Canada’s Ambassador to China John McCallum fired

26 January 2019

JOHN MCCallum, Canada’s Ambassador to China, has been fired by Prime Minister Justin Trudeau following his controversial remarks concerning the extradition request against Meng Wanzhou, an executive with Chinese telecom company Huawei.

McCallum had told Chinese-language journalists that he thought she had a strong case to fight the extradition and suggested several arguments in that regard. On Thursday, he said he had misspoken with those statements. Then the following day, he reportedly told a newspaper it would be “great for Canada” if the US dropped their extradition request.
Conservative Leader Andrew Scheer had demanded McCallum’s firing.

Trudeau said in a statement on Saturday: “Last night I asked for and accepted John McCallum’s resignation as Canada’s Ambassador to China.

“For almost two decades, John McCallum has served Canadians honourably and with distinction. He held many positions in Cabinet over the years, including Minister of National Defence, Minister of Veterans Affairs and, most recently, Minister of Immigration, Refugees and Citizenship. His work as Minister of Immigration, Refugees and Citizenship in bringing in over 39,500 Syrian refugees remains an inspiration to Canadians and an example to the world. I thank him and his family for his service over the past many years.

“Effective immediately and in keeping with standard practice, Jim Nickel, the Deputy Head of Mission at the Embassy of Canada in Beijing, will represent Canada in China as Chargé d’affaires.”

Surrey Police seek public’s help in locating Rajwinder Bains

25 January 2019

SURREY RCMP are requesting the public’s assistance in locating a missing female, Rajwinder Bains, who was reported missing on January 23.

She was last seen leaving a residence in the 6100-block of 140^th Street on January 10. Rajwinder may be travelling with another woman in a Honda Civic and may be headed to Alberta.

Rajwinder is described as a 38-year-old, South Asian female, 5′ tall, weighing 100 lbs. She has black hair and brown eyes (see photo).

It is out of character for Rajwinder to be out of touch this long and police and family are concerned for her well-being.

Anyone with information about the whereabouts of this person is asked to contact the Surrey RCMP at 604-599-0502, or CrimeStoppers, if they wish to remain anonymous, at 1-800-222-8477 or www.solvecrime.ca

Former Solicitor General Kash Heed: ‘There is going to be a different coloured police uniform operating on the streets of Surrey’

25 January 2019

BY RATTAN MALL

KASH Heed, former solicitor general of B.C. and former chief of West Vancouver Police told The VOICE this week that Surrey Mayor Doug McCallum is well on his way to changing policing in his city.

Heed said: “I was sceptical when Doug McCallum was first elected on whether he was able to do this. I’ll tell you, given what I have seen from him so far, there’s a clear indication he wants change. What that change is at the end of the day, we don’t really know what it’s going to look like, but I can tell you, given what I have seen, there is going to be a different coloured police uniform operating on the streets of Surrey.”

Heed added that he believes that if Surrey gets an independent municipal police force, there will be a domino effect.

He noted: “I think the people will see the sky didn’t fall, the financial crisis did not occur because the numbers that are being looked at right now, the numbers that were looked at in Richmond previously and in North Vancouver previously, are fraught with problems. Those are not the actual costs of policing that the RCMP keep putting forward as the reason why not to change. I think at the end of the day this will be borne out and you will see it’s not as costly as some people are making it out to be.”

Heed said the RCMP financial numbers need to be challenged.

Heed said that the paramount fact is that the current policing system in Surrey is not working. “It’s not working for the citizens of Surrey and, as we now know now, it’s not working for the electorate of Surrey. Clear indications are the motions that were put forward at Surrey Council’s inaugural meeting. Doug McCallum has been very consistent in his effort to reform policing in Surrey.”

Heed pointed out that what is abundantly clear is the significant increase in the homicides in Surrey in 2018. Homicides are a key factor that create a perception of fear in the community.

According to a Surrey RCMP press release: “All violent crime categories saw decreases in 2018, with the exception of homicides, which increased from 12 to 15 (+25%). There was no change in overall violent crime for the year, and a 2% decline in the most recent quarter.”

Heed said: “Now we have people that are coming on and saying why would we want to change our police structure when in fact crime has gone down?” He called it a really illogical rationale, noting that you have to look at the overall picture. In Surrey, there was an increase in crime over successive years and then a minor decrease in 2018 related to property crime and other violent crime.

Heed added: “That’s why in Vancouver when we monitor crime trends through the Compstat process that I brought in, we looked at the year to date, we looked at the previous year, we looked at the past three years, and we looked at five years’ data to ensure that crime is clearly on the decrease. So the argument put forward that ‘crime is on the decrease why would we want to change it?’ is an illogical and a faulty argument.”

REGIONAL POLICE FORCES

HEED pointed that he’s been in favour of police reform for the last 15 years and has been advocating for a regional approach to policing that has been successful elsewhere in North America.

He said: “I worked with Rob Gordon from Simon Fraser University and Bob Stewart, the former Chief of Vancouver Police. We put forward a paper that has been widely distributed. We have held regional forums to discuss the need for police reform and to look at a regional model of policing.”

Heed added: “Clear indication at this particular time is Surrey wants change but they are really not wanting to embrace the regional police approach and I recognize from my time in government is that regional police will not occur in this area unless the provincial government does it simply because you could never get all of these mayors agreeing on that particular approach. That has been evident in all the discussion we’ve had over the last several years on this particular issue.”

He pointed out: “When we look at Surrey, there is a need for change, there is a will for change, not only from the citizens and the politicians. There is some indication now that government may be willing to look at that change. We have to remember the provincial government under the BC Police Act make the final decision on policing here in the province of British Columbia. So Farnworth, the Solicitor General, will have to agree to this and I am not sure given some of the ridiculous statements he has made whether they will allow this to happen.”

Heed stressed: “Regional policing will not happen unless the provincial government involves themselves and makes that decision. Creating another independent municipal police agency in Metro Vancouver has its advantages for Surrey. Overall, will it have an advantage or a disadvantage for the region that has yet to be known and we will see how this pans out. But I think there is an interim step.”

Heed said he thinks Surrey should actually look at creating a South of the Fraser regional police service: Delta, which has an independent municipal police force, Surrey, Langley and White Rock. He added: “So now you start to look at some economies of scale in that particular area – it makes complete sense because it’s a physical divide.”

At the same time, you look at a North of the Fraser police service for other metro areas. That would include Richmond, Vancouver and Burnaby.

“And then, based on my discussions when I was the Chief in West Van, it’s very easy to create another divide and that’s the North Shore Police Service which would amalgamate the City of North Vancouver, the District of North Vancouver, the First Nations policing in that area and West Vancouver. Eventually you would want to move that right up to Pemberton and include Squamish and Whistler. It makes complete logic and it makes complete sense as to why you would want to look at this.”

“This is a middle of the ground step that I think people need to look at also,” Heed said.

B.C. EVENTS: For the week of Saturday, January 26

25 January 2019

(These are FREE listings. Submit your event / announcement at [email protected])

Surrey Kids Read Family Event

Surrey Libraries celebrates Family Literacy Day at Guildford Town Centre (Centre Court) with our annual Surrey Kids Read event on Saturday, January 26 from 11 a.m. to 2 p.m. There will be a full lineup of children’s entertainers and the first 200 families will receive a free copy of the book, The Reading Tree. While there, pick up a colouring sheet that you can colour and return to any Surrey Library for a free Walter & Jazzy book bag.

South Asian Film Education Society

Free public film screening and tribute to Mrinal Sen: “Bhuvan Shome” in SFU Goldcorp Centre (Room 4955), 149 West Hastings Street, Vancouver, on Saturday, January 26, 2-5 p.m. Bhuvan Shome is an old man who has lost his wife. Looking back on his life and the trials and tribulations he had to deal with, he seeks escape in a holiday (Hindi / Urdu, 1969). Director: Mrinal Sen. Narrator: Amitabh Bachan. Running Time: 96 minutes. National Film Award (1969) for Best Feature Film and Best Director. Website: http://mrinalsen.org/

Museum of Surrey Punjabi Exhibition: Public Input

Museum of Surrey is gearing up to feature Punjabi stories of Surrey as its first major community-led exhibition in the new feature gallery. This dynamic cultural showcase will run October 2 to December 22, shining a spotlight on the unique story of the Punjabis here in Surrey. In addition to having exhibitions, programs and events that attract visitors from all over the province, the recent 15.7 million-dollar expansion allows for the facility to be a ‘people museum’ – a community hub that celebrates the people and communities of Surrey. The Museum encourages Surrey Punjabis to be part of history in the making by adding their input to the exhibit. Community sharing sessions will be held throughout the city in January and February for people to share stories and photos of personal objects to be considered for display. The remaining info sessions are scheduled as follows: * January 26, 12:30–4:30 p.m., Fleetwood Community Centre, Room 5 * February 1, 1– 5 p.m., Guildford Town Centre Mall * February 5, 9 a.m. – 1 p.m., Newton Senior Centre, Room 3 * February 10, 9 a.m.–1 p.m., Grandview Aquatic Centre classroom * February 17, 12–4 p.m., Museum of Surrey, Program Rooms 1 and 2. Contact email Colleen Sharpe, curator of exhibits, at [email protected] or call 604-592-6959 for more info. The site, located at 17710 56A Avenue in Surrey, is also home to Heritage Square, where the Anderson Cabin, 1881 Town Hall and Anniedale School are situated. Free admission to Museum of Surrey is sponsored by the Friends of the Museum and Archives Society.

Rally Against Repression In India

Sunday, January 27 at 2 p.m. at Holland Park, Surrey. Indians Abroad for Pluralist India calls upon all progressive and democratic forces to join them to protest against growing repression in India. Ever since the right wing Hindu nationalist Bhartiya Janata Party (BJP) came to power in India in 2014, attacks on religious minorities and political dissidents have grown.

Surrey Board of Trade Business Lunch

“Transportation and Ridesharing in Surrey”: BC’s Transportation and Infrastructure Minister, Claire Trevena, will be speaking at a Surrey Board of Trade business lunch on Monday, January 28 at 11:30 a.m. at the Civic Hotel, 13475 Central Avenue. Trevena will discuss transportation issues and plan for Surrey, and the region, including the new ridesharing legislation. Registration and Lunch: 11:30 a.m. Program: 12-1:30 p.m. Keynote speaker’s estimated start time: 12:30 p.m.

Islamophobia Legal Assistance Hotline (ILAH)

What: In Remembrance: The Quebec City Mosque Shooting – Community Discussion. January 29 will mark two years since Alexandre Bissonnette shot and killed six worshippers at the Islamic Cultural Centre of Quebec City, severely injuring others. The Islamophobia Legal Assistance Hotline (ILAH) is marking the second anniversary of this event with a community discussion at the Vancouver Public Library in The Alma VanDusen and Peter Kaye Rooms on Monday, January 28 at 6 p.m. Admission is free but pre-registration is required for this event: https://www.eventbrite.ca/e/in-remembrance-the-quebec-city-mosque-shooting-tickets-54625360925 Speakers: Amal Ghazal, Director of Centre for Comparative Muslim Studies (SFU); Itrath Syed, PhD Candidate, School of Communication (SFU); Kashif Ahmed, Chair of the National Council of Canadian Muslims.

Surrey Board of Trade: Surrey Hot Topic Dialogue Series

The hot topic dialogue on Tuesday, January 29 will be Surrey’s transition to a municipal police force from the current Surrey RCMP. This Surrey Hot Topic Dialogue will bring up key discussion points regarding: The costs and benefits of a municipal police force; costs and benefits of keeping the RCMP; transparency of existing transition process; provincial government approval process; training and infrastructure required for a municipal police force – and more. Panelists include: Kash Heed, former BC Solicitor General and Public Safety Minister as well as a Chief Constable of the West Vancouver Police Department; Fraser McRae, former Assistant Commissioner and Officer in Charge of the Surrey RCMP; Bob Rolls, former Deputy Chief Constable of the Vancouver Police Department. Rolls will reference his work on the Richmond Policy Study; Mike Larsen, Chair Department of Criminology at Kwantlen Polytechnic University (KPU). Location: Civic Hotel Autograph Collections, 13475 Central Avenue, Surrey. Time: Registration and Breakfast: 7:30 a.m.; Program: 8-9:30 a.m. Admission: Free, registration required. Seats are limited.

George Mackie Library: Our North Delta

Join us on Saturday, February 2 from 2 p.m.-3:30 p.m. at the George Mackie Library for an historical tour of your community. Have you ever wondered how the places, schools and streets you are so familiar with got their names? Who were the people associated with these names? At Our North Delta: North Delta’s Historic Places and People, find out where people first lived in North Delta and where the first trails and roads were. * Return to the George Mackie Library on Saturday, February 9 from 2-3:30 p.m. for the second session of Our North Delta: Annieville’s Fraser Fishing Fleet. At the end of the 19th century folk said that there were so many salmon in the Fraser River that you could walk across on the backs of them. Fishermen arrived at Annieville, many from Norway. Canneries were built and employed people from many nations. Come and hear the story of the Fraser Fishing Fleet. These two sessions are presentations by members of the North Delta Advisory Group for the Delta Heritage Society.

Muriel Arnason Library: Year of the Pig

Celebrate the Year of the Pig at Muriel Arnason Library on Saturday, February 9, 2-3 p.m. Everyone is invited to join the library staff and some special artists to celebrate the Lunar New Year. Come and enjoy the Chinese dance and music, displays, make a craft and a lucky envelope, and taste some New Year’s foods. This is a free, drop-in program. All supplies are provided. Muriel Arnason Library is located in the Township of Langley Civic Facility at 20338 65^th Avenue. Phone: 604-532-3590.

Newton BIA: Notice of AGM

Annual General Meeting of 2019 and elections for next year’s executive positions. All businesses and property owners within the Newton BIA area are invited to attend (no charge). Coffee and light refreshments will be served throughout. 11:30 a.m. – Doors open. 11:30 a.m.-12 p.m. – Registration / Networking. 12 p.m. – Annual General Meeting. Location: Newton Cultural Centre, 13530 72^nd Avenue, Surrey. When: Thursday, February 21, 11:30 a.m.-1 p.m. Registration is required. Call for nominations: Being involved in the Newton BIA is a highly rewarding and fun experience which provides members with an opportunity to engage with peers, professionals and the community. Nominating for a Board Member position shows your willingness to be a crucial part the Newton BIA team for 2019. You are committing to attend a minimum of one Board meeting a month. Nominations are now open. Nomination deadline is February 11. You are required to be present at the AGM in order to be voted in.

Enhanced Settlement Services for Women (ESSW) Program

The Enhanced Settlement Services for Women (ESSW) Program at MOSAIC in Surrey is available for vulnerable newcomer women living in the Surrey area. Services include: basic counselling support; information and orientation; information on rights; referrals; monthly educational workshops. All Surrey newcomer women are welcome to the ESSW free monthly workshops from 10 a.m.-12 p.m.: * Family Law: February 19 * Self-Care: March 18 at #200-7134 King George Boulevard, Surrey. Phone: 778-591-9334, ext 193. Contact Torfeh: [email protected]. Women only group. Bring your ID for registration. Bus tickets and light refreshments provided. Interpretation Services available (to be booked in advance). * Sometimes the settlement process can be hard on families, and newcomer women may find themselves faced with challenges and/or in an unhealthy relationship. A Woman’s Support Worker can provide: comprehensive intake and needs assessment; basic counselling and emotional support; information and orientation; referrals to community services; monthly topical workshops. To learn more about the free and confidential services, call and speak to the Women’s Support Worker, Torfeh Jahan, at 778-591-9334, ext. 193. Location: #200-7134 King George Boulevard, Surrey.

Dhahan Prize Submissions

Submissions are now open for the Dhahan Prize, the world’s signature prize in Punjabi literature. Authors who have published novels or short story collections in 2018 in either of the Punjabi scripts, Gurmukhi and Shahmukhi, are invited to submit their works for the $25,000 CDN grand prize. Two finalist prizes of $10,000 CDN will also be awarded. The deadline for submissions is March 31. In addition to the Dhahan Prize Award, financial support will be provided to winning authors for transliteration and publication of their book into Gurmukhi or Shahmukhi scripts. The Prize aims to inspire the creation of Punjabi literature across borders, bridging Punjabi communities around the world, and promoting Punjabi literature on a global scale. The awards garner critical acclaim and significant exposure for aspiring writers. Submissions will be accepted via the Dhahan Prize website, www.dhahanprize.com. Eligible works of fiction must be received for review by March 31, 2019. For more information, visit www.dhahanprize.com or join the conversation on Twitter or Facebook. To submit, please send an application to [email protected] and mail three hard copies to: Dhahan Prize Book Submission, #1058 – 2560 Shell Road, Richmond, BC, V6X 0B8, Canada.

New Mental Health Initiative: Youth Volunteers Needed

On behalf of the South Asian Mental Health Alliance and Gurdwara Sahib Dasmesh Darbar, this is an open call for South Asian youth in Greater Vancouver, ages 14 to 21, interested in receiving Mental Health First-Aid Training, a professional certification developed by the Mental Health Commission of Canada. The goal is to create a volunteer team of mental health Youth Ambassadors who will raise awareness around mental health, and will work together to de-stigmatize its discussion and treatment within the South Asian community. In addition to mental health first-aid training, our volunteer Youth Ambassadors will receive training in public speaking and presenting so that they may effectively educate others about mental health. If this volunteer opportunity interests you, email [email protected], or call or text Harman S. Pandher at (778) 835-7898.

George Mackie Library: Practice English, Learn Skills

Practice English and learn skills for the Canadian workplace. Meet at the George Mackie Library in Delta on Wednesdays and Saturdays from 2 to 4:30 p.m. to practice English, learn workplace vocabulary, become familiar with the Canadian labour market and develop networking skills. Each session includes tips and assistance with resume writing, job search skills, websites and Canadian workplace expectations. Taught by a TESOL-certified and experienced teacher, this program is being offered in partnership with Progressive Intercultural Community Services (PICS) Society. Bonus: PICS refers students, if interested, to further education at local colleges or universities. To register, call 604-596-7722 or drop in at the library.

17^th Annual Shakti Awards Nomination

The Shakti Awards were founded in 2000 in honour of International Women’s Day to recognize and celebrate women who have displayed Shakti – strength and energy – in their community, locally and / or globally. The women who have displayed Shakti (strength and energy) amongst us represent an inspiring account of positive social, cultural and economic change in the world. The Shakti Awards are an opportunity for us to recognize these women, quite often the unsung heroes, and share their vibrant stories. If you would like to nominate a woman that embodies Shakti, use the information below and email your nomination to [email protected] no later than February 24. The Shakti Awards will be presented at the Shakti Awards Dinner Gala on Saturday, March 9 at Bollywood Banquet Hall at 6:30 p.m. We are expecting approximately 500 attendees. Tickets are $50 each. For tickets, donations and sponsorship enquiries, call 604-307-8796. Please note that nominations must be submitted via email. Submissions sent through other means, (social media, in-person or phone/text messages will not be considered). * Categories: Academic Achievement Award (High School or University / College student); Public Service / Volunteer Award; Business Entrepreneur Award; Artistic Achievement Award; Sports and Recreational Award; Resilience Award – A woman who has overcome adversity and has used her personal journey in a way to inspire and motivate others to be positive despite challenges and setbacks. * Nomination Information: Name; Age; Address, phone number(s) and email; Name, phone number and email of nominator; Brief summary of reason for nomination – how the nominee’s accomplishments relate to the stated category, the impact of their role, and why they should be chosen to receive a specific award; Identify how the nominee will contribute to Shakti: Empowerment of Women, Children and Families Society.

(For more events, visit the “Events” section of our website at voiceonline.com)

Interest to sponsor form for 2019 Parents and Grandparents Program

25 January 2019

ON Monday, January 28, 2019, Canadians and permanent residents will able to take the first step towards bringing their parents and grandparents to Canada when the 2019 interest to sponsor form becomes available at noon EST.

Potential sponsors are encouraged to complete and submit the form as quickly as possible, as IRCC (Immigration, Refugees and Citizenship Canada) will only be accepting submissions on a first-in basis for a limited time, once the form opens.

IRCC would like to remind potential sponsors that:

– The interest to sponsor form is not an application, but a mechanism to inform IRCC you are interested in sponsoring your parents or grandparents.

– A digital copy of your proof of status in Canada document will need to be uploaded in order to submit the 2019 interest to sponsor form. This digital copy must include both sides (front and back) of the status in Canada document and cannot exceed 2.5 MB. Potential sponsors should prepare this ahead of the form becoming available.

– The onus is on potential sponsors to ensure they are eligible to sponsor before submitting an interest to sponsor form.This includes making sure that you meet the minimum necessary income requirements.

– All duplicate submissions will be removed. If you make a mistake on your submission, please do not submit a new one. Instructions on what to do if you make a mistake on your submission can be found on IRCC’s website.

– If you successfully submit an interest to sponsor form, you will see a confirmation screen with a confirmation number on it. Please keep this number for your records.

– IRCC will contact potential sponsors in the order in which it received interest to sponsor forms.

Frequently Asked Questions on Sponsoring your Family:

Reid refused to act after being warned Craig James wasn’t eligible for secret $258,000 payout: NDP

25 January 2019

AMONG the Plecas Report’s most serious allegation is that the Clerk pocketed a staggering $258,000 ‘long-service award’ for which he may not have been eligible, says the NDP. (Page 44)

The Report indicates the payment occurred in 2012 at the direction of BC Liberal Speaker Bill Barisoff. Although the benefit was established in 1984 and replaced in 1987 by a salary increase for table officers, Barisoff claimed in a 2012 memo “this programme was a condition of employment when the current Table Officers were appointed by the Legislative Assembly.” (Exhibit 17, p.10)

As a result, a total of $660,000 was paid out to four table officers, including $257,988.38 to Craig James.

But after concerns about the payments were raised by the Auditor-General in 2013, incoming Speaker Linda Reid asked for more information from Legislature HR Director Jo-Anne Kern.

Kern dug up James’ 1987 offer of employment and advised Reid in a memo:

“His offer of employment from the Legislative Assembly contained no reference to an Executive Benefit Plan or to a benefit recognizing years of service. It would therefore appear that Mr. James was not a party to the original years of service / executive benefit plan.” (Exhibit 17, p.4)

Kern’s memo also contained a letter from Deputy Clerk Kate Ryan-Lloyd dated February 20, 2013. Ryan-Lloyd had returned her payment, saying “I continue to be uncomfortable with accepting such a sizeable payment as a long-service award.” (Exhibit 17, p.68)

In summary, Reid was told:

That Craig James was not entitled to this benefit as a condition of his employment (directly contradicting Barisoff’s memo, which was the basis for authorizing the payment);
That the program had been capped and replaced in 1987 because it was rolled into the salary of the table officers;
That the Deputy Clerk was so uncomfortable with the size and circumstances of these payments that she had voluntarily returned the money she had received.

Instead of sounding the alarm, Reid kept silent. In fact, Kern’s report mysteriously disappeared from the Legislature’s files and could not be located by Plecas, except for a single former staff person who kept a copy, “anticipating that its existence might one day be disputed”. (Page 49)

When asked on Thursday about Reid’s involvement, BC Liberal Leader Andrew Wilkinson admitted he hasn’t even spoken with Reid: “I haven’t spoken with Linda Reid yet, because I want her to have her own opportunities to sort things out without any involvement from me. She needs to be able to speak for herself.” (CBC, Jan 24)

“Linda Reid was warned that Craig James may have improperly pocketed a quarter million dollars, but she refused to act. The closer we look at this scandal, the more we see the disturbing connections between Craig James and the BC Liberals. Under Andrew Wilkinson, these are the same old BC Liberals who put themselves and their rich friends first while making everyone else pay the price.,” said Janet Routledge, BC NDP MLA for Burnaby North and LAMC member.

Overall, British Columbians’ health is good by many accepted measures

25 January 2019

PROVINCIAL Heath Officer (PHO) Dr. Bonnie Henry on Friday released the report, “Taking the Pulse of the Population: An Update on the Health of British Columbians,” that shows that overall, British Columbians’ health is good by many accepted measures.

Diabetes incidence, mortality due to preventable causes, smoking during pregnancy and the incidence of hepatitis C all continue to decrease.

“We have made important progress in many areas of health in recent years,” said Henry. “However, not all British Columbians are experiencing these improvements, and there remain important differences in health status based on region of the province, between sexes and by age. As well, there are some measures where we are actually losing ground.”

Focus and action are needed in several areas to address worsening trends:

* the disparities in life expectancy between local health areas;

* fruit and vegetable consumption as a marker of healthy eating;

* early childhood development; and

* hazardous drinking behaviours.

“More targeted health prevention and promotion programs will help close those gaps and reverse worsening trends,” said Henry. “Other social and economic factors, such as income, housing and early childhood education play an important role in people’s health and well-being. Collaborations across all levels of government, health authorities and other health partners will be key to achieving our goal of a healthier B.C.”

There are seven recommendations to the Ministry of Health, health authorities and partners to advance public health in British Columbia. The recommendations are:

1. Establish a legislated health in all policies approach in B.C., using a health impact assessment model that includes a requirement for assessing health and equity impacts for all proposed, new or revised policy, legislation or programming across the B.C. government.

2. Develop and implement a comprehensive health-promotion strategy that recognizes sex- and gender-specific health needs, and supports all gender identities and sexual orientations through appropriately targeted interventions.

3. Increase support for government programs and policies across government that focus on health among women (including pregnant and post-partum women), children, youth and families.

4. Increase the focus on illness and injury prevention, as well as health promotion, for people living in rural and remote areas.

5. Develop a more robust and meaningful population health and public health surveillance system. This includes reviewing the performance measures in BC’s Guiding Framework for Public Health, identifying new or revised measures, and establishing regular and ongoing public health reporting.

6. Establish more relevant and applicable performance measures to monitor environmental health. This includes establishing and / or further developing mechanisms to monitor air, water, soil and food supplies, as well as the health impacts of climate change.

7. Commit to increasing the proportion of health authority budgets allocated to population and public health to 6%.

The impacts of increased alcohol consumption and of the opioid overdose crisis were two areas of challenge identified in the development of this report. A review of the provincial alcohol policy and the impact of the opioid overdose crisis will be examined in detail in future PHO reports.

“Understanding the health status of British Columbians is critical to effective program planning,” said Dr. Gord Miller, President, Public Health Association of BC. “The Public Health Association of BC welcomes the provincial health officer’s report. This population health report is an essential tool for addressing health inequalities and ensuring that health programs meet the real needs of our citizens.”

For the full report, visit: https://www2.gov.bc.ca/gov/content/health/about-bc-s-health-care-system/office-of-the-provincial-health-officer/reports-publications/annual-reports

Surrey RCMP looking for South Asian groper

25 January 2019

SURREY RCMP are requesting the public’s assistance in identifying a suspect as they continue to investigate three incidents of groping which are believed to have been committed by the same male suspect.

All three incidents involve a male suspect who is alleged to have groped female employees after asking for assistance in three separate retail locations.

On December 22, 2018, at approximately 5 p.m., a male suspect entered a retail store located in the 12000-block of 72nd Avenue. The suspect requested assistance from a female store employee and touched her lower back and grabbed her buttocks. He then grabbed her arm and attempted to walk with her. The employee broke free and the suspect quickly left the store.

On December 31, 2018, at approximately 2:45 p.m., a male suspect entered a retail store located in the 10300-block of 152nd Street. The suspect requested assistance from a female store employee and grabbed her buttocks and touched her groin. The suspect then left the store.

On January 18, at approximately 8:45 p.m., a male suspect entered a retail store in the 7400-block of King George Boulevard and requested the assistance from a female store employee. While in the store he brushed his hand against the employee’s buttocks and then grabbed her buttocks. The suspect then exited the store.

The suspect is described as South Asian with chubby cheeks, medium chubby build and a moustache. At the time of the first occurrence he was wearing a dark coloured baseball hat, dark hoody and dark sweatpants. At the time of the second occurrence the suspect was wearing a dark coloured Nike brand sweatshirt and a light coloured necklace. During the third occurrence, the male was wearing a grey sweater and black pants.

Surrey RCMP released video surveillance photos from these occurrences in hopes that someone can assist the police investigations and identify the suspect.

Anyone with information about the identity of the suspect or witnessed these occurrences who has not already spoken with police, is asked to call Surrey RCMP at 604-599-0502. If you wish to remain anonymous, you can contact CrimeStoppers at 1-800-222-8477 or www.solvecrime.ca

3rd Annual Stem Cell Awareness Drive

24 January 2019

When:

Saturday, February 2, 10 a.m. to 6 p.m.

Where:

Khalsa Diwan Society New Westminster, Gurdwara Sahib Sukh Sagar, 347 Wood Street, New Westminster.

Why:

To raise awareness in the South Asian community regarding stem cell donation

IN collaboration with Canadian Blood Services and Khalsa Diwan Society New Westminster, the 3rd Annual Stem Cell Awareness Drive is being held in memory of Avtar Singh, who passed away January 21, 2017, after a very intense battle with cancer.

The focus of this drive is to raise awareness for the need of stem cell donors in the South Asian community. According to Canadian Blood Services, many South Asian individuals are actively searching for a stem cell match at this moment. Without a match, their cancer will not be cured. Only 6% of Canada’s OneMatch registry is made of individuals of South Asian descent. This extremely low percentage of donors can make it nearly impossible for individuals to find a match.

The goal is to recruit healthy, committed volunteers between the ages of 17 and 35 who are willing to be a match for any patient in need. Younger donor stem cells provide better patient outcomes. Male donor stem cells decrease the possibility of post-transplant complication. Half of all stem cell donors chosen to help a Canadian patient are male. Only 28% of the current stem cell registry is ethnically diverse and as a result, ethnically diverse patients may have a harder time finding a match. These are the reasons why there is a greater need for male and ethnically diverse donors.

The OneMatch Stem Cell and Marrow Network is responsible for finding and matching volunteer donors to patients who require stem cell transplants. Fewer than 25 percent of patients who need stem cell transplants find a compatible donor in their own family. The rest rely on those who have volunteered to donate stem cells to anyone in need. Because Canadian Blood Services’ OneMatch program belongs to an international network of registries, we can search more than 23 million donors in more than 70 registries in other countries when we need to find a match. Over 80 diseases and disorders can be treated with a stem cell transplant. There are hundreds of patients in Canada waiting for a match, but only 1 in 2 find a match. Patients are more likely to find a matching donor from within their own ethnic group.

https://www.blood.ca/en/stem-cells

Kamloops homicide victims: Cody Marcel Mathieu of Kamloops, Rex Edward Gill of Penticton

24 January 2019

Organized crime behind the violence, say police

THE Kamloops homicide victims have been identified as Cody Marcel Mathieu, 31, of Kamloops, Rex Edward Gill, 41, of Penticton.

On Wednesday (January 23), Kamloops RCMP responded to two homicides where the victims were shot at separate locations within the city. Both crime scenes were outside of local hotels. Later the same day, a vehicle was found burning in the Barnharvale area. This vehicle matches the description of a vehicle seen in the area at the time of the second
homicide, police say.

In order to further these investigations, Kamloops RCMP Major Crime Unit identified the victims. The victim from the Super 8 Hotel was Mathieu who was known to police. The victim from the Comfort Inn and Suites was gill and was not known to police.

Through investigation, it is believed that organized crime was behind this violence. All units within Kamloops RCMP are fully engaged in these investigations. As well, resources from Southeast District Major Crime Unit, Combined Forces Special Enforcement Unit (CFSEU) BC and the Uniformed Gang Task Force have been seconded to Kamloops for this
investigation. There are currently approximately 50 investigators working around the clock on these homicides.

Police say any violence in public spaces is dangerous and they believe both of Wednesday’s shootings were targeting specific people.

Kamloops RCMP ask that anyone who may have been at either the Super 8 Hotel or Comfort Inn and Suites at the time of the shootings and had active dash-cam videos or witnessed either shooting, to contact them.

If you have any information about either crime, contact Kamloops RCMP or, if you wish to remain anonymous, contact CrimeStoppers.