RCMP: Dog would
have been treated
better, says wife. p10 Cellphone tower No. 2 really irks. p3
THE NEWS
www.mapleridgenews.com Wednesday, August 18, 2010 · Serving Maple Ridge & Pitt Meadows · est. 1978 · 604-467-1122 · 50¢
Rooster tail
Hot spells require some cool sports, such as water skiing Sunday at Alouette Lake in Golden Ears Provincial Park. Soaring temperatures in southwest B.C. are expected to cool soon.
Church welcomes refugees
Anglicans want to say not
everyone opposed to
Tamils’ arrival
by M o n i s h a M a r t i n s
staff reporter
A Maple Ridge church is extend-
ing a warm welcome to the 492
men, women and children who
spent months at sea after fleeing
Sri Lanka for Canada.
“Welcome Tamil refugees to
your new home” is spelled out in
bold letters outside St. George’s
Colleen Flanagan/THE NEWS Anglican Church on Dewdney
Church put out the welcome mat for refugees. Trunk Road, en route to the
Index
Opinion
Tom Fletcher
Arts&Life
Community Calendar
Pet Page
Sports
Classifieds
Detonation
It wasn’t a
bomb.
p3
Colleen Flanagan/THE NEWS
Fraser Regional Correctional
Centre and Alouette Correc-
Colleen Flanagan/THE NEWS
Abby Cruickshank worried about wildlife.
tional Centre for Women where
many of the migrants are being
housed.
“We just thought it would be
a small token to say that not all
Native frogs
people are against having refu-
gees in our country,” said Rev.
Roger Cooper.
The church has been a sponsor
croaking?
of refugees in the past and is cur- by Kerrie -Ann S choenit
rently in the midst of sponsoring contributor
two families or nine people from
Afghanistan.
“We are understanding of how Water pollution and farm expan-
refugee situations work,” said sion are threatening the frog popula-
Cooper. tion along the North Alouette River.
See Refugees, p15 See Frogs, p21
6
6
29
33
36
39
43

Second cellphone tower irks resident
District sticks Wind
Mobile with stop-
work order
by C hri s tine Lyon
contributor
A Maple Ridge resident is
worried her property value
will take a nosedive after a
new cellular tower is erected
a few feet from her home.
Margaret Johnston and
her husband Richard have
lived in a nine-unit town-
house on Laity Street and
118th Avenue since 1989. On
Aug. 3 she woke up to the
sound of drilling, and by the
next day a Wind Mobile cel-
lular pole was towering over
her house.
“It is the ugliest looking
thing you’ve ever seen. It’s
about three or four feet from
my fence line,” Johnston said.
But it might be a few more
weeks before the 30-metre
Wind Mobile cell tower is
complete. The District of
Maple Ridge put a stop-
work order on it a few days
after construction began.
“They haven’t followed the
proper process,” said Frank
Quinn, Maple Ridge’s gener-
al manager of public works
and development services.
“Part of their requirement
is to go to a public consul-
tation through the Indus-
try Canada consultation
process, and I understand
they’re doing that now.”
The consultation process
takes about 30 days and in-
volves sending out letters
and advertising.
“Until we hear back from
Industry Canada, there’s a
stop-work order on it,” said
Quinn.
Johnston is upset she
never received notice from
Wind Mobile or the district
that the cell tower was going
up, and moreover, she fears
future buyers will be put off
by the obstructed view.
“They’re not going to buy
[my condo] before they’ll
buy someone else’s because
of what they’re going to
have to look at.”
The property the tower
is on is currently zoned as
residential, but the Official
Community Plan allows the
site to be rezoned for com-
mercial use. The district’s
zoning bylaw also permits
cellular towers in any zone
as they are considered a
public utility.
This is the second cellular
tower to go up near John-
ston’s property. The first,
Colleen Flanagan/THE NEWS
Bomb squad
An explosives expert removes a small, opaque un-
marked bottle of liquid that had been lying on the
front seat of a vehicle along River Road at 236th Street
Tuesday. Numerous businesses were evacuated after
River Road was shut down from Kingfishers Waterfront
Bar and Grill to Pacific Bending while the explosives
team was called in to dispose of the bottle. It didn’t
contain any explosives.
a Bell Mobility tower, was
erected in 2008 about 15
metres from her home. But
that was different.
“We received notification
from the municipal hall
by mail with a picture of
a simulated pole, where it
was going to go,” Johnston
said. “It’s very aesthetically
pleasing,” she said of the
25-metre Bell pole, which
was painted green to blend
in with its surroundings.
“Bell consulted with us all
the way.”
Wind Mobile is a new Ca-
nadian wireless telecom-
munications provider that
launched in Metro Vancou-
ver early this year.
A representative for the
company stated in an e-mail
that work was completed
on a temporary cell site
Aug. 7 and will resume to
create a permanent fixture
once the district grants ap-
proval. The company said it
received verbal approval for
the temporary fixture and
has submitted a Land Use
Authority application for
the permanent site.
The company said Wind
adheres to Industry Cana-
da’s policies on public noti-
fications and has placed a
formal notice in the news- Colleen Flanagan/THE NEWS
paper. Margaret Johnston says one cellphone was bad enough, now she’s got two near her home.
Pinegrove the new Northumberland ghetto?
Activist says
junkies fled one
and set up next
door
by M o n i s h a M a r t i n s
staff reporter
Residents of a down-
town Maple Ridge
neighbourhood want
the district to deal
with a building they
claim is turning into
a ghetto.
They allege the
shutting down of Nor-
thumberland Court
by the district has led
to an exodus of drug
dealers, their cli-
ents and prostitutes
from Fraser Street
to the Pinegrove on
224th Street, near St.
Anne’s Street.
Last week, John
McKenzie who man-
ages an apartment
next door, spotted a
tarp strung between
the windows of a
ground-floor suite
and the fence.
It’s an outdoor shel- “It’s not me. It’s
ter built by a tenant not the tenants.
to accommodate a
homeless man. Maple Ridge is
“We closed the ghet- awful and the
to down but we’ve got
a new one,” said McK- city is not doing
enzie. anything about it.”
“Why not start up a
shanty town, just like Marcus Hoffert
they have in Rio or Pinegrove owner
Calcutta?”
In February, during
a raid at the Pine-
grove, police found years ago.
two handguns, a “There is so much
sawed-off shotgun more to it than bad
and a machine gun tenants,” said Hoffert,
from inside the unit, who is a real estate
all loaded. agent in Langley.
Police also seized “It’s not me. It’s not
body armour, pepper the tenants. It’s Maple
spray, ammunition, Ridge. Maple Ridge is
a replica airgun, and awful and the city is
replica assault rifle. not doing anything
But Marcus Hoffert, about it.”
who owns the Pine- Hoffert believes the
NEWS FILES
grove, notes the downtown core needs
apartment had unde- to be zoned to high After cleaning up and emptying Northumberland Court, district now dealing with nearby Pinegrove.
sirable tenants when density “so investors
erything down and his invest- that’s now transforming run-
he purchased it a few will come in, tear ev-
build condos or high ment and pro- boarded up down properties.
rises.” tect the folks – indicated He recently fixed
He is now trying to that are good he’d be inter- up and sold the Back-
sell the Pinegrove. tenants,” he ested in pur- packer’s Hotel on
“Langley is a lot said. chasing the Vancouver’s Down-
cleaner than Maple Daykin add- property. town Eastside to B.C.
Ridge and it’s because ed he is open G h a l i b Housing and was also
the downtown core to redevelop- Rawji said he involved in the clean-
has been rezoned to ment on the looked at the up of the Savoy Ho-
high density,” Hoffert site. Pinegrove tel Pub on Hastings
added. “Bring me as an invest- Street.
But Maple Ridge a plan,” he Daykin ment even “If there is a deal to
Mayor Ernie Daykin said. before he be made, we would
points out that Hoffert The new owner bought Northumber- look at it,” Rawji
should be managing of Northumberland land Court. said.
his property. Court – a notori- Rawji and his part- “It is right up our al-
“He should protect ous property nearby ners are adept at ley.”
Hikers rescued off Golden Ears
A four hikers who a Pitt Meadows home. just after 1:30 p.m.
spent a night in Golden Police said the crime The plants, in various
Ears Provincial Park was reported around 11 stages, were located in
were located by search p.m. Sunday but could the basement.
crews Sunday. have happened any- Officers saw a man
The father and three thing between Satur- leaving the residence
adult children were day and Sunday. just before the search,
reported missing on Thieves gained en- so he was arrested a
Saturday around 10:20 try to the home in the short distance from the
p.m. after they failed to 115900-block of 195B home.
returned from a hike. through a rear sliding The 43-year-old was
Ridge Meadows door. released from police
Search and Rescue vol- custody after the com-
unteers were called in pletion of the search,
as well as RCMP.
Boat stolen with a court date set for
Ridge Meadows
Supt. Dave Walsh November.
RCMP are looking for a
said the incident came
14’ aluminum boat.
to a happy ending when
members of the search
The boat with a small Mustang missing
outboard motor was A vintage Ford Mus-
and rescue team made
stolen from a dock at tang was stolen Thurs-
contact with the father
Wharf Street on Friday day from the parking
around 11 a.m.
after 9 p.m. lot of a shopping mall
They were found near
• Anyone with any in Pitt Meadows.
the West Canyon Trail
information is asked The 1965 Ford Mus-
on Golden Ears Moun-
to call Ridge Meadows tang was taken from
tain and flown out by
RCMP at 604 463-6251. Meadow Town Cen-
helicopter.
tre located at 19800
Other than being cold
Lougheed Highway.
and tired, the group Pot plants seized The car was parked
was in good health. More than 2,000 mari-
in the lot around 5:30
juana plants were found
in a Maple Ridge house p.m. on Thursday but
House B&E Thursday after police was discovered missing
Mountain bikes, U.S executed a search war- around midnight. The
dollars and tools were rant at the property. car has a black soft top,
stolen during a break- Police entered the convertible roof and
in over the weekend at home on 123rd Avenue had B.C. plates B16974.
THE NEWS/opinion Published and printed by Black Press at 22328 – 119th Avenue, Maple Ridge, B.C., V2X 2Z3

News Views Ingrid Rice

We need open,
accountable gov’t.
So as of Friday, the boat holding refugee claim-
ants from Sri Lanka was guided into port under
heavy security and the desperate human cargo
given shelter.
So what do we know?
We know they’re from Sri Lanka, fleeing the
after-effects of a vicious war, in a far away land
that not everyone knows about. (The preceding
describes a large percentage of the immigrants
to this country.)
What else do we know?
Thanks to the suffocating excuse of “security”
that the RCMP, the Canadian Border Security
Agency and Citizenship and Immigration Can-
ada hide behind, we won’t know (for awhile at
least, if ever) the rough cost of processing the ar-
rivals and how much it requires in extra prison
manpower to house them in Maple Ridge’s two
jails, Fraser Regional Correctional Centre and
the Alouette Correctional Centre for Women.
The provincial government won’t even tell us
the current inmate population at Fraser Region-
al and what that population will be with the new
arrivals. That’s critical information, given the
already incendiary conditions there.
What becomes apparent in such cases is the
ongoing, lack of valid, solid information the pub-
lic needs (not just sound bites fed to us by the
minister responsible) to make informed deci-
sions.

More shadows in fantasy garden

We need to improve in keeping our politicians
and government accountable so that wise deci-
sions follow informed public debate.
Remaining aware of our shortcomings, will en-
sure we’re not above welcoming others in build-
ing a better country. VICTORIA – It took and impartially.”
– The News Bill Vander Zalm Zalm then tried to elbow aside this
Tell us what you think @ www.mapleridgenews.com about an hour to whip fallen angel and proceed on behalf of Her “The costs of this lunacy haven’t
up a new conspiracy Majesty himself, presenting Canada’s even been calculated, since
theory after the deci- first successful initiative petition to

THE NEWSServing Maple Ridge & Pitt Meadows since 1978

Jim Coulter, publisher
publisher@mapleridgenews.com
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CCAB audited circulation: (as of September 2009):
Wednesday - 30,221; Friday – 30,197.
sion by Elections B.C.
to wait for the courts
to rule on his petition
against the harmo-
nized sales tax.
The dapper Delta
shrub merchant
squinted through his B.C. Views
shades at the media Tom Fletcher
arrayed around him
in Vancouver and in-
sinuated that the chief electoral officer is
in the tank for Premier Gordon Campbell
and his business buddies.
Not in so many words, of course.
That could cause Vander Zalm’s
already impressive legal bills to grow
further. So his statements were carefully
calculated to trash an independent office
on the level of the auditor-general, and
its interim occupant, veteran legislative
clerk Craig James.
“James is opening the door for any
group opposed to a citizen initiative
to thwart the democratic will of the
people simply by launching a challenge
to that petition in court,” Vander Zalm
proclaimed in a press release from his
anti-HST boiler room.
“It is outrageous, and reeks of politi-
cal interference by the government and
their friends in big business, and we are
not going to allow it.”
A later press release adopts the tone
of royalty: “We have lost confidence that
the chief electoral officer can be relied
upon to carry out his duties faithfully
the designated committee of the B.C.
legislature.
Alas, Zalm’s legal advice is off the
mark once again: there is no time limit
specified to submit the petition. Elec-
tions B.C. is proceeding cautiously in
uncharted legal waters while the B.C.
Supreme Court considers two HST cases,
including one from Zalm himself.
Here’s one obvious point to illustrate
that this corruption allegation is insult-
ing nonsense.
If Campbell wanted to stall the petition,
he could simply do it in the legislature.
No need to subvert trusted officials of
the provincial Crown.
Of course, this is just the latest ad-
dition to Zalm’s overstuffed clown car
of conspiracies. Stumping against the
HST, he claimed that world-govern-
ment plotters invented global warm-
ing to advance their vast scheme, and
now they’re doing the same thing with
consumption taxes and (gasp) a trade
agreement between Canada and the
European Union.
This all plays well with hardcore
Zalmoids, who would have been pleased
to hear of Campbell’s invitation to the se-
cretive Bilderberg conference, held this
year in Spain. Other Canadian invitees
were former New Brunswick premier
Frank McKenna and CBC anchorman
Peter Mansbridge, so clearly there’s a
planet-wide conspiracy.
This is all entertaining, and chants of
“recall, recall” will be heard for months
everyone, even the supposedly
anti-tax NDP, knows it’s a fantasy
garden.”
to come.
Zalm’s field generals first issued and
then retreated from a deadline of Nov. 15
to start “total recall.”
Now they’re looking at springtime.
This is a sign that the clown car is run-
ning low on gas.
There are people, some in the media,
who long to see B.C. politics get back to
“normal.”
Normal in this case means a sickening
lurch from one bush-league humiliation
to the next, with premiers resigning
in disgrace before voters even have a
chance to throw them out.
But voters should remember what
Zalm is really demanding. Repeal a
federal law, reinstate the provincial sales
tax bureaucracy and repay every ad-
ditional dime collected under the HST. A
nightmare of service cuts would surely
ensue.
The costs of this lunacy haven’t even
been calculated, since everyone, even the
supposedly anti-tax NDP, knows it’s a
fantasy garden.
Tom Fletcher is legislative reporter and
columnist for Black Press and BCLocal-
news.com. tfletcher@blackpress.ca

This week’s question: Should the refugees from Sri Lanka be granted asylum in Canada?
@ Online poll: cast your vote at www.mapleridgenews.com, or e-mail your vote and comments to editor@mapleridgenews.com
THE NEWS/letters
One of the best education
systems in the world
We are just so compassionate
EDITOR, THE NEWS:
EDITOR, THE NEWS: It’s always refreshing to
You can tell by the proliferation of back-to-school ads read the views of Maple
that school bells soon will be calling thousands of stu- Ridge’s long-time resident
dents back. Sandy MacDougall.
The start of every school year brings anticipation and Aug. 13 he writes about
hopes for “the best year ever.” Across B.C., elected school the influx of Tamil refugees
trustees will work hard to make that happen. into Canada aboard the MV
Students in B.C. benefit from one of the best education Sun Sea.
systems in the world. Well, this is one Canadian
This is a result of the work of thousands of dedicated who believes we are a rich
teachers, support and administration staff. nation and we have a history
But school trustees know that, as good as our current of generosity and compas-
system is, it must continue to move forward to ensure t sion for the plight of those
our students are successful in the future. who are so desperate that
Along with the provincial government that sets the they will risk life and limb
overall vision for public education, B.C.’s school trustees in order to live a better life.
are responsible for developing that vision for each unique There is plenty of room in
community by engaging parents, students and others. Canada and much we have
I can’t imagine a more rewarding and awesome respon- News files
to offer these “refugees.”
sibility than building the future of our youth and our I’m positive there is plenty MV Sun Sea now docked in Victoria. Almost 500 arrived from Sri Lanka Friday.
province through public education. of money set aside to pur- oath which will make them home and make their coun- sionate, generous, humani-
Despite the challenges, I truly believe this will be the chase them housing in the “dual citizens.” What a day try a better place to live and tarian people.
“best year ever” for all B.C. students. Welcome back to Metro Vancouver area. You for all to celebrate. anybody who says it’s their So, I welcome these new
school. Welcome back to our future! all know how reasonable We are just so compas- responsibility to do so is “prospective Canadians”
the cost of housing is here. sionate and I want the world “racist!” and I’m sure that when we
CONNIE DENESIUK, As MacDougall has indi- to know just how peace-lov- That would be far too join the United States in
PRESIDENT, cated, we can well afford
B.C. SCHOOL TRUSTEES ASSOCIATION
ing and compassionate we much effort, efforts that their nuclear war against
to house, educate, provide really are. our forefathers put forward Iran this fall, they too, shall
training and find them jobs It’s no wonder the people in order to make Canada fight with our armed forces
so as to make them produc- of the Third World look to the great nation it is today. to protect that which is so
tive members of Canadian the generosity of Canadians Never mind the thousands precious to all of us here in
chat@www.mapleridgenews.com society.
I’m looking forward to the
to save them from the despi- of Canadians who have died Canada.
cable plight they may face if on the battlefield to make I say, “Welcome these
Her pit bull sensitive, great with kids day they can all be known they were to remain in their Canada what it is today. Tamils with open arms.”
as Tamil-Canadians and on mother countries. This is the type of nation Welcome to Canada.
From: LisaB82, posted on www.mapleridgenews.com. each Canada Day we can I mean, it would be too they wanted, the type of na- MIKE BOILEAU
Re: Dog bite (Dog euthanized, Aug. 10). view them on TV taking the MAPLE RIDGE
Legion, unfortunately all your comments show is a huge lack of knowl- much to expect them to stay tion they died for – compas-
edge, not only about American pit bull terrier and Staffordshire terrier.
I would venture a small guess that you have never really had a rela-
tionship with any of those breeds and have only believed the lies that
you hear.
You probably close your eyes and ears to the fact that pitties happily
live in families their whole lives without incident or worry. You prob-
Thanks for traffic calming, it works
ably can’t imagine my pit bull who I got from a rescue. Sensitive little EDITOR, THE NEWS: One of the changes that I So far, I have noticed that it make people aware of the
guy, friendly, super submissive, great with people and kids … has his Re: Traffic calming on Bon- am very happy about is the has slowed traffic, and driv- speed limitations (play-
good canine neighbour and hopefully his therapy dog certificate soon son Road in Pitt Meadows new road-calming curbs on ers will actually stop and al- ground zone) on Bonson
too. You probably can’t fathom that all he does is wag his tail and give I have lived in Pitt Mead- Bonson Road at Wildwood low you to walk across the Road, then I’m all for it.
kisses. ows since 1988 and have Crescent and also at 116A crosswalk. LINDA GLEGG
seen many changes. Street. If these calming devices PITT MEADOWS
You can’t imagine how this breed of dog is not only one of the most
over populated breeds but also the most neglected, abused, and
mistreated breeds in the world. They are forced to fight for their lives,
or be killed by the owners.
And again, I hate it that people focus so much on the breed of the dog
instead of the human tragedy.
Why do we have to spend so much time bashing and defending the
dog in cases of attacks? Why can’t we rally around families in a com-
Is it Smart Growth or sprawl for Maple Ridge?
EDITOR, THE NEWS:
munity and think of ways to change our societies to prevent dog bites
I am afraid I do not share Claus
in the first place?
Andrup’s (Smart Growth proj-
I start to feel my blood boil a little bit when I hear people making out-
ects bear fruit, The News, Aug. 6) “Until we increase the
rageous claims about a breed of dog. I never know how much people
hated them until I owned one myself. I wasn’t prepared for it.
enthusiasm about the progress core density and reduce
of the Smart Growth initiative.
I see continued urban sprawl in sprawl we are never going
From: Tobgan, posted on www.mapleridgenews.com which subdivisions are allowed to get high-capacity rapid
German shepherd, retriever, bull terrier, pit bull … who cares about to be built in places where there
the name. are few amenities and people are transit.”
All dogs have a certain level of unpredictability and the potential to forced to drive.
do harm. I have raised dogs all my life and still get surprised once in a Our downtown has hectares of
while by the actions of my pets. One can never 100 per cent trust and unused and under-used land and
know exactly what is going on in the mind of an animal. no efforts to create a modern, I have lived here for almost 40
This is an isolated and tragic event and my heart goes out to both mixed-use community. years and we still have the same
families involved. Bottom line is – it is never fair to judge or label a There continue to be battles 1930s style single-use buildings
minority group based on the actions of a few. over farmland as people just that we had when I moved here.
Shame on the media for jumping on the pittie slam wagon. think of the present rather than Until we increase the core
the future, when we will not be density and reduce the sprawl,
able to bring food in from Cali- we are never going to get high-
fornia as they will need it, and capacity rapid transit.
the price of transportation will All our local politicians seem
Letters welcome significantly increase costs. to care about are petty little
Letters to the editor should be exclusive to The News And what will the Lower Main- beautification projects and con-
and address topics of interest to residents of Maple land do about feeding the extra tinue to ignore the large issues.
Ridge and Pitt Meadows. Include full name and address, people as the sea level continues Heck though, why should I be con-
as well as daytime phone number for verification. Keep to rise, impacting the agricul- cerned about life in Maple Ridge
letters to 500 words or less. Letters may be edited for tural ability of the lower delta, in 2050? I will be dead by then.
length and clarity. some of the richest farmland in ERICA WILLIAMS News files
@ E-mail letters to editor@mapleridgenews.com. Canada? MAPLE RIDGE Downtown enhancement proceeding.
Air
quality
advisory
issued
But it’s going to
cool down soon
by M o n i s h a M a r t i n s
staff reporter

Wildfire smoke has

again sparked an air
quality advisory for
the Lower Mainland.
Metro Vancouver of-
ficials said they’ve de-
tected higher levels of
fine particulate from
Interior forest fires.
The highest readings
are being measured
in coastal areas such
as Tsawwassen, Rich-
mond, Vancouver Air-
port and the west side
of Vancouver.
“Due to the current
spell of hot, sunny
weather, ozone levels
are also expected to be
elevated this afternoon
in the region,” Metro
air quality planner Ju-
lie Saxton said in the
advisory issued just
before noon Monday
for Metro Vancouver
and the Fraser Valley
Regional District.
“Poor air quality con-
ditions are expected to
persist for the next 24
hours.”
A trend towards
cooler, wetter weather
is forecast by the end
of the week.
For current Air Qual-
ity Health Index readings
see http://www.bcairqual-
ity.com/readings/
Residents are ad-
vised they can reduce
their exposure by
avoiding strenuous
outdoor activities.
Infants, the elderly
and those with underly-
ing conditions like heart
or lung disease are con-
sidered most at risk.
Anyone with symp-
toms like chest dis-
comfort, shortness of
breath, coughing and
wheezing is advised
to follow a health care
provider’s advice.
The advisory comes
after a weekend heat
wave set new high
temperature records
in parts of the Fraser
Valley.
More than 1,400
wildfires have been
recorded so far this
year, burning 175,000
hectares.
Dog would be treated
better, says wife
Inquest finished on
death, RCMP say
they acted in
good faith
by M o n i s h a M a r t i n s
staff reporter
The wife of a Maple
Ridge man who died af-
ter spending a night in
the RCMP drunk tank
isn’t optimistic police
and paramedics will
heed recommendations
following an inquest
into his death.
Karen Young points to
the recommendations
from inquests into simi-
lar deaths that have not
been acted on.
“Had policy been fol-
lowed, Ian would still be
alive today,” she said.
The jury said it wants
paramedics to take
drunks who also have
head trauma directly
to hospital for assess-
ment.
Young was taken into
Karen Young,
wife of Ian
Young, who
died after a
night in RCMP
cells, doubts
inquest will
do any good.
Contributed
custody on Oct. 17, 2008 The 55-year-old was The inquest was
after a passerby found transported to Ridge told police repeated-
him lying on the side of Meadows Hospital, ly violated policy in
the road in Hammond, where doctors deter- the drunk tank that
seemingly intoxicated. mined he needed medi- required officers to
Young has been drink- cal intervention. rouse inmates, make
ing at the By Bailey Pub The man was then sure they respond
in Hammond before he rushed to Royal Colum- and never assume in-
was found metres from bian Hospital, where he mates were “sleeping
his home with a wound underwent surgery. it off.”
to his head. Young died two days Police dragged Young
Almost eight hours later in hospital from a into the drunk tank on
later, during regular cell head injury. a blanket and never
checks at Ridge Mead- The inquest heard para- checked him through-
ows RCMP detachment, medics were reluctant to out the night, despite
officers found the man take him to hospital be- concerns expressed by
breathing, but non-re- cause it could mean wait- the jail guard on duty.
sponsive. ing until he sobered up. See Inquest, p14

Golden Ears Bridge deck has cracks in it after only a year of operation.
Deck work almost done on Golden Ears
Builder paying the
tab for repairs
by C hri s tine Lyon
contributor
The Golden Ears
Bridge has been under-
going repairs all sum-
mer, despite being just
more than a year old.
Workers are busy filling
small cracks that started
showing up on the bridge
deck after a few months
of operation.
“It’s certainly not a
safety issue nor any-
thing to do with the
quality,” said Trans-
Link spokesman Drew
Snider.
“This is a case where
the concrete was
poured in exception-
ally hot conditions
last year. Then things
cooled down and that’s
when the cracks start-
ed forming.”
Crack repair is not
uncommon after bridge
construction, Snider
added. However, the
length of time for them
to appear varies.
The crack sealing on
the elevated parts of
the Golden Ears bridge
should be finished by
Aug. 20. Workers may
have to do sealing on
Colleen Flanagan/THE NEWS
the approaches, de-
pending on inspections
Although the joints
meet transportation
during lane closures. ministry standards, the
The builders are cover- noise that results from
ing the repair costs as vehicles driving over
part of their “capital them bothers people who
obligations.” live in the nearby Maple
According to their Ridge and Pitt Meadows
contract with Trans- neighbourhoods.
Link, the company is TransLink expects to
required to deal with have sound-absorbing
any material defects, material installed on
construction deficien- the northbound and
cies or maintenance is- southbound expansion
sues for 31 years. joints in the next couple
Meanwhile, com- of weeks.
plaints from residents If acoustic testing
late last year prompted proves successful,
TransLink to investi- workers will install the
gate ways to diminish same material on the
the noise from the ex- north and south via-
pansion joints. duct joints as well.
Paper billing fee another rip-off says disgruntled Telus customer
by R o b e r t M a n g e l s d o r f
staff reporter
It might only be two
dollars, but for Carol
McDougall of Maple
Ridge, enough was per month in order to pany’s online billing of paper billing is a cost The fee unfairly tar- month for paper bill-
enough. continue receiving her service. of doing business and gets the two groups of ing, while Virgin and
McDougall was in- wireless phone bill in There’s only one shouldn’t be passed on people who typically Wind charge $4.
formed by Telus last the mail. problem: She doesn’t in the form of an addi- don’t use computers, “We’re actually one
month that as of To avoid the charge, own or use a computer. tional fee. she added, the poor of the last carriers to
Sept. 21 she would be all she had to do was “It seems a little ri- “I just feel we, as a and the elderly. charge for paper bill-
charged a fee of $2 sign up for the com- diculous,” she says. society, are paying “They’re the ones ing,” said Telus spokes-
“You’re basically penal- far too much in added who can least afford an person Shawn Hall.
izing people who don’t fees,” McDougall says. extra fee,” McDougall Hall said the fee is
have a computer.” “This is just another said. being introduced as
While she says she re- way for them to take However, Telus is far part of the company’s
alizes the charge isn’t a little more of your from alone in charg- commitment to envi-
substantial, amounting money. They’re nickel- ing for paper bills. Bell ronmentally sound
to just $24 annually, and-dime-ing consum- and Fido both charge practices.
she contends the cost ers.” an additional $2 per See Paper, p18
RCMP apologize for death, plan
to make changes to cell checks
Inquest from p10 inquest regarding the
Young was found the death of Ian Young,
next morning after who died after being “I want to express our
a corporal took over in police custody,” said condolences to Mr.
command. Young was Supt. Dave Walsh.
found with clear fluid, “On behalf of the Young’s family in respect
tinged with blood, ooz- RCMP, I want to ex- of their loss.”
ing from his head. press our condolences
RCMP poked him in to Mr. Young’s family in Supt. Dave Walsh
the stomach with their respect of their loss.
boots and called para- “Let me assure every-
Ridge Meadows RCMP
medics when he didn’t one that if there is a better
wake up. way to deal with highly
Karen Young said a intoxicated persons, then members will seek im- intoxicated or who have
dog would have been we’ll make changes in mediate medical assis- suffered a head injury;
treated better. that direction.” tance,” said Walsh. • That the RCMP con-
“They need to treat Walsh added that “Guards will physi- sider a review of all cell
these people like hu- renovations currently cally check prisoners conditions in the drunk
man beings,” she said. underway in its jail cell frequently and at irreg- tank, including floor-
“I’d like to believe will make it safer for ular intervals to ensure ing, access to blankets
Ian is the last one [who prisoners. their well-being, and as and safe transfer pro-
dies in police custody]. He has also ensured well, utilize closed cir- cedures to and from
I would have liked them officers and jail guards cuit cameras and are the cell;
to say sorry.” are aware of the force’s to ensure the intervals • The RCMP enter the
The officer in charge “rousability” policy. are no more than 15 cell every hour where
of the Ridge Meadows “If there is any indica- minutes apart.” there is a questionable
RCMP believes both tion that a person is ill, The coroner’s jury consciousness
paramedics and police suspected of having al- made several recom- • That all senior RCMP
responded according cohol poisoning, a drug mendations to both the members receive Level
to policy and “acted in overdose or ingested a RCMP, the B.C. Am- ll first aid training.
good faith”. combination of alcohol bulance Service and • That the Fraser
“Ridge Meadows and drugs, concealed Fraser Health: Health Authority con-
RCMP has received the drugs internally or sus- • That the ambulance sider developing staffed
results of the coroner’s tained an injury, our service include special sobering centres so that
instructions directed to emergency responders
police for the care of peo- have an alternative to
ple in custody who are hospital or jail;
‘We have no idea who these people are’
Refugees from Front
“Having sponsored
refugees ourselves,
we know that the pro-
cess our government
has is very, very thor-
ough.”
The MV Sun Sea ar-
rived in Esquimalt
Harbour early Friday
with 380 men, 63 wom-
en and 49 children on
board.
The people on the
Sun Sea are believed
to be Tamils fleeing
Sri Lanka, but Ca-
nadian government
officials fear some
are members of the
Liberation Tigers of
Tamil Eelam, which
fought a bloody in-
dependence war that Contributed
was crushed last The Royal Canadian Navy intercepted MV Sun Sea and guided it to port in Esquimalt, in Victoria, last week.
year.
The military wing them terrorists,” un-welcoming things eral government says will not be tolerate,”
of the Tamil indepen- Cooper added. have happened,” said it is beginning a pre- said Public Safety
dence movement is “… and to be On the day the ship Cooper. liminary review of Minister Vic Toews.
considered a terrorist detained in prison arrived, a neo-Nazi “And to be detained its immigration and “As we deal with
organization by Ot- in a prison is not a refugee laws to keep this current situa-
tawa. is not a welcoming group called the
welcoming experi- the country from be- tion under Canadian
Canada First Com-
“I know people are experience.” mittee organized a
ence.” ing overwhelmed by law, Canadian offi-
up in arms, because The Immigration boat people. cials will look at all
they think most of rally near the har- and Refugee Board “Let me be clear available options to
Roger Cooper
these people are ter- bour, urging the gov- began detention re- on this point: hu- strengthen our laws
Reverend
rorists. ernment to turn the view hearings for the man smuggling, ille- in order to address
“But we have no ship back. refugee claimants on gal migration or any this unacceptable
idea who these peo- “These people have Monday in Vancou- other abuses of Can- abuse of internation-
ple are. ethnically Tamil but had to drive through ver. ada’s immigration al law and Canadian
“We know they are that doesn’t make places where very Meanwhile, the fed- system cannot and generosity.”

Neo-natal unit at Surrey Memorial Hospital closed last month partly because of lack of anesthesiologists.
Shortage of anesthesiologists
impacting health care: critics
Neo-natal ward at Surrey
Memorial Hospital
closed for lack of help
by Kevin D iakiw
Black Press
A shortage of anesthesiolo-
gists in this province is begin-
ning to affect patient service,
critics say, with the most
recent example being the
closure of high-risk neonatal
services at Surrey Memorial
Hospital.
In July 2009, Fraser Health
Authority advertised for 10
anesthesiologists.
For two months, the jobs
were posted on Healthmatch
BC, ads in daily and national
newspapers, and personal let-
ters were sent to every anes-
thesiologist in the country.
“There wasn’t one applicant
for that job,” according to Dr.
James Helliwell, president of
the B.C. Anesthesiologists So-
ciety.
The problem is the doctors,
whose job it is sedate patients
for medical treatment, includ-
ing surgery, are overworked
in B.C.
The average anesthesiolo-
gist in B.C. works more than
72 hours a week in hospital,
in addition to any office and
preparation work that is re-
quired, Helliwell said recent-
ly. Part-timers work an aver-
age of 55 hours a week in the
hospital.
“That’s an increase in work-
load of 30 per cent in the last
four years,” Helliwell said.
“Part of that is patient com-
plexity is higher, demands be-
ing placed on us are higher,
and surgical volumes, accord-
ing to the Ministry of Health,
have gone up more than 17 per
cent in the last six years – the
recruitment of anesthesiolo-
gists in that same period has
“That’s an increase of 30
per cent in the last four
years.”
– Dr. James Helliwell
B.C. Anesthesiologists Society
been just three per cent.”
Adding to the urgency of the
matter, the average age of an-
esthesiologists is more than
50 years old, and 40 per cent of
them are between the ages of 55
and 64, ready for retirement.
Recruiting new anesthesi-
ologists, as Fraser Health just
found out in its 2009 ad cam-
paign, is difficult given the cur-
rent working conditions.
Even B.C. Children’s Hospi-
tal in Vancouver has not been
able to recruit a Canadian an-
esthesiology graduate in the
EVAN SEAL/BLACK PRESS
past five years, Helliwell said.
He notes the issue was a key
reason for closing Neonatal
Level 3 services last month at
Surrey Memorial Hospital –
which care for the sickest and
highest-need infants.
Fraser Health announced
amid much fanfare last Feb-
ruary that it was opening a
neonatal intensive Care Unit
for Level 3 care at Surrey Me-
morial.
In order to qualify to offer
Level 3, national standards
dictate the hospital must have
a dedicated obstetric anesthe-
siologist on staff, in addition
to on-call anesthesiologists for
the operating room. The anes-
thesiologists must be avail-
able for shifts 24/7, every day
of the year.
The Surrey Memorial beds
were quietly closed for Level
3 care last month, and Fraser
Health shifted the service to
Royal Columbian Hospital.
See Doctors, p17
Hopes to have service back by 2014
Doctors from p16 the service to Surrey Kevin Falcon in hopes fully much earlier than
Fraser Health said it caused a local uproar, of getting the inten- the opening of the new
hopes to have the ser- with callers to local ra- sive neonatal care beds tower in 2014.
vice returned before dio station RedFM tell- used for their intended NDP Health Critic
the completion of the ing radio hosts it was purpose sooner than Adrian Dix said none of
hospital’s new health unacceptable given the 2014. these problems should
care tower being built local fundraising efforts. Falcon said he’s not come as a surprise.
for 2014. More than $1 million happy with Fraser Shortages of anes-
As it happens, Royal Co- was raised by the com- Health’s timeline on thesiologists have cre-
lumbian also doesn’t have munity for neonatal beds the return of services ated problems in cities
a dedicated obstetric an- and other equipment. to Surrey and has asked including Kamloops,
esthesiologist on staff. Sue Hammell, the his staff to explore a Victoria and now Sur-
“They’ve been run- NDP MLA for Surrey- faster turnaround. rey.
ning that way ever since Green Timbers, has a “I think Fraser Health “These issues, obvi-
they started,” Helliwell petition of more than would acknowledge ously are some of the
said. “They’ve never 1,000 names demanding they haven’t handled most significant facing
had dedicated obstetric the return of neonatal it as well as they could the hospital,” Dix said.
anesthesiologists.” intensive care unit ser- have,” Falcon said. Thorpe said those ar-
Of the 4,000 babies vices to Surrey. “And certainly I think rangements are made
born at Surrey Memori- “People feel be- they can do better than in discussion with the
al each year, only a very trayed,” Hammell said. the timeline they have B.C. Medical Associa-
few that need Level 3 And civic politicians indicated.” tion, the BCAS and the
care, said FHA spokes- were equally irate, say- That said, he notes he B.C. Ministry of Health.
person Roy Thorpe. ing a city of Surrey’s will not interfere in any “And then the health
Those can easily be size with such a young way that will create in- authorities work to
managed at Royal Co- population needs Level fant safety issues. achieve the coverage
lumbian which has a 3 neonatal care. Thorpe said it’s Fraser they think they need to
much lower birth rate, Surrey Mayor Dianne Health’s position to get provide the patient care
he said. Watts said she would the service back as at their sites,” Thorpe
The delay in bringing write Health Minister soon as possible, hope- said.

Keep an eye on back yard sheds

Ridge Meadows Wednesday night or third similar incident mous call CrimeStop-
RCMP want to alert early Thursday in the in the past week. So far pers at 1-800-222-8477.
residents to thefts 20400-block of 118th Av- police have few leads. CrimeStoppers will pay
from back yard storage enue in Maple Ridge. • Anyone with any in- a reward of up to $2,000
sheds. Someone cut off a lock formation is asked to call for information leading
In the past few weeks, to a shed, stealing a RCMP at 604-463-6251. to an arrest and convic-
several sheds have been small outboard motor, To remain anony- tion.
targeted by thieves. an electric winch and a
The latest theft gas-powered pressure
happened sometime washer. This is the
Wildfire warning for B.C. Interior
by Tom Fletcher “We have a lot of un- Houston, Burns Lake Fishing lodges were
Black Press contained large fires and Prince George. evacuated in the Dean
burning in the North- Air quality and wild- River area of the Cen-
west, Cariboo and fire smoke adviso- tral Coast on Tuesday,
Emergency officials Prince George regions,” ries have been issued and Highway 20 from
closed the highway to Bell said. “When you for Kamloops, Prince the Cariboo to the Cen-
Bella Coola and issued add strong winds, it George, Quesnel, Van- tral Coast remained
more evacuation no- makes an already dif- derhoof, Williams Lake, closed due to a fast-
tices in the Cariboo and ficult situation even Metro Vancouver, the moving fire on both
Northwest Tuesday as worse.” Fraser Valley, Terrace, sides that forced its clo-
forest fires continued Even before the winds, Kitimat, the Bulkley sure Sunday night.
to spread rapidly in hot hot temperatures had Valley and Lakes Dis- Evacuation orders
Interior weather. produced fires ranked trict. were also in effect for
Forests Minister Pat five or six, the fastest The Cariboo region five Nazko First Nations
Bell issued a warning spread measured by had already lost more reserves and several
Tuesday that a cold the B.C. Forest Service than 123,000 hectares of other parts of the Cari-
front is expected to wildfire management forest to fire as of this boo Regional District,
bring high winds and branch. week, which is several and numerous evacua-
lightning but little rain A heavy smoke warn- times more than the tion alerts or orders for
to fire-stricken areas of ing was issued Tuesday entire province in some the Bulkley-Nechako
the Interior this week. for the area between recent years. Regional District.

Paper billing fees to fund eco-donations

Paper from p14 ment, and save the tives for online billing. months more than
Telus is making a $2 company money. McDougall doesn’t 88,000 Telus customers
one-time donation to “We don’t think it’s believe Telus is con- have signed up for on-
the Nature Conservan- fair that our custom- cerned about the envi- line billing, said Hall.
cy of Canada for every ers that use online ronment; they only see Hall said Telus would
customer who opts for billing should have to another opportunity to make exceptions in
paper billing, which subsidize the expense make a buck. some cases, and waive
will protect 2.5 square of paper billing,” Hall “They don’t have a the paper billing fee
metres of forest. said. problem sending out if a customer has a
On average, Telus However, Hall junk mail,” she notes. disability making it
customers receive 42 couldn’t say why Te- “They send me three impossible for them
pages of paper per lus chose to go with a pieces of paper every to use a computer.
year through paper fee for paper billing in- month and one of them Customers can also
billing. Reducing that stead of offering a dis- is a coupon.” receive their bills via
will help the environ- count or other incen- In the past two their smartphone.

Get your community news first @ www.mapleridgenews.com

New fingerprinting rules for volunteers
Expanded RCMP
checks guard
against sex
offenders
by J eff Nage l
Black Press

Many volunteers
– from Scout leaders to
youth soccer coaches
– may be fingerprinted
due to tightened federal
rules for criminal back-
ground checks.
The national policy
change quietly intro-
duced in July affects
organizations and em- RCMP PHOTO
ployers who deal with Volunteers may now need to be fingerprinted under tightened federal rules for
children and others criminal background checks.
considered vulnerable,
including the elderly birth of one of the pa- Mounties became taneously try to get new
and people with dis- roled sex offenders and aware offenders could volunteers screened for
abilities. therefore be subject to elude detection in the the start-up of fall pro-
The new RCMP fingerprinting. volunteer screening sys- grams.
screening measure is “The odds of your date tem by changing their And he expects some
intended to ferret out of birth being in there names in the aftermath resistance.
pardoned sex offend- are fairly strong,” con- of media interest in con- “People are going to
ers who change their firmed Robert Murray, victed sex offender and be a little bit leery of
names after release, the RCMP’s manager former junior hockey being fingerprinted,”
seek positions of trust for civil pardons and coach Graham James. Pirani said.
and go on to prey on purged services, who “We realized there “As it is it’s very dif-
young victims again. added the force has no was a gap and we want- ficult to get volunteers
Volunteers and em- concrete numbers yet. ed to ensure we closed and this is just going to
ployees working with If fingerprints are re- it off as quickly as we add an additional bur-
the vulnerable whose quired, the check may could,” Murray said. den.”
organizations re- take up to four months There was no advance B.C. Soccer Executive
quire criminal record to complete, he said, warning of the policy Director Bjorn Osieck
checks will now also be although for most peo- change, which took ef- said his organization is
checked to see if their ple who don’t turn up fect July 9. now requiring criminal
date of birth matches a possible match, the A $25 fee will apply record checks, mean-
that of any of the 14,000 processing delay is ex- when fingerprinting is ing fingerprinting for
pardoned sex offenders pected to be just two to required, but that’s not some of the thousands
in a national database. four weeks. the main concern of af- of adult volunteers.
Those born on the Fingerprints will be fected groups. “It might serve as
same day as one of the destroyed after each “Our challenge will a deterrent for a few
offenders will have to search and not retained be the time delay,” said people,” he said. “But I
be fingerprinted to en- in any type of registry, Alamin Pirani, Scouts have to believe that ev-
sure they aren’t in fact Murray emphasized. Canada’s executive di- eryone is generally on
the sex offender operat- “Our goal is to ensure rector for B.C. side with the notion of
ing under a new name. vulnerable individuals He fears the process wanting to make things
A calculation by an are placed in the care may take a long time as safe as possible for
SFU statistician sug- of people who are trust- – particularly as many the kids, first and fore-
gests at least one-third worthy and who have different groups simul- most.”
of male volunteers – and not committed sexually
perhaps closer to half – based offences and are
would match the date of looking for easy vic-
tims.”
 Colleen Flanagan/THE NEWS

Slow and fast

Depending on your relaxation style, Alouette Lake in
Golden Ears Provincial Park offered a few ways of
cooling off from plus-30 C weather Sunday.

Get your community news first @ www.mapleridgenews.com

 Contributed
Frog Safari participants look into a pond in the Alouette watershed, which is home to
a variety of frog species.

Contributed
Volunteer biologists led people on a guided walk
through the Alouette watershed.

Pesticides not
being monitored
Frogs from p1 The dikes along the
Frogs are sensitive to North Alouette River
environmental changes are home to a variety
because they breathe of frogs, including red-
and absorb water legged and Pacific tree
through their relatively frogs.
thin skin. This makes However, the num-
them more susceptible ber of native species is
to contaminants. dramatically decreas-
“If pesticides and fer- ing due to another en-
tilizers are not moni- vironmental threat - an
tored properly, we’re abundance of bullfrogs
going to lose all these and green frogs. The
species - native and number of eggs laid by
non-native,” said Abby these invasive species
Cruickshank, executive outnumber that of na-
director of the Alouette tive frogs. They also
River Management So- limit the number of new
ciety. adult frogs by feeding
on tadpoles.
“They basically out-
“Better compete our native
monitoring, species,” Cruickshank
said.
education and ARMS is taking steps
awareness...is to better understand the
North Alouette ecosys-
needed.” tem to determine what
can be done to protect
Abby Cruickshank, this habitat. The society
ARMS teamed up with other
local environmental or-
ganizations last Sunday
The expansion of to raise public aware-
farmland in the area ness about amphibians
and withdrawal of wa- through an event called
ter also has an impact. Frog Safari.
New fields destroy Volunteer biologists
natural habitat and in- led people on a guided
crease the amount of walk through the Alou-
foreign substances in ette watershed.
the water, Cruickshank “The more feet on the
said. ground and more eyes
Frogs require a cer- we’ve got out there, the
tain amount of water to more protection we’re
survive. If the removal going to have for this
of water from the river area,” said environ-
isn’t monitored, she mental activist Jack
says the life cycle of Emberly.
frogs will be altered. “The habitat is endan-
Frogs lay their eggs gered and the native
in water and without indigenous species out
enough water, they can there are endangered.
dry up and die. It’s a good idea for us
“Better monitoring, locally to know what at-
education and aware- risk creatures are out
ness, as well as political there so that we can
will to enforce habitat maintain their environ-
regulations is needed,” ment because it’s rap-
Cruickshank said. idly disappearing.”
Committee will wait for judge’s ruling on validity of HST petition
VICTORIA – MLAs MLA Terry Lake said first successful citizen from Elections BC be- lated to the imposition
will wait for a judge to Monday. initiative. fore calling the commit- of the HST on July 1. A
rule on the validity of Lake is the convenor In a letter to Vander tee together. business group repre-
Bill Vander Zalm’s peti- of the legislative com- Zalm, Lake said the leg- Legal arguments be- sented by former attor-
tion to kill the harmo- mittee that is preparing islation requires him gan Monday in B.C. ney-general Geoff Plant
nized sales tax, Kam- to meet for the first time to wait to receive the Supreme Court on two argues the petition is
loops-North Thompson to deal with Canada’s 700,000-name petition court challenges re- invalid because it calls
on the legislature to re-
peal a federal law.
Vander Zalm has
sponsored his own
court challenge of the
HST, with lawyer Joe
Arvay saying the tax
isn’t lawful because the
B.C. legislature didn’t
pass a motion to en-
dorse it, as other prov-
inces did.
The power to sponsor
citizen initiatives or re-
call politicians was first
proposed when Vander
Zalm was premier in
the late 1980s, then en-
acted by the NDP gov-
ernment of Mike Har-
court in the early 1990s.
It has never been used
successfully.
In addition to Lake,
the committee includes
B.C. Liberal MLAs Eric
Foster (Vernon-Mo-
nashee), Dave S. Hayer
( S u r r ey - Ty n e h e a d ) ,
Tom Fletcher/BLACK PRESS
MLAs in B.C. legislature.
Richard Lee (Burna- der it, or stage a prov-
by North), Pat Pimm ince-wide referendum.
(Peace River North), NDP attorney-gener-
and John Slater (Bound- al critic Leonard Krog
ary-Similkameen). also wrote to Elec-
NDP MLAs on the tions BC on Monday,
committee are Mike urging acting chief
Farnworth (Port Co- electoral officer Craig
quitlam), Katrine Con- James to forward the
roy (Kootenay West), 700,000-name petition
Rob Fleming (Victoria- to the legislative com-
Swan Lake) and Jenny mittee immediately, or
Kwan (Vancouver- at least explain why he
Mount Pleasant). has refused to do so.
If the petition reaches If the business groups
that stage, the commit- challenging the anti-
tee must decide wheth- HST petition want the
er to submit a bill to the court to stop the pro-
legislature that would cess while their argu-
“extinguish” the HST ments are heard, they
and pay back all the ex- can apply for an injunc-
tra money collected un- tion, Krog said.
 Section coordinator:

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

Contributed
(From left) Dave Groves plays a “Flying V” on stage. Wizard of Ozz features Gary Wood, Dave Groves, Ray Hartmann, Marty Van Keith and Mike Russell.

All aboard the Crazy Train

The Wizard of Ozz get ready to rock The Wizards take pride in laying down heavy metal
like few others can.
Voodoo in Maple Ridge “I’d say everybody is above average or excel-
lent,” says Grove with a chuckle.
“We want it to feel like you’re seeing Ozzy in
by M o n i s h a M a r t i n s a small club. We’ve got the look and are not just
staff reporter some kids just out of a basement.”
energy show with all the Sabbath and Ozzy fa-
vourites from Crazy Train and Mania to Iron At The Voodoo
Man, Bark at the Moon and No More Tears.
Groves has recorded and toured with mem- • Remove The Doubt
bers of Queensryche, Judas Priest and Never- and guest play tonight at
more. He feeds his creativity through his origi- 9:30 p.m. Doors open at 9
nal project Soulbender and is currently playing p.m. Cover is $7. For more,
with Canadian rock icon Nick Gilder. visit www.myspace.com/
He sees Wizard of Ozz as a bit of escape, a loud removethedoubt.

F
rom rumbling bass lines to Tony Iommi’s
heavy head-bang of fun. • Wizard of Ozz play
power chords and heavy down-tuned
“We love playing for people,” says Groves.
guitar, Black Sabbath tests a musician’s “We want it to feel like you’re seeing “Ozzy fans really get into it.”
Aug. 20. Tickets are$15 at
mettle. the door. Show starts at
It’s why guitarist Dave Groves likes to salute Ozzy in a small club.” His character on stage channels Zakk Wylde.
9:30 p.m.
He’s got a similar “bulls-eye” guitar as well as a
the metal gods, every so often, in a tribute show • Altersound and
Dave Groves, Randy Rhoads “Flying V”.
called the Wizard of Ozz. guests play Sept. 1 at 9:30
guitarist, Wizard of Ozz “I grew up listening to Ozzy and Sabbath,”
“It’s technical and difficult and to do it right is
Groves says. p.m. Cover is $7. For more
a challenge,” says Groves.
“Playing this stuff is something special that we visit, www.myspace.com/
Featuring singer and Ozzy Osbourne clone
can do. We get to be like rock stars. It strokes altersound
Gary Wood, bassist Marty Van Keith who plays
your ego if you can pull off a wicked passage in • Warjunk and guests
with the quirky independent rap-metal group
tune.” play Sept. 22 at 9:30 p.m.
Burlap, drummer Ray Hartmann who made a
Since it formed in 1995, the Wizard of Ozz have • The Wizard of Ozz return to stage after a
name for himself with the speed-metal band For more, visit www.
crossed Canada numerous times playing to ra- three-year hiatus. They play Voodoo at 11935
Annihilator and keyboardist Mike Russell who warjunk.com. The Voodoo
bid Ozzy fans at both nightclubs and festivals. 207th Street in Maple Ridge on Friday, Aug. 20.
plays with local rock bands Skard and Mamazon, is at 11935 207th Street in
Though the band sacrificed pyrotechnics after Doors open at 9 p.m. Tickets are $12 in advance
and also tours with Nick Gilder, Groves says the Maple Ridge.
a few close-calls, Groves still promises a high- or $15 at the door. For tickets, call 604-465-3131.
 Arts&Life

SongClub - place for young ladies to shine

quickly when they are
New choral program coming to Maple with the older girls. ,”
Ridge in September Blackburn explains.
“Conversely, the older
Do you love the idea The inspiration for girls learn to mentor
of being in a Glee Club? SongClub came when and they can usually
Singing and moving to Fiona Blackburn real- manage more com-
the music? Performing ized that there were plicated parts of the
with your friends? many young ladies who routine or songs, like a
Then the SongClub is would love to “try out” harmony part or solo.
a perfect place to test being in a high level Some of the BC Girls
your talents. performing group, but choir levels have had an
Launched by the who were either too shy age spread of ten years
award-winning British to audition, not sure of and it has worked mar-
Columbia Girls Choir, being “good enough”, velously, just like a kind
the SongClub is a brand too busy with other ac- of ‘sisterhood’”.
new programme for tivities and not able to For girls who would
young ladies to sing, make a huge commit- like to participate in a
www.bcgirlschoir.org
move, perform and ment of time and money more extensive music
shine. for a whole year. programme, the B.C.
B.C. Girls Choir member posed outside the Canadian consulate on a trip to China. “I want to provide a Girls Choir also offers
place where girls can training and touring
participate for a couple choirs for all ages and
of months and learn abilities.
some interesting, in- An audition is re-
spiring and fun songs,” quired for placement
said Blackburn, the in any of these regular
artistic director of the programmes.
British Co- The choir is
lumbia Girls open to ages
Choir and five to young
long-time adult. Auditions
Maple Ridge take place on
resident. September 13.
“Much like The girls will
being in a be get the high-
Glee Club; all est quality of in-
the girls need struction.
is an interest Blackburn is
to sing and Blackburn a professional
move.” singer and edu-
Blackburn cator who has
understands that the performed everything
whole “audition” pro- from musical theatre to
cess can be intimidating Celtic to opera.
for many girls, so Song- She has three degrees
Club has no audition. from the University
Each SongClub session of British Columbia: a
is only nine weeks long, Bachelor of Music in
with a performance for voice performance, a
family and friends at Bachelor of Education
the end. in music and a Mas-
The year is divided ters of Music in choral
into three sessions and conducting. Under her
each family can choose leadership, hundreds of
to enroll in only one ses- singers have sung with
sion, or they may wish British Columbia Girls
to do two, or all three. Choir and some have
There will be different gone on to careers in
material for each ses- music.
sion, so if a singer wish- The various choirs
es to take the whole have won awards at
year, she would learn as provincial, national and
many as 12 to 15 songs, international festivals;
and participate in three and the singers have
performances. traveled to Australia,
“I am really passion- China, Scotland, Eng-
ate about teaching land and Germany.
girls to sing well and
in a healthy way,” said
Blackburn.
“SongClub will be a SongClub
lot of fun, like having a • In New Westmin-
voice lesson in a group. ster, SongClub runs on
And we will be using our Saturdays from 9:30 a.m.
whole bodies to do what
I call ‘choralography’. I
to 10:45 a.m. The first
know that not all girls rehearsal is Sept.11.
are dancers, so this is • In Maple Ridge,
a non-threatening way SongClub runs on Tuesdays,
for singers to start mov- from 4:30 p.m. to 5:45
ing; and if the girls are p.m. The first rehearsal is
natural dancers, they Sept. 14.
will learn to use their • For more information
voices well, too.” about B.C. Girls Choir or to
The girls can be from register for SongClub, call
about age 9 to 13.
“This may seem like a
Lynn at 604-542-1698,
rather wide age range. email bcgc@telus.net or
I have found that the visit www.bcgirlschoir.org.
young ones learn very
 Arts&Life
Movies coming to the ACT
Local audiences will get to see the best of
Canadian and international films
The Maple Ridge Pitt Meadows Arts Council will
host a six-evening feature film series as part of
the 2010-2011 season at The ACT Main Stage The-
atre.
The Golden Ears Movie Series (GEMS) will
make the best of recent Canadian and internation-
al films available to local audiences, arts council
executive director Lindy Sisson announced last
week.
“The ACT has acquired a top-of-the-line digital
projector with the assistance of the Maple Ridge
Spirit Committee, and we are putting this new as-
set to work,” said Sisson. “We are also fortunate
to have access to the “Film Circuit” program of
the Toronto International Film Festival, which
offers the festival’s library of top-rated films to
communities across Canada.”
An organizing committee of volunteers is as-
sisting Arts Council staff on the project. The com-
mittee has selected three films for fall 2010. The
menu for early 2011 will be confirmed later this
year as more choices become available.
“Our intention is to present films that have had
critical and popular success, but are not showing
at nearby cinemas,” said GEMS organizing com-
mittee co-chair T.J. Hulstra, a Maple Ridge resi-
dent. “We hope to attract people who have enjoyed
attending film festivals, film society showings and
niche cinemas at various times in their lives, as
well as anyone who just likes good movies.”
The GEMS line-up for fall 2010:
• The Trotsky (2009): An award-winning Ca-
nadian film about a teenager who believes he is
the reincarnation of Soviet revolutionary Leon
Trotsky, and sets out to change the world. Colm
Actors needed for Butterflies Are Free
The Emerald Pig Theatrical Society is looking
for a couple of daring actors to star in its next
production.
Set in the mid-seventies, Butterflies are Free is
a play about love, determination and overcom-
ing some of life’s hurdles.
Don Baker is a young blind man who has re-
cently broken the apron strings of his very
controlling mother and set up a new life in the
heart of New York City.
Don has been away from home for just one
month and is starting to enjoy his freedom when
he discovers a free spirited young woman mov-
ing into the adjoining apartment.
Jill Tanner is living the kind of carefree life
that Don has previously only dreamed about.
Unfortunately for Don his mother turns up
a month earlier than arranged in their “stay
away” agreement.
When she finds her son and Jill together al-
most naked, the trouble for all is only a breath
away.
The play requires:
Contributed
The Trotsky, starring Jay Baruchel, plays the ACT on
Sept. 27.
Fiore, Saul Rubinek, Genevieve Bujold and Jay
Baruchel. Monday, Sept. 27.
• Creation (UK, 2009): Charles Darwin, on the
verge of publishing the Origin of Species after 20
years of hesitation, is torn between his commit-
ment to science and his wife’s religious faith. Paul
Bettany, Jennifer Connelly. Monday, Oct. 25.
• The Secret in their Eyes (Argentina, 2009): Win-
ner of the 2010 Academy Award for best foreign
film. A retired lawyer is haunted by an unsolved
homicide case. Ricardo Darin, Soledad Villamil.
Spanish with English subtitles. Monday, Nov. 29.
• Show time for this season’s features is 7:30
p.m., with a short film showing before each fea-
ture. Single tickets are $11, with discounts for
three-and six-film packages. Tickets go on sale
August 16. For more information, including film
trailers, visit www.theactmapleridge.org/gems.
• One man in his 20s to play Don Baker, who
is blind
• One man over 25 years
• One woman in her 20s to play Jill, a free-spir-
ited actress
• One woman over 40 to play Don’s mother.
Actors playing Don and Jill should be comfort-
able on stage in their underwear. No nudity, but
some scenes require intimacy and kissing.
The play hits the stage in November.
Auditions
Audition take place Sept. 1 and 2 in the Fraser Room at
Maple Ridge Library, 130-22470 Dewdney Trunk Road in
Maple Ridge from 7 p.m. to 9 p.m. by appointment. Call
Sharon Malone at 604-476-1984 for an audition time or email
emeraldpig@theatrebc.org.
Sides for the audition are posted on the website in pdf
format. Actors may also bring a prepared monologue, song,
dance. For more, visit http://www.emeraldpig.ca/content/
auditions-butterflies-are-free.

C
ommunity Calendar lists
events in Maple Ridge
and Pitt Meadows. No-
tices 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 newsroom@maplerid-
genews.com at least a week
before the event. Include a
contact name and number. (No
submissions by phone.) Listings
appear as space permits. For
guaranteed publication, ask
our classified department at
604-467-1122 about non-
profit rates.
Wednesday, Aug. 18
• Come and meet the
library’s smallest stars,
the talented puppets, at
Puppets in the Park. Energetic
puppeteers will entertain and
delight the whole family. Pack
a dinner and bring it along
to our fabulous evening of
entertainment at the Memo-
rial Peace Park Bandstand at
6:45 p.m. Great summer fun
for the whole family. For more
information, please call the
Maple Ridge Public Library at
604-467-7417.
Thursday, Aug. 26
• Gilbert and Sullivan’s
world famous comic operetta
drops anchor for a dress re-
hearsal at the Spirit Square in
Pitt Meadows at 7 p.m. Free
to attend.
Friday, Aug. 27
• Gilbert and Sullivan’s
world famous comic operetta
drops anchor at the Clarke
Theatre in Mission at 7 p.m.
Tickets are $10, children 10
and under are free. Advance
tickets available at the Bergth-
orson Academy of Musical Arts
and Hair Expressions 604-467-
6613.
Saturday, Aug. 28
• Gilbert and Sullivan’s
world famous comic operetta
drops anchor at the Clarke
Theatre in Mission at 2 p.m.
and 7 p.m. Tickets are $10,
children 10 and under are free.
Advance tickets available at
the Bergthorson Academy of
Musical Arts and Hair Expres-
sions 604-467- 6613.
• Doggie Days comes to
the Haney Farmers’ Mar-
ket. The fun starts at 10:30
a.m. in the grassy area beside
the Market. Bring your tallest,
shortest, best dressed dog.
Aurelius Band will entertain
the shoppers. There will be hot
buttered corn, popcorn, cook-
ies and more to snack on while
you enjoy the morning. www.
haneyfarmersmarket.org
• The Maple Ridge Better
Breathers Club is holding its
annual yard sale at 10:00 a.m.
in front of the Legion on 224th
and Brown Street. There will
be board games, video games
hundreds of VCR movies, toys,
household do-dads and hun-
dreds of other good things.
Community Calendar
Many boxes of donations Selkirk Avenue, Maple Ridge. of you home coordinating and enter from the back of the Saturday night. Includes ing) will not be meeting again
have not been opened so our Call 604-463-6595 for more rides with volunteer drivers building. Hope and recovery dinner and a live band. For until Sept. 22 at the Lion’s Den.
surprise will be your surprise. information. Nomination to transport cancer patients for debtors, compulsive spend- more information call Doris at The group will be demonstrat-
deadline is October 5. to and from treatment related ers and under-earners. For 604-465-4412. ing the craft all throughout the
Wednesday, Sept. 1 •Golden Ears United appointments. Volunteers more information, e-mail ma- • The Meadow Ridge month of September at the
• The Emerald Pig Theat- Soccer Club women’s teams need to be well organized pleridge@ debtorsanonymous. Singers are accepting new ACT, where their work will be
rical Society will be holding are now accepting players for with good record keeping ca or call John 604-928-9697. members. Practices are Mon- displayed.
auditions for their production the fall season. There is space skills. Must have excellent • Sizzlin’ outside? Refresh days, 7 to 9:30 p.m. starting • Health and wellness
of Butterflies Are Free from 7 in Divisions 1, 3, and 4, as well people skills and telephone yourself with a cool story. Sept 14. Two concerts per year. clinics are available every
to 9 p.m. in the Fraser Room as the 30-plus Division. Divi- manner and the ability to Come to the Maple Ridge Contact Lonnie at 604-460- Tuesday from 9 a.m. to noon
(upstairs) at Maple Ridge sion 1 is best suited to former communicate clearly and solve Public Library and enjoy 9331 for more information. at the Ridge Meadows Se-
Library, 130-22470 Dewdney gold and Metro players. Ages problems effectively. Time stories, songs and fingerplays • The Pitt Meadows niors’ Activity Centre, 12150
Trunk Road. Please call Sharon 17 and up. Season runs from commitment is approximately that will entertain and delight Senior Snooker Club is a 224th Street. Volunteer
Malone at 604-476-1984 for September to March, with reg- 4 to 6 hours per week over a you. All ages are welcome. non profit group of seniors nurses check blood pressure,
more information or to book istration underway. For more minimum one year term. To Storytimes begin at 10:30 ages 55 and up who play daily pharmacist and diabetic edu-
an audition time, or email information please contact find out more, please contact a.m. on Tuesdays and Thurs- at the Pitt Meadows Family cators, and massage therapy.
emeraldpig@theatrebc.org Susan Carr at 604-467-8447 or Vinyse Barberat vbarber@ days through July. For more Recreation Centre. The group The Pitt Meadows health and
via email at clascarr@shaw.ca. bc.cancer.ca or 604-215-5209. information, please call the is looking for new members. wellness clinic meets every
Thursday, Sept. 2 • The Canadian Cancer • Debtor’s Anonymous Maple Ridge Public Library at Contact Collin at 604-465- second Friday from 10 a.m.
• The Emerald Pig Theat- Society is looking for a volun- meets Tuesdays, 8 to 9 p.m. 604-467-7417. 2391. to noon at the Pitt Meadows
rical Society will be holding teer driver dispatcher in Maple at St. Andrew’s Church, 22165 • Singles dance, at • The Gone Hooking Group Seniors’ Lounge, 12027 Harris
auditions for their production Ridge. Work from the comfort Dewdney Trunk Road. Park various locations, every (traditional rug hook- Road.
of Butterflies Are Free from 7
to 9 p.m. in the Fraser Room
(upstairs) at Maple Ridge
Library, 130-22470 Dewdney
Trunk Road. Please call Sharon
Malone at 604-476-1984 for
more information or to book
an audition time, or email
emeraldpig@theatrebc.org
Tuesday, Sept. 7
• Join the retired teach-
ers of School DIstrict No. 42
who will be celebrating the
first day of school at the Hell
With The Bell buffet breakfast
at the Maple Ridge Seniors’
Activity Centre, 12150 224th
Street, at 10 a.m. Cost is $10.
Newly retired teachers can
attend for free. Please RSVP
to Don Sears at 604 464-3886
or donsears@telus.net.
Saturday, Sept. 11
• Join the Family Educa-
tion and Support Centre
and the Affiliation of Multi-
cultural Societies and Service
Agencies at the Diversity
Health Fair at the Ridge Mead-
ows 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 profession-
als, or sample ethnic foods. To
learn more, call Angie at 604-
476-2447 or email angie@
hipstrategic.com.
Ongoing
• The Ridge Meadows
Hall of Fame Society is now
accepting nominations for
2011 inductees. The Hall of
Fame honours the achieve-
ments of Maple Ridge and
Pitt Meadows residents in
the fields of sports, the arts,
business, education, and com-
munity volunteerism. Those
considered for the honour
will have contributed to the
community over a significant
number of years, bringing
provincial, national or inter-
national recognition to Maple
Ridge and Pitt Meadows.
Nominations can be mailed
to the Ridge Meadows Hall of
Fame Society at #303 - 22213
Cats need a cuddle
Become a Grandmeow and
Grandpaw at the Katie’s Place
shetler in Maple Ridge
Pet s by
John Donaghy

A
few months ago, a group of Ka-
tie’s Place volunteers came up
with an idea that would improve
the lives of the cats in our care and ben-
efit the community at large.
It started from a notion that it would be
beneficial if a way could be found to put
Katie’s Place cats together with some of
the seniors citizens in our community, es- Contributed
pecially seniors who are not in a position A volunteer cuddles Dexter at Katie’s Place.
to have a pet cat in their own residence.
The pay-offs, it was thought, would be
At this time, we have several wonderful
a positive experience for both the felines
participants in the program who come on
and the seniors involved in the program.
different days.
Out of these initial musings came the
They make a point of trying to visit all
Grandmeows and Grandpaws Program.
nine of Katie’s Place rooms, so as to share
Seniors picked a time during the week
their time and cuddling with as many cats
that worked for them and spent an hour
as possible.
or two at the Katie’s Place shelter, spread-
The porches attached to each room have
ing love and goodwill among the feline
become more and more popular with the
residents.
cats as the spring and summer sunshine
The main things the cats get out of the
has made life so pleasant in the open air.
program are pats, brushing, fun and play,
There are chairs, benches and sofas in
tasty treats, one-on-one attention, and
each room, and on each porch so that cats
the loving company of people who really
and visitors can lounge comfortably to-
want to be with them.
gether.
Not that the regular Katie’s Place vol-
It’s wonderful to see all the happiness
unteers don’t like to do these things too.
that fills the shelter on the days when the
Unfortunately most of the time they are
seniors visit.
so busy scooping litter boxes, dispensing
The cats, many of whom have led lonely
fresh food and water, and sweeping and
and difficult lives, love every minute of
swabbing the decks that they cannot give
time spent with them by the Grandmeows
as much to the cats as they wish to.
and Grandpaws.
So finding another source of tender lov-
Many of these animals have not had a
ing care for the cats was extremely im-
kind human hand touch them in years.
portant. What then do the seniors get out
The humans in return are given the kind
of the arrangement? Furry rubs against
of unconditional love that only an animal
shoes and shins, rumbling purrs and me-
can give.
ows, contented animals seeking out wel-
There is always more room at our shel-
coming laps for a snooze and some cud-
ter for new seniors to join the program,
dling, along with quiet moments in some
so if you are interested, just drop by the
great company.
shelter during the open hours on any Sat-
All in all, this is a pretty good trade for
urday or Sunday between noon and 2 p.m.
everyone concerned, whether human or
and talk to one of the Katie’s Place vol-
feline!
unteers.
There is the odd snarly cat that might
Katie’s Place is located at 10255 Jackson
reach out defensively to ward off atten-
Road, just to the south of and behind the
tion, and the odd one that might bare its
SPCA) or pick up the phone and leave a
teeth. Those are the beasties that every-
message at 604-463-7919; someone will
one learns to avoid and they are a very
call you back to sort out what works best
small minority of the 120 to 130 Katie’s
for you.
Place residents.
 Contributed
New perimeter road on south side of Fraser River proving expensive.

Perimeter road enviro

costs keep climbing
But that does not ter contamination.
B.C. now paying mean the government There also will be im-
$88m for repairs now projects worse im- proved access for farm
pacts from the road, ac- vehicle and specialized
cording to transporta- road improvements to
by J eff Nagel
tion ministry assistant improve farm vehicle
Black Press
deputy minister Frank access. Road upgrades
Blasetti. to improve farm vehicle
The province will Instead, he said, the mobility will be worth
spend an extra $57 mil- cost of remediating $10 million.
lion to offset the dam- landfills and contami- The improvements
age done to the envi- nated sites near Burns are to offset the loss of
ronment and farmland Bog has risen signifi- 90 hectares of farmland
by the $1.2-billion South cantly, to $19 million. removed from the Agri-
Fraser Perimeter Road. “We were surprised cultural Land Reserve to
The government at how extensive they make way for the road.
signed a $658-million were,” he said, adding Instead of the private
contract Aug. 12 with a old wood waste landfills partner taking on all
Spanish-led consortium must be closed and sys- the work, the provincial
of companies to design, tems installed to cap- government has direct-
build and maintain the ture and treat runoff. ly financed and led pre-
40-kilometre four-lane An extra $10 million load work, particularly
truck freeway connect- is going to systems to in areas of soft soils.
ing Deltaport to High- help control water lev- Blasetti said the ad-
way 1 and the Golden els around Burns Bog vance work reduced
Ears Bridge. and $26 million is ear- the cost uncertainty
The Fraser Transpor- for the private partner,
tation Group will also which he said will take
finance around $200 on all risks related to
million of the costs.
Work includes new construction.
The group consists Alex Fraser tidal About $300 million or
of ACS Infrastructure a quarter of the total
Canada and Ledcor De-
wetlands … a project cost of $1.184
velopment Ltd. as equity similar marsh … billion is to buy out res-
partners and Dragados idents and other prop-
Canada Inc., Ledcor CMI
and fish habitat erty owners along the
Ltd., Belpacific Excavat- improvements at route, Blasetti said.
ing and Shoring and On the financing side,
Vancouver Pile Driv-
Crescent Slough Victoria is borrowing
ing Ltd. as design-build about $500 million, with
contractors. ACS and marked for fish and an additional $363 mil-
Dragados are subsidiar- wildlife enhancement lion from Ottawa.
ies of a major Spanish to make up for con- The northeastern sec-
infrastructure firm. struction damage. tion of the SFPR from
The controversial The work includes 176th Street to the Pat-
road along the south construction of a new tullo Bridge is slated
bank of the Fraser Alex Fraser tidal wet- to be finished by the
has been under fire lands for fish habitat, end of 2012, with the
because it means bull- a similar marsh at southwestern leg to
dozing homes, carv- Manson Canal and fish Deltaport not expected
ing through sensitive habitat improvements to be finished until the
ecosystems and paving at Crescent Slough. second half of 2013.
farmland. The perimeter road “The South Fraser
In inking the deal, the will also bring a new Perimeter Road will re-
province revealed it is $18-million irrigation move trucks and region-
now paying $88 million system serving 6,000 al traffic from communi-
– up from $31 million hectares, much of ty streets and put them
– for mitigation and which had not previ- back on the highway,
enhancement required ously been irrigated or where they belong,” said
for the loss of habitat which relied on water Transportation minister
and agricultural land. more prone to saltwa- Shirley Bond.
 Section coordinator:

THE NEWS/sports
Robert Mangelsdorf
604-467-1122 ext. 216
newsroom@mapleridgenews.com

Local lax
players
take
silver
Mitchell McDole,
Andrew Gresham,
Ty Yanko and Regan
Eaton of the Ridge
Meadows Burrards
Minor Lacrosse Asso-
ciation all came home
from the 2010 Bantam
National Lacrosse
Championships in
Whitby, Ontario, with
silver medals around
their necks. Forwards
McDole and Gresham
played for the ban-
tam boys’ provincial
team, while Eaton
backstopped the ban-
tam girls’ squad, and
Yanko for the peewee
boys’ team. All three
teams finished second
to Team Ontario at the
tournament. Colleen Flanagan/THE NEWS
The bantam boys’
squad opened their Hacker’s delight
tournament with a
7-6 win over Iroquois Thomas Melvin, 7, who recently moved from England to Maple Ridge with his family, enjoys a game of golf with his father and grandfather at Hacker’s Haven Tuesday morning.
before thumping Que-
bec 16-0. An 18-0 win
over Nova Scotia and
an 18-2 win over Sas-
katchewan gave to the
team a perfect 4-0 re-
cord.
Team B.C. improved
Ridge product picked for nationals
Cloverdale. O’Neill has played hurt a few times
to 6-0 with a 19-1 win
over New Brunswick
Tyler O’Neill to vie for gold O’Neill might want to thank his without telling the team, because he
and a 10-4 win over with Team B.C. dad for his ability to muscle the ball, didn’t want to get pulled from the
Ontario. Alberta gave as genetics may have played a role. line-up. Recently he fell down a 40-
B.C. their closest by R o b e r t M a n g e l s d o r f Terry O’Neill was a champion body- foot embankment and showed up for
match of the tourna- staff reporter builder in the 1970s and 80s, compet- practice the very next day covered
ment, a 7-5 decision, ing for the Canadian bodybuilding head to toe in cuts, scrapes, and
before B.C. shut-out title several times. bruises.
Manitoba 14-0. They call him Tank, and for good “It’s in his blood I guess,” said “He’d show up if his arm was bro-
That put B.C. in reason. Maple Ridge’s Tyler O’Neill Dagg. ken,” said Dagg, who will be coach-
the tournament final has proven to be unstoppable at the After the Mounties beat the Spurs ing O’Neill again next season with
against Ontario, whom plate, and has attracted a lot of at- in the final of the provincial cham- the Langley Blaze of the B.C. Junior
they had already beat- tention with his power hitting abil- pionships, Mounties manager Ted Premier League.
en handily. However, ity. The 15-year-old catcher finished Pawlick knew right away who his “He’s a gamer.”
Ontario shocked the the season with an average shy of first pick-up for the national tourna- O’Neill and Team B.C. went 3-2
B.C. squad, shutting .380 with the Cloverdale Spurs of ment would be. at warm-up tournament last week-
down their shooters to the B.C. Minor Baseball bantam “We’ve played them 10 times or so end in Washington State, playing
win 6-1, leaving Team AAA league, leading the team in this season, so I know what he can against teams up to two-years older.
B.C. with silver. home runs, and was picked up by do,” said Pawlick. “He’s the type The team heads to Ontario next
Gresham finished the Vancouver Mounties for their of kid anyone would want on their O’Neill week where they will face Nova Sco-
the nine-game tourna- trip to the Bantam Boys National team.” tia, New Brunswick, Manitoba and
ment with five goals Championships in Vaughn, Ontario, Pawlick said O’Neill would likely pretty unassuming guy,” said Paw- Ontario in the round robin portion
and six assists, while this week. be sharing catching duties, while lick. “He’s a great kid and we’re of the competition.
McDole finished the “He can launch a ball through a helping out with pinch hitting and thrilled he’s with us.” The 2010 Baseball Canada Bantam
tournament with one brick wall,” said Eddie Dagg, who middle infield. Much like his namesake, O’Neill, Boys Championships gets underway
goal and six assists. coached O’Neill this season with “His nickname is Tank, but he’s a himself, is unstoppable. Dagg said August 26.
Eaton and the B.C.
girls’ bantam team fin-
ished the round robin happier with how his midget AA a third strike on what Easton felt
Ridge team falls 4-3 to
with a perfect 4-0 re-
cord, but Team On-
tario again played the
spoiler, shutting them
Midget AA Saskatchewan squad
squad performed last weekend at
the 2010 Western Canadian Cham-
pionships in Surrey.
The Royals were down 4-3 in the
was a checked a swing.
“It was a bit controversial,” he
said. “It’s a hard way to lose like
that, with a call at the plate instead
out 4-0 in the final.
Yanko amassed 18
points in 10 games
with provincial pee-
Royals take by R o b e r t M a n g e l s d o r f
staff reporter

It was a heartbreaking way to

bottom of the seventh and final
inning of the tournament final
against Saskatchewan on Sunday.
With a runner in scoring posi-
of a play in the field, so it was a bit
of a heart breaker.”
The Royals were 3-1 in round rob-
in play, and won their semi-final
wee squad, netting 12
goals to lead the team
in scoring. silver at WCC lose the biggest game of the sea-
son, but Ridge Meadows Royals
coach Gord Easton couldn’t be
tion ready to tie the game with two
outs, and the Royals’ batter fac-
ing two strikes, the umpire called
game to advance to the final with
Saskatchewan.
See Royals, p40
 Sports

Ridge Meadows Hall of Fame

• The Ridge Meadows Hall of Fame Society is now accepting nominations for 2011 inductees. The Hall of
Fame honours the achievements of Maple Ridge and Pitt Meadows residents in the fields of sports, the
Peewee Knights
arts, business, education, and community volunteerism. Those considered for the honour will have con-
tributed to the community over a significant number of years, bringing recognition to Maple Ridge and
Pitt Meadows. Nominations can be mailed to the Ridge Meadows Hall of Fame Society at #303 - 22213
Selkirk Avenue, Maple Ridge. Call 604-463-6595 for more information. Deadline is Oct. 5.
take Round
Table title
by R o b e r t M a n g e l s d o r f
staff reporter

More than 700 football running backs Jeremy

players from across the
province braved the
blistering heat for the
annual Knights of the
Round Table football
tourney last weekend
at the Albion Sports
Fields in Maple Ridge.
With temperatures
well into the 30s, Mead-
ow Ridge Community
Football Association
spokesperson Jamie
Cameron said keeping
the kids cool was a ma-
jor priority.
“All the parents and
volunteers did a great
job of making sure the
players were cool and
hydrated,” he said. “We
were using a lot of cool-
ers and ice, wet towels
and were pretty reli-
gious about spraying
the kids down.”
The annual tourna-
ment bills itself as one
of the largest in the
province, with dozens
of teams taking part.
The peewee Meadow
Ridge Knights squad
took first place in their
division, thanks in part
to some inspired play by
Kankolongo and Drake
Kindred who made sev-
eral long touchdown
runs over the course of
the tourney.
The Knights’ junior
bantam team finished
tied for second after
playing four games
back-to-back on Satur-
day. Quarterback Jake
Leberge was able to
find receiver Matt Cam-
eron in the end zone for
a pair of touchdowns,
while receiver Brandon
Williams also had a
strong game. Marcello
Lucarino led the de-
fense.
The Meadow Ridge
bantam team also fin-
ished second, playing
three games in a row
as they prepared for
the Valley Community
Football League’s regu-
lar season play next
month.
The atom Gold and
Blue Knights finished
third and fourth, re-
spectively, while the
midget Knights held a
scrimmage with Burn-
aby.

Ridge Royals
denied a rally
Royals from p39
The Royals took an early 2-0 lead in the final be-
fore Saskatchewan tied things up and pulled ahead
3-2. Ridge rallied to tie the game 3-3, only to have
Saskatchewan pull ahead once again, winning 4-3.
“The team did excellent all weekend long,” said
Easton. “The battled hard and every kid on the
team played a role.”
The Royals are made up of Dayne Chabot, Kevin
Bourque, Keanen Buckley, Tyrel Comrie, Kyle
White, Sean Dorey, Troy Murray, Joey Tack,
Brendan Roberts, Louis Bocolas, Nick Mahal,
and Jordan Wolfe. Along with Easton, the team
is coached by Greg Prickette, Dennis Tack, Peter
Francis, Kyle Lukacs, Bert Brauwer, and bat boy
Jayden Prickette.
“We’ve had a lot of support from everyone this
season; the parents, the association, all our volun-
teers, it’s just been great,” said Easton.
The team won the B.C. provincial championships
earlier this month in Prince George.

Get your sports results in

THE NEWS
sports@mapleridgenews.com
 Sports

Knowledge is useless without experience

S
ome weeks ago I took my Early mornings and evenings are or Green Spratley. For dry fly
wife and daughter back to the ticket once again. For wet fishing try: Lady McConnel, Irre-
a lake in the Cariboo that (sinking) fly fishing try: Big Black, sistible, Big Ugly, Double Hack-
we had not fished in 10 Nation’s Black, Baggy led Peacock, Tom Thumb, Royal
years. After finding the Shrimp, Coachman, Wulff, Goddard Sedge, Sofa Pil-
fish (credit goes to my Cased Caddis, Half- low, or Elk Hair Caddis.
wife Kim for spotting the back, Dragon Nymph, The Fraser River is good for
Damsel flies climbing up Carey Special, Zulu, or sockeye, spring, dolly varden,
the bulrush stems), we Doc Spratley. For dry cutthroat, and rainbow. For
were quickly casting to (floating) fly fishing try: sockeye try: (chartreuse) Dean
active prospects. While Tom Thumb, Renegade, River lanterns, Bunny Leach,
Kim was able quickly Black Gnat, Foam Ant, Bucktail, Nitnook, Besure, Green
adapt to the accurate Griffith Gnat, Royal Slime, or Caboose. For spring
casting required in ex- Coachman, or Elk Hair try: Kaufmann Stone, Eggo, Pop-
tracting brookies from Caddis. For kokanee sicle, Squamish Poacher, GP, Big
the reeds, my daughter try: Red Abbis, Red Black or Flat Black. For cutthroat
Joanna was not. Tight Lines Spratley, Bloodworm, and rainbow try: Rolled Muddler,
I tried to remedy the Jeff Weltz Royal Coachman, San Mickey Finn, Tied Down Min-
problem by setting Jo- Juan Worm, or red Mi- now, Eggo, Professor, Lioness,
anna up with a spinning cro Leach. Kaufmann Stone, Coachman,
rod and float system. The prob- Local bass and crappie fish- Zulu, Chez Nymph, Black Gnat,
lem with this was that there was ing is AAA. For bass try: Wooly Sooboo, Irresistible, Elk Hair
no direct connection to the fly be- Bugger, Big Black, Blood Leach, Caddis, or Stimulator. For dolly
low the float, leaving a time delay Matuka, Popin Bugs, Chernobyl varden try: large Rolled Muddler,
between seeing the float go down Ants, Crayfish, Clouser’s Deep Zonker, Clouser’s Deep Minnow,
and attempted hook sets. The Minnow, Epoxy Minnow, De- Dolly Whacker, black Popsicle,
time delay resulted in missed ceiver, Muddler Minnow, Dolly or Big Black.
fish. Whacker, Turk’s Tarantula, The Vedder River is good for
As an instructor, I learned while Bucktail, Hair Frog, Irresistible, spring and rainbow.
watching my daughter’s frustra- or Tom Thumb. For crappie try: The Stave River is good for cut-
tion that all the knowledge in the Black Gnat, Lady McConnel, throat and rainbow.
world is worthless, if you have Coachman, Royal Coachman, The Harrison River is good for
not first walked through all the Ant, chartreuse Boobie, Wooly cutthroat, and Rainbow.
rudimentary skills required for Bugger, Trico, Griffith Gnat, or The Thompson and Nicola
success. Irresistible. rivers are good for rainbow. Try
Fishing on our Interior lakes is Kaufmann Stone, Chez Nymph,
fair. For wet fly fishing try: Chi- Hairs Ear, Roller Muddler, Tom
Fishing report ronomid, Pumpkinhead, 52 Buick, Thumb (standard or red-bodied),
Our Lower Mainland lake Wooly Bugger, Micro Leach, olive Grass Hopper, Stimulator, Cher-
fishing (trout and kokanee) has Matuka, Butler’s Bug, Halfback, nobyl Ant, Irresistible, or Elk
dropped off again due to the heat. Baggy Shrimp, Sooboo, Sixpack, Hair Caddis.