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The Voice is first on the net with your Chilliwack news!

• Agassiz S&R find body of missing man after canoe capsized in Deer Lake at Sasquatch Provincial Park on Saturday.

• Violent attack on sex trade worker at Cultus Lake leads to arrest of 31-year-old male at his College St. home.

• Attempted auto break-in thwarted by police. Foot chase results in the arrest of two suspects. Officer hurt in take-down. 

• RCMP charge 55-year-old male w/sexual assault after he chased down and harassed off duty female officer on Vedder Trail 

                                                                                                                    More breaking local news here

 

Tuesday April 8th is:  All Is Ours Day

Tuesday April 8th is:  All Is Ours Day

 

 

Advertise here!

December 2009

Real Estate Report Chilliwack

 

 

A Valley Voice Staff Report

 

The Chilliwack and District Real Estate Board (CADREB) MLS report for December 2009.

 

Total residential real estate sales in Chilliwack during  December this year were 141 which is way up from the 63 sold during the same time period last year.

 

Single Family Homes

CADREB reports that there were 79 single family detached homes sold in November which more than double the 32 that were sold during the same time period in 2008. Total current listings are 454 SFH's.

 

Town Homes

Town home sales have more than doubled this year over the same period last year. There were 38 town home sales in November 2009 compared to 21 in 2008. Currently in Chilliwack there are 164 listed for sale.

 

Mobile Homes

Mobile home sales are about the same this year as last in December with 5 being sold this month compared to 1 last year in December. There are 41 current listings which is down from the 56 which were listed last year.

 

Apartments

Apartment sales were up this year with 13 sold compared to 7 over the same time period in 2008.  Total listings for sale in December were 179 which is down from the 303 listed last year in December.

 

Homes with Acreage

A total of 6 homes with acreage were sold in December this year compared to 2 sold last year in the same period. There are 90 total listings which is down from last year which had 101 listed in December 2008.

 

Total residential sales in Chilliwack for December 2009 was $43,243,552  way up from last year which saw  $20,834,491 in sales during  December 2008.

 

For more information visit their website: www.cadreb.ca

 

  

 

 

 

 

 

 

Exchange your old non-EPA certified wood burning stove or insert for a new EPA certified appliance including qualifying gas, pellet, electric and wood burning stoves and inserts and you could be eligible to receive a $250 rebate. Rebates are limited so act now.

 

For more information about the program or to find a participating retailer call 1-800-528-0061 or visit the website www.fvrd.bc.ca

You can also contact them by e-mail: skasprzak@fvrd.bc.ca

 

Citizens on Patrol

 Volunteers Needed

Chilliwack Citizens On Patrol (CCOP) is looking for volunteers. CCOP assist the RCMP by patrolling the streets of Chilliwack on Friday and Saturday evenings, looking for suspicious activity or any situations that may require police or emergency personnel.

 

CCOP is non-confrontational and merely observes and reports. Volunteers must be 19 years and older and training is provided. Please contact the Community Policing Society at  604-393-3012 for more information or to volunteer.

Have you donated

blood lately?

www.blood.ca

 

Ad space available

 

 

 

 

 

 

Have You Checked Out The Chilliwack Museum Lately?

Winter Hours

Tour the museum and get in touch with Chilliwack's roots.

 

Mon to Fri 9:00 am - 4:30 pm

Saturdays 11:00 am - 3:30 pm

45820 Spadina Ave.

604-795-5210

 

www.chilliwack.museum.bc.ca

 March 9th is Hope's Paralympics Torch Celebration Day

 You can enter the draw to be a torchbearer www.yougottabehere.ca

 

 Watch this space for Canada's Olympic medal count

Donate to Haiti Relief by Cell Phone

People who want to help Haitian earthquake survivors can do so on your cell via text:

 

• “Haiti” to 90999 to donate $10 to the Red Cross in the U.S.

• “Haiti” to 45678 to donate $5 to the Salvation Army in Canada.

• "Help" to 1291 to donate $5 to Rogers' & Fido's relief fund (Canada only).

 

Donations show up as one-time charges on the contributor’s next cell phone bill. (Amounts are in U.S. dollars, and standard text-messaging fees apply.)

 

UPDATE: The government set aside $50 million in its dollar-for-dollar fund, but Harper said due to Canadians' "overwhelming generosity," the decision was made to remove the cap.

Job of the Week

NAPA is Hiring!

Executive Administrative Assistant - Langley

Hit The Road With Us
The selected candidate will assist the Regional Vice-President and direct reports in all of the administrative tasks involved with the Division's activities. This work also involves the production of important documents concerning the Division's strategies and programs as well as support for organizing events.

Those interested in applying are invited to apply online at www.uapinc.com/careers

or by fax: 1(604) 881-1661

More details on this posting are here.

 Voice Perspective                                          Tuesday January 19^th 2010

Vedder Viewpoints

 

Angling For Steelies

Clearer water and better weather brings out fishers

 

Craig Hill/Voice photo

Silhouetted fishermen angling for steelhead dot the bank of the Vedder River during Monday's long-awaited sunshine break.

 Voice News Exclusive                                   Thursday January 21^st 2010

Safer Surfing

 

Hackers Attack Chilliwack Television Website

Google warns web visitors to stay away

 

                                                                                                 Craig Hill/Voice photo.

Valley Television headquarters on Second Ave. in Chilliwack under fire from hackers.

 

Computer hackers are a nasty breed and you may or may have not seen that Google flags websites which can damage your computer's system and gives you an advisory screen; "Warning - visiting this web site may harm your computer!" Included in the information on that page is a link to a "Safe Browsing diagnostic page" for the particular website you were going to look at.

Last week the Voice saw that Valley Television's website; www.valleytelevision.com in Chilliwack, was flagged as one of those malicious sites. We set out to find out why the site which is linked to home on 46220 Second Ave., was installing harmful code on unsuspecting web surfer's computers.

There was no answer at the door when the Voice investigated however later in an e-mail, Wayne Price, owner of Valley Television and Virtual Television Network, said that the website was attacked by hackers who installed the code. "Was (an) attack some time ago but the code has been removed," he said.

Price also said he was on holidays and that the site is in fact virus-free. He plans on dealing with the problem soon. "I have to add a code from Google on every page for (them) to spider the site to clear it." Google spiders every week or two for their text and image listings but also look for malware and malicious code.

 
                                                                                                                                        Google image.
When your computer is infected with malicious software it is most often installed without your knowledge or permission when you visit nefarious websites, and can include programs that delete data, steal personal information like passwords and credit card numbers, or alter your search results and redirect you to yet more infectious sites.

Spiders are a form of search engine, and "spidering" a Web site lets the user yank information from other Web sites into their own Web site. Anyone can use a spider program. The user tells the spider what keywords to look for, and it searches for them on the Internet. Then it pulls the related information into their site, excluding the need to cut and paste. There are e-mail, fax and data spiders.

Laws stateside are tough but seldom enforced. In America, a hacker can be fined $50,000, jailed for a year and lose all their computer equipment. But too many operate with impunity simply because the manpower needed to enforce those laws isn't there. Many kids start early and learn how online systems operate with easy access to programs like network scanners which probe for open ports on computers and then they use the public as target practice.

One can only speculate the reason why Obama wants everyone online in the states to be on broadband, but it will make people who want to hack think twice about it because with broadband connectivity the IP is static and hacking attempts can be traced.

For more information on this topic visit www.stopbadware.org

 

                                                                                                                 © Copyright (c) The Valley Voice

 

 Voice Special Report                                      Monday January 25^th 2010

In The Spirit of the Games

 

 

It's Official, Let The Games

Begin!

Chilliwack raises Olympic flag and

Torch Relay spirit at City Hall ceremony

Craig Hill/Voice

 

                                                                                                                              Craig Hill/Voice photos

Torchbearers Cassie Cutajar (L), Indy, former Chilliwack City Councilor Dorothy Kostrzewa, and Angela Laws-Peel join Councilor Pat Clark and Mayor Sharon Gatez (R) Monday to raise the Olympic flag at City Hall.

 

        et the games begin! Officially the games are underway in Chilliwack. Not

        the Olympic Games, those begin February 12th, but the fun and games that will accompany the Torch Run as it makes it's way through town on February 7th.

 

In the spirit of the games and the run, City Hall raised the official flag Monday as part of the buildup to the planned celebrations. Also there to help in the flag ceremony Monday were three torchbearers who's identities were kept under wraps by VANOC until now. Every torchbearer is sworn to secrecy and former city councilor Dorothy Kostrzewa kept her word. "They say it's in confidence so even until today I didn't tell anyone," she said.

Three months ago Kostrzewa, was one of those selected to be a torchbearer which came as a complete surprise. "I had no clue. All I got was a letter saying you have been selected," she said.

Kostrzewa was the first Chinese-Canadian elected to Chilliwack council in 1969 going on to serve in that position for the next 33-years. She'll be carrying the flame for the section between Prest Rd. and Quarry Rd. shortly after 1 pm.

Kostrzewa almost declined to carry the torch because she has been having hip problems and won't be going to any of the venues because she will be preparing for hip replacement surgery also in February at the same time the games are on.                                  Denis Joly and Sharon Peel attend to Indy Monday at City Hall.

"I was so reluctant to say yes when I got the letter because I had to walk 300 meters from Prest Rd. to Quarry Rd.," she said. "Then they came up with a brilliant idea, the staff did, to say why don't you ride a motorbike with your ex-mayor (Clint Hames)? And that would have been wonderful but it turned out that Mr. Hames has been producing a play (Paper Wheat) and he has to be there. So the next best thing is Chuck Stam. I love him. He was so excited."

Kostrzewa will be riding with Councilor Stam. It's not clear if they will be riding on a motorcycle or in a car.

"I'm really excited because at my age this is probably going to be the last active event that I'll be doing," added Kostrzewa.
 

Coun. Clark raises the Olympic flag.

 

More on this story and photos here.
                                                                                                                     © Copyright (c) The Valley Voice

 Voice Views                                                      Thursday January 28^th 2010

Island 22 Park

 

Fishing the Fraser

Going after the Great Whites

Staff report

 

                                                                                       

                                                                                       Web photo of Sturgeon on Fraser

                                                                                                                               Craig Hill/Voice photo

Sport fishers load up their boat Wednesday at Island 22 before setting out after White Sturgeon on the Fraser River. The fish are classified as endangered and covered under the "catch and release" program. By law, any Sturgeon caught is to be returned to the river. For more information on Sturgeon visit: www.frasersturgeon.com

 

Congratulations to 2009 Chilliwack Chamber Business Excellence Award Winners

Customer Service Excellence

Merle’s Eatery
Established Business of the Year, Small The Bookman
New Business of the Year, Small

All Things Being Eco
Green Excellence, Grocery

Hofstede’s Country Barn
Agricultural Excellence Award

Dutch Heritage Greenhouse
Public Safety Excellence Tom McMahon
Professional Services Award

Stander & Company
Green Excellence, Retail

The Bookman
Employer of the Year Award

Langley Concrete Group
Employee of the Year Award

Nordina Newton
Entrepreneur of the Year - Archie Guvi
Development Excellence Award

Stó:lo Nation
Green Excellence, Industrial

IMW Industries
New Business of the Year, Large

89.5 The Hawk
Established Business of the Year, Large Stream International Canada Inc.
Green Excellence, Corporate

Coast Chilliwack Hotel
Not for Profit Excellence Award Chilliwack Community Services
Manufacturing Award

Langley Concrete Group
Fine Dining Excellence - Bravo
Casual Dining Excellence - Evangeline’s
Business Citizen Award

Envision Yarrow Branch

 Voice Special Report                                     Thursday January 28^th 2010

Business Development

 

Home Hardware Stays At Home

Local business remains true to it's roots

Craig Hill/Voice

                                                                                                                            Craig Hill/ Voice photos

Artists rendering of the new Home Hardware building on Mill Street.

 

Home Hardware has been at it's historical location on Wellington Ave. for eons. Over 120-years to be more precise and now the retail outlet is making a move to larger digs right behind at 9360 Mill Street which used to house Sunrise Printing.

Business owner Robin Brunette spoke with the Voice about the new project which was years in the planning. Good things come to those who wait. Brunette began looking at the site 6-years ago when he bought the business on Wellington Ave.

 

All he had to do was be patient and wait for a vacancy. Then when the opportunity arose, Brunette jumped on it. "I talked to the gentleman who owned this building then but it was full and he kept me in mind the whole time because he knows it's going to be a great thing for downtown," he said.

 

Because the building is in the downtown's heritage zone, certain requirements are needed to be met such as colour schemes, signage and lighting. It was a struggle but in the end both City Hall and Brunette were able to agree on a plan. "I had to bend, they had to bend, and we finally came to a median in the middle," he said.     

                                                Robin Brunette talks about his new store Monday.

Moving the business wasn't an an easy choice to make because the store has been there on Wellington for so long. "It's been a tough decision," said Brunette. "That's been there since 1891, the hardware and tin store with 3200 sq. ft. on 3 different levels."

Another major hardware store is planned for the Squiala lands and Brunette had to consider that as well in his decision to stay or leave Chilliwack.

With everything on the table, Brunette realized this was the best location. "Am I just going to pull my roots out of here, move to Hope where I live and put a nice big shiny new store in Hope and not have as much competition? And I thought, 'You know I'm the only hardware store this side of the tracks and have been here for over 100-years, so I kept it here.'"

The store on Wellington has no outdoor space to speak of but the new retail outlet will give Brunette plenty of elbow room. "The floor space is 5000 square feet plus there will be a 600 sq. ft. garden centre out front under the overhang enclosed with decorative wrought iron fencing. A big feature will be the 18 dedicated parking stalls which makes it easier to find

The back of the building facing Victoria Ave.        a space than on a cramped

                                                                       Wellington Ave

The approval process wasn't without extra work when Brunette had to take down the wrought iron fencing then have his permit approved and finally will re-install it. "It was holding up my first one (application) so I pulled the wrought iron off and made an amendment to the order," he said.

Home Hardware's corporate colours are white and red and so Brunette had to work to please the corporation and City Hall. "I knew the town wouldn't accept that (white and red) so I graded up close to one of their historical colours and then I'm going to take all the pillars here on the outside and I'm going to paint them all a different darker gray," he said.

When Brunette and his crew began the project they could see that it was going to be a massive undertaking. To start with they even had to take out the old Heidleberg printing presses before any work on the inside could start. The whole building needed to be re-pointed and reset and then sealed as nothing had been done to it for 60-years so the work he's doing to the building goes a long way to helping preserving the city's heritage.

The high costs of the project have been worth it for Brunette. But he's not dumping money into someone else's building. Presently he leases the building but plans on buying half the company which owns the existing building and land.

"It's been a lot of work and I wouldn't have spent all this money without having something in here," he said pointing around the large room with the freshly tiled floor. "I've done thousands of dollars of work here removing the upper floor and painting the ducts."

Coun. Chuck Stam had high praise for Brunette. "It is a wonderful project and congratulations to the land holder and the tenant," he said. "It's a marked improvement in the downtown and also great to see stores expanding their footprint and staying in the downtown."

March 1st is the scheduled opening for the new store but Brunette plans a grand opening sometime in May after they get all the bugs worked out.

 

 © Copyright (c) The Valley Voice

 

 Voice Report                                                       Saturday January 30^th 2010

New Park Portal

 

Hidden Gem Won't Be So Hidden Soon

Gwynne Vaughn upgrade aims to make park more accessible

Craig Hill/Voice                                                         Rendering of new gateway by parks        

                                                                                       employee Richard Thornton.

 

 

                                                                                                Craig Hill/Voice photos

The secondary footpath entrance to Gwynne Vaughn Park at the corner of Hope River and Williams as it is now before a planned gateway entrance.

What has been described as Chilliwack's "most beautiful and unique park" is getting a facelift, or at least an eyelid lift.

Anne McIntyre, President of the Gwynne Vaughn Society, made a presentation to City Hall regarding how $15,600 in grant money they received from the Chilliwack Foundation two weeks ago would be spent. "Fortunately we were lucky to get the amount that we requested," said McIntyre.

The main park entrance is off of Williams where a parking lot for 24 cars is situated however there is a secondary one on Hope River Rd. and this is the one which the society wants to spruce up.

McIntyre explained the park's "dreary" portal on Hope River Rd. looked more like an entrance "a private garden" and that the money from the Foundation will

Anne McIntyre has some laughs with Coun.

Chuck Stam at Monday's City Council meeting.

 

be going towards the construction of an arbour-type of entrance which McIntyre feels would be would be a more welcoming and dignified entranceway to the park. "We think it will invite Chilliwack residents and also visitors to come and visit the park," she told council on Monday.

"It's truly a 3P Project," quipped McIntyre. "It's public, public, public." The project costs have been equally divided between the Foundtion money, the Chilliwack Parks Department and the Gwynne Vaughn Park Society. The facelift project should be finished May 31st.

 

Originally the park was formed in 1993 when Adelaide Bateman, more commonly known as Gwynnie Gwynne Vaughn, bequeathed her heritage house and farm of 6.8 acres to the City of Chilliwack. The park is steeped in history and the original Driscoll home has been restored by the Rotary Club.

 

                                                                                                                       Voice file photo.
For Anne McIntyre's full presentation at council go here.

 

© Copyright (c) The Valley Voice

 

 Voice City Hall Report                               Saturday January 30^th 2010

Policing costs on the rise

 

Council Locks Horns With Solicitor General Over Increased Policing Costs

Cities want accountability as they scramble to pay

Craig Hill/Voice                                                        

 

                                                                                                                                    April 2008 handout

Ex-Solicitor General John Van Dongen (L), Chair of the BC Association of Chiefs of Police, Chief Derek Egan and Mike Chadwick Deputy Chief pose beside graphic of participating police agencies in BC when PRIME-BC was first introduced.

Last Monday Chilliwack city council questioned the significant rate increases in PRIME-BC (Police Records Information Management Environment), a policing communications tool. Municipalities were taken by surprise when letters went out from Solicitor General Kash Heed's office in September 2009 announcing the increases.

Chilliwack city council isn't happy because the rate increase throws a wrench into their finely tuned 5-year budget. At Monday's meeting, a motion was made to draft a letter to the Solicitor General expressing the city's concerns however Coun. Huttema questioned the wisdom of sending a letter and what good it would do.

Coun. Chuck Stam asked if council could get more information as to why the increases were needed. "I wonder if this council would be in favour of moving this item as a referral to the Public Safety Committee. It appears Maple Ridge municipal council had a presentation from PRIME-BC and I think it would be helpful to hear directly from PRIME-BC to where the

costs come from," he said.

Mayor Sharon Gaetz spoke with the Voice prior to the council meeting expressing concern about transparency in the process and a lack of accountability or local representation on the board.

"We've been trying to impress upon the Solicitor General and the RCMP that we do a budget 5-years at a time, you've got to give us heads-up," she said. "There's no accounting why it has to go up that much. No one has said this is what it costs or this is what training costs. We have nothing and just received a letter saying it's doubling, so we've asked for a little more accountability from the Solicitor General's office and from the RCMP."

City hall is already working on a shoestring budget after a brutal year amid a lot of denials for help from groups and agencies around Chilliwack. "We tell them (PRIME-BC) that we're washing coffee filters at city hall," said Gaetz.

"The City of Chilliwack has not had to lay-off any employees, cut many programs in the community, shut down libraries, close the leisure centre or anything like that because of strong fiscal planning but when the government downloads costs we have to look at all those things over again," said Gaetz. "The message we want to take back to Solicitor-General Kash Heed is that it may seem inconsequential in a provincial budget but in a local budget then it can have dire consequences."

In the 1994 Commission after the Vancouver Stanley Cup Riots, Mr. Justice Wally Oppal recommended the creation of a police communications and information system for records and major case management.

So in 2003 PRIME-Corp was hired to create an online system that linked 13 independent police departments and 110 RCMP detachments around BC. The PRIME-BC software is widely employed across North America and used for general occurrence reports, major case management, document imaging, integrated mug shots, officer scheduling, electronic workflow, arrest, booking and court follow-up in formats shared by all police jurisdictions.

Originally, BC was the first province to bring in the paperless system with no cost to municipalities, however $500 fees per officer started in 2007. Since the beginning of this year, the money PRIME-BC collects from Chilliwack was raised to $1000 per constable and when added up equals just over $50,000 for Chilliwack to deal with. The increases came as a result of enhancements to the system and additional training for people using it.

The 2010/2011 operating budget for PRIME-BC is $12 million and that funding comes from three sources — $2 million from the federal government, $740,000 from the PRIMECorp Evergreen Program and $220,000 from the E-Com network and helpdesk. The remaining $9 million is divvied up amongst BC municipalities based on 9,000 police officers province-wide.

Additionally, the PRIMECorp Board of Directors are currently evaluating future upgrades to the system including, Site Disaster Recovery, Server Consolidation, Network Consolidation, and Two Factor Authentication which could drive the levy charges up even further.
 

It's not known at this time if the increases will raise property taxes or what if any programs need to be cut or have diminished funding due to the new levy.

The Solicitor General's office did not respond to the Voice by press time. For more on this see the latest City Council Report here.

 

                                                                                                            © Copyright (c) The Valley Voice

 

The Voice had 4000 visits in January. Thank you to our readers.

 Voice Community                                           Monday February 1^st 2010

Sto:lo Youth Employment

 

 

Building a Healthy Future

Aboriginal Employment Career Fair attracts hundreds of kids

Craig Hill/Voice         

                                                                                                                                Craig Hill/Voice photos

The Aboriginal Employment fair was packed with dozens of exhibitors and hundreds of fairgoers including the Abbotsford RCMP who were out in full force last Friday.

 

        he Landing Sports Centre was humming with over 500 people Friday for

        The Sto:lo Nation Community Development, Sto:lo Nation Youth Council and Fraser Health who held their annual Aboriginal Employment & Career Fair at the Landing Sports Centre.

The theme for this year was "Building a healthy future" and featured employer booth exhibits, guest speakers, entertainment, food and prizes.

Samantha Kaji, Sto:lo Nation Manager for Community Development said the fair is the highlight of the year for them. "This is the favourite thing that we do all year," she said. "It's a great chance for the kids to come out and talk to people and ask questions from folks that they might not encounter in their daily lives."

One of the programs Kaji oversees is the employment program which hosts this annual event which targets aboriginal youth in the Fraser Valley from Grade 7 to 12.

There was mountains of information available to the kids and much of that centers around meeting career training pre-requisites before graduating from high school.
Justice Institute of BC Program Coordinator Michelle

Finlay demonstrates CPR techniques at the fair.

"Invariably if somebody wants to be a nurse, they don't realize before they graduate that they need to pickup their Biology and all those wonderful classes while they're still in high school. said Kaji. "So we're trying to help them prepare for their further education by asking some pertinent questions and meeting folks in those fields now."

Larger than expected crowds showed up for the for the fair which had about 56 exhibitor booth from all parts of the Lower Mainland and Vancouver Island.

Emcee Jason Campbell who is also a Corrections Services of Canada employee and local community member of the Seabird Island Band said they exceeded the 400 planned meals.
 

                             Samantha Kaji and Jason Campbell draw prizes Friday.

"My guess would be based on the amount of bags we gave out, which only the students recieved, adult chaperones etc, we probably had close to 550 people here today," said Campbell. "They're coming from all over the place, as far as Langley, Surrey, Hope and Mission."

The career fair grows annually and Campbell thinks it's a vital part in developing creative job search skills and a chance for the kids to learn self-assurance when it comes to seeking employment.

"I think (the fair) been a success, its getting larger every year." said Campbell. "It's important for the youth to know that employers are actively seeking them and they can gain more confidence knowing that prospective employers want to have them in their workforce."
 

For more on this story and to see the photo gallery go here.

 

                                                                                                                    © Copyright (c) The Valley Voice

 

 

 Voice Community                                           Monday February 1^st 2010

"Fight Gone Bad"

 

Earthquake Hits Chilliwack RCMP Hard

CrossFit training workout helps Haiti Red Cross relief effort to the tune of $1200

Craig Hill/Voice         

 

                                                                                                                           Joel Tobin/Crossfit photo
CrossFit members lift weights and exercise for the Red Cross on Saturday.

 

The Haitian earthquake 3-weeks ago hit the local Chilliwack RCMP particularly hard when officer Radzor Baptiste tragically lost a brother, aunt and cousin in the catastrophe.

Cpl. Lea-Anne DUNLOP said the entire detachment was affected. "We have been personally impacted by this, having a fellow officer suffer a great personal loss," she said.

In response to the disaster, Chilliwack Community RCMP Constable Joel Tobin, owner of CrossFit Chilliwack and several other officers that train there wanted to do something to help.

"As a team we explored different options to help raise funds for the relief," said Cst. Tobin. "It was decided that we would host a fundraiser and get people to compete in a workout called 'Fight Gone Bad'".

CrossFit is a core strength and conditioning program designed to optimize physical competence in each of the ten recognized fitness domains; cardiovascular and respiratory endurance, stamina, strength, flexibility, power, speed, coordination, agility, balance and accuracy.

The group was aiming for 24 people to participate in the hastily arranged event, but with only 19 determined individuals they still managed to raise an astounding $1,200.00. All proceeds go to the Red Cross as per Cst. Baptiste's wish.

"We were really fortunate for the generosity of those who attended and we are hoping to raise money for other charities with more events like this one in the Spring," said Cst. Tobin. "The workouts are very challenging and dynamic and have been successful in the past to help raise funds."

Cst. Tobin was pleased with the turnout and grateful to everyone involved in the effort for their dedication.

 

                                                                                                                            Joel Tobin/Crossfit photo

Participants in the CrossFit Haitian relief fundraiser Saturday at Promontory

Community Church Gym.

"A very big thank you to everyone who participated and helped us put the event together. said Cst. Tobin. "We couldn't have done it without you and it was so great to see those who participated work so hard for such a good cause."

The final scores were the highest yet from Andrew Swartz of CrossFit Vancouver for the highest men's score of 392 and to CrossFit Chilliwack's very own Kerri Huck for the highest women's score of 308.

The fundraiser took place at Promontory Community Church who donated the space, stage and sound system.

For more information on CrossFit training programs visit their website: www.crossfitchilliwack.com call 604-791-1299 or e-mail to: crossfitchilliwack@hotmail.com
 

                                                                                                                    © Copyright (c) The Valley Voice

 

 Voice Exclusive                                           Thursday February 4^th 2010

Walk Around The World

 

"Walk For Memories" Promotes Fitness For Funds

Exercising for Alzheimer's awareness                                                                                                   Craig Hill/Voice
 

                                                                                                                            Craig Hill/Voice photos.

Chilliwack Mayor sings the national anthem, "Oh Canada" at the Walk For Memories fundraiser Sunday while Cst. Boudreau salutes and a girl (back) stands at attention.

 

        here was a trade-off Sunday for hundreds of Chilliwackians who walked,

        rolled, tumbled and limboed their way through the Alzheimer Society's 8th Annual "Walk for Memories" at the Landing Sports Centre. That trade-off was an opportunity to exercise for charity and it didn't matter whether your jaunt was 5-steps or 5-kilometers.

Last year the event raised about $16,000 and the Society hopes to raise more than $20,000 this year. At press time all the totals were not in yet, but across the province the donations were over $500,000.00 and Chilliwack matched last year.

Ron Angell, Chair for the the event and also a retired RCMP, worked long hours volunteering and was the driving force for the Walk along with Gail Johnson who is also retired and worked for 30 years at city hall. 

 

Investors Group Al Limbert, organizer and co-chair of the event, demonstrated the cowboy two-step to some of the Fusion team members in a warm-up with before the event started in the lobby.

"Part of what we're doing is to have a lot of fun with the people who are out here for the walk and what we're going to try and do is get some of the cheerleaders to lead the line dancing in the event," said Limbert. "So I was teaching them something that they might be able to do, sort of to get some excitement going as people are walking around the building."

Organizer Ana Macedo started things off by thanking the many volunteers, including Chilliwack Senior Secondary students who helped setup and clean the building.

 

Each year the walk has a different "honouree" and this time it was Donald "Bruce" Wilkinson. Honourees are selected by the Society as they become aware of a particular family's struggle and battle with the disease.
 

The Wilkinson family poses for a group picture

at the Walk for Memories last Sunday.

Wilkinson, who was stricken by the disease in 2005, demonstrated he was still going strong by dancing a couple of jigs before posing for photos with thirteen other members of his family. Support from the family is important to Wilkinson and all the generations in his family are aware of the illness "especially the kids" who help him cope with the disease.

 

Donald's son, Brian Wilkinson, spoke on behalf of the family. "My dad was diagnosed 5-years ago when he was 62 and one of the most important things was early diagnosis and we got my dad on the Alzheimer's medicine which gives my dad the ability to maintain a higher quality of life and some real quality time with our family," he said. "My niece Holly has done a program, the motto is 'A penny for your thoughts could save theirs' and she went on a big penny drive and raised a whole bunch of money for the cause."

Wilkinson told the Voice that the medication his father is on is not the magic bullet they all hope for. "Its not a cure but it maintains the sickness so the dementia part of it is not as bad," he said.

To Wilkinson, having family there for his dad is paramount. "He needs the support and it's easier to understand what he's going through," said Wilkinson. "In a day-to-day reality you need a lot of support, you need family support to be there and that's what he has so he's lucky in that way."

 

The Fusion Cheerleader group piked, tucked and did hand springs on the blue square mats in the middle of the auditorium floor and in front of a big symbolic "A" that was covered in blue and white balloons.

Grade 4 Robertson Elementary School and Fusion team member  Paige Van Roy was excited about being there Saturday for some funambulist fun. "We're going to put on a big show," said the 9-year-old who's been with Fusion for the last two-years.

 

                                                                               

                                                                            Paige Van Roy "Youth" level Fusion Cheerleader.

 

Jillian Armit, Support and Education Coordinator for the Fraser Valley with the Chilliwack Alzheimer's Society thanked the staff and volunteers at the event while addressing the enthusiastic crowd.

"We all need each other if we're going to make a difference," she said. "Currently 70,000 people in BC are living with dementia and if we don't do something now by taking action with things like we're doing today then in 20-30-years there will be 180,000 people living with dementia."
 

For more on this story and to see the gallery go here.

 

                                                                                                                     © Copyright (c) The Valley Voice

 

 

 Voice Local News                                           Friday February 5^th 2010

Five Corners Rally

 

Anti-Poverty Olympics Protest Highlights Homelessness in Chilliwack

"End poverty, its not a game "

 Craig Hill/Voice
 

                                                                                                                                Craig Hill/Voice photos

Anti-Poverty Olympics organizer Trish Garner took her campaign to Five Corners in Chilliwack Monday.

Speed, stamina and strength had nothing to do with the Anti-Poverty Olympics that rolled into Chilliwack last Monday. Organizers were almost an hour late after a vehicle breakdown en route to the protest which had already begun without them at Five Corners.

Chilliwack's poverty rate is listed by StatsCan as having a 13.7 per cent poverty rate and the protest was created to bring more awareness to homelessness and poverty in BC.

SFU student Trish Garner, organizer for the Anti-Poverty Olympics, has been running a campaign to bring awareness to poverty and homelessness in the Lower Mainland. She is currently studying for her PhD., but has still found the time to get the message out for 3-years running.

"This is the Poverty Olympics Torch Relay and Chilliwack is one of twenty communities around BC

Teresa Stadnyk protesting Olympic spending      taking part in the torch relay," said

while many in BC are homeless.                        Garner.

"The point is we want to raise awareness about the shocking levels of poverty and homelessness around BC. Most people think that maybe its just an issue that's located in the Downtown Eastside of Vancouver," she said. "But it's not and people around the province are suffering."

 

The small undaunted group of locals that showed up at the clock tower on time with their signage weren't deterred by the missing organizers and took the protest into their own hands.

Teresa Stadynk, who has lived in Chilliwack for the past 15-years, was there after reading about the planned protest in print media. She was toting a sign that read "I Need Affordable Housing Now". Stadynk, an unemployed nurses aide, told the Voice that she wasn't getting enough hours in at work and eventually found herself without a place to live. Currently she is staying with friends.
                                                        Fraser Canyon Federal NDP riding Pres. Al

                                                        Ens at the rally on Monday.

Stadnyk is 100 per cent against the Olympics and was very vocal about the lack of affordable housing in Chilliwack.

"We've got money to spend on the damn Olympics and yet BC is for the 6th-year we have the highest poverty rate in Canada and yet they've got money to afford the Olympics here, Said Stadnyk. "Come on, give me a break, this is bullshit."

"There are homeless people in Chilliwack and you know what? They're not homeless by choice. They're homeless because we haven't got the rent money. They give you $580/mo. on social services to live. Try and rent a place for that."

The diminutive protest didn't run to script as a planned parade was nixed however a hockey net with a photo of Premier Campbell on it called "Slapshots for Poverty" was set up for people to shoot balls at. Their version of an Olympic torch mounted on a medical gurney was also wheeled up to the protest site.

British Columbia Schizophrenia Society member Myrtle Macdonald was at the rally and has also been busy writing letters to Fraser Health trying to get them to realize that it was wrong for their CEO, Dr. Nigel Murray to accept a $30,000 bonus.

According to Macdonald, Murray's base salary is already "at least $350,000" and she doesn't understand how he could take the bonus in one hand and ruthlessly cut much-needed community programs with the other.

"There are 200 homeless in Chilliwack and probably half of

Myrtle Macdonald is upset about recent cutbacks

to programs for homeless people with mental illness.

 

them have a mental illness that is untreated or poorly treated. The Schizophrenia Society has had a cut-back of $4,700 for a public education program that we run," said Mcdonald.

The cuts have reduced their capacity to be able to provide treatment to people. "There aren't enough staff to treat them and you can't treat them if they refuse," said Macdonald.

A homeless person with a mental illness can't be forced into treatment so in that case there are outreach nurses who can work with them and Macdonald used to work in the trenches as one in Montreal.

"I had 200 in my caseload and by visiting them in the places where they lived, I was able to get them into treatment.

President of the NDP Chilliwack-Fraser Canyon Federal Riding, Al Ens, heard about the protest via e-mail and spoke to the Voice at Five Corners.

"I thought it should be something I should come out and support," said Ens.

By and large Ens supports the Olympics but is unsupportive of the amount being spent on the games.

"I think it's gotten far too corporatized and just the billions that are being spent on it now. I'm not sure spending billions on the Olympics is putting our priorities where they ought to be," he said. "The government should be spending money on those that need it first and that isn't necessarily the people involved in the Olympics ... the billion-dollar security costs is a concern."

Anti-Poverty mascot Itchy the Bedbug also spoke to the Voice at the rally. "We are here to spread the word that homelessness and poverty is a reality across this rich province."

The torch, on the bed, will be pushed from Langley to Vancouver ending at Alexander Street on February 7th between 1 pm and 3 pm.

At their opening ceremony they'll feature "The Poverty Anthem", the unveiling of the torch and the mascot dance starring Itchy The Bedbug, Creepy the Cockroach and Chewy the Rat.

They'll be running their own sport events like a hockey game with the Vanoc Predators, the Broken Olympic Promises Slalom and the Housing Hurdles.

To see the entire gallery of photos go here

- For information about the Poverty Olympics visit: www.povertyolympics.ca

- A website created by and for the street community: www.homelessnation.org

                      

                                                                                                                      © Copyright (c) The Valley Voice

 

 

 Voice Letter To The Editor                             Friday February 5^th 2010

FHA Under Fire

 

Fraser Health CEO Dr. Nigel Murray Slammed For Taking $30K Bonus

Hard times ahead for mentally ill in Chilliwack

Special to the Voice

 

                                                                                                                                   Craig Hill/Voice photo

Myrtle Macdonald, 88, at the Anti-Poverty rally last Monday at Five Corners.

 

The Voice received the following letter from Myrtle Macdonald and we felt this was something that affects many in the community and we needed to share this with our readers. Subheads were not written by the Macdonald but inserted by the editor.

 

Chilliwack Supportive Housing Society

I have been a member of the BC Schizophrenia Society since 1989. Since 1990 I have been a family representative on local, regional and Provincial Mental Health Advisory Committees.

 

Twenty years ago some BCSS members formed the Chilliwack Supportive Housing Society, Inc. First they built an apartment block with 10 single and one double apartments. Then they decided that single independent apartments scattered in the city would be much better for the rehabilitation of mentally ill people. Once a year they bought one single apartment. Now with 9, they are elderly and feel they lack energy to buy more. They have 10 mortgages and the monitoring of upkeep and support of 20 individuals. The mortgages are paid by $375 from the disability pension of each resident. Their handling of ongoing responsibilities is praiseworthy. Fraser Health could do likewise and much more to raise the dignity and confidence of the mentally ill.
 

Fraser Health Housing Plan
Some ten years ago I had a part in preparing the Fraser Health HOUSING PLAN. Eventually it was accepted but not properly funded, so very little of it has improved homelessness. Too much emphasis is going into building new group homes. The emphasis should be on enough community mental health workers to support Single Independent Living.

 

Outreach Nurses Help the Disenchanted

There are 200 homeless people in Chilliwack and the number is growing. About half have mental illness. Some resist treatment but I know from experience that a caring nurse who visits the consumer (mentally ill person or client) and his/her family can win their trust and get them into regular treatment. I did that work myself in Montreal for over three years. In all that time, only 6 of my 200+ clients had a relapse and had to be readmitted. The rate of relapse is much higher here, and that is unnecessary.

 

People are mentally ill through no fault of their own, and through no fault of their parents. Newer medications if skillfully monitored do wonders, but not without programs to help them develop social and employment skills. There are no programs in Chilliwack to help mentally ill people find employment and to support them on the job or with job sharing. There have been a few good programs in the past, but funds always ran out after 4 to 6 months. That left them feeling defeated and without enough experience to hold a job.                                                             Web photo

Most mentally ill people have above                Fraser Health CEO Dr. Nigel Murray average intelligence, so want employment

that is superior to maintenance or packaging.

Services for the mentally ill have always been far from adequate. For the few who are willing lifelong to get regular treatment by psychiatrists supported by a treatment team, there are good results. However 95% of the mentally ill are largely neglected. Community follow-up and after hours service are largely lacking. There have been many suicides, usually evenings and weekends when there is no one available to help at the Clubhouse, Emergency or Mental Health Centre.
 

Fraser Health CEO Accepts Hefty Bonus
I heard the interview with Dr. Nigel Murray, CEO of Fraser Health, on CBC radio Dec 21. He admitted to receiving a bonus of $30,000, but excused himself for accepting it by saying "The Board decides my salary."

 

The cut backs should be made to administrators not to the mentally ill. They do not need an annual salary over $300,000. Many of us have to live on less than $30,000. Someone on a disability pension gets $9500 which includes $375 per month for housing. No one can find a decent apartment for that. A few mentally ill people also get a small SIL (Single Independent Living) subsidy. If a new person is added, a former recipient of SIL is dropped, even though their illness is lifelong. Without a subsidy they cannot pay their rent so are evicted and become homeless or double up with others in overcrowded hovels. The amount ought to be at least doubled for twice as many people or more. Many cannot get help from their family because they are out of touch or have parents who are elderly and on low fixed incomes, less then $25,000 a year.
 

Travel Costs Paid Don't Reflect Actual Cost To Caregivers
Fraser Health Authorities consists of Fraser East, Fraser North and Fraser South, including 14 communities. There are 5 communities in Fraser East alone: Abbotsford, Mission, Chilliwack, Agassiz and Hope, with a population of about 300,000. Fraser Health workshops and advisory committees (WRAP, R & R, Consumer and Family and funding plans, etc., etc.) are held in Surrey, at Fraser Health headquarters. Fraser East is allowed two representatives, a consumer from Chilliwack and one family member from Abbotsford. Because of cut backs in travel from $0.48 per km to a flat rate of $30, for round trips of 150 to 250 km, highway congestion and the time required to travel, attendance is poor. Fraser East families and consumers are rarely heard.

 

Fraser Health's Skewed Services

The hierarchy never meet the 700 or more mentally ill people from Chilliwack. Family and consumer representatives from Fraser South and North are strangers, so do not understand the needs of Fraser East. Rise up and protest skewed services in favor of Metro Vancouver.

Fraser Health Authorities should be divided into three independent Health Authorities, reporting directly to the Ministry of Health. Fraser South, North and East each have sufficient leadership and do not need supervision, especially not by people who are not currently in direct care. Peer supervision is more effective and transparent. CLOSER TO HOME is better. Thus several layers of the health care hierarchy could be eliminated, thus saving a vast amount of money. The 12 Vice-Presidents and their many admin assistants and experts, should be transferred either to the Health Ministry or to direct care. If they are social workers or nurses, they should all have a case load of mentally ill consumers (clients). Without ongoing practice they get out of touch with reality. In the ivory tower they keep asking for surveys and revision of plans and updating of this and that. Why waste time reinventing the wheel?

 

Treatment Options Are Myopic

I had a part in preparing BEST PRACTICES 10 or 15 years ago. Although they are still up-to-date, they have never been properly implemented because of chronic shortages of staff engaged in rehabilitation. The staff have stayed mainly behind their desks, just 9 to 5 five days a week. Supervisors with other backgrounds might be suitable to implement vocational or recreational treatment.

Few family doctors are familiar with the resources available for rehabilitation. Every mentally ill person should be referred to the clubhouse and to Mental Health Centre. They should have a treatment team of case manager, peer support worker, community support worker and a family member. Family members should be referred to the Chilliwack Branch BC Schizophrenia Society for help in accessing programs and coping, while their loved one is being slowly diagnosed and monitored for effective treatment.

 

Fraser Health Program Cutbacks

Some of our members lead the Partnership Public Education Program, in which a panel of consumers and family members tell about their experiences with mental illness. They do so in high schools, colleges, service clubs, police and church groups, etc. Our Fraser Health funding will end after March 31st. We lack funds to teach the twelve session course Strengthening Families Together. In Abbotsford BCSS, Fraser Health have stopped funding this program for families, and the 14 session Bridges course for consumers.

Fraser Health has also eliminated funding for non-profit workshops that train consumers in woodworking, photography, sewing, comedy, etc.
 

Decommissioned Detox Services
Our effective DETOX centre in Chilliwack General Hospital is being closed, based on a mistaken interpretation of statistics. There was always a waiting list. Patients needing detoxification are told to go to Surrey. They should be given a bus ticket and capable companion to get them there. After that they need a support program reaching into their homes - long term. About half of the mentally ill have dual diagnosis of drug abuse. There are about 700 people with schizophrenia in Chilliwack (1:100 of the population) There about triple that with bipolar and severe debilitating depression.

I urge everyone to protest the cutbacks to mental health, the dysfunctional huge size of Fraser Health, the high number of rungs in the Fraser Health bureaucracy and the high salaries.

Every administrator should get out from behind his or her desk to implement BEST PRACTICES and: live simply so that the underemployed, undertreated and homeless may simply live.
 

Health Care Worker Overtime Is A Pay Racket
Another serious waste of money in all of health care, is the payment of overtime, time and half, double and even triple. The unions cannot stop this racket. Only government can. Meanwhile casual staff get so little total pay per annum, that there is labor unrest. Enough professionals and paraprofessionals should be hired for work around the clock. Job descriptions can include extra duties for slack times.

Myrtle Macdonald, Chilliwack

BC Schizophrenia Society

 

- The BC Schizophrenia Society meets at Chilliwack Middle School library at 7:30 pm on the first Tuesday of every month. For information call Myrtle 604-795-6390 or by e-mail to: schmac@shaw.ca 
- A website created by and for the street community: www.homelessnation.org

                      

 

                                                                                                                     © Copyright (c) The Valley Voice

 

Pathway To Hope Celebration

 

The Fraser Valley Brain Injury Association is looking for donations of new items for the Silent Auction at their Pathway To Hope Celebration on March 27th at the Northview Golf & Country Club in Surrey.

For more info call: 604-557-1913 or e-mail: info@fvbia.org

 The Joe Report                            February 6^th 2009            

 

              Ready, Set & Almost Go!

               Chilliwack ready on eve of torch run

 

 

                                                                                                                      Joe Reporter/Voice photos

The Mitchell family wear tee shirts designed by son Myles at City Hall Friday. They are standing in front of a panoramic City of Chilliwack sign which will be on the "Colossus" stage Sunday for the lighting of the cauldron.

 

Chilliwack is buzzing and has the pre-torch jitters. VANOC's Olympic people were cruising through Chilliwack today affixing the round orange markers along the route torchbearers will run, walk and ride on.

Myles Mitchell was chosen Chilliwack's community torchbearer to light the cauldron at Prospera Centre Sunday was also at City Hall for the media briefing Friday. Both he and his parents were excited to be a part of the once-in-a-lifetime event and they all were wearing Myles' Olympic-themed tee shirts that he designed for his tee shirt graphic design business.

Mitchell graduated from Sardis Senior Secondary and later attended UCFV where he studied historical theatre and before deciding to start his own business designing tees.

There will be a free shuttle service running every fifteen minutes from 11 am to 6 pm (every five minutes in the peak period) between Chilliwack Heritage Park and the Landing    Orange circles mark the torchbearer's routes    

Leisure Centre. Expect some      around Chilliwack like this one on Hodgins Ave.

traffic delays in Rosedale and

through the downtown corridor as the torch and the Olympic vehicles makes its way to the Landing.

Following the lighting of the torch, everyone is invited to attend the 2010 Chilliwack Winter Party which runs until 5 pm. Swimming and skating are free at the Leisure Centre and Landing Sports Centre. Activities including face painting, children’s entertainment, crafts, bounce houses and complimentary coffee and hot chocolate while quantities last.

 

                                                                                                               © Copyright (c) The Valley Voice

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 Voice Views                                                         Saturday January 23^rd 2010

Salish Park Downtown

 

Getting Their Ducks In A Row

Waddle they do without caring people?

Staff report

 

 

Craig Hill/Voice photos

A youngster finds a tidbit to feed the ducks and geese downtown at Salish Park Wednesday during the warm spell last week which saw temperatures rise to 16°c. Above photo: A senior couple were also busy feeding the birds on the opposite side of the pond.

                                                                                                                      © Copyright (c) The Valley Voice

 Voice Local News                                           Sunday February 7^th 2010

Interactive Community

 

The Science Of Having Fun

Show a huge hit as Chilliwack kids pack Evergreen Hall to the rafters

Craig Hill/Voice

 

                                                                                                                              Craig Hill/Voice photos

Evergreen Hall was packed to the rafters for Science World on Saturday.

 

        cience World promised that it was going to be a really big show Saturday

        but underestimated the size of the crowd because it was standing room only as over 700 kids crammed Evergreen Hall for the traveling science exhibit which featured live shows and 16 interactive science booths.

When Science World agreed to let Russia's 2014 Winter Olympics organizers use their dome during Vancouver's games, staff came up with the idea of taking the show on the road.

In some BC cities, getting the crowds out to the show is sometimes a problem and they've actually delayed the start of some so they can muster more people. But that wasn't the case in Chilliwack on Saturday.

Pauline Finn, Vice President, Community Engagement, said the city as a whole helped spread the word of the event which astounded organizers with the sheer numbers of kids that showed up at the fair.

"We've never had this many people for an opening ceremony." said Finn. "This is probably the busiest to date and we've been doing    School teacher Pauline Finn engages kids in science.

it for almost 5-years."

Many kids don't have the opportunity to travel to Vancouver and so they moved the mountain to the kids. By packing up and leaving their False Creek digs, Science World freed up more money and had more options regarding getting the show out to remote BC communities.

"I have access to more resources right now because we're not operating as a facility so we're doing more outreach," said Finn.

The fair is part of a project sponsored by the Ministry of Education called "A Program for Awareness and Learning in Science" during which time, every elementary school student has the opportunity to go to Science World every year for free. The program is nearing the end of it's 5-year run which basically acted as a tool to get kids more interested in the sciences.

"We want to decrease the barriers and get more kids turned on to science and we have that when we have outreach," she said.

Finn's job traveling with Science World is better than the Olympic Torch Relay crew's job because hers is year-round as opposed to the 4-months that VANOC people are on the road. To say she loves the job is a bit of an understatement.  "I love it, it's the best. I'm a teacher and I've got a science background but honestly I didn't know this job existed," she gushed.   

 The Williams family from Squiala Nation opened the

 ceremony with a traditional blessing.                                            

Members of the Williams family from the Squiala Nation were on hand to sing, drum and give a traditional blessing to the ceremony.

"It's an honour for us so that they can hear the heartbeat of the people and that's what we're teaching our group," one of the brothers told the Voice. "We're trying to teach the younger ones to do the same as we do."

BC Hydro Community Outreach rep, Brandon Young, was demonstrating elements of the "Power Smart" program which quizzed kids knowledge about energy-saving techniques and then ran them through a gauntlet of light switches to turn off and plug-ins to unplug.                                                                 BC Hydro Community Outreach rep Brandon Young.

"We go to community events and show kids how to conserve energy," he said.

Last year BC Hydro added a Facebook application for customers that want to try and reduce their monthly bill by committing to energy savings.

"Right now we have a program that's online which allows customers to make a pledge and they can track their usage online every month and see how much they are saving," said Young.

The application asks B.C. customers to commit to reducing their energy use by 10% over the next year, and it allows you to pledge your savings to your favourite 2010 Winter Games sport – ice hockey, freestyle skiing, curling, and more. BC Hydro Power Smart's goal is to have 210,000 British Columbians signed up for Team Power Smart by the time the Games begin. After selecting a sport, you can check back each day to take a daily conservation challenge. Each challenge is worth points that can take you up through the medal standings, from Participant to Gold.

There's still time to try it out at www.bchydro.com

For more information about Science World programs and community initiatives visit their website: www.scienceworld.ca
 

                                                        For the entire photo gallery go here.

 

© Copyright (c) The Valley Voice

 

New To Chilliwack?

Welcome Wagon

Call Carol

604-858-4662

Businesses welcome also!

 

www.welcomewagon.ca

 

There's No Angels

Like Snow Angels

For more info contact Lynda Hayden at the Chilliwack & District Seniors Resource Society at 604-793-9979 or lhayden@shawbiz.ca.

Mother's Against Drunk Drivers Fraser Valley Chapter

 

Volunteers Needed For Chilliwack

 

Committed to stop impaired driving and support victims of this crime.

For more information visit the website:

www.maddufv.com

 * Blood donor clinic today at Central Community Church 46100 Chwk Central 2 pm to 7 pm

 * Ex-Border guard Bob Klassen is at the library reading his Book "I Do Declare" 2 pm

 * The monopoly vote is done.  No news yet on the board game winners.

                                                          More info and things to do in Extra! Extra! below

Top Local Headlines

Chilliwack

General Hospital

Imagine your ER waiting room

 

 

 

Donate 604-701-4051

www.ilovecgh.ca

The Voice On The Hill

     The Voice is pleased to have MP for East Van Libby Davies giving us reports regarding her work on issues in Ottawa and Vancouver. Anyone who has met Libby and seen her in action over the years can attest to the fact that when she talks ... people listen.

 

This Week: February 1^st

Conservative's so-called "Crime Agenda"

Libby speaking out against Conservative's so-called "crime agenda"

Justice Minister Nicholson pushes crime bill he used to be against Federal Justice Minister Rob Nicholson, who is pushing the government's tough on crime agenda and plans to revive the bill on mandatory minimum sentences for drug crimes in the next Parliamentary session, did not support the proposed law when he was a Mulroney backbencher. In 1988, Mr. Nicholson vice-chaired a Parliamentary committee that released a report recommending mandatory minimum sentences not be used, except in the case of repeat violent sexual offenders. The committee found, based on testimony and the U.S. experience, that the law didn't work and increases prison populations....NDP MP Libby Davies (Vancouver East, B.C.), whose party voted against Bill C-15, said Mr. Nicholson's zest for introducing mandatory minimum sentences for drug crimes is purely political.

 

This Week: February 1^st

Marijuana The Nature of Things, Downside of the High

Submitted by Anonymous on Monday Feb 1.

I would suggest that Ms Davies watch the program online at cbc.ca, TV, online video called The Downside of the High.
Marijuana of today has been manipulated to have a higher THC content between 18 and 28 per cent. Studies over 15 years in three countries including BC, Canada, Switzerland and Amsterdam, Holland all replicate the same or similar findings and proof of schizophrenia and psychosis, or psychotic outbursts and violence causing harm. I as a mother of two, who do not use marijuana ever, it just plain stinks and it is smoking, well I am shocked that Ms Davies has no idea what THC in increased amounts can do to a human. Narcotics are considering changing THC to a stronger form of drug group.

 

I think people in BC are basically nuts to allow any marijuana. It looks like I am right. For this reason Ms Davies, I will not vote NDP, you need to take a serious look at the drug situation created by BC. Do you think the USA is going to be fond of stupid Canadians who seem to have to drug their friends just for the almighty dollar that you are not even taxing. So if drug dealers are not being taxed make them go to their own Hospitals and pay for their rehab etc. If you support even one marijuana plant you are nuts and the rest of the world will look at you and laugh. Get with the program and get rid of all Marijuana. Smoke causes cancer, marijuana smoke is smoke and is 18 to 29 percent THC also laced with chemicals as bug spray, cocaine, heroin and opium. Wake up or your young people will be dumb schitzo's. I would not hire any marijuana smoker's ever, not in my whole life. People in BC head the stupidest, most uninformed group on the planet. Marijuana SUCKS, you smoke it.
And do not come near my children or family with your stinky disgusting low life pot.
Mary

 

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Our Readers Write

Do you have a voice and want it heard?

"Voice" your opinion with us!

 

 

December 17th 2009

A man died and went to Heaven. As he stood in front of the Pearly Gates, he saw a huge wall of clocks behind St Peter. He asked, 'What are all those clocks?' St. Peter answered, 'Those are Lie-Clocks. Everyone on earth has a Lie-Clock. Every time you lie the hands on your clock move.'

'Oh', said the man.. 'Whose clock is that?'
'That's Mother Teresa's', replied St. Peter. 'The hands have never moved, indicating that she never told a lie.' 'Incredible', said the man.

 

'And whose clock is that one?' St. Peter responded, 'That's Abraham Lincoln's clock. The hands have moved twice, telling us that Abraham told only two lies in his entire life.'

'Where's Gordon Campbell's clock?' asked the man. 'Campbell's clock is in Jesus' office. He's using it as a ceiling fan.'

 

Courtesy of Rafe Mair
 

The Voice welcomes readers to voice their opinion on any issue and we reserve the right to edit letters for diction and grammar or content. The viewpoint is that of the writer and The Voice may or may not agree with the author.

 

Write the editor: thevalleyvoice at   shaw.ca

 

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Independent Community News, Commentary & Events

                                                                                  January 24^th 2010

 

 

 

ICBC's Top Five Tips To An Enjoyable And Safe 2010 Winter Games On The Roads

Article courtesy of www.icbc.com Web archive photos.

 

Show the world what good hosts British Columbians are.

With more than 250,000 visitors expected in the Lower Mainland and Whistler for the Vancouver 2010 Olympic and Paralympics Winter Games, our roads will be busier than ever with extra passenger and commercial vehicles, taxis, buses and pedestrians.
While ICBC is well prepared to deal with the anticipated increase in claims in February, there are some important things to keep in mind. Here are ICBC's top five tips for having a safe and enjoyable 2010 Winter Games experience:

1. Be a good host: An increase in visitors will mean more motorists that are unfamiliar with B.C.'s roads. This is our chance to be good hosts and display smart driving skills to visitors by slowing down and keeping our distance from other vehicles – drivers and pedestrians unfamiliar with our roads may need a bit more space. If you are unfortunate enough to be involved in a crash and the other person involved is not insured by ICBC, it is important that you record as much information as possible to help your claim go smoothly. Get the license plate of any other vehicles involved, along with the driver's address and phone numbers (including their temporary contact details while in B.C.), email address and, most importantly, the name of their insurance company and their policy number. ICBC's At the scene of a crash claims card can help you recall the pertinent information you'll need. The cards are available from Autoplan brokers, ICBC claims centres or can be downloaded from the website.

 

2. Be a role model: As of January 1, it is now illegal in B.C. for drivers to use hand-held cellphones and other hand-held communications and entertainment devices – including BlackBerry devices, PDAs, iPods or manual programmable GPS systems. The goal of the new law is to make our roads safer for everyone and we all play an important role in that. The focus for January has been public awareness but, as of February 1, police will start issuing tickets of $167 and there is also the potential to receive demerit points on your driving record. So now's the time to start letting calls go to your voicemail, ask a passenger to take your calls while driving or to invest in a hands-free device.

 

3. Commute creatively: For anyone living in the downtown core of Vancouver, road closures, significantly reduced on-street parking and tens of thousands of more pedestrians are going to be a reality that will make driving more challenging. Given that, now is the ideal time to look at alternative transportation options for getting about or for your daily commute to work during the 2010 Winter Games. There will be many public transportation choices, or consider cycling to work, tele-working or changing your work hours to avoid the Games-time peak travel times in downtown Vancouver of 7 to 9 a.m. and 2 to 7 p.m. All of this will help the overall goal of reducing traffic during the 2010 Winter Games by at least 30 per cent. To plan your commute visit travelsmart2010.ca and the City of Vancouver's website at:  www.olympichostcity.vancouver.ca

 

4. Drive smart: If you are going to be driving during Games time then ensure you and your vehicle are adequately prepared. Every January and February in B.C means mixed weather conditions – heavy rain, sleet, fog, and snow – and a high number of crashes – a total of 45,000 on B.C. roads during those months in 2008. Prepare your vehicle for a range of conditions and make sure you plan your trip ahead of time. A great resource in planning your journey is  www.drivebc.ca which will advise you of delays, and possible road and highway closures.

 

5. Party safely: The 2010 Winter Games will be a party the likes of which we have never seen before, but it's important that we all have a good time responsibly. Help make these the safest Winter Games ever by providing your guests with a safe ride home – encourage the use of transit, designated drivers and have taxi numbers on hand. It's also possible to have a lot of fun without alcohol – a hot apple cider, a smooth and creamy Kootenay Koffee or a tart and tingling Lemon Fizz are fun and easy-to-make mocktails treats. For these quick and simple recipes go to www.icbc.com

For many more tips on how to enjoy a safe 2010 Winter Games on the road, visit www.icbc.com/on_road_2010

 

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Chilliwack

Events

                          

Listed below are current events in Chilliwack. Many are free and low-cost for you and your family to enjoy and participate in. Our budget at the Voice is a small one and we can't afford to attend all events however if you would like coverage for your event please e-mail us to make press pass arrangements. thevalleyvoice@shaw.ca

Complete events page here   

 

 

 

Made in

Canada

Made in

Canada

        

 

 

 

1587 Mary, Queen of Scots, was beheaded at Fotheringhay Castle in England after she was implicated in a plot to murder her cousin, Queen Elizabeth I.

1693 A charter was granted for the College of William and Mary in Williamsburg, Va.
 

1837 The Senate selected Richard Mentor Johnson of Kentucky as vice president after no candidate received a majority of electoral votes.

1904 The Russo-Japanese War began.
 

 

 

1910 The Boy Scouts of America was incorporated.
 

 

1915 D.W. Griffith's silent movie epic about the Civil War, "The Birth of a Nation," premiered in Los Angeles.
 

 

1922 President Warren G. Harding had a radio installed in the White House.
 

 

1924 The first execution by gas in the United States took place at the Nevada State Prison in Carson City.

1968 Three college students died in a confrontation with highway patrolmen in Orangeburg, S.C., during a civil rights protest against a whites-only bowling alley.

1978 Senate deliberations were broadcast on radio for the first time as members opened debate on the Panama Canal treaties.

1993 General Motors sued NBC, alleging that the program "Dateline NBC" had rigged two crashes to show that GM pickups were prone to fires. (NBC settled the lawsuit the following day.)

 

1996 In a ceremony at the Library of Congress, President Clinton signed legislation revamping the telecommunications industry, saying it would "bring the future to our doorstep."

1999 The Senate heard closing arguments in President Bill Clinton's impeachment trial.
 

 

 

2004 Beyonce won five Grammy Awards, tying the record for female performers held by Lauryn Hill, Alicia Keyes and Norah Jones. (Beyonce broke the record by winning six Grammys in 2010.)

2005 Israeli Prime Minister Ariel Sharon and Palestinian leader Mahmoud Abbas announced a cease-fire at a summit in Egypt.
 

2007 Model and tabloid sensation Anna Nicole Smith died at age 39 of an accidental drug overdose.

 

 

 

The main source for text information here is the NY Times Inc. in addition to assorted Canadian news sites. Images are borrowed from various websites.

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© 2008 The Valley Voice | All Rights Reserved | Mansfield Communications Ltd.

A Message From The Publisher

   

The Valley Voice is new and striving for perfection. Help keep our information relevant and up-to-date. If you find errors or missing information in the news items, please let us know. We're here to serve you and the Chilliwack community.

    The Valley Voice's mandate is to provide unbiased and independent news for Chilliwack. We are small-town-friendly and answer all of our e-mails. We're never too busy to ignore people who write us that want a voice or wish to become involved.

    Local writers and shooters are welcome to submit event stories/photos. We always accept local Chilliwack news tips, story ideas, comments and photo submissions from the community.  If you are interested contact me at the e-mail address below.

    Community papers are about the community and my experience in the past with producing local newspapers has always involved all members of the community. Informed people who know their community.

    My credentials aren't backed by stacks of degrees nor do I need them to write coherently about what's going on in the community. I have spent a few years in the trenches writing about and living in Vancouver's infamous downtown eastside. In fact I lived 3 blocks from Main & Hastings, ground zero, for ten years and during that time carved out a passion to provide real honest news with integrity and conviction and a  passion to serve the community.

    I've come to know this community as well as anyone in Chilliwack. I've lived here for almost 10 of my 51 years of existence. Grandma on mother's side lived here for 75 years and raised 10 kids (Irene Armstrong) and Grandpa, on my father's side, owned the old Cottonwood Corners restaurant in the 1950's (Ivor Hill) and was a great fly fisherman back when you could haul steelhead as big as a Mac truck out of the Vedder River.  Grandma's (Jeanette Quesnel) gr-grandfather also on dad's side, was Jules Maurice Quesnel who trekked across Canada and then down the Fraser River with Simon Fraser in 1808 and after whom the city and river of Quesnel are named.

    At this site's inception it was my intention to have an advertisement-free not-for-profit news website however I would like to pay our writers and columnists for their great stuff. So with that in mind, any revenue that The Valley Voice generates through the site will be used solely for the purpose of paying writers and photographers for their work and for the costs of running and upgrading the website's bandwidth.

    It might be that at some point in the future, with support from the community, we'll go to print with your news in an interesting, informative and entertaining format based on my own experience producing Spare Change newspaper in Vancouver, a grassroots social-minded community paper and producing magazines with industry leaders like Squire Barnes from Global TV Sports as well as working with other local community newspapers.

    Thank you for visiting and I hope that you will make this a part of your daily, weekly or monthly internet reading  itinerary.

 

Craig Hill

 

The Valley Voice News 

thevalleyvoice at shaw.ca

 

 

Free Valley Voice Photos!

Any of our gallery photographs of community or other news/events are free for the asking. Just drop us a note and we'll e-mail them back as .jpg files to you or right-click and save.

Recycle Your Cellular Phone

 

Chilliwack Locations

Rogers Plus 46030 Yale

Can Talk 45905 Yale

Apex Comm 45300 Luckakuck

Bell Cottonwood Mall

PCS Wireless Cottonwood Mall

Rogers Wireless Cottonwood Mall

Clearwest Solutions 7544 Vedder

 

For locations near you visit www.recyclemycell.ca

 

Fred's Custom Tackle

             February

             Fishing

             Report

 

 

 

 

 

This report of current local conditions is with thanks to Fred Helmer of Fred's Custom Fishing & Tackle and to the BC Sportsfishing Group in Agassiz.

 

Click here for current river conditions

 

Got Your Licence?

Drop in to Fred's and get your new licenses or at least pre register and get your new anglers ID number that you will keep forever.  The licenses are up and running so come get your license today.

 

New!! SIMMS Products including waders now available at Fred's Custom Tackle!! Excellent Rod & Reel packages for $99 and up!

 

Wally Hall Steelhead Derby runs from Dec 1st to Mar 31, 2010.

 

Monday February 8^th

Local Fishing Report

Chilliwack /Vedder River

The river looks great today, Lots of people fishing, but we are seeing more fish caught ,seems like the little rain we had brought in some fresh fish. The water is quite clear so try using small presentation and light leaders. Roe sacks and Jensen egg with wool combinations are worth a try.
(Check daily weigh-ins on Fred's Custom Tackle's website.) The fish that are being caught are hiding in the rippled water between the big pools. With the sunny days, the ripples are the only spot they can get cover. Try using small presentation and light leaders. Roe sacks and Jensen egg with wool combinations are worth a try.

Starting today, when you weigh in a steelhead at the store you will get a FREE ticket to the Chilliwack Bruins hockey game (Game is Vs Seattle Tuesday Feb 16) while tickets last.

 

Whether you're in the derby or just fishing for fun, every Steelhead weighed in at Fred's Custom Tackle receives a discount off any regular priced item (excluding Simms products) in the store on the day of your weigh-in relative to the size of your fish. For example, if the fish is under 15 pounds you receive a 10% discount. 15-20 pounds - 15% and fish over 20 pounds - 20 %. Sounds like fun, that is the whole idea. Good luck...

 

Fraser River

Water levels have risen dramatically reducing access to some back water cutthroat fishing. Sturgeon fishing is productive but the fish are not real active, please handle these great fish with care especially during the cold temperatures.

 

Harrison River

Colder days and wind can make outings on the Harrison a challenge. The open area can produce some late Coho along with some good numbers of Cutthroat trout. If you venture out be sure to dress warm and bring the gloves along, you will likely need them.

 

Chehalis River

The river is running high with the rain levels we are getting. We are hearing of good numbers of steelhead when the water levels drop.

Fraser Valley Lakes
Winter months are tough, however you may do well on the lower lakes along the shore if the weather allows. A winter day near the water is always a pleasure, a few fish can make it perfect..
 

Interior Lakes
The winter months are here and so is the ice. Dress warm and enjoy.  

Fred's Custom Tackle

1 - 5580 Vedder Road in Chilliwack.
Phone: 604-858-7344 or Toll-free: 1-888-858-7344

 

BC Sportfishing Group  100 Esplanade Ave. Harrison Hot Springs BC or call (604) 796-3345  to book your guided trip.

 

Sign-up for the BC Sportfishing Newsletter and get professional fishing advice.

www.fredscustomtackle.com

 

www.bcsportfishinggroup.com