Maple Ridge Pitt Meadows Times September 10 2013
19
Online, all the time... www.mrtimes.com Tuesday, September 10, 2013 • LOCAL NEWS, SPORTS, AND ENTERTAINMENT • mrtimes.com • 604-463-2281 • 20 PAGES Pitt Meadows is open for business, and being recognized for its efforts. Page A13 Troy Landreville/TIMES As dusk settled in, Supt. Marty Chesser, Officer in Charge of the RCMP Musical Ride, watched Thursday evening’s performance at Albion Fairgrounds. A total of 32 ride-and-horse teams with the RCMP Musical Ride wowed onlookers with their horsemanship and synchronicity. See related coverage on pages A9 and A12 An estimated 1,300 spectators gathered at the Albion Fairgrounds outdoor arena Thursday to watch the Mounties on mounts perform. by Troy Landreville and Roxanne Hooper [email protected] The forces of nature passed through Maple Ridge Thursday afternoon with an intense deluge of rain accom- panied by lightning flashes and booms of thunder rocking the region. The storm passed through nearly as quickly as it arrived, making way for another force – adorned in red serge and aboard jet black horses with Hanoverian blood- lines. Under a blanket of cloud, 32 rider-and-horse teams with the RCMP Musical Ride performed outdoors in front of a near capacity audience at Albion Fairgrounds. Much to the astonishment and delight of organizers, that pelting rain, flash floods, lightning strikes, and roar- ing thunder stopped just in time for Maple Ridge’s pres- entation of the musical ride. The horrifying mid-afternoon weather had organizers of the show terrified. It was honestly looking like a wash- out, said Lorraine Bates, manager of the host group from Country Fest. The outdoor show began at 6:30 p.m., and she believes it was close to 5:30 p.m. when the torrential downpour- ing of rain and stormy conditions ceased. “At one point this afternoon, I said to myself, ‘oh, what will be, will be.’ I just couldn’t believe it was happening. So many put so much time and effort into making this happen… but you have to shake it off because there’s only so much that’s within your control,” Bates said. A short time later, the storm passed, and much to her surprise and glee cars full of families began pulling into the Albion Fairgrounds to see the show. “I’m ecstatic with how it all turned out,” Bates said. “I’m just surprised at how many people showed up,” esti- mating the crowd to be at about 1,300. Doug Fynn was one of those who brought his family of 10 – representing four generations – to the show. “It was with some trepidation that we came through the storm from Vancouver, New Westminster, Port Moody, and Mission,” he said. “But God was very good and the weather was great, and we all had a wonderful time.” Speaking to organizers, he said, “You folks are to be commended for putting on an excellent evening… It was the first time my two grandsons, aged four and two, have seen this production, and they loved the horses, and dogs, and policemen. It was also the first time my stepmother, aged 85, has seen the ride – and she loved it. Thank you for all your effort to provide such a great evening for us.” The musical ride Bates described as “phenomenal,” and said everyone she asked after the show used words like “awesome” and “terrific” to describe the event. “When you have perfect, what more can you say,” Bates concluded, thanking the RCMP Musical Ride team, all the volunteers, sponsors, and spectators for making the local event such a success. “When the day is over, and all is said and done, we have raised some money for two worthy charities and the community had a chance to watch a national treasure.” The event was put on by and benefited the Country Fest and the North Fraser Therapeutic Riding Association. As of Monday, organizers were estimating the charity show raised about $8,000 for each organizations. RCMP Storm clears in time for musical ride www.mrtimes.com View photos with or online at Connect With Your City pittmeadows.bc.ca facebook.com/pittmeadows @citypittmeadows MINIMUM MINIMUM VALUE VALUE TRADE IN AGAINST A TRADE IN AGAINST A USED VEHICLE USED VEHICLE PUSH PULL or DRAG $ $ 3000 3000 CALL 604.465.8931 11969-224th Street 604.463.3663 mapleridgesubway.mobi 224 th only Back to School Let us make lunch! NO COUPON REQUIRED $ $ 4 4 99 99 6” Classic Meal 6” Classic Meal includes 12oz drink & chips includes 12oz drink & chips SUBWAY 224TH ONLY. EXPIRES SEPT. 30, 2013
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Maple Ridge Pitt Meadows Times September 10 2013
Transcript of Maple Ridge Pitt Meadows Times September 10 2013
Online, all the time...
www.mrtimes.com
Tuesday, September 10, 2013
• LOCAL NEWS, SPORTS, AND ENTERTAINMENT • mrtimes.com • 604-463-2281 • 20 PAGES
Pitt Meadows is openfor business, and being
recognized for its efforts.
Page A13
Troy Landreville/TIMES
As dusk settled in, Supt. Marty Chesser, Officerin Charge of the RCMP Musical Ride, watchedThursday evening’s performance at AlbionFairgrounds. A total of 32 ride-and-horse teamswith the RCMP Musical Ride wowed onlookers withtheir horsemanship and synchronicity.
See related coverageon pages A9 and A12
An estimated 1,300 spectators gathered at theAlbion Fairgrounds outdoor arena Thursday towatch the Mounties on mounts perform.by Troy Landreville and Roxanne [email protected]
The forces of nature passed through Maple RidgeThursday afternoon with an intense deluge of rain accom-panied by lightning flashes and booms of thunder rockingthe region.
The storm passed through nearly as quickly as itarrived, making way for another force – adorned in redserge and aboard jet black horses with Hanoverian blood-lines.
Under a blanket of cloud, 32 rider-and-horse teamswith the RCMP Musical Ride performed outdoors in frontof a near capacity audience at Albion Fairgrounds.
Much to the astonishment and delight of organizers,that pelting rain, flash floods, lightning strikes, and roar-ing thunder stopped just in time for Maple Ridge’s pres-entation of the musical ride.
The horrifying mid-afternoon weather had organizersof the show terrified. It was honestly looking like a wash-out, said Lorraine Bates, manager of the host group fromCountry Fest.
The outdoor show began at 6:30 p.m., and she believes
it was close to 5:30 p.m. when the torrential downpour-ing of rain and stormy conditions ceased.
“At one point this afternoon, I said to myself, ‘oh, whatwill be, will be.’ I just couldn’t believe it was happening.So many put so much time and effort into making thishappen… but you have to shake it off because there’sonly so much that’s within your control,” Bates said.
A short time later, the storm passed, and much to hersurprise and glee cars full of families began pulling intothe Albion Fairgrounds to see the show.
“I’m ecstatic with how it all turned out,” Bates said.“I’m just surprised at how many people showed up,” esti-mating the crowd to be at about 1,300.
Doug Fynn was one of those who brought his family of10 – representing four generations – to the show.
“It was with some trepidation that we came throughthe storm from Vancouver, New Westminster, PortMoody, and Mission,” he said. “But God was very goodand the weather was great, and we all had a wonderfultime.”
Speaking to organizers, he said, “You folks are to becommended for putting on an excellent evening… It wasthe first time my two grandsons, aged four and two,have seen this production, and they loved the horses,and dogs, and policemen. It was also the first time mystepmother, aged 85, has seen the ride – and she lovedit. Thank you for all your effort to provide such a greatevening for us.”
The musical ride Bates described as “phenomenal,” andsaid everyone she asked after the show used words like“awesome” and “terrific” to describe the event.
“When you have perfect, what more can you say,”Bates concluded, thanking the RCMP Musical Ride team,all the volunteers, sponsors, and spectators for makingthe local event such a success.
“When the day is over, and all is said and done, wehave raised some money for two worthy charities and thecommunity had a chance to watch a national treasure.”
The event was put on by and benefited the CountryFest and the North Fraser Therapeutic Riding Association.
As of Monday, organizers were estimating the charityshow raised about $8,000 for each organizations.
RCMP
Storm clears in time for musical ridewww.mrtimes.com
View photos with
or online at
ConnectWithYour Citypittmeadows.bc.ca
facebook.com/pittmeadows
@citypittmeadows
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A2 Tuesday, September 10 , 2013 Maple Ridge & Pitt Meadows Times
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UpFrontMaple Ridge & Pitt Meadows Times Tuesday, September 10, 2013 A3
mrtimes.com
Clickfor community
Aquilinis reach dealFrancesco Aquilini, whose family owns
thousands of acres of cranberries andblueberries in Pitt Meadows, and hiswife have reached a settlement in theirdivorce, thus avoiding a lengthy courtbattle. The couple is expecting to finalizea deal this week.
• More at www.mrtimes.com
Woman wins $10,000A Maple Ridge woman, Natasha Khan,
was one of three people across thecountry who won $10,000 in a Mr. Lubeanniversary celebration. “I was totallyshocked and amazed,” said Khan. “I’vebeen a customer for just a year now andtheir service and staff have kept me com-ing back.”
• More at www.mrtimes.com
Becoming a championGrace Teboekhorst is in the limelight
again. This eight-year-old Maple Ridgechild, profiled in The TIMES last week,will be crowned BC Children’s HospitalChampion Child Tuesday in Vancouver.
Recognizing how she has triumpheddespite severe medical challenges, thisyoung transplant patient – and her par-ents – will travel to Ontario and Floridanext month as the hospital’s ambassador.
• More at www.mrtimes.com
Grace Teboekhorst with therapy horse Keno.
ExperienceSome images and advertisements in today’sedition of The TIMES have been enriched withLayar and contain digital content that you canview using your smartphone or tablet.How it works:Step 1. Download the free Layar app for iPhone,
Android, iPad, or tablet.Step 2. Look for pages with the Layar logo.Step 3. Open the Layar app, hold your device
above the page, and tap to scan it.Step 4. Hold your device above the page to view
the interactive content, and hit scan.
SuperWalksucceeds
Organizers expected“a couple hundred
people” to participate inSaturday’s Parkinson’s
SuperWalk, whichstarted at Spirit Square
in Pitt Meadows. Thiswas the third year for
this branch of the walk,which raises funds forParkinson’s researchand support services.
Mitch Thompson/TIMES
Corrections
Inmatessent tohospitalBC Corrections staff ischecking for noxious plantsat provincial prisons.by Maria [email protected]
Twelve inmates from AlouetteCorrectional Centre for Womenwere taken to hospital onSunday for observation afterthey ingested angel’s trumpet, aplant that causes hallucinations.
The incident occurred around10:30 p.m. One inmate wasobserved hallucinating underthe influence of a substance. Allwere checked out and have sincebeen returned to the local jail.
Marnie Mayhew, spokespersonfor BC Corrections, said allangel’s trumpet plants and seedsare being removed from theMaple Ridge prison and otherprisons across the province arebeing checked for this plant andother noxious plants.
“It is important to note thatthis is the first time a situationlike this has ever occurred in thehistory of ACCW,” Mayhew said.
Calls came in fast and furious to localfirehalls during last week’s storm.by Maria [email protected]
Pitt Meadows fire department respondedto 13 calls in 60 minutes on Thursday allrelated to the weather that included torren-tial rain and thunder and lightning, causingpower failures and traffic mayhem.
The buildings were hit within the corearea of Pitt Meadows and two homes hadsmall fires.
“It was very concerning for everyone to beoperating out in the open during the storm,particularly investigating the strike on theroof of the apartment, while more lightningwas continuously occurring nearby,” saidPitt Meadows fire chief Don Jolley.
Surrey dispatch was overwhelmed withcalls, Jolley added, so the calls were routedto the firehall and he ended up triaging them
and dispatching resour-ces.
All five truck were outwith the three perma-nent fire staff and 15volunteer firefighters.
“Each apparatusresponded completelyindependently andsimultaneously to separ-ate incidents,” Jolleysaid. “This was anunusual experience forus and the crews did anexceptional job. It validated all the time wespend training all members to assume anyrole at any time, including that of incidentcommander.”
In Maple Ridge, the three firehall crewswere kept busy responding to alarms goingoff and flooding, but there were no fire callsresulting from the lightning.
The worst flooding was at Maple MeadowsWay and Stewart Crescent where there
was about four feet ofwater, said Maple Ridgeassistant fire chief MarkSmitton.
“The drainage justcouldn’t keep up,” hesaid.
In Pitt Meadows,both new and experi-enced members of thefire department had toassume responsibility forcrew and responding toincidents, Jolley said.
The fire department didn’t receive anyreports of injuries and there was only min-imal damage to two homes.
Two people had to be rescued from eleva-tors.
“Overall, the crews responded to 17 inci-dents yesterday,” Jolley said. “I believe thatthis is the highest total for a single day thatthe department has ever had.” He added thathe was “very proud of the job they did.”
Climate
Thursday’s weather strains responders
Don JolleyPitt Meadows fire chief
www.m
rtim
es.co
mViewphotoswith
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Mark SmittonMaple Ridge assistant chief
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Local support for potdecriminalizationcrosses political lines.by Maria [email protected]
A Green, an NDP,a Liberal, and aConservative all agree onthe same point: the prov-ince needs to decriminal-ize marijuana and start adiscussion on the recrea-tional drug.
Former Maple Ridgecouncillor and NDP can-didate Craig Speirs isheading up the SensibleBC petition locally to col-lect signatures from 10 percent of registered votersacross the province askingthe provincial government to hold a refer-endum on decriminalizing marijuana.
Speirs summarized the question thatthe referendum would ask: “Is it reason-able to make people criminals who pos-sess a small amount of marijuana?”
The campaign officially kicked off onMonday, and, in Maple Ridge, the head-quarters will be at The Always GrowingGreen Society (TAGGS), a medical mari-juana dispensary, on 224th Street.
The campaign is twofold, Speirs said,asking for a referendum on decriminal-izing marijuana, but also starting a dia-logue on where society is going with itsdrug laws.
Alex Pope, who is a federal Liberal butran in the recent provincial election under
the Green Party banner, said he’s neversmoked marijuana, but he believes usingpot is a “personal choice.”
“Give people a personal choice anddon’t turn them into criminals,” he said.
Organizers have 90 days to collect thesignatures, and Speirs said they are aim-ing locally to have 15 per cent of voterssign in. He estimated that is about 3,500voters.
Marijuana
Speirs heads petitionCraig Speirs(background) ishelping organizea petition callingfor a referendumon decriminalizingmarijuana. RobertHornsey was oneof the first to sign.They joined WendyCook, TAGGSpresident MikeJoinson, and AlexPope on Mondaywhen the petitionwas launched.
Maria Rantanen/TIMES
A4 Tuesday, September 10 , 2013 Maple Ridge & Pitt Meadows Times
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Maple Ridge & Pitt Meadows Times Tuesday, September 10, 2013 A5
Who am I?Join in and have some fun withWho Am I? The Facebook featureis part of a twice-weekly TIMEScontest, where readers are asked toidentify people from this community’sdistant and recent past. For instance,who’s the subject of this week’spicture? Readers can “Like Us”on Facebook (at www.facebook.com/MapleRidgePittMeadowsTIMES)and answer before 9 a.m. Fridayto be entered to win. Vicki McLeodcorrectly identified last week’s subjectas nationally acclaimed harpist,songwriter, and singer Mike Absalom.He was born in Britian, raised inEngland and Quebec, and settledin Maple Ridge for a while beforereturning to Europe in 2002. McLeod,along with all others who Facebookedin the correct answer, is entered in agrand-prize draw.
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OpinionA6 Tuesday, September 10, 2013
Our View
Pot petitioncalls off cops
It’s official. Elections BC has issuedpetition sheets for an initiative to amendthe Police Act.
The goal of the petitioners is to stoppolice from enforcing laws against pos-session and use of marijuana in B.C.– or at least to make it moredifficult to prosecute againstsimple possession and use.
The petitioners, callingthemselves Sensible BC, seeit as a way to decriminalizemarijuana in B.C. withouthaving to go through a federal govern-ment that is decidedly antagonistictowards any efforts to back off on itscurrent drug laws. They now have 90days to make their case and collect sup-porting signatures from at least 50 percent of registered voters in B.C.
If they can do that, the governmentwill be forced to consider the proposal.
They’ve got a long row to hoe – andit’s not just weed in that row.
Interestingly, there has been littlevocal support from prominent propon-ents of ending the prohibition on mari-juana. And perhaps with good reason.For one thing, many of the high-profilepeople who have come out against thelegal status quo for marijuana do notsupport decriminalization. Many wantpot legalized, regulated, and taxed– just like alcohol.
Even among those who favourdecriminalization, with possession anduse of small amounts of pot penalizedthrough tickets and modest fines, thereare few who want to do it the SensibleBC way, by effectively hamstringingpolice, whose efforts against more ser-ious offenders – high-level traffickers,grow-operators, multi-drug purveyors,and the like – might also be hampered.
And then, of course, while they maybe a technical minority in Canada thesedays, there are still plenty of peoplewho simply won’t sign any petition thatallows freer use of marijuana or anydrug.
– B.G.
I’ve been here before.Hundreds of times.Too many times.And contrary to a lot of folks
who don’t understand what we inthe news business do for a living– and why – it’s not my favouriteplace to be.
A youngster had been hit by acar. Maybe his fault, maybe thedriver’s. At this point it didn’tmatter. I was there to take somepictures and put together a basicnarrative about what had hap-pened.
In the old days, I would have snapped a fewpictures, got the name of the police officer whowould conduct the investigation, and then headback to the office, getting the details later, intime to send the newspaper off to press.
And although the “old days” weren’t all thatlong ago, even in dog years, the fact is that theywere a long, long time ago, in technologicalterms. Now an important component of the“paper” is electronic, and goes to press immedi-ately – stories now appear on our website lit-erally minutes after they happen.
As always, I was careful to stay out of the wayof the people who were there to do what theycould for the stricken lad.
I need my pictures, but they come first.I believe what I and my colleagues in the news
business do in situations like that saves lives…but in the long term. We hope that, when youread your newspaper (or visit our website) andyou see something tragic like this, it reminds youthat this sort of thing can happen to you, too.
Or it can happen to someone you care about.You need to be careful out there.But what the first responders do – the police
officers, the firefighters, the ambulance paramed-ics, and yes, sometimes the BC Hydro linemenor other specialists called in to help – mattersimmediately.
Their lifesaving efforts work on time framesliterally spanning seconds.
So I kept my distance from theaction.
But there he was.There always seems to be one
of them, usually a police officer,sometimes a firefighter.
It was one of the firefighters,this time, watching me withobvious disdain.
He sent over a subordinate toshut me down. “No pictures,” hesaid. His voice was not gentle.
“I’m with the newspaper,” Isaid.
And he backed off, and Ientered into brand new territory. A few momentslater, when he finally had a few to spare, hecame over to me and politely apologized.
“I didn’t know you were with the paper,” hesaid.
Wow. No one in that position had ever apolo-gized before, and I didn’t quite know what tosay, except, “That’s okay. No problem.”
It’s not like I wear a uniform or a fire helmetor something.
He mentioned something about “looky loos”and how he really didn’t like how some peoplemorbidly take pictures of grisly scenes… well hedidn’t say all of that, but it was clear that waswhat he meant.
And I agree with him.But he also appeared to realize that I’m not out
there to take pictures for my morbid curiosity– nor for yours, for that matter.
You have a right to know that bad things likethis happen, and you have a right to know whatthe dedicated members of the emergency crewsyou pay for are doing.
And then, because someone was obviouslypaying more attention to the kid on the groundthan on the road ahead, we all heard a thump.
And one more looky loo got a lesson in thecorrelation between unfettered morbid curiosityand rising automotive insurance rates.
By the way, the kid’s not out of the woods, buthe’s going to make it!
Opinion
Odd Thoughtsby Bob Groeneveld
Morbid curiosity raises rates
Anything along the dikes.
Trans-Canada Trail.
Kanaka riverfront.
Just about anywhere.
In front of the TV.
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Maple Ridge & Pitt Meadows Times Tuesday, September 10, 2013 A7Mailbag
LETTERS POLICY: Copyright in letters and other materials submitted voluntarily to the Publisher and accepted for publication remainswith the author, but the Publisher and its licensees may freely reproduce them in print, electronic, or other forms. Letters are also subjectto editing for content and length. The Maple Ridge-Pitt Meadows TIMES is a division of LMP Publication Limited Partnership.
• More than a thousand spectatorsturned out for the RCMP Musical Ridein Maple Ridge on Thursday.
“It was wonderful!!!!!!! So glad the rainstayed away.”
– Kelly Lilley
“I thought it was cancelled.”– Maple Wine
“It was an awesome show, and I can’tbelieve the rain stopped and the skiescleared enough to make it possible.”
– Roxanne Hooper
What you’re telling uson Facebook
Share your views.Like us on Facebook at:
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Dear Editor,In regards to the Agricultural Land
Commission’s recent negative decision inthe Albion area, I found the ALC madeno sense at all [Soil and issue, Aug. 27,TIMES].
In fact, logic and common sense weretotally void. One wouldthink the Agricultural LandCommission (ALC) and staffhad an agricultural back-ground along with experts inthe field. This is clearly notthe case.
One quote from regionalplanner Tony Pellet sums it allup: “The commission wouldlike to see it (Albion) madesuitable for farming again.”
The area has not been farmed for 100years, for several very good reasons.
The ALC admits the area has a majordrainage issue due to poor soil conditionsand inadequately served urban develop-ment. This alone would take tremendouseffort and expense, excavating the poorsoil and bring in new high grade topsoil. But where would one get enoughhigh-grade top soil, and at what cost?Hundreds of trucks would be needed toremove and replace the soil.
High chromium levels are also men-tioned. My dictionary refers this to bemetal, not soil. Look for rusting metal.
The drainage issue will require a com-plete survey of elevations with layout and
the installation of proper drainage system.This alone is a large expense requiringbig equipment and thousands of manhours.
Farming in an urban area is difficultenough when a farmer has the equipmentwith access to the property. Lougheed
Highway and 240th and 232ndStreets are big constraints,with thousands of vehicles perday driving by at high speeds.
Farming is a business and agamble. No farmer in his rightmind would wager severalmillion dollars on equipmentand property for a very smallor no return on investment.
The Albion area propertyowners are not farmers and do
not want to farm. Those business peoplewant and need to develop the propertyfor a return on their investment.
The alternative: retail and commercialjobs that bring prosperity and keep shop-ping dollars in town, plus new tax rev-enue that allows for lower property taxes.
The ALC has been the biggest deterrentto progress in the Lower Mainland. I am,however, hopeful that the governmentwill look at redrawing the ALR map.
The land reserve was created in 1973,with the board being a non-elected body,denying landowners their rights of dueprocess. It is no wonder these land prob-lems continue.
Jim Bulpit, Maple Ridge
Development
ALR was wrong from the start
Letters tothe Editor
Scanwith
Dear Editor,I have lived in Pitt Meadows for two
years, and eight years in Maple Ridgeprior to that. I love the area.
But what gives with the trains? Thereare so many trains going through PittMeadows, it is not amusing.
There are trains with 140 cars – trainsat night that are so heavy that the groundshakes like an earthquake because theyare too fast.
Weekends there have been non-stopparades of trains.
Is this now the only line that is used?We need to take action here!
Donald G. Sutherland,Pitt Meadows
Transportation
Toomany too heavy trains passing
Maple Ridge
Incident clarificationDear Editor,
Councillor Corisa Bell is right. TheDistrict of Maple Ridge is governed by themayor and the councillors. The municipalstaff are employees of the District.
In any workplace, the employer com-ments on the work done by employees.
The word “suspension” is shocking tohear, but it doesn’t convey defamation. Itmeans the work is not in accordance withthe employer’s mission.
Coun. Bell’s incident clarified the differ-ence between the two parties.
Kimie Takusagawa, Maple Ridge
Response
Canadians ashamedDear Editor,
I sure hope the 16 per cent ofCanadians who made it possible forStephen Harper and the Conservativesto get a majority are happy; they havedone what I would have believed notlong ago impossible: made the majority ofCanadians ashamed to be Canadians.
Yes, we have not always done the rightthing for one excuse or another [Weneed a punch in the nose, July 23 OddThoughts, TIMES], but overall, I think thisgovernment – and ultimately, this country– is trying to outdo those past injustices.
How about the places in Canada wherelocal governments use biological weaponsto get rid of their homeless population?Or other cities that are actually criminal-izing poverty? And how can we ignorethe First Nations people when talkingabout poverty – who have had a two percent cap on core services since 1996, anddue to population growth and inflationnow have the equivalent of 23 cents onthe 1996 dollar?
Wayne Clark, Maple Ridge[Note: A fuller version of this letter is
online at www.mrtimes.com. Click onOpinion, or search the writer’s name.]
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This is the City’s 6th annual participation in theGreat Canadian Shoreline Cleanup and will occuron the Alouette River at Harris Road.
Meet at the parking lot on the east side of Harris Rd.just south of the Alouette River at 10:30 am.
Refreshments will be provided.Bring your rubber boots for muddy areas.
Make a difference in your community andcontribute to the sustainability of our water ways.
For more information about howyou can participate or registercontact at 604-465-2497or [email protected]
Visit shorelinecleanup.cafor more details about the annualGreat Canadian Shoreline Cleanup.
The City of Pitt Meadows Green Leadership Teaminvites you to join them for a free fun family event on
Sunday September 15th • 11 AM to 1 PM
As one ages,it is naturalto thinkabout the
end of life.The Baby
Boomers, of which Iam one of the first,are facing the realityof their demise.
Soon the B.C.Court of Appealsis going to rule onwhether or not wehave the right todecide when we areallowed to die.
There are hundreds – I think thousands– of people who are being kept alive atgreat expense to the public and againsttheir wishes.
Personally, one of the toughestthings I have had to deal with inmy life was my mother’s death.Not that she died, but the way ourhealth system tortured her.
My mother, who was a registerednurse all her working life, had afear and family history of dementia.
She made my dad and me promise thatwe would not allow her to waste away,suffering in dementia.
Over a period of 10 years, my Momdecayed into a 97-pound, unresponsiveperson living in a fetal position.
Thankfully, a doctor finally assisted usin letting her go. Sadly, neither my Dadnor I had the tools to ensure her wisheswere honoured earlier.
That would explain why I am so con-cerned about the pending decision of theB.C. Supreme Court.
A B.C. family wants the right for theirmother – who has actually written a
“do not resuscitateorder” – to let hergo. The motherhas advancedAlzheimer’s andthe nursing staff arespoon-feeding her.
In Belgium, theNetherlands, andSwitzerland, thegovernments permiteuthanasia, and insome cases acceptCanadian patients.
But you don’tneed to go that far;
Washington and Oregon allow it, as well.Good luck with the concept of sneakingyour mother across the border to let herpass with dignity.
A week or so ago, Joan Littlewrote a great article in theHamilton Spectator on the issue. Iam going to follow her advice andhave written my own directive: “IfI should become non-responsive,don’t resuscitate me if the medicalopinion is that I could be handi-capped mentally or physically to
the extent that I could no longer functionindependently.”
I am going to give a copy of my healthcare directive to my wife, my doctor, andmy kids, and carry one in my wallet.
In British Columbia the question is: “Doyou have a living will?”
And as Joan says, “Whether it is heed-ed when that time comes, who knows? Iwould like to think it would be.”
Me too, Joan.Just saying…Gordy Robson’s column appears Tuesdays in the print and/oronline versions of The TIMES. Reactions can be emailed c/o
BC Supreme Court
Just SayingJust Sayingby Gordy Robson
Arguing for the right to die
Readmorewith
A8 Tuesday, September 10 , 2013 Maple Ridge & Pitt Meadows Times
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Maple Ridge & Pitt Meadows Times Tuesday, September 10, 2013 A9
The man behind the woman: Fewpeople ever get a chance to meetthe man behind Lorraine Bates, themanager of Country Fest, organizersof the annual Ghost Ridge, and co-chair of the local Christmas HamperSociety. But her husband Mike joinedLorraine to watch the RCMP MusicalRide at the Albion Fairgroundslast week. The show was held inpart to raise money for CountryFest, as well as the North FraserTherapeutic Riding Association.
Roxanne Hooper/TIMES
Judy Daykin, her husband and Maple Ridge Mayor Ernie Daykin, RidgeMeadows RCMP Insp. Dave Fleugel (the new officer in charge), and Maple
Ridge Councillor Judy Dueck were among the dignitaries invited to watch theMaple Ridge performance of the RCMP Musical Ride from a covered
stand at the Albion Fairgrounds Thursday.Roxanne Hooper/TIMES
How can you share?Do you have a local photo of someone or some place you’d like to share with the rest of Maple Ridge and PittMeadows? Email it to us as a high-resolution .JPEG to [email protected]. Please include a brief description– including everyone’s first and last name. Put “faces & places” in the subject line of your email. Or visit The TIMESwebsite at www.mrtimes.com, find “More Ways to Connect,” and click on “send us your letters, photos, videos.”
Gay Conn hashanded over the reins to theNorth Fraser TherapeuticRiding Association to the newexecutive director SharolynWandzura. Conn saidshe’s taking over part-timeduties as MLA Doug Bing’sexecutive assistant andjoked she’s now aspiring tobe Miss Cloverdale. The pairof women were in attendanceat Thursday’s RCMP MusicalRide, with NFTRA being oneof two benefiting charities forthe show.
Roxanne Hooper/TIMES
Roxanne Hooper/TIMES
Local equestrian trail blazer Bill
Archibald, hung out at the barns, taking
pictures and visiting with the horses
during last week’s musical ride.
Roxanne Hooper/TIMES
This summer’s Ridge
Meadows Got Talent
contest winner Jada
McKenzie-Moore, of
Vancouver, was invited
back to sing O’Canada at
the RCMP Musical Ride in
Maple Ridge last week.
Maple Ridge & Pitt Meadows&facesplacesShowcasing some
of this community’speople and happenings
Roxanne Hooper/TIMES
Sixteen-year-old Erik Black, a Grade 12 student from Thomas
Haney Secondary, and 17-year-old Ryan Berg, a Grade 12
Pitt Meadows Secondary student, are among the first recruits
of the Ridge Meadows RCMP SPURS program – a 30-week
policing program for youth. Their first endeavour was helping
out at the RCMP Musical Ride at Albion Fairgrounds Thursday
night, under the supervision of Const. Tammy Herman.
Maria Rantanen/TIMESRidge Meadows RCMP Const. OliverBroermann and Cpl. Alanna Dunlopvisited with the musical ride MountiesAdrienne Young and Audrey Soucy,aboard Hector and Bionic at MemorialPeace Park in anticipation of Thursdayevening’s ride at the Albion Fairgrounds.
Roxanne Hooper/TIMESLisa Shepherd led a groupcalled the Golden Ears MetisJiggers who performed beforethe RCMP Musical Ride onThursday.
Former MapleRidge councillor
and schooltrustee Faye
Isaac wasamong thosein attendanceat last week’smusical ride.
Roxanne Hooper//TIMES
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A10 Tuesday, September 10, 2013 Maple Ridge & Pitt Meadows Times Tuesday, September 10, 2013 A11
September 10: Art club• Garibaldi Art Club meetsat 7 p.m. in the craft room,third floor of The ACT.G.A.C. membership is $50 or$40 for seniors. Info: www.GaribaldiArtClub.com.
September 10: Music• SongStage at The ACT,hosted by local songwriterIvan Boudreau, featuresMichael Reinhart fromMontreal from 7 to 9 p.m.Open mike to follow forsongwriters of originalmaterial.
September 11: GoGos• Golden Ears GoGos willmeet at 6:30 p.m. in theAlouette Room at MapleRidge Library. The GoGossupport the Stephen LewisFoundation to help grand-mothers in Africa who areraising their AIDS-orphanedgrandchildren.
September 11: Support• Maple Ridge-Pitt MeadowsParkinson’s Support Groupmeets from 2 to 4 p.m. atthe Ridge Meadows SeniorsActivity Centre, 12150 224thSt. This meeting is open toall persons with Parkinson’s,their caregivers, families, andfriends. Info: Peta Purdy at604-463-1332 or [email protected].
September 12: Group• Alouette Field Naturalistshold their monthly meetingat 7:30 p.m. at the RidgeMeadows Seniors ActivityCentre, 12150 224th St. Info:Duanne 604-463-8743.
September 12: The ACT• SFU Philosophers’ Cafemeets at The ACT, 11944Haney Pl. at 7 p.m. This
month’s topic is “What if oureconomic system is broken?Imagining alternatives: if wecan’t see an alternative, nonewill arrive.”
September 12: Seniors• A Seniors Helping Seniorsmeeting takes place at 9:30a.m. in the library room ofthe Ridge Meadows SeniorsActivity Centre, 12150 224thSt., Maple Ridge.
September 12: Cycling• Maple Ridge/Pitt MeadowsChapter of HUB: YourCycling Connection will beheld from 6:45 to 8:45 p.m.at the Maple Ridge Library.
September 12: Legion• Ridge Meadows Ex-ServiceWomen’s Club holds itsmonthly meeting in the base-ment of the Maple RidgeLegion, 12101 224th St.Lunch is at noon, and themeeting is at 1 p.m.
Quiz night• Pitt Meadows Friends ofthe Library holds its annualQuiz Night on Sept. 28 from7 p.m. to 9 p.m. Peopleare encouraged to come bythemselves or as a team.Prizes and refreshments areprovided. Tickets are $10each and are now availableat the library. The library isat #200-12099 Harris Rd.
Chronic disease• The University of Victoria’sCentre on Aging presentsa six-week series of work-shops on “Chronic DiseaseSelf-Management” onWednesday, from 1:30 to 4p.m. starting on Sept. 25.at the Pitt Meadows SeniorsCentre, 19065 119B Ave.To register, call 604-940-
1273 with name, telephonenumber, and postal code orregister online at www.self-managementbc.ca.
Chamber seeks directors• The Chamber of Commerceserving Maple Ridge andPitt Meadows is looking forpeople interested in runningfor their board of directors.Nominations for directorswill be accepted from mem-bers in good standing, andmust be delivered in writingto the office no later thanSept. 15. For a nominationpackage, contact executivedirector Jesse Sidhu: 604-457-4599 or email [email protected]
Music• Anyone who sings, playsan instrument, or just lovesto listen to live music isinvited to Kanaka Open mikeevery Wednesday from 5 to7:30 p.m. at Kanaka Creek
Coffee, #101-24155 102ndAve., Maple Ridge. Info: 604-463-6727.
Buy Local Give Local• Mention “Community
Literacy” when shopping atBean Around Books & Teauntil Oct. 15 and part pro-ceeds will go directly to sup-port local literacy programsand services. Bean AroundBooks is at 22626 LougheedHwy. Info: [email protected].
Library babytime• Babytime starts up again atthe Maple Ridge Library andruns on Mondays until Nov.25 at 10:15 a.m. Babytime isa fun, social bonding activ-ity for babies and caregivers.Info: 604-467-7417.
Library storytime• Storytime starts up againat the Maple Ridge Libraryon Tuesdays, Thursdays andFridays from Sept. 10 to Dec.
6 at 10:15 a.m. Children fiveyears and younger, alongwith their parents and care-givers, will enjoy stories,songs, rhymes and puppets.Info: 604-467-7417.
Computer help• One-on-One ComputerHelp is available at thePitt Meadows Library onMondays beginning Sept. 16from 2:30 to 4 p.m. Needhelp setting up an emailaccount or formatting a Worddocument? Library staff canoffer one-on-one help. Thelibrary is located at #200-12099 Harris Rd. Come in orcall to register: 604-465-4113.
Volunteers needed• The multicultural depart-ment at the Family Educationand Support Centre is look-ing for volunteer performersand assistants to help atvarious community eventsbetween August and March.
Hours are flexible but theyrequest a minimum commit-ment of four hours. Theyare looking for all kinds ofartists with special skills incultural forms of theatre, artand crafts as well as hosts,greeters, and helpers. Info:604-467-6055 ext. 108.
Toastmasters• The new Golden EarsChristian Toastmasters Clubnow meets every Tuesdayat the Haney PresbyterianChurch, 11858 216th Ave.,Maple Ridge. Meetings runfrom 7:30 till 9:30 p.m.Guests are welcome.
Palliative training• Ridge Meadows HospiceSociety will be offering aneight-week training programfor its volunteer palliativesupport program, beginningat the end of September.Info: 604-463-7722.
• Full list: www.mrtimes.com
Post events 10 days in advanceby email to:
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An average of two break-and-enter crimes a day promptspolice to issue a warning.by Roxanne [email protected]
A jump in residential break-insin Maple Ridge and Pitt Meadowsduring the past month promptedMounties to issue an alert Friday,and to advise residents to be extravigilant.
There were 63 reported break andenters in local homes between Aug. 1and Sept. 3, said RCMP Cpl. AlannaDunlop. That’s an average of almosttwo break-ins a day.
“I want to alert our citizens to anincrease in break and enters that
have been occurring all over ourcommunities,” she said. “Our crimeanalyst advises that the majority ofcases involve suspects gaining entryto the garage.”
In a large number of thecases, police report thethieves accessed the homesthrough the garages thanksto unlocked side doors andwindows, or garage dooropeners left in vehiclesin the driveway, Dunlopexplained.
Vehicles, if keys werereadily available, are beingtaken. Bicycles and dirtbikes, jewelry, and electronics suchas iPods, laptop computers, andvideo game systems are repeatedlycoming up on the lists of stolenitems, as well.
She said the stereotypical thiefis usually a man between 15 to 25years old, but investigators in thiscase are advising that some of the
criminals involved in therecent break and enters arelikely older and many arewomen.
“If you observe personswho may be in your neigh-bourhood for an unlawfulpurpose… we urge you tocall police right away andreport this suspicious activ-ity,” Dunlop said, notingthat citizens can help pre-vent being a victim by fol-
lowing a few tips.“Together, we can reduce all inci-
dents of crime and make our com-munity even safer for all,” she said.
• Tips available at www.mrtimes.com
RCMP files
Spike in break-ins worrying police
Cpl. Alanna DunlopRidge Meadows RCMP
Sergeant admits thataddiction is behind herstriking two RCMP ata Pitt Meadows bar.
by Cara MckennaGlacier Media
RCMP Sgt. MiriamDickson, who wascharged with assaultinga police officer outsidea Pitt Meadows bar lastyear, spoke out about heralcohol addiction.
Dickson, a formerspokeswoman forMission RCMP, wasgiven a conditional dis-charge and one yearof probation in B.C.Supreme Court in PortCoquitlam last week.
Dickson, whois currently inrecovery, spokeat Nanaimo’sfirst RecoveryDay event onSunday after-noon.
She told howshe used toobsess about notdrinking alco-hol, but it oftendidn’t work. She wouldregularly turn to alcoholto cope with the stress ofher job.
“Finally one day, mybottom hit,” she said.
“And for me my bot-tom was being arrested.I struck two other policeofficers and don’t remem-ber it. I was in a blackoutdrunk. But when I awokethe next day and myhusband told me of theevents the night before, I
truly thought my life wasover.”
Dickson was chargedwith two counts ofassaulting a police offi-cer, one count of resist-ing arrest, and one countof causing a disturbance.
She said she had diffi-culty seeing how she wasportrayed in the newsafter her recent courtappearance.
“I was in the news-paper, and for the firstday, I was devastated,”she said.
“Then I realized, I’mnot a bad person. Andif people want to reada simple news articlethat says that I am, thentoo bad for them if theybelieve it. I will not bestigmatized.”
She said she iscurrently work-ing in the RCMPdrug awarenesssection, a pos-ition she soughtout in attempt toincrease educa-tion on addic-tions.
“I have grownin my recovery,”she said.
“I’m a betterwife, a better mother,and I hope that I’m a bet-ter police officer.”
Nanaimo MayorJohn Ruttan presenteda Recovery Day proc-lamation and AbbotsfordSouth MLA Darryl Plecascame to show his sup-port for Nanaimo’s firstRecovery Day – whichstarted in Vancouver lastSept. 8 and has sincebeen proclaimed by fiveB.C. cities for 2013.
Recovery Day
Mountie sentenced forhitting fellow officers
Sgt. Miriam Dickson
Troy Landreville & Maria Rantanen/TIMES
Mounties Adrienne Youngand Audrey Soucy,aboard Hector and Bionic,respectively, visited PittMeadows Spirit Squareand Memorial PeacePark in Maple Ridge onThursday afternoon, inadvance of the big RCMPMusical Ride performanceat Albion Fairgroundson Thursday evening.See related coverage onpages A1 and A9.
Members of the RCMP Musical Ridevisited Spirit Square and MemorialPeace Park prior to Thursday’s show.by Troy [email protected]
Hector, 24, was the embodiment ofpatience Thursday afternoon at PittMeadows Spirit Square.
The black gelding, with Const. AdrienneYoung on board, stood stoically, save forthe odd snort, head bob, and shuffle back-wards, as dozens of students from nearbyPitt Meadows Elementary took turns strok-ing his nose.
Along with another horse-and-riderteam – Const. Audrey Soucy and nine-year-old Bionic – the two visited SpiritSquare in Pitt Meadows, and later theMemorial Peace Park in Maple Ridge,to help promote the RCMP MusicalRide held that evening at the AlbionFairgrounds.
They were part of the 32 horse-and-rider contingent that performed ina show hosted locally by the MapleRidge and Pitt Meadows AgriculturalAssociation and the North FraserTherapeutic Riding Association (NFTRA).
Thursday’s event benefited both CountryFest and the NFTRA, a non-profit organiz-ation that provides therapeutic horsebackriding lessons to children and adults withvarying degrees of disabilities.
The musical ride wrapped up its two-month tour through B.C. with shows inHope on the weekend. Maple Ridge wasthe second to last show in the province.
Between May and October, the musicalride team tours through Canada, the U.S.,and other international venues, perform-ing at roughly 40 to 50 venues.
Thirty-six riders, the same number ofhorses, a farrier, a technical productionmanager, and three non-commissionedofficers travel with the ride on tour.
Riders are police officers who, after atleast two years of active duty, volunteerfor duty with the ride.
Most were non-riders prior to theirequestrian training with the RCMP; how-ever, once they complete the courses ofinstruction, they not only become ridersbut ambassadors of goodwill.
Currently on tour with the ride is 32-year-old Young. Since she joined theRCMP in 2008, the ride has always beenon Young’s wish list as an active Mountie.
Once she completed her two-year ser-vice with the RCMP, Young started look-ing into how to become a ride member.
Two years ago, she got in touch withSupt. Marty Chesser, officer in charge ofthe ride, and applied for a position.
“Here I am today,” said Young, whojoined the ride this year.
Young admitted that joining in the ridewas a little intimidating, initially. She had
to complete a five-week basic eques-trian course before performing infront of an audience.
“I had no previous riding experi-ence,” she told The TIMES.
“I showed up at the musical ride inOttawa, got on a horse my first daythere, and it was baby steps for thefirst few days. Then you get thrown
into it. You give it everything you have forfive weeks to prove you want to be thereand you deserve to be there. If you’relucky enough, you’re chosen to comeback.”
Being a member has opened up a wholedifferent world for Young, literally. Thenative of Cookville N.S. has never seenthe western provinces before, and this isher first time visiting B.C.
“This is my opportunity to visit [otherparts of] Canada and parts of the U.S. andother parts of the world,” she said. “It’san amazing experience. You get to speakto the public every day, so it’s great.”
The first officially recorded musical ridewas performed in Regina under InspectorWilliam George Matthews in 1887.
Pre-show promotion
Riders offer kids a sneak peek
www.m
rtim
es.co
mViewphotoswith
oronline
A12 Tuesday, September 10 , 2013 Maple Ridge & Pitt Meadows Times
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Aimee Bryant & Adam Parsons would like to announce thebirth of their big bundle of joy. Cooper was
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Thanks to all of our families and friends for all thesupport and patience waiting for Cooperto finally get here. Thanks to Dr. Bhattiand all the maternity staff at theRidge Meadows Hospital for makinghis birth as easy as possible.
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Maple Ridge & Pitt Meadows Times Tuesday, September 10, 2013 A13
Pitt MeadowsMayor Deb
Walters and LoriGraham with the
City’s economicdevelopment
office are thrilledthat the City hasbeen nominated
for an award thatrecognizes their
business-friendlyclimate.
Maria Rantanen/TIMES
The economic developmentoffice helps businesses connectwith City hall.by Maria [email protected]
For the second year running, theCity of Pitt Meadows has made theshort list for a provincial Open forBusiness award.
And while the City hasn’t beennamed a winner – the winners willbe announced at the Union of B.C.Municipalities annual conferencenext week – the mayor said peopletake note of which communities arenominated.
“It highlights Pitt Meadows andthe good things we’re doing here,”said Pitt Meadows Mayor DebWalters.
The Economic DevelopmentCorporation is one of the big reasons
the climate is business friendly,Walters said, as it both works toattract businesses to the City andhelp them once they are there.
Economic development staff willfacilitate meetings between busi-nesses looking to relocate to PittMeadows and senior staff at theCity, thereby creating “good syn-ergy,” said Lori Graham with theeconomic development office.
“It gives that personal touch withCity hall,” Walters added.
The Onni business park at thesouth end of Harris Road is anexample of a successful businessstory in Pitt Meadows, Graham said.
“They’re filling up – people wantthis space,” she said.
There are 15 finalists for theawards, which recognize commun-ities that support small businessthrough local-government measuresaligned with the BC Small BusinessAccord. The awards are issued byB.C.’s Small Business Roundtable,
established in 2005 to be the voicefor small business to government.
Each winner will receive $10,000,and the City, if it wins, plans to usethe money to increase education andtraining programs for small business-es. In addition, the money would beused to recruit more volunteers forits ambassador program and increasethe number of events the ambassa-dors can support.
With a membership of small-busi-ness owners and association leaders,the roundtable helps governmentdevelop strategies to support thegrowth and success of small busi-ness throughout the province.
The roundtable received submis-sions from 39 communities, withaward evaluations based on howthey enhance small-business com-petitiveness, recognize the contribu-tions of small businesses to the com-munity, and promote the principlesof the BC Small Business Accord.
• More online at www.mrtimes.com
Pitt Meadows
City creates business ‘synergy’
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When youbuy anew TVor dish-
washer, even a newcellphone or cordlessdrill, it always comeswith an owner’smanual, a little bookthat details what allthe buttons mean andtells you how to useit.
Well, unless you’reextremely lucky, yourhome didn’t.
I have worked in many homes throughthe years, and am always amazed at howmany homeowners not only don’t knowwhere certain shutoffs are – like the mainwater or gas valves – but they often don’tknow how they work.
Now most of you probably do knowwhere things are, you know where themain electrical panel is, the water, thegas, the main sewer connection, thestorm drain, and so on. But, does yourfamily?
Over the past couple of years I’ve beenputting together a new service for home-owners that would combine some in-home teaching with a user’s manual fortheir home, along with pictures and sometips. I haven’t put the finishing detailson it yet but will be calling it My HomeCapsule.
There are things that you can do your-self, though – and they’re not difficultat all. Each and every one who owns ahome and has others living in it shoulddo this. Here’s a simple list of what to do:
1. Find out where everything is aroundthe house, if you don’t already know, andshare that information with everyone else
in the home – eventhe children.
2. Make sure youknow how to usethe various valvesand switches, how toturn them off and on,what happens whenyou do, what toolsyou may need, andwhat you’ll need todo after they’ve beenoff.
3. Take pictures ofeach shutoff valve,
each breaker panel, and every other per-tinent place around the home, like thephone and cable service boxes.
4. Call the service company for eachutility if you don’t know where things areor how to use them, or even if the valvesor other switches appear faulty, old, orworn. BC Hydro, for example, will bemore than happy to help you with anyquestions about your electrical panel ormeter.
5. Put together a binder with the pic-tures and instructions about how to useeach of the valves or switches.
6. Share the binder with the rest of thefamily, and everyone else who lives inthe home, go over it page by page, andhave everyone sign off on it, making surethey know what they need to.
7. Share the information with each ofyour neighbours and encourage them todo the same. Also share the information,and the location of the binder, with yourbabysitters, housecleaners, handymen, oranyone else who may spend time in yourhome or who may have keys.
Be safe, know your home, and alwaysask questions and get more information.• More online at www.mrtimes.com, search “Jensen”
Home improvement
Houses need owners manualsHandymanMorgan Jensenwill answeryour homeimprovementquestions.
Fix It UpFix It Upby Morgan Jensenby Morgan Jensen
Visit his website at www.jbshomeimprovement.caor send your questions to [email protected].
A14 Tuesday, September 10 , 2013 Maple Ridge & Pitt Meadows Times
® Trademark of AIR MILES International Holdings N.V. used under licence by The Loyalty Group. All references to Air Miles include Reward Miles.
c ra f tsmanco l l i s ion .com@craftsmanshops
HELP USMAKE A DENT.Contribute your non-perishable food item or cash to theSalvation Army Food Bank and get a freeCraftsman Collision cloth shopping bag –along with our thanks for making an impact.Craftsman will match all donations one-for-one.
Contribute your non-perishable food item or cash to the
Craftsman will match all donations one-for-one.
Don’t miss ourMAKING A DENT food drive
this Saturday, Sept. 14, 1:00 - 5:00 p.m.
Save-On-Foods West Maple Ridge 20395 Lougheed Hwy
Maple Ridge & Pitt Meadows Times Tuesday, September 10, 2013 A15
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On Deck
Send your scoresand game reports to
Flames beat PackThe Ridge Meadows Flames
wrapped up their exhibitiongames with a 3-2 win over theNorth Vancouver Wolf Pack.Regular season starts Friday atPlanet Ice with a game againstthe Grandview Steelers. The puckdrop s ta 7:30 p.m.• More online: www.mrtimes.com,
click on “Sports”
Locals play soccerMaple Ridge native and SRT
grad Alex Rowley is back on thesoccer pitch at SFU for his secondyear running as the universityteam, the Clan, kicks off its sea-son. The men’s soccer team wontwo exhibition games in Californiaover the weekend. SFU’s women’ssoccer team, which includes PittMeadows’ Brianna Morrison,however, lost its first exhibitiongame 6-0 against California StateUniversity Stanislaus Warriors.• More online: www.mrtimes.com,
click on “Sports”
Sports RecreationReach The TIMES' sports desk: Phone: 604-463-2281 or email: [email protected]
A16 Tuesday, September 10, 2013 Maple Ridge & Pitt Meadows Times
Local athletes who havecompeted internationally canbe nominated.by Maria [email protected]
The Rotary Sports Banquetis a thing of the past – but theHometown Hero program that
honours local athletes will con-tinue in a new format.
Nominations are currently beingsought for the 2013 HometownHero.
Nominees have to have gonethrough the local school system,played their sport with either alocal minor sports organizationor a local school, and played at anational and international level.
Past hometown heroes include
race car driver Greg Moore, NHLhockey players Andrew Ladd,Brandon Yip, Brendan Morrison,and Cam Neely, sports reporterJim Robson, curler Kelley Law,and high jumper Debbie Brill.
Posters are placed around thecommunity and in schools, andthe idea is to inspire young ath-letes to continue in their chosensport, with the message that “thisguy played in my gym and my
school and I can get there, too,”said Gordy Robson, one of thefounders of the Hometown Heroprogram.
A banquet will be held to hon-our this year’s hometown hero,said committee member MaryRobson, but the venue has not yetbeen secured.
For more information and tonominate a hometown hero, con-tact Mary Robson at 604-466-3333.
Recognition
Hometown hero to be honoured at banquet
Marauders takedown Belmont
The Pitt Meadows AA Varsityfootball team, the Marauders, beat
Belmont Secondary from Victoriaon Friday afternooon 35-6 in an
exhibition game. The team willplay another exhibition gameon Friday at 7:30 p.m. at Pitt
Meadows Secondary – under Fridaynight lights – against ValleyviewSecondary from Kamloops. Theirregular season starts on Friday,
Sept. 20 when they play at homeagain at 7:30 p.m. against Mission
Secondary.
Maria Rantanen/TIMES
Ron Hole photo
Alex Rowley plays soccer with theClan, SFU’s varsity team.
www.mrtimes.com
View photos with
or online at
PRESENTED BY
HOME GROWN
A20 Tuesday, September 10 , 2013 Maple Ridge & Pitt Meadows Times
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