Seniors will lose housekeeping help
Martin van den Hemel and Chris Bryan, Staff Reporters
The day after community home support worker Santi Gelera begins school in January, she'll no longer have a job.
Gelera and about three dozen of her colleagues were given their termination notices on Wednesday after the province opted to pull the plug on housekeeping assistance for seniors.
Gelera has been helping Richmond's Catharina and Roland Smith remain independent in spite of their declining health, doing the laundry, cleaning around the house and preparing meals for the couple.
Catharina, who suffers from Parkinson's disease, is all but confined to a wheelchair, while Roland's health has taken a turn for the worse.
"I don't know what to do," Gelera said of the notice she received Wednesday morning from her Vancouver Coastal Health Authority case manager. The layoffs will affect about 35 support workers, Gelera estimates.
In Gelera's case, she had signed up for classes in January to upgrade her skills in order to become a home care worker, who can provide personal care.
Meanwhile the Smiths are also looking for answers.
"This is quite a shock to be told that this service is no longer available," Catharina said.
The Smiths first contacted The Richmond Review in September 2002 to complain about a reduction in home support help from 4.5 hours per week to two hours, and a constant shuffling of workers that saw eight different people sent to their home in eight weeks. After their story was published, Gelera, who had been working for them for years, was again assigned to them.
Dr. Jeff Coleman, chief operating officer of Richmond Health Services, told council about the cutbacks Monday.
The move is part of a push to bring services in line with provincial standards, but actually mean a reduction of housekeeping services for Richmond seniors.
"These are clients we have anyway," Coleman said. "But we were doing more than we're supposed to be doing. It's a decision we've had to make because if we don't meet the standard, we'll be asked why we didn't. We stand to gain in most areas by committing to equity."
These comments failed to satisfy Coun. Harold Steves.
"I'm really upset that because we're above the provincial norm, you say we have to lower it," he said.
Coleman said the health authority will be working hard over the next month to find other agencies who can provide this service for the seniors impacted.
Overall, Coleman believes health care in the region is on the upswing.
For the Smiths, however, the change brings uncertainty and more stress.
"Our medical condition has worsened," Catharina said. "How we're going to be able to do more is another question."
Hospital's role under questionHealth authority expects little will change in Richmond
Chris Bryan, Staff Reporter
The Vancouver Coastal Health Authority has to cut a further $40 million from its budget and time is running short, says Richmond Health Services chief operating officer Dr. Jeff Coleman.
"We've achieved a fair bit already," he said, pointing out that the shortfall at the beginning of the year was $147 million. But, he added, "we're starting to run out of time."
The health authority's budget is frozen at 2002/03 levels. The $40 million shortfall is on a $1.9 billion overall budgeta small portion, but finding that money poses a challenge for a system already trimmed tight.
The health authority will not pursue across the board cuts, Coleman insisted. Instead, it is "prepared to sell" some of its real estate holdings "that we're not using." He declined to speculate on which ones.
Richmond Health Services (a part of the health authority) has a budget of $132 million in 2003/04.
Coleman said the plan in Richmond is to reduce hospital stays and eliminate beds by doing more complex surgeries as day surgeryas in, patients will leave the hospital within the day.
"The key here, folks, is beds," he said. "We need to reduce surgical stays and reduce beds. You will see beds reduced in Richmond."
He did not specify how many beds, or when they would be cut.
As of April 2004, the health authority is eliminating 15 full-time equivalent positions at Richmond Hospital, the result of a spring efficiency study conducted by Deloitte Touche.
Health authority looks to reduce surgical stays, beds
Chris Bryan, Staff Reporter
Richmond Health Services' chief operating officer spoke to council Monday, trying to simplify the big, complex picture of how health care in Richmond is being re-vamped.
But Dr. Jeff Coleman's 15 minute presentation failed to satisfy some councillors.
"What is actually happening at the Richmond Hospital?" said Coun. Kiichi Kumagai. "Because I don't know."
Speaking to council last month, Richmond Hospital's clinical manager of medicine Dr. Andrew Jakubowski raised concerns that the hospital's range of services will continue to shrink, and residents will not be able to find the services they've come to expect.
At Monday's meeting, councillors said many residents have voiced their own concerns that Richmond is going the way of Delta Hospital, where a much smaller range of services is available.
Kumagai pressed Coleman to outline the health authority's plan for Richmond Hospital.
"What about core services? What is the vision?" Kumagai asked.
"Give me a handout. I think it is very important that we make sure that these are programs we are maintaining in Richmond. Is that not simple enough to do? It's the lack of information that gets passed on to residents that lends fear to their thinking."
Coleman said the restructuring is still ongoing, but the health authority, which oversees health services in Vancouver, Richmond, the North Shore, Sunshine Coast and Garibaldi, will soon be able to provide a clear picture.
"We're not there yet," Coleman said. "It's work that we're just about to do."
He added, however: "We are not going to be a Delta. We are a major community."
Core services such as diagnostics, emergency and environmental care will remain, he said.
"I think we've got a good mix now," Coleman said.
And in a conversation after the meeting, he added:
"I don't see (Richmond Hospital's role) being a substantially different role in the system than it is now."
Coun. Evelina Halsey-Brandt said good news or bad, the health authority is obliged to spell things out clearly.
"If you're making a decision, tell us...so we can reassure (residents) or we can refer them to you so you can reassure them yourselves. You're doing what you have to do, so tell us what you're doing."
Council is exploring the possibility of establishing a committee to liaise between the city and the health authority, as well as other ways to improve communication.
Coleman said he was caught off guard by the recent uproar surrounding the health authority's plans for Richmond.
"My impression was that (communication) was pretty good," Coleman said. "But our experience from the last three weeks made us think how effective is that communication?"
School district opts for familiar face
Tia Abell, Staff Reporter
It's a tough time to be Richmond's superintendent of schools, but Bruce Beairsto is happy to take on the challenge.
Beairsto, acting superintendent since the summer, got the job for good on Monday.
"I'm deeply honoured," he said. "I'm keenly aware of the the responsibility associated with (the job). And I wouldn't be able to take on the position with enthusiasm if I didn't know the quality of people who work here."
Beairsto has worked in the Richmond School District for 29 years, including the past nine years as associate superintendent. He was named acting superintendent after Chris Kelly left the job last summer to take a similar post in Vancouver.
Beairsto, who hails from Calgary, received his masters in physics and his masters of arts and education at the University of B.C. His doctorate in educational leadership is from the University of Tampere in Finland, where he's done collaborative writing and editing with Finnish professors for at least six books on educational leadership.
Beairsto began his career as a general science teacher at J.N. Burnett Secondary. He taught at the then-junior high school for two years, then went to Richmond High for 10 years where he taught physics, math, chemistry and eventually, computer science.
He's worked as a school administrator and curriculum coordinator and helped create several district programs including the Colt Daycare program and Blundell Therapeutic and Educational Services.
Now as Richmond's new superintendent of schools, he'll be facing yet another restrictive budget come springalthough Beairsto said he believes the board will be able to meet these financial challenges.
"I hope to demonstrate that I am worthy of this trust," he said.
Richmond's school board chair, Annie McKitrick, told The Richmond Review that Beairsto stood apart from the other 30 candidates because of his track record in the community.
"It's what he has done for the district," she said. "He understands the district and has a good relationship with stakeholders. There was support all around for him."
She noted that Beairsto is a highly sought teacher in the international scene.
"He teaches in Finland and many other placesmostly on educational leadershipat universities around the world."
Accused sex offender condo bid fails
Martin van den Hemel, Staff Reporter
Accused sex offender Leonardo Da Vancouver's bid to buy into a family-oriented condo complex on Ackroyd Road has been denied.
Steve Evans, strata council president of the complex at 8460 Ackroyd Rd., said Wednesday that Da Vancouver is still renting a unit in their building but that his bid to buy that unit fell through.
Building residents learned last week that Da Vancouver, who is accused of three separate sex-related offences including allegedly fondling a 12-year-old girl aboard a bus headed for Richmond last summer, was living among them when a caretaker recognized his name from a newspaper article.
The unit Da Vancouver was planning to buy overlooks a playground, the only one of its kind in the area and one that's frequented by children from neighbouring complexes as well, Evans said.
"It's like having all the kids come to him."
The strata council sought the advice of a lawyer to see whether there were any steps available to block him from living in their building, or buying into it.
"There's really very little a strata council can do to someone like him. It's of great concern to us."
The strata will likely be holding a meeting next week with owners and renters. In the meantime, Da Vancouver's photo has been plastered all over the complex, along with the allegations against him.
Da Vancouver was released after being charged with sexual assault and must abide by a number of bail conditions to remain free. One of those conditions includes a reference to playgrounds, which he must stay away from.
Evans said he would look into whether this bail condition could bar him from living in a unit that overlooks a playground.
Richmond RCMP met with Da Vancouver on Tuesday to advise him of his rights and to provide him with information about how to contact them.
Richmond RCMP Cpl. Peter Thiessen said police are aware of Da Vancouver and are taking steps to ensure the safety of the public.
Last week, Vancouver Police took the unusual step of alerting the public of Da Vancouver's release following the latest allegations that he exposed himself to a woman aboard a bus in Vancouver.
Da Vancouver's lawyer, Arne Silverman, told The Richmond Review last week that Da Vancouver was allowed out of jail because of evidence that cast doubt on Da Vancouver's involvement in the alleged attacks. Silverman found a Richmond bank document that had Da Vancouver's signature on it for around the time of the Oct. 20 incident. He also found a work e-mail sent from Da Vancouver's e-mail address for the time of an alleged Oct. 5 attack where a 41-year-old woman was fondled on a bus.
He said Da Vancouver would plead not guilty to the charges.
Charter botch blows marijuana conviction
Martin van den Hemel, Staff Reporter
A man caught carrying 108 pounds of marijuana inside the back of his van in Richmond was acquitted last week when the B.C. Court of Appeal ruled a police search violated his Charter rights and was conducted in bad faith.
Hung Duong Lam had been convicted in B.C. Supreme Court of possessing between $324,000 and $432,000 worth of marijuana for the purpose of trafficking, but that decision was tossed out Nov. 10 when two of three Court of Appeal justices said police acted unlawfully.
The court found that while conducting the search of Lam's van, the police officer at the scene failed to inform Lam he had the choice to refuse the police officer's request to look inside one of three duffel bags the officer had spotted and that the police did not act out of fear for his safety. If the officer's reason for conducting the search was because he feared for his life, the conviction may have stuck.
Sgt. Glenn Magark was on a routine patrol in a light industrial area of Richmond near the Fraser River on Feb. 3, 2001 when he came upon a van around 8:30 p.m. After entering the van's licence-plate number into the police computer database, it showed the vehicle belonged to a man accused in two drug-related cases. Two people were in the van, including the driver, who was asked what was inside the bags. Lam told him he was a fisherman and it was his clothing. Magark eventually obtained a search warrant for the three bags and the rest of the car and seized the marijuana.
Though Justice W.A. Esson ruled Magark did breach Lam's Charter rights, he found that those breaches were relatively minor and upheld the conviction. His two fellow appeals court judges disagreed, however.
Justice I.T. Donald pointed out that in Magark's testimony, he admitted that if the driver had denied him a look inside the bag, he would have searched it anyway. Donald said that a no-case seizure (a situation in which police make a seizure but have no intention of pressing criminal charges) is "an extra legal concept which flies in the face of the Charter and cannot be condoned."
Lam's lawyer Peter Benning said society is not well served if police are allowed to view the charter and the law as it suits them.
Richmond RCMP Cpl. Peter Thiessen said police are constantly challenged with balancing the Charter rights of an individual and ensuring the safety of the general public.
He described Magark, now a staff sergeant working on the Missing Women's Task Force, as a seasoned and highly respected police officer.
Land development deal a qualified success
Chris Bryan, Staff Reporter
The City of Richmond's decision eight years ago to develop, rather than simply sell, a vacant 36-acre piece of city-owned land in the Cambie area has been a qualified success, says the city's chief treasurer.
Located on the south side of Odlin Road between Fisher and Shell roads, the Odlinwood development is entering its final phase, and the final 24 homes are expected to be completed by December of 2004, treasurer Jim Bruce said.
When the tally is done, he expects the city will have made nearly $20 million in profit.
"It came in almost bang-on where we thought it would be," Bruce said. "It paid for city hall. We didn't have to raise taxes."
The final numbers won't be known until the last lot is sold. To date, the project has generated $21.4 million in revenue and cost the city $10.2 in expenses, leaving $11.2 in net revenue, Bruce said.
In the end, he expects the city's final profit to be close to $20 million.
That's $2.3 million short of the net revenues council was told to expect in a report dated Jan. 21, 1997. According to those estimates, sales revenue was expected to be $29 million and costs for site preparation, servicing, permits and project management would come in at $7 million, leaving $22.3 million at the end of the day.
Prior to the Odlinwood project, city-owned land was often sold outright in order to finance projects. But the 1997 review concluded that the city could increase the value of the site through planning, rezoning and land development.
Council decided the city should act as a developer of the Odlin property, with the hopes of reaping more dividends.
In 1997 the city began subdividing lots, installing the servicing, and selling the individual lots to a builder. The city engaged as its partner Westshore Capital to market and construct the homes.
However, the city's scheme wasn't without its pitfalls. In 1998, a lagging real estate market hurt sales.
"Just as we got started, the bottom fell out of the market," Bruce said.
But unlike a private developer, the city didn't face any penalties by simply waiting for the market to revive.
"We said there's no way we need to sell this stuff off at a fire sale because we have no holding costs," Bruce said.
Another glitch in the market was a shift from townhouses and condos to single-family homes, possibly in response to the leaky condo crisis. Bruce said this had an impact on the city's bottom line, as more properties were developed as single-family as a result. The lower density meant relatively higher infrastructure costs.
"The money we brought in was probably $2 million less than originally thought."
Richmond City Hall cost the city $37 million. Of that, about $8 million came from the sale of a property on Westminster Highway. The Odlinwood cash brings it up to between $19- and $28-million. The balance of the money came from the city's capital reserve fund.
"The theory was you'd never have to borrow money to pay for city hall and that's proven true," Bruce said.
"We built a city hall and it didn't cost residents any extra money and we built a residential development we all get taxes from."
Coun. Harold Steves agrees "it turned out to be a fairly good development."
Next up is a 29-acre property on River Road. The site lies between the No. 2 Road bridge and Hollybridge Way and is currently occupied in part by an RV park. Estimates in 1997 pegged the potential net revenue for this property $6 million higher than Odlinwood, at $28 million.
City council will soon see a report outlining options on whether to build industrial or residential on the property.
"Actually we're divided on that," Steves said. "My own preference is to keep the River Road lands industrial."
Steves said the city could make "good money" if it sold the property with residential zoning, but industrial would be better over the long term because industry pays proportionally more taxes for less services.
Hit-and-run trial underway
Martin van den Hemel, Staff Reporter
The hit-and-run trial of a Richmond businessman charged in the 2001 death of 55-year-old Robert Wayne Mack began Monday morning in B.C. Supreme Court.
And one witness testified that the vehicle which struck Mack was definitely speeding and went through a red light.
Maximo Alfredo Pinillos Rebagliati, who goes by the last name Pinillos, is charged with failing to remain at the scene of an accident following a crash at Williams and No. 4 Road on March 4, 2001. The accident was unusual in that police were both trying to find the hit-and-run driver and identify the victim who did not carry any identification at the time of the crash.
Crown Counsel Kerr Clark told the eight-woman and four-man jury that on the night of the accident, Mack was crossing No. 4 Road when he was struck by a car. He was immediately taken to hospital and died of his injuries four days later.
The jury was told Monday that Pinillos has admitted to being the driver of the car that night.
Expert evidence will apparently indicate that Pinillos was travelling between 67 kilometres per hour and 89 kilometres per hour at the time of impact, Clark said.
Mack's body was thrown some 30 metres by the force of the collision.
If he is convicted, Pinillos faces up to five years in prison.
The trial is expected to last seven days and will likely wrap up next week.
Bye Richmond HighSoon to be demolished school is holding open house Friday
Don Fennell, Staff Reporter
Richmond students and staff, former and present, will say goodbye to a local landmark tomorrow.
While it won't officially be demolished until January, the old Richmond High on Minoru Boulevard near Granville Avenue is being replaced by a new school on the same site.
And principal Darlene Macklam expects there will be more than a few tears shed Friday during an open house at the school.
"Although the new Richmond High is going to continue with the traditions of the old school there are a lot of memories in this building and emotions attached to it," said Macklam, who became principal in 1994.
Macklam said a student working on the focus group to replace Richmond High summed up perfectly what Richmond High means when she said "it's like my favourite old sweater. It's not the most beautiful in my closet but it's the most comfortable, warmest and coziest."
"And that's what Richmond High has meant to me," Macklam said. "In spite of being the oldest building the feeling here is wonderful and how do you separate that from the building?"
The open house begins at 3 p.m. Anyone dropping by will be able to visit rooms decorated to reflect each decade from the 1950s to the present until 10 p.m. A dinner will be held from 6 to 8 p.m. in the cafeteria with a $20 admission going to support the Global Perspective students' trip to Peru in March.
Visitors may drop by any time after 3 p.m., but reservations are required for the dinner as space is limited. Call Vickie Davies at 604-668-6400 to reserve a space.
Jazzing up pop Carol Welsman takes on songs everyone knows and turns them into something new
Chris Bryan, Staff Reporter
- Carol Welsman in concert
- Friday, Nov. 21 at 8 p.m. at Gateway Theatre (6500 Gilbert Rd.)
- Presented by Richmond Concert Association
- Tickets: 604-270-1812
Carol Welsman's childhood home sounds nothing short of a musical barrage. Her grandfather was the first conductor of the Toronto Symphony Orchestra. Her father was an avid jazz fan, his vinyl bursting with Sinatra, Basie and Ellington.
Perhaps, then, it didn't come as a surprise that as her older brothers were upstairs playing piano, Welsmanthen only a few years oldwas downstairs on another piano, plucking out the melodies. In fact, she was only one when she sang her first song, "Clementine."
"For some reason we all got an excellent ear for music," says Welsman, who performs her trademark take on jazz tomorrow night at Gateway Theatre, speaking from her current home in Los Angeles. "We we born with it. People were singing before they could even talk. It was a pretty wacky household."
At school, she encountered more of the same. Academics was squeezed to the margins to make way for her musical passions. She learned double bass, violin, piano.
Later, she went to the renowned Berklee College of Music, where she studied piano, and she also studied voice in Europe under Christiane Legrand.
Since embarking on a professional career more than 10 years ago, she's been compared to Diana Krall more times than can be mentioned. In part it's because of the jazz, and the fact she sings and plays the pianobut also because she happens to be blonde and easy on the eyes.
Welsman says she was drawn to jazz initially because it seemed so hard.
"What fascinated me was that I couldn't understand what they were doing. I just thought I have to learn to do this. So why not go to school for the most difficult music, and everything else will be a breeze."
Her idols on piano? Herbie Hancock and Keith Jarrett, to name two. And some of her primary influences are Al Jarreau, George Benson and Stevie Wonder.
"They sort of did jazz but it was a pop form of jazz," she says. "I've always been interested in a pop form of jazz."
By way of explanation, she says it's a type of pop music that draws upon more sophisticated jazz chord progressions.
For instance, in her arrangement of "I Got Rhythm" she puts a rhythm and blues feel to the song. For the Police song, "Every Breath You Take" she has completely changed the chords and sings it as a ballad.
"That song is always a showstopper," she says.
While her reputation may not be as widespread as Krall's, Welsman has made significant accomplishments in her field. Last year she was named Vocalist of the Year at the National Jazz Awards in Toronto, and she's also sold 50,000 jazz albums in Canadaa feat accomplished by a rare few jazz artists.
Since 1987, she's produced six CDs under various labels. Her most recent, The Language of Love (Savoy), features Welsman's unique arrangements of "I Can't Help Falling in Love" and "Just One of Those Things."
Welsman says all that's required to enjoy one of her shows is a love of music.
"There's something everyone can relate to...People are guaranteed to feel a great deal of energy, romance and fun. And maybe shed a tear at the same time. You never know."
War artist's works unveiledJohn Horton's paintings show naval life in the Arabian Sea
Chris Bryan, Staff Reporter
Richmond artist John Horton showed four of his paintings last Thursday in Ottawa as part of an unveiling of works by Canada's three war artists.
"It was a wonderful experience," said Horton, Canada's official naval war artist, who spent 10 days aboard two Canadian ships in the Arabian Sea last June.
Fellow artists Ardell Bourgeois (air force) and Allan Mackay (army) also spent 10 days with Canadian Forces in Afghanistan and the Gulf region in order to prepare their works for the Canadian Forces Artists Program collection, which launched in 2001. The purpose is to document the contributions made by the men and women in Canada's armed forces.
Horton is still finishing the final two paintings from his trip to the Arabian Sea, bringing the total to six. They will end up either at the National War Museum or National Defence headquarters in Ottawa, he said.
"I think there's a bit of a battle on who will get what, actually," Horton said, laughing.
The painting "Days of Glory," which Horton painted for last year's Richmond Tall Ships event, is currently on display at the Museum of Civilization in Ottawa.
Horton was impressed with what he saw in the gulf. Canada's role was to hunt for terrorists and ensure Iraq was not illegally trading oila task that often required boarding other ships.
Though there were navies from 13 countries working in the region, Canada did 65 per cent of this work, due to its stellar reputation, Horton said.
The six paintings Horton is now completing could fetch more than $100,000 if sold privately, but are being donated to the Canadian government.
Horton said it's a contribution he happily makes, and says the "Naval Artist" designation has many benefits, such as exposure and the chance to observe Canada's forces at work.
Next year, Horton hopes to spend time on Canada's new submarine, and produce new works based on the experience.
Canada has had a war artists program on and off since 1916.
The latest incarnation was born June 6, 2001, when Chief of the Defence Staff General Maurice Baril announced the creation of the Canadian Forces Artists Program.
Indecent exposure suspect out on bail
Tia Abell, Staff Reporter
A Richmond man is out on bail for the third time in six months after facing his latest charges in Vancouver, this time for allegedly exposing himself to a young woman on a bus near West Broadway and Heather.
Leonardo Da Vancouver was released Thursday after a Vancouver Provincial Court judge ordered him to appear Nov. 20 to set trial dates.
Da Vancouver's lawyer, Arne Silverman, said Da Vancouver was allowed out of jail because of evidence that cast doubt on Da Vancouver's involvement in the alleged attacks.
Silverman said he found a Richmond bank document with Da Vancouver's signature on it for around the time of Oct. 20's incident. He said he found a work e-mail sent from Da Vancouver's e-mail address at the time of the Oct. 5 attack.
"It was an interesting bail hearing," Silverman said.
"The judge said he was concerned (Da Vancouver) was not connected to the incidents. I have no doubt that without the documented evidence, he would still be in custody."
He also said Da Vancouver would plead not guilty to the charges.
The Vancouver police inspector who investigated Da Vancouver's case said he was concerned the Richmond man was a threat to the community.
"He has already breached conditions times two," acting Insp. Tom McCluskie said. "He's got two counts of sexual assault and one count of indecent exposure. We thought we'd demonstrated a sufficient case for his propensity to recommit but I guess not.
"It's frustrating because our primary objective is to protect the public."
Da Vancouver was arrested Oct. 20 for the indecent exposure incident, only two weeks after his Oct. 6 Vancouver Provincial Court date, on charges of fondling a 41-year-old woman on a bus.
He was arrested in July for an attack on a 12-year-old girl on a 98-B line bus from Vancouver, and Da Vancouver has also been charged with committing an offence of fear of sexual offence between Jan. 31, 2000 and July 16, 2003.
McCluskie noted that the alleged attacks were all on strangers-making it more difficult for the police to protect the public.
"It aggravates the situation. If it's a family situation, we can keep the family separated, but we don't have the ability to keep strangers away from him.
"And we don't have the resources to follow him around everywhere."
Da Vancouver's $2,500 bail, paid Oct. 8, covers all of his court files. It will only be withheld if he fails to appear.
A Vancouver Provincial Court judge placed several conditions on Da Vancouver in July. Among the list: no contact with anyone under 18 without an adult present who has that person under their care; he is barred from any daycare centre, playground, community centre, swimming pool, public park or public place where people under age 14 are present; he is barred from any school, college, university or ESL school; he's not allowed in Vancouver unless he's going to court or Canada Post on Tuesday and Friday mornings or has a medical emergency; and he's forbidden to take public transportation, including buses and SkyTrain.
More federal lands could be up for grabsDefence lands could soon be declared surplus
Chris Bryan, Staff Reporter
As Richmond awaits word on the pending transfer of the 133-acre Department of Fisheries and Oceans lands, there are indications that another large parcel could also be shaken loose from Ottawa.
The Department of National Defence is exploring its options for a 160 acre quarter section property it owns that is bounded by No. 4, Shell, Alderbridge and Westminster Highway, just east of Richmond Nature Park.
"It's one of those things on the back burner that we're looking at," Department of National Defence spokesperson Tina Crouse said Friday.
The property has not yet been declared surplus to the department's needs, she added, but is under consideration.
The land in question is largely in its natural state, with trees and bush. The only development is in the northwest corner of the parcel, which is occupied by the 12th Service Battalion's Sherman Armoury.
"It's not the armoury building that we're looking at," Crouse emphasized. "It's portions of the land. We're holding on to the building."
Crouse said in the mid-'90s her department was asked to decrease its land holdings by 10 per cent.
"That just started an ongoing process of assessing our continuing need for all our properties," she said.
"We like to make sure we're not holding on to something unnecessarily that could be used for other purposes."
If the property was declared surplus, the defence department would be required to go through an extensive notification process.
The first step would be to ask other departments if they need the land, then First Nations, provincial governments and finally, the host municipality.
The process would take a minimum of six months.
Although the Department of Fisheries and Oceans' property across the street has been eyed for housing, sports fields and a trade and exhibition centre, there would be strong pressure for the defence lands to be left relatively undeveloped.
A recent inventory conducted by the Richmond Nature Park Society's ecology committee concluded that this property's bog habitat was actually superior to the land occupied by the nature park itself.
Senior manager retires `on a real high'Chuck Gale helped build Richmond City Hall `on time and on budget'
Chris Bryan, Staff Reporter
The City of Richmond's general manager of community safety bid a fond farewell on Friday, ending a career in public service.
"I leave on a real high," Chuck Gale told The Richmond Review. "It just couldn't be better than what I've got. I can't think of any organization that has the esprit de corps that this place has."
Gale came to Richmond six years ago to head the engineering and public works department. In 2001, he was called upon to head up a new department bringing police, fire and community bylaws all under one roof.
"It was a unique experience for a guy who spent 10 years in engineering to work in an area characterized as `soft services,'" said Gale, who is an engineer by training. "Integrating community safety struck me as a fabulous model. I have yet to see another community that approaches this service the way we are trying to do it. I believe Richmond will be a benefactor."
The 58-year-old says he's taking early retirement so he can spend more time with his family, "get to know my grandkids," and indulge in his hobbies.
"I have a beautiful big workshop that needs some care and attention," he said, citing a recent fascination with carving carousel horses and also, with West Coast art.
"I have a lot of interests I'd like to pursue."
Gale is an engineer by training, and was born in northern Quebec's Saguenay region. His father was a sheet metal worker with Alcan aluminum and his father's work eventually took the family abroad to Jamaica and South America, among other places.
In 1963, Gale enrolled at Royal Military College in Kingston, Ont., where he earned his engineering degree.
He went on to serve with the navy in the summer and, after his schooling, he served another five years with the Canadian Armed Forces.
"I have pictures of me in my navy hat and army uniform," he said, laughing at the memory.
Since entering public service, Gale has worked in six municipalities.
In 1971 he worked with the City of Vancouver, where he recalls the excitement of being involved in the planning for the development of False Creek. In the following years he worked for municipalities in Terrace, Maple Ridge, Langley Township and North Vancouver before arriving in Richmond in 1997.
Looking back, Gale says there's no specific project or accomplishment that stands out as his favourite.
"I just loved everything I did," he said. "I made a promise to myself that I would never do work I didn't enjoy doing."
Mayor Malcolm Brodie said Gale has a great sense of humour, and brought not only his extensive experience to the table, but also his "skill and balance."
To the community safety department, "he's brought a great deal of organizational strength to that whole area," Brodie added.
If there's a hallmark of Gale's career with the City of Richmond, Brodie believes it could be his heading up of the new city hall project, one of his first assignments with his new employer.
"He just took it right on and did a tremendous job doing that on time and on budget," Brodie said.
Gale said among the staff he will miss most are his fellow senior managersJim Bruce (finance), George Duncan (chief administrative officer), Mike Kirk (human resources), Jeff Day (public works) and Cathy Volkering Carlile (parks).
"In every community I've worked in...(there's) always been a competitive environment," Gale said. "Here, for the first time, I can't think of a single circumstance where anyone was selfish. I've worked with a team that was just incredible. I didn't believe it was possible."
Gale said he was told to be at the Radisson Hotel last night for a farewell party from city staff. He wasn't sure what to expect.
Of the next chapter in his life, he said he's "very excited and very anxious."
"You're never sure what's around the corner."
The City of Richmond is now down to five from its usual complement of seven senior managers. With Gale's departure, Fire Chief Jim Hancock is serving as acting general manager of community safety until a replacement is hired. Gordon Chan is the acting general manager of urban development, filling in for David McLellan, who resigned in September.
Lack of housing creates vicious circle for poor
Tia Abell, Staff Reporter
It's hard to make life work if you don't have a home.
Of the three top concerns of people living in poverty, having a secure place to live is the most important, says Theresa Harding, the Richmond's Poverty Response Committee special program's coordinator.
"The three things you need are enough food, to have a secure place to live and to have an income. If you have a secure place to live, you can cobble the other two together."
Many may think poverty and housing aren't issues for affluent Richmond but a study done by the Richmond Community Services Advisory Council in 1999 showed otherwise. One of the more shocking findings was that 22.9 per cent of Richmond residents live on less than $15,000 per year.
"Prior to the poverty report card, service providers heard clients say `Hey, I'm not making it to my next pay cheque,'" Harding says.
"The reality is that many kids don't go to school with breakfast, which is why Gilmore Elementary has a breakfast program."
Richmond also showed the largest income gap in the Lower Mainland between four-member families with a total income of $60,000 and four-member families with a total income of $20,000. And the average rent here is high$940 per month when including houses, and $881 for apartments alone.
"If you're looking at a family that has $20,000 a year with rent as high as $900 per month, they'll
only have $200 to $300 a month for food, clothes, etc. You don't see the poor in Richmond very much because they can't afford to go out."
When you can't afford the rent and are evicted, the next option is to "couch surf"—meaning to camp out on willing relatives' and friends' sofas until you either find your own home or are asked to leave. If you happen to be looking for a job, your situation worsens exponentially, she says.
"It's difficult if you have no fixed address and are trying to get a job. People look askance at youit compromises the job search. It's all linked together in the proverbial vicious circle."
Emergency housing in Richmond is nearly non-existent. The Salvation Army has 10 bedsf or men only. Women and families who need temporary housing are out of luck.
"If you do get evicted, unless you have friends, you're on the street," Harding says. "It's a huge problem."
Formed in 2001 as a response to the poverty study, the committee has implemented several successful programs. Today, a food bank now helps those in need in east Richmond and a fruit tree harvesting program ensures residents' extra fruit doesn't go to waste. A sports equipment locker is in the works to help support young athletes in need.
The committee also plans to have two more programs in place to fulfill its mandate by June 2004: a low-income resources directory and bartering program and a advocacy program on legal issues.
The directory will have information on services either offered free or on an income-based sliding scale. Harding envisions it as a Web-based service accessible from libraries or other community service providers.
"There are dentists who do work for free if you're low income," she says.
The outdoor goods store, Mountain Equipment Co-op, inspired Harding with their bartering program Web site for trades in outdoor wear and equipment. Harding envisions a similar space where people with low income would exchange goods for services.
Meanwhile, an advocacy program would help fill in the gaps created by the loss of legal aid services. But the most critical initiative of the committee is for affordable housing.
Harding sees two possible solutions that need discussion within the community.
"One is we have to restore government support for all affordable housingco-op support has been taken away, and support for social housing and non-profit groups. At a local level, we can look at legalizing secondary suites and using development cost charges for social housing."
Harding said such housing would ensure people paid less than 30 per cent of their income on rent. She asserts that discussion within the community is needed in order to find the best solutions.
"The more people involved in strategizing solutions, the more creative we can be. Developers aren't going to be happy about the development cost charges idea, and families may not want legalized secondary suites. We need people to talk about solutions.
"A lot of people in Richmond are one or two pay cheques away from being on the street or couch surfing."
The Affordable Housing Task Force is holding a public forum on housing 6 p.m. Monday in Richmond City Hall.
Minister's comments upset trustees
Tia Abell and Sheila Reynolds, Staff Reporters
Richmond school trustees were shocked after Education Minister Christy Clark accused the province's school boards of hoarding cash.
Clark said Wednesday the province's 60 school boards had a surplus of $145 million in the bankRichmond's share at about $10 millionand were quietly building up surpluses while complaining they didn't have enough money.
"I don't understand why the minister is trying to make an enemy of school boards," Richmond school board chair Annie McKitrick said.
"The boards have tried really hard to work with the minister. My frustrations, I think which are shared with the trustees on the Richmond board, is that we don't want to be hit all the time. That's how it feels."
McKitrick said the surplus was measured June 30, a short time after the minister supplied districts with what was termed a one-time grant. At that time, Richmond received nearly $3 millionalmost two million as a grant, and just under $1 million as an enrolment adjustment.
McKitrick said the district found also savings last year through aggressive energy conservation measures. About $1.6 million was also in the bank to pay some already accounted-for costs.
"She knows the extra money came in March," McKitrick said. "We can't hire teachers for two months and change programs already cut. I don't think the minister understands school boards operate from
September through June. And you can't hire someone from March until June."
Some of the money and savings are earmarked to soften budget restrictions made for this school year, she said.
By Wednesday afternoon, Clark had changed her tone, indicating it was actually good news that districts had surpluses because they now have money for services they didn't think they were going to be able to provide.
"I don't think that school districts are putting money aside and saving it so they can have big bank accounts. Absolutely not," she said.
"The point is, school districts have money and they can provide a higher level of service. That's great news."
Still, Clark questioned the overall amount of the surplus, saying it far exceeds any other year.
"Money is no more encumbered this year than last. If in 2001, the surplus was $18 million, why this year is it $145 million?" she asked. "There's no reason for the surplus to be so much igger...except for the fact that we have given school districts a lot more money and we want them to go out there and spend it because that means services to kids."
Now in it's third year of budget-tightening, Richmond School District made nearly $10 million in cuts for the 2002/03 school year in what the deputy secretary-treasurer, Bruce Fraser, called "major trauma to the school district."
The district made the most painful cutsincluding school closuresat once. While the board expected to cut another $5 million for the 2003/04 school year, that hasn't been necessary.
"We were able to hold the line because of that funding," Fraser said. "If we're to reduce cost reductions in this year, we're hoping the ministry will release additional funding."
McKitrick said further cuts threaten education in Richmond.
"Our board is on the verge of not meeting obligations. We've already closed schools, music programs, cut library staff and janitor hours."
Getting smart with phonesSmall cell phones may be small and trendy, but capability is what counts, hopes Sierra Wireless
Philip Raphael, Staff Reporter
The next big trend in wireless communications is not necessarily how small the equipment will be, but how "smart" or capable it is.
That, according to Andrew Harries, is what Richmond's Sierra Wireless is banking on as it introduced its first foray into the competitive cellular telephone handset market when it unveiled its Voq Professional Phone last month.
Harries, one of the company's co-founders and senior vice president of marketing, said the next age of wireless communication will focus more on what else your equipment can do other than carrying voice communication. That's something the Voq can do. It can browse the Internet on its 2.2-inch, full-colour screen, keep track of all calendar events in an electronic diary, send and receive e-mail, play music in its MP3 player, and store memos on its digital voice recorder.
Essentially, the Voq is the successful marriage of a cellular phone and a full-blown PDA (personal digital assistant), all in a package that is no bigger than the average cellular handset.
While size is not supposed to matter, Harries said his research team tasked with examining the "smart" phone market discovered otherwise. One of the most critical factors in making the equipment appealing to its users was a convenient size that would free them to discard a bevy of other gadgetsPDAs, pagers, laptops and cell phonesand have them distilled in an easy-to-tote handset.
"But the primary hurdle was satisfying the need for a handset that you could fit into the size of a regular cell phone and still get easy access to a built-in e-mail experience," he explained.
And in order to do that, previous attempts by competitors to create a fusion of a cell phonePDAe-mail system culminated in equipment that was large and cumbersome, mainly because efficient use of the e-mail component required a keyboard to tap out messages. And making one fit and at the same time be user-friendly was a challenge.
Voq's answer to the problem was to develop a flip-out "QWERTY" thumbpad—so named because the first six diminutive keys on the top row contain the letters Q-W-E-R-T-Y just like a regular computer keyboard.
Harries said the nifty solution is one of the reasons why the company has filed application for 18 separate patents on the Voq and expects to be awarded most of them.
With that solved, Harries said the Voq's software, which uses Microsoft's Windows Mobile system that runs on a 200 Mhz Intel computer processor, allows it to send and receive e-mail on a constantly updated basis, surf the Internet, and access music on the MP3 player.
Harries said the ability to access e-mail virtually anywhere with the Voq should be a big selling feature, as will the opportunity to view the internet, albeit in a slightly scaled down version to fit it on the crisp colour screen.
And if that wasn't enough, the phone function can accommodate up to eight separate callers on a conference line.
But wait. Where's the camera?
Harries said that from their extensive research into the market to find out what end users wanted and valued, camerasthe current hot trend for cell phoneswere not high on the list, partly because firms didn't want their employees using their equipment for frivolous uses, but mostly because of corporate security issues.
"In fact, Samsung, one of the world's largest manufacturers of cellular phones with built-in cameras has prohibited the use of phones with digital cameras in their offices because they fear people coming in and photographing documents or other information that is sensitive," Harries said. "And that's pretty ironic."
But are they concerned about executives missing out on having a number of "toys" to help them navigate their way through a busy business day?
"No, we want them to be able to rid themselves of most, if not all of that junk and have a single piece of equipment in their hand," Harries said.
The price of the Voq is estimated to be comparable to most high-end cellular phones and below most PDAs.
Right now a host of companies Harries described as "Fortune 500" types are testing the Voq system and about a dozen of them are interested in becoming customers when the product becomes available on the market early next year.
The firm is hoping the Voq will rival its line of wireless modems for laptop computers—AirCard&mdahs;as a major revenue generator, and help it bounce back from some rough economic seas of red ink that reached a low point in June 2002 when it laid off about a third of its 275 employees and spent $36 million in restructuring costs.
While hopes may be pinned on the Voq helping buoy Sierra's stock price, don't look for the company's name on the handset. Plans are to turn over production to an outside firm which will bear its own brand.
Harries said Flextronics, the globe's second-largest producer of cellular phones behind Finland's Nokia, will be turn out the Voq in a "low-cost" environment.
But isn't a cell phone-PDA combo likely to cut into AirCard sales?
Harries admitted there may be some cross-over sales.
"But if there is to be some wholesale cannibalization of our market share then we're much better off being the ones doing it."
Christmas Fund ready to help the needy again
Don Fennell, Staff Reporter
If the first two days of registration are any indication, Richmond Christmas Fund is going to need your help this year more than ever to help the less fortunate.
"We registered over 200 families (Thursday and Friday)," said Muffet Chambers, manager of the Richmond Christmas Fund, a program of Volunteer Richmond Information Services. "Last year we registered just over 900 in the whole registration period. Hopefully this won't keep up."
Chambers said many people are signing up for assistance for the first time and feel embarrassed to ask for help.
While the majority are on income assistance, there are also people coming forward because their hours at work have been cut back and they can't afford to provide the extras at Christmas. But they fear appearing needy or desperate, Chambers said.
The success of the Richmond Christmas Fund depends on the community's ability to raise donations, which are used to purchase grocery gift certificates. New unwrapped toys, books, games and other gifts are also collected for the toy room.
The program also matches needy families with individuals and groups who would like to prepare a Christmas hamper for them.
"Richmond residents and businesses have come through every Christmas to help needy people in our community," Chambers said.
Chambers said she expects two upcoming Saturday registration days (Nov. 22 and 29) to be particularly busy as some people needing assistance have tried to help themselves by picking a little seasonable employment.
Cash donations are particularly welcomed because they provide more purchasing power and stores often reduce their costs to provide the Richmond Christmas Fund with more volume.
The Richmond Review, Richmond Chamber of Commerce, Coast Capital Savings Foundation and local Rotary clubs are community partners actively involved in supporting the Richmond Christmas Fund.
To register for assistance, from 10 a.m. to 2 p.m. Nov. 17-22 and Nov. 24-29 at the Caring Place, 7000 Minoru Blvd., bring photo ID, CareCards for every family member, proof of Richmond citizenship (such as a hydro bill, driver's licence or B.C. ID) and proof of current income or social assistance.
The Richmond Christmas Fund collected and donated items to 2,300 needy families, 941 of them children, in 2001.
For more information, call 604-279-7035.
GVRD doubts TransLink's ability to fund
Julia Caranci, MetroValley News
A review released this week expresses doubt TransLink can fund its "ambitious and expensive" transportation plan.
In its review of the transportation authority's $4-billion transportation wish-list, Greater Vancouver Regional District planners say "There are few realistic funding options for the three-year financial strategy."
The review further suggests TransLink must work to reduce the cost of its major projects to finance the initial phase of the plan.
In September, TransLink unveiled its ambitious, three-year transportation plan and 10-year outlook, listing close to $4 billion
of projects to be completed within the decade. Thus far, the funding strategy includes proposed property tax and parking tax increases and transit fare hikes.
However, both the GVRD and TransLink agree there is a multi-million dollar gap between the projects TransLink wants to complete, and the money it has to spend.
While GVRD planners are recommending the board support the plan in principal, they have expressed serious concerns regarding funding.
Ken Cameron, manager for policy and planning at the GVRD, said relying on general taxation is understandable for the short-term but should not be the default. He said TransLink should
ultimately be utilizing transit fares, parking fees, levies and tolling in a user-pay type of system.
GVRD to launch TV program
Julia Caranci, MetroValley News
It will cost taxpayers $80,000 for the Greater Vancouver Regional District's latest projecta half-hour local television program promoting the region and its attributes.
The yet-to-be named show will feature segments on a number of core business the regional district is involved in, including drinking water, solid waste and social issues, GVRD spokesperson Bill Morrell said.
To publicize the program, the GVRD is offering a free helicopter tour of the region to the winner of a "name the new show" contest.
GVRD officials plan to feature the winner in the first episode of the show while that person tours various sites, including traffic congestion points and the region's drinking water reservoirs.
Morrell said the program will likely include two or three standing features and a look at an interesting part of the region, such as a local park, plus information sessions on regional issues.
"We're going to look at what makes this place so desirable as a place to work and live and play in," Morrell said. "And to answer common questions people ask."
The new program is a revamped version of a previous GVRD-focused initiative entitled People and Policies Town Hall.
The regional district is committed to having a local television presence.
"We recognize a lot of people get information and news from television," Morrell said. "This allows us to focus on what we believe are important regional issues."
While definitive numbers are not available, up to 70,000 people tuned into People and Policies, although it's not clear how many watched the entire show, Morrell said.
The new program will feature 10 segments (a new episode each month) on Shaw TV beginning in February 2004.
Residents can enter the name-the-new-show contest by visiting www.gvrd.bc.ca
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