UP FRONT 3
Historical haul at old station
Your Guide to
ARTS & ENTERTAINMENT 11
Cultural Crawl returns SPORTS 33
Burrards stay ahead of ’Bellies
THURSDAY AUGUST 10, 2017
Y O U R
PAGE 15
There’s more online at
NewWestRecord.ca
LOCAL NEWS – LOCAL MATTERS
H O M E T O W N
PRIDE
N E W S P A P E R
Q2Q CROSSING
POLICE
Ferry service under fire
Cop charged in sex assault Charge dates back to incident in 2005
Lack of access for wheelchairs stirs up controversy
Cayley Dobie
cdobie@newwestrecord.ca
Grant Granger
ggranger@newwestrecord.ca
A permanent, or even a one-year trial, Quayside to Queensborough ferry service would be fully accessible, say City of New Westminster officials, even though the current demonstration service isn’t. The city has been taking a beating on social media from advocates for people with disabilities since it introduced the two-month Q2Q demonstration service because the docks and the ferry can’t handle motorized wheelchairs and scooters. One blogger, identified as G. Peters, called the ferry an “exciting new service designed to exclude, marginalize and discriminate against disabled people.” The writer said any excuses about the tide and temporariness of the service from the city were unacceptable, and wheelchair and scooter users needed to be involved in the process from the start. Coun. Patrick Johnstone said since the city doesn’t own a dock or a ferry, it was limited to what could be found in time to conduct a temporary trial this summer.The docks the city was able to secure were not capable of the extended ramps that would be required to lessen the steepness to accommodate motorized wheelchairs Continued on page 5
WHAT’S UP? Ken Visagie holds Lev’s hand as they pay a call on Mason, the young steer, at the Queen’s Park petting farm. The North Vancouver residents visited the farm in July. The popular family attraction is open daily throughout the summer on a by-donation basis, giving kids a chance to get up close and personal with rabbits, chickens, ducks, pigs, goats, sheep and more. It operates 10 a.m. to 5:30 p.m. every day until Sept. 4. PHOTO JENNIFER GAUTHIER
A longtime New Westminster police officer has been suspended following his arrest for an alleged sexual assault 12 years ago. Const. Sukhwinder “Vinnie” Dosanjh was arrested by Victoria police on Aug. 1 following an investigation into a historical sexual assault that is alleged to have taken place in 2005, according to acting Victoria Police spokesperson Bowen Osoko. The incident is alleged to have happened while Dosanjh was off duty. How and when the investigation got underway is unknown at this time. “As the matter is currently before the courts, we will not be offering any further comment,” Osoko said. Dosanjh has been charged with sexual assault and has now been suspended from active duty with the New Westminster Police Department.The local police board is expected to meet soon to discuss the conditions of his suspension, including whether or not the suspension will be without pay, according to Continued on page 8
The Only Co-ed and Ladies Only Fitness in New West
Order Take-Out. Call 310-SPOT (7768) or order online at www.whitespot.ca
10 DAYS for
1000
$
WITH THIS AD
FIRST TIME VISITORS ONLY. Must be 18 years or older.
in Located t New Wes ation St in Skytra
COMMITTED TO FITNESS, COMMITTED TO YOU!
#335 - 800 CARNARVON ST NEW WESTMINSTER
604-521-TRIM • www.dynamichealthandfitness.ca
2 H ou rs FREE Parkin g
Ask about our “ONE ON ONE PERSONAL TRAINING SPECIAL”
IPPOLITA CORCIONE 778.838.7069 | www.ippolita.ca Call for a complimentary home evaluation