Public skeptical of Joe’s jump

by Chris Bryan, staff reporter

Many Richmond residents are filled with shock, anger and wonder that their member of parliament has defected from the Alliance Party to the governing Liberals.

A tour of local bus stops and shopping centres revealed that Peschisolido has a difficult road ahead.

Several said they believe his decision was motivated solely by self-interest.

“He’s in there for one person, one person only,” said Bob Windrim. “Himself.”

Some say they voted for the Alliance Party and would never have cast a vote in Peschisolido’s direction as a Liberal.

“The only way he got elected was running for Alliance,” said Jake, who declined to give his last name, adding that he voted for Peschisolido in 2000 but won’t be doing it again.

Windrim said the MP should have stuck it out with the Alliance.

“We elected him as an Alliance, not a Liberal,” Edna Plaxton said. “I hope he’s sincere. And maybe he is.”

Ron Johal said Peschisolido will have a tough time bringing the public back on side before the next election, even if it could be three or four years from now.

“I think people are going to think of him next election as a turncoat,” said Johal, who voted Alliance in the November 2000 election. “Time will tell.”

But Johal added that he would probably still vote for Peschisolido under the Liberal banner. Many B.C. Liberal candidates in the past have been weak, Johal said. Although he voted for Chan in the early 1990s, he thinks Peschisolido is the better man for the MP’s job.

“He (Chan) just wasn’t strong enough,” Johal said.

Ginger Thompson says Peschisolido should be given some slack.

“I understand it’s a lot of politics, but I think if he feels something’s wrong with the party...I don’t think he should be stuck because of his beliefs,” she said.

“He has a right.”

Burned building may be levelled

by Martin van den Hemel, staff reporter

A three-storey Minoru apartment building severely damaged by fire Friday morning may have to be levelled.

Built in the late 1960s, the 69-unit Bay Villa apartment on Minoru Boulevard across from Richmond Centre was seriously damaged by a blaze sparked by a plumber’s torch.

Some of the residents in the building had to be plucked from their balconies by firefighters. Fortunately there were no injuries.

Richmond Fire-Rescue’s Craig Einarson said the building is worth about $6 million, and if the building is too expensive to repair, it may come down and be replaced. But that decision will be made down the road, he said.

Meanwhile, air quality tests are being done in the building because of concerns about asbestos.

Some 20 units sustained smoke, water, heat or fire damage, Einarson estimates.

Security has been brought in to monitor the building and a few of the residents were allowed back in to retrieve some of their belongings on the weekend.

Residents who want to get into the building are advised to contact Precision Restoration at 604-952-0003.

Einarson said many of the residents in the building were without insurance. This is a good reminder for anyone with a home to purchase contents insurance.

Flu bug finally arrives

by Martin van den Hemel, staff reporter

A recent outbreak of the flu at a Richmond long-term care facility signalled the beginning of this year’s influenza season.

Dr. Heather Manson, medical health officer for Richmond Health Services, said the outbreak occurred early in January, but noted that this year’s flu season has been relatively late.

The flu bug normally makes the rounds in late November and December, but the Richmond outbreak is the first sign the influenza virus has arrived.

The outbreak was reportedly minor and didn’t spread, thanks to quick quarantining of those affected.

This year’s version of the flu virus, dubbed A(Panama), has symptoms similar to flu bugs of seasons past and has a duration of about a week or two.

Health officials have also been monitoring local schools and so far haven’t seen an outbreak.

They are recommending that the elderly and those with underlying disease, or in the healthcare field, get vaccinated at the health department for free.

Healthy adults hoping to avoid getting the bug from their children can go to their doctor, Manson said.

Experts warn of toxic soil risk
Manner of storage in Richmond wouldn’t fly in the U.S.

by Martin van den Hemel, staff reporter

A proposed shipment of 8,600 tonnes of dioxin-laced soil earmarked for a Richmond landfill should be handled with extreme caution, two United States experts warn.

Dr. Peter Defur, a dioxin toxicology expert at Virginia Commonwealth University in Richmond, Virginia, told The Richmond Review that dioxin levels in the contaminated soil from Portland, Oregon would trigger an expensive site clean-up in the United States under Environmental Protection Agency laws.

Dioxins are a toxic class of chemical compounds containing chlorine that scientists have linked to cancer and other ailments.

The fact that the dioxins will not be removed, that Richmond is a lowland area in the midst of an earthquake zone, and that the dioxins will be stored in a landfill not specially designed to contain the toxic chemical, is asking for trouble, Defur said.

“With all those factors, the probability of something going wrong is increased dramatically,” he said.

“Putting it in a lowland area is really unacceptable for hazardous waste and this is hazardous waste.”

The soil from the Time Oil Company site in Oregon has dioxin levels of between 1.2 and 5.6 parts per billion, and an average of 3 parts per billion.

Defur said those levels are enough of a concern in the United States that it would be deemed hazardous waste, which must be entombed in specially-designed double-lined bunkers with leachate collection systems.

“They’ve done that because it’s better safe than sorry. It’s a forever sort of waste, particularly in soils,” Defur said, noting that the dioxin levels will remain the same for decades and lifetimes to come. “That level of dioxin is not benign.”

Stephen Lester, science director for the Centre for Health, Environment and Justice, in Falls Church, Virginia, outside of Washington, D.C. said dioxin levels in the environment are already at levels where adverse health effects have been observed.

“What is clear...(is that) any additional exposures are likely to have significant impacts. This is a serious contaminated material.”

The controversy surrounding the shipment has caught Hazco vice-president Gregory Campbell and Ecowaste president Stuart Somerville by surprise.

“It’s very hurtful actually,” Campbell said, referring to the negative publicity surrounding the soil.

“We think we’re doing a good thing,” Somerville added.

They took The Richmond Review for a tour of the 400-acre site at 15111 Williams Rd. and explained how the soil will be treated and stored.

The 8,600 tonnes of soil represents a relatively small amount of soil, filling an average Richmond residential lot of 120 feet by 60 feet about 12 feet deep.

The soil will first be placed on a specially-designed asphalt bed with drainage channels that collects any liquid that leaches from the soil.

The mountain of soil will be covered with plastic, and it will sit for anywhere from a few months to a year as the naturally-occurring microbes eat one of the major contaminants, the wood preservative pentachlorophenol, or PCP.

After regular and frequent testing, once the PCP levels have dropped to acceptable standards, the soil will be moved to the regular landfill, which handles mainly non-recyclable construction demolition site waste.

At this point, Somerville said provincial regulations deem the soil to be clean.

The Ecowaste landfill sits atop an impermeable clay layer that has a series of collection pipes tied into it. The runoff is tested monthly in some cases.

“We’re a pretty benign sort of operation,” Somerville said.

He noted that dioxins are found almost everywhere, including everyday foods like ice cream and is even found in breastmilk.

Laurie Valeriano, policy director for the non-profit environmental health organization Washington Toxics Coalition, agrees that dioxins are fairly ubiquitous, but said that’s not a good thing or a reason to brush it off as acceptable.

“It’s there because we’re putting it into the environment,” Valeriano said.

Defur expects that the EPA will bring in even more stringent regulations regarding dioxins later this year, predicting the EPA will drop the site clean-up trigger point an order of magnitude, from one part per billion to 100 parts per trillion. That makes the soil earmarked for Richmond 10 to 50 times higher.

A forthcoming city staff report will include options for dealing with the proposal and whether the city should consider its own soil disposal regulations.

Tall ship in town Friday

By Martin van den Hemel, staff reporter

The 31-metre Canadian sail training vessel Oriole will be in Richmond this week.

The vessel will be open to the public for free tours from 1 to 5 p.m. on Friday in Steveston and residents can watch it sail past the fishing village on Thursday, some time between 2 and 3 p.m.

The Oriole is the oldest and longest serving vessel in the Canadian navy and was built more than 80 years ago.

The ship will be moored in Steveston, at the Steveston Landing docks.

Normally based in Esquimalt, the HMCS Oriole was launched in 1921 in the Great Lakes and after the Second World War moved to the Maritimes, before coming to the West Coast 50 years ago.

The City of Richmond is holding a press conference aboard the ship Friday to hype this summer’s Tall Ships Festival, from Aug. 8 to 12. Organizers are expected to identify some of the major sponsors who have signed on so far.

City looks to buck up for Winter Olympic bid Guarantees sought with contribution

by Chris Bryan, staff reporter

The City of Richmond may soon contribute $500,000 to Vancouver’s 2010 Winter Olympic Games bid, in an effort to ensure we get the goodies that come with it.

“I see the $500,000 as an investment in the future of rapid transit, if nothing else,” Coun. Harold Steves said during a planning committee meeting Tuesday.

Councillors approved a staff proposal that the city give $250,000 this year, and the same amount in the following year to the bid’s working committee. This will require final approval at the next council meeting.

Policy planner Terry Crowe pointed out that the money could bring no benefits if Vancouver fails to win the bid, but if they do, Richmond could gain significant support for rapid transit to the airport and a trade and exhibition centre.

But Mayor Malcolm Brodie said he wanted to ensure there is a firm commitment in place for the broadcast centre and rapid transit to the airport.

“It would be very tragic if they changed their minds later,” Brodie said. “We want these two things as part of this.”

Councillors supported a resolution calling on the bid corporation to pledge support for bringing rapid transit to the airport and a broadcast centre to Richmond.

Bid spokesman Sam Corea said both have been identified as options and discussed frequently, but neither project can be guaranteed without government commitment.

“It’s up to governments to determine what projects are to move forward,” he said. Richmond has only been identified as a “potential location” for the broadcast centre, he said.

Corea said the “Bid Book” outlining the bid in detail will be down to the final details by the fall.

With the financial contribution, Richmond would be recognized as an official “Community Contributor” to the games. Corea said Richmond would become the first community to make a financial contribution to the games, and has distinguished itself by its interest in showing support.

“I think Richmond is very keen,” he said.

City chief administrative officer George Duncan said he’s confident that the money invested bring significant returns.

“Facilities go where the money is put forward,” said Duncan, who met with bid executives this week. “There’s no lack of commitment on their part.

Show finds space for Ethers Void
Indie band to get song on Dawson’s Creek

Chris Bryan, staff reporter

A local indie band is up the creek, and thrilled about it.

Ethers Void will be getting huge exposure on Feb. 8 when their song “Sonni” is featured on an episode of the popular TV show Dawson’s Creek (Global, 9 p.m.).

“We were pretty stoked,” said 21-year-old lead guitarist Grant McKenzie.

In addition to McKenzie, bassist Vishal Marapon, 20, and lead singer Jason Garafano, 22, are also from Richmond. Drummer Mike Chamzuk, 22, is from Coquitlam.

Sonni is from the band’s first full-length CD, Soda, which they produced themselves with an investment of about $2,000. McKenzie said the band, which underwent some personnel changes, has changed its style somewhat since that time. At the time, they sounded a lot like Halifax-based Sloan. McKenzie said their sound is now more influenced by mainstream bands like Foo Fighters and Blink 182.

“It’s a bit more commercial pop rock than Soda was,” said McKenzie, who joined the band after Soda had been written.

The song “Sonni” was also featured on the CD Indieblast 2000, a compilation of songs by several Canadian independent bands, put together by Toronto-based Bhurr Records.

Being on Indieblast provided some good breaks for the young band.

As part of the launch of the CD, Ethers Void was included on the bill of a concert at the Molson Amphitheatre in Toronto which headlined Bob Dylan.

Bhurr Records has been shopping the CD around in various ways since, including sending it to TV producers.

Just two weeks ago, they received a call from Dawson’s Creek asking to use the song.

“It was very short notice,” McKenzie said. “We were just sort of blown away that a major TV studio would want one of our songs and we’re not even a signed band.”

The song will play during a scene in which Dawson helps Jack move into his new room at the frat house.

But what will come from the exposure? McKenzie said he doubts a record label will be calling them up right away, but they’ll stand a better chance of getting a credible manager to represent them. There is interest already, he said, but this could help clinch it.

“A lot of good things have come from this compilation,” he said.

Last summer, the band toured Washington and Oregon, and they plan to tour Vancouver Island this spring. This summer, they plan to produce their second album.

Locals will get a chance to see Ethers Void live this Friday (Feb. 1) at the Thompson Community Centre when they do an all-ages show. McKenzie said he prefers the all-ages events to the bar scene.

“A lot of people ask us why we do them and they’re actually a lot more fun than club shows,” he said. “They’re just out there to have some fun.”

As for next Friday?

“We’re going to get all our friends together, and sit around and watch (Dawson’s Creek). Eagerly waiting.”

nEthers Void us headlining an all-ages show at the Thompson Community Centre tomorrow (5151 Granville). Doors open at 8 p.m. Plan Orange and Flexure will hit the stage first.

To listen to their music, check out www.dawsonscreek.com or www.ethersvoid.com.

Toxic dumping ground? 8,600 tonnes of dioxin-laced soil could be headed for Richmond

by Martin van den Hemel, Staff Reporter

An American gas company hasn’t decided yet whether it will ship 8,600 tonnes of dioxin-laced soil to a Richmond waste handling facility for treatment and storage.

Terrill Henderson, vice president of Seattle-based Time Oil Company, told The Richmond Review Friday his firm is looking at four options for the special waste, including the Ecowaste facility at 15111 Williams Rd. A decision will be made in the next 90 days, he said, adding that another Canadian facility not in Western Canada is also being considered, although he wouldn’t specify exactly where.

The soil contains low levels of dioxins, a toxic group of chemical compounds that scientists have linked with cancer and other ailments, including skin rashes and mild liver damage. The waste is from a fuel storage terminal in Portland, Oregon and could be treated by Hazco, a Richmond environmental company.

But Henderson emphasized that no contracts have been signed, or decisions made.

“We haven’t even looked at the whole range of alternative we have.”

The Globe and Mail newspaper broke the story on Thursday, sending Richmond city staff, councillors and health officials scrambling for information because this was the first the City of Richmond had heard of the plans.

Richmond Mayor Malcolm Brodie said he’d like to stop the special waste from coming to the city.

“I’m very concerned about it,” said Brodie, adding that if it’s appropriate to go to the courts for assistance, that’s something the city would consider.

“I would like to prevent contaminated soils from coming into Richmond from any outside jurisdiction.”

Both Environment Canada and B.C.’s Ministry of Water, Land and Air Protection consented to the waste shipment in December.

A conference call was quickly organized Friday between city councillors and B.C.’s minister of water, land and air protection, Joyce Murray.

Joyce Murray, minister of water, land and air protection, told The Richmond Review that the soil complies with both provincial and federal standards.

But David Cadman, president of the Society Promoting Environmental Conservation, fears B.C. could turn into a toxic waste dumping ground for the United States.

“Ontario and Quebec have learned their lessons the hard way,” Cadman said, in reference to those provinces’ stricter standards. “If the federal and provincial government are not looking after the health of residents, then local jurisdictions must.”

Richmond-East MLA Linda Reid said if the best available science indicates the province’s standards need upgrading, that will happen.

“I think it certainly bears further scrutiny,” Reid said Friday.

In Ontario, Minister Murray said the province is considering bringing in legislation that would prevent the shipment of soil from jurisdictions that won’t accept it. The B.C. ministry will review its own standards, she said.

Of the four options to Time Oil, Henderson said Richmond and another undisclosed location are now considered a “toss up” for the top choice.

Asked if he would inform Richmond if it is selected, Henderson said: “No, I don’t think that we would. You have your business to look out for, I have my business to look out for.”

UBC associate professor William Mohn, who specializes in pollutant biodegradation, said there are still uncertainties around the effects of dioxins, but he still wouldn’t want to live near them.

“Certainly, if I lived in Richmond I wouldn’t be keen to have their hazardous soil dealt with up here. These compounds just won’t go away in our lifetime or our children’s lifetime.”

But Mohn put the dioxin risk into perspective, noting that other much more serious health risks are being ignored, such as car pollution and smoking.

“But I still wouldn’t want it in my community. Somebody is going to profit from it but they’re not going to shoulder the risks . The community is.”

Environment Ministry spokesperson Rob Dalrymple said the levels of dioxins in the shipment of U.S. soil are about five parts per billion, or about one-20th of what B.C.’s special waste standards permit.

The soil would be placed in piles on prepared soil pads which are lined and have a system to collect any liquid that leaches through.

The provincial government considers its regulations—although calculated in a different way—to be overall as stringent as those in the United States, Minister Murray said.

Time Oil’s Henderson said treating the soil in the United States may be more costly than if it is done in Canada. And even if B.C.’s standards were brought in line with those in the U.S., he noted that it may still be cheaper to have the soil treated in Canada. Time Oil sells gasoline at 100 convenience stores throughout the Pacific Northwest of the United States.

Kelvin Higo, Richmond’s chief public health inspector, said his staff are doing a review to ensure there are no health concerns regarding the shipment, researching what the risks are.

The shipment of soil also contains pentachlorophenols, considered a carcinogen, which would be destroyed during treatment by chemical-eating microbes.

The dioxins, however, would remain.

WHAT ARE DIOXINS?

• a group of chemical compounds containing chlorine

• released into the air from combustion processes such as commercial or municipal waste incineration and from burning fuels

WHY ARE DIOXINS A CONCERN?

• scientific studies have shown exposure to dioxins may cause adverse health effects

• several studies suggest workers exposed to high levels of dioxins at work have an increased risk of cancer

HOW COULD I BE EXPOSED?

• the Environmental Protection Agency estimates most dioxin exposure comes through diet, with more than 95 per cent through dietary intake of animal fats

- courtesy the Environmental Protection Agency

Plumber’s blowtorch sparks apartment blaze

by Philip Raphael, Staff Reporter

A number of residents from a low-rise apartment building in the city centre had to be rescued from their balconies by Richmond firefighters as a blaze swept through the structure on Friday morning.

According City of Richmond spokesman Ted Townsend, Richmond Fire- Rescue investigators believe the fire in the 72-unit, three-storey building in the 6300 block of Minoru Boulevard. was accidentally started by a plumber using a blowtorch to make repairs in one of the suites.

“Since this was an older building there weren’t as many of the fire guards that you have on new structures, so the fire spread quite rapidly and burned through a number of floors,” he said.

That made getting access to the building hazardous for the firefighters called to the scene.

Fortunately, the majority of the building’s residents were not at home when the fire started. Some were were led to safety from their balconies.

No one was injured in the incident.

Residents displaced by the fire were given assistance by the city’s emergency social services team.

Report pushes for official farmer voice

by Chris Bryan, Staff Reporter

Farmers could soon have a direct line to city hall.

The Richmond Agricultural Viability Study, presented to planning committee this week, includes a recommendation that the city create an Agricultural Advisory Committee.

“So the farmers have a voice, (and) council has a place to ask for some things,” said Bruce May, president of the Richmond Farmers’ Institute, and a member of the committee that put together the viability study draft report. In 1999, council endorsed the terms of reference for the Richmond Agricultural Viability Study, its purpose to determine how the city’s farms can be better farmed, managed and made more viable.

The draft study drew upon consultations with the community done over the past year, and is exhaustive in nature, covering everything from drainage issues to the importance of shopping for local produce.

Among the things farmers need are better buffers between new developments and farm land, better drainage and a greater respect, overall, for what they do.

The study supports the city’s master drainage plan and calls on the city to ensure that all drainage improvements on farmland is done in order of priority.

The report also suggests the city call upon the province to officially dump the idea of a mid-island dyke, and build a perimeter dyke along the eastern tip of the city, along the North Arm of the Fraser.

Coun. Bill McNulty said the study clarifies what needs to be done, so the city can take action to help farmers.

For instance, the report proposes the creation of special routes, with signs, for agricultural vehicles moving from one plot to another.

“We’re giving them a ticket for a hundred bucks rather than giving them a break to get their machines there,” McNulty said, adding that they should also include a police escort.

The proposed advisory committee would go a long way to ensure the recommendations are put into action, May said. Farmers and non-farmers will be able to bring their issues to the table and tackle agricultural issues.

“There’s conflicts and you won’t resolve all of them, but at least there’s a committee,” May said.

Richmond RCMP search for free fancy wheels
Cops hope car dealerships will donate sporty, luxury vehicles

by Martin van den Hemel, Staff Reporter

Hoping to bridge the gap between the police and Richmond school students, the Richmond RCMP is looking for help from local car dealerships.

RCMP Insp. Tony Mahon spoke to councillors at Monday’s general purposes committee meeting about a proposal to make some high-priced additions to the local police fleet.

The idea is for a couple of local car dealerships to donate two high-profile, eye-catching vehicles to the RCMP for use by the school liaison officers.

The vehicles would be decked out in police colours, complete with regular police car stripes, a lightbar, and an acknowledgment of the sponsoring dealership.

The vehicles would draw out kids, become a conversation piece, and help police open lines of communication with students. It would also promote community policing and strengthen ties with the business sector.

“The response is always extremely positive,” Mahon told councillors. “It’s just another way of us working smarter. It’s proven to be excellent advertising for dealerships.”

The sponsored vehicles would not be used for law enforcement, he said, noting that the program has been in widespread use in other communities such as North Vancouver, which has several vehicles, and Surrey.

In North Vancouver, RCMP Const. Marina Wilks said a Mercedes-Benz, Jaguar, Chrysler PT Cruiser and Volkswagen New Beetle are among the donated vehicles currently being used by school liaison officers.

The program adds to the sense of community, assisting police while giving car dealerships exposure.

The vehicles are also used at community functions, she said.

Maintenance work would be done by the donating dealerships, so it’s essentially free for the city. He described the program as “squeaky clean”, assuring councillors that legal liability issues have been thoroughly worked out.

“Vehicles such as this...allow us to leave those operational vehicles for front line police work.”

New West tall ships fest resurfaces

by Martin van den Hemel, Staff Reporter

A controversial closed-door decision by New Westminster council to cancel plans for its own tall ships festival has sparked the ire of that city’s business community.

Now there’s a push to revive those plans, and if it’s successful, New West’s event could upstage Richmond’s Tall Ships Festival, slated for Aug. 8 to 12.

Earlier this month, New Westminster secretly opted against going ahead with its plans for an August long weekend festival after staff reported the Royal City could be on the hook for as much as $1.7 million.

But on Monday, after the decision went public, the president of the Downtown New Westminster Business Improvement Society presented a trimmed-down budget that would put the city at risk for only a few hundred thousand dollars in losses.

Organizers in Richmond, including members of Richmond council, are already on pins and needles, concerned about a potential $1.256 million deficit for Richmond’s event.

If New West is back in the race for a tall ships event, there are fears that it could upstage Richmond’s event, stealing not only its thunder, but also some of the visitors and their much-needed wallets.

A second tall ships event could also steal sponsorship dollars from Richmond’s event, which will be much larger and more elaborate.

Richmondites will get an early preview of two tall ships when the 100-metre Japanese sail training vessel Nippon Maru and the Ecuador-based Guayas come to town in July.

Meanwhile New West council has said it will consider holding a special meeting only if city staff recommend the project as worthy of pursuing.

-with files from the New West NewsLeader

Teachers’ protest to shut down classes

Richmond’s public school students will get a long weekend of sorts thanks to anticipated job action by B.C.’s teachers which will shut down classes on Monday.

In a notice sent home with students on Thursday, school district superintendent Chris Kelly advised parents and district employees that the job action is expected to last for one day and that picket lines will not be formed outside local schools.

That means the schools will remain open and maintained by administrative and custodial staff, but the only instruction taking place will consist of regularly scheduled grade 12 provincial exams.

Kelly added that the capacity of school staff to supervise and ensure the safety of students who attend school that day will be extremely limited. And if the number of students becomes unmanageable a decision to close the school will be considered.

Therefore, parents are advised to monitor local radio and television broadcasts on the day, or contact the school district offices for updates on the situation.

The teachers, who have without a contract since last June, are expected to participate in a provincially organized rally Monday to protest a legislated settlement in their prolonged labour dispute that has focused on wages and class size.

The B.C. Teachers’ Federation originally demanded wage hikes totaling 34 per cent while the bargaining arm of the schools, the Public School Employers’ Association, had offered a raise of 7.5 per cent.

In recent rounds of negotiations teachers had lowered wage demands to 18 per cent, but the two sides remained at an impasse as of press time.

School gyms open for students
Trustees agree to allow volunteers to book facilities for free

by Martin van den Hemel, Staff Reporter

School gymnasiums will be buzzing again after trustees decided Monday to allow volunteers to book time for sports teams, clubs and groups.

Trustees passed a resolution Monday that allows the school’s facilities to be used by school age children as long as the teams don’t represent themselves as being supported or endorsed by any specific school or the Richmond school district.

School board chair Sandra Bourque said the gyms are available for booking for the duration of the teachers contract dispute or until June 30.

Secretary treasurer Ken Morris said guidelines will be put in place to ensure everyone has an opportunity to access the gymnasiums.

Bookings will be allowed one week at a time and participants must somehow be connected to the school, such as volunteers for extracurricular activities or teams.

Facilities can be booked by calling the school district’s rentals clerk at 604-668-6036.

Mother loses appeal
Vilma Jacome kept son in hiding for months

by Martin van den Hemel, Staff Reporter

A woman who kept her five-year-old son in hiding despite a family court order to turn him over, has lost her appeal of a three-month jail sentence.

Vilma Jeanneth Jacome refused last year to turn over her five-year-old son Josiah Jacome despite an order by a Surrey Family Court judge.

Jacome’s boyfriend, Marlon Amaya, won sole custody of his son and then reported to police fears that Vilma Jacome had left the country with their son.

After an arrest warrant was issued, Vilma Jacome turned herself over to police last July, but refused to disclose the whereabouts of her son.

Police later searched the Richmond apartment of Vilma Jacome’s mother, and found packed suitcases with clothes and toys. Josiah was attending a Richmond school during much of the dispute.

Josiah was finally turned over to his father last October and then last month, Vilma Jacome was sentenced to three months in jail.

Jacome’s lawyer, David Tarnow, said the case was unusual in that the Crown didn’t ask the sentencing judge for jail time.

But the judge ignored the recommendations of the Crown and defence counsel and instead ruled that jail was appropriate.

“The public must be aware that there are serious consequences for this offence of intentionally depriving a custodial parent of the possession of a child. The pain and anguish created for the child and custodial parent are unacceptable in society bound by the rule of law.”

Earlier this month, the B.C. Court of Appeal dismissed Jacome’s appeal.

Tarnow said he was disappointed with the decision because the sentence “was excessive for someone without a record.”

He said he was also upset with the Crown, who agreed not to request jail during the original sentencing, but then turned around and argued jail was appropriate during the appeal.