Motorcycle mishap

Rider taken to hospital with undetermined injuries

Staff/Voice photo

Just after 4 pm Tuesday, a motorcyclist collided with a car at Young Road and Luckakuck Way. The rider was taken to hospital with unknown injuries. Firefighters righted the bike and waited for a tow.

Winging it

Wheels, planes and military vehicles drive-thru show this weekend at the Abbotsford Tradex with proceeds to Crystal Gala Breast Cancer Society

Laura Ballance/File photos/Vehicles and aircraft show may or may not be a part of the show

Vintage plane at the Chilliwack Air Show in 2015.

Billed as the largest indoor drive-thru spectacular in North America, 360 Group of Companies announces Wings and Wheels 2020, in support of the Crystal Gala.

Featuring 120,000 square feet of vintage buses, tractors, 9-1-1 vehicles, some of the best collector, antique, hot rod and exotic cars from private collections in British Columbia as well as vintage airplanes from across the region, the Wings and Wheels event slated for August 15th and 16th at the Fraser Valley TRADEX promises to be a fantastic family experience as well as a critical fundraiser for one of BC’s most respected charitable organizations.

All money raised being donated to the Crystal Gala, one of the leading charitable organizations in British Columbia. Since 1999 the Crystal Gala has raised over $2 million to support breast health and the women and men and their families who are struggling with the disease.

“With virtually zero overhead, our commitment continues to be to ensure that 100% of each dollar raised goes directly back into the community to purchase much needed equipment and fund initiatives that align with our core mandate,” says Crystal Gala Chair Gerri Charles.

With both the BC Truck Museum and the BC Farm Museum participating with displays as well as significant vintage military vehicles also slated for display, support for the event continues to grow. 360 Fabrication is also pleased to welcome the Greater Vancouver Food Truck Festival to the event where top food truck vendors participating and supporting Wings and Wheels and the Crystal Gala with a portion of sales contributed to the cause.

With both the BC Truck Museum and the BC Farm Museum participating with displays as well as significant vintage military vehicles also slated for display, support for the event continues to grow. 360 Fabrication is also pleased to welcome the Greater Vancouver Food Truck Festival to the event where top food truck vendors participating and supporting Wings and Wheels and the Crystal Gala with a portion of sales contributed to the cause.

People wanting to buy tickets to attend Wings and Wheels should visit FVTRADEX.com.  Tickets are $20 per carload. Cars will drive through TRADEX and view the displays, which will fill both sides of the 120,000 square foot facility.

Welcome to the boomtown

Chilliwack July home sales up almost 33 per cent over 2019

Steve Lerigny, CADREB/File photo

The number of homes sold via the MLS^® System of the Chilliwack and District Real Estate Board totaled 353 units in July 2020. This was a large increase of 32.7% from July 2019.

On a year-to-date basis, home sales totalled 1,641 units over the first seven months of the year. This was up 6.8% from the same period in 2019.

“Home sales activity remained strong in July, posting the third-highest level for this month on record,” said Kim Parley, President of the Chilliwack & District Real Estate Board. “New listings have risen in tandem with sales, bringing back some desperately needed supply to the market. However, even with new listings posting the highest July on record the market continue to tighten due to the unexpected strength in demand. This continue to put upward pressure on price growth and is lifting average prices to new record levels.”

The average price of homes sold in July 2020 was a record $570,088, rising 11.8% from July 2019.

The more comprehensive year-to-date average price was $553,334, up 4.7% from the first seven months of 2019.

There were 527 new residential listings in July 2020. This was an increase of 11.7% on a year-over-year basis. This was the largest number of new listings added in the month of July in history.

Active residential listings numbered 1,060 units at the end of July. This was down 24.8% from the end of July 2019.

Months of inventory numbered 3 at the end of July 2020, down from the 5.3 months recorded at the end of July 2019 and below the long-run average of 5.4 months for this time of year. The number of months of inventory is the number of months it would take to sell current inventories at the current rate of sales activity.

The combined dollar value of all home sales in July 2020 was $201.2 million, a large increase of 48.4% from the same month in 2019. This was also a new record for the month of July.

Sales of all property types numbered 361 units in July 2020; this was a large increase of 31.8% from July 2019. The total value of all properties sold was $203.9 million, a large increase of 47.5% from July 2019.

The Chilliwack and District Real Estate Board is an association of 319 REALTORS^® that provides services to and sets standards for members. The Chilliwack and District Real Estate Board serves Chilliwack, Agassiz, Hope, Boston Bar and Harrison.

Cheers!

City to allow tippling in two parks until Oct 31.

Jamie Leggatt, COC/Handout image

Drinking alcohol will be allowed within the red dotted lines at Crossing Park.

Later this summer, residents of the legal drinking age will be able to responsibly enjoy an alcoholic beverage in designated areas of Vedder and Crossing parks. City Council gave first, second and third reading to the draft bylaw for this pilot project at their August 4 meeting. After the bylaw is adopted at the August 18 meeting, this pilot project will run until October 31, 2020.

Drinking alcohol will be allowed within the yellow lines at Vedder Park.

To help support the local economy while complying with all provincial health orders, the City of Chilliwack is preparing to launch this pilot project at Vedder and Crossing parks.

Additional picnic tables, and garbage facilities will be added to the selected parks to accommodate the designated areas where responsible liquor consumption will be permitted. Further, temporary washrooms will be added to Crossing Park during the pilot project.

This pilot project will permit responsible drinking in designated areas between noon and 9 pm daily. The boundaries of each area will be marked by fencing and signage will clearly display the hours of operation, boundaries and rules of use. No glass bottles or containers will be allowed. Signage to remind residents of the importance of physical distancing will also be installed, and staff will monitor use of these designated areas as part of their regular patrols.

Two fires Friday

Abandoned scheduled for demolition blaze deliberately set says Chief, and a chicken barn a complete loss

Mike Bourdon, Assistant Fire Chief, Fire Prevention, CFD/Voice and Google image

Firefighters deal with a porch fire at the rear of an boarded up house.

At 11:45am on August 7, 2020, firefighters from Chilliwack Fire Halls 1, 4, 5 & 6 responded to a structure fire in the 45000-block of Rowat Avenue. When firefighters arrived, they found a boarded up vacant, single-storey residential house with heavy fire on the exterior rear deck of the home. Firefighters quickly confined the fire to the exterior and extinguished with minor fire damage to the roof structure.

The house was scheduled for demolition. There were no firefighter or civilian injuries.

This fire was deliberately set and is under investigation by Chilliwack Fire Department and RCMP fire investigators. If anyone has any information about this fire, they are asked to call the RCMP at 604-792-4611 or anonymously through Crimestoppers at 1-800-222-TIPS (8477) or the Upper Fraser valley Crime Stoppers

This free range chicken barn was destroyed in a fire Friday.

While fire crews were working the structure fire on Rowat Avenue, Chilliwack Fire Department was dispatched to a second structure fire located in the 49000-block of Castleman Road. The structure fire call came in at approximately 12:30 pm.

Fire fighters responded from Halls 1, 2, 3, 4, 5 and 6. On arrival, fire crews witnessed heavy smoke and flame from a large poultry barn. The barn sustained heavy fire damage and was destroyed in the fire. An excavator was brought in to help with firefighting operations. Fire crews did a great job protecting adjacent buildings on site.

The farm is a free-range poultry operation. The majority of the chickens were outside the barn at the time of the fire and were later collected and move to a neighbouring barn. Unfortunately, a few of the chickens that were in the barn perished in the fire.

There were no civilian or firefighter injuries.

The fire is under investigation by Chilliwack Fire Department and appears to be accidental.

Farming the future

Local Libertarian candidate Kyle McCormack backs dismantling the ALC

Shawn Halter, MSc, PAg BC Libertarian Party, Op Ed excerpts

Local Libertarian candidate Kyle McCormack is a BC Hydro lineman.

The Agriculture Land Reserve (ALR) has existed since the early 1970s and reflected the concerns of that era.

Market liberalization of the 1980s and 1990s unleashed the creative potential of individuals to determine the best use of their resources. In short, farmers were free to grow more food, and they grew a lot of it, helped along by advances in agronomy and biotechnology that dramatically increased yields.

In BC, owners of ALR land must receive the approval of the Agriculture Land Commission (ALC) prior to enacting land use decisions. By making entrepreneurs jump through bureaucratic hoops not only affects timeliness, it subjects such decisions to political whims and expediency. 

In many parts of BC, commodity agriculture cannot realize economies of scale, so farmers to turn to other revenue streams like agri-tourism to remain profitable. An example of this is the of the BC wine industry. Since the 1989 Canada-US Free Trade Agreement, BC vineyards have changed their business model from selling to liquor vendors to direct sales via on-farm wineries. Other farm types are also experimenting with culinary tourism, such as Okanagan orchards starting on farm cideries and restaurants.

Not all farmers in BC have been so fortunate as to receive approval from the ALC for their plans for economic diversification. Recent political winds have resurrected sophistic narratives of "food security” and "food sovereignty", encouraging the ALC to inflict greater limits on the ability of farms to engage in activities deemed “non-agricultural”. These include on farm restaurants, corn mazes, cideries, restaurants, weddings, and storage.

Sending the ALC and ALR to the dustbin of history would restore to BC farmers property rights and economic freedoms enjoyed by other British Columbians. This would have immediate and long-term benefits, including new investment into a more productive, efficient agricultural sector.

Such a change, after 45 years of the ALR, would invite opposition from special interest groups, most of whom do not earn a living from agriculture. But terminating the ALR need not mean the end of farmland preservation. BC farmers have demonstrated their ability to produce high value crops and make farms, wineries and ranches, sought-after destinations. We should let those who make a living on the land decide how best to do so, instead of pedantic bureaucrats suppressing them with antiquated rules. 

Claiming Canadian

Three-time Juno nomination singer/songwriter Jill Barber at Harrison August 15

Bryan Cutler, HFS/Handout photo

Jill Barber will be at Harrison Memorial Hall August 15.

The Harrison Festival Society will present two limited audience, socially distanced performances of popular songstress and songwriter Jill Barber on Saturday August 15, on the historic Old Agassiz dairy farm (Holberg Farm), at 3pm and 7pm. The first concert, held early in July with songwriters Bentall, Taylor, and Ulrich, was a success.

Audience members enjoyed intimate performances in a rural setting in a safe environment. Attendees were positioned in their household bubbles at a Covid-safe distance, and audience numbers did not exceed the mandated limit of 50. These protocols will apply to the Jill Barber concert as well.

Barber is a three-time Juno Award nominated singer-songwriter with an unforgettable voice once heard, never forgotten. Her critically acclaimed repertoire spans a transformative spectrum from folk, to vocal jazz, to pop, and includes songs in both French and English.

Her evocative and timeless songs have been featured in film and TV, scoring shows such as Orange Is The New Black, The L Word, and Heartland, as well as powering a global advertising campaign for Chrysler with the track ‘Never Quit Loving You.’ Her new French album, Entre Nous, further explores her ongoing love affair with the French language and chanson. For more information, visit the Harrison Festival website.

A pet in need is a friend indeed

PetSmart donated $70k in 2020 to assist owners through the coronavirus pandemic

Lori Chortyk, BC SPCA/Handout photo

Victoria Olynik in Shuswap with pet food bank items BC.

PetSmart Charities® of Canada has announced a $55,000 grant for the BC SPCA’s pet food bank outreach program, which provides support for pet guardians in need across BC. This new grant is in addition to a $15,000 outreach grant provided by PetSmart Charities® of Canada earlier this year.

“The BC SPCA has always operated pet food banks for individuals who may need a little extra help to keep their animals fed and healthy,” says the society’s chief prevention and enforcement officer, Marcie Moriarty. "But the number of pet guardians needing help skyrocketed during the COVID-19 crisis, as individuals were impacted by job loss and other financial stresses. “We were able to ramp up our outreach programs very quickly to address the growing need, expanding the number of SPCA pet food bank programs right across the province,” says Moriarty.

The PetSmart Charities of Canada grant will enable the BC SPCA to expand its COVID-19 outreach response even further for at-risk and financially insecure individuals.

“We remain committed to supporting to pets and people who love them during this unprecedented time, and our hearts go out to those affected by COVID-19,” said Dani LaGiglia, regional relationship manager at PetSmart Charities® of Canada. “We’re proud to support this work to keep BC. pets in the arms of those who love them, especially during the uncertainty of this pandemic.”

Since the COVID-19 pandemic began, the BC SPCA has distributed 21,484 kilograms of dry dog food, 6,965 kilograms of dry cat food, 5,969 cans of dog food, 13,797 cans of cat food, as well as 3,530 kilograms of cat litter to pet guardians in communities across BC.

Online Howdy's

The Chilliwack Fair kicks off in person and digital Aug 7 - 16

Megan Keane, Chilliwack Fair/Voice file photos

Cowboy Mark Thompson at the 2017 Chilliwack Fair.

The Chilliwack Fair is officially open, and this year, they’re going virtual! Come and enjoy all the digital fun from August 7th to August 16th, with daily launches happening on the Fair’s Facebook and Instagram page, as well as at www.chilliwackfair.com.

Get ready to be inspired by Valley artisans, entertained by some of your favourite Fair performers, and celebrate the community of Chilliwack like never before! Looking for more summer fun? Head on down to Heritage Park tonight, August 7th, to celebrate the 148th annual grand opening with a drive-in concert alongside Todd Richard and Appaloosa!

Horse riders carry the provincial flag.

Other on-site events include goat yoga, a drive-in movie night featuring Toy Story 4, and a second night of music with Full Tilt, The K.O.s, Stiletto, Judy Tuesday, and Totally Tom Petty!

All on-site events require a pre-purchased ticket and all current Covid-19 rules will apply. For the Chilliwack Fair’s full schedule, please visit @theChilliwackFair on Facebook for more details.

A new lease on life

The BC Gov't chipped in $3.7 million and BC Housing $5 million to make it happen

BC Gov't Caucus/Google image

Traverse, a new treatment centre in Chilliwack, will open soon to provide specialized support for youth in the Fraser Health region who are living with substance-use challenges.

The 20-bed centre is the first of its kind in the region that exclusively supports young people ages 13 to 18 years old who require an extended stay in a treatment facility to address their substance-use challenges.

Traverse provides team-based residential care tailored to each youth, including comprehensive assessment, treatment and rehabilitation for up to six months. Individualized growth plans for each patient will help them address their addiction, while supporting them to develop skills to maintain wellness.

Patients are supported by a team made up of clinical counsellors, addiction workers, nurses, a recreation lead and others. Using a team-based treatment approach to care, the centre focuses on four areas:

• counselling and network-building to work through relationship concerns and help youth establish a support network among their peers, and to reinforce that they are not alone in their recovery from substance use;
• indoor and outdoor recreational activities to connect patients to nature, promote physical activity and build confidence mastering a new skill;
• a safe space to explore cultural and spiritual beliefs that may support youth in recovery; and
• skills training, such as continuing education courses and cooking and volunteer programs to support young people in preparing for the future when they are on the road to recovery.

Pacific Community Resources Society (PCRS), an organization with 35 years of experience providing quality, accredited social services in B.C., has been contracted by the Fraser Health Authority to operate Traverse. PCRS will work closely with the health authority’s mental health and substance-use team to support the unique needs of each patient. Traverse provides team-based residential care tailored to each youth, including comprehensive assessment, treatment and rehabilitation for up to six months. Individualized growth plans for each patient will help them address their addiction, while supporting them to develop skills to maintain wellness.
 

The big squeeze

Liberals take aim at tabled murky NDP legislation calling for new "Home Equity Tax"

BC Liberal Caucus/CIVX YouTube image

​BC Liberal candidate David Grewal is calling on John Horgan’s NDP to reject a new Home Equity Tax proposed by one of the key architects of their policy agenda.

The recent proposal for a new tax on homeowners comes from Dr. Paul Kershaw of UBC’s Generation Squeeze project. Kershaw is responsible for several signature NDP policies, including the $10-a-day childcare platform promise the government has failed to deliver.

“New and higher taxes, including the proposed Home Equity Tax, are the last thing British Columbians need right now,” wrote David Grewal, BC Liberal candidate for Vancouver-Fraserview, in a letter to Horgan. “We need a recovery driven by private sector entrepreneurship and innovation – and a government that makes life more affordable for British Columbians.”

Kershaw isn’t the only NDP-aligned voice calling for new and higher taxes. The Canadian Centre for Policy Alternatives, an influential left-wing think tank, is advocating for higher taxes as the key to economic recovery from the pandemic. And the BC Greens, who hold the balance of power in the Legislature, proposed a similar home equity tax in their 2017 campaign platform.

“With BC’s deficit and debt skyrocketing, my concern is the NDP’s first instinct will be to find new ways to tax British Columbians,” Grewal added. “What we need instead is a solid economic recovery plan that gets us back on track for prosperity and growth so we can pay for strong public services – and that’s what Andrew Wilkinson and the BC Liberals will deliver.”

Grewal noted that the proposed Home Equity Tax comes at a time when over a million BC condominium and townhouse residents are already struggling to make ends meet because of skyrocketing strata insurance rates – another problem where the NDP government has utterly failed to act.

Onions Linked to Salmonella   

BCCDC warns of disease fromThomson International vegetables

BCCDC/Website image

​British Columbia is one of several provinces experiencing an ongoing Salmonella outbreak.

The outbreak has been linked to red onions, imported from the United States. To date, 69 cases have been reported in BC in all regional health authorities since mid-June.

A collaborative investigation has identified that the contaminated red onions are coming from Thomson International Inc. of Bakersfield, California, USA and Thomson International Inc. who have recalled all varieties of onions that could have come in contact with potentially contaminated red onions.

Do not eat, sell or serve any red, white, yellow, and sweet yellow onions from Thomson International Inc., Bakersfield, California, USA, or any products made with these onions.

The investigation is ongoing and other onions from the U.S. may be implicated in this outbreak. Onions grown in Canada are not affected by this advice. If you do not know the source of your onions, do not eat them. 

Griffin Drive House Fire   

CFD investigating cause

Staff/Voice photo

Another care home exposed to COVID-19   

A staff at Maple Ridge Seniors Village tested positive as new cases around BC went up 146 over the long weekend, state of emergency extended to Aug 18

Dixon Tam, Fraser Health/Google image

Call for NDP to step in for pay equality   

BC Gov't workers get paid more than non-union workers for doing the same jobs  

Alla Drigola and Kayode Southwood, EWEP BC/Voice file photo

'The greatest casualty is being forgotten'   

Cold War veterans volunteered for the CAF later remain unrecognized for their service 

Dave W. Palmer, CD/Voice file photo

A mountain of help   

Alzheimer's Society hopes Chilliwack residents can walk a total of 70,000 km

Sophie Grattidge/Handout photos

Keep on the sunny side   

Helping Kids Shine Charity Raffle August 26

Staff/Website photos

Cutting the ribbon on FVCDC's new Centre.

COVID-19 at Dania Care Home   

Long-term facility in Burnaby locked down after a staff was diagnosed with the coronavirus

Fraser Health Assn/Google image

Dania Care Home staff member was diagnosed with COVID-19 on Thursday.

Mattress Blaze   

CFD says arson, looking for tips

Chris Wilson, Assistant Chief, CFD/Google image

Firefighters responded to a trash fire early Thursday.

An  apple a day   

BC Cider Week takes place around the province August 6-16

Emily Ritchie/Submitted photo

Annelise is serving it up at Fraser Valley Cider in Langley.

Got a clunker? Now's the time to junk'er     

Big rebates for going electric on two or three wheels

BC Gov't caucus/Handout image

An e-bike cargo carrier type.

The Province is increasing e-bike rebates for individuals and businesses to help make electric-powered bikes more affordable and accessible, while also reducing greenhouse gas emissions.

People who trade in a vehicle to scrap now have access to a rebate of $1,050 toward the purchase of any type of new e-bike — an increase of $200 from the previous year. The rebate is delivered through the Scrap-It transportation options program. The ministries of Energy, Mines and Petroleum Resources, and Transportation and Infrastructure are providing $1,000 toward the rebate, with participating retailers providing the remaining $50.

In addition, the Province is introducing a one-year pilot project that enables a rebate of up to $1,700 for business owners toward the purchase of a cargo e-bike. This will provide eligible businesses with up to one-third of the purchase price. Businesses may purchase up to five cargo e-bikes through this program.

Cargo e-bikes are particularly efficient in delivering materials and goods around the community in a way that reduces operating costs for businesses. They also help reduce large van and truck traffic, and emissions from the movement of goods in community centres.

More than magic     

Chilliwack Illusionist Chris Funk appears in 4 TV shows beginning August 7

Kevin Cruiz, Antune/Handout image

Magician Chris Funk the Wonderist is bringing one of his signature illusions that has entertained millions people around the world to CW’s 7th season of “Masters of Illusion”.
 

Funk has performed magic across the globe, and on 24 national and international TV shows including CW’s “Penn & Teller: Fool Us” and NBC’s “America’s Got Talent.” On his 9th appearance on the show, Funk is bringing his blend of awe-inspiring magic combining live music and witty humour to your TV screen.
 

“These appearances combine magic and my guitar. Something never seen before. It’s surreal to think I got to film this in front of a studio audience before Covid shut everything down, and I can still share it with the world.”
 

Funk’s first of four appearances on this season’s “Masters of Illusion” will air on August 7th on The CW network (check local listings for channel/time). The series showcases celebrity magicians from around the world in a theatre-style setting and is hosted by Dean Cain.

Exclusive first look

Smoking pot starts fire     

Smouldering cigarette burst into fames

Andrew Brown, Assistant Chief, Training/Google image

Chilliwack Fire dept refers to these types of fires as "Plastic Flowers" where the cigarette lights the planter on fire then it travels up the vinyl siding.

On July 26, 2020 at approximately 4:30pm the Chilliwack Fire Department was dispatched to a reported structure fire, located in a single family residential structure in the 5600 block of Kathleen Drive. Neighbours saw flames on the balcony of the home and alerted the occupants to the fire who then called 911 and began fighting the fire with a garden hose.

Firefighters responded from Halls 1, 4, and 6, and on arrival, reported the fire had been extinguished. Fire crews checked to ensure the fire was out and that it had not extended into the structure.

The home suffered minor fire damage. There were no civilian or firefighter injuries.

This fire appears to be accidental and caused by discarded smoking materials in a plant pot.
 

Chilliwack Fire Department reminds the public to ensure smoking materials are fully extinguished in an approved container.

Chilliwack team enters the PJHL    

Jets begin season September 23

Justin Sulpico, PJHL/File photo

Chilliwack Jets will be fencing off against the Abbotsford Pilots in the 2020-21 season.

The Pacific Junior Hockey League (PJHL) has concluded its 2020 Annual General Meeting (AGM) via video conference involving the league office and its 13 member teams. The league is preparing for its 55th season of junior hockey and the Board of Governors is dedicated to returning to the ice for the 2020-21 season in a safe manner in accordance with the advice from the appropriate health authorities.

The 2020-21 PJHL season will consist of a 44-game regular season schedule and is projected to commence on Tuesday, September 29th, 2020. The schedule will consist of each team playing a single interlock game against the opposing conference as well as 2 games at the 2021 PJHL Winter Classic Showcase scheduled for January 1-3, 2021 at Minoru Arena in Richmond.

Other regularly scheduled events include the annual Prospects Game and All Star Game in partnership with the Vancouver Island Junior Hockey League. Venues and dates will be announced at a later date.

All three B.C.-based Junior B hockey leagues have adopted an NHL-style overtime format for the 2020-21 season that includes five minutes of three-on-three play. Should teams still be tied after the initial overtime period, a shootout will take place until a winner is declared.

The expansion Chilliwack Jets have been approved and will begin play in the 2020-21 PJHL season. The Jets will be led by General Manager and Head Coach Clayton Robinson and will be aligned with the Harold Brittain Conference.

For more information and league game schedules, visit the PHL website.

There's the door    

Driver carelessness could be deadly for bicycle riders

Staff/Handout photo

Sometimes there's more than one rider on a bicycle.

Have you been "doored" lately? You wouldn't want to. Being doored is slang for when a driver throws open a car door just as a cyclist is passing creating a dangerous situation where the bike rider hits the door and is thrown over the handlebars and into, or often over, the door. It always results in serious injuries and could mean death for the rider(s).

The fine to drivers in that circumstance has been $81 but as of September 1, 2020, the fine triples to $368.

“Dooring can cause serious injury, and the new fine reflects that,” said Claire Trevena, Minister of Transportation and Infrastructure. “But it is preventable, which is why we are also investing in public education. We want to make sure everyone who uses the roads does so safely.”

Bowinn Ma, MLA for North Vancouver-Lonsdale, whose community suffered a death in 2019 as a result of dooring, said, “It is enormously dangerous to carelessly open a door into the pathway of a person moving on a bike. This increased fine sends a strong signal of the level of accountability that is expected of people who are operating a vehicle, even when the engine is off.”

For more information, visit; Move. Commute. Connect., BC’s active transportation strategy.

Balcony Blaze    

Short-lived fire could have been worse if not caught right away

Staff/Voice photo

Firefighters group to establish plan to deal with the fire.

The Chilliwack Fire Department (CFD) was called out shortly after 7 pm Thursday after reports of a third floor balcony fire in an apartment in the 47000-block of Spadina Ave.

The building was evacuated as crews worked to extinguish the small fire however it could have been much worse if neighbours hadn't spotted it. Some pointed to small wisps of smoke coming from the balcony while crews dealt with it.

Tenants were allowed back into the complex within the hour. Some tenants were wearing pajamas and slippers.

If it was a major calamity when tenants ran out of the building they wouldn't and in some cases fires have completely destroyed the building and they're left standing in their socks.

Looking north on Spadina Street.

It's  good idea to have a bug-out bag near the door so that if there's an emergency you can quickly throw some things in it such as your wallet, medication, a pair of pants and any other small but important item and then exit using the stairwell.

In situations where people lose everything in a fire Chilliwack Emergency services will assist tenants for three days in hotels and after that they're on their own.

No one was injured. There was no word from CFD regarding how the fire began.

Soul of the city    

Libraries reopen across the valley August 4th

Jennifer Fehr, Canadian Drug Policy Coaliton/Voice file photo

Expect special cleaning and new rules,

Fraser Valley Regional Library (FVRL) is preparing to welcome customers back inside all 25 locations beginning August 4, 2020. While adjustments have been made to comply with the directions of the Provincial Health Officer and WorkSafeBC regulations, customers can count on finding friendly staff and access to much of the library’s public space and services during special hours. This includes browsing the collection, computer and printer access, item returns, and more.

The libraries will reopen with robust safety precautions, including:

• Additional cleaning and disinfecting of workplace
• Quarantining received library materials for a 72-hour period
• Installation of physical barriers as a means to further protect staff and visitors
• Low building occupancy limits which aid physical distancing measures
• Greeter stations for directing library users
• Library visitors will be encouraged to wear face coverings or non-medical masks
• Verbal confirmation that visitors have not been exposed to or are not COVID-19 symptomatic
• Directional signage supporting physical distancing measures in the library.

To help contribute to a safe environment for all, customers over the age of three are strongly encouraged to wear a mask during their visit. We kindly ask customers to postpone their visit to the library if they are experiencing cold or flu-like symptoms, or have had recent contact with someone who is ill.

For customers who prefer a more contact-free experience, an adapted FVRL Express service will continue while the libraries are open. Customers can place holds on materials in advance. Customers who have been notified via email that their holds are ready can call the library upon arrival and an FVRL staff member will retrieve their materials, check them out, and hand them to the customer at the door.

To learn more about FVRL’s services, including hours of operation, FVRL Express, eCard sign up, virtual programs and digital content, please visit www.fvrl.ca or call your local library. Connect and engage with FVRL on social by searching ReadLearnPlay on Facebook, Instagram, and Twitter.

Seizing the opportunity    

Police push for drug decriminalization

Donald McPherson, Canadian Drug Policy Coaliton/Voice file photo

Drug-fueled theft is common in Chilliwack, the city with the highest rime rate in Canada.

Last week the police—who are typically among the most resistant to drug policy reform—took an unprecedented step in recommending decriminalizing possession of drugs for personal use. Criminalization and enforcement of drug laws have fueled harm and cost lives for decades, especially within Black and Indigenous communities, so this pronouncement was a step in the right direction and the first time a national police organization in Canada has called for decriminalization.

Momentum is now on our side and the door has been pushed open even wider for bold policy changes. We must seize this opportunity.

We urge lawmakers to fully decriminalize simple possession rather than implement a system of administrative fines. The latter would simply replace one punitive system with another that would fail to fully address the harms felt by people who use drugs. In the media interview below our director of policy, Scott Bernstein, explains what decriminalization of drugs could and should look like for Canada.

Read more and listen to an interview.

Tourism and hospitality sector looking for a lifesaver    

TIABC says they need $680 million to avoid industry death knell

Greg  Descantes /Website image

We're still in the dark

FHA won't give up the number of cases in communities until Dr Bonnie Henry says so

Voice staff /Web image

Off duty cop dies after Nelson BC attack

Abby PD grieves alongside family

Voice staff /Handout photo

Undated pictures of Constable Allan Young.

Off duty cop attacked in critical condition

Officials say he's not expected to survive

Voice staff /Handout photo

Undated photo of Constable Allan Young.

Vacant house burns

CFD Chief says arson the cause

Mike Bourdon, Assistant Fire Chief /Voice photos

A firefighter attacks the blaze from the south side.

Plenty & Grace opens

A new way to reach out to locals with locally grown produce

Megan Howarth, Plenty and Grace/Voice file photos

Krawczyk looks at why Canada's Gold Reserve has been depleted.

Where is Canadian gold?

Takin a look at what happened to the Gold Reserve

Betty Krawczyk, Author, Cumberland BC/Voice file photo

Krawczyk looks at why Canada's Gold Reserve has been depleted.

June Deadliest Overdose Month

BC Liberals scrutinize NDP over perceived lack of tangible addict support

Carlie Pochynok, BC Liberal Caucus/Voice file photo

First responders attend to overdose.

Tenant union up in arms over rent repayments

They want the 85 per cent of unused supplements applied to owed monies

Mazdak Gharibnavaz, VTU/Website image

Tenants Union wants rent debt cancelled

COVID rent repayments

Amounts owing can be repaid over the next year

BC Gov't Caucus/Voice file photo

The BC government ha laid out rent erpayment plans.

RV fire deemed arson

Chilliwack fire department and RCMP reach out to the community for tips

Mike Bourdon, Assistant Chief, Fire Prevention/Voice photo

Police an the the Fire Chief inspect area where the recreational vehicle burned.

Crowdfunding property investment concept

Chilliwack building and property currently leased to Starbucks opens to multi-level investors August 11

Katie Kernahan/Submitted photo

The Starbucks at Yale and Airport Roads goes live on the investment block August 11.

Married to music

Husband and wife team play Bozzini's August 1

Emmanuel Asprakis/Handout image

A tribute to Petty and Nicks featuring Husband & Wife team Dave D and Raphael Roquemore.
Dave D has been thrilling audiences with his uncanny portrayal of Tom Petty, one of the greatest Songwriters/Performers of our time. Appearing in theatres and high profile festivals across the country Dave has gained the attention of national and international fans and talent agents.

Perfectly Petty & Gold Dust Gypsy
Saturday Aug 1 for 2 shows
Early Show Doors 4:30 Show 6:00
Late  Show  Doors 8:00 Show 9:00
Tickets $20 at Bozzini’s or call 604 792 0744 to reserve.

Bozzini's Restaurant 4-45739 Hocking Ave.

A true dead ringer in look, sound and style, the uniqueness of Dave D’s performance lies in his ability to channel both the youthful energy of Petty as a young rocker as well as the artistry of Petty’s later career.

As both a member of Fleetwood Mac and a Solo Artist, American Singer Songwriter Stevie Nicks, has produced over forty top 50 hits and sold over 140 million records, making her one of the best-selling music acts of all time. Gold Dust Gypsy, a tribute to the songs of Stevie Nicks, stars Raphael Roquemore.

Drawing on her successful career in theatre at Vancouver Opera, Roquemore has transformed herself from opera diva to rock icon for her portrayal of Nicks. Raphael Roquemore as Stevie Nicks is mesmerizing, capturing the style, vocals and mystical magic of one of Rock and Roll’s most original artists.

  Friday, July 17, 2020  

Published 8 am