Indo-Canadian Voice Main - Jan 21 2023

Surrey

BOB Mackin of Glacier Media Group has exposed Surrey Mayor Brenda Locke’s shocking double standards in an article that reveals that Surrey City Hall has hired BC Liberal insider Mark Marissen, former husband of former BC premier Christy Clark, to lobby the NDP government to keep the RCMP in Surrey.

Mackin reports that Marissen registered on January 5 to arrange meetings between Surrey of�icials and counterparts in the of�ice of Premier David Eby and the Solicitor General and Municipal Affairs ministries.

Public Safety Minister and Solicitor General Mike Farnworth is currently scrutinizing reports to determine whether Surrey RCMP or Surrey Police Service will become the police of jurisdiction for Surrey.

Mackin reveals that “Marissen is also a longtime associate of Shannon Salter, Eby’s deputy minister, cabinet secretary and head of the public service. In 2005, when Paul Martin was prime minister, Marissen was the campaign director for the Liberal Party of Canada in B.C. and Salter in charge of

communications.”

Locke and her staff at City Hall refused to provide any information to Mackin who reports that Locke’s communications

A report titled “International Students Are Dying From Overdoses at an Alarming Rate. But BC’s Government Isn’t Tracking the Problem” on Monday by reporter Rumneek Johal of Press Progress (pressprogress.ca) has come as rude wake-up call to the South Asian community in B.C. Mainstream media started following up the story on Tuesday.

Surrey’s Gurdwara Dukh Nivaran President Narinder Singh says that the gurdwara has spent hundreds of thousands of dollars helping return the bodies of Punjabi students who died from a drug overdose to their families in India.

The gurdwara has received power of attorney from families that cannot afford to pay for a funeral or for the body to be �lown back to India. Hence, the gurdwara is able to �ind out the cause of death as it receives the coroner’s report.

Narinder Singh told Johal: “Eighty per cent of the reports we

“However, the families tell their relatives and friends that their son died of a heart attack or some other cause to preserve their family honour.”

Brenda Locke

Official photo

Narinder Singh (far right), President of Surrey's Dukh Nivaran Gurdwara, at the soft opening of Guru Nanak North Delta Food Bank last December with Delta Mayor George V. Harvie and other dignitaries. Singh has taken initiatives in serving all communities in various ways.

Photo: City of Delta

Premier and NDP will lose credibility if they reverse policing transition

CONTINUED FROM 1

staffers didn’t answer a reporter’s questions and schedule an interview with her. Instead, the City’s freedom of information (FOI) office sent an email requesting a $10 payment. Public bodies can take 30 business days or longer to provide information to an applicant.

Locke did not respond to a text message or call to her mobile number and a communications staff member sent an email to say that “Mayor Locke will not be commenting.”

Mackin points out that Locke had promised to eliminate the $10 FOI fee imposed by then- mayor Doug McCallum and his Safe Surrey Coalition council majority.

In a news release, she had said: “The Surrey Connect team sees the fee as a barrier for the public. By eliminating the fee, residents will see we are serious about transparency and good government.”

So how much is the City paying Ma-

rissen? $50,000? $100,000? Or …? Can anyone trust Locke after all this?!

THE NDP and its new premier, David Eby, will lose credibility, especially with South Asians, if they reverse the policing transition in Surrey.

Eby should remember that Surrey voters delivered a slap in the face of those who wanted to keep the RCMP in Surrey in the 2020 provincial election when they not only re-elected all six incumbent NDP MLAs – Jinny Sims (SurreyPanorama), Rachna Singh (Surrey-Green Timbers), Jagrup Brar (Surrey-Fleetwood), Harry Bains (Surrey-Newton), Bruce Ralston (Surrey-Whalley) and Garry Begg (Surrey-Guildford) – but also booted out Marvin Hunt (SurreyCloverdale) and replaced him with

the NDP’s Mike Starchuk in spite of the BC Liberals and RCMP supporters making the police transition the hot issue in the city in the election.

That made the new BC Liberal Leader Kevin Falcon assure Punjabi journalists at a press meeting that he supported the municipal police transition.

The BC Liberals will surely benefit in Surrey if this NDP government betrays all the Surrey Police Service employees as The VOICE pointed out in an article titled “Will NDP government betray Surrey Police Service employees – just as thenBC Liberal government betrayed health workers?”

Also, as was pointed out in that article, a referendum by pro-RCMP forces that was inspired and paid for by the RCMP’s National Police Federation could not even garner as many votes as McCallum won as mayor!

The Surrey Police Union said it was pleased to see that at least 88% of

registered voters in Surrey did not sign it. The National Police Federation paid more than $104,000 of the total of $118,264 that was used to carry out the so-called referendum, better known as the Surrey Police Vote initiative. In other words, the real people forked out just over $14,000, according to financial documents filed to Elections BC.

It is also highly pertinent to note as The VOICE has highlighted time and time again that the Surrey Police Service was established after Doug McCallum of Safe Surrey Coalition won the 2018 municipal election on that mandate with 40 per cent of the total votes cast — as compared to the 28 per cent of the total votes cast for Brenda Locke in 2022 on her pledge to keep the RCMP in Surrey. What is more, Locke of Surrey Connect won by fewer than 1,000 votes! Locke bagged 33,111 votes as compared to McCallum’s 32,338 votes — a difference of only 973 votes.

Indian students are in high demand all over the world

CONTINUED FROM 1

receive, we have noted that 80% of the deaths are drug-related.”

However, the families tell their relatives and friends that their son died of a heart attack or some other cause to preserve their family honour.

Narinder Singh realistically pointed out that there are a host of reasons that students get involved with drugs, including the fact that could have been taking drugs in Punjab before coming here.

The drug problem is a massive issue in Punjab and elsewhere in India as it is all over the world.

In B.C., many foreign students may not be aware of the toxic

drug supply that claims so many lives here every month.

Neeraj Walia, Secretary and Operational Head of the Guru Nanak Food Bank, claimed that the government wasn’t releasing data about the deaths of the students because it could deter others from coming to Canada.

He told Johal: “The funeral homes, they can show the numbers. I can say every single week, there are one or two international student deaths that are reported in Surrey. On Monday, we have another funeral for a young man who overdosed.”

Walia bluntly noted that “international students are the number one revenue business for Canada

right now.”

The Press Progress report suggests that the government should maintain proper data on the overdose deaths.

Kulpreet Singh, Founder of the South Asian Mental Health Alliance told Johal: “When you look at the Stop Overdose BC campaign, they used to have a campaign when we consulted with them as well, which had Punjabi translations, Punjabi imagery, Punjabi ads. In the last iteration, when the new Minister came in, they removed all of that, and there’s no Punjabi anywhere on the website. It’s all English, there’s no Mandarin, there’s no Indigenous languages.”

He also said that many students are encouraged to take substances to stay alert while working. He added that this was a big problem in the trucking and construction industry.

The Press Progress report comes at a time when Indian students are in high demand all over the world – and that demand is bound to rise in the coming years.

Recent reports on the populations of India and China show that the median age in China is now 40 as compared to 28 in India. India will have 21 per cent of the world’s work force by 2045. Many countries are going out of the way to attract young Indian students and workers.

The news deadline for this issue of The VOICE was Friday morning. For more news and updates, please visit our website voiceonline.com

THE Consulate General of India celebrated the 17th Pravasi Bharatiya Diwas on January 15 in Burnaby in partnership with Hindu Temple Burnaby. The event was attended by more than 150 people, including a number of distinguished members from the Indian diaspora. The inaugural session was addressed by Consul General Manish; Raj Chouhan, Speaker of the BC Legislative Assembly; Jagrup Brar, Minister of State for Trade; Burnaby Councillor Sav Dhaliwal; and Temple President Rakesh Dhir.

Manish highlighted the signi�icance of the Pravasi Bharatiya Diwas celebrations in India, the role of Pravasi Bharatiya in the development and progress of India and various programs and policies

of the Indian Government for diaspora communities. The BC political leaders highlighted the achievements of Indian diaspora over last 130 years in Canada, including their hard work and struggle and their journey towards achieving prominence in all walks of life.

The inaugural session was followed by a panel discussion moderated by Dr. Sobhana Jaya-

Vice President, External Relations, Simon Fraser University. The panelists comprising Dr. Nemy Banthia, CEO, IC-IMPACTS; Dr. Arun K. Garg, Chair and President, Canada India Network Society; Meeru Dhalwala, coowner, Vij’s Restaurant; Sukesh Kumar, Partner, KMPG; and Rita Chohan, owner and founder of Elegant Touch Home Staging and

Mahadevan,

Design, spoke on themes covering the role of the diaspora in new technologies and innovation, healthcare, soft power, social mobility and women entrepreneurs in social inclusion.

There were some cultural performances. The Consulate General felicitated the participants in the inaugural session, panelists and artists with a special plaque and a shawl.

Associate

Indian ethnic media

Surrey Police Service welcomes third recruit class

INDIAN Consul General Manish along with other officers at the Consulate General welcomed more than 40 representatives of mainstream Indian ethnic media representing radio, TV and print media on January 12.

Manish lauded the role played by ethnic media in conveying various messages from the Consulate General to the Indian diaspora community and covering of various events organized by the Consulate General. Manish delivered an overview of the Government of India’s policies and achieve-

ments during the past year; the robust nature of Indian economy; aims and objectives of India’s G-20 Presidency; celebrations of International Year of Millets and requested the gathering to partner with the Consulate General to promote the use of millets; celebration of the India@75 events, under the rubric Azadi ka Amrit Mahotsav (#AKAM); Consulate General activities and diaspora engagement; update on bilateral relations and how the Consulate is partnering with local Indo-Canadian associations in this regard.

Chinatown Spring Festival Parade celebrates return

FOLLOWING a two-year hiatus, the Chinatown Spring Festival Parade is returning to Vancouver this Sunday, January 22. The parade will help to usher in the beginning of Lunar New Year and is a long-standing tradition and celebration of Chinese culture and heritage in Vancouver.

The parade that will begin at 11 a.m. The 1.3km long route starts at the Millennium Gate on Pender Street (between Shanghai Alley and Taylor Street), proceeds east along Pender Street, turns south onto Gore Street, turns west onto Keefer Street and then ends on Keefer at Abbott.

THE Surrey Police Service (SPS) is forging ahead with its recruitment and recently it welcomed 11 more recruit constables. This is the third group of recruits to begin their policing careers with SPS, with the goal of providing excellent public safety service to Surrey for years to come.

After an intensive hiring process that began last year, the recruits will now begin their police training at the Justice Institute

of BC. This group consists of five females and six males, ranging in age from 20 to 36. Collectively, they speak 10 different languages and come from diverse cultural backgrounds.

SPS’s recruit constable program is highly competitive with just 39 selected to date from more than 1,200 applications. Learn more at www.surreypolice.ca/recruits.

Delta Police request public’s help to locate high-risk missing woman, Nev Bains

ON the evening of January 13, Delta Police received a report of a missing person: 54-year-old woman, Nev Bains, was last seen at her North Delta home that morning. Her has been located in the Bridgeview area of Surrey. Nev is described as 5’3” tall, approximately 140 lbs, with medium-length black hair. Her clothing description is unknown. Nev could possibly be wearing pajamas or sweats under a knee-length black puffer jacket.

Delta Police are asking for the public’s assistance to help locate Bains. Should you see her, you are requested to contact them at (604)946-4411 or the police of jurisdiction. An officer will immediately attend.

Consul General Manish

Nev Bains

Photo: SPS

THE Consulate General of India in Vancouver in partnership with nine different Hindi organizations celebrated the Vishwa Hindi Diwas (World Hindi Day) 2023 on January 17 at Fraserview Hall in Vancouver which was attended by over 150 people.

This day is traditionally celebrated every year with the objective to promote Hindi as an international language around the world. Local organizations involved in propagation, teaching and preserva-

tion of the Hindi language among the Indian Diaspora around the world are encouraged to participate in the Vishwa Hindi Diwas.

The program started with the reading of Indian Prime Minister Narendra Modi’s message on the Vishwa Hindi Diwas followed by a welcome address by Consul General Manish. In his address, Manish welcomed the audience and thanked the Indian associations for propagating and promoting Hindi in Canada. He

also highlighted the importance of the Vishwa Hindi Diwas, the role of Hindi in nation-building, and the forthcoming World Hindi Conference in Fiji in February.

The event included a colourful kaleidoscope of Hindi poetry, songs and classical music, eloquently presented and performed by children and adults as part of the World Hindi Day celebrations. Members and students of Bharatiya Kala and Sahitya Parishad, Vedic Hindu

Cultural Society, Global Hindu Foundation, Varad Ashram Inter-cultural Service Humanitarian World Association, Literary Society of Canada, Srijini, Manswini, Indian Cultural Association, and Ganesh Hindu School participated in the event. Three cultural dance groups performed at the eveent: Spirit of Dance Academy, Mudra School of Dance, Sudnya Dance Academy. The participants were honored with plaques and certificates by the Consul

General and a thanks note by Consul G. Ajith Kumar thanked the participants.

For more photos, please visit our website voiceonline.com

Photos by SUKHWANT SINGH DHILLON / AM 600 Sher-E-Punjab Radio

Sherry-Anne Ramkissoon killed in two-vehicle collision in Surrey

THE victim in the two-vehicle collision last Sunday in Surrey has been identified as Sherry-Anne in a GoFundMe Page set up by Ricky Prasad on Monday.

Sherry-Anne Ramkissoon was a manager at an A&W restaurant.

On January 15 at 5:04 a.m., Surrey RCMP responded to a report of a two-vehicle collision at the intersection of 152 Street and Guilford Drive. One of the occupants was declared deceased at scene.

The Integrated Collision Analysis and Reconstruction Service was called to assist the Surrey RCMP Criminal Collision investigation Team with the investigation.

The GoFundMe Page states: “I am starting this Go Fund Me Page for our beautiful Sher-

ry-Anne who suddenly passed away. “She was on her way to work yesterday morning in a Uber when the car she was in was hit by a drunk driver. She was killed instantly on impact. Majority of her family members are in Trinidad and don’t have the necessary funds to come to Canada to give Sherry Anne the proper send off she truly deserves. If anyone is able to help out in any way possible, it would be greatly appreciated. The funds will all go towards getting Sherry back home to her parents, funeral costs and helping her parents out financially.

“Life is precious and it can all be taken away in a blink of an eye. Please be kind to each other and everyone around you because

you never know what may happen. Thank you all very much.”

By Wednesday night it had raised more than $20,000 of its $10,000 goal. (www.gofundme.com/f/our-beautiful-sister-sherryanne)

Meanwhile, anyone with information, including dash cam footage in the area of 152 Street and Guilford Drive during the time leading up to the collision, is asked to contact the Surrey RCMP at 604-5990502 and quote file 23-8069. If you wish to make an anonymous report, contact CrimeStoppers at 1-800-22-TIPS or www. solvecrime.ca.

Sherry-Anne Ramkissoon

Surrey students Sonya Chatterjee and Muhaddisa Sarwari shortlisted for 2023 Loran Award worth $100,000

STUDENTS from two of Surrey’s secondary schools are among the 2023 Loran Finalists vying for a prestigious scholarship offered by the Loran Scholars Foundation.

Grade 12 students Sonya Chatterjee of Semiahmoo Secondary and Muhaddisa Sarwari of Fraser Heights Secondary have made the list of 90 shortlisted candidates, selected from nearly 4,800 students nationwide.

Chatterjee and Sarwari were chosen following semifinal inter-

A former Uber driver has been convicted and sentenced for sexual assault following a Vancouver Police investigation that began in 2021, after a then-21-year-old woman came forward to police.

views to identify key qualities of Loran Scholars, including demonstrated perseverance when faced with adversity, kindness, a sense of curiosity and sparks of leadership potential.

Both students now await national selections in February to determine if they are named two of this year’s Loran Scholars.

The Loran Award is valued at $100,000 over four years, comprised of a $10,000 living sti-

pend and up to $10,000 in tuition waiver per year from 25 partner universities, one-on-one mentorship, up to $14,000 in funding for tri-sectoral summer work experiences, annual gatherings and a weeklong orientation expedition with Outward Bound.

If not selected as a Loran Scholar, finalists are eligible for a $5,000 award that can be used at any Canadian public university.

(Story and photos: Surrey Schools) Sonya Chatterjee & Muhaddisa Sarwari.

Former Uber driver convicted of sexual assault

Mohammed Abu Sayed, 69, was given a sixmonth conditional sentence that includes two months house arrest, followed by 18 months of probation.

During that time, he is banned from operating

any ride-share vehicle, taxi, limousine or any other mode of transportation for remuneration. He is also banned from liquor stores, bars, pubs, nightclubs, beer gardens, and any other place where minors are prohibited by liquor license.

Abu Sayed was convicted in October and sentenced on January 11 for sexually assaulting a female passenger during a trip from Vancouver to Coquitlam. The offence occurred in August 2021.

Mentoring With Math, Roots and Teen Mentoring.

To learn more about volunteer opportuni-

ties with Big Brothers of Greater Vancouver, visit https://www.bigbrothersvancouver. com or reach it at volunteer@bbgvf.com.

JANUARY is Mentoring Month, but Big Brothers of Greater Vancouver (BBGV) says it has stopped accepting new children in Surrey for its community mentoring program because of a shortage of volunteers, the organization announced on January 17. “Surrey has the largest wait pool in the agency, with 30 kids waiting for a Big Brother. The wait pool is so large that adding more kids to it is currently on hold. Essentially there are families on a waitlist to get into the wait pool for matching! The current average wait time to get a Big Brother for Surrey wait pool “Littles” is two years, which is almost double the amount of time from other cities,” says Navkiran Brar, manager of family engagement.

The term wait pool is used by BBGV to describe Little Brothers approved for the program and waiting to be matched.

BBGV is a registered charity whose mission is to empower children and youth to reach their full potential though impactful mentoring relationships. The charity aims to serve more than 1,000 youth through free programs in Surrey, Vancouver, the Tri-Cities, Richmond, Burnaby, New Westminster, the North Shore, Delta and White Rock.

“It’s unfortunate. We’ve had to stop accepting new families who’d like to be paired with a Big Brother in Surrey because of the lack of volunteers applying. This is the most urgent need for mentors I’ve seen in my five years with the organization,” Mandy Wong, manager of development and marketing at BBGV, says.

In Surrey, the charity has an immediate need for at least 38 volunteers to meet the current demand throughout their free programs.

Right now, there are hundreds of youth waiting for their mentor and friend. If you’ve ever considered volunteering as a mentor, now is the time, says BBGV.

As one BBGV volunteer and current Big Brother, Hari, recently explained: “[Volunteering] is a lot less scary than you think it is and it’s a lot more fun than you think it will be and you’ll end up learning a whole lot more about yourself … There’s a lot in it for you that you’ll end up finding and you’ll be surprised with what comes out at the end of it.”

Other cities in Greater Vancouver with a high need for volunteers are Burnaby, Richmond, Coquitlam, Vancouver and North Vancouver.

The organization’s mentoring programs pair volunteers with children and youth between the ages of seven and 17 who share common interests. Volunteers spend one or more hours per week with their matches doing fun activities.

BBGV has six programs you can get in-

volved

Essem Textiles is a modern boutique fabric store that carries a range of fashion fabrics,quilting cottons and notions. We are located on the historic downtown Cloverdale strip.We carry fabrics at a ordable prices such as cotton, knits,sequins,lace,satin,brocade, georgette,chi on,net, velvet, men's suiting & more - come and see for youself !We can't wait to help you get started on your next project.

in: the Big Brother Community Program, In-School Mentoring, Game On!,

Photo: Big Brothers of Greater Vancouver

Enver Creek Cougars win Surrey RCMP Basketball Classic with last shot of the game

THE buzz inside Enver Creek Secondary turned electric in the few remaining seconds of the Surrey RCMP Basketball Classic on Saturday night, when the home team Cougars sunk the final game-deciding shot, cementing themselves as 2023 Senior Champions.

Following an errant inbound pass by the Fleetwood Park Dragons, the Cougars gained possession with 3.3 seconds left on the clock while down by two points. Enver Creek’s Arpan Sidhu passed the ball to fellow point guard Ajaypal Hayer in the

SIMON Fraser University has unveiled a new space in Surrey’s innovation corridor that will advance the emerging fields of quantum computing and agricultural technology (agritech) and further research, innovation and entrepreneurship in B.C.

The SFU Innovation Plaza, a newly-renovated space that is part of SFU’s Surrey campus, is home to the Quantum Algorithms Institute and the B.C. Centre for Agritech Innovation which are now open and operating.

The space will facilitate collaborations between academia, government and industry, accelerate innovation and benefit students preparing for sought-after careers in these burgeoning fields.

The space is also home to Coast Capital Venture Connection, part of SFU’s Charles Chang Institute for Entrepreneurship, SFU’s longest-running entrepreneurship program, and hosts an office of the National Research Council (NRC) Industrial Research Assistance program.

The plaza is a state-of-the-art physical hub that consists of a mix of offices and open seating, meeting rooms and classroom space that overlook the downtown core and the adjacent main campus.

Renovations of the space, officially

corner, who arced a three-point buzzerbeater straight through the net to take the game 69-68.

“I’ve been coaching for just over a decade,

I’ve watched a lot of games, and I don’t recall seeing an ending quite like that,” said Enver Creek assistant coach Brandon Bottrill. “I’m still in shock that game ended the way it did. It was a storybook ending.”

Bottrill noted the finals could have easily gone the other way, as the Dragons finished the first three quarters in the lead. While the Cougars mostly closed the gap

by halftime, they ended up down by 14 points at the tail end of the third.

“Full credit to Fleetwood, they played amazing defense, they did everything right defensively,” he said. “It’s hard to explain what got us back in the game. We got another buzzer-beating three at the end of the third, and I think that gave us some life going into the fourth.

“When you’re on your home court and you have hundreds of people cheering you on, it’s hard to roll over.”

While Cougars head coach Phil Deeks

“I’m really proud of the boys

their perseverance

feeling they still had a shot,” said Bottrill. “It speaks to the boys, it’s them still believing they were in the game.

“I think it’s one of those games that people are going to talk about for a long time.”

SFU’s newest innovation space opens in downtown Surrey

opened on Monday, were made possible by more than $2 million from the federal government’s Pacific Economic Development Canada (PacifiCan), $1.5 million from SFU and $500,000 from the B.C. Government’s Quantum Algorithms Institute funding.

“We are excited to open this space in the heart of Surrey’s thriving downtown innovation corridor, thanks to the support of government, industry and our academic partners,” said SFU President Joy Johnson. “At the SFU Innovation Plaza, academia, government,

and industry will come together to generate new technology solutions that position B.C. as a global leader in innovation. I can’t wait to see what we will build together.”

John Aldag, MP for CloverdaleLangley City, on behalf of Harjit S. Sajjan, Minister of International Development and Minister responsible for Pacific Economic Development Canada, said: “On behalf of the Government of Canada, I am proud to celebrate the opening of the Innovation Plaza at Simon Fraser University’s Surrey Campus. This is an example

of how we are collaborating with forward-thinking, innovative partners to deliver on our priorities of enhancing innovation, improving business competitiveness and promoting inclusive growth.”

Brenda Bailey, B.C. Minister of Jobs, Economic Development and Innovation, said: “The work being done at the SFU Innovation Plaza is what the StrongerBC Economic Plan is all about – delivering for people a clean and inclusive economy. It represents collaborations that are helping people here at home with better jobs and growing businesses while help-

ing to secure B.C.’s position as a world leader in innovation.”

Bruce Ralston, B.C. Minister of Forests, said: “The organizations that will fill the quantum computing and agritech clusters at SFU are critical to ensuring B.C. has a leading-edge advantage in agriculture, technology, entrepreneurship and so much more. The knowledge concentrated here will help us all as we move forward with the adoption of new industry innovations that improve lives for British Columbians, and contribute to clean and inclusive growth in a sustainable economy.”

and Bottrill guided the senior boys this season, Bottrill credits the team for believing in themselves and playing their hardest to show they were down, but not out.

for

and

(Story and photos: Surrey Schools)

John Aldag, MP for Cloverdale-Langley City (far right), and Brenda Bailey, B.C.

Minister of Jobs, Economic Development and Innovation (third from left), at the unveiling of SFU’s newest innovation space. Photos: SFU

Vancouver City Council unanimously approves action plan for Chinatown

VANCOUVER City Council on Tuesday unanimously approved the Uplifting Chinatown Action Plan, which focuses on providing Chinatown with enhanced cleaning and sanitation services, graffiti removal and beautification, and additional community supports.

With this decision, funding for the Uplifting Chinatown Action Plan will be included in the draft 2023 operating budget for final approval when Council considers the operating budget in March.

The Action Plan originated from a November 2022 Council motion directing staff to urgently deliver a strategy to protect Chinatown which has experienced significant challenges in recent years, including anti-Asian racism and public safety concerns impacting its businesses, residents and cultural organizations.

“Chinatown is an invaluable part of our city — a much-beloved com-

munity that celebrates Vancouver’s diversity and cultural heritage,” said Vancouver Mayor Ken Sim. “Chinatown holds an important place in the hearts of many. Today, with the passage of the Uplifting Chinatown Plan, we are excited to be taking the next step towards the revitalization and renewal of this vital part of our city.”

Through the approved Action Plan, staff will work to deliver the following expanded or new services for Chinatown:

* The creation of a “safewalk program” via the Chinatown BIA, to support seniors and residents return home, or wherever they need to go, safely.

* Proactive feces collection five days per week, (previously one day/week).

* Micro-cleaning 13 times per week (previously nine times per week).

* Installation of 15 new larger-ca-

pacity public waste bins.

* Monthly volunteer and organization led litter cleanup events through the City’s Neighbourhood Cleanup Party program.

* 24/7 access to the public washroom at Main and Hastings.

* Continuation of $500K in graffiti prevention and abatement grants to all 22 Business Improvement Associations, including $50K for Chinatown, to cover graffiti removal costs on public and private property.

* Funding and support for community organizations to explore different graffiti-abatement and removal models.

* Additional funding for free paint and graffiti removal on upper facades and heritage buildings.

* Funding for the Chinese Community Policing Centre to continue and expand its volunteer graffiti removal program.

* Given the significant number of

anti-Asian racism incidents that have impacted Chinatown’s sense of well-being, residents, community members, and business owners will be encouraged to report hateful and racist graffiti to the Van-

couver Police Department. These incidents will be investigated and evidence captured by an investigator before they are removed.

Pending budget approval, initial actions identified in the Action Plan, such as enhanced cleaning and sanitation, are expected to begin being delivered as early as spring. The City Manager’s Office will lead the coordination and implementation of the Action Plan in partnership with City departments, Vancouver Police Department (VPD), the Chinatown Business Improvement Association (BIA), the Chinese Community Policing Centre, and other agencies and community organizations in Chinatown to ensure that initiatives are able to provide maximum on-the-ground impact.

To read the full Council report, please visit our website voiceonline.com

Cost-of-living help on the way for B.C. families, says Province

MANY B.C. families will see more money in their bank accounts starting January 20, with the first of three enhanced BC Family

Benefit payments.

The enhanced BC Family Benefit will provide families with moderate and low in-

ATWAL

comes, and children under 18, with more money in the first three months of 2023. The credit will provide as much as an additional $350 from January to March for a family with two children.

“With the rising cost of living due to global inflation and the day-to-day expenses that come with raising children, we know times are stressful,” said Katrine Conroy, Minister of Finance. “We’re here to help the parents who need it most with a little extra money to hopefully help take a bit of pressure off the family budget.”

Approximately 75% of B.C. families will receive the enhanced BC Family Benefit credit and approximately 84% of those families will receive at least an additional $50 per month, per child. Eligibility is based on income and number of children. It is automatically determined when someone registers for the Canada Child Benefit, usually through their income tax return. Most families will receive the benefit as a direct

deposit from the Canada Revenue Agency, alongside the federal Canada Child Benefit program.

“Looking ahead, we’ll continue to focus on driving down costs for people wherever possible,” Conroy said. “No matter what is on the horizon, we’re here for people and families to help them through these times.”

Since fall 2022, the Province has provided approximately $2 billion in supports to help people with increased costs through the BC Affordability Credit, BC Family Benefit, support for back-to-school expenses, a onetime BC Hydro rebate and a cap to keep rent increases below the rate of inflation.

Quick Facts:

* The BC Family Benefit may take as long as 10 days to be deposited by the Canada Revenue Agency alongside the Canada Child Benefit.

* The BC Family Benefit was formerly known as the Child Opportunity Benefit.

Vancouver Mayor Ken Sim Photo: abcvancouver.ca

Ahmedabad (Gujarat) (IANS/others): The Ahmedabad crime branch has arrested two travel agents who were allegedly responsible for the death of four members of a family in illegal migration to the US. These four people, including two minors, had frozen to death while illegally crossing from Canada to America in January 2022.

Last January, the Manitoba RCMP identified the family members as Jagdishkumar Patel, a 39-year-old male; Vaishaliben Patel, a 37-yearold female; Vihangi Patel, an 11-year-old female; and Dharmik Patel, a three-year-old male. Crime Branch Deputy Commissioner of Police Chaitanya Mandlik told the media on Monday, “On Saturday evening, the crime branch team arrested Bhavesh Patel from Palsana village in Gandhinagar district and Yogesh Patel from Ahmedabad city’s Vastrapur area.”

They were allegedly involved in illegally sending Jagdish Patel, Vaishali Patel and their children Vihangi and Dharmik to the US. They froze to death while crossing the Canada-US border near Emerson, on the Canadian side.

The officer said, “Bhavesh and Yogesh sent 11 persons from Kalol and Mehsana to Canada, from where they were asked to cross over to the US illegally. From Canada, two others, Fenil Patel and Bittu Paji, helped these two agents in an illegal migration racket.”

Allegedly, the agents had given these 11 persons instructions that they had to “walk in -35 degree temperature to avoid arrest by Canadian or US security agencies.”

According to other Indian media reports, Mandlik said: “The victims were taken to Toronto in Canada and later to Vancouver. The agents then dumped them at Winnipeg in Manitoba province leaving them to cross over to the US on their own.”

THE VOICE had reported last January on our website that Steve Shand, 47, of Florida, a U.S. citizen, was arrested and charged with human smuggling on January 19 by U.S. authorities.

The U.S. Border Patrol (USBP) initiated a traffic stop on a white-colored, 15-passenger van driven by Shand less than one mile south of the U.S./Canadian border in a rural area between the official ports of entry located at Lancaster, Minnesota, and Pembina, North Dakota. Law enforcement asked for identification of the two passengers in the van and determined them to be undocumented Indian nationals.

While Shand and the two passengers were being transported to the Pembina Border Patrol Station in North Dakota, law enforcement encountered five additional Indian nationals approximately a quarter mile south of the Canadian border walking in the direction of where Shand was arrested. The five Indian nationals explained that they had walked across the border expecting to be picked up by someone. One of the group members was in possession of a backpack that did not belong to him. He stated he was carrying the backpack for a family of four Indian nationals that had earlier walked with his group but had become sepa-

rated during the night. The backpack contained children’s clothes, a diaper, toys, and some children’s medication.

Later during the day on January 19, the USBP received a report from the RCMP that four bodies were found frozen just inside the Canadian side of the international border. The dead bodies were tentatively identified as the family of four that was separated. Two of the surviving Indian nationals sustained serious injuries and were transported to a hospital.

WHY GUJARATIS WOULD PREFER

U.S.

(From voiceonline.com: January 23, 2022)

Is Canada being used by Gujaratis (people from the Indian state of Gujarat) as a convenient way to illegally enter the U.S. by first coming here on tourist visas?

It is well-known that the Gujaratis in the U.S. are a highly successful business community. For example, Wikipedia states: “Given the Gujarati propensity for business enterprise, a number of them opened shops and motels [in the U.S.].

While they may make up only around 0.1% of the population in the United States, Gujarati Americans control over 40% of the hospitality market in the country, for a combined net worth of over US$40 billion and employing over one million employees. Gujaratis, especially the Patidar samaj, also dominate as franchisees of fast food restaurant chains such as Subway and Dunkin’ Donuts.”

With so many well-established business families from Gujarat in the U.S., their relatives and friends naturally see the U.S. as the most advantageous place for them.

Wikipedia also states: “The United States has the second-largest Gujarati diaspora after Pakistan. The highest concentration of the population of over 100,000 is in the New York City Metropolitan Area alone, notably in the growing Gujarati diasporic center of India Square in Jersey City, New Jersey, and Edison in Middlesex County in Central New Jersey.”

The Patel family.

Photo: Manitoba RCMP

Steve Shand

Photo: U.S. Immigration and Customs Enforcement

Province to invest $90

THE StrongerBC Economic Plan is delivering support for people in rural British Columbia through a new fund that will diversify local economies, promote value-added innovation in the forestry sector and create thousands of good-paying jobs for British Columbians, Premier David Eby announced in Prince George on Tuesday.

“We need to get more good-paying jobs from our forests and every resource in our province,” said Eby. “The investments we are making in rural B.C. will help do that by supporting companies to get into the business of creating value-added products, like mass timber. Our whole province benefits when local workers and their families can build good lives in the rural communities they call home.”

The Government of B.C. will invest as much as $90 million over three years through the new BC Manufacturing Jobs Fund. The fund will support high-value industrial and manu-

years through new BC Manufacturing Jobs Fund

“In B.C., our economic advantage is our people,” said Brenda Bailey, Minister of Jobs, Economic Development and Innovation. “As our natural resource sector transitions, our government is investing in local economies to provide new opportunities that will create jobs and ensure long-lasting prosperity for people throughout our province.”

The fund will support established for-profit organizations to plan and launch shovelready projects that bring direct benefits and stable, family-supporting jobs to regional and Indigenous communities.

turing facility in a rural community.

“Forestry is a foundation of B.C.’s economy,” said Bruce Ralston, Minister of Forests.

“By driving innovation across the sector, we can ensure more value-added wood products are made in B.C. and create more jobs for every tree harvested. Now is the time to work together to build a stronger, more resilient forestry industry that better works for people and communities.”

The BC Manufacturing Jobs Fund will focus on areas experiencing economic impacts from changes in the forestry sector.

facturing projects to drive clean and inclusive growth in rural, remote and Indigenous communities.

For example, the BC Manufacturing Jobs Fund may provide funding to a forestry company that needs to buy new equipment to support new product lines, such as mass timber production or paper packaging, or smaller-diameter tree processing and manufacturing, or a company that wants to build or expand a plastics-alternative manufac-

The new fund is part of the Forest Worker Community Support initiatives and the StrongerBC Economic Plan’s work to build resilient communities. The fund is in addition to the $185-million support package announced in Budget 2022 to ensure that co-ordinated and comprehensive supports are in place to offset any economic impacts from a changing forestry industry.

New permitting strategy will help build homes faster, says Premier Eby

THE Province says it is taking another step to tackle the housing crisis by creating a one-stop-shop approach to provincial permitting to help speed up approvals and construction to build more homes.

“Every British Columbian deserves a safe and affordable place to call home. Unfortunately, this simply wasn’t a priority for more than a decade,” said Premier David Eby on Monday. “As we turn things around and start to build record levels of housing, we are taking action today to remove obstacles to constructing new homes that families desperately need.”

Currently, authorizations related to homebuilding in B.C. can require multiple provincial permit applications spanning different ministries with different processes. This includes permits related to riparian area approvals, water licences, transportation approvals, road rezonings, contaminated sites, and requirements for heritage inspections.

The new Permitting Strategy for Housing will streamline the process and create a single, co-ordinated approach to housing-

related permits and authorization. This will speed up the process and eliminate the need for multiple applications across ministries. While the single application window is being established over the coming months, permit and authorization decisions will be expedited through a crossministry team focused solely on processing housing permits. The Housing Action Task Force includes decision-makers, information technology systems, project managers and policy support teams working together to speed up processing.

A co-ordinated provincial approach is also expected to make application reviews more streamlined for First Nations, which are consulted on each provincial authorization.

“Having dedicated resources and a crossministry team prioritizing housing permits means we can make significantly more progress on getting British Columbians the housing they need,” said Nathan Cullen, Minister of Water, Land and Resource Stewardship. “Establishing a single-application approach is an investment that will

deliver more housing for people faster, and this will also result in immediate and future benefits for the entire natural resources sector.”

The Permitting Strategy for Housing is supported by an initial investment of 42 new full-time positions. It will prioritize the housing that most urgently needs to be built, such as Indigenous-led projects, BC Housing applications and multiple-unit applications. Priority will also be given to authorizations and permit approvals for housing projects in municipalities that are subject to the speculation and vacancy tax, because they have the greatest housing shortages, lowest vacancy rates and most demand for housing.

“Housing is a top priority for British Columbians and our government,” said Ravi Kahlon, Minister of Housing. “We are working with municipalities to get more housing built faster. At the same time, we recognize that as a Province we have work to do to speed up our approvals. This new permitting approach is an important step in providing the homes people need.”

Quick Facts:

* The Ministry of Water, Land and Resource Stewardship is leading the Housing Action Task Force and cross-government work to improve timing and transparency of permitting processes to support sustainable economic development, housing and infrastructure, while maintaining high levels of environmental protection.

* The Permitting Strategy for Housing is supported by an initial investment of 42 new full-time positions. Once those positions are filled, the team can be increased to 203 positions.

* Provincial housing-related development authorizations and permits fall across several ministries: Environment and Climate Change Strategy, Forests, Transportation and Infrastructure, and Water, Land and Resource Stewardship.

* Recent progress on housing includes changes to the Housing Supply Act to set targets in municipalities with the greatest need as well as to the Strata Property Act to open up more rental options and more housing for families.

David Eby

Hundreds of families left in limbo as autism funding chaos continues under Eby: BC Liberals

THE BC Liberals said on Friday that following widespread backlash, Premier David Eby in December reversed the autism funding clawback and committed to working collaboratively with all partners. But as it turns out, the chaos hasn’t stopped as providers who are not part of the NDP’s new pilot projects in four B.C. communities are now losing their contracts, potentially leaving hundreds of families in need with no continuum of support.

“This is the same old NDP that never truly engaged in meaningful consultation with the autism community, and they are once again creating uncertainty and anxiety for these vulnerable families,” said Karin Kirkpatrick, BC Liberal Critic for Childcare and Autism.

“Children with support needs rely on the established and trusted relationships their families have spent years building with their current service providers, such as Starbright Children’s Development Centre, which has served the Okanagan for 57 years. Its closure due to the funding cut from the Ministry of Children and Family Development (MCFD) will be devastating for families and the providers who are dedicated to helping them.”

The BC Association for Child Development and Intervention has also voiced serious concerns about the government’s inadequate and inappropriate procurement approach, calling on the government to work with existing contract holders on the transition.

“This change affects not only the Okanagan, but all communities where the NDP’s pilot family connection centres will operate, as

Surrey Council approves establishment of seven Select Committees

SURREY Council on Monday approved the establishment of seven Select Committees.

These committees are established by Council and are typically comprised of Council members (acting as a Member or Chair) and residents. Their mandate is to provide information and make recommendations to Council on issues of concern to the public and the City.

“The establishment of the Select Committees will ensure our residents have a voice and input into city decisions,” said Surrey Mayor Brenda Locke. “I am especially pleased that we brought back the Public Safety Committee, which was dissolved by the previous Council. Together with the other Select Committees established, there will now be more transparency and public engagement that will help the City enhance the overall well-being of our residents.”

Council supported the establishment of the following Select Committees:

* Agricultural and Food Policy Committee

* Environment and Climate Change Committee

* Investment, Innovation and Business Committee

* Livability and Social Equity Committee

* Public Safety Committee

* Arts and Culture Advisory Committee

* Parks, Recreation and Tourism Advisory Committee

In late 2022, staff initiated a solicitation process to recruit volunteers interested in participating as members of one or more of the above Select Committees. Interested persons are required to submit applications by January 20. Following the deadline, staff will present a list of volunteer candidates to Council to consider for subsequent appointments.

Subsequent Council appointments to these committees at a future Council meeting will enhance Council’s ability to support the current and future economic, social and environmental well-being of its residents, the City said.

families will have less choice for services. With no transition plan in place and no information from MCFD, everyone involved is worried about their future,” added Kirkpatrick. “I urge Premier Eby to keep his promise to listen to families, and develop an equitable system for all children and youth with support

needs.”

With service providers going out of business, Kirkpatrick also noted the risk of families having nowhere to turn to should the NDP’s pilot sites fall short in delivering support, which will only create further disruption to the lives of those in need.

Karin Kirkpatrick

VANCOUVER Mayor Ken Sim in a statement on Monday on the death of former Vancouver Canuck Gino Odjick said: “It is with great sadness that Vancouver mourns the loss of Gino Odjick.

“Gino’s story is one of strength — a trailblazer and a Vancouver icon, a man who broke down barriers in professional sports and offered inspiration and hope to thousands of Vancouverites in his retirement.

“During his eight-year tenure as a Canuck, Gino delighted hockey fans night in and night out with his intense competitiveness and grit. In a season that would be his personal best, Gino was a part of the team that would take the Canucks to within one game of the Stanley Cup in 1994.

buildings lowered to half mast

Odjick’s contributions

“A member of the Kitigan Zibi Anishinabeg First Nation, Gino was also one of the first Indigenous athletes to play in the NHL.

“But it was perhaps off the ice that we saw some of Gino’s greatest moments as an inspiration to our city. In the face of a terminal diagnosis, Gino Odjick showed not only strength, but a fierce tenacity and determination — he fought on for another eight years, helping to pioneer new medical research and give hope to many struggling with life threatening illness. “Vancouver mourns the loss of Gino Odjick and our thoughts are with his family, his loved ones, and all those he inspired during his lifetime.”

MUSQUEAM Chief Wayne Sparrow said in a statement: “Gino was an incredible hockey player, community member, and friend.

“He was an inspiring role model for Indigenous youth, always remaining grounded in his culture and sharing stories of where he came from and what he overcame to become a Canucks legend.

“We are proud that Gino called Musqueam home for over three decades – investing in our community’s future and becoming family to me and many others.”

IN recognition of Gino Odjick’s contributions both on and off the ice, the flags on all City of Vancouver buildings have been lowered to half mast.

Window closing on Vancouver’s Empty Homes Tax declaration period

THE City of Vancouver is reminding residential property owners that there are two weeks left to submit their annual Empty Homes Tax (EHT) declaration. Declarations, which relate to the property’s status in the 2022 tax year, are due by February 2. A $250 by-law fine will

apply to declarations received after this due date.

As of January 19, 64.8 per cent of residential property owners in Vancouver have completed their property status declaration, and 69,985 still need to declare. Reminder no-

tices have been sent to those who have not yet declared. All property status declarations are potentially subject to an audit process to determine their validity and encourage compliance.

If a property is declared vacant, or deemed or determined vacant under the EHT program, it will be subject to the tax at a rate of three per cent (3%) of its 2022 assessed property value. Most home owners will not be assessed the tax, as it does not apply to principal residences, properties that are rented out for at least six months of the year, or properties that are eligible for an exemption. Even if a property meets these criteria, an annual declaration is still required. If a property is co-owned, only one owner is required to declare. An overall review of the EHT is currently underway and will be coming forward to Council in the spring for consideration.

Declarations can be made online quickly and easily at vancouver.ca/eht-declare.

For help, chat live with an advisor at vancouver.ca, or call 3-1-1 (outside Vancouver: 604-

873-7000).

Declaration instructions are available in Traditional Chinese, Simplified Chinese, Punjabi, Tagalog, and Vietnamese on the City’s website.

The City introduced the Empty Homes Tax in 2017 with the goal of returning empty or under-utilized properties to the rental market as long-term rental homes for people who live and work in Vancouver. Statistics released in the latest Empty Homes Tax Annual Report show that this goal is being realized, with the number of vacant homes continuing to decrease year over year. In addition, $115.3 million in revenue from the tax has been allocated to support affordable housing initiatives.

The City of Vancouver’s Empty Homes Tax is different than the provincial government’s Speculation and Vacancy Tax and requires separate declaration. For more information about the province’s tax, visit gov.bc.ca/spectax.

Find out more, or make a declaration, at vancouver.ca/eht-declare.

Gino Odjick

Photo: Twitter

Woman arrested after allegedly making refunds worth $80,000 to her personal credit cards

NORTH Vancouver RCMP have made an arrest after a report was made by a business owner claiming they were defrauded by an employee of $80,000.

On January 11, a West Vancouver woman in her 30s was arrested by investigators for fraud over $5,000.

It is alleged the employee was hired by a lo-

cal business in North Vancouver. During her employment from June to September 2021, it is alleged she made several large refunds to her personal credit cards.

The business owner was away on a trip during the period when the refunds were made. When the owner returned, he discovered the refunds and immediately called the police.

“Our investigators worked diligently to gather evidence and prepared several judicial authorizations in an effort to further the investigation,” said Constable Mansoor Sahak.

“The investigation is ongoing and officers anticipate recommending charges to BC Prosecution Service in the near future against the woman, who is no longer an employee of the

IHIT appeal to public on two-year anniversary of Trina Hunt investigation

THE family of Trina Hunt continues to offer a reward of up to $50,000 for new information leading to the laying of criminal charges as the Integrated Homicide Investigation Team (IHIT) continues to investigate her murder.

On January 18, 2021, 48-year-old Hunt was reported missing to the Port Moody Police Department. An extensive search was conducted by police, Trina’s family and members of the community. On March

29, 2021, investigators located a body near Hope, south of Silver Creek. A few weeks later, IHIT confirmed the remains were that of Trina Hunt.

IHIT said on Wednesday that it continues to investigate this homicide in pursuit of justice for Hunt, Hunt’s family and the entire community.

Hunt’s brother, Brad Ibbott, released the following statement: “Sadly, it has been two years since

our dear Trina was first reported missing and was later found murdered in Hope, BC. This journey has been incredibly difficult, with never-ending waves of grief, anguish and trauma repeatedly engulfing us. Nothing about our path has been simple.

“We so wish Trina knew of all the support that has embraced her these past two years. Trina would be humbled, a little bashful (truthfully, a lot!) but would also be ever

business.”

He added: “Reducing frauds in North Vancouver is a priority for the community. We have specialized units who use advanced investigative techniques to target these offences, and just as this situation demonstrates, we rely on the community to call us when they feel something is not right.”

so appreciative of all the love. We continue to thank you for the ongoing positive comments and support. Your kindness has truly helped us cope.”

IHIT is asking anyone with information, who has yet to speak to police, to contact the IHIT Information Line at 1-877-551-IHIT (4448) or by email at ihitinfo@ rcmp-grc.gc.ca.

Trina Hunt

IHIT

Person suffers life-threatening injuries in Vancouver’s Granville Street shooting

The

day when the shooting occurred. The victim, 32, suffered life-threatening injuries and was taken to hospital. The investigation is ongoing. No arrests have

been made.

Anyone with information is asked to call Vancouver Police Major Crimes Section at 604717-2541.

EVENTS

South Asian Adults and Seniors Programs

* Yoga classes in person for members only at Shanti Niketan Hall at Lakshmi Narayan Temple, 8321 140 Street in Surrey, conducted by yoga instructor Ashwini Bansal on every Monday and every Thursday from 10 to 11:15 a.m. on both days. Yoga expert Mahendra Kumar Juneja will also help participants. This is only for participants who have been double vaccinated for COVID-19. They should bring facemasks and a yoga mat and maintain social distancing. Pure vegetarian lunch is served in the dining hall of the Temple to all seniors every

Thursday after the yoga class.

* Vedic Seniors Parivar Centre of Vedic Hindu Cultural Society of BC invites South Asian adults and senior members to play Bingo on the House on Sunday, January 22 from 2 to 3:30 p.m. at Shanti Niketan Hall. Bring only $2 for two games. Members will explain the game to you. Tea and light snacks will be served. Please maintain social distancing to protect one another. Contact Surendra Handa, Coordinator, at 604-507-9945 or email: surendra_handa@hotmail.com, for further information.

Photo:

VANCOUVER Police are investigating a shooting in the Granville Entertainment District.

victim was standing on Granville Street near Nelson Street just after 10 p.m. on Tues-

High-end BMWs impounded after crashing as a result of apparent street racing in North Vancouver

TWO high-end BMWs were impounded and their drivers ticketed after racing and crashing this weekend, police said on Monday.

On January 15 at approximately 12 a.m., members from the North Vancouver RCMP traffic unit were conducting speed enforcement on Highway 1 at Westview Drive when they observed two BMWs in tandem, racing at a high rate of speed.

Using a speed measuring device, officers determined both vehicles were travelling at 145 km/h in an 80 km/h zone. They attempted to

close the distance on the vehicles in an effort to conduct a traffic stop. As they approached the Lloyd Avenue off-ramp, officers noted the two vehicles, which appeared to have taken the Lloyd Avenue exit, had crashed into street poles and concrete barriers.

“Thankfully, none of the occupants, or anyone else who may have been on the road, were injured,” said Constable Mansoor Sahak. “But this certainly highlights the dangers of street racing and the costly and the potentially deadly consequences.”

The drivers, both of whom were males in their 20s, were issued tickets for ‘excessive speed’ and ‘drive without due care and attention,’ totaling over $1,500. Their vehicles were also impounded for seven days; however, both vehicles may well be written off due to the extent of damage, police said.

“Speed remains as the number one cause of death on our roadways,” said Sahak. “When it comes to speeding and dangerous driving, every death is a preventable death. We are committed more than ever to stopping irresponsible drivers through enforcement and education.”

Sophisticated identification forgery lab in Richmond residence

RICHMOND RCMP this week announced that on December 22, 2022, their Economic Crime Unit (ECU) and Drug Target Team had executed a search warrant at a residence of a suspected forgery lab. Officers discovered evidence consistent with a sophisticated identification forgery lab.

Items seized during the search included:

* High end printers and laminators including those capable of forging security features in governmental identification

* Thousands of blank identification cards

* Numerous electronic devices and computers Stolen mail and documents belonging to third parties

“Anyone who has ever been the victim of identity theft knows how awful and violating it can be to figuratively have ‘you’ stolen. There are many levels to identity theft starting with mail containing personal information being stolen to fake identities being made and sold to other people. It is an intricate and complicated web often with links to organized crime,” said Inspector Michael Cohee, Officer-in-charge of Investigative Services.

“Identity theft is a type of fraud. According to the Canadian Anti-Fraud Centre over $383 million was lost to fraud in 2021 alone. This is a staggering amount of money. As police, we see the faces of the victims and the devastating impact it can have on them. From education to enforcement, like this investigation, we are doing everything we can to protect our community.”

A man was arrested and released on conditions, pending further investigation.

Richmond RCMP ECU and Drug Target Team have conduct of this investigation. These are part of the larger Richmond RCMP Organized Crime Unit, which is comprised of ECU, Drugs, Organized Crime Project Team and Criminal Intelligence.

This investigation remains active and ongoing. Anyone who may have information regarding this investigation is asked to call Richmond RCMP at 604-278-1212 and quote 2022-33913. Should you wish to remain anonymous, contact CrimeStoppers by phone at 1-800222-TIPS (8477) or visit them online at www. solvecrime.ca.

Human Rights Lawyer

Photos: RCMP

Kathmandu, Nepal: All 72 people travelling on the Yeti Airlines plane died last Sunday when the aircraft that had been �lying from the capital of Kathmandu to Pokhara, the country’s secondmost populous city that is located some 129 kilometers (80 miles) west of Kathmandu, plunged into a gorge as it approached Pokhara International Airport. It was the country’s deadliest plane crash in more than 30 years, according to BBC and other news sources.

Of�icials said 53 of the passengers were Nepalese, along with �ive Indians, four Russians and two Koreans. Others on board are reported to have included one passenger each from the UK, Australia, Argentina and France.

It is not yet known what caused the crash. However, searchers have recovered the Yeti Airlines plane's voice and �light data recorders and both are said to be in good condition.

Anju Khatiwada was copiloting Yeti Airlines �light 691. A trailblazer, Anju was one of just six women employed by the airline as pilots and had �lown close to 6,400 hours. It has emerged that her husband Dipak Pokhrel had also been co-piloting a Yeti Airlines �light when it crashed in 2006 - and it was his death that spurred Anju to pursue a career in aviation.

In the hours after Nepal's deadliest plane crash for 30 years, a video went viral in India - it showed one of the victims, Sonu Jaiswal, livestreaming from the plane just seconds before the crash.

He was part of a group of four friends from Ghazipur in India who were visiting Nepal, and were on the �light from Kathmandu to Pokhara.

In the footage, Pokhara airport's surroundings are visible from the doomed plane as it comes into land, those on board unaware they are just moments from death.

The video shows the plane gliding gently over the honeycombs of buildings dotting brown-green �ields, before the man �ilming it turns the camera around and smiles.

He then turns it around again to show other passengers in the aircraft. Moments pass, then there's a deafening crash.

Within seconds huge �lames and smoke �ill the screen as the camera keeps recording. What sounds like the screeching of an engine is audible, as well as breaking glass

and then screams before the video ends.

The four men, all thought to be in their 20s or early 30s, had been friends for many years, and often spent time together.

Locals say they had gone to Nepal on January 13 to visit the Pashupatinath temple, a grand shrine on the outskirts of Kathmandu which is dedicated to the Hindu god Shiva.

The trip was reportedly Jaiswal's idea - a father of three, he wanted to pray at the temple for another son.

After visiting the temple, the friends set off on Sunday to Pokhara to paraglide.

On Monday, social media in India

was awash with images from the crash site and of the video shot by Jaiswal.

Jaiswal's father, Rajendra Prasad Jaiswal, said he could not bear to watch the clip himself. "I have only heard about it from Sonu's friends. Our lives have come crashing down."

While groups of mourners stood around the neighbourhood in disbelief, Anil Rajbhar's father stayed away.

His son had left for Nepal on 13 January without informing his family. While his father was busy in the family's �ields, Anil quietly packed his bags and left with his friends, neighbours said. His father is still in disbelief at the news.

New Delhi (IANS): The nation will celebrate its 74th Republic Day on January 26. And this year, the celebrations have been planned reflecting Prime Minister Narendra Modi’s vision of ‘Jan Bhagidari’.

The Republic Day celebrations are going to be a week-long affair commencing January 23, the birth anniversary of Netaji Subhas Chandra Bose, and culminate on January 30, which is observed as Martyrs’ Day to commemorate the death of Mahatma Gandhi, said Defence Secretary Giridhar Aramane.

Twenty-three tableaux from 17 states and Union Territories and six from various ministries and departments, depicting the nation’s rich cultural heritage, economic and social progress and strong

Kanpur (IANS): The Indian Institute of Technology Kanpur (IIT-K) and University of Alberta, Canada have signed an agreement for a joint degree program (JDP) and research collaborations.

The agreement between the two universities paves the way for doctoral students at either university to participate in the joint degree program and conduct research at the partner university.

The agreement will also

internal and external security, will roll down the Kartavya Path during the Republic Day parade.

Reflecting the Janbhagidari theme, ‘Bharat Parv’ will be organised on the Gyan Path in front of Red Fort

from January 26-31 by the Ministry of Tourism. It will showcase Republic Day tableaux, performances by the military bands, cultural performances, food courts and crafts bazaar.

The celebrations will be a tribute to Indian National Army (INA) veterans, and the tribal communities that participated in the freedom movement.

Aramane said that many new events are being organised as part of the Republic Day celebrations this year. These include military tattoo and tribal dance festival; Veer Gatha 2.0; second edition of Vande Bharatam dance competition; performances by military and Coast Guard bands at the National War Memorial; an all-India school band competition; a drone show,

and projection mapping during the Beating the Retreat ceremony.

The details of the events are as follows:

A military tattoo and tribal dance festival will be held at the Jawaharlal Nehru Stadium on January 23 and 24. The Ministry of Defence and the Ministry of Tribal Affairs are jointly organising the event, with Indian Coast Guard being the coordinating agency. It will witness 10 military tattoo performances and 20 tribal dances.

The Indian armed forces will showcase horse show, khukri dance, gatka, mallakhamb, kalaripayattu, thang-ta, motorcycle display, air warrior drill, and martial arts.

Twenty tribal dance troupes from all across the country will perform during the military tattoo event.

University of Alberta on joint degree program

lease from IIT-K, the agreement was signed by IIT Kanpur Director Prof. Abhay Karandikar and Prof. William Flanagan, President and Vice Chancellor of the University of Alberta.

foster research collaborations between faculty members of the two universities on energy materials,

New Delhi: After British broadcaster BBC broadcasted a two-part docuseries called “India: The Modi Question” on BBC Two, the Ministry of External Affairs (MEA) on Thursday said that the series is “a propaganda piece, designed to push a particular discredited narrative.”

“If anything, this film or documentary is a reflection on the agency and individuals that are peddling this narra-

systems and technologies needed towards clean energy transition.

According to an official re-

The agreement sets out guidelines for faculty from the two universities to jointly supervise a doctoral student and will give students a chance to conduct research and visit the partner university for a period of one year or more.

The program will provide

students with the opportunity to work with worldrenowned faculty at both institutions in key research areas of mutual interest and will allow them to gain valuable experience while pursuing their doctoral studies.

IIT Kanpur will also collaborate with the University of Alberta in the Joint Research Innovation Network with a focus on developing new, renewable, and efficient energy materials, systems, and technologies for

India says BBC documentary on Modi ‘a propaganda piece’

tive again. It makes us wonder about the purpose of this exercise and the agenda behind it. Frankly, we don’t wish to dignify such efforts,” the MEA was quoted as saying by news agency ANI.

“Do note that this has not been screened in India... We think that this is a propaganda piece, designed to push a particular discredited narrative. The bias, lack of objectivity and

continuing colonial mindset is blatantly visible,” the Ministry added. Responding to the criticism from the Foreign Ministry, the BBC said its documentary was “rigorously researched”. “The documentary was rigorously researched according to highest editorial standards,” the BBC said in a statement.

“A wide range of voices, witnesses and experts were approached, and

we have featured a range of opinions – this includes responses from people in the BJP. We offered the Indian Government a right to reply to the matters raised in the series – it declined to respond,” the statement added.

About the series, “India: The Modi Question”, the BBC stated that it “will examine how Narendra Modi’s premiership has been dogged by persistent allegations about the attitude of

the clean energy transition to address climate issues.

Karandikar said: “We are excited to partner with the University of Alberta on this joint doctoral program. This agreement will provide the students with unique opportunities to work with leading researchers in their respective fields and will help to foster collaboration between our institutions. This is another significant addition to the growing collaborative R&D ecosystem at IIT Kanpur.”

his government towards India’s Muslim population and a series of controversial policies implemented by Modi following his 2019 re-election, including the removal of Kashmir’s special status guaranteed under Article 370 and a citizenship law that many said treated Muslims unfairly, which has been accompanied by reports of violent attacks on Muslims by Hindus”.

Narendra Modi

New Delhi: Prime Minister Narendra Modi should break his “silence” on the allegations of sexual exploitation against Bharatiya Janata Party (BJP) MP and Wrestling Federation of India (WFI) chief Brij Bhushan Sharan Singh, the Congress said on January 19.

The party questioned the reason for the delay in taking the resignations of those persons against whom serious allegations of sexual harassment have been made by renowned wrestlers. The attack by the Congress comes after shocking accusations by star wrestler Vinesh Phogat on January 18 that WFI president Singh has been sexually exploiting women wrestlers for years. The charge was, however, categorically rejected by Singh.

“Our players are the pride of the country. They bring laurels to the country by their performance at the world level. The players have made serious allegations of exploitation against the Wrestling Federation of India and its president. Their voices should be heard, their allegations must be investigated and appropriate action must be taken,” Congress general secretary Priyanka Gandhi Vadra tweeted. Congress general secretary in-charge communications Jairam Ramesh also took to Twitter to ask Prime Minister Narendra Modi “why all those who oppress women are members of the BJP”.

“Kuldeep Sengar, Chinmayanand, father-son

duo Vinod Arya and Pulkit Arya... and now this new case! The list of BJP leaders committing atrocities against women is endless. Mr. PM, was ‘Beti Bachao’ a warning to save daughters from BJP leaders? India is waiting for an answer,” Ramesh tweeted.

“Yesterday, you said that a better environment has been created for sports in the past eight years. Is this the ‘better environment’, in which even our daughters who bring laurels to the country are unsafe?” he added, referring to a speech of Modi on January 18 in which the Prime Minister had said that “a better environment for sports has been created and now more children and youths are looking at sports as a career option”.

Addressing a press conference at the All India Congress Committee (AICC) headquarters in New Delhi, Congress’ media department head Pawan Khera said Singh’s resignation should have come on January 18 itself.

“That should have been the first step. Had it been any other sensitive government, it should have happened immediately,” Khera said, adding “The Sports Minister [Anurag Thakur] should speak out. The Prime Minister should speak out, there should be resignations, and heads should roll immediately. This should have happened long back, 24 hours is too long a time. The silence is more shocking than what has happened.”

New Delhi (IANS): Former Finance Minister of Punjab Manpreet Singh Badal joined the BJP on Wednesday here in the presence of Union Minister Piyush Goyal and the party’s national General Secretary Tarun Chugh.

Manpreet Singh Badal, the estranged nephew of former Chief Minister and Shiromani Akali Dal patriarch Prakash Singh Badal, had joined the Congress in January 2016.

Reportedly, Manpreet Singh Badal did not share cordial relations with Punjab Congress chief Amarinder Singh Raja Warring. In his almost three-decadelong political career, this is the fourth party that he has joined. While addressing the media after joining the BJP, he said: “I have been in politics for 30 years. I met a ‘sher’ (lion) a few days a ago and he was the Home Minister of India. He told me that Punjab had been attacked 400 times and that we will do everything for Punjab. This statement

touched me as I am always concerned for Punjab and the future of Punjab.”

Meanwhile, in his resignation letter addressed to Congress leader Rahul Gandhi, Manpreet Singh Badal said that “a coterie of men in Delhi is running the affairs in Punjab and this has only increased factionalism”.

He further said that his “initial enthusiasm gradually gave

way to disillusionment”.

“I do not see the point in elaborating extensively on all the proceedings that led to my ultimate and irrevocable disaffection. Suffice it to say that the manner in which the Congress party has conducted its affairs and taken decisions, especially with regard to Punjab, has been disheartening, to say the least,” he added in the letter.

THREE BC men have been charged following the dismantling of a drug super lab by the BC RCMP Federal Policing Clandestine Laboratories Enforcement and Response team (CLEAR).

On January 14, 2022, the BC RCMP Federal Serious and Organized Crime (FSOC) program’s CLEAR team executed two search warrants on properties located in Abbotsford and Surrey and arrested three men for their alleged involvement in the operation of a sophisticated clandestine drug lab.

The search of the sites uncovered a drug super lab at the Abbotsford location, with evidence of a synthetic drug operation that was producing fentanyl, MDMA (ecstasy), and cannabis extracts. The location also contained a mobile fentanyl lab, and two boxed drug labs.

Given the structure and significant operational capacity of the clandestine drug lab, it was deemed a super lab — a term used to describe large-scale, sophisticated clandestine drug labs with the capability of producing sizable quantities of illicit drugs, that are also often tied to organized crime.

The complex, multijurisdictional investigation by the BC RCMP CLEAR team that was launched in August of 2021 has resulted in the seizure of approximately 36 pounds of crystal methamphetamine, 4 kg of pure fentanyl, more than 700 pounds of marihuana bud, approximately $20,000 in cash, and a cache of precursor chemicals for the production of fentanyl. In assessing the seized bulk chemicals, Health Canada concluded that the precursor chemicals at this loca-

tion could have produced an additional 50 kg of pure fentanyl.

The suspects, Kevin Gonzales, Jemroi Ibarra, and Duc Phung have also been charged with multiple drug related offences under the Controlled Drugs and Substances Act (CDSA).

The RCMP are requesting the public’s help in locating the suspects.

Gonzales, 41, is wanted for production of a controlled substance. He is 168 cm tall and weighs 75 kg.

Ibarra, 34, is wanted for production of a controlled substance. He is 180 cm tall and weighs 91 kg.

Phung, 36, is wanted for production of a controlled substance, and possessing a controlled drug / substance for the purpose of trafficking. He is 180 cm tall and weighs 65 kg.

If located, do not approach these individuals, and immediately contact the local police agency, say the RCMP. You may also report the whereabouts of this individual anonymously by calling BC CrimeStoppers at 1-800-222-8477.

Based on a report by the U.S. Drug Enforcement Administration

(DEA), “2 milligrams of fentanyl can be lethal depending on a person’s body size, tolerance and past usage.” Therefore, the pure fentanyl seized during this investigation could have amounted to over 27 million potentially lethal doses of fentanyl. The Government of Canada’s estimated opioid toxicity deaths amount to approximately 20 deaths per day, with over 76% of cases involving toxic fentanyl.

“Access and availability to toxic drugs is a primary factor in many deaths. These drugs come from unsanctioned, uncontrolled, and profit driven facilities. Out of the thousands of loved ones lost to the toxic drug supply, it seems especially tragic that many of the perished have been young Canadians who would have otherwise had their entire lives ahead of them. This is why we are unequivocally committed to preventing toxic opioids from destroying more lives, causing more grief, and threatening the future of our nation,” said Superintendent Bert Ferreira, Officer in Charge of the BC RCMP Federal Serious and Organized Crime

Border Integrity Program.

The BC RCMP Federal Policing CLEAR team targets organized

crime groups involved in the production of illicit drugs and works towards dismantling clandestine labs, while bringing the individuals responsible to justice.

If you know anyone who may be struggling with addiction, you can seek assistance through the BC Alcohol and Drug Information and Referral Service Line at 1-800-6631441.

If you have information about a crime and wish to report it, you may contact your local police agency, or report it anonymously by calling BC CrimeStoppers at 1-800-222-8477.

Photos: RCMP

Kevin Gonzales

Jemroi Ibarra

Duc Phung

Delta Police Department on key performance measures

THE Delta Police Department (DPD) said in a statement on Wednesday that it monitors two key performance measures annually at the provincial and national levels. The first performance measure is Statistics Canada’s Crime Severity Index (CSI), the only national measure to compare crime consistently across the country. The CSI is calculated based on the amount and seriousness of the offences reported to the police. A low CSI rate is indicative of a relatively safe community. The 2021 BC CSI average was 92.6, while Delta’s CSI was much lower at 57.6. The second key performance measure reviewed annually is from data collected and published by the Ministry of Public Safety and Solicitor General (PSSG) in the Police Resources in British Columbia (PRBC) report. The PRBC report details resource data for all municipal police departments and RCMP detachments. Similar to the CSI, the PRBC report is essential as it allows the DPD to compare itself with the provincial context of resources, including population-to-police ratio, crime rates, caseload, and overall funding.

Due to differences in funding models between municipal police agencies and the RCMP, the report presents the data separately, and Delta is compared only to its independent municipal counterparts.

The average population per officer ratio for all municipal departments in BC is 573 (up by two from 2020), with Delta having a slightly bigger population per police officer at 583. Delta’s low ratio, compared to most other agencies, can be attributed to lower density and Delta’s large geography. Vancouver and Victoria also have low ratios; however, theirs are due to urban settings and ambient and daytime populations compared to their suburban counterparts.

The average cost per capita for all municipal departments is $448, with Delta being

Illegal gaming house identified and dismantled in Richmond

ON December 1, 2022, following a comprehensive investigation headed by the Richmond RCMP Organized Crime Unit, a search warrant was executed on a suspected gaming house inside a residential home in the 6000-block of Skaha Crescent.

Several law enforcement partner agencies, namely Combined Forces Special Enforcement Unit – British Columbia’s Joint Illegal Gaming Investigation Team (CFSEU-JIGIT), CFSEU-Uniform Gang Enforcement Team (CFSEU-UGET), Canada Border Services Agency (CBSA), and the LMD Police Dog Services (PDS) unit, assisted Richmond RCMP in the investigation.

A total of 16 individuals were arrested. The majority of them were actively participating in gaming. Two individuals, a 45-year old woman from Richmond and a 49-year old man from Surrey, were determined to be caretakers of the gaming house. Two individuals, a 34-year old man from Richmond and a 38-year old woman from Vancouver, were determined to be professional card dealers.

During the course of the search, items included over $14,000 in Canadian currency; gambling ledgers; an automated Mahjong table; and poker table, chips, and cards.

Investigators also learned that one of the caretakers of the house and one of the card dealers were not Canadian citizens and subject to deportation.

“Illegal gaming houses are one piece of the larger organized crime puzzle. This was highly successful operation by our detachment and our partner agencies. Not only were we able to safely dismantle this gaming house but we were able to gather valuable intelligence,” says Staff-Sgt. Patrick Damgajian, Unit Commander, Richmond RCMP Organized Crime Unit.

below the average at $394. The average crime rate for municipal police departments in 2021 was 57, with Delta falling significantly below the average with a crime rate of 38. The case load per

officer in Delta

is also lower, at 22 cases per officer, while the municipal average is 33. The graphic provides an overview of Delta compared to the average of municipal police agencies.

Overall, Delta performs well in resourcing comparison, with a crime rate, cost per capita, population per officer and case load per officer lower than the average of BC municipal departments.

Hybrid Reborn: 2023 Toyota Prius Revealed

TOrONTO, ONTariO: Twenty-two years ago, a high-tech sedan rolled into North American Toyota dealerships and forever changed the automotive industry. As a symbol of Toyota’s electrification remit, the 2023 Prius will be the first Toyota vehicle to wear a new “Beyond Zero” badge, a global effort to achieve carbon neutrality in our products, manufacturing, and beyond.

The 2023 is built on the second-generation TNGA-C platform, offering a low centre of gravity with reduced weight and increased rigidity compared to the previous generation. The result? A wider stance and a lower driving position that feels nimble, yet comfortable.

Under the hood is the 5th generation hybrid powertrain coupled with a larger 2.0L engine and a newly developed lithium-ion battery, located underneath the rear seat. A standard Electronic On-Demand AWD system has been adopted which uses a motor to drive the rear wheels, enabling stable driving performance when starting off and when driving on slippery road surfaces

such as snow. The newly developed lithium-ion battery pack offers a 15% increase in output compared to the previous generation Nickel Metal battery – reducing the size and the weight.

The result is an engaging acceleration experience with 196 horsepower and a 0-100 km/h time of 7.2 seconds (All-Wheel Drive models). This is a 28% improvement com-

Honda’s Immersive Virtual Reality Technology Advances

pared to the outgoing FWD model of 10 seconds. A high-output IPM (Interior Permanent Magnet) motor has been adopted for the rear motor on AWD models, allowing for a compact design that enhances the low traction road climbing performance and the stability when turning. Prius offers three drive modes – NORMAL, ECO and SPORT mode.

for Honda designers in the development of future mobility products.

During the height of the COVID-19 pandemic travel restrictions threatened the ability of Honda designers to collaborate with engineers on the design of the all-new Prologue. The styling team in the Honda Design Studio in Los Angeles leading Prologue’s design accelerated the use of VR to bridge the divide among its global design and development teams.

Utilizing VR, the design team accelerated collaboration with various engineering and design groups using VR environments. The computer aided design model enabled global design teams to receive immediate feedback and apply refinements to the clay modelling, colour, material and finishes related to the EV model. As a result, Prologue design development not only remained on track, but the real-time global collaboration also advanced the team’s capabilities and the role of VR design moving forward. While Honda Prologue also deployed traditional design processes by having a full-size exterior clay model to refine the details, even as the interior design execution was mainly carried-out by VR and AR technology. For interior design, these virtual methods transformed the design process

The all-new 2023 Toyota Prius is equipped with the standard Toyota Multimedia system with an available 12.3” display. Prius drivers will also have the opportunity to access a wide range of enhanced connectivity and convenience features, including Overthe-Air (OTA) updates.

Convenience features are aplenty for Prius, too. Blind Spot Monitor (BSM) with Rear Cross Traffic Alert (RCTA) is standard on all grades. Front and Rear Parking Assist with Automatic Braking is available on all grades. A Panoramic View Monitor is available on Limited and provides a live rotating 360-degree view around the vehicle. Advanced Park is available on Limited, a hands-free system designed to assist you with parallel parking or backing into a parking space.

For 2023, Prius will come standard with the latest Toyota Safety Sense generation, TSS 3.0. This suite of active safety systems includes the existing feature set available on the prior generation Prius but includes some additional enhancements and capabilities.

and provided visualization of unlimited colour and materials applications, improved collaboration, and allowed for quicker feedback.

“Virtual reality prototyping removed limitations to the interior design and allowed us to address feedback quicker and collaborate more cohesively with the HMI and colour, materials and finishes design teams,” said Lisa Lee, interior design project lead.

The possibilities of using VR as a tool in the development process started six years ago with the Honda design team exploring, testing, and validating the technology as part of its effort to continue to find new, more efficient means to create better products. This advance work enabled the team to have the right skills, equipment and artistic ability when the need arose during the COVID pandemic.

The all-new 2023 Honda Pilot was the first production model where the LA-based team used VR for a product evaluation. One of the many tests performed included colour evaluation in a VR environment, which is valuable for the colour, materials, and finishes team to visualize all trims holistically, enabling instant feedback between the design studios in LA and Japan.

MarkhaM, ON: VR provides immersive environments for Honda designers and engineers to collaborate on next generation of products Honda is leveraging advanced virtual real-

ity (VR) technology to develop future products ranging from the full-electric 2024 Honda Prologue to the rugged, all-new 2023 Honda Pilot TrailSport. VR has quickly become a critical tool

Affalterbach, Germany: The S-Class has always played an important role for Mercedes-AMG, and now once again the new Mercedes-AMG S 63 E PERFORMANCE with AMG hybrid technology n sets the benchmark in the segment. The E PERFORMANCE model combines the AMG 4.0-litre V8 biturbo engine with the AMG-specific hybrid powertrain and a new expansion stage of the AMG high-performance battery (HPB). The focus of the powertrain, however, is less on electric range and more on best-inclass performance. With 590 kW (791 hp) of system output and 1055 lb-ft of system torque, the sedan sets new standards in the segment. Systems such as the AMG RIDE CONTROL+ suspension, AMG ACTIVE RIDE CONTROL roll stabilization and rear-axle steering as standard ensure a wide spread between driving dynamics and comfort. The impressive performance of the Mercedes-AMG S 63 E PERFORMANCE is also suggested by the expressive exterior design. For the first time, an S-Class sedan bears the AMG-specific radiator grille with vertical louvres and a large central star. The previous Mercedes star on the radiator has been replaced by the AMG emblem in silver chrome/black. In addition, the front apron in jet-wing design with large side air inlets and functional air curtains characterizes the front view. In the side view, the up to 21-inch AMG forged wheels and the AMGspecific side sill panels particularly stand out. At the rear, there are characteristic design features of the ‘63 models such as the trapezoidal, fluted twin tailpipes or the wide diffuser with longitudinal fins and diffuser board.

The interior combines the high-quality appointments of the S-Class with AMG-specific features. The seats with a special AMG upholstery layout and distinctive stitching underline the refined appearance. Exclusive colours and various nappa leather upholsteries with an embossed AMG emblem in the front head restraints emphasise either the sporty or the luxurious side of the S 63 E PERFORMANCE.

In the new Mercedes-AMG S 63 E PERFORMANCE, the 4.0-litre V8 biturbo engine is combined with a permanently excited synchronous electric motor, a high-performance battery developed in Affalterbach

and the fully variable AMG Performance

4MATIC+ all-wheel drive system. The system output of 590 kW (791 hp) and the maximum system torque of 1055 lb-ft make for impressive driving performance.

The 140 kW (188 hp) electric motor is positioned at the rear axle, where it is integrated with an electrically shifted two-speed transmission and the electronically controlled limited-slip rear differential to form a compact electric drive unit (EDU). Experts refer to this layout as a P3 hybrid. The high-performance battery is also located in the rear above the rear axle.

The decisive advantage of this EDU position is bypassing of the 9-speed transmission, which is flanged to the V8 engine. As it is positioned behind the transmission, the torque of both drive units can be fully utilized. The result: 1055 lb-ft of system torque - a new record in this class. And there are many more arguments in favour of the P3 setup as a performance hybrid:

When the electrification strategy was being defined, it was clear from the outset that all essential components would be developed in Affalterbach. Among these is the AMG high-performance battery (HPB).

The high-performance battery in the S 63 E PERFORMANCE has a capacity of 13.1 kWh,

more than twice as much as the already familiar HPB 80. It delivers 70 kW of continuous mechanical power and 140 kW of peak mechanical power (for ten seconds) to the electric motor. External charging takes place via the 3.7 kW onboard AC charger,

at a charging station, wall box or household socket. The battery is designed for fast power delivery and draw, not for the longest possible range.

The seven AMG DYNAMIC SELECT driving modes “Electric”, “Comfort”, “Battery Hold”, “Sport”, “Sport+”, “Slippery” and “Individual” are precisely tailored to the new drive technology. They thus offer a wide-ranging driving experience - from efficient to dynamic.

A central component of the P3 hybrid powertrain is the AMG 4.0 V8 biturbo engine, in this case producing 450 kW (603 hp). It provides a maximum torque of 664 lb-ft, which is available over a wide speed range. The engine’s most important design features include the two quick response twin-scroll turbochargers.

AMG Performance 4MATIC+ all-wheel drive combines the advantages of different drive concepts: The fully variable torque distribution to the front and rear axles ensures optimum traction at the physical limit. Drivers can rely on high driving stability and safety in all conditions: in the dry, in the wet or on snow. To meet the high power requirements, the system is based on an additional 48-volt onboard sub-network. Candain pricing is to be announced.

Running time: 1h 47m

Dine out on the antics displayed in The Menu. Now be honest, who doesn’t like to go to a nice restaurant for a good meal? All of us like to be wined and dined. Only the guests who sign up for The Menu get just a little more than they bargained for. Let’s just say danger is on the menu. Get in on the fun (?) a select Cineplex Cinemas such as the International Village Theatre. Soups on if you don’t mind the travel. Ask and they will come. A group of 12 or so well heeled guests get the trip of a lifetime when they say yes to a dinner date spearheaded by a master chef. Little do they know their very heads may be on the plate when they set sail to secluded Hawthorn Island. Known far and ride for its elite status the island is home to Chef Julian Slowik. Newly minted M Ralph Fiennes (Schindler’s List) serves up a delightful feast of merry mayhem as the smooth talking cook with a panache for stirring the pot - and getting under the skin of his coveted guests.

Run like the army Chef

cooks up some 8 servings which have a habit of rankling the participants. Among the coveted guests are young couple Margot and Tyler who almost come to blows themselves during the course of the evening. Both Nicholas Hoult and Anya Taylor-Joy have no joy for what’s coming up as the participants in this elite dinner find themselves at odds with their host who has a habit of dishing out all sorts of terror wrapped up with finesse and uppity etiquette.

Clap your hands for the carnage that develops in this excessive black comical farce which you just have to take with a large grain of salt. Actually it is rather reminiscent of the classic Ten Little Indians from the pen of Agatha Christie. Smartly written and excellently acted out people may well have to think twice about dining out ever again.

For more reviews please visit my website moviereviewssite.com

I, Iqbal Singh Aujla, son of Suchet Singh, holder of Indian Passport No. K5387950, issued at Jalandhar, on 06/04/2013, resident of Vill. Akbarpur, P.O. Surkhpur, Kapurthala, Punjab, India, 144601, and presently residing at 14216 65 Avenue, Surrey, BC V3W1T4, do hereby change my name from Iqbal Singh to Iqbal Singh Aujla, with immediate effect.

Parents seeking a match for their Jatt Sikh boy, 35, 5’8”, Canadian born, well educated, Government employee. Girl should be family oriented, PR is not necessary, students can be considered. For more details, please contact 604-825-5033. *********

Seeking a beautiful girl for a Ramgarhia boy, Canadian Citizen, brought up in India, 36, 5’11”, commercial pilot, based in Vancouver, never married. Girl should be from a respected family, Canadian Citizen/PR from Surrey/Vancouver region, tall, educated, respectful to elders, and loving towards the family members.

For more information, contact 604-729-8123. *********

Sikh Family looking a suitable match for their handsom, 29 old years old son, 5;10”, well settled in a government job. Girl should be a Canadian PR or citizenship. Work permit will also be considered. Caste no bar. Please contact 604-562-4473. *********

Seeking a girl for Canadian citizen 35, 5’10 handsome Sikh boy. Post graduated and well settled in his career. Girl should be well educated, 5’3” plus , family-oriented. Caste no bar. Please contact: 7789680771 *********

Suitable match for NRI Kamboj Sikh boy PR,Veg,30 years, 5’11’’ B.Tech, PG diploma from Canada,doing Govt job in BC,Own house in Canada,Parents retired Govt. employee,rural and urban property,upper caste welcome.+1-778-386-2812

Well settled Jat Sikh family looking for suitable match for their handsome 27 years old , 6’ Canadian born clean shaven son working as a software engineer. Girl should be Canadian born,well educated, beautiful and family oriented. For more info call 604 585 7777.

Suitable match wanted for an Australian Khatri Sikh boy, 35 years, 6’2”, clean shaven, very handsome, health professional, handsome salary, down to earth, never married, looking for a simple, humble, family-oriented girl, caste no bar. Please contact at 778-919-7948 or kamaljit10@hotmail.ca

Well settled Punjabi Aggarwal boy, 5’-10” 74 born, issueless divorcee, USA Citizen, Own logistics business in California looking for a Hindu girl. Please Contact at 925-200-6838 (whatsapp) Email: manish_22us@ yahoo.com *********

Suitable match for Manglik/Non-Manglik Permanent Resident Brahmin Boy 30 years, 5’ 6”, fair complexion, electrical tradesperson, looking for well educated girl who values family and career. Please contact bhartikamboj@hotmail.com, 604-440-2756. Caste no bar. *********

Suitable match for a Saraswat Brahmin boy in India, 30 years old, 5’8”, Birth time : 5:32 PM, D.O.B. 16.07.1991, diploma in Mechanical Engineering. Contact: +16049997125 (Canada), (+91) 9888291112 or (+91) 9780616051.

Seeking a beautiful girl for a Jatt Sikh boy, 30 years old, 6’2”, Canadian born and raised, well-settled, healthcare diploma holder, going in his own family business. Family is well settled in Canada. Girl should be Canadian PR or work permit holder. For more information, please contact604-916-2959.

Hindu Punjabi Parents are looking a suitable match for their daughter, 29 years old, 5’6”, beautiful, well educated, permanent resident, lives in Surrey. Boy should be well educated and a Canadian Permanent Resident. For more information: please contact 778-388-5008

Canadian citizen 34 , Hindu Arora beautiful girl 5”2 working in Bank Vancouver, Divorced (was a Short term marriage) seeking for a suitable match and boy should be in Canada.For more information please contact 7788953832.

Suitable match for a Saraswat Brahmin girl, 31 years old, 5’3”, Birthtime: 5:30 PM, diploma in computer Engg., BSCIT, MCA, MA in English. Contact: +91-9780616051 (India), +1-604-999-7125. We consider Divorce too. We need Canadian PR or Citizen boy.

Respectable well established Sidhu Family looking for a suitable match for their daughter born in 1981 in Vancouver, never married, university graduate, working as marketing manager with reputed international company. For further information contact: 604-3190662 18 Sept.

Seeking SQM for Indian Born Ravidasia/Girl 31 years old, 5’6”, BPT from India with PR status. Boy should be educated with PR/Citizen status, same caste is preferable. Please send complete biodata and pictures at: doctordass@yahoo.com or doctor_daljit@yahoo.com

Seeking suitable match for a 31 years old, highly educated, working as a COO, Sikh girl. Caste no bar, currently residing in Delhi, India. Contact: 01191-9811129363 (India) or Family in Canada: 778-713-8399 (Baljit)

Wanted a decent man for a 42 years young Punjabi beautiful, looks like 34, well educated, 5”8, with a cute 12 year old child. Contact @604-862-0726.

CLAYTON BEAUTY -Well kept 2 Storey with Bs mt home with ae en Excellentoor plan with bright, spacious layout with high ceiling throughout the mainoor Formal dining and den, remarkable covered entrance and large den with 12' ceiling, huge open concept kitchen, good size island and pantr y to please the home chef. Master bedroom with double doors, huge walk-in closet and good size 5 piece ensuite. Beautiful front porch and good size fenced backyard with 2 car driveway and double garage Awesome huge 3 bedroom Bs mt suite with ae en Private Entr y.

A Guide to Recessions and the BC Housing Market

AS the Bank of Canada aggressively raised rates over the past year to fight multidecade-high inflation, fears are mounting that tighter monetary policy will push the Canadian economy into recession. Indeed, central banks have a poor historical track record in achieving “soft landings” following tightening cycles. That is, amid high inflation, central banks often struggle to “thread the needle” of raising rates enough to bring inflation back down to 2 per cent without tipping the economy into a recession.

In this Market Intelligence, we summarize how past Canadian recessions have impacted the BC economy and housing market and look forward to how the BC housing market may perform during a potential 2023 recession.

Summary Findings

High interest rates mean that recession anxiety is mounting:

Historically, home sales

tend to lead the business cycle, starting to decline many months before the start of a recession. By the time the recession begins, sales are typically near their nadir. Prices follow a less predictable pattern surrounding recessions. The early 1980s involved a large run up and crash in prices, but subsequent recessions involved a modest softening or plateauing of prices before the ascent resumed.

Historically, home sales

tend to post substantial recoveries following a recession as interest rates are cut to support the economy. Strong economic fundamentals and demographics support the housing sector in British Columbia.

Copyright British Columbia Real Estate Association.

WHAT is one of the most common health problems that develops in people as they age, and also one of the least discussed?

The answer is chronic swelling of the legs. At best, it’s a natural consequence of aging. But also known as peripheral edema, there can be medical, nutritional, or lifestyle causes and serious health consequences. Edema is a general term meaning swelling. Peripheral edema occurs in the legs, ankles, feet, as well as arms and hands. Swelling in other parts of the body include pulmonary edema (in the lungs), cerebral edema (in the brain), and macular edema (in the eye). It’s a medical emergency when the lungs or brain are affected, and a life-altering condition when vision is impacted.

But in the legs, while victims must deal with pain, weakness, and limitations on mobility, for many, there is a sense of stigma, when once shapely or muscular legs have become less sightly. That’s at least one reason why there’s not a lot of information about how many people are suffering from the condition. In the minds of sufferers, it doesn’t warrant a visit to the doctor, and clothes can help conceal the issue, if not make it go away.

One research team at the University of Rochester used data from the American Health and Retirement Study, a nationally representative longitudinal survey of about 20,000 U.S. adults over the age of 51, to estimate prevalence of the condition, which they found to be 19-20% of survey respondents.

They also found social disparities among those reporting lower limb edema. Blacks/ African Americans and other racial minorities, women, and less wealthy individuals were more affected. As is the case with many other health conditions, the researchers reported, “Minority racial status and lower wealth could be associated with peripheral edema for multiple reasons, including higher rates of other chronic health conditions as well as lower access to healthy foods and preventive care services.”

What is causing edema is not always easy to determine. For the individuals involved, it can be hard to know if the swelling is the result of fluid gathering in the tissue. Or is it from the buildup of fat? Known as Lipedema, it is fat, not fluid, that occurs in the limbs, and in the early stage, people do not typically have diabetes, high cholesterol, or high blood pressure. But peripheral edema is an accumulation of fluid.

Causes of fluid buildup can be long periods of sitting or standing. Pregnant women can develop the condition, as can people with low levels of protein in the diet.

But more sinister causes are also common, including chronic lung diseases or congestive heart failure, when the heart muscle doesn’t pump well. Chronic venous insufficiency occurs when leg veins fail to carry blood back up to the heart. When valves that normally ensure blood flows toward the heart don’t work well, gravity takes over, causing blood to pool in the legs. Depending on the cause, the treatment should be tailored. This is not the time for armchair medicine. An accurate diagnosis depends on a full medical history and potentially a battery of tests to pinpoint the issue.

Keep in mind, it’s better to treat the underlying cause than the symptom. Raising the affected limbs will help. Diuretics can

also help but need to be used with care as removing too much fluid too quickly can, among other things, impair kidney function.

Attention to diet, consistent moderate exercise, and maintenance of a healthy weight should be the goal – early in life, and all lifelong.

Sign-up at www.docgiff.com to receive our weekly e-newsletter. For comments, contact-us@docgiff.com. Follow us on Instagram @docgiff and @diana_gifford_jones

Dr. Ken Walker (Gifford-Jones) is a graduate of the University of Toronto and The Harvard Medical School. He trained in general surgery at the Strong Memorial Hospital, University of Rochester, Montreal General Hospital, McGill University and in Gynecology at Harvard.

Diana MacKay writes in collaboration with her father under the pen name, Diana Gif-

ford-Jones. Diana is Special Advisor with The Aga Khan University. She worked for ten years in the Human Development sec-

tors at the World Bank, including health policy and economics, nutrition, and population health.