Surrey Now February 10 2015 by Surrey Now

In defense of dogs

S U R R E Y - N O R T H D E LTA E D I T I O N

Guest columnist Sarah Daniels adds her voice to those defending our four-legged family members DEBATE, 8 AND 9

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Team combats ‘closet bullying’ Surrey RCMP Youth Team members urge online safety on Safer Internet Day, which is marked today 14

Surrey RCMP members (from left) Const. Binita Cieslar, Cpl. Mike Dougherty, Const. Kathy Williams and Cpl. Neil Kennedy are helping combat crimes stemming from social media in Surrey schools. See the full story on page 14. (Photo: ADRIAN MACNAIR)

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CHARITY

‘Biggest Loser’ gains $100k in TV contest

‘Gogos’ get chopping for Sources food bank

Surrey’s Jordan Alicandro, an exbaseball player, pockets money for shedding a whopping 143 pounds

Globally-aware local grandmothers mark Random Acts of Kindness Week with soup-making effort in South Surrey

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A section about compelling people, events and issues in our community.

South Surrey

Kind local ‘gogos’ get chopping for food bank Gord Goble

Now contributor Goble@shaw.ca

SOUTH SURREY — They arrived, sometimes in pairs or in small groups but most often alone, over the course of a half hour. And with them came vegetables and meats and spices and whatever tools of the trade that weren’t already there. It was a big day for the women, grandmothers all, who comprise Oneness Gogos. Today they’d make soup – a heck of a lot of soup, as it turns out – that they’d freeze and then personally serve one week later to deserving clients of the Sources White Rock/South Surrey Food Bank. By the noon start time, the kitchen at Sources Women’s Place Resource Centre, on 20th Avenue in South Surrey, was a veritable beehive of activity. Grandmas running this way and that, sharp knives slicing through fresh ingredients, massive cauldrons gently simmering on the stovetop. Of course, there was also a constant buzz of conversation and laughter. The topics varied, as they often do when a whole whack of people get together, but today there was one subject that seemed to dominate. “Why did they pass it?” “I can’t believe Pete Carroll would call a play like that.” “Maybe it was the offensive coach.” “They should have given it to Lynch.” “Yep. Beast Mode.” Seems grandmothers have come a long way, baby. Rocking and knitting? Ha! These women are as far removed from that stereotype as Katy Perry is from shyness. And dude, they know their sports, as evidenced by the postSuperbowl talk on this Monday afternoon (Feb. 2). Within an hour, most of the hard work was complete, and the entire facility basked in the aroma of “Share the Kindness Soup.” It was a good time for a break, and a perfect time for all to adjourn to the covered patio for a quick talk from Denise Darrell, Sources’ Director of Women, Seniors and Community Services, who discussed the key components of her program. This seemed like an opportune moment to ask Oneness Gogos founders Penny Cuddy and Debbie Riopel the most important question of all: Namely, what the heck is a Gogo? As it turns out, “gogo” is Zulu for “grandmother.” It all started in 2006, when noted Canadian humanitarian Stephen Lewis noted a disturbing trend while travelling through Africa. Apparently, the AIDs epidemic had hit young adults the hardest, killing many of them and leaving the grandparents to raise their grandchildren. He put out a call for Canadian

ABOVE: Members of the Oneness Gogos slice, peel and chop their way through a soup-making session last Monday (Jan. 2) at Sources Women’s Place Resource Centre in South Surrey. LEFT: The recipe for “Share the Kindness Soup” is posted in the kitchen for all to see. (Photos: GORD GOBLE)

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grandmothers to bond with their African counterparts. And the Gogo movement was born. There are currently 240 regional Gogo groups across the country, the White Rock/South Surrey affiliate dubbed the Oneness Gogos. And certainly, doing unto others is not a new concept for

this gaggle of giving grannies, whose group now includes more than 50 members. Since their 2008 launch, they’ve sewed, served tea, staged benefit concerts and live auctions, handed out hot chocolate on the streets, delivered baskets of toiletries, collected clothing, and much more. No energy crisis here. Now, as part of what’s known as Random Acts of Kindness Week, it’s homemade soup, which has been frozen for a week and will be delivered today (Tuesday, Feb. 10) to the Sources food bank, located on 156th Street in South Surrey. Then, just 18 days later, it’s time for a fundraising dance on Saturday, Feb. 28 featuring local band The Timewalkers at the Crescent Beach Legion. The dual-purpose affair will benefit both the Stephen Lewis Foundation and the Sources food bank. Cuddy sums it up simply: “When you’re giving, you’re getting more than when you receive.” It’s a motto we should all live by. For more information on Oneness Gogos or any of their upcoming events, contact Penny Cuddy at 604542-4775. The group’s umbrella foundation is online at Stephenlewisfoundation.org. Goble@shaw.ca

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ENGAGE

YO U T H R E P R E S E N TAT I V E O P P O R T U N I T Y SURREY PUBLIC LIBRARY BOARD As part of its commitment to increasing youth engagement, the City of Surrey is recruiting a youth representative to sit on the Surrey Public Library Board. The Surrey Public Library Board is responsible for overseeing the delivery of library services and programs, setting strategic priorities, developing policies, and presenting the budget to City Council. The Surrey Public Library Board meets approximately nine times per year, usually on the fourth Thursday of the month, at 7:00 pm. The Youth Representative position is a non-voting member. The appointment would be for a one-year term. If you are 18-25 years of age, a resident of Surrey, with an interest in bringing your perspective and creative thinking, please submit a written expression of interest to clerks@surrey.ca by 4:00 pm, February 16, 2015. Applications/resumes will be made available to City of Surrey Council and staff. The information is collected under the authority of the Freedom of Information and Protection of Privacy Act and any applicable by-laws.

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Business Notebook

Pitches sought for TV’s ‘Dragons’ SURREY — Producers of CBC’s Dragons’ Den are coming to Surrey in search of entrepreneurs to appear on the popular TV show. Pitches will be made on Wednesday, Feb. 18 at Surrey City Hall from 10 a.m. to 5 p.m. This month, Dragons’ Den producers are hitting the road for an audition tour, with more than 35 stops across Canada. Those planning to audition in person are asked to fill out an online application first, at Castingapp.tv/dragonsden. “Auditioning in person is helpful, but not necessary to get on the show,” says a post on the website. Among the five current “Dragons” on the show is Vikram Vij, who operates the My Shanti restaurant in South Surrey and also the Vij’s at Home food processing plant in Cloverdale.

CLEAN-TECH CHAMP CROWNED

Close to 500 people converged at Surrey City Hall to witness 38 companies from the region vie for the title of Greater Vancouver’s Clean Technology Champion on Jan. 28. Participants pitched their best cleantechnology products and solutions in hopes of winning a $10,000 prize, provided by Vancity credit union, as well as a trophy

designed by KPU’s School of Design. The 13 judges at the inaugural event gave top marks to TSO Logic and its data centre energy-efficiency software. The other finalists were Solaris Geothermal, FLO Innovations, Adrroit Technologies, Dew Point Technologies and MegaHertz Power Systems, which won the Century Group Student’s Choice Award, worth $3,000. The judges were Neil Huff, Sarah Applebaum, Brian Beck, Joe Blair, Rob Costanzo, Maureen Cureton, Paul Henderson, Dave Leicester, Ray Lings, Flora Livesey, Bill Lemon, Malcolm Shield and Mike Volker.

INVITATION FOR NOMINATIONS

Surrey Board of Trade is inviting nominations for its 2015 board director election. “This is your opportunity to initiate new ideas to affect, inform and influence the Surrey business community,” the board says. The nomination deadline is March 31. Details are posted on the board of trade’s website, Businessinsurrey.com. Submit your business news items by email to edit@thenownewspaper.com, with “Business Notebook” in the subject line.

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Members of the band The Wilds, with Kevin Wright, Holly Arntzen, David Sinclair and Ken Hodge, hosted a concert called Voices of Nature at H.T. Thrift Elementary in South Surrey last Thursday afternoon (Feb. 5). Arntzen was an artist in residence at the school from Feb. 2 to 5 and worked with all 225 students on an integrated educational program using music and drama as a cross-curricular approach to teaching children about the importance of the environment. The program is backed by Surrey Schools, the ARTist Response Team (ART) and Tire Stewardship BC. (Photo: ADRIAN MACNAIR)

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ENGAGE City Centre

Surrey’s second PechaKucha night inspires Kristi Alexandra

Now contributor Twitter @kristialexandra

SURREY — Around 100 people attended Surrey’s second ever PechaKucha Night at Surrey’s City Hall council chambers last Wednesday night (Feb. 4). The theme for the evening was Young Entrepreneurs, with six young people getting up to talk about their ideas – some fresh, some innovative, some emotional and all inspiring. “It’s really a great way to share information and allow people to do it in that

format, because society is getting pretty fast-paced, and that’s a fast-paced way of doing it and to cover a lot of areas and involve a lot of people,” said Anita Green, Surrey’s public art co-ordinator. Surrey’s first PechaKucha Night was held last October. PechaKucha Night initially launched in Tokyo in 2003 “as an event for young designers to meet, network, and show their work in public.” The format is to showcase 20 slides for 20 seconds each, giving people a chance to voice their story or platform in

R ENTE TO WIN

Alice Park of Share Vancouver, a presenter at the PechaKucha event at Surrey City Hall last Wednesday (Feb. 4), talks about the sharing economy, a movement that’s changing the way people consume. (Photo: KRISTI ALEXANDRA)

Last Wednesday’s event was hosted by Anita Huberman, CEO of Surrey Board of Trade. The evening kicked off with a youth band, Switch

six-and-a-half minutes. Surrey is now one of 700 other cities around the world partnered with PechaKucha to be an official host of the series.

In the Matter of Part 3.1 (Administrative Forfeiture) of the Civil Forfeiture Act [SBC 2005, C. 29] - the CFA NOTICE IS HEREBY GIVEN THAT: On August 8, 2014, at 86th Avenue and 151A Street, Surrey, B.C., Peace Officer(s) of the Surrey RCMP seized, at the time indicated, the subject property, described as: $1,995 CAD, $174 USD, an Apple iPhone and a Blackerry cell phone, on or about 22:02 Hours. The subject property was seized because there was evidence that the subject property had been obtained by the commission of an offence (or offences) under section 5(2) (Possession for purpose of trafficking) of the Controlled Drugs and Substances Act of Canada (CDSA) and was therefore offence-related property pursuant to section 11 (Search, seizure and detention) of the CDSA. Notice is hereby given that the subject property, CFO file Number: 2014-2510, is subject to forfeiture under Part 3.1 of the CFA and will be forfeited to the Government for disposal by the Director of Civil Forfeiture unless a notice of dispute is filed with the Director within the time period set out in this notice. A notice of dispute may be filed by a person who claims to have an interest in all or part of the subject property. The notice of dispute must be filed within 60 days of the date upon which this notice is first published. You may obtain the form of a notice of dispute, which must meet the requirements of Section 14.07 of the CFA, from the Director’s website, accessible online at www.pssg.gov.bc.ca/civilforfeiture. The notice must be in writing, signed in the presence of a lawyer or notary public, and mailed to the Civil Forfeiture Office, PO Box 9234 Station Provincial Government, Victoria, B.C. V8W 9J1.

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real-time through a phone application. Next up was StreetRich’s Kia Kadiri, who talked about her work with youth teaching hip-hop, music skills, graffiti and more, in a mentorship-style program. Alice Park and Elvy Del Bianco of Share Vancouver gave their ideas on the “sharing economy,” where consumers are starting to participate in shared assets, such as signing up for a carshare program like Modo and Car2Go. Then came Surrey’s own Glen Chua, founder of Surrey International Film Festival, which was responsible for bringing award-winning filmmaker Joshua Caldwell to Surrey this past year. Paige Glazier, a survivor of school bullying, came armed with her pro-social campaign, Team Orange. The initiative, which boasts its own T-shirts and other memorabilia, is the answer to anti-bullying campaigns that quickly lose luster. Instead of putting together anti-bullying campaigns, Glazier says, reward kids for their kind behaviour toward others. Finally, there was Surreybased father-and-son entrepreneurs, Tyler and Kevin Reid, who started a firewood company whose profits benefit Semiahmoo House, a local organization that helps people with developmental disabilities. Called Tyler’s Firewood Company, it was initiated by Tyler in 2009 when he was just 14 years old. The Reids now chop and put together more than 15,000 bundles of wood each year, according to dad Kevin. Now that Surrey is an official host city for PechaKucha Nights, we wonder what they’re cooking for volume three. kalexandra@ thenownewspaper.com

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ENGAGE People

Surrey’s ‘Biggest Loser’ wins $100k Kristi Alexandra

Now contributor Twitter @kristialexandra

SURREY — It’s 3 p.m. on a Tuesday and Jordan Alicandro is suiting up for his workout at Surrey’s Tong Louie YMCA. This daily after-work ritual is actually his second workout of the day. He hits the gym in the mornings before work, then comes back for another 90 minutes of exercise after putting in his eight hours. The 32-year-old sales manager of a door-and-window supply company recently lost 143 pounds, coming down to an athletic 180 from 323. “I’ve lost an entire Backstreet Boy,” he jokes, preparing for a personal-training session. In person, Alicandro is virtually unrecognizable from the “before” photo handed out by NBC, the TV network responsible for The Biggest Loser, a reality series that depicts morbidly overweight people getting healthier and dropping weight in a bid to be, well, the biggest loser. “I applied (to the show) three years ago and I made a video,” he explains, “and I never heard anything back. Literally two years later, me and my wife were talking about it and I was thinking, ‘Should I do this again?’” An ex-baseball player, Alicandro was benched with an injury in his senior year of high school. Then he was hit again with another injury, this time from snowboarding; while rehabilitating that injury, he tore his ACL while playing golf. That’s where things slowly spiraled out of control for him. “It wasn’t just like I started eating my life away, but slowly over the next 10 years I put on 20 pounds here, 30 pounds there,” he says. “Eventually, it just got to the point where it was just out of control and I just couldn’t stop it.” A self-proclaimed strong Christian, Alicandro and his wife prayed about

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In the Matter of Part 3.1 (Administrative Forfeiture) of the Civil Forfeiture Act [SBC 2005, C. 29] - the CFA NOTICE IS HEREBY GIVEN THAT: On November 13, 2013, at 184th Street and 68th Avenue, Surrey, B.C., Peace Officer(s) of the Surrey RCMP seized, at the time indicated, the subject property, described as: a 2001 Ford Escape, BCLP: 243TLR, VIN: 1FMYU02171KE73277, on or about 15:50 Hours. The subject property was seized because there was evidence that the subject property had been used in the commission of an offence (or offences) under section 5(2) (Possession for purpose of trafficking) of the Controlled Drugs and Substances Act of Canada. Notice is hereby given that the subject property, CFO file Number: 2015-2650, is subject to forfeiture under Part 3.1 of the CFA and will be forfeited to the Government for disposal by the Director of Civil Forfeiture unless a notice of dispute is filed with the Director within the time period set out in this notice. A notice of dispute may be filed by a person who claims to have an interest in all or part of the subject property. The notice of dispute must be filed within 60 days of the date upon which this notice is first published. You may obtain the form of a notice of dispute, which must meet the requirements of Section 14.07 of the CFA, from the Director’s website, accessible online at www.pssg.gov.bc.ca/civilforfeiture. The notice must be in writing, signed in the presence of a lawyer or notary public, and mailed to the Civil Forfeiture Office, PO Box 9234 Station Provincial Government, Victoria, B.C. V8W 9J1.

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ABOVE: Jordan Alicandro works out at Surrey’s Tong Louie YMCA. (Photo: KEVIN HILL) LEFT: The “before” photo of Alicando, as seen on NBC’s The Biggest Loser TV show. being let on the show, and miraculously got a phone call the next day. “It was one of those times, you just have goosebumps. We were like, ‘OK, did that just happen?’” he says. “They said, ‘We’re looking for former athletes and we think you’d be a good fit.’ One thing led to the next and I ended up flying down to L.A. with about 50 other possible contestants and just hit it out of the park.” Though Alicandro didn’t, in fact, end up being the biggest loser, he was sent home from “the ranch” $100,000 richer in October, and 100 pounds slimmer. He lost the extra 40-plus pounds after continuing with his weight-loss regime at home. “What happens is, if you watch the show, you get eliminated on the show, you go home and you compete in the at-home challenge,” he explains. Though some have criticized

The Biggest Loser for what can be considered an “unhealthy, rapid weight-loss,” Alicandro attests he did it the healthy way, and he’d “do it again in a heartbeat.” “What if I didn’t lose any weight at all? That’s unhealthier. Me being 323 pounds, pre-diabetic, a fattened liver – it was one step away from being foie gras, you know,” he says. “We were watched by doctors and by trainers. That was my full-time job. I was able to work out.” Taking his new vitality for health, Alicando has now cut dairy and wheat from his diet, and works out six days per week. The best thing for him, he says, is being able to model a healthy lifestyle for his four-month-old son. “I was really blessed to be able to be there for the birth of my son,” he says. “I got to be there and we had the birth at the Peace Arch Hospital and he’s been the greatest joy of my life, even more so than the $100,000,” he says. kalexandra@thenownewspaper.com

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DEBATE

Address: The Surrey Now, #201 7889 132nd St., Surrey, B.C. V3W 4N2

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Publisher: Gary Hollick

From the editor

An apology for being insensitive about dogs

he Now would like to apologize – not for publishing a contentious point of view but for the insensitive tone it took. In Thursday’s paper, we published a column written by Adrian MacNair that has offended many of our readers. The column was about dogs and Emma Paulsen’s jail sentence of six months for her part in the horrible deaths of six dogs. The column, while raising some valid arguments about perspective that has stirred a passionate reaction from both sides of the debate, contained language and references to dogs that were deemed insensitive by many people. While I support our columnists’ right to hold – and publish – opinions that may be unpopular, as editor, I accept responsibility for allowing such viewpoints to be expressed in a callous, insensitive and disrespectful manner. While many readers have expressed support for Adrian’s column – and our right to publish it – most who have contacted me are angry and disappointed, not just for the arguments he made but for the way he made them. I have spent the past few days reaching out to as many of those readers as possible (from around the globe), calling them and listening to their concerns. I would like to thank those of you who have taken the time to call, email or comment on the Now’s website and Facebook page. We all share your compassion for animals and your opinions are important to us. As editor, I will ensure this paper continues to actively publish a variety of viewpoints, regardless of how unpopular they may be. However, I will strive to do better to ensure such viewpoints are expressed in a more respectful tone. Thank you. Now Editor, Beau Simpson

The Now’s Christopher Poon says he has a relationship with his Doberman Apollo that he values moreso than that with a lot of people in his life. (Photo: CHRISTOPHER POON)

Column

Dogs are more than just property ViewPoint Christopher Poon

he Now has been receiving lots of feedback following columnist Adrian MacNair’s opinion piece on dogs. Many have taken issue with Adrian’s opinion on the matter, myself included. As stated elsewhere, MacNair’s opinion piece is very much that, one person’s opinion on the matter. It is not representative of the newsroom or this newspaper and is actually contrary to what most in the newsroom believe. And while I will defend his right to express his opinion – as should be the right of anyone – when it boils down to it, I disagree wholeheartedly with his stance. The relationships that we experience on this earth as beings can vary in so many ways it’s simply narrow-minded to definitively declare that there’s, “no love like that which we have for other people.” How anyone can claim to define or measure love unequivocally is beyond me, but as someone who comes from a dog-loving (specifically, Doberman) family, I would argue quite the contrary. When I look into the eyes of my dog, I see sentience there. He might not be able

to communicate with me in a language I understand, but that goes both ways. Regardless of that language barrier, we’re able to have a relationship that I value moreso than that with a lot of people in my life. When I come home from work and see my dog watching from the window, ready to offer the unconditional affection that some humans are even incapable of, I wouldn’t trade that for anything else in the world. And so with MacNair portraying the value of a dog’s life as seemingly on par with that of replaceable object, it devalues what it means for others to experience love and relationships. Dogs are not merely instinct-driven animals that operate purely on reaction. These aren’t simple creatures and are demonstrably capable of expressing emotions in the same way we do. Nobody would argue that affection is a result of instinct nor would it be a very good survival trait. Affection is just that, affection. Perhaps the biggest flaw in MacNair’s logic is that dogs are, “essentially inconsequential to this world.” That should have probably read, “inconsequential to MY world.” You could argue that humans are also inconsequential to this world in that we’re all organic matter that will end up in the dirt someday. Someone living

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in the next city over may not even be aware that you or I exist and thus, we’re inconsequential to their world. Finally, claiming that a dog’s life is less important because they live shorter lifespans is completely preposterous. There are many children in this world that have passed away due to unforeseen circumstances, be it disease, disaster and what have you. Should those lives and memories be viewed as less worthy simply because they weren’t as long as others? Absolutely not. There are animals on this planet that live longer than humans, but we don’t value their lives above ours. And that’s basically what this all comes down to. The value of life. Dog walker Emma Paulsen was sentenced to six months in jail after she was found responsible for the deaths of six dogs. She willingly and knowingly put those animals in a situation where there was a high probability that they could perish, and they did. That’s considered a crime in our society and she was punished accordingly. Mahatma Gandhi once said, “The greatness of a nation can be judged by the way its animals are treated.” Keep in mind we’re all animals.

The NOW newspaper is a division of LMP Publication Limited Partnership. You can reach us by phone at 604-572-0064, by email at edit@thenownewspaper.com or by mail at Suite 201-7889 132 Street, Surrey, B.C., V3W 4N2

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DEBATE

TuesdAy, FebruAry 10, 2015

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Join the debate on Facebook and Twitter by searching for The Now Newspaper or by emailing edit@thenownewspaper.com

Your letters

Column failed to mention our special bond with dogs The Editor, Re: “Sympathy for the dog killer Paulsen,” the Now, Feb. 5. To say that Adrian MacNair’s column will likely generate a significant response would be an understatement. The column as a whole was insensitive, callous and ultimately poorly written and researched. MacNair, either through carelessness or perhaps pure ignorance, does not mention the contributions dogs make to society. Is he not aware of police dogs, search and rescue dogs or seeing eye dogs? He may look down upon dogs but they look up to us and that special bond has benefitted both of us for centuries. Russ Wardrop, Surrey

I exercise my right to never read him again The Editor, Re: “Sympathy for the dog killer Paulsen,” the Now, Feb. 5. I know you support Adrian MacNair’s right to express his views regardless of how disgusting and offensive they may be. I’m sure you will understand then as I exercise my right to never read his column again. Enough said. Terry Taylor, North Delta

Column simply seemed like trolling The Editor, Re: “Sympathy for the dog killer Paulsen,” the Now, Feb. 5. As one who has had a few controversial letters to the editor published in the Now, I was glad to see editor Beau Simpson support columnist Adrian MacNair’s “right to hold – and publish – opinions that may be unpopular.” I also agreed with Simpson’s decision as editor to apologize for the column’s insensitivities. Rather than a fair and reasoned argument to justify a point of view, it seemed to me to be nothing more than a deliberate attempt by MacNair to upset readers by making inflammatory statements to provoke them. Some call that trolling. MacNair should consider making a sincere apology to his readers, but I hope he won’t try to demonstrate that sincerity by purchasing one of those $350 shelter dogs he referred to, because they deserve better. Gary Cameron, Surrey

In January, the Now told the story of Maya Kaler, 13, with BC Guide Dogs autism support dog Pepe. According to the Kaler family, their lives changed dramatically when the chocolate lab was introduced into their Surrey home. (File photo: GORD GOBLE)

Baldrey will be back Keith Baldrey’s column will be published in Thursday’s issue.

What happened to freedom of speech? The Editor, Re: “Sympathy for the dog killer Paulsen,” the Now, Feb. 5. I am writing in support of your journalist who expressed empathy for the dog walker. Human life is, in my opinion, more important than that of any animal. More importantly, this is Canada and we are allowed freedom of speech. Good for MacNair for having enough guts to publicly voice what many of us also feel. People and their witch hunts – how dare they persecute this man and say such hateful things? Danielle Hagen, Aldergrove

More compassion for dogs than humans? The Editor, Re: “Sympathy for the dog killer Paulsen,” the Now, Feb. 5. I am so glad someone voiced a reasonable opinion about the severe sentence this dog walker got for her mistake. I might understand it if she had hurt the dogs on purpose by beating them or something but her mistake was born out of ignorance. This sentence may make people who think dogs are more important than people feel better but it does nothing to make this world a safer place. A ban on working with animals in the future would have done as much to make animals safe as this ridiculous sentence. Our news has recently shown more compassion and coverage for animals than the thousands of children who go to bed hungry every night because of our low minimum wage and/or our welfare cheques not increasing in spite of the price of food skyrocketing. What happened to those dogs was very sad but our society seems to be losing perspective if people think there should be longer sentences for what happened accidentally to dogs, than the justice people are getting for intentional infliction of pain and abuse on our fellow human beings. Our jails need to be used for real criminals. Kelly Gale, Delta

Column

Lack of empathy for dogs was beyond upsetting GuestColumn Sarah Daniels

ike many people who read the opinion piece by Adrian MacNair regarding Emma Paulsen, the woman convicted in the deaths of six family pets, I was beyond upset. Not just because of what I feel is a cavalier disregard for the families that lost their dogs, but by the complete lack of empathy. As many of you might know, I have dogs myself, and they are MY family. I made a conscious decision to rescue, as there are so many unwanted animals in shelters and on the streets. I wanted to give a home to an animal in need. I didn’t want to support puppy mills or backyard breeders who supply pet stores, and treat animals like a commodity, a sack of flour. When I adopted them, I did so with an open heart. And for me, you couldn’t put a price tag on their importance in my life. I’m not alone. The families that were the “owners” of the “Brookswood Six” feel exactly as I do. I put the word “owners” in quotations, because I think that we don’t view ourselves that way – we think of ourselves as caring custodians of our pets, our furry family members. The grief that these families suffered last spring cannot be overstated. For a week, they lost sleep, searched, spoke to local media and begged for any information regarding the dogs that they had entrusted with Ms. Paulsen. Rewards were offered for their safe return. During this time, Ms. Paulsen consistently lied to the families, the press, the police – everyone. Then the truth came out. The families continued to grieve as evidence came forward of how these pets died – how they

suffered and how Ms. Paulsen had been told many times prior by others not to leave the dogs in her truck. It wasn’t a mistake. She’d done it before. When she was given an opportunity to apologize, which I’m sure her lawyer would have advised, she did not. Why is it so hard for people to understand the love for a pet? And why does that love somehow mean that we cannot care as much for humans? Sure, I may be a “crazy dog lady” but that doesn’t mean I’m not crazy about people and all living creatures. I’ve spoken to the owners on many occasions and they, like myself, donate to all sorts of charities – for youth, the homeless, food banks, children overseas and here and, of course, to animal rescue organizations. Perhaps what is so upsetting is that lack of empathy I mentioned at the outset. Lack of empathy for animals has been linked with child abuse, elder abuse and worse. How we treat animals can be seen as a reflection of our society and how we value life in general. I’m happy that Mr. MacNair has a wife and family – congratulations to him. But not everyone has that type of family. Seniors have been shown to live happier and healthier lives when they have a pet companion. Animals are brought in to hospitals all the time as a form of therapy, something particularly appreciated in many pediatric wings and palliative wings. My dogs may not live as long as I do but that doesn’t mean that their lives don’t mean something. I love them. So Mr. MacNair. I promise you. None of these families wanted monetary compensation for the loss of their beloved pets. What they wanted was justice. They got some. But to them, I doubt it will ever be enough. Sarah Daniels is a realtor and broadcaster who lives in White Rock. Her website is Sarahdaniels.ca.

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For breaking news and the latest developments on these stories, visit us online at thenownewspaper.com

Transportation

Surrey struggles with lack of truck parking City wants province to step up, while locals want city to ramp up enforcement Amy Reid

Now staff Twitter @amyreid87

SURREY — If you build it, they will come. But what if it hasn’t been built, and yet, they come? That’s the dilemma Surrey is faced with, and has been for years, when it comes to commercial truck parking stock within the city’s limits. There are roughly 6,000 trucks weighing more than 5,000 kilograms registered in Surrey, according to vehicle registration data. The City of Surrey says of those, 2,400 park at a business, 2,312 on Temporary Use Permit (TUP) sites, 300 on the Agricultural Land Reserve, 1,000 are otherwise illegally parking. “We certainly do have a significant number of owner-operators that appear to be residing in Surrey,” said Coun. Tom Gill, chair of the city’s transportation and infrastructure committee. The issue has been top of mind for him for more than eight years, he added. In Surrey, truck parking facilities are permitted on lands that are zoned light impact industrial (LI) and heavy impact industrial (HI) zones. Temporary permits help address the shortfall of spaces in the city, allowing trucks to temporarily park on a property not zoned as IL or HI. According to Gill, a big problem in creating permanent spots is that development and servicing costs are substantially higher than the cost of a temporary permit, which are given for three years and can often be extended to six. “It’s night and day,” Gill said of the difference between the costs. “A lot of the property owners are not in a position to make the improvements required to bring the space up to a standard that would not otherwise need a TUP,” he said. Such standards include a washroom facility, oil collectors and generally, such sites would be paved. “Given the costs associated to connecting to sewer and other costs, most have opted out not to do it,” he explained. “The majority of the spots we do have, they’re interim uses. The concern I have over time is that as these sites gets developed, these spots are going to be pushed out.” In an effort to relieve the problem, the city has streamlined the TUP process, sent 6,000

Jas Rehal, Surrey’s bylaw enforcement manager, said the truck parking matter simply comes down to the issue of supply and demand. (Photo: ADRIAN MACNAIR)

They spend billions on new bridges and South Fraser Perimeter Road and say it’s for the trucks, but the thing I always laugh about is… where are these trucks supposed to park? – Coun. Tom Gill

mailers out encouraging industrial property owners to consider using surplus land for parking, and in 2008 hired a Truck Parking Co-ordinator to work with the industry. Asked if the City of Surrey would consider tax breaks or subsidies for those interested in creating permanent parking stock, Gill said it should be the province that does so. “They spend billions on new bridges and South Fraser Perimeter Road and say it’s for the trucks, but the thing I always laugh about is… where are these trucks supposed to park?” Gill said in a meeting at city hall late last year with Transportation Minister Todd Stone, he was given assurance that the province’s next 10-year transportation plan will include strategic opportunities for truck parking. He said he’ll be watching for the plan’s release in late February. “This is the first time the province has recognized the issue, so that’s good,” he stated. “We need to figure out a way of encouraging investment in a permanent

truck parking location at a location that’s going to be appreciated in terms of truck routes,” Gill said. The transportation ministry has hired a consultant to aid in a review of potential solutions, which include potentially utilizing lands along South Fraser Perimeter Road for truck parking. In the meantime, Gill said he’s encouraged city staff to “help fast-track” permanent truck parking applications that come forward. Manny Dhillon, a member of the United Truckers Association, said there is definitely a need for truck parking in the city, and it’s a constant struggle. “We’ve been pushing this for a long time,” he told the Now. “Even in the election this came up. “There’s not much the city can do to crack down on them. People are using them because the city doesn’t have available parking,” Dhillon said. “You can’t blame the truckers.” Bob Campbell, past president of the West Panorama Ratepayers Association, said the

issue of illegal parking has been “widely abused,” adding he believes “the city has been incredibly slow to react.” He said in some cases the violation is “blatant and clear.” Campbell told the Now he believes “there’s a strategy in Surrey to buy agricultural land to use for business purposes outside of agriculture.” He has concerns about the lasting effects of heavy-duty vehicles being stored on agricultural land. “There’s obviously oil leaks, who knows what level of maintenance and fluid discharge. All these things they could be doing on property, which are normal for a trucking company,” he said. “In addition it’s agricultural land. It’s supposed to be used for growing food. “And if someone is using property illegally, do you assume doing all the right environmental things at the same time? Probably not.” He also questions how viable environmental land would be after it’s suffered damaged, and questioned if it would even be possible to restore it for agricultural purposes. Campbell said companies using properties illegally also have an unfair advantage in the industry. “It creates an environment of cheating, to be honest with you. It’s kind of like traffic speed enforcement. If there’s never any enforcement, then everyone thinks they can get away with it.” Campbell said residents on the ridge are diligent about reporting violations to the city. “We’re pretty good in that we’re on them all the time. Everyone complains. We’ve set a precedent that when there is illegal parking… we’re going to get on it.” In 2012, the WPRA voiced its frustrations about a piece of farmland they said was being used for just this, members claiming they’d seen as many as 30 heavy duty vehicles on the site at one time. The company, Keywest Ashpalt, told the Now at the time that the trucks were there because the company recently sold a truck park property and were temporarily using that property because “there’s a huge shortage of truck parking spaces in Surrey.” Jas Rehal, Surrey’s bylaw enforcement manager, said the truck parking matter simply comes down to the issue of supply and demand, adding the city takes complaints about trucks parked on ALR land seriously. According to Rehal, the City of Surrey has six such cases going through the courts. When it comes to illegal parking outside of the ALR, he said the city works with truckers to try to move the vehicles to legal spots, if available. “But at the end of the day, if there are 10 or 15 trucks parked in a neighbourhood and residents are concerned, we take that seriously,” Rehal said. areid@thenownewspaper.com

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Truckers rally after being barred from ports Adrian MacNair

Now staff Twitter @adrianmacnair

SURREY — One of many Surrey families involved in the port container trucking industry is scrambling to make ends meet following a sudden decision by Port Metro Vancouver to refuse licences to more than 600 truckers. Michelle Mann, a dispatcher for Safeway Trucking, with whom her husband is also a driver, says the suspension of licenses affects many Surrey residents in the industry, including 84 well-established companies that will likely have to shut down. “We have all decided we are not giving up. We need to fight for this,” said Mann. “Too many families do not know how they will be paying their bills, buying food…. This has hit a lot of people both emotionally and financially.” Port Metro Vancouver (PMV) introduced a new truck licensing system on Feb. 1 as part of an ongoing Joint Action Plan, spearheaded by the federal and provincial governments to revamp the container trucking industry following the 2014 port container truck strike. During that six-week labour stoppage, drivers blamed lax enforcement for the undercutting of industry rates set by the provincial government which guarantees drivers a minimum fee for deliveries. But Mann said many companies affected by license suspensions are based on the actions of a few individual drivers. “There’s one or two bad apples out there,” she said. “I admit there were some. But it wasn’t 84 companies worth.” Instead of targeting individuals

or companies that are undercutting rates, Mann said PMV took a blanket approach that doesn’t address undercutting. “I know there are companies out there right now going to our customers and saying, ‘I’ll do it for $50, $60 cheaper.’ Well, how are they doing that with the new license?” Mann started a Facebook page entitled “Port Metro Vancouver new TLS - 600 drivers, 80 companies out of work” which has close to 250 “likes,” as of the Now’s press deadline. She has used the page to conduct numerous protests in Surrey and throughout Metro Vancouver, including a rally on Friday (Feb. 6) in front of Vancouver Art Gallery. “The whole point of this is we’re not going anywhere. We’re not going quietly and we’re just going to keep fighting.” Manny Dhillon, a former Surrey driver who lost his job following the strike last March, attended a rally on Highway 91 in Delta last Monday (Feb. 2). A member of the non-unionized United Truckers Association, he said up to 200 members are affected by the sudden suspensions. Dhillon said some members who have been licensed in the system for more than 25 years are suddenly left on the outside looking in. “We agreed with PMV that there are too many people chasing too few containers but instead of going with the seniority method, you know people last in the system should be out first, they pick and choose people and throw them out,” he said. Dhillon said drivers are also fed up that the Joint Action Plan, which was supposed to be implemented within 90 days, still hasn’t been completed and that undercutting continues to happen.

“Instead of solving the problem, they’re just escalating it day by day. I don’t know what they’re going to achieve by this.” Dhillon said even unionized employees have been affected by the move, with five of the companies affected represented by Unifor. “It’s a really tough situation for all these guys now. PMV is putting this dictatorship on these drivers that work to pull containers from the port.” On Feb. 3, PMV released a statement indicating drivers barred from the licensing system will be sent an application form and details on how they can receive “transition support payments” as a form of severance. “Some drivers may be eligible for up to $15,000, depending on how much work they have done at the port in the past seven months and provided they are not participating in disruptive activities that have an adverse effect on the port, its tenants or its neighbours,” said Peter Xotta, vice president of planning and operations for the port. According to the press release, 13 of the 14 action items in the Joint Action Plan have now been completed. Xotta said reforms to the licensing system include reducing the number of trucks approved to service the port terminals because there were too many trucks for the amount of available containers. “This change was requested by drivers, trucking companies and others during extensive consultation done in the fall because drivers stated they could not get enough work to make a decent living,” he said. “Independent operators are self-employed truck owners, and the transition support program is an opportunity being offered to help them while they find other work.” amacnair@thenownewspaper.com

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Road company execs charged Matthew Claxton

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FSOC said investigations like this rely on analysis of financial records, and are intensely time-consuming. The RCMP did not release information on who might have been victimized by the alleged frauds. Aggressive did work for Langley Township, but not since 2007, according to Hilary Tsikayi, the Township’s director of finance. Aggressive did road work primarily in 2005 and 2006. One of their major projects was a $1.9 million storm-water control upgrade funded by both Langley City and Township. The project was approved in the summer of 2007 to avoid further flooding from Logan Creek and Jeffries Brook around 204th Street,

206th Street and the Langley Bypass. The project was overseen by Langley City. Independent engineering consultants oversaw the work, said City administrator Francis Cheung. “We’re confident that we got value for our money,” Cheung said. Aggressive is listed in Surrey civic documents as having done road construction work for that city in the early 2000s. In 2006, Surrey paid Aggressive $3.1 million for a variety of road and sidewalk construction projects. Aggressive offered the lowest price of four bidders. When asked if the victims of the alleged scam included any local municipalities, Staff Sgt. Laurie White,

Costly acts of vandalism continue to decline at parks in Delta Sandor Gyarmati

Delta Optimist Twitter @GyarmatiSandor

DELTA — A report to Delta council summarizing 2014 vandalism activities notes the number of incidents once again went down with approximately 20 fewer over the previous year, while the total cost to repair the damage was $34,550, approximately $30,000 less than 2013. The single most significant and costly act of vandalism last year was a fire at the North Delta Community Park washrooms, which cost taxpayers over $6,000. At 116 incidents, graffiti led the way as far as the type of vandalism, followed by broken glass (53) and illegal dumping (30). There was only one case of wire theft. Although the total number of vandalism acts is on the decline at 254, graffiti continues to rise with approximately 16 more incidents in 2014 compared to 2013. Delta’s vandalism management program is

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credited for reducing the damage with initiatives like washroom security locking systems, park attendants and the parks patrol proving strong deterrents. In 2013, the municipality

saw about 100 fewer incidents in than in 2012, and the total cost to repair acts of vandalism was in $64,891, almost $20,000 less than the previous year.

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INFORM Cyber bullying

Stay safe online, police urge on Safer Internet Day Amy Reid

Now staff Twitter @amyreid87

SURREY — It’s 1 a.m. and a teenage girl gets a text. It’s her boyfriend. He wants a nude photo. She obliges. Fast-forward three months, and the relationship has fizzled. Angry, the boyfriend decides to send the photo to all of his friends. Then they send it to their friends. And the snowball continues until hundreds of people have seen the photo. Perhaps it even makes it to Facebook, now a permanent scar on the girl’s image. It may come back to haunt her as she applies for university, or a job, years down the road. It’s not an uncommon scenario, says Cpl. Neil Kennedy. The officer works with the Surrey RCMP Youth Team, specifically responding to school incidents. Kennedy said the school response unit took 1,100 calls for service in 2014, and about 15 per cent of those involved some social media aspect or online element. “It could be that there’s been an altercation in the school, whether it be

physical or verbal, and what spins out of it is a social media aspect of it. Or reversely, the incident itself could start online,” he said, adding the most common cases in Surrey involve threats, intimidation and extortion. “We have person-to-person name calling or slanderous comments, and we see a lot of rumours and fictitious statements being made. And photos being used as extortion when relationships devolve.” The Youth Team has seen an increase in the amount of cases involving social media in recent years, and Kennedy attributes that to the prevalence of the technology. “Ease of access has increased. The types of devices where youth can access social media has increased. It also reduced the age where youth are actually getting involved… youth are now entering more into the computer and social media world at a younger age,” he said. “It’s sad to say but I recently had to deal with a case involving Grade 7s.” That’s why the team goes in to speak to and educate students as young as Grade 5. The social media phenomenon has changed the way bullying occurs, Kennedy explained. “With traditional bullying, it happens

We have person-to-person name calling or slanderous comments, and we see a lot of rumours and fictitious statements being made. And photos being used as extortion when relationships devolve. face-to-face. You have an immediate incident that would occur and it could often be resolved, often involving one bully and one victim. Today, with this whole aspect of social media, it’s become common to see that one person may initiate the bullying but then it opens the floodgates for other people to jump in.” He called it “closet bullying.” “They can do it in private and the only way we become aware of it is if the victim or someone else brings it to our attention.” When it comes to extortion, Kennedy has seen local cases where youth didn’t protect a profile. Someone used photos to assume

their identity online, obtain nude photos of a fellow student, then used those images to extort them. Kennedy urged parents to get involved, and said education is the best prevention – but it has to start at home. Parents need to model appropriate behaviour online and monitor their child’s use, he said. “Does someone in Grade 7 need seven social media accounts? Are they having conversations with people they’ve never met?” There are apps on the market that monitor social media activity, designed for parents to keep an eye on things. Courses are offered through the school district for parents to teach them about social media today, the problems that can arise and what to do as a parent. “It starts with parents making their kids knowledgeable about appropriate social media use. Awareness of what can go wrong… and the consequence of online bullying or cyber crimes.” Those consequences can be severe, he stressed. see › page 16

IN SUPPOR T OF INTERNATI ONA L WOME N’S DAY March 6, 2015 at the Harris Barn, Ladner, BC 9am.to 2pm Project Bloom continues to draw a compelling audience of government leaders, business owners, mothers, daughters, and future students. Proceeds from this event will be dedicated to creating an endowment for women, which will focus on single mothers, female immigrants, Aboriginal women, and women with disabilities, who wish to pursue their post-secondary aspirations at KPU.

Purchase tickets today or donate towards the KPU endowment, kpu.ca/foundation/project-bloom 604.599.2979

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TuesdAy, FebruAry 10, 2015

A15

INFORM Fraser River

Liquid nitrogen to freeze ground beneath river Drill used to tunnel under river is in need of repair Christopher Poon

Now staff Twitter @questionchris

SURREY — Liquid nitrogen is to be used to freeze the ground beneath the Fraser River in order to repair a massive drill that’s been tunneling beneath the river for the past few months. The drilling is part of a $240-million Metro Vancouver project to connect the Fraser Valley’s water supply with that north of the Fraser, in order to bring more consistent water access to those south of the Fraser. According to Frank Huber, Metro Vancouver’s director of major projects, management systems and utility services, the tunnel is in response to an incident that occurred back in 1997. “We’ve got an existing main under the Fraser River and it actually failed during 1997, and so there were severe water restrictions for all the municipalities south of the Fraser River for the whole summer,” he recalled. “So we patched up the pipe at that time and realized we had to build a more secure crossing. So after investigating which was the best way to go we concluded that a tunnel would meet all of our needs.” After years of concepts and designing the tunnel, a contract was awarded in 2011 to two companies and with the first few years spent on constructing the entry shaft, tunneling began at a depth of 68 metres below the surface of the Fraser River from the Surrey side last year. In the time since, the tunneling machine has carved out 800 metres of the 1,000-metre tunnel, but just 200 metres short of the finish line tunneling has come to a halt. “Basically, the conveyor got jammed and there was some damage to the parts of the conveyor so we need to get in there and make some repairs to it,” explained Huber.

Crews work at the mouth of the tunnel being drilled beneath the Fraser River. The tunnel will be used to improve the water-supply connection between the north and south sides of the river. (Photo: SUBMITTED) And with the machine so deep beneath the Fraser River, the challenge facing crews is how to get into the tunnel and repair the machine while dealing with 60 metres of water pressure in saturated ground. Enter the liquid nitrogen. Using a procedure that Huber says is sometimes used in situations like this, crews will use liquid nitrogen to freeze the earth surrounding the drill, holding back the pressure and allowing workers to go in and conduct the repairs. To do that, Huber said a platform has been

SURREY OPTOMETRY centre

constructed in the middle of the Fraser River and crews have been drilling ‘freeze holes’ into the earth surrounding the drill, allowing them to inject liquid nitrogen and freeze the desired area. According to Huber, the use of liquid nitrogen is completely safe as it’s an inert gas found in the air around us. “We breathe this stuff in all the time.” Currently crews are in the midst of completing the dozen or so ‘freeze holes’ and once workers have gone in to repair the drill, the tunnel is expected to be completed within

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two to three months. Then, Huber explained, they will install the pipe and build a new chamber at the top of the shafts on the Surrey and Coquitlam sides with an expected completion in 2016. As for the benefits to Surrey residents and beyond, Huber said the project, “will provide more resiliency to the system so if an earthquake happens this crossing will survive. We know populations are growing south of the Fraser so this will ensure that water remains secure.”

“Always keeping our patients smiling”

TuesdAy, FebruAry 10, 2015

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INFORM Cyber bullying

‘Within a second, a digital image can be multiplied thousands of times’ ‹ from page 14

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Gareth deals with all types of commercial, employment and collections disputes and has successfully represented clients at the Provincial Court of BC and the BC Supreme Court. He brings distinguished educational achievements and legal experience with the Alberta Court of Queen’s Bench to his practice. We believe clients will appreciate his strong, effective advocacy and practical approach to seeking solutions. We’re glad he’s with us, but he’s here for you.

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“These kids sit behind the screen, whether it’s an iPad or a tablet or computer or even a cell phone… they think that screen is their shield, but it’s not. They type away feeling they have some anonymity but they don’t. They’re leaving an electronic fingerprint when they engage in these types of comments.” Police can track that fingerprint to identify who is behind the screen. “And they will be held accountable,” he said. Threats of violence can result in expulsion from school and criminal charges. One 16-year-old boy who was charged in Surrey was surprised to learn he couldn’t travel out of the country due to a charge. When it comes to sharing explicit photos, one might find themselves facing child pornography charges as a result of sharing them. “If you’re 17 or younger, you’re basically distributing child pornography. In a context of a relationship the courts have deemed that a private possession contained in the context of a relationship but when a relationship devolves, we’re seeing a huge spurt where one party is upset at the other, and then they start sharing these on social media.” That’s a criminal offence, he said. “What you say, what you post, or what you send in the virtual world – it has real consequences,” Kennedy said. And of course, there’s lasting damage. “It’s not like back in the day when you had a Polaroid picture where you could go back and grab the picture knowing there would only be one of it. Within a second, a digital image can be multiplied thousands of times. You don’t’ know where it ends up.

More and more employers do a social media check on what kind of life you’ve lived and it can be really damaging,” he said. “The choices you make today at 16, 17, 18 may greatly affect your college or university entrance. It’s out there in the social media world for anybody to Google and find.” Kennedy said kids need to fully understand the effects of inappropriate or unsafe online activity, because they can have long-lasting consequences – both for victims and perpetrators. Police are speaking out about the issue as Feb. 10 is Safer Internet Day. Surrey RCMP encourage people to take time to talk about how to be safe online, stay informed about online risks and seek help. Online bullying and crimes can be reported to police at 604-599-0502, or by calling 911 in the case of an emergency. Kids Help Phone offers 24/7 support by phone at 1-800-668-6868. Needhelpnow.ca provides information to youth who have been impacted by a sexual picture being shared, and the Surrey School District has an education website at Psstbc.ca/online-safety. Parent brochures are available on the Surreyschools.ca under the “Parents” tab. To stay up-to-date with new technology, sign up to receive alerts at Cybertip.ca.

areid@thenownewspaper.com

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