R I C H M O N D H I L L’ S C O M M U N I T Y N E W S PA P E R S I N C E 1 8 7 8
The LIBERAL
$1 /32 PAGES
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Thursday, Aug. 11, 2016
yorkregion.com
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RIO OLYMPICS
He’s got experience
Richmond Hill gym coach attending his fifth Games PAGE 3 ENVIRONMENT
Unusual visitor
STAFF PHOTO/SUSIE KOCKERSCHEIDT
CHEERS TO BEERFEST
Richmond Hill Rotarian Peter Szoke (left) and club president Dr. C. P. Giri toast to the success of Saturday’s fundraising Beerfest in the courtyard of the downtown theatre. For more photos, see page 21.
Former councillor at centre of defamation showdown By Kim Zarzour
N I C K PAPA S E E KI N G $1 MILLION IN LAWSUIT
kzarzour@yrmg.com
Just what is this all-white, furry backyard wanderer? PAGE 9
A Richmond Hill resident and his former ward councillor are set to face off in court in one of the first cases to test Ontario’s new antiSLAPP legislation. Nick Papa, who represented Ward 5 for 18 years before he was defeated by Karen Cilevitz in the 2014 municipal election, is suing Frank Zeppieri, claiming the resident and head of a local ratepayers group published or distributed defamatory words against him. He is seeking damages in the amount of $750,000 and punitive damages in the amount of $250,000.
Zeppieri is hoping the courts will toss out the lawsuit under Ontario’s new anti-SLAPP legislation. Known as the Protection of Public Participation Act, it is designed to discourage Strategic Lawsuits Against Public Participation (SLAPP) that are intended to censor, intimidate and silence critics. The case was to be heard in Newmarket courthouse Wednesday, but on Tuesday The Liberal learned it has been postponed. The issue stems back to 2011 when Intra-
corp Projects Acquisition submitted an application to the town to build five apartment buildings in a residential area in Papa’s ward. The application for three 15-storey and two nine-storey condominiums, totaling 720 units, which proposed amendments to the town’s official plan and zoning bylaws, was set to go before the OMB and generated a significant backlash among residents in the surrounding area. Zeppieri, head of the local ratepayers association, was one of the more vocal opponents, speaking at public meetings, council meetSee ‘MATTER’, page 10.
summer selldown
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