STANDING in front of the iconic Vancouver landmark he saved for generations to come, Vancouver Park Board Commissioner John Coupar on Wednesday announced his intention to seek his party’s candidacy for mayor in the October 2018 municipal election.
“This is a very special place for me,” said Coupar. “The Bloedel Conservatory right behind us at the pinnacle and geographical centre of Vancouver, was a big part of my father’s life – and it’s become such a significant part of mine too. Saving this landmark is something I’m incredibly proud of, and I want to bring that same passion and purpose to City Hall to ensure the future of a healthy, vibrant and financially successful city with a responsible, thoughtful and inclusive approach to the issues our city is facing today.”
Coupar was elected in 2011 as a Vancouver Park Board Commissioner for the NPA, and is now a two-term Commissioner and former Park Board Chair.
John is a lifelong Vancouverite and has spent his career in senior management positions in a number of Canadian companies. He is currently the President of Novex Delivery Solutions, an award-winning carbon-neutral delivery service.
Coupar has been instrumental in a number of important initiatives that have added to the vibrancy and liveability of the city for all residents and communities. As well as the preservation of the Bloedel, he was a key proponent of the creation of the Park Foundation, he worked to secure an upgrade to the Vanier Park docks, he helped ensure a new paddling centre was built in False Creek, and he also spearheaded the construction of a new kitchen at the Killarney Seniors Centre.
Coupar is now building his team and his platform, but a key part of the process right now is to secure NPA sign-ups before the end of April, so they can vote in the nomination process on May 29.
For more information on John Coupar, visit: www.johncoupar.com
OBITUARY: JAGIR KAUR GREWAL
It is with deep sadness we inform all friends and relatives that Jagir Kaur Grewal, wife of the late Hardial Singh Grewal of Lalton Khurd village, Ludhiana district, Punjab, passed away peacefully on March 18.
Her funeral will be held on Saturday, March 24 at 12:30 p.m. at The Five River Funeral Home in Delta. After the funeral, the bhog ceremony will be held at Nanaksar Gurdwara Sahib in Richmond.
Grewal was the mother-in-law of Raj Chouhan, MLA for Burnaby-Edmonds.
For more information, please call 604-454-9505 or 604-544-5960.
Karanvir Bassi charged with first-degree murder in beating death of Paviter Bassi in Brampton
PEEL Regional Police announced on Wednesday that they have arrested and charged Karanvir Singh Bassi, 22, of Brampton for first degree murder in the death of Paviter Singh Bassi, 21, also of Brampton. The two are not related.
On Monday (March 19), at approximately 5:50 p.m., officers responded to reports of an assault taking place in the area of Sandalwood Parkway East and Cedarcliff Trail in the City of Brampton. Upon arrival, officers located the victim suffering from life-threatening injuries. The victim was rushed to a Toronto area trauma centre.
(Ontario media reports said two men were beating another man with sticks and the victim suffered life-threatening head injuries.)
As a result of the assault, Paviter Bassi, 21, of Brampton,succumbed to his injuries on Tuesday (March 20) at the hospital.
This is the eighth homicide of 2018 in Peel Region.
Investigators are appealing for witnesses, dash-cam video, surveillance video, or anyone who may have information concerning this investigation to contact Peel Regional Police Homicide and Missing Persons Bureau at (905) 453-2121 Ext 3205. Information may also be left anonymously by calling Peel Crime Stoppers at 1-800-222-TIPS (8477), or by visiting www.peelpolice.ca.
Peel Regional Police arrest two youths following hate-motivated incident
PEEL Regional Police’s investigators from the 11 Division Criminal Investigation Bureau have arrested and charged two youths following a hate-motivated incident in the City of Mississauga.
On February 24, at approximately 3:10 a.m., two suspects attended the area of Iona Secondary School located at 2170 South Sheridan Way in Mississauga. The two suspects proceeded to spray paint derogatory and offensive phrases on a sidewalk that leads up to the school property.
School resource officers were made aware of the incident and commenced an investigation. As a result of the investigation and with the assistance of the Criminal Investigation Bureau, two 17-year-old males, both of Mississauga, were arrested and charged with mischief under $5,000 on March 16. Both males were released with a future court date in April.
The names of the two males cannot be released because a general provision of the Youth Criminal Justice Act (Y.C.J.A.) prohibits the release of the name of a young person.
School resource officers worked diligently on this investigation and relied upon relationships that have been established within the school community to help bring it to a successful conclusion, police noted.
Police want to remind members of the public on the importance of immediately reporting graffiti so steps can be taken to have it removed and police can conduct timely investigations.
Anyone with information in relation to this incident is asked to call investigators at the 11 Division Criminal Investigation Bureau at (905) 453–2121, ext. 1133. Information may also be left anonymously by calling Peel Crime Stoppers at 1-800-222-TIPS (8477), or by visiting www.peelpolice.ca.