UP FRONT 3
Meet the Citizen of theYear COMMUNITY 13
Top 10 Christmas to-do list BUSINESS 20
THURSDAY NOVEMBER 30, 2017
Brewing up Sapperton fun There’s more online at
• PA G E 2 1 •
LOCAL NEWS – LOCAL MATTERS
Y O U R
IN
NEW WESTMINSTER
H O M E T O W N
NewWestRecord.ca N E W S P A P E R
TURF TAKEDOWN:
New Westminster Hyacks defensive back Taran Birdi hauls down South Delta ball carrier Ben McDonald in their B.C. high school football Subway Bowl semifinal, Saturday at B.C .Place stadium. On a late touchdown, New West pulled off a come-frombehind win to advance to the B.C. Subway Bowl final, where they’ll play the Terry Fox Ravens for provincial bragging rights. The final game is this Saturday at 7 p.m. at B.C. Place. For story see page 47. PHOTO MARIO BARTEL
KICKED OUT OF NAVY FOR BEING GAY
Apology is deeply personal for McFadyen ‘I don’t think people can understand unless they lived through it ... the feeling of being worthless ... a degenerate’ By Cornelia Naylor
cnaylor@newwestrecord.ca
When 17-year-old Vance McFadyen’s three-year term with the Royal Canadian Navy was cut short after 11 months by a medical discharge in 1960, there was nothing wrong with him medi-
cally. The lie he told family and friends was that he’d been let go because of acute sea-sickness. The truth was he’d been discharged because he was gay. During his first shore leave in Bermuda he had gone out partying with another sailor and was in-
vited to the home of a 30-something hotel manager. “I fell in love, I thought,” the long-time New Westminster resident told the Record. “I thought I was going to live in Bermuda for the rest of my life. I was a very insecure, immature 17-year-old, so I stayed AWOL for two-and-a-half
days until he was tired of me and I had to go back to the ship.” Upon his return, he was shunned, given the silent treatment by the entire crew, he said. He was charged with being AWOL and, after breaking down and admitting to his duty officer that he was gay, he was sent home
on the next ship back to Halifax – isolated in the sick bay for the duration of the trip. Two days after his arrival, he was taken by himself to a large gymnasium, seated on a chair and interrogated by four officers. Continued on page 11
The Only Co-ed and Ladies Only Fitness in New West
Tougher Markets Require Tougher Agents Looking to buy or sell your home? Call us today and let us help you every step of the way.
604.787.4691 778.228.6681
10 DAYS for
Order Take-Out.
1000
$
WITH THIS AD
FIRST TIME VISITORS ONLY. Must be 18 years or older.
in Located t New Wes Station in ra yt Sk
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”
Call 310-SPOT (7768) or order online at www.whitespot.ca