31

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