B.C.
Views
Secret negotiations
on HST? p6
THE NEWS
www.mapleridgenews.com Wednesday, September 8, 2010 · Serving Maple Ridge & Pitt Meadows · est. 1978 · 604-467-1122 · 50¢
The RCMP homicide team was called in to investigate the death of a 27-year-old Maple Ridge woman found in a unit at the Centennial Motel and Trailer Court, on
Lougheed Highway near 216 Street, Sunday afternoon.
North Lougheed Connector approved
But adjacent properties have to
remain farmland: commission
by Phi l M elnyc h u k
staff reporter
Pitt Meadows’s plan to punch a road
through farmland to join Lougheed High-
way and Golden Ears Way has the OK of the
Agricultural Land Commission – with a long
string attached.
The July decision requires the city to get
covenants assigned to the land titles for each
of the properties that will be adjacent to the
new road. Those covenants would require
each property to remain farmland.
Drama over missing shipping container. p12
Arts&life
Nia doesn’t
look like
exercise.
p24
Suspicious
death at
local motel
27-year-old woman
identified as Helen Clare
The homicide team is investigat-
ing the death of a woman who was
found dead in a Maple Ridge motel
early Sunday.
She has been identified as Helen
Clare, 27, of Maple Ridge. She was
known to live in a unit at the Cen-
tennial Motel and Trailer Court,
on Lougheed Highway near 216th
Street.
Ridge Meadows RCMP were
called there at 8 a.m. Sunday after
a woman’s body was discovered in
a room.
Cpl. Dale Carr, with the Integrat-
ed Homicide Investigation Team,
said the circumstances surround-
ing Clare’s death are suspicious.
See Homicide, p14
MR
Colleen Flanagan/THE NEWS NEWS Online
For video, visit www.mapleridgenews.com
“The south coast panel “This is the mechanism the commission is Dewdney Trunk Road, used by farm vehicles,
[of the ALC] believed it wanting to use to reinforce that.” and for accommodating future growth in Ma-
was important to rein- Underhill said the condition was added be- ple Ridge.
force the agricultural cause the commission had heard of develop- A parallel road connecting to Lougheed
designation on this land,” ment interest in the area and possible land- Highway, just west of Harris Road, would also
Brian Underhill, execu- use changes. ease congestion at Harris and Lougheed. Cur-
tive-director of the com- “We are generally aware of that.” rently, there is no provincial money to build
mission, said Tuesday. But any change in land use would have to be the Harris Road overpass, MacLean said.
It will be up to the City through a separate process, he added. Funding could come from TransLink, the
of Pitt Meadows, which Pitt Meadows Mayor Don MacLean said city Ministry of Transportation and Infrastruc-
applied for the road, staff and council will review the decision and ture, Pitt Meadows and development charg-
to get those covenants Sather go from there. es.
when it negotiates with He agreed, the covenants would make it Smart!Centres mall development company
landowners for the right more difficult to develop. owns at least seven hectares along the north
of way. “I guess so, but will our world end if it’s not side of Lougheed Highway, although it has
The commission wanted to underline that built?” yet to apply to the city for any major develop-
the land intended for the road is within the Pitt Meadows wants the road because it says ment.
farm reserve, Underhill said. it wants to remove traffic congestion from Old See Connector, p3
Index
Opinion 6
Tom Fletcher 6
Looking Back 16
Arts&life 24
Sports 27
Community Calendar 29
Classifieds 37
Grant to kickstart salmon stream
Pacific Salmon Foundation
gives $310,000 for repairs to
pump station flood gates
by Phi l M elnyc h u k
staff reporter
A key obstacle to fish spawning
in Spencer Creek is soon to be re-
moved, thanks to a $310,000 grant
from the Pacific Salmon Founda-
tion.
The money will allow repairs to
the flood gates at the pump sta-
tion on Lougheed Highway and
Tamarack Lane, so that fish from
Kanaka Creek can pass through
the gate and get to Spencer Creek,
which runs through Albion flats.
“KEEPS [Kanaka Education and
Environmental Partnership So-
ciety] has been lobbying for that
improvement for a long time,”
spokesman Ross Davies said.
“It’s going to be a huge improve-
ment.
“It’s going to be a huge
improvement.”
Ross Davies, KEEPS
“I think we’ll start to see more
and more of them up there.”
With fish allowed to get up-
stream, the coho population in
Spencer eventually should ap-
proximate other tributaries of Ka-
naka Creek, he added.
Maple Ridge’s environmental
planner, Rod Stott, said the proj-
ect will be done by October.
“The current pump station does
Commission’s decision ‘sends a strong message’
Connector from front
It didn’t respond to an e-mail re-
quest for an interview.
MacLean said he hasn’t heard
from Smart!Centres.
“I can’t speak for them. They’re
aware that the land is in the re-
serve, they always have been.”
The commission’s decision “sends
a strong message that the ALC con-
siders the land farmland along the
connector and anybody applying
should take that into account,” said
NDP MLA Michael Sather.
“It’s pretty unique. Brian [Under-
hill] said he doesn’t know of these
conditions being used before.
“I’m hoping the commission re-
mains strong with that.”
Sather has said previously the
road is a “commercial project from
start to finish.”
Ross Davies of KEEPS squats by a new flood gate that fish will be able to pass through to get to Spencer Creek.
not have flood gates that are fish
friendly and, therefore, fish access
was being blocked out for most of
the year, including the spawning
periods,” he said via e-mail.
“The addition of the new flood
gates at the pump station will al-
low for adult and juvenile salmon
to pass through the pump station
from Kanaka Creek into Spen-
cer Creek throughout most of
the year, including the majority
of the salmon spawning season,
except during peak-flow or flood
events.”
The species affected are coho
Underhill said the commission
has required covenants on other
applications to withdraw farmland
from the reserve, but none involv-
ing road projects.
“I think the commission believes
it’s effective.”
While the decision approves the
right of way for a road, the land is
still within the Agricultural Land
Reserve. The commission notes
that on balance, the road would
increase ability of farmers to make
better use of their land.
Building the road would occupy
seven hectares of farmland and cut
in half six parcels, four of which are
currently farmed.
Another condition requires the
road to be built within three years.
That would help reduce specula-
tion on farmland in the area.
and chum, while resident cut-
throat trout that already live in
the stream also will benefit by
more access. Being able to access
Spencer Creek, the salmon can
get to off-channel rearing habitat.
Stott said the district will also
monitor the stream to see if other
species benefit by the upgrading
of the gate.
“Great news in terms of a signif-
icant step forward on this signifi-
cant urban stream getting a jump
start on life again,” he added.
Davies said previously that the
gate will capitalize on stream re-
The ALC’s decision says lands
south of the road and west of Mead-
ow Gardens Golf Course “would
undoubtedly come under pressure
for non-farm use or exclusion from
the ALR.”
According to a Tuesday news re-
lease, a recent report by B.C. Au-
ditor General John Doyle says the
ALC has several problems:
• a lack of knowledge regarding
the boundaries of the ALR and the
lands’ suitability for agricultural
use;
• inadequate compliance and en-
forcement;
• the commission’s self-identi-
fied limitations to meet its goals
through the application process;
• the commission’s insufficient
involvement in long-term land use
planning with local governments;
Colleen Flanagan/THE NEWS
habilitation that’s already been
done upstream. Habitat restora-
tion has already taken place near
the Albion fairgrounds.
He also said that people in new
homes upstream as far as 240th
Street eventually could hear the
sounds of salmon spawning near-
by.
The district is about to start an
area plan to figure out what kind
of development should take place
in Albion flats, most of which is in
the Agricultural Land Reserve.
The repair work is to be com-
pleted by the end of the month.
• a need for more adequate evalu-
ation of the results of its decisions.
Another study earlier this year
said that government road projects
have paved over more farmland
than private developers in the Sur-
rey-Delta-Langley area over the
past decade.
More than 70 per cent of the 264
hectares of land removed from
farm use over the past 10 years
were for provincial government
transportation projects, concluded
author Nathan Pachal, co-founder
of the transit advocacy group South
Fraser On Trax.
The South Fraser Perimeter
Road, which is eating up 90 hect-
ares in Surrey and Delta, is the sin-
gle biggest reduction in farmland
in the South of Fraser area over the
past 10 years.
New rail
cars for
WCE, but
not service
by Ph i l M e lnych uk
staff reporter
Maple Ridge and Pitt Mead-
ows commuters can relax a
bit now because they won’t be
so tightly packed on the West
Coast Express.
Seven new rail cars, freshly
made out of Bombardier’s
plant in Thunder Bay, Ont.,
will be carrying commuters
into Vancouver, starting this
month.
The cars, usually one for
each train, will be added on to
the five trains that haul peo-
ple into and out of Vancouver
every weekday and will boost
capacity by another 2,000 peo-
ple per day.
Don’t look for any increase
in frequency hours or the
number of trips the Express
makes in a day, however.
A request earlier this year
to TransLink by mayors of
cities along the West Coast
Express line to study expand-
ing the commuter rail service
so far has been ignored by the
agency.
Maple Ridge Mayor Ernie
Daykin said he hasn’t had a
reply since forwarding the
resolution in May.
“I knew that finding the dol-
lars was going to be a huge
challenge.”
Daykin said while many
people say they’d support
increased train frequency,
either on weekends or mid
days, that’s all anecdotal and
a proper study with real data
is needed. He said he’d wait
until TransLink resumes its
budget discussions to push for
a feasibility study.
Mission, Pitt Meadows, Port
Coquitlam, Port Moody, Co-
quitlam and Vancouver also
signed on to the request, made
in the after-glow of the 2010
Vancouver Winter Olympics.
During the Games, West
Coast Express ridership sky-
rocketed when extra trains
were added.
CP Rail however, which op-
erates the service for Trans-
Link, has said the Olympic
runs were a one-time excep-
tion.
Daykin was the only mayor
at the announcement of the
new trains in Vancouver last
week.
No school at Greybrook this year
by R o b e r t M a n g e l s d o r f
staff reporter

Former Pitt Meadows

independent school
Greybrook Academy
did not open its doors
to new students this
week after failing to re-
ceive certification from
the provincial govern-
ment to operate.
The school has not
had a certificate to op-
erate since it shut its
doors last December,
following months of
financial uncertainty.
The move left parents
without a school to
send their children to,
THE NEWS/files
and staff jobless and
unpaid. Greybrook Academy closed at the end of November.
School founder Ni-
gel Turner applied in the school, including cial government. rimanded earlier this
April for provincial financial details and a The former school summer when the Min-
certification to re-open business plan, before site itself, which is istry of Education be-
the school. However, the certificate can be owned by Turner, is came aware of the fact
in light of the school’s granted. currently being rented the school was charg-
past instability, the Although an indepen- out to Stardom Child- ing prospective par-
provincial Office of dent school, Greybrook care, a locally-owned ents an application fee
the Inspector of Inde- received $300,000 annu- daycare which now oc- of $200 for the 2010/11
pendent Schools has ally in public money in cupies three rooms at school year, despite not
since requested addi- the form of operating Greybrook. having been accredited
tional requirements of grants from the provin- The school was rep- by the province.
 Colleen Flanagan/THE NEWS

Sun-day
Koen Cooper, 5, examines the winning sunflower, submitted by Gerry Van Aert,
at 11 feet, nine inches, Sunday afternoon after judging for the tallest sunflower
at the Osprey Village Farmer’s Market. Koen won in the children’s category with a
nine-foot, 11-inch sunflower. The other two entries were by Hannah Ruzycki, 6, and
Lennon Tepper, 3, who both grew theirs from seed and tied with a height of 44.5
inches. Van Aert also won for the largest sunflower head, at 12 inches in diameter.
THE NEWS/opinion Published and printed by Black Press at 22328 – 119th Avenue, Maple Ridge, B.C., V2X 2Z3

News Views Ingrid Rice

Difficult to reverse
Fight HST collected some 700,000 signatures
on a petition calling for the death of the Har-
monized Sales Tax.
This was even before new revelations that
the B.C. Liberal government forged ahead with
the HST after high-level bureaucrats warned –
before the May 2009 election – about harmful
effects on the provincial economy for at least
five years.
There is growing doubt, however, that the
HST can be repealed even with all those sig-
natures, even if the anti-HST forces succeed in
recalling Liberal MLAs.
As detailed in a report by Black Press legisla-
tive correspondent Tom Fletcher, former B.C.
attorney-general Geoff Plant offered a legal
opinion about the petition’s HST extinguish-
ment component.
Despite of Vancouver Island North MP John
Duncan’s disingenuous comments about the
federal government’s lack of HST involvement,
the tax is a result of federal legislation.
A province, Plant noted, cannot extinguish
federal law.
If B.C. could repeal HST legislation before
the five-year contract expires, presumably
it would also have to return the portion of
the $1.6-billion bribe that Ottawa has already
shipped to Victoria.
The anti-HST petition also calls for Victoria
to reinstate the Provincial Sales Tax, although
it doesn’t estimate how much it would cost B.C.
taxpayers to rehire about 300 tax collectors
transferred to the Canada Revenue Agency.
There’s no way to halt the anti-HST move-
ment now without causing a backlash among
the 700,000 signatories, but it would make
more sense to save energy and conserve funds
Secret negotiations on HST?
VICTORIA – A few and to make some embarrassing admis- more than $4 billion. They do not show
as well as nurturing the sense of betrayal until hours after legisla- sions. negotiations with B.C. during the criti-
the next provincial and federal elections. tive press gallery Yes, Hansen would have got the cal time.
If you must, punish the provincial Liberals reporters unveiled 11-page briefing note on the Ontario This is important because it deter-
at the ballot box for the way they dropped the the documents HST deal from his ministry’s senior mines whether B.C. finance ministry
HST into our midst. And don’t forget about the obtained in a long- staff nearly two months before the elec- officials did their jobs in a professional
federal Conservative government’s heavy in- awaited freedom of tion. He doesn’t remember it. fashion.
volvement. information request He would have given it only a “cursory I’ll remind you that Delaney and
about B.C.’s prepara- look,” Hansen told me, because it was to Vander Zalm were quick to claim that
– Black Press tions for the harmo- prepare him for possible media ques- Elections B.C. officials were corrupt,
nized sales tax, the tions about Ontario’s decision to jump after they delayed the anti-HST petition
Tell us what you think @ www.mapleridgenews.com Bill Vander Zalm aboard the HST train. Since he and to see the results of a court challenge.
conspiracy clown B.C. Views Campbell have insisted for more than If that were true, it would have been the
car clattered by with Tom Fletcher a year that the HST was not on B.C.’s biggest political scandal in B.C. history,

THE NEWS
Serving Maple Ridge & Pitt Meadows since 1978
another urgent mes-
sage.
Zalm wheelman Chris Delaney leaped
to his computer to proclaim: “FOI
“radar” before the election, he didn’t
need to read it all.
NDP finance critic Bruce Ralston
grilled Hansen for hours during this
since that office presides over party reg-
istrations and campaign finance rules.

reveals B.C. government in negotiations spring’s legislative session on the HST

Jim Coulter, publisher
publisher@mapleridgenews.com
Michael Hall, editor
editor@mapleridgenews.com
Carly Ferguson, advertising, creative services manager
admanager@mapleridgenews.com
Kathy Blore, circulation manager
circulation@mapleridgenews.com
22328 – 119th Avenue,
Maple Ridge, B.C.,
V2X 2Z3
Office: 604-467-1122
Fax: 604-463-4741
Delivery: 604-466-6397
Website: www.mapleridgenews.com
Email: newsroom@mapleridgenews.com
The News is a member of the British Columbia Press Council, a self-
regulatory body governing the province's newspaper industry. The coun-
cil considers complaints from the public about the conduct of member
newspapers. Directors oversee the mediation of complaints, with input
from both the newspaper and the complaint holder. If talking with the
editor or publisher does not resolve your complaint about coverage or
story treatment, you may contact the B.C. Press Council. Your written
concern, with documentation, should be sent to B.C. Press Council, 201
Selby St., Nanaimo, B.C. V9R 2R2. For information, phone 888-687-2213 or
go to www.bcpresscouncil.org.
CCAB audited circulation: (as of September 2009):
Wednesday - 30,221; Friday – 30,197.
on HST months before 2009 election.”
This would indeed be big news, if only
it were true. It would mean not only
that the B.C. Liberals deliberately lied
about their tax plans before the elec-
tion, but that senior provincial officials,
and at some level the Conservative
government in Ottawa, were in on the
deception.
I asked Delaney to show me where
“negotiations” are “revealed.” Since
he apparently hadn’t read the actual
documents, he replied with references
to various media accounts, including
speculation that the proof might be
hiding in pages blanked out by officials
to protect “advice” to Finance Minister
Colin Hansen.
Despite the blanked-out pages,
Hansen was clearly worried about the
release of his ministry’s internal com-
munications in early 2009. He made a
special trip from Vancouver to sit for a
series of interviews to respond to them,
decision. At one point, Hansen denied
that there was any discussion between
senior finance officials about the HST
before the May 2009 election. I now
hold the proof that there was, but it’s
important to understand what kind of
communication.
A federal official sent out copies of the
newly signed Ontario HST agreement to
all provinces, including Alberta, which
has no provincial sales tax to merge
with.
B.C. officials watched developments
in Ontario and updated the minister’s
briefing papers, because that’s what
they do every day, on a wide variety of
issues.
Hansen either didn’t see these com-
munications or didn’t remember them.
NDP leader Carole James termed this
the “dog ate my homework” defence.
The documents confirm that Ontario
was negotiating, and getting special
exemptions and a transition payment of
“Judge our politicians as you
will, but let’s not drag our whole
democratic system down with
false allegations.”
The Zalmoids dropped that one
quickly, and now they’re on to the next
baseless claim of Third World-style cor-
ruption.
Judge our politicians as you will, but
let’s not drag our whole democratic
system down with false allegations.
There is more news in these docu-
ments, such as the negative short-term
impact of the HST that the B.C. Liberals
ignored. More on that later.
Tom Fletcher is legislative reporter
and columnist for Black Press
and BCLocalnews.com
(tfletcher@blackpress.ca).

This week’s question: Is Pitt Meadows a good location for a casino and convention centre?
@ Online poll: cast your vote at www.mapleridgenews.com, or e-mail your vote and comments to editor@mapleridgenews.com
THE NEWS/opinion Published and printed by Black Press at 22328 – 119th Avenue, Maple Ridge, B.C., V2X 2Z3

News Views Ingrid Rice

Sockeye return even
more reason for inquiry
To make the tough job of managing and pro-
tecting our salmon resource even more confus-
ing, sockeye salmon seem to be making a come-
back in the very summer when the federally
appointed Cohen Commission is studying their
disappearance.
So we ask the question, is the commission still
worthwhile if this year turns out to be a strong
sockeye year, showing that their demise has
been greatly exaggerated?
The answer is – the inquiry should proceed ag-
gressively and thoroughly to determine the rea-
sons for the three previous disastrous seasons.
Then, thanks to the honest testimony from all
involved, combined with rigorous research, per-
haps some answers can be found to explain why
sockeye vanished one year – then returned the
next.
It’s never easy to be conclusive about natural
cycles.
But it is easy to draw conclusions after the fact,
such as the over-fishing that destroyed the At-
lantic cod.
We cannot make the same mistake with B.C.’s
iconic fish, the sockeye salmon.
The species means too much to all British
Columbians – from the First Nations who first
harvested them, to the resort and sports fish-
ing industry that shares them with visitors from
around the world, to the severely diminished

Secret negotiations on HST?

commercial fishery – all groups agree on pro-
tecting the resource.
There may be differences in how that’s
achieved, but one message from all groups is
clear: Do what’s necessary to save the sockeye.
VICTORIA – A few and to make some embarrassing admis- more than $4 billion. They do not show
– Black Press
hours after legisla- sions. negotiations with B.C. during the criti-
tive press gallery Yes, Hansen would have got the cal time.
Tell us what you think @ www.mapleridgenews.com
reporters unveiled 11-page briefing note on the Ontario This is important because it deter-
the documents HST deal from his ministry’s senior mines whether B.C. finance ministry
obtained in a long- staff nearly two months before the elec- officials did their jobs in a professional

THE NEWSServing Maple Ridge & Pitt Meadows since 1978

Jim Coulter, publisher
publisher@mapleridgenews.com
Michael Hall, editor
editor@mapleridgenews.com
Carly Ferguson, advertising, creative services manager
admanager@mapleridgenews.com
Kathy Blore, circulation manager
circulation@mapleridgenews.com
Editorial
Reporters: Phil Melnychuk, Monisha Martins,
Robert Mangelsdorf
Photographer: Colleen Flanagan
Advertising
Sales representatives: Karen Derosia, Glenda Dressler, Rina Varley,
Michelle Baniulis
Ad control: Mel Onodi
Creative services: Kristine Pierlot, Cary Blackburn
Annette WaterBeek, Chris Hussey
Classified: Vicki Milne
22328 – 119th Avenue,
Maple Ridge, B.C.,
V2X 2Z3
Office: 604-467-1122
Fax: 604-463-4741
Delivery: 604-466-6397
Website: www.mapleridgenews.com
Email: newsroom@mapleridgenews.com
The News is a member of the British Columbia Press Council, a self-
regulatory body governing the province's newspaper industry. The coun-
cil considers complaints from the public about the conduct of member
newspapers. Directors oversee the mediation of complaints, with input
from both the newspaper and the complaint holder. If talking with the
editor or publisher does not resolve your complaint about coverage or
story treatment, you may contact the B.C. Press Council. Your written
concern, with documentation, should be sent to B.C. Press Council, 201
Selby St., Nanaimo, B.C. V9R 2R2. For information, phone 888-687-2213 or
go to www.bcpresscouncil.org.
CCAB audited circulation: (as of September 2009):
Wednesday - 30,221; Friday – 30,197.
awaited freedom of
information request
about B.C.’s prepara-
tions for the harmo-
nized sales tax, the
Bill Vander Zalm
conspiracy clown B.C. Views
car clattered by with Tom Fletcher
another urgent mes-
sage.
Zalm wheelman Chris Delaney leaped
to his computer to proclaim: “FOI
reveals B.C. government in negotiations
on HST months before 2009 election.”
This would indeed be big news, if only
it were true. It would mean not only
that the B.C. Liberals deliberately lied
about their tax plans before the elec-
tion, but that senior provincial officials,
and at some level the Conservative
government in Ottawa, were in on the
deception.
I asked Delaney to show me where
“negotiations” are “revealed.” Since
he apparently hadn’t read the actual
documents, he replied with references
to various media accounts, including
speculation that the proof might be
hiding in pages blanked out by officials
to protect “advice” to Finance Minister
Colin Hansen.
Despite the blanked-out pages,
Hansen was clearly worried about the
release of his ministry’s internal com-
munications in early 2009. He made a
special trip from Vancouver to sit for a
series of interviews to respond to them,
tion. He doesn’t remember it.
He would have given it only a “cursory
look,” Hansen told me, because it was to
prepare him for possible media ques-
tions about Ontario’s decision to jump
aboard the HST train. Since he and
Campbell have insisted for more than
a year that the HST was not on B.C.’s
“radar” before the election, he didn’t
need to read it all.
NDP finance critic Bruce Ralston
grilled Hansen for hours during this
spring’s legislative session on the HST
decision. At one point, Hansen denied
that there was any discussion between
senior finance officials about the HST
before the May 2009 election. I now
hold the proof that there was, but it’s
important to understand what kind of
communication.
A federal official sent out copies of the
newly signed Ontario HST agreement to
all provinces, including Alberta, which
has no provincial sales tax to merge
with.
B.C. officials watched developments
in Ontario and updated the minister’s
briefing papers, because that’s what
they do every day, on a wide variety of
issues.
Hansen either didn’t see these com-
munications or didn’t remember them.
NDP leader Carole James termed this
the “dog ate my homework” defence.
The documents confirm that Ontario
was negotiating, and getting special
exemptions and a transition payment of
fashion.
I’ll remind you that Delaney and
Vander Zalm were quick to claim that
Elections B.C. officials were corrupt,
after they delayed the anti-HST petition
to see the results of a court challenge.
If that were true, it would have been the
biggest political scandal in B.C. history,
since that office presides over party reg-
istrations and campaign finance rules.
“Judge our politicians as you
will, but let’s not drag our whole
democratic system down with
false allegations.”
The Zalmoids dropped that one
quickly, and now they’re on to the next
baseless claim of Third World-style cor-
ruption.
Judge our politicians as you will, but
let’s not drag our whole democratic
system down with false allegations.
There is more news in these docu-
ments, such as the negative short-term
impact of the HST that the B.C. Liberals
ignored. More on that later.
Tom Fletcher is legislative reporter
and columnist for Black Press
and BCLocalnews.com
(tfletcher@blackpress.ca).

This week’s question: Is Pitt Meadows a good location for a casino and convention centre?
@ Online poll: cast your vote at www.mapleridgenews.com, or e-mail your vote and comments to editor@mapleridgenews.com
THE NEWS/letters
Pesticide bans
do nothing to
protect public
EDITOR, THE NEWS :
Re: Different approaches to pesticide ban (The
News, Sept. 1).
While a recent article in the The News advo-
cates for a federal ban on the use of pesticides
in urban settings, I’d like to take this opportu-
nity to point out the benefits – and safety – of the
products in question.
Pesticides play an important role in helping
maintain public and private spaces, protecting
these valuable properties from potentially dam-
aging insects, weeds or diseases.
These products are thoroughly reviewed by
Health Canada, one of the most respected regu-
latory agencies in the world, to ensure they are
safe for use.
Health Canada undertakes a comprehensive
review of all available credible scientific studies
to ensure that a pesticide will not cause harm to
people, animals or the environment when used
according to the directions.
Arbitrary pesticide bans do nothing to protect
citizens; they merely create a situation where
homeowners and municipalities are unable to
use Health Canada-approved products to prop-
erly protect their investments in urban land-
scaping.
Canada’s plant science industry welcomes
questions about our products and looks forward
to future opportunities to set the record straight
about the safety of our products and our indus-
try’s commitment to people, public health and
the environment.
LORNE HEPWORTH, PRESIDENT
CROPLIFE CANADA
OTTAWA
Nature’s tasty bounty returned
T
his year’s
monumen-
tal return
of 30-million plus
sockeye salmon
has restored hope,
given us all just the
slightest reason for
optimism.
Perhaps we haven’t
screwed things up
completely, yet.
The sockeye run of Commentary
2010 is surely one for Phil Melnychuk
the books. Maybe it’s
the run of the cen-
tury, which makes me think about how it
will be viewed in the distant future.
Will the kids of today remember the
run of 2010 half a century from now, or
will the Fraser River sockeye be just a
memory?
Was this phenomenal run the last gasp
of a resource endangered by climate
change, warming oceans, fish farms and
roads and driveways? What happened
in the wide Pacific that allowed so many
sockeye to get back this year? Whatever
it is, Fisheries and Oceans Canada better
find out quickly.
That’s why this was a year to re-
member, so I stopped as frequently as
possible at the Kanaka wharf at the foot
of MacKay Avenue in Albion Industrial
Park. That was like stepping back into
time.
While a shake mill nearby trimmed
cedar logs, boats full of salmon, running
low in the water, would regular unload
their shiny cargo.
As the forecast for the sockeye run
kept getting revised upwards, the activ-
ity grew frenetic. On the dock, they ran
out of those narrow plastic bags they
used when selling fish to the public and
just dumped them into black garbage
bags.
Old boats that had been hidden away
appeared out of nowhere. A packing
boat sat in mid-river, completing the
scene while grumpy old fishermen ran
the boats and people milled about and
chatted on the dock and thousands of
sockeye stored in ice water awaited a
hungry public.
I made sure I got my share. The
salmon glut turned me into even more
of a glutton. I bought, cleaned, chopped,
froze, barbecued and gobbled as much
as possible. I think I’ve got six in the
freezer for the year.
I’ve learned the way to cook a salmon
steak is – not too much. Put it on a
medium-high grill after marinating in
soy sauce, olive oil and garlic. Cook it
quickly to get those grill marks, about
three to four minutes each side. Some
white B.C. wine and for dessert, blueber-
ries or blackberries, complete the meal.
Whatever you do, don’t overcook
salmon. It’s not a prime rib steak.
Any left over steaks? Fry them in but-
ter for breakfast.
This year’s historic run was a cause for
celebration for everyone on the water.
I kept checking with my brother, a
sports fisherman who hadn’t been able
to fish for sockeye for three years. He
fishes from a sandbar farther up river,
but was shut out of the biggest run of
the century, although I heard this from
others as well. I told him not to worry,
I wouldn’t say too much. (He’s always
tried to get me interested in fishing, but I
find the best way is to hold out $15, after
which someone grabs it and puts a shiny
salmon in my hand.)
To borrow some personification from
Jack Emberly’s recent column about the
inquiry into the sockeye, it is the salmon,
particularly the sockeye, who teach us
lessons year after year.
By their presence or absence, they
bring us together for a few weeks, native
and non-native, commercial fisherman,
sports angler, conservationists and con-
sumers, politicians and bureaucrats.
This year’s River Manners Tour, in
which natives and non-natives toured
the river to foster communication be-
tween two groups, is a great example.
Concern and complaints and debates
about the salmon runs are a ritual on the
modern West Coast. Despite our iPhones
and tofu, probiotic yogurt and Wonder-
bread, the lure of real food is hard to
resist.
Suburbanites who normally wouldn’t
know the first thing about ocean
temperatures or stream water qual-
ity, pay attention to the natural world.
Salmon really are the heart and soul
of this province. They should re-name
the Vancouver Canucks, the Vancouver
Salmonbellies.
So what will the salmon run be like
next year? Will the sockeye come back?
Are they gone for good?
Will it resemble anything like this run
of the century?
Unlikely.
But next year, and the year after that,
and after that, whatever the run, we’ll
start talking and complaining and caring
a bit about the real world – exactly the
way sockeye intended it.
Phil Melnychuk is a reporter with the
Maple Ridge-Pitt Meadows News.
 Colleen Flanagan/THE NEWS

The Pet Goat

Paige Sallstrom, 22 months old, reaches out to pet a goat at the Meadows Maze petting zoo last week.
Look out for those bruins
Keep garbage securely stores,
locked up or in garage
Maple Ridge district is remind-
ing people to keep an eye out for
bears, especially if they’re around
food, such as fish in streams, or
near their cubs.
A news release Thursday asks
Maple Ridge residents to ensure
that garbage is securely stored –
locked up or in garage or shed –
and not to put out trash until col-
lection day.
The unsightly premises bylaw re-
quires all containers to be sealed
and secured against animals.
To reduce the chance of meeting
a bear while hiking, cycling, moun-
tain biking, horse-back riding or
any other outdoor activity, people
should travel in groups, make noise
or carry something that makes
noise, such as a bell.
People should also realize that
during the salmon spawning sea-
son, bears will be looking for their
meals at creeks and may not hear
people as they approach.
If you see a bear in a munici-
pal park, please report it to the
District’s Parks Department at
604-467-7346.
Staff will post a sign at the park
notifying visitors to exercise cau-
tion.
Aggressive bears
To report an aggressive bear (bluff charging,
damaging property, etc.), call the Ministry
of Environment Conservation Officer at
1-877-952-7277.
For more information on how to “Get Bear
Aware”, visit the province’s Ministry of Envi-
ronment’s website at www.env.gov.bc.ca/cos/
info/bearaware/index.html.

Drama over missing shipping container
by R o b e r t M a n g e l s d o r f
staff reporter
A local teacher is feel-
ing burned after his
students raised close to
$1,600 to buy a shipping
container to store the
program’s props and
sets, and the container
never showed up.
Reg Parks, a drama
teacher at Maple Ridge
Christian School, says
he paid Langley-based
company RSI Contain-
Mariah van Herwaarden
(front), a recent Maple
Ridge Christian gradu-
ate, along with her
sister Cheyanne, and
Graeme Miller, both in
Grade 9, sit by theatre
backgrounds that were
supposed to be housed
in a container that was
paid for by the school,
but not delivered.
Mariah was part of the
fundraising program
for the container. For
now, the backdrops and
props have to be stored
on the school’s stage.
Colleen Flanagan/THE NEWS
ers and Logistics up
front for the container
on the promise it would
be delivered in about a
week.
That was close to a
month ago, and the
company still has not
dropped off the con-
tainer at the school, or
returned Park’s phone
calls.
“I feel a little sick
in the stomach at the
guy responsible,” said
Parks.
See Container, p13
‘Do homework before doing business’
Container from p12 week. Containers are currently have it Monday,” says
“It’s pretty heart- The container never facing two separate law- the email.
breaking.” showed, and Appleyard suits in provincial small However, the refund
Parks’ drama class stopped returning Parks’ claims court. In both had not arrived by Tues-
raised the money by phone calls and emails. cases, the plaintiffs paid day afternoon, and Parks
charging admission and “The kids worked so thousands of dollars up has not heard back from
taking donations during hard for this money,” front for shipping con- Appleyard.
the school’s performance said Parks. “How dare tainers that never ar- Mark Fernandes,
of Fiddler on the Roof he treat these kids so rived, and never heard spokesperson for the
last school year. poorly.” from Appleyard again. Mainland B.C. Better
Parks said he found out However, the condi- Neither claim has been Business Bureau, says it’s
about RSI Containers tions of sale listed on proven in a court of law. not a common practice to
and Logistics through a RSI Containers and Lo- Parks says he also for a company to ask for
simple Internet search, gistics’ website state the plans to file a claim with payment up front.
and spoke with Richard company can back out of provincial small claims “That’s a big red flag,”
Appleyard, listed as the any verbal deal. court in an attempt to he said. “Especially if
company’s president on “No oral agreement, get his money back from someone is requesting
its website. guaranty, promise, con- Appleyard. cheques made out in
“I phoned and ex- dition, representation, “Right now, we have their name.”
plained the situation and or warranty made to the to find a way to come Fernandes recom-
he said he’d supply [the Purchaser by the Seller, up with around $2,500 to mends doing your home-
container] at cost.” its employees and or buy another container,” work before doing busi-
Parks says he hand- agents with respect to he said. ness with companies
delivered the cheque to the Container(s) shall be Neither Appleyard nor over the Internet.
Appleyard, which he re- binding upon the Seller,” RSI Containers and Lo- “You can’t trust things
quested be made out in the website states. gistics returned repeated like slick looking web-
his name, at Appleyard’s Without the container, phone calls and emails sites,” said Fernandes.
home in Langley, which the class has been forced from The News. “Ask for referrals, check
is also the listed address to cram the props and However, Appleyard the Better Business Bu-
for the company. Parks sets into their class- sent Parks an email, reau, and try to get an
says Appleyard told him room, making for some apologizing for the delay idea of the history of the
the container would be cramped quarters with and lack of communica- company.”
dropped off at the school school starting this tion, and promised him a Most credit card com-
in about a week. The week. full refund by Monday. panies will allow you to
cheque was promptly “We’re not a rich “Refunds are generally reverse charges for pur-
cashed, but after the school, we’re a pretty given within 30 business chases if the goods have
week had passed, there small school, actually,” days however because not been delivered within
was no container. Parks said Parks. “We’ve been of the circumstances I a reasonable amount of
says he called Appleyard, growing this program af- have asked our accoun- time. It’s also a good idea
who said the container ter the past 10 years, and tant Tom to expedite it to get everything in writ-
was delayed and would this is a real blow to that for you, in addition no ing so if you go to court
be there on Monday or momentum.” cancelation fees will be you have documentation,
Tuesday the following Appleyard and RSI deducted. You should Fernandes notes.
Autopsy was to be conducted Tuesday
Homicide from front
Investigators attended and were
to speak with neighbours to see if
they could offer any information
regarding the death.
“At this point, it is not known if
there are links to gangs, drugs or
organized crime,” Carr said Sun-
day.
An autopsy was conducted
Tuesday. But until toxicology re-
sults are received, investigators
are still unable to declare the
death a homicide or otherwise,
Carr said Tuesday.
“We are not in a position to clas-
sify it yet.”
• Anyone with information
is asked to call IHIT tip Line at
1-877-551-IHIT. If you wish to
remain anonymous please call Colleen Flanagan/THE NEWS
CrimeStoppers at 1-800-222-TIPS. IHIT officers conduct investigation at the crime scene.

Man, 68, arrested for assaulting officer

A 68-year-old Maple Ridge
man was arrested Saturday for
assaulting a Peace Officer.
Police are recommending
charges against him.
Police were called to a dis-
turbance in the 21000-block of
Lougheed Highway in Maple
Ridge at around 5:45 p.m.
“During the investigation,
which involved a man with a
baseball bat uttering threats
of violence, the suspect was
spoken to,” police said. “The
suspect attempted to obstruct
the police by walking away,
and when he was arrested, he
pushed a female officer in an ef-
fort to get away.”
He was taken into custody,
and later released by a justice
for a court appearance at a later
date.
Woman arrested with
others’ mail
A 23-year-old Maple Ridge
woman was arrested Friday in
Maple Ridge for driving while
prohibited and for having nu-
merous pieces of mail that
didn’t belong to her.
Police stopped the car she
was driving on 232 Street near
116 Avenue.
The woman was well known
to police and had an outstand-
ing warrant against her from
Langley RCMP and she was
prohibited her from driving.
The woman was also in con-
travention of other court-or-
dered conditions, so she was
remanded by a justice to spend
the weekend in custody, and to
appear in court on Tuesday.
Autopsy was to be conducted Tuesday
Homicide from front
“At this point, it is not known
if there are links to gangs,
drugs or organized crime.”
He added that the woman was
known to live in the unit at the
motel.
Investigators are unable to
make a conclusive link to mur-
der until an autopsy is done
and toxicology results are re-
ceived.
An autopsy was to occur
Tuesday, when a forensic pa-
thologist could assist with a
determination.
• Anyone with informa-
tion is asked to call IHIT tip
Line at 1-877-551-IHIT. If you
wish to remain anonymous
please call CrimeStoppers at Colleen Flanagan/THE NEWS
1-800-222-TIPS. IHIT officers conduct investigation at the crime scene.

Man, 68, arrested for assaulting officer

A 68-year-old Maple Ridge
man was arrested Saturday for
assaulting a Peace Officer.
Police are recommending
charges against him.
Police were called to a dis-
turbance in the 21000-block of
Lougheed Highway in Maple
Ridge at around 5:45 p.m.
“During the investigation,
which involved a man with a
baseball bat uttering threats
of violence, the suspect was
spoken to,” police said. “The
suspect attempted to obstruct
the police by walking away,
and when he was arrested, he
pushed a female officer in an ef-
fort to get away.”
He was taken into custody,
and later released by a justice
for a court appearance at a later
date.
Woman arrested with
others’ mail
A 23-year-old Maple Ridge
woman was arrested Friday in
Maple Ridge for driving while
prohibited and for having nu-
merous pieces of mail that
didn’t belong to her.
Police stopped the car she
was driving on 232 Street near
116 Avenue.
The woman was well known
to police and had an outstand-
ing warrant against her from
Langley RCMP and she was
prohibited her from driving.
The woman was also in con-
travention of other court-or-
dered conditions, so she was
remanded by a justice to spend
the weekend in custody, and to
appear in court on Tuesday.
CP museum caboose vandalized
Ridge Meadows
RCMP are investigat-
ing graffiti that was
sprayed on the CP Rail
caboose at the Maple
Ridge Museum.
Sometime during the
weekend of Aug. 27-29,
the message “gig
creep noir” was paint-
ed on the ceremonial
caboose, located in the
22500-block of 116 Av-
enue in Maple Ridge.
Police have few leads
and are hoping for help
from the public.

Boats stolen
Three aluminum
boats were stolen
in Maple Ridge last
week.
A 12-foot aluminum
RCMP photo
boat, painted white,
was stolen in the early Graffiti was sprayed on the caboose at the museum.
hours of Tuesday from
a residential yard on in Maple Ridge. It was • Anyone with any in- 1-800-222-8477 or leave
Purdey Avenue in Ma- stolen while the owner formation in regards to a TIP online at www.
ple Ridge. It had a 9.9 was away from lunch, any of these, or other bccrimestoppers.com.
horsepower motor at- between 1 p.m. and 2: crimes is asked to con- Crime Stoppers will
tached to it. 30 p.m. The “Carson” tact Ridge Meadows pay a reward of up to
dump trailer had Brit- RCMP at 604-463-6251. $2,000 if your informa-
ish Columbia licence To remain anonymous, tion leads to an arrest
Teen arrested plate No. UNT43N. call Crime Stoppers at and conviction.
Police arrested an in-
toxicated 17-year-old
boy Saturday after a
report of an unknown
person in neighbour’s
house around 2:30 a.m.
in the 21400 block of
River Road in Maple
Ridge.
“He was arrested,
and slept off his intoxi-
cation in jail,” police
said.

Missed curfew
Police arrested an in-
toxicated 23-year-old
man on Saturday for
disobeying a court-
ordered curfew.
The man and an in-
toxicated 20-year-old
friend were noticed
by police on Dewdney
Trunk Road by 222
Street. The older man
was not supposed to be
outside his residence
past 11 p.m. He was
arrested and remand-
ing in custody until a
court appearance on
Tuesday.
His friend was also
arrested, but released
the next morning.

Pickup stolen
Police are looking a
for pickup truck stolen
on Saturday in Maple
Ridge.
The grey 1994 Nis-
san was stolen from
the 22800-block of
125A Avenue in Maple
Ridge, between 12:30
a.m. and 7 a.m. The
truck had British Co-
lumbia licence plate
No. CB2685.

Trailer stolen
A green dump trailer
was stolen Saturday
from McKay Avenue
Tim Woodland’s forestry collection
T
im
Wood-
land
began his
avocation as a
collector at an
early age, when
he took an in-
terest in stamp
collecting.
The old-
est child of
Pat and Alan Looking Back
Woodland, he Sheila Nickols
was probably
influenced by
his father’s career as a
reference librarian.
Today, Tim Woodland
specializes in collect-
ing letters, photos and
memorabilia connected
with the forest indus-
try in coastal British
Columbia. He will be
presenting a program
for the Maple Ridge
Historical Society on
Sept. 23 at 7:30 p.m. in
St. Andrew’s Heritage
Hall.
From 1979 to 1996,
Tim Woodland worked
in the forest industry
in northern Vancouver
Island, in a camp up
Jervis Inlet, in North
Vancouver and finally
in Squamish. He soon
began to collect photos
and memorabilia from
lumber companies that
existed in coastal B.C.
Many of these
companies
and business-
es no longer
exist, but their
letterhead
and stock
certificates
are a nostal-
gic reminder
of an earlier
time.
One ex-
ample from
Woodland’s
collection is a
fancy stock certificate
for the E.A. Heaps Co.
Ltd. for 100 shares in
the company, made out
to Englishman the Rev.
Arthur Reginald Wells.
Another item is an
envelope with the let-
terhead of the Abern-
ethy Lougheed Logging
Co. Ltd. at Box 15, Port
Haney. The letter was
addresses to the Secre-
tary of the Burquitlam
Conservative Party in
New Westminster.
Woodland’s presen-
tation will include
pictures of early post
offices, such as the one
in today’s photo at Allco
Camp, headquarters
of the Abernethy-
Lougheed Logging Com-
pany. This site is now
shady Allco Park on the
banks of the Alouette
Allco Post Office and logging workers for the
A & L Logging Company, in 1925.
River, at the end on
248th Street.
During the 1920s, a
wooden trestle bridge
brought huge flatcar
loads of logs from what
is now Golden Ears
park to the log dump at
the mouth of Kanaka
Creek. If you walk along
the Fraser River in
Kanaka Creek Park, you
can still see the remains
of the pilings where the
logging trains dumped
their loads.
Woodlands plans to
present stories and
history of the B.C. forest
industry, with an em-
phasis on Maple Ridge.
He will explore some of
the family and corpo-
rate linkages between
companies and places
Maple Ridge Museum
involved in logging,
sawmilling and pulp
and paper manufacture.
As well as showing
images of early logging,
he will play a recording
of logging poetry put to
music.
The Maple Ridge
Museum is grateful
to Woodland for his
contributions to their
archives. Whenever
he sees a photo or post
card on e-Bay relating
to our community, he
tries to buy it to add
to our collection and
increase our knowledge.
To enhance the pro-
gram, Woodland will be
displaying some of his
collection in a “show
and tell” area.
See Look, p17
ICBC trimming basic auto rates
we’ve been able to re-
2.4 per cent cut duce basic rates in more
first in a decade than a decade.”
Less frequent claims
by J eff Nage l and better driving
Black Press weather are the main
reasons for the reduced
expenses, even though
Motorists will get a average claim costs con-
modest break on basic tinue to climb, especially
auto insurance premi- for injury crashes.
ums after years of fat “It’s our customers’
profits for the Insurance smart driving that re-
Corporation of B.C. ally allows us to do this,”
The public auto in- Schubert said.
surer has been ordered ICBC will have to cut
to reduce basic rates 2.4 much further, however,
per cent effective Nov. 1. to get basic rates back
It’s a deeper cut than down to 2005 levels – in-
the 1.9 per cent ICBC creases in 2006 and 2007
had proposed because raised basic premiums
regulators at the B.C. nearly 10 per cent.
Utilities Commission ICBC recorded another
(BCUC) decided ex- $232 million in net earn-
penses were lower than ings for the first half of
expected, leaving room this year, the latest in a
to lop off another half long string of hefty prof-
point. its.
“They crunched the And the provincial
numbers and came up government this year
with a slightly differ- moved to tap some of the
ent calculation,” ICBC cash ICBC generates to
president and CEO Jon pay down B.C.’s deficit.
Schubert said in an in- It ordered ICBC to
terview. hand over $487 million
“It’s the first time from its reserves and set
aside similar dividends year and dropped them
for Victoria in future 17 per cent over the past
years. five years.
Canadian Taxpayers Some industry observ-
Federation spokesper- ers have also questioned
son Maureen Bader said the need for ICBC’s
rates should be cut even large $3.1-billion reserve
further so there’s less account.
surplus money left for
the province to raid.
“There’s no way the av-
erage driver should have “It’s the first time
to be subsidizing the we’ve been able to
government’s pet proj-
ects like the B.C. Place reduce basic rates
roof and green energy in more than a
subsidies,” she said.
But Schubert said pay- decade.”
ments to the province
are unrelated to basic Jon Schubert, ICBC president
rates, because they are
paid out of profits made
on the optional side of
ICBC’s business. Schubert said it’s ap-
Basic rates are regulat- propriate and noted
ed by the BCUC because ICBC’s reserve ratio is
they are compulsory for less than the industry
all motorists and no pri- average.
vate insurers compete “All insurance com-
with ICBC to provide the panies carry a certain
service. amount of capital to
Optional rates, where make sure we’re able
there is competition, is to meet our obligations
unregulated. and protect our custom-
ICBC cut optional ers from rate shock,” he
rates 3.3 per cent last said.

Call museum
for more info.
Look from p16
For any further
information about the
Sept. 23 presentation
or the activities of the
Maple Ridge Historical
Society, please call the
Maple Ridge Museum at
604-463-5311.

Sheila Nickols is a
board member of the
Maple Ridge Historical
Society.
B.C. loathes HST, poll finds
ity in B.C., where they
found 75 per cent feel
the government did a
very bad job of han-
by J eff Nagel verely or moderately July 1. dling the HST.
Black Press harmed their house- Angus Reid officials “The public is almost
hold finances, citing say the negative view universal in panning
higher costs of dining, of the HST appears the way the tax was
Seventy-one per cent groceries, cellphone to run deeper in B.C. implemented and ex-
of B.C. residents sur- bills and clothing. than Ontario, despite plained by the provin-
veyed in a new Angus Only one in 20 people the fact Ontarians are cial administration.”
Reid poll say they’re polled believe govern- harder hit because The Aug. 16-17 online
buying less as a result ment projections of their government survey included 803
of the Harmonized lower prices over time didn’t exempt gasoline B.C. residents and a
Sales Tax. as a result of the 12 and electricity bills similar number in On-
More than two-thirds per cent HST, which from the HST. tario. The margin of er-
of B.C. respondents replaced the GST and The pollsters’ cite ror is estimated at plus
said the HST has se- provincial sales tax on the “palpable” animos- or minus 3.5 per cent.
Big catch
Commercial fisherman Dave McDonald of Maple Ridge takes a break to
smoke a cigarette while his sockeye catch is unloaded and weighed at
the McKay Avenue wharf last week. This year’s sockeye run of 34
million was the largest since 1913. Colleen Flanagan/THE NEWS
New Pattullo Bridge could
come as soon as 2015
by J eff Nagel equipment now work- from 5:30 to 8:30 p.m.
Black Press ing on the new Port TransLink previously
Mann Bridge to shift rejected the possibil-
over to the Pattullo once ity of a combined road
A new six-lane Pattul- the Highway 1 project and railway bridge that
lo Bridge could open as is finished in 2013. would also replace the
early as 2015, according Open houses are slat- existing New Westmin-
to TransLink. ed for later this month ster rail bridge, poten-
Officials there say in Surrey and New tially also combined
they will work to fast- Westminster on the with the creation of a
track the new span design of the bridge ap- new artificial island at
over the Fraser River. proaches. Sapperton Bar.
Spokesperson Ken The biggest change is TransLink’s current
Hardie said there’s on the New West side, financial plan, which
potential – depending where TransLink’s includes an extra $130
on the outcome of the preferred option is to million a year in taxes
bidding process – for switch access from and fares approved
contractors, crews and Royal Avenue to Front last year, assumes the
Street. bridge will be tolled
“Front Street is al- and does not earmark
ready a major truck any dollars towards
route,” Hardie said. “It the estimated $800-mil-
makes sense to us that lion to $1-billion capital
Front Street becomes a cost.
major point of access The provincial gov-
for the Pattullo, both on ernment has pledged to
and off.” look for ways to finance
There would also be the bridge without tolls
access via East Colum- and avoid the spectre
bia and McBride Boule- of tolling every river
vard. crossing into Surrey.
On the Surrey side, Hardie said Trans-
Hardie said it’s antici- Link is willing to look
pated the new Pattullo, at any such ideas.
which would be built “In the absence of any
just upstream of the ex- other way to pay for it,
isting one, will connect it has to be tolled,” Har-
with a full interchange die said. “There’s no
to the South Fraser Pe- question there has to
rimeter Road. be a new bridge.”
There would also The 73-year-old
be connections to 128 bridge is 12 metres
Street and Scott Road. wide, far tighter than
More details are ex- the 19-metre width for
pected at the two open a four-lane bridge built
houses – the first on to modern standards
Tuesday Sept. 14 at today.
Chuck Baillie Commu- TransLink since 2005
nity Centre in Surrey has closed the centre
near Gateway Station lanes at night to pre-
and the second on vent head-on crashes,
Tuesday, Sept. 21 at the greatly reducing the
Justice Institute in New frequency of fatalities
Westminster. Both run up until then.
 Section coordinator:

THE NEWS/arts&life
Monisha Martins
604-467-1122 ext. 217
newsroom@mapleridgenews.com

It doesn’t look like exercise

Short for Neuromuscular
Integrative Action, Nia is a
“movement with consciousness”
by M o n i s h a M a r t i n s
staff reporter

S
harolyn Wandzura lifts her arms in one
graceful swoop.
“Reach up,” she instructs.
Barefoot and warmed up, her class stretch-
es its arms to the painted blue sky and fluffy
clouds on the ceiling at the Kali Yoga Centre
in Pitt Meadows.
Short for Neuromuscular Integrative Action
(as well as non-impact aerobics), Nia doesn’t
look like a workout.
“It’s movement with a consciousness,” she
says.
Founded by Debbie Rosas Stewart and Car-
los Aya Rosas, Nia began in 1983 and now
boats approximately 2,200 trainers in 43 coun-
tries.
It draws from disciplines of the martial arts
(tae kwon do, Tai Chi and aikido), dance (jazz,
modern and Duncan dance) and healing arts
(Feldenkrais, the Alexander technique and
yoga).
Every class offers a unique combination of
52 moves that correspond with the main areas
of the body: the base, the core and the upper
extremities.
Each has their own quirky names: Butterfly,
Colleen Flanagan/THE NEWS
Passion, Infinity, Omega, Sanjana and Sexi.
It’s a free-spirited experience, something Sharolyn Wandzura teaches a Nia class at Kali Yoga in Osprey Village.w
you’d perhaps see around a campfire at Wood-
stock, but everyone leaves their inhibitions at
the door and gets their groove on.
Wandzura says Nia does require unlearn-
Health living
ing. • Check out Nia at the Diversity Health Fair 2010 on
“It’s a struggle for some students, but once Sept. 11 at at the Ridge Meadows Seniors Centre,
you start, you get back into your body.” 12150 224 Street in Maple Ridge from 11 a.m. to 3 p.m.
Nia believes every person can discover, ex- This interactive health fair – the first of its kind to be
plore, unleash and enhance their individual offered in Maple Ridge and Pitt Meadows – targets the
potential to live a fulfilling and meaningful African, Latin, South Asian, Chinese, and Vietnamese
life – by engaging their senses and listening populations and will involve over 25 health and well-
to their bodies.
The experience requires concentration as
ness exhibitors.
students repeat a series of movements while • Learn about health programs and services.
staying focused. • Join in fitness and cooking demonstrations.
“It works because you are 100 per cent pres- • Sample ethnic foods and gather recipes.
ent,” says Wandzura. • Attend information packed presentations.
“Movement is one way of releasing all the • Test personal health & wellness with onsite health
things we have stored in our bodies. It’s just screenings.
rebalancing everything, starting from the bot- • Enjoy ethnic music, dancers, and cultural displays.
tom of our feet.”

Maple Ridge singer comes full circle

“My inner spark is back,” says Ron
Kalmakoff, smiling, with a twinkle in
his green eyes.
Looking youthful and energetic af-
ter spending hours inside the record-
ing studio, the Saskatchewan-born
singer best known for his silvery
tenor voice is elated to be working on
his newest album, Turn Around.
More than a decade ago, Kalmakoff
was drawing applause for his sixth
album, Journey of the Heart, when
life took a harsh turn with a series of
family-related events.
“Life changes, revolves and moves
in many different directions,” he
muses.
He admits that, lately, the push by
his fans and supporters to get back
into the biz has propelled him back
into the limelight.
Kalmakoff lived in Maple Ridge
for more than 12 years and has
owned Little Cricket Gift Gallery on
Lougheed Highway and Glover Road
in Fort Langley for close to 10 years.
There is a new sound that you’ll
hear in Turn Around.
The album features a dozen bal-
lads, including six originals written
by Kalmakoff.
So far, there has been a steady flow
of praise from his fellow musicians
and industry leaders.
Grammy-nominee and Juno Award-
winning composer and musician
Michael Creber co-produced Turn
Around.
“Ron is simply one of the best sing-
ers around,” Creber says. “In the stu-
dio, he’s a producer’s dream in that all
his vocal work is virtually flawless on
every take he performs. In addition,
he has a depth of musical knowledge
that enables him to collaborate bril-
liantly in the recording studio. He is
a total joy to work with, and I’m re-
ally proud of this record.”
• Ron Kalmakoff perform two con-
certs in Vancouver at The Cultch,
1895 Venables Street on Sept. 11 at 8
p.m. and Sept. 12 at 2 p.m. He will be
backed by a four piece band. The con-
cert will feature a guest appearance
by Shari Ulrich. Tickets are available
by calling (604) 251-1363 or online at Contributed
tickets.thecultch.com. Ron Kalmakoff returns to the studio after a 10-year hiatus
 Section coordinator:

THE NEWS/arts&life
Monisha Martins
604-467-1122 ext. 217
newsroom@mapleridgenews.com

Nia doesn’t look like exercise

Short for Neuromuscular
Integrative Action, Nia is a
“movement with consciousness”
by M o n i s h a M a r t i n s
staff reporter

S
harolyn Wandzura lifts her arms in one
graceful swoop.
“Reach up,” she instructs.
Barefoot and warmed up, her class stretch-
es its arms to the painted blue sky and fluffy
clouds on the ceiling at the Kali Yoga Centre
in Pitt Meadows.
Short for Neuromuscular Integrative Action
(as well as non-impact aerobics), Nia doesn’t
look like a workout.
“It’s movement with a consciousness,” she
says.
Founded by Debbie Rosas Stewart and Car-
los Aya Rosas, Nia began in 1983 and now
boats approximately 2,200 trainers in 43 coun-
tries.
It draws from disciplines of the martial arts
(tae kwon do, Tai Chi and aikido), dance (jazz,
modern and Duncan dance) and healing arts
(Feldenkrais, the Alexander technique and
yoga).
Every class offers a unique combination of
52 moves that correspond with the main areas
of the body: the base, the core and the upper
extremities.
Each has their own quirky names: Butterfly,
Colleen Flanagan/THE NEWS
Passion, Infinity, Omega, Sanjana and Sexi.
It’s a free-spirited experience, something Sharolyn Wandzura teaches a Nia class at Kali Yoga in Osprey Village.
you’d perhaps see around a campfire at Wood-
stock, but everyone leaves their inhibitions at
the door and gets their groove on.
Wandzura says Nia does require unlearn-
Healthy living
ing. • Check out Nia at the Diversity Health Fair 2010 on
“It’s a struggle for some students, but once Sept. 11 at at the Ridge Meadows Seniors Centre,
you start, you get back into your body.” 12150 224 Street in Maple Ridge from 11 a.m. to 3 p.m.
Nia believes every person can discover, ex- This interactive health fair – the first of its kind to be
plore, unleash and enhance their individual offered in Maple Ridge and Pitt Meadows – targets the
potential to live a fulfilling and meaningful African, Latin, South Asian, Chinese, and Vietnamese
life – by engaging their senses and listening populations and will involve over 25 health and well-
to their bodies.
The experience requires concentration as
ness exhibitors.
students repeat a series of movements while • Learn about health programs and services.
staying focused. • Join in fitness and cooking demonstrations.
“It works because you are 100 per cent pres- • Sample ethnic foods and gather recipes.
ent,” says Wandzura. • Attend information packed presentations.
“Movement is one way of releasing all the • Test personal health & wellness with onsite health
things we have stored in our bodies. It’s just screenings.
rebalancing everything, starting from the bot- • Enjoy ethnic music, dancers, and cultural displays.
tom of our feet.”

Maple Ridge singer comes full circle

“My inner spark is back,” says Ron
Kalmakoff, smiling, with a twinkle in
his green eyes.
Looking youthful and energetic af-
ter spending hours inside the record-
ing studio, the Saskatchewan-born
singer best known for his silvery
tenor voice is elated to be working on
his newest album, Turn Around.
More than a decade ago, Kalmakoff
was drawing applause for his sixth
album, Journey of the Heart, when
life took a harsh turn with a series of
family-related events.
“Life changes, revolves and moves
in many different directions,” he
muses.
He admits that, lately, the push by
his fans and supporters to get back
into the biz has propelled him back
into the limelight.
Kalmakoff lived in Maple Ridge
for more than 12 years and has
owned Little Cricket Gift Gallery on
Lougheed Highway and Glover Road
in Fort Langley for close to 10 years.
There is a new sound that you’ll
hear in Turn Around.
The album features a dozen bal-
lads, including six originals written
by Kalmakoff.
So far, there has been a steady flow
of praise from his fellow musicians
and industry leaders.
Grammy-nominee and Juno Award-
winning composer and musician
Michael Creber co-produced Turn
Around.
“Ron is simply one of the best sing-
ers around,” Creber says. “In the stu-
dio, he’s a producer’s dream in that all
his vocal work is virtually flawless on
every take he performs. In addition,
he has a depth of musical knowledge
that enables him to collaborate bril-
liantly in the recording studio. He is
a total joy to work with, and I’m re-
ally proud of this record.”
• Ron Kalmakoff perform two con-
certs in Vancouver at The Cultch,
1895 Venables Street on Sept. 11 at 8
p.m. and Sept. 12 at 2 p.m. He will be
backed by a four piece band. The con-
cert will feature a guest appearance
by Shari Ulrich. Tickets are available
by calling (604) 251-1363 or online at Contributed
tickets.thecultch.com. Ron Kalmakoff returns to the studio after a 10-year hiatus
 Arts&Life
Contributed
Kyle Falconer won for
his photograph of the
Alouette River at dusk
(above), while Mia Pais-
ley came second for her
photo of a dragonfly
resting on a blackberry
bush.
Locals win photo contest
Two local photographers took first
and second place in the first annual
Greener Steps Photo Contest held
throughout British Columbia this sum-
mer.
This year’s theme was the ‘Best Green
Photo of Summer 2010’ and the first
prize was claimed by Kyle W. Falconer
of Pitt Meadows,
Falconer won for submitting a beau-
tiful photograph of Alouette River at
dusk.
Mia Paisley of Maple Ridge captured
second place with her photo of a drag-
onfly resting on a blackberry bush.
The Greener Steps Photo Contest is
the idea of Greener Steps founder Alex
Sangha. The contest aims to generate
greater public interest about the envi-
ronment, sustainability and greener
living, through a series of thematic
photo contests.
The contest generated a lot of public
interest and drew in over 43 quality
photo entries from locations as far as
Harrison Hot Springs, Duncan, Nano-
ose Bay, Buntzen Lake, and throughout
the Lower Mainland.
Auditions for Peter Pan
Want to play a fairy or a boy that
never grows up?
Audition for Gallery 7 Theatre & Per-
forming Arts November production
of J.M. Barrie’s classic tale Peter Pan,
adapted by Canadian playwright, Jeff
Pitcher.
Gallery 7 Theatre’s production will
feature 10 male and female perform-
ers playing a combined total of up to
18 characters.
British accents will be used and cre-
ativity and the ability to “play” will be
a requirement of all performers.
Dance and movement experience,
along with singing ability, are assets
but not a necessity.
Directing Peter Pan will be Eldon
Letkeman, who was at the helm of last
season’s hit Around the World in 80
Days.
Peter Pan will take stage in Novem-
ber.
• Performers ages 16 and up are in-
vited to be a part of the adventure by
auditioning for a role tomorrow, Sept.
9 at 6:30 p.m. Those interested in work-
ing behind the scenes in such areas as
assistant stage management, sound
operation, running crew and others
are also invited to attend the audition.
All interested individuals are asked
to sign up ahead of time by calling
604-504-5940 or emailing info@gallery-
7theatre.com.

THE NEWS/sports
Bruins
head
to UK
Pair of local rugby players
to play for Hove RFC
by R o b e r t M a n g e l s d o r f
staff reporter
The Ridge Meadows Bruins Rug-
by Club may not have a first divi-
sion team for its elite players, but
that isn’t stopping the club from
continuing to develop its top tier
talent.
Local rugby players Josh Ladd
and Rob Hughes
are headed to
England for
an extend-
ed stay
with Hove
Rugby
Fo o t b a l l
Club near
Brighton, a
trip club
president Cal
MacIntosh hopes will allow them to
take their game to the next level.
“They are huge assets to our
team, and we’ll miss them,” said
McIntosh. “But we don’t want to
hold our guys back.”
As a rugby club without a first
division team, the Ridge Meadows
Bruins are faced with a dilemma if
Flames to broadcast
games on web
The Ridge Meadows
Flames junior B hockey
club will be broadcasting 15
regular season games, plus
play-offs in live streaming
video this season.
The games will be broad-
cast using new technol-
ogy developed by Play Full
Screen that allows for live
streaming to television,
computer or smart phone.
Josh Ladd (pictured) and Rob Hughes of the Ridge Meadows Bruins Rugby Club will
be playing for Hove Rugby Football Club in England this season.
they want to develop talent locally,
he says.
McIntosh hopes the trip to Eng-
land, the birthplace of rugby, will
expose the players to a higher cali-
bre of play so that upon their re-
turn, they can use their experience
Ryan Briggs will be re-
turning behind the micro-
phone for the a second
season along with colour
analyst Brad Reminek. The
pair will be joined by an
occasional analyst Adam
Dunfee, of Hockey Now
magazine.
“It’s really exciting to be
taking the broadcasts to the
next level by incorporating
video this season,” said
Flames President and Own-
er Andrew Ilaender. “I’m
Section coordinator:
Robert Mangelsdorf
604-467-1122 ext. 216
newsroom@mapleridgenews.com
that will serve them well while in
Mason,
England.
“They are going to be good ambas-
sadors for the club,” said McIntosh.
“Canadians have a reputation for
being hard-hitting, aggressive play-
ers with a good work ethic.” Lee both
The pair have already been set up
with factory jobs while in Hove that
will give them flexibility to play and
practice with the club.
“I may not be as skilled as some of
take 2nd
the players over there, but I want to
show them how hard I can work,”
Strong finishes for
said Ladd, the younger brother of
NHLer Andrew Ladd.
He flew out on Saturday after
fulfilling the last of his school com-
mitments, and will join Hughes in
Hove. Hughes arrived in England
local golfers at MJT
event in Langley
Maple Ridge News
staff reporter
for preseason training with the
team at the beginning of August.
“Rugby is a real culture over Maple Ridge golfers
there,” said Ladd. “It’s pretty excit- Keanna Mason and Tae-
ing to be surrounded by it all the In Lee both finished sec-
time.” ond in their respective
The Ridge Meadows Bruins Rugby divisions at the Maple
Club has steadily grown in the past Leaf Junior Tour event
fews years after a time in the late at Belmont Golf Course
1990s when it looked like the club in Langley last week-
might fold. Today, the Bruins oper- end.
ate competitive men’s and women’s Mason overcame a
teams, as well as U-12, U-14, U-16, four-stroke deficit in the
and U-19 teams. The club has also second and final round
started up a mini-rugby program to tie Valentina Trillo on
for young children that McIntosh the 18th hole in the girls’
hopes will develop into the next division. Mason bogied
crop of elite local players. the hole to finish the day
Many of the club’s Division 3 play- with a 73 and second-
ers are holdovers from the Samuel place honours.
Robertson Technical Secondary Tae-In Lee of Maple
School team that dominated high Ridge also finished
school rugby in the Fraser Valley second at the event, in
for much of the past five years. the boys’ U-20 division.
“I’m pretty passionate about Lee posted consecutive
building our club up,” said Ladd. rounds of 74 but was
Robert Mangelsdorf/THE NEWS
“Every time we get better players, unable to catch winner
they leave [for other rugby clubs].” Mike Belle of Vancou-
Ladd says he hopes to return to ver, who will be playing
the club after his time in England to NCAA golf for Simon
to help grow the club. both play and coach. Fraser University next
“If we want a first division team, “We are starting to get that club season. Lee finished
we’re going to need more coaches, culture with the younger guys,” he just one shot better than
that’s the first thing,” said McIn- said. “We’re definitely growing.” three players who tied
tosh. • For more information about the for third: William Deck
McIntosh said both Ladd and Ridge Meadows Bruins Rugby club, of Kelowna (78-71), Jesse
Hughes have a strong work ethics visit bruinsrugby.com. Reichelt of Langley (75-
74), and Matthew Dorion
of Surrey (72-77).
Maple Ridge’s Seung
Game time Thursday, Dec. 30 vs. Port Moody Black Panthers, 7:30 p.m. Jun Woo won the long
Friday, Jan. 7 vs. North Delta Devils, 7:30 p.m. drive competition in the
Saturday, Sept. 25 @ North Delta Devils, 6:45 p.m. Friday, Jan. 14 vs. Mission Icebreakers, 7:30 p.m. boys’ U-20 division.
Saturday, Oct. 2 vs. Abbotsford Pilots, 8 p.m. Friday, Jan. 21 vs. Aldergrove Kodiaks, 7:30 p.m. Mason finishes the
Friday, Oct. 29 vs. Aldergrove Kodiaks, 7:30 p.m. Friday, Jan.28 vs. Delta Ice Hawks, 7:30 p.m. summer off with a pair
Saturday, Nov. 20 vs. Abbotsford Pilots, 8 p.m. Friday, Feb. 4 vs. Abbotsford Pilots, 7:30 p.m. of runner-ups, after
Friday, Nov. 26 vs. Aldergrove Kodiaks, 7:30 p.m. Friday, Feb. 11 vs. Mission Icebreakers, 7:30 p.m. taking second place at
Friday, Dec. 10 vs. Richmond Sockeyes, 7:30 p.m. Friday, Feb. 18 vs. Port Moody Black Panthers, 7:30 p.m. the Maple Leaf Junior
Friday, Dec. 17 vs. Squamish Wolf Pack, 7:30 p.m. Tour event at Highland
sports@mapleridgenews.com
Pacific Golf in Victoria
Aug. 30 and 31, where
very happy to have such a resenting our club on air.” All broadcasts begin 15 she bounced back from
professional broadcaster Games can be viewed at minutes before puck drop a first round 78 with a
like Ryan and his team rep- www.playfullscreen.com. with the pre-game show. second round 74.
 Sports

Colleen Flanagan/THE NEWS

Gold striker
Tre Spedding (right) of the Golden Ears United Strikers fights off a member of the Coquitlam Metro Ford Gunners
during a U-12 select A game during the Pitt Meadows Soccer Club’s Labour Day Tournament at the Pitt Meadows
Athletic Fields Sunday afternoon.

C
ommunity Calendar lists
events in Maple Ridge and
Pitt Meadows. Notices are
free to local non-profit groups
courtesy of The News. Drop off
details to 22328 119 Ave., fax to
604-463-4741 or e-mail events@
mapleridgenews.com at least a
week before the event. Include a
contact name and number. (No
submissions by phone.) Listings
appear as space permits. For guar-
anteed publication, ask our classi-
fied department at 604-467-1122
about non-profit rates.
Wednesday, Sept. 8
• The Maple Ridge Parkin-
son’s Support Group meets
from 1 to 3 p.m. at the Ridge
Meadows Seniors’ Centre. This
meeting is open to all persons
with Parkinson’s, their caregivers,
families, and friends. For more in-
formation please contact Megan
Benoit at 604-465-6374, or via
email at megan2008@shaw.ca
• The next general meeting
of the Kanaka Education and En-
vironmental Partnership Society
takes place at 7 p.m. in the Fraser
Room of Maple Ridge Library.
Everyone is welcome. There will
be a slide presentation about
experiences in nature KEEPS
members have had over the
summer. For more information,
call 604-462-8643.
Thursday, Sept. 9
• The Alouette Field
Naturalists hold their monthly
meeting at 7:30 p.m. at the
Ridge Meadows Seniors’ Centre,
12150 224th Street. All welcome.
Call Duanne at 604-463 -8743 for
more information.
Friday, Sept. 10
• Opening Reception for a
new exhibit featuring the paint-
ings of mother and daughter Lea
Sevcov and Dorothy Sevcov, and
the carvings of Lynn McIntosh
takes place at the New Creations
Art Gallery and Studios from
5 to 8 p.m. at 22409 McIntosh
Avenue, Maple Ridge. Lea and
Dorothy are both accomplished
painters who work in a variety of
media and whose works run the
gamut from realistic landscapes
to abstracts. The show is
supplemented by Lynn’s unique
and original carvings. The
show will run for the month of
September. The gallery is open
Tuesday to Saturday 11 a.m. to
Community Calendar
4 p.m., and Sundays from noon haneyfarmersmarket.org). Scottish pipers. There will also be
to 4 p.m. Closed Mondays. www. a live band, BBQ, agility display,
newcreationsgallery.ca Sunday, Sept.12 community area and much more,
• Scotiabank and the B.C. all in support of our favourite
Saturday, Sept. 11 SPCA present Paws for a Cause furry friends. Registration starts
• Join the Family Educa- at the Albion Fairgrounds. Bring at 10 a.m., with the events
tion and Support Centre and along your pooch and enjoy beginning at 11 a.m. Visit spca.
the Affiliation of Multicultural a 2.5-kilometre walk led by bc.ca/walk to register.
Societies and Service Agencies
at the Diversity Health Fair at
the Ridge Meadows Seniors’
Centre, 12150 224th Street from
11 a.m. to 3 p.m. Visitors can
learn about healthy cooking
and lifestyles, take part in
fitness classes, tap their foot
to ethnic music, watch cultural
dancers, speak with health care
professionals, or sample ethnic
foods. To learn more, call Angie at
604-476-2447 or email angie@
hipstrategic.com.
• Haney Farmers’ Market
celebrates tomatoes with a cook-
ing demonstration presented
by Chef Nathan Hyam at 10:30
a.m. Take the taste test and
taste what vine-ripened means.
The Market is overflowing with
freshly picked fruit and produce
from our own Fraser Valley
and the Okanagan. Memorial
Peace Park in downtown Maple
Ridge on 224th Street ( www.