The heat is on this weekend
Thanks to record-breaking temperatures, the fire risk in Greater Vancouver regional parks climbed to extreme Friday and officials are cautioning visitors to remain vigilant and report any fires to park officials or call 911.
In conjunction with the province, the GVRD is implementing a total campfire ban, along with a ban on charcoal barbecues, and propane barbecues will only be allowed in some supervised sites.
In Richmond, city spokesperson Sandy Webster said no local parks or trails have been closed, but said staff are conducting regular inspections.
"There's no plans on the city side to close any of the trails or parks in Richmond even with the impending hot weather," she said.
By September of last year, several local parks and trails were closed to visitors because of a high fire risk.
Outdoor fires are banned throughout Richmond, including Garry Point Park.
The Lower Mainland is in the midst of a record-shattering heat wave that began mid-week.
"We're in the heat of it-literally," said Environment Canada meteorologist David Jones Friday. "I think we're going to break a bunch of records."
Jones predicted Saturday could bring temperatures of 37°C or higher in some inland areas. By Sunday, temperatures should begin falling and should drop to 24°C by Monday.
Water being used wisely
The region's water supplies are at 78 per cent, Greater Vancouver Regional District water manager Paul Archibald said Friday.
The good news is supplies are marginally higher than they were at this time last year.
Archibald believes last year's drought and the publicity associated with it have educated the public, and demand appears to have levelled off.
"People are using water more wisely," he said.
While regional district officials remain hopeful further water restrictions won't be necessary, the situation will be assessed every few days in light of the hot, dry conditions and draw-down of the region's supplies.
ICBC deductibles to rise for some drivers
Fifty Richmond drivers will be hit by the Insurance Corporation of B.C.'s plan to hike insurance deductibles for some of its customers.
ICBC is contacting 5,000 drivers this year, advising them their deductibles will increase-in some cases dramatically-because they have had more than the average number of comprehensive claims, including theft, fire, vandalism and windshield chips.
The greatest overall number of drivers affected are in Vancouver (275) and Surrey (250). Both cities are known as high growth and high auto crime areas.
"As the population grows, the number of thefts grows," explained ICBC spokesperson Doug McClelland. "None (of the numbers) in those communities should come as a surprise to anybody-they are known hot spots for auto crime."
Richmond and Delta are even further below the average, with approximately 50 and 10 customers affected, respectively. McClelland said these two cities have always seen less than their fair share of auto crime given the population in their communities.
Approximately 10 customers in White Rock will be affected, and close to 100 in Burnaby - both are slightly below average.
This is how the new system will work for the 5,000 drivers involved:
The average customer has one comprehensive claim every seven or eight years. ICBC staff will calculate the number of claims drivers have had over the last three years. Those who have had four or more claims in that period will be flagged, McClelland said.
For example, for a driver whose car has been vandalized three times and cost $450 to repair each time-and the fourth time was stolen and cost $2,000 to fix, ICBC will omit the bottom three claims by setting the new deductible at approximately $450.
But if three of the four claims cost $2,000 in repairs and the fourth was worth $500, the new deductible would be set at approximately $2,000. The calculations are based on the value of previous claims.
The affected drivers are being contacted six to eight weeks before their current coverage expires with notification of their new deductible, said McClelland.
Approximately 100 of the 5,000 will be told they cannot buy comprehensive insurance at all unless they take steps to improve their record-these are drivers with either an extremely high frequency of claims or disproportionately expensive claims.
"We're saying until you do something to protect your car, insurance is just not a valid option," said McClelland.
ICBC figures reveal between 2001 and 2002, provincial auto theft claims increased by seven per cent, from 22,129 to 23,670. Greater Vancouver's auto theft claims actually decreased by three per cent over the same time period, from 10,160 to 9,823, while both the Fraser Valley and southern Interior saw significant increases.
Province-wide, vandalism and break-in rates decreased by 27 and 12 per cent respectively from 2001 to 2002.
Safety Council likes SmarTire
In an effort to make motorcycle riding safer, the B.C. Safety Council announced this week it will market tire pressure monitoring equipment developed by a Richmond company.
Students receiving riding instruction from the the council will get information about SmarTire's (www.smartire.com) products which gauge tire pressure and temperature. The council will also sell and promote SmarTire's other lines of tire monitoring devices for buses, RVs, commercial vehicles and automobiles as part of its various driver training courses.
SmarTire originally developed its technology for the commercial trucking industry. It's expansion into the private passenger vehicle market has been spurred by the implementation of the U.S. government's TREAD Act, which legislates all new vehicles must be fitted with tire monitoring systems.
Con-Space reports record sales
Richmond's Con-Space Communications Ltd. continues to grow as sales for the firm's 2004 fiscal year that ended June 30 outpaced figures for 2003 by 13.4 per cent.
"Annual sales ended well above our plan of $4.8 million and would have been greater if U.S. exchange rates had remained at last year's levels," said chairman James Swanson, who noted sales, which totaled around $5.4 million, and profits exceeded expectations.
Con-Space develops and manufactures equipment designed to offer two-way voice communications in confined or hazardous spaces where traditional radios aren't reliable.
Con-Space vaulted into the industry spotlight during rescue and recovery operations following the Sept. 11 terrorist attacks in New York City and Washington where its equipment was used.
Heart Transplant Home co-founder mourned
Peter Quinn, who co-founded the Heart Transplant Home Society, died on Tuesday. He was 63.
Quinn worked as a certified general accountant in Ontario and B.C. before retiring in 1992 to enjoy his five grandchildren and his many hobbies, including mineral collecting, soapstone carving and traveling. He was a member of the Richmond Gem and Mineral Club.
Following a heart transplant in 1998, Peter devoted his new life to promoting organ donation with the B.C. Transplant Society. Along with Ron Bayne, another Richmond transplant recipient, he helped found the Heart Transplant Home Society in 2002, providing affordable, temporary housing in Vancouver for out-of-town transplant patients and their families.
Quinn is survived by his wife of 41 years, Judy, daughters Susan Quinn and Lori Campbell.
A celebration of life will be held on Monday, July 26, 1 p.m. at the Unitarian Church of Vancouver, 949 West 49th Ave. Donations in lieu of flowers can be sent to the Heart Transplant Home Society, 9-5311 Lackner Cres., Richmond.
Youth Corps needs you
Teens looking for volunteering opportunities and interested in maintaining B.C.'s beautiful environment can do both this summer by joining the East Richmond Environmental Youth Corps.
In addition to giving local youth an opportunity to work on various City of Richmond environmental projects, the youth corps also organizes fun days that include excursions to Grouse Mountain, Stanley Park and Lynn Canyon, where they will learn about environmental issues.
The projects include invasive species removal, gardening, water quality testing, planting, painting and conducting environmental education games with younger kids.
For more information about the corps, or to join, call Amber, Belinda or Suzi at the Cambie Community Centre at 604-233-8399.
Foundation names new board
The Richmond Community Foundation has elected its 2004/05 board of directors.
Pat Brennan is chair of the foundation, and Magdalen Leung is past chair. Bill Diston joins continuing board members Mike Brow, Lynnea Climenhaga, Chris Evans, Jeff Froh, Dean Hsieh, Lorraine Palmer, Carla Tibbo, and Louise Young. Retiring are directors Don Matthew and Corisande Percival-Smith.
The foundation provided $38,000 in grants in the past year and $8,000 in scholarships.
For more information on the Richmond Community Foundation call at 604-270-4483 or e-mail rdfoundation@lynx.net.
Reptiles on display
Richmond Nature Park is hosting an exotic reptile show both days this weekend from 11 a.m. to 4 p.m.
The Westcoast Society for the Protection and Conservation of Reptiles will be at the park with snakes and lizards.
The park is at 11851 Westminster Hwy.
Richmond Environmental Youth Corps members work on various environmental projects throughout the city.
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