City hopes for better view

Martin van den Hemel, Staff Reporter

The clock appears to be winding down for Steveston residents who have been soaking up the unobstructed waterfront views at No. 1 Road and Bayview Street.

Onni Developments is said to be anxious to get on with its efforts to build a mix of commercial, residential and industrial space on its 3.5-acre waterfront property and are awaiting the city's already delayed approval of its development permit application.

The application made by Onni last May should have taken four to six months to process, but some seven months later is still not approved although it abides by the city's area plan and zoning requirements.

The project, called Imperial Landing, would see more than half a dozen buildings, up to three storeys tall, stretch across the waterfront property east of No. 1 Road and Bayview Street, and would include about 60,000 square feet of maritime mixed use commercial space along with 60,000 square feet of residential space.

However, members of council who have seen the proposal aren't exactly satisfied with what's there and are now hoping to convince Onni to make some alterations in exchange for some benefits to Onni.

How much Onni stands to benefit remains to be negotiated, but could take the form of a massive increase in allowed residential density.

Councillors are hoping better design will allow improved sightlines and "view corridors" of the river, provide more green space and public amenities, and create a facility that will attract tourists and the public in general.

But Coun. Harold Steves said the city shouldn't have to increase Onni's property value by up to $6 million in order to get what was previously negotiated during the closure and sale of the B.C. Packers land.

"The amounts of open space and parking space promised earlier are not being lived up to."

Coun. Kiichi Kumagai isn't convinced that creating space for aluminum welding and engine repair shops, the types of business that comply with the maritime mixed use zoning designation, is the best use of the property.

"The main thing is to open up the waterfront," he said, adding that the project should be vibrant and draw the public.

Using prime waterfront real estate, which would demand high rental rates, to build commercial and industrial space is unlikely to attract businesses from the struggling fishing industry, he said.

So why hasn't the public heard about all this debate before?

Part of the reason is that some of the discussion has happened behind closed doors.

In October, during an in-camera meeting, the general purposes committee directed staff to come up with visions for the waterfront parcel.

The vision endorsed by staff and presented this week to the general purposes committee would have seen 70,000 square feet of commercial space and 120,000 square feet of residential space, along with the addition of two public marinas and a new wharf that would complement the existing pier. That would have increased the value of the Onni property up to $6 million.

"When I look at that, we've lost everything we've gained," Coun. Bill McNulty said of the staff-generated design. "This is the last piece of open land we've got down there. That's more cluttered than Fisherman's Wharf in San Francisco."

Coun. Derek Dang questioned the use of the space and why this important issue is being dealt with during the holiday season.

"I'm not convinced what we have now encapsulates what could be done."

Coun. Rob Howard disagreed.

"I find the new proposal much more exciting and vibrant," he said, calling the current plan "lethargic and not very exciting."

A couple of residents told members of council Tuesday that they feel blindsided by the proposal.

One resident of a condo complex that stands to have its view obstructed by Onni's shoreline development told councillors the public simply hasn't been sufficiently informed about the process.

"If you're going to make such a huge change...we should have been better informed," said the woman, who commented that the existing boardwalk is beautiful and added that she's opposed to any commercial buildings over the water.

There were also concerns expressed about the inclusion of the Steveston Interurban tram in the project, with some worried about the noise and safety impact of having this service in the proposed location.

"We're all right now shocked."

Bob Ransford, who was part of the citizens working group that came up with the sub-area plan, called the staff vision a "radical departure" of the vision statement made for the former B.C. Packers site.

"I don't understand how we got to what we have here," he said, pointing to an artist's depiction of the proposal.

Council is considering changing both the zoning on the property and in the city's Official Community Plan.

What ultimately happens to the property, however, won't be decided for a few months.

The committee directed the issue back to staff, with councillors asking that more than a dozen questions be answered, dealing with:

* openness to the water, green space,

* public access,

* status of the 25,000 square feet in amenity space the city was promised,

* the viability of the fishing industry,

* commercial versus pleasure craft use of the harbour,

* whether there's a commercial need for maritime mixed use waterfront space,

* how the maritime mixed use policy would be enforced.

Joe Erceg, the general manager of urban planning, said it could take six months for the committee's questions to be answered.

The Richmond Review's calls to Onni Developments were unreturned by press time Wednesday.

Council cool on big 125th bash

Martin van den Hemel, Staff Reporter

Richmond will turn 125 years old next November, but don't expect the city to hold a party to end all parties.

Though staff suggested spending up to $88,000 on various events and initiatives to commemorate the occasion, councillors were cool to many of staff's suggestions.

"I think this has just been blown out of proportion," Coun. Evelina Halsey-Brandt said at council's general purposes committee meeting Tuesday.

Halsey-Brandt said she'd prefer the city to purchase a big cake and set up a birthday bash outside city hall and serve tea and pop.

"That's as much as I think we should be doing. This took on a life that I never expected it to."

Coun. Bill McNulty agreed.

"I have trouble with (spending) $88,000. We don't have to put the party on for everybody."

Councillors have given the provisional green light to allow staff to send out brochures and information to local groups, encouraging them to hold events to mark the birthday.

But councillors turned down a suggestion that it spend in the ballpark of $10,000 to develop a 125th birthday poster, or another $10,000 for a historic reenactment that would have seen actors playing the parts of Lulu Sweet, Samuel Brighouse and Thomas Kidd attend 10 community events throughout the course of 2004.

Although the 2005 Tall Ships Festival appears dead, the city is hopeful to bring in the massive Japanese sail training vessel Kaiwo Maru (which means King of the Sea) to the No. 3 Road pier during the summer of 2004.

District to try year-round schooling

Chris Bryan, Staff Reporter

Families at Spul'u'kwuks Elementary could be walking to an entirely new rhythm in September if the school board approves a "balanced calendar" for the school.

The school's parent advisory committee has polled parents, teachers and other staff, and the school's principal is expected to make the pitch to trustees early next year. And indications suggest the school board is keen on the idea.

"I'm excited about it," said board chair Linda McPhail. "Parents are driving this, and teachers are behind this, too. They see it as a plus."

Often referred to as year-round schooling, the balanced calendar consists of roughly three months on, one month off, so that vacations land in April, August and December. There are currently no schools in Richmond on this calendar, but Maple Ridge's Kanaka Creek Elementary has been doing it this way for about five years and has been considered a success story.

One of the biggest challenges in switching to a different calendar is the adjustment from the traditional schedule. It means changes to vacation, ensuring child care and programs are available during the off times and it also means your kids are going to school in July when most others will be off, said Rishan Szymanski, chair of the Kanaka Parents Advisory Committee.

"It's a choice," Szymanski said. "All those parents who make that choice make that their priority. All I can say is it worked for our family because we made it work."

One of the key benefits identified both by parents and by research is retention. Szymanski said teachers only spend about two days on review at the beginning of each term, while the traditional calendar-with a summer break more than two months-can require as much as three weeks.

"There's a lot less review in September-and the teachers will tell you this," she added.

Since Spul'u'kwuks opened in 2000, parents have discussed the idea of the balanced calendar. To make the switch, the school board requires the parents advisory committee to jump through several hoops, chiefly centring on consultation.

In a poll of parents, more than two-thirds have voiced their support for switching to the new calendar.

"I think our parents are really sold on the benefits of the balanced calendar," said committee chair Cynthia Sihoe. "The people who voted against I think did for personal reasons."

Sihoe said they have worked closely with the Thompson Community Association, which has indicated they could make special programming available when Spul'u'kwuks students are on vacation. Other groups have also expressed a willingness to adapt their programs to Spul'u'kwuks kids, she added.

McPhail said she's pleased with the amount of discussion that has occurred among the Terra Nova school's parents and with the surrounding community.

"I think the board is looking at this that they're kind of the leader in this situation," McPhail said.

Spul'u'kwuks principal Janet White said she will present the calendar change proposal to trustees early in the new year, but would make no predictions.

"I don't think it's a foregone conclusion at all," she said.

Other schools mentioned as candidates for year-round schooling are R.J. Tait Elementary, Hugh McRoberts Secondary and H.J. Cambie Secondary. School board superintendent Bruce Beairsto said Spul'u'kwuks may be the only one ready to apply this year.

Beairsto said that as long as workers' rights and jobs are secure, the various unions have been supportive thus far.

Police sign restorative justice pact with agency

Martin van den Hemel, Staff Reporter

In an agreement that's meant to help provide an alternative to sending young offenders to jail, Touchstone Family Association and the Richmond RCMP have agreed to formally work together.

In March, the first formal restorative youth justice forums were held in Richmond, and they were hailed as a major success by the RCMP officer who acted as a facilitator in two cases involving a minor school assault and a case of bullying.

"Both of them were absolutely fantastic," RCMP Const. Trish Denstedt said.

The forums are intended to enable the victim and offender to talk about the incident, what sparked it, and how it made them feel. It ends with the signing of a contract aimed at giving the victim what he or she needs to heal and move on with life.

Monday's agreement means Touchstone and the RCMP will be responsible for this restorative justice program in Richmond.

"In our journey towards community justice, this is a very exciting time for the RCMP and the community in Richmond," Richmond's top cop, Supt. Ward Clapham said. "The restorative justice initiative is another tool in our tool kit in our attempts to root problem solve issues and crimes within our community.

"I applaud Touchstone for having the foresights and courage to join us in attempting to make a difference in our community."

Touchstone executive director Michael McCoy said his agency believes the program will provide an innovative approach when dealing with community safety and crime.

"The restorative justice process promotes reconciliation and resolution at its most meaningful level and that is between the persons involved," he said.

Less shuffling for seniors

Chris Bryan, Staff Reporter

In a move designed to keep the shuffling of seniors to the shuffleboard court, 40 units will gradually be converted to assisted living in Rosewood Towers.

The units are part of 564 new units being created all over the province, according to a joint announcement of the federal and provincial governments made Tuesday.

At Rosewood Towers, located behind Rosewood Manor (6260 Blundell Ave.), it means that the units will be converted for assisted living as they become vacant. No one will be moved out for renovation's sake.

It also means that people like Catherine Rupcich, who lives in the building now, may not have to move as her care needs increase.

Today, she can do almost everything for herself, save for some cleaning.

But she and fellow tenants were happy to hear Tuesday's announcement, Rupcich said.

"What people are scared of is they will be pushed out," she said. "With this extra help they won't be pushed out of their apartments. If they need special care, it'll be there."

Rosewood Towers consists of affordable housing units managed by B.C. Housing, and 40 of those have been made available for conversion through this partnership. Services required by the tenants will be provided by Rosewood Manor, which has been evolving along the "campus of care" model, where a continuum of health services are provided within a defined area.

According to Richmond Health Services community care director Gene Durnin, Rosewood has also applied to add 30 more beds for the highest level of care.

"That's a great site out there, in terms of growth," Durnin said.

Community Services Minister George Abbott said three of the 12 facilities included in Tuesday's announcement involve the campus model.

"These are great because people can enjoy the level of housing and care they need without moving," he said.

Durnin said in total, Richmond has been allocated 116 new assisted living units through the Independent Living B.C. program. Durnin plans to put out a call for bids to build an additional 50 units early in the new year.

Population trends indicate a need for 215 assisted living units and 160 complex (high) care need beds by 2007, he added.

Shooting may have been accidental

Martin van den Hemel, Staff Reporter

Police now believe that a fatal shooting at a Hamilton home early Friday morning was accidental.

Surrey's Naveen Shiv Dayal, 20, died as a result of the shooting which police believe took place near a condo at 5900 Muir Dr., near the 21000 block of Westminster Highway in East Richmond.

New Westminster Police were alerted to his death by emergency health service workers after they were called to Stewardson Way and Third Avenue around 5:30 a.m. Friday.

Dayal was in a vehicle at the side of the road along with two others, including a 20-year-old man from Richmond and a 19-year-old man from Delta.

Those two men were originally kept in police custody pending the results of the investigation, but have since been released.

The newly formed regional murder investigation unit, known as the Integrated Homicide Investigation Team, has taken over responsibility for this investigation.

Investigators are treating the shooting as accidental, but a forensic examination of the evidence they seized is still being conducted.

Second wind

Chris Bryan, Staff Reporter

When Anne-Elise Keefer first performed with the Vancouver Opera Orchestra, she was confused by the rubbing sounds she was hearing.

When a fellow musician would play a particularly difficult run or solo, other players would rub their thighs, or softly scratch the floor with their shoes.

She later learned the meaning of the unspoken message: Great work!.

It was a far cry from Ontario, where Keefer had moved from in 1987, where the atmosphere could be better summed up with the joke: How many Julliard graduates does it take to screw in a lightbulb? One. The rest are there to kick the chair out from under her.

Last week, Keefer learned the exciting news that she has been asked to audition for first flute position with the Boston Symphony in January-one of the most prestigious symphonies in North America.

The Richmond flautist says the supportive atmosphere in Vancouver is something she would miss if she lands the job. But, she adds, it's probably part of the reason she's made it that far in the first place.

"Sometimes you just feel you're the captain of a team and all these other people have contributed," Keefer says. "So any success you have, they're a part, too."

At 49, Keefer is older than most of the people she'll be up against. But she's not too concerned.

"Actually, I don't care, because I've kind of lived my life backwards anyways," she says.

For 11 years during the 1980s and early '90s, she experienced "old age already" in the form of a nerve disorder that made her left hand painfully cramped. She was told it would be with her for life.

Playing the flute was still possible, but the condition made it impossible to play at the level to which she was accustomed.

And then came the miracle. And like most miracles in the real world, it took many years to happen and it's hard to say exactly when it struck.

Needless to say, there were many treatments. Botulin injections to freeze the muscles in her hand (it worked for a bit). She even went down to Bethesda, Maryland to act as a guinea pig for some ground-breaking treatments, but that didn't work.

But in the meantime, she started thinking more about her posture and her fingering. And she started exercising and focusing on relaxing her muscles.

And in the end, Keefer found relief in the flute. A really nice one, called a Brannen, to be exact.

"A few days after I got it, I played...(and) it went great and I just realized (the problem) wasn't there anymore.

"Who knows what the answer is. I do feel I've received a miraculous recovery. There's some reason for it-whether it's going to Boston I don't know."

Though she's thrilled that she has a chance to play flute in Boston, she loves where she is now, and admits it would be hard to leave. She loves teaching four year olds to play the flute at the Vancouver Academy of Music.

And also working among the supportive people in Vancouver's music community, where she has built up an impressive resume including work with the Vancouver Symphony, the CBC Radio Orchestra as well as with almost every major musical that has come to Vancouver.

Last month, Keefer held a party to launch a CD of music written by her mother, Euphrosyne, who was an accomplished composer, pianist, violist and singer.

Raised in Britain, Euphrosyne's ambition to pursue an operatic singing career was cut short by the Second World War and raising a family.

After moving to Canada, Euphrosyne resumed her musical career as an accompanist and was inspired to write pieces for the artists she performed with. One of those artists was her daughter, who introduced many works in concert.

Euphrosyne was "absolutely thrilled" with the CD, Far Other Worlds, which was completed just a few months before her death at 83 last year.

The release features six duets for flute and other instruments, Treis Harites for solo flute and excerpts from Tower of Aerides for piccolo, harpsichord and tambourine, the later played by fellow Richmondite Sal Ferreras.

Keefer says part of her motivation in her own career has been to have the professional career her mother so wanted.

"She was my mentor and close friend."

A play worth getting to know

Chris Bryan, Staff Reporter

*The King and I

*Music by Richard Rodgers, lyrics by Oscar Hammerstein II

*Starring Annabel Kershaw and John James Hong

*Directed by David Adams

*Runs to Jan. 4 at Gateway Theatre (6500 Gilbert Rd.). Ticket info: 604-270-1812.

Gateway Theatre's production of The King and I is a show that fires on all cylinders from the acting to the music right down to lighting and stage design.

And for all those who cringe at the scene where the members of the Siamese King's court drop their traditional attire and customs to impress a visiting British dignitary, there is a nice antidote.

Director David Adams' decision to add the song "Western People Funny" turns the tables a little, and provides the perfect counterbalance.

The musical tells the story of Anna Leonowens, an English widow who takes on the job of educating the King's children. She is quickly tested by the King, who is used to dictating and receiving absolute obedience. But Anna pushes back, and the two develop a strong relationship as they struggle with give-and-take.

As Anna, Annabel Kershaw is well cast. Her voice is strong and consistent throughout, as is her acting.

As the King, John James Hong seems to completely inhabit the role, being both tyrannical but also empathetic.

This other side is shown in some nice touches in the show, such as the occasional smile when one of his 67 children does something cheeky. His only weakness, unfortunately, is his singing. On opening night at least, "A Puzzlement" was tuneless. (Incidentally, this was also the case with the actor cast as the King in Theatre Under the Stars' production last summer).

Kershaw and Hong have a strong chemistry in the musical, and are very engaging.

Having heard the duet of the two young lovers Lun Tha (Octavio Carillo) and Tuptim (Dolores Scott) on CBC Radio, I wasn't sure how Carillo's thick Mexican accent would come across. In performance, the thickness of the accent was distracting, but his voice was powerful and his duets with Scott were excellent, particularly on the beautiful song, "We Kiss in a Shadow."

And in the context of the show as a whole, these really are minor quibbles. It's the whole package that matters, and the small weaknesses are more than overshadowed by the exuberance of the cast and fine directing.

Two real standouts in the show were Nick Ko, who played Prince Chulalongkorn, and the head wife, Lady Thiang, played by Grace Fatkin. Fatkin's voice was not only strong, but also well-balanced, rich in quality and great to listen to. Ko excelled as a son afraid of being anointed King. Richmond's Alex Pimm was also refreshing and understated as Anna's son, Louis.

Rebekka Sorensen's costume design shines-literally, too-with the sumptuous golds, greens and reds in the outfits worn by the king's court, and also in the dresses worn by Anna.

Building a foundation for schools

Chris Bryan, Staff Reporter

Think of it: $6 trillion.

Even the tiniest piece of that would buy a lot of books or sports equipment. It could hire a few more educational assistants, or any host of things the Richmond School District is stretching to afford.

But as district secretary-treasurer Ken Morris says he learned at a conference in Toronto six years ago, that's how much money-give or take-that is being passed from one generation to the next.

On Monday, school trustees will vote whether to build a foundation that Morris believes will help ensure some of that money makes its way into Richmond schools.

When making charitable donations, few people think of public schools. But at that same Toronto conference, Morris was told of a survey showing that 10 per cent of people, when given the option, said they'd like to donate to the school system.

"It's a lot of money," Morris said. "Even if you're off by a percentage or two, it's still significant."

The working title for the proposed foundation is the Richmond Education Foundation, and the plan is to have it administered by the Richmond Community Foundation.

The Richmond Community Foundation (formerly the Richmond Foundation) accepts and manages donations for specified purposes, such as scholarships, and also gives grants for general betterment activities, such as programs run by non-profit groups.

Under the proposed arrangement with the school district, the Richmond Community Foundation would act as "banker," accepting and investing donations. The only cost to the school district would be "several thousand dollars" in legal fees to set up the separate school district entity, Morris said.

By having both parties in a larger, shared investment pool, they would be able to leverage better interest on their money, Morris said.

Louise Young, secretary of the Richmond Community Foundation, said each group's reputation would lend to the other's credibility in the community.

The school district has always received donations from the public. But a foundation would help create a "focal point," Morris said.

People can earmark their donations to areas they value, such as the music program or the science lab. Though the money is "pooled" with the rest of the foundation money, in principle it would be used to enhance the area the donor requests.

School district superintendent Bruce Beairsto said the new arrangement would not be much different from what exists today.

"We already accept direct donations," he said. "All we're doing is setting up a better way to direct those funds. While we may hope in the future it may stimulate more revenues...there's really nothing new."

The Richmond Community Foundation currently has about $600,000 in its pool.

Through their fundraising initiatives, Richmond schools parent advisory committees raise between $2 million and $3 million annually, Morris said. And the district's international student program generates a further $1.5 million.

Richmond Teachers' Association president Al Klassen agreed creating a foundation is worthwhile. But the initiative is also a sad commentary on education funding-and the shifting focus away from the school district's prime emphasis on education, he added.

"I'm not saying what you're doing is bad," Klassen said. "But it's sad that that's what we're about. Looking for money."

Klassen also raised the question of whether the school district should treat donations as a one time grant, or allow money to accumulate and use the interest. He wondered whether the provincial government might view a steady foundation income as justification to withdraw funds.

Morris said that scenario is doubtful.

"I can't envision them doing that at all. I think there would be a huge outcry from the community."

Housekeeping cuts pose risk

Chris Bryan, Staff Reporter

Wayne Odergard is concerned about a possible flood of seniors who will be inviting housecleaners into their homes early next year.

Vancouver Coastal Health Authority is cutting housekeeping services for perhaps hundreds of Richmond seniors living independently early next year, and many will be turning to private companies and individuals.

In some cases, seniors could be inviting a possible risk into their homes, argues Odergard, a peer counselling program co-ordinator with Volunteer Richmond Information Services.

"I'm deathly afraid of what's going to happen here," Odergard said. "If it's going through a governed body then you know it's pretty safe. What's happening now really scares me."

All health authority employees are subjected to a criminal records check as a condition of employment, but staff at private cleaning companies may not undergo the same scrutiny, he said.

Though many seniors still live with spouses and are able to ensure they are not taken advantage of, many others are living alone and have become more vulnerable with age, Odergard said.

"Every single one of our clients are living alone," he added. "About 90 per cent of them are women.

"Is a senior going to ask for a criminal records check?"

But Barb Goosens, owner of Molly Maid's Richmond franchise, said all her employees are insured and bonded-meaning they've had a criminal records check. "You don't want to be handing out the keys to your house without that," Goosens said.

Her company, which provides general house cleaning services, operates in teams of two, wear uniforms and have marked cars, "so people know who's coming to the door, especially seniors."

The staff is covered by the Worker's Compensation Board, meaning if they fall on-the-job, they won't sue the homeowner.

The same is true with We Care Home Health Services, another Richmond franchise of a Canada-wide company. Department manager Debbie Edwards said her company does home assessments and can provide proof of bonding and insurance on request. The company provides cleaning and laundry services, as well as personal care.

Both Edwards and Goosens said seniors should be particularly wary of individuals (not affiliated with a company) advertising care and cleaning services.

"That's kind of scary sometimes," Edwards said.

All companies should be able to provide paperwork proving the employees are insured and bonded. Clients can request a letter of clearance from the compensation board to ensure coverage.

Many companies come and go, Goosens said, so people should ensure they know who they're dealing with.

"I open the phone book every year and see all these companies, and I open it the next year they're not there any more," she said. "Anybody can start a cleaning company and...tell them they're insured."

The health authority is cutting its housecleaning and laundry services for seniors in order to comply with provincial guidelines. Case managers will be visiting about 1,000 Richmond seniors over the next six months to assess their personal care and housekeeping needs.

Health authority spokesperson Viviana Zanocco said "70 to 80 per cent will experience some change." Almost all of those receiving housekeeping will see it cut. Some who receive personal care may actually see their service levels increase.

Case managers will provide clients with a list of cleaning companies to consider, but stress that they have simply pulled the names from the phone book.

"Unfortunately we don't have anything to do with these companies," Zanocco said. "Anyone can hang out their shingle. People just have to ask some basic questions. Do you have criminal records checks? Are you listed with the Better Business Bureau?"

Martin names new cabinet

Chris Bryan, Staff Reporter

Canada's new prime minister has built his new cabinet strong on Western content -but for now, there's no room for Joe.

As Paul Martin was sworn in as Canada's 21st prime minister Friday in Ottawa, he appointed a mother lode of significant posts to Western Canadian MPs, and included 11 women-the most in Canadian history.

The cabinet includes Anne McLellan as deputy prime minister and Ralph Goodale as finance minister-MPs from Alberta and Saskatchewan respectively.

"I think (Martin's) choices...send a strong message that Western Canada is an integral part of the prime minister's campaign, and that Western alienation is going to be a thing of the past," Richmond Liberal MP Joe Peschisolido said.

But Peschisolido has lost his post as parliamentary secretary to the President of the Privy Council and Minister of Intergovernmental Affairs, Stephane Dion, one of many Jean Chretien supporters who were also ousted Friday.

Peschisolido said he told Martin that he wanted to focus his attention on matters at home. Peschisolido, who was not in Ottawa for Martin's inauguration, said his priority was to be a "good member of Parliament."

"We also have a nomination battle coming up and that takes time," he added.

Peschisolido, then with the Canadian Alliance, defeated Liberal MP Raymond Chan in the 2000 election. Peschisolido joined the Liberals in 2002, a move that angered many constituents and local party brass loyal to Chan. Chan and Peschisolido are both expected to contest the Richmond Liberal nomination.

Chan, who is a long-time Martin supporter, said Canadians will quickly learn the different styles of Martin and Chretien.

"Chretien was a very careful prime minister," Chan said, adding that this was something Canada needed during a time of economic hardship.

"But now that we've built a strong economic base, Martin is a more visionary person...and he's more bold in taking us in new directions..."

Chan wouldn't comment on Peschisolido losing his parliamentary secretary post.

MP unimpressed by land transfer announcement

Chris Bryan, Staff Reporter

Delta-South Richmond MP John Cummins had a message for Richmond MP Joe Peschisolido this week: you can't take goodwill and good intentions to the bank.

Cummins was commenting on the fanfare around last Friday's announcement by outgoing Natural Resources Minister Herb Dhaliwal and Peschisolido that Ottawa intends to transfer the 133-acre federal property at Garden City Road to the City of Richmond and the Musqueam Band.

In a stinging press release issued this week, Cummins criticized this as a "staged political event...when the details to the agreement had yet to be concluded."

"As far as I know, the federal government has been intending to transfer this land to Richmond for at least a couple of years," Cummins added.

"The role of the local MP should not be fabricating staged events with lame duck ministers during the dying days of an administration to announce that you're still working on a deal. That's simply not fair to the City of Richmond."

Though the federal property, known as the Garden City Lands, are outside his riding today, they are scheduled to become part of Cummins' riding when changes to electoral boundaries are approved, likely in spring of 2004.

Cummins, a Canadian Alliance MP whose party is merging with the Conservatives, said he has been working for a week to find out details from Ottawa about what the government has committed to with the Garden City Lands, but "there seems to be no record of a commitment of any kind."

Cummins added that he is available to assist the city in stepping up the pressure on the new Martin administration to finalize an agreement quickly.

Tea up!

Philip Raphael, Staff Reporter

Tea is the new coffee, when it comes to the next big thing in beverage crazes.

That's what Jeremy Leung is hoping for after opening his first Tazza World Tea and Cafe at Richmond Centre at the end of November.

But unlike the Starbucks coffee culture that trades mainly on high voltage, caffeine-laced drinks designed to put a charge in your day, Leung is peddling tea's softer side and its alleged medicinal benefits.

Leung, a dentist by day, said teas can be part of an overall healthy lifestyle and have been attributed in treating breast cancer, diabetes, certain allergies, and even combating bad breath. And that has helped push the tea-drinking trend, especially in the growing number of tea houses Leung said are springing up in major cities across the eastern seaboard.

"People are looking for healthier lifestyles and are making tea part of that," explained Leung who, along with a partner, launched a string of Desert Dynasty Bubble Tea Houses eight-and-a-half years ago that specialized in drinks sprinkled with liberal helpings of chewy tapioca balls.

The franchises prospered, but the time came to refocus the approach and capitalize on the developing tea trend on the West Coast. And when Leung and his partner approached the Desert Dynasty franchise holder in Richmond Centre about adapting the menu they balked. So, they bought out the business and quickly went about getting the new Tazza (Italian for "full cup") concept up and brewing.

Now, barely a month after opening the new store, Leung is planning to spread the Tazza tea concept further afield with another location scheduled for Metrotown Centre in Burnaby.

"We want to be pretty aggressive with our plans because we see the market growing considerably," Leung said.

Part of that rapid expansion might just include scooping up a chunk of international tea drinkers by establishing a Tazza at Vancouver International Airport.

And in addition to the Lower Mainland, Leung said he has received interest from the greater Toronto market, specifically a group also aiming at international customers with a location in Terminal 1 of Lester B. Pearson Airport which is scheduled to complete major renovations this spring.

Meanwhile, back at the tea house in Richmond, store manager Joyce Yabut Isaac said the bulk of customers since the Tazza change over are there for the bubble teas, which are still on the menu. But they are also keen to try out some of the 21 different blends on offer.

"Most of them are unsure what to order, but they are attracted to the healthy aspects of tea," she said, adding one of the more unusual selections include the Mokka Rooibos, a South African blend that has been infused with mocha that can be made into a latte.

"People are quite surprised by a tea latte, but it's really good and rich."

Most of the blends can be consumed in the traditional manner (hot), or cold (iced tea), and even as frozen slushy drinks.

In addition to offering ready-made tea, and some pastries to go along with them, Tazza's teas are also available packaged up in loose form inside attractive metal canisters so customers can brew up a cuppa at home.

Leung said he owes his affection for tea to his family's roots in Hong Kong and mainland China. He said tea is a natural part of his day and is hoping more North Americans will adopt it as a beverage of choice in the years to come.

He likened the quality of tea to that of fine wines. But instead of age being a determining factor of quality, the altitude where the tea was grown plays an important role.

"The higher up you go, the slower the tea grows, making the leaves more full of flavour," he explained.

Leung said the real mark of a good quality tea is the appearance of full-leaf tea.

"What you get in tea bags from the supermarket is pretty much the dust from the bottom of the barrel. All that does is add colour to your water when you brew it and doesn't add much in the way of real flavour."

B.C. Ferries strike impacts local firm

Martin van den Hemel, Staff Reporter

This week's B.C. Ferry worker strike shut down a Richmond firm for a couple of days.

A picket line set up Wednesday outside the B.C. Ferry docks near the Deas Island tunnel and off Rice Mill Road, caused the two-day shutdown of Deas Pacific Marine.

Capt. Andy Patterson, director of refit work, said the company's 200 workers refused to cross the picket lines which effectively shut down the business.

Asked about the impact it has had on his company, Patterson said: "We'll negotiate that with B.C. Ferries."

The closure of Deas Pacific meant maintenance work on the Queen of New Westminster is two days behind schedule, Patterson said.

But with the strike over Friday morning, it was business as usual.

Patterson said he did not know how the delay in maintenance work might affect the ferry schedule this weekend.

Unionized B.C. Ferries workers walked off the job at noon Wednesday, carrying through with a threat to shut down coastal ferries if B.C. Labour Minister Graham Bruce didn't rescind the order for an 80-day cooling off period. The B.C. Labour Relations Board ruled the strike illegal.

But the union agreed to go back to work after meeting with mediator Vince Ready. Both sides have agreed to binding arbitration.

Aberdeen Centre opens with splash

Martin van den Hemel, Staff Reporter

For the grand-opening of a major new $100 million mall, there was something missing at Aberdeen Centre on Friday afternoon: open stores.

While local dignitaries were out in full force for the ribbon-cutting ceremony, only a handful of the promised 250 stores were open for business when the public was invited in.

But Thomas Fung, who owns the facility, said the 380,000-square-foot facility will be fully open by the summer of 2004 and will be the first truly international shopping centre.

Some of the tenants so far include Daiso 100 Yen Plaza, Lukfood Jewellery, Moiselle, S.B. Furniture, an HSBC bank branch and a BMW dealership.

Architect Bing Thom said he designed the new building so that it will "glow like a lantern...It will always be lit, always be bright. Now we need people to bring it to life."

During the opening, one of the most impressive features of the new mall, aside from its bright interior and generous use of natural light, was a $4 million indoor fountain. The Las Vegas-inspired fountain features jets of illuminated water that "dance" in time with the music.

Above the fountain is an oval-shaped blue ceiling which can trick you into thinking you are outside thanks to a myriad of powerful light projectors.

'Gracious' Grace Tucker well-remembered

Chris Bryan

At a time when Japanese-Canadians had few friends on their side, Grace Tucker was one of the best.

The five-foot "dynamo" (as one friend called her) was fierce when it came to defending the rights of Canada's citizens of Japanese heritage, even going as far as criticizing her own church.

"Dynamite comes in small packages," said Basil Izumi, a longtime friend.

Tucker was living in Richmond's Courtyard Gardens when she died Dec. 4 at the age of 101. About 50 people attended a memorial service Wednesday at St. Anne's Anglican Church, the majority of them Japanese-Canadians.

Among that community, she is given the deepest respect.

"Basically her family was the Japanese community," said her nephew, Gerald Fowlie, who flew out from Ontario for the funeral. "The two things that mattered in her life were her faith and her Japanese-Canadian family. That was her total focus."

Tucker was born in London, England on May 28, 1902, and was raised in Peterborough, Ontario where her father set up the first co-op store. After high school, she began charting her singular path, attending theology school. As Fowlie points out, "in those days it wasn't politically correct" to see women in the clergy, but Tucker went just the same.

In 1934, the church sent her to Japan to learn Japanese, an experience that would shape the rest of her life.

Upon her return she came to Vancouver to work as an Anglican Church missionary with the Japanese-Canadian community.

When the people of that community were sent away from the coast in the early 1940s as part of the internment, and many of those who looked Japanese were demonized, Tucker's real work began.

Izumi knew Tucker for most of his life, and remembers her when she began visiting his family in 1942, when they were interned in the small Interior town of Slocan.

Tucker could often be seen with Peggy Foster, her lifelong friend, "making their rounds," Izumi recalled. Foster-Izumi's godmother-was involved at the grassroots level, teaching the younger children and training the Japanese-Canadian women to become teachers themselves.

Tucker was looking more at the big picture, and was there to make sure the schools were running well.

She bristled at the fact that Japanese-Canadian children were not allowed to progress beyond the elementary level, and went to battle.

"She was at loggerheads with the government people, in the form of criticism," said Izumi. "Eventually, through Ms. Tucker's work, high school-aged students were able to go to school with the other kids. Through her efforts, I believe, those other kids were able to go to school."

At one point she even took aim at the Anglican Church, criticizing it for not doing as much for the Japanese-Canadians as she felt they should.

For her work assisting the Japanese-Canadian community, Tucker was awarded the Order of Canada in 1997.

After the war, she continued to provide assistance. Many families from B.C. opted to move to the Toronto area, and Tucker went back with them to ensure they found places to live and settled into their new communities, Izumi said. This helped ensure the transition went smoothly in most cases, he added.

"We're thankful for her efforts," Izumi said.

Tucker never married. She and Foster "were almost inseparable," Izumi said, always travelling together and for much of their life, living together.

Not long after Foster died in the 1980s, Tucker moved to Courtyard Gardens, and since 1991 lived in the assisted living building there. In her later years, she was quiet and "always so gracious in her own small little way," said JoAnn Caffrey, who manages the building.

Tucker's ties to the Japanese-Canadian community didn't stop after the war; it extended through the rest of her life. In her final years, she was often visited by friends like Izumi, Blanche Kishi and Jean Sano, many of whom were her godchildren.

Another godchild who counted herself among Tucker's friends was Joy Kogawa, author of Obasan, who attended her 100th birthday in Richmond last year.

"She was gentle, strong, and funny," said Kogawa.

The final lines of a poem posted at Courtyard Gardens with Tucker's photo reads: "When you are lonely and sick at heart/Go to the friends we know/And bury your sorrows in doing good deeds/Miss me but let me go."

Especially among one community who loved her, Grace Tucker will be deeply missed.

'High-risk' pedophile is leaving Richmond

Martin van den HemelStaff Reporter

A high-risk pedophile who recently moved into a Shellmont neighbourhood is packing his bags and leaving town.

As first revealed in The Richmond Review last week, Brian Nowazek, 57, was deported by the United States following his release from an Arizona prison where he served more than a decade for dangerous crimes against children, including sexual assault and solicitation.

Local police said Nowazek has been classified as a "high risk", but were barred from sending out a community-wide alert because of Canada's privacy laws. They were only allowed to notify staff at community centres, schools and daycares.

Nowazek recently moved into a fourplex in Shellmont, but after the owners of the house were alerted to his criminal history, they decided this week to give him the boot.

One neighbour, who spoke to the family that owns the house in which Nowazek had been living, told The Richmond Review Thursday that Nowazek has been given until Dec. 15 to move out.

Asked if he was happy that Nowazek was leaving, the neighbour said: "Yes, but I'm concerned about the next community he moves to. What if they don't have someone like you who is on top of this."

The neighbour spoke to others in the area, including those with children, who were unaware of Nowazek's arrival.

Nowazek is next scheduled to appear in Richmond provincial court on Feb. 3, 2004, when a psychiatric report is expected to be submitted to the court.

Currently, he is out on 20 bail conditions, which, among other things, restrict him from having any contact with children under 14, or going to any daycare, playground, park, community centre or school.

Nowazek is required to report in person three times per week to a bail supervisor and must provide his current address and cannot change it unless he is given permission by his bail supervisor. He must also remain in B.C.

He is also barred from using his computer to access the Internet and participate in chat lines or chat groups.

Minister moves to end battle with teachers

Chris Bryan and Sheila ReynoldsStaff Reporters

A six-month dispute between teachers and government took a surprise turn this week as Education Minister Christy Clark promised to return control of the B.C. College of Teachers to elected members.

But teachers remain wary that unwanted changes could be made before the new structure is in place.

In cabinet Wednesday, Clark requested amendments to the Teaching Profession Act to reverse a decision last spring when she changed the composition of the college to 12 appointed and eight elected members, saying she'll now reverse those numbers to 12 elected representatives and eight appointed.

Teachers had been angry over the original changes, arguing theirs was the only professional college not governed by an elected majority.

Richmond Teachers Association president Al Klassen said Clark's announcement is positive, but believes the existing college of teachers should be suspended until a new college has been elected. As it stands, the new college may not be in place until September.

In the interim, many decisions could be made which teachers may not support, such as changes to the teachers code of conduct.

"That's the kind of thing teachers are very concerned and upset about," Klassen said.

Clark said in return for the concession, she will ask the B.C. Teachers' Federation to assure its independence from government and union by dropping its policy of endorsing political parties during elections.

The majority of the province's teachers had chosen to withhold the $90 college fee required for them to teach in B.C.

When asked why a solution to the stand-off wasn't sought sooner, Clark answered she couldn't have predicted how the issue would play out, or that such a large percentage of teachers would withhold their dues.

"This issue has really touched the heart of teachers where other education issues haven't," she said.

City to give developers more design options

Martin van den HemelStaff Reporter

Developers see it as an expensive waste of space, but residents in multiple-family complexes say lounges, meeting rooms and fitness centres provide important room to socialize.

At public hearing this Monday, councillors will listen to what residents have to say regarding the city's requirements for developers to include both interior and exterior amenity space in their multiple family residential projects.

Council is considering changes which would clarify the current rules-that aren't always adhered to-and would provide developers more options when designing these homes.

If the changes are approved, developers would have the option of paying cash in lieu of providing interior amenity space, such as for pools and common rooms. These monies would be collected and kept in the city's recreation facility reserve account and would be spent according to the city's master plan for public indoor amenity space, such as community centres.

The issue originates from December of 2001, when the city retained a consultant to conduct a multiple-family housing amenity study. The now-completed study includes comments collected from focus group sessions held with developers, designers and residents.

"There was a question regarding why multi-family projects need to provide amenity space while single family projects do not," city planner Jenny Beran wrote in the report to council. "This is at the heart of the whole question and the answer is simply that single family developments generally provide more indoor space and always provide more outdoor space, than what is found in multi-family projects."

Richmond first began requiring amenity space in 1989 when the city introduced its multi-family housing design guidelines.

The rationale for the guidelines was that space should be provided for residents who spend most of their time at home and that child care is a common requirement of residents in multi-family housing.

In some communities, developers aren't required to provide amenity space in multi-family projects.

But unlike other communities which provide nearby parks and community centres, it was felt that Richmond does not have smaller parks or pocket parks scattered throughout neighbourhoods and rather has one larger central park in each quarter section of the city.

While developers would under the proposal be given the option to donate cash in lieu of interior amenity space, that option isn't given for outdoor space.

"(As) it is difficult to compensate for the lack of larger open spaces where, for example, children can play, no cash in lieu option is suggested for outdoor amenity space," Beran wrote in the report.

The proposed changes are easier to understand and calculate, permit more flexibility in terms of providing formal amenity play space, and are more realistic and achievable, staff say.

The drive to help the food bank

Martin van den HemelStaff Reporter

Staff at the Richmond Auto Mall are working feverishly but it has nothing to do with selling cars or fixing them.

They are in the midst of a corporate challenge that is pitting dealership against dealership in a contest to collect the most donations for the Richmond Food Bank.

This year, staff at The Richmond Review have been invited to take on the dealership heavyweights, with some nifty prizes serving as incentive including a pair of tickets to see the red-hot Vancouver Canucks.

Gail Terry, general manager of the Richmond Auto Mall Association, said last year's efforts raised more than 10,000 items for the local food bank.

This year their target is to raise more than 15,000 items.

And the public can help out too, Terry said.

Drop off your donations at your favourite dealership, at Jacombs Road and Westminster Highway, or the offices of The Richmond Review, 140-5671 No. 3 Road, by noon on Friday, Dec. 19.

Everything that's collected will be handed over to the food bank later that afternoon.

As well, the top dealership and the top individual donation collector will be recognized.

Terry said the auto mall is considering extending the Seasons of Sharing Food Bank Challenge to the rest of Richmond corporate community for next year's holiday season.

Police release drawing of robbery suspect

Martin van den HemelStaff Reporter

Police have released a composite drawing of one of three suspects who stole a man's car at gunpoint a month ago.

On Monday, Nov. 10 at 8:30 p.m., the victim had just parked his white Toyota Tercel in the covered parking lot of his condo at 6611 Minoru Blvd. when he was accosted by three men.

One of the men, who was armed with a large black pistol-style gun, robbed the victim and stole his car.

As the armed suspect was getting into the victim's vehicle, another vehicle pulled into the parkade, prompting the two other suspects to walk away quickly and run out of the parkade.

The armed suspect then drove the vehicle away, exiting onto Minoru Gate and then Minoru Boulevard.

The armed suspect is described as a skinny Caucasian man in his 20s, five feet 10 inches tall, and wearing large metal-framed glasses.

He had a stud under his lower lip, a goatee, light coloured eyes and blond and black straggly hair which may have been dyed. He was wearing a dark-coloured hooded jacket and dark pants and may have been wearing a scarf.

The other two suspects were also Caucasian and in their 20s, and one was wearing a white hooded jacket.

The victim's vehicle was recovered Nov. 14 on Leslie Road.

Anyone with information about this robbery is asked to call Richmond RCMP Const. Wanda Marion at 604-278-1212.