Local ladies form comedy duo page 33
B.C. championship for Burnsview page 30
Friday June 11, 2010 Serving Surrey and North Delta www.surreyleader.com
Surrey man charged with killing wife and burning body Les Hart, who suffers with ALS, lost provincial funding for his care aide, Caprice Stadnyk, when he was admitted to hospital. His family has paid for his care, but will soon run out of necessary funds.
Panghali murder trial underway by Dan Ferguson
EVAN SEAL / THE LEADER
Dependent on ‘life support’ Les Hart needs a ventilator to stay alive. He relies on people for quality of life by Kevin Diakiw
A
t age 44, Les Hart’s mind is as sharp as ever. His body, however, has been failing for the last decade, as amyotrophic lateral sclerosis (ALS) quickly spreads through his system. The neurodegenerative condition (also known as Lou Gehrig’s disease) physically shuts the body down. Four out of five people who have ALS die within two to five years of diagnosis. For Hart, symptoms started in 1999, when the 33-year-old noticed his right thumb was locking up. It wasn’t long before the avid runner received the news that his body would eventually be completely paralyzed. “It wasn’t until I started to research ALS that I got really
scared,” Hart said in an email interview this month. “There are no stories of remission or life-saving procedures, just death. “I stopped doing research.” After a couple of years, his breathing became laboured, and he faced the same excruciating decision every person with the disease does. “My respirologist sat my wife and I down and laid it on the line. At my current lung capacity I had probably a year left. The only other option was a (tracheostomy) and spend the rest of my life dependent on a ventilator, basically on life support.” Wanting to see his daughter graduate, he opted for life support. A director with ALS Society of B.C., Hart’s method of comSee ALS / Page 5
Walk for ALS: Q June 12, registration at 10 a.m. Q Bear Creek Park, 88 Avenue and King George Q www.walk forals.ca
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THE JURY chairs in the fourthfloor courtroom at the B.C. Supreme Courthouse in New Westminster were empty when Surrey resident Mukhtiar Panghali was brought in by a sheriff Wednesday morning. He’s been in custody since his arrest in 2007 for the 2006 murder of his wife. Before jurors can begin hearing the case against Panghali, Justice Heather J. Holmes has to decide what evidence will be presented. She presided over two weeks of arguments over admissibility during what is Mukhtiar called a “voir Panghali dire” or trial within a trial without a jury present. Details of the hearing cannot be reported. On Wednesday, as the hearing was winding down, Panghali listened to the arguments intently, occasionally staring at the almost deserted visitors gallery in the courtroom where just two people, one of them See PANGHALI / Page 4
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2 Friday June 11 2010
Surrey North Delta Leader
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Surrey North Delta Leader
Friday June 11 2010 3
Bacon brother’s rights violated: Judge Accused’s treatment in Surrey jail was ‘cruel and unusual,’ court rules The case stems from a series of complaints by Bacon on his living conditions while at Surrey Pretrial, starting in April 2009. A B.C. SUPREME Court judge has ruled that James Bacon’s rights were violated when In his first windowless cell, he was confined 23 hours a day. His bed was a concrete the warden of Surrey Pretrial Services Centre placed him in solitary confinement slab with a vinyl-covered foam mat. There was no furniture and he had one sheet and made other decisions restricting his privileges. and a thin blanket, but was not allowed a pillow. He was not permitted to speak to Justice Mark McEwan issued his ruling Wednesday in the civil case, saying waranyone on the phone but his legal counsel. den Debbie Hawboldt made numerous errors in her supervision of Bacon, includBacon was later moved to a second cell and had access to more amenities, but was ing placing Bacon in segregation, monitoring his mail, passing the correspondence still not allowed a pillow and the room was so cold he slept in his clothes. to police, denying him phone access and imposing “blanket restrictions” on his After his lawyer got involved, Bacon was given access to a TV and had 40 minutes visits. a week in the gym. “These impositions collectively amount to cruel and unusual treatment,” McEwan James Bacon Bacon’s complaint, sworn in September, was answered by an affidavit that included wrote in his judgment. a letter from Supt. John Robin of the RCMP’s Integrated Homicide Investigation The judge said Hawboldt used her role to improperly assist police in their invesTeam. Robin said introducing Bacon to the general population would “open unretigation of Bacon, who is charged in the Surrey Six slayings. McEwan said she also allowed stricted conduits for him to send and receive information through other inmates.” police to “unduly influence” Bacon’s placement in solitary confinement, adding the warden McEwan ruled that if Bacon is not found “on proper grounds” to be suitable for placement “repeatedly breached her duty of procedural fairness and natural justice” by not allowing among the general inmate population, he must be placed with inmates who are not at risk Bacon a hearing or other avenue to challenge the decisions. from, or a risk to, him. He also ordered Bacon’s phone and visiting privileges be restored. by Vikki Hopes
Students mourn Surrey teacher Deceased man found in car on Tuesday morning by Kevin Diakiw THE MAN killed in a car accident
this week was an extremely popular teacher at Princess Margaret Secondary. Gary Kang, a 40-year-old shop teacher at Princess Margaret, was found dead in his 2005 Infiniti G35 sports car in a ditch on Colebrook Road, east of 152 Street on Tuesday morning. Surrey RCMP do not suspect foul play. On Wednesday, a huge outpouring of grief from students and friends took place on a 1,000-member Facebook site set up in his memory, as well as on bclocalnews. com. “Mr. Kang was an awesome teacher and a down to earth human being, and he was too young to go and leave all those unfortunate students at PM who will never be able to embrace his presence and learn from such an amazing individual. R.I.P Mr. Kang we love you dearly,” wrote Dimme Piecce. His impact apparently went well beyond the classroom. “I was blessed to have Mr. Kang as a teacher, and then a friend out of school. My condolences to the family,” wrote Aneil Djintense Kainth. “I feel for the students who will not have a chance to have this great man teach them.”
BOAZ JOSEPH / THE LEADER
A man’s body was found in a car on Colebrook Rd. Tuesday.
Katzie First Nations elder Willie Pierre blesses a studentpainted mural unveiled at Clayton Heights Secondary this week. Art teacher Mary-Lou Williams, who spearheaded the project, hopes the work can be displayed in various public locations before returning to the Surrey high school. EVAN SEAL / THE LEADER
Seven sacred teachings High school mural links social responsibility, literacy and art Integrating text into the artwork, including a hand-written legend, added a literacy component to the school project. THERE ARE seven creatures – a bear, eagle, buffalo, human, turtle, wolf Once a handful of student artists stepped forth – Natalie Brash, Jocand beaver – and printed near them, are the principles they embody. elyn Ko, Andrea Giesbrecht, Kelsey Howe, Caitlin Ringland, Ruth Ross The soaring bald-headed eagle, for example, represents love, while and Adam Zonneveld – the artwork really took off. After a month-andthe howling white wolf signifies humility. The other animals embody a-half of painting, the final five-by-eight-foot work was revealed in a everything from respect and courage to wisdom, honesty and truth. special ceremony, where the mural was blessed by Katzie First Nations They are the Seven Sacred Teachings in First Nations culelder Willie Pierre. ture, meant to demonstrate, through the animal world, For Williams, the entire process was extraordinary. man’s connection to life. amazing to have this crazy vision... and then video-online] see“Itmywasstudents The images and words are all part of a detailed mural rise up with their abilities and their unveiled at Clayton Heights Secondary on Monday aftertalents and go right over my bar of expectation for it.” noon – and the coming to fruition of a vision of fine arts But there is still one goal remaining for the mural: the www.surreyleader.com journey. department head Mary-Lou Williams. Williams came up with the concept and design for Williams hopes to display the work in places such as the five-foot by eight-foot canvas, in which the animals’ City Hall, school district sites and perhaps the Surrey images are also paired with First Nations crests of the creatures in either Museum. Coast Salish, Haida, Kwakiutl, Ojibway or Cree designs. “It is public art,” she says. “I want it to be out there where it can be “I came across the Seven Sacred Teachings and how they were seen and where the kids can get recognition for it. And where it can be embodied in these different animals that are indigenous to Canada,” read.” Williams said. “I thought ‘wouldn’t it be interesting – because kids Eventually though, it will “come home” and reside in the Clayton are always interested in drawing wildlife – to incorporate that with an Heights Secondary library. appreciation of First Nations art form and line?’” sreynolds@surreyleader.com by Sheila Reynolds
4 Friday June 11 2010
Surrey North Delta Leader
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ONE MAN was wounded in the stomach and leg Tuesday afternoon in a neighbourhood of newly built homes in Surrey’s Clayton community north of Cloverdale. It happened shortly after 1 p.m. near the 19000 block of 68 Avenue. The victim was rushed to hospital. The man was taken from a house and rushed to hospital. While officers at the scene put up a tarpaulin to prevent a view inside the house, a glimpse of the man showed he had extensive tattoos on both arms. Police launched a search for a male suspect in a white Jeep Cherokee seen leaving the scene. About an hour later a woman was arrested near 71A Avenue and 150 Street while driving an SUV matching that description. Eyewitness Josie Warriner, a local resident, told The Leader several
EVAN SEAL / THE LEADER
An injured man is taken from a home near 190 Street and 68 Avenue on Tuesday. police vehicles with heavily armed officers surrounded a Jeep Cherokee being driven by an older woman in a pink sari. “They asked her to put her car in park but she [didn’t appear to] understand,” Warriner said. She said officers aimed weapons at the woman and shouted at the driver that she would be shot if she didn’t comply. Eventually the woman put her hands out of the car window and got
out. She is described by police as a “person of interest” and was taken away in handcuffs. Police said they believe the attack to be a targeted incident. The Surrey RCMP Serious Crime Unit has taken over the investigation. Anyone with information about the case is asked to contact the Surrey RCMP at 604599-0502 or if you wish to remain anonymous, call Crime Stoppers at 1-800-222-TIPS. dferguson@surreyleader.com
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A woman was arrested near 71A Avenue and 150 Street in Surrey driving an SUV matching the description of a suspect vehicle sought after a Tuesday afternoon shooting in the Clayton area. Police have called the woman a ‘person of interest’ regarding the incident.
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a Leader reporter, were sitting. Three years in prison have changed the Surrey school teacher nicknamed “M.P.” who used to wear a turban and full beard. His head and face were closely shaved and he appeared to have lost weight. He was wearing a white dress shirt and
dark pants instead of the red prison-issue clothing he’s worn during other court appearances. Manjit Panghali, a Surrey school teacher, was four months pregnant with her second child when she was reported missing by her husband, who made a tearful public plea for help in finding her at a Surrey RCMP news conference.
A few days later, her charred body was discovered beside the Delta Port Way truck route in South Delta. Mukhtiar was arrested and charged with second-degree murder and improperly interfering with a dead body. The trial is scheduled to get underway in November after a jury is selected. dferguson@surreyleader.com
Surrey North Delta Leader
Friday June 11 2010
ALS: Fundraising walk Saturday “It was a perfect storm,” he said. Rich said he can’t continue funding the care aides indefinitely, and his son undermunication is a laptop, which he manipustands that. lates through slight head movement. He But he also knows that without them he has just enough mobility in his hand to the enter keystroke. The result is very slow won’t be able to leave the acute care ward, and will be unable to communicate or typing. shave or shower. For the most part, he feels trapped “Cat in a cage,” he types. inside his own body. The He’s waiting for a bed at few times he has glimpses of Carelife Fleetwood, a state-ofnormalcy have been when the-art respiratory residence his wife, or care aides takes in Surrey. him out for a bit of fresh air. Minister of health Kevin The aides that assist him Falcon said Hart’s full suite of in that had been provincially care would resume when he funded. is transferred to the complex That is until January, care facility, which offers when Hart was admitted to Les Hart more flexible care than a Surrey Memorial Hospital hospital. with an infection in his In addition, Falcon said, “when he is throat. Care aides in a hospital setting are ultimately transferred to a new facility... not funded by the province. “So there I was in Intensive Care, unable he would still have, and continue to have, the option if he wished to have additional to communicate or move. It was the most privately paid services. I can tell you, the terrifying experience of my life,” Hart writes. “What was to me a gesture that my care there is very comprehensive.” Hart has been told he’s next on the head needed to be adjusted, they saw as I waiting list, but he’s had that status for five couldn’t breathe so the emergency button months. was hit. It was extremely stressful and ALS has no known cure or effective lonely.” treatment. For every person diagnosed After about a month, his father Rich with ALS a person with ALS dies. began paying $3,000 a month for private Approximately 2,500 to 3,000 Canadians care aides, but as a man of simple means, currently live with ALS. he can’t continue that for long. A Walk for ALS takes place in several In addition, Hart’s wife left him when communities across the nation June 12 to he was admitted to hospital. From page 1
“It was the most terrifying experience of my life.”
Notaries Public WILLS, MORTGAGES
raise funds for research into the disease and services to support those living with ALS and their families. Since the fundraiser began in 2001, the walks have raised about $11 million. The Surrey walk takes place at Bear Creek Park on Saturday, June 12. Registration is at 10 a.m. and the walk begins at 11 a.m. The local run raised $20,000 two years ago and $50,000 last year. The run is free, but contestants are urged to pick up pledge forms for donations, which are available at ABC Restaurants or online at www.walkforals.ca For more information email surreywalk@alsbc.ca
ALS facts • ALS, Amyotrophic Lateral Sclerosis, is also called Lou Gehrig’s Disease • It is a rapidly progressing fatal neuromuscular disease, causing paralysis, but the intellect and senses remain unimpaired. • ALS can strike anyone of any gender, ethnicity or age. • 80 per cent die within two to five years. • Can be hereditary, but not contagious. • Approximately 2,500 to 3,000 people in Canada live with ALS. • Every day, two to three Canadians die of ALS. • ALS Society of B.C. can be reached at 604-685-0737.
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by Sheila Reynolds
custodial and clerical staff, as well as administration, FEWER counsellors, fewer and operation and maintelearner support team nance workers. Supply and members, fewer teacherresource budgets were also librarians. expected to be slashed by The reality of cutbacks in $1.5 million. the Surrey School District While about 1,300 new was to come to fruition students are expected to Thursday night enter Surrey (after The Leader’s schools in Sep[more online press deadline) tember – Surrey as Surrey’s Board is one of the www.surreyleader.com of Education was few districts in expected to vote B.C. still growon how it will pare $12.3 ing – only about five new million from its operating teachers will be hired. budget for the coming “This is considerably school year. below the staffing increase In April, Surrey made that would be in place if we public plans to shift spewere able to maintain the cialty teachers into regular current service levels,” Supt. classroom positions – a Mike McKay wrote in a move that would save an staff memo in April. estimated $5.6 million. The district also In addition, remaining extended spring break to speciality teachers won’t be two weeks for the coming replaced for absences of less year to save about $600,000. than three days, potentially Check www.surreyleader. saving the district another com Friday for more infor$1.6 million. mation on Surrey’s 2010-11 Other cuts will hit budget.
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5
6
OPINION
The Surrey/North Delta Leader
Friday June 11 2010
Published and printed by Black Press Ltd. at 5450 152 St., Surrey, B.C.
The
Leader
PUBLISHER Jim Mihaly
DIRECTOR, SALES AND MARKETING Karla Pearson
CIRCULATION MANAGER Marilou Pasion Newsroom email: newsroom@ surreyleader.com Phone: 604-575-2744 604-575-2544 fax Advertising 604-575-2744 604-575-2544 fax Classified 604-575-5555 604-575-2073 fax
Address 200-5450 152 St. Surrey, B.C. V3S 5J9
2010 winner BCYCNA Ma Murray Awards
2010 winner
2010
To answer, go to the Home page of our website: www.surreyleader.com
T
he headline in a home on a very small lot, Vancouver daily there will be a lot of vehicles newspaper on on the street. Wednesday stated Parts of East Clayton “’Hood under siege.” have been zoned for apartThe ’hood mentioned ments and townhouses. is the East Clayton area of These developments allow Surrey, which was held up for higher densities, but as a paragon of planning they come with amenities virtue when first proposed. like more trees and room The City of Surrey even for kids to play. won an award for the innoOne of the intangible vation used in the area. benefits of apartments As a longtime resident of and townhouses is that Clayton (which historically most rentals are arranged has included all the area by people with significant between 64 and 80 Avenues, experience. The carriage east of 176 Street to the houses and suites in singleLangley border), I had family homes are usually some concerns rented out when the East by the home Clayton project owner – often was pushed someone with through city no experience hall. as a landlord. There is There is keen no question competition higher densifor tenants ties were neces– Housing sary – the cost Minister Rich of land alone has Frank Bucholtz Coleman made that noted East imperative. The Clayton’s idea of allowmany suites ing more small businesses have actually brought rental in homes, something that rates down in the area. is permitted in one area of Under such circumEast Clayton, is also a solid stances it is possible to get a one. And it’s wonderful to bad tenant, and when living have so much shopping in close proximity, trouble available so close to home. can erupt. However, the densities In the past week, there within East Clayton are have been two shootings starting to cause some in East Clayton. In the first problems. A murder in late one, a young woman was March was almost certainly murdered on the street late related to the close proximat night, in what police call ity of neighbours to each a domestic dispute. In the other. A family celebration second, a man was shot that went into the early when he answered the door hours ended with a man of his home on Tuesday stabbed to death. afternoon. This took place Much of East Clayton a short distance from a is zoned to allow carriage new elementary school. As houses – suites built above police were investigating garages. Carriage houses the shooting, school kids and garages are usually and their family members attached to the main home navigated police lines to with a common wall, which make their way home from means almost the entire school. footprint of the lot is covSurrey planners and crime prevention specialered by buildings. There is almost no back yard (most ists need to look closely homes have almost no at the social conditions front yards, either), and not within East Clayton, and enough parking. think long and hard about Most homes also have whether carriage houses basement suites. If there and unbridled rentals are four, five or six working within standalone houses adults living in what used to are the right way to build a be known as a single-family new neighbourhood. The Surrey/North Delta Leader is a member of the British Columbia Press Council, a self-regulatory body governing the province’s newspaper industry. The council considers complaints from the public about the conduct of member newspapers. Directors oversee the mediation of complaints, with input from both the newspaper and the complaint holder. If talking with the editor or publisher does not resolve your complaint about coverage or story treatment, you may contact the B.C. Press Council. Your written concern, with documentation, should be sent within 45 days to B.C. Press Council, 201 Selby St., Nanaimo, B.C. V9R 2R2. For information, phone 888-687-2213 or go to www.bcpresscouncil.org
LAST WEEK WE ASKED:
Do you support a four-year term for politicians elected to municipal councils and school boards? Here’s how you responded: Yes 54% No 46% DO IT YOURSELF
The not-so-secret about handymanning
D
IY. It’s an acronym that most people will recognize. Do-It-Yourself – one of the fastestgrowing trends of the 21st century. Worth
Tools needed: Table saw, chop saw, router, router table, clamps, glue, etc. Estimated cost of materials: $150, which is a significant savings over buying the tables from a store – an important selling point for billions. my frugal spouse. I know. I have been a key contributor for much of The first issue was the router table. My homemade my adult life. unit was not suited to the task. Purchase: One router Growing up on a farm, I was in the DIY curve table, $200. Now, the point of a router table is to long before most of my generation. DIY was a way mount a router in it. And when you do that, your of life, because there was no one else to DIFY (Dorouter is no longer available for handheld work. It-For-You). You’d have to unbolt the router from the table, and And if you couldn’t do it yourself, you were a reinstall it again later. DOOFUS. Clearly, a second router is required. Oh happy So, when I left my rural roots, I had a fairly exten- days! Another trip to the hardware store, $200. sive knowledge of handy skills and information. Now, a router is a useless thing without bits, Now some of it, like repairing barbed particularly for a specific purpose like wire fences, was not exactly transferable biscuit joinery (no, it doesn’t involving to a suburban existence, but basic pracgluing together baked goods). tical knowledge is applicable to virtually Purchase: Two slot cutter bits, $65. all situations – like duct tape. Things were going swimmingly. What I didn’t have when I started Sides cut and shaped. Legs likewise. my own shop many years ago was an Biscuit joints routered. Table tops extensive selection of tools to DIY with. clamped and glued. Except... the Of course, I set about rectifying this laminated oak pieces for the tops didn’t situation and – much to the chagrin of flush perfectly. A planer would solve my penny-saving wife – I’m still adding that far more efficiently and precisely to my inventory. Andrew Holota than a lot of sanding. I’m going to share a secret about Could it be? Yes! Clear justification handymanning – it’s as much about for a planer, $400. acquiring new tools as it is accomplishing the project However, given the previous wave of tool purdu jour. chases, it would be better to wait for a fresh VISA The great part of every new DIY undertaking is statement, temporarily throwing the banking bloodthat it holds the tantalizing prospect of a new gadget hound off the scent. A mission for next weekend. or machine. And that means another expedition Longtime friend, fellow columnist and all-round to the toy store of choice – be it big-box, or small handyman Mark Rushton knows of what I speak. retailer. Catalogues and online suppliers are fun for His philosophy is that by the time he goes to the research, but not for actual purchase. Buying new Great Workshop in the Sky, he will no longer have tools is very much a tactile, hands-on experience. any money for his kids to inherit. However, there A recent project of mine unfolded in classic will be a pile of tools they can pawn! fashion. A man after my own heart. The task: Two tables for the front door hallway. The plan: Solid oak, with sculpted or arched side Andrew Holota is editor of the Abbotsford News, a pieces and bottom supports. sister paper to The Leader.
roomfor a view
Circulation 604-575-5344 604-575-2544 fax
Do high-density neighbourhoods contribute to increased crime rates?
Density and crime linked?
quitefrankly
EDITOR Paula Carlson
QUESTION OF THE WEEK
CLAYTON HEIGHTS