Thursday May 23, 2013 (Vol. 38 No. 42)
V O I C E
O F
W H I T E
R O C K
A N D
S O U T H
S U R R E Y
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Wings clipped in OT: The Surrey Eagles’ best season in 15 years came to an end Saturday at the RBC Cup – and in dramatic fashion, no less. › see page 31
Dental offices duel over legal rights to neighbourhood name
‘Ocean Park’ trademark dispute Tracy Holmes Staff Reporter
An application to trademark the term “Ocean Park” has one area businessman scrambling to block the move. Patrick Lum, of Ocean Park Village Dental, said Tuesday he gave notice of seven motions he wants discussed at next month’s meeting of the Ocean Park Business Association, with regards to the application by Tom and Coby
Cragg of Ocean Park Dental Centre. Lum says that trademarking “Ocean Park” would place about 50 businesses in violation, and he wants the OPBA to take a stand by sending a letter opposing the application to the Canadian Intellectual Property Office (CIPO). However, the Craggs say Lum’s effort is a “red herring” – intended to inflame an 18-month dispute between the two dental offices over the similarity of their business names.
Lawyers have assured them the move would only affect other dental businesses in South Surrey’s Ocean Park neighbourhood, they said. “It should only affect him and us and that’s the whole point of it,” Coby Cragg said Wednesday. “As soon as he changes the name, we have no intention to use it for anything. I would not want to do anything to hurt Ocean Park. We just want (Lum) to make his name less similar to ours.” › see page 4
Sandy McNamee photo
Tree on city land is downed Friday.
Authority re-examined
‘Eagle-tree’ controversy nudges city Tracy Holmes Staff Reporter
White Rock officials may not have been able to save four city trees, but the loss of the mature Douglas firs from the Victoria Avenue hillside last week has spurred a commitment to make changes going forward. City manager Dan Bottrill said Tuesday that while he doesn’t believe there was anything that could have been done differently to change the outcome, the issue has drawn attention to the need for a tree-management plan for the city. “I think there’s probably a deeper appreciation for the trees that we have in White Rock, and probably an understanding that we need to take a look at a tree-management plan… in terms of what trees do we have, how can we enhance that and look after our current inventory of trees,” Bottrill told Peace Arch News. Friday, four Douglas firs on city land in the 15200-block of Victoria Avenue were toppled after the owner of an adjacent lot advised he would be cutting significant roots that extended into his lot. The damage would have made the trees a safety hazard, city officials explained prior to the cuts. › see page 4
Rodeo drive
Jim Kinnear photo
There were thrills and spills aplenty at the 39th annual Cloverdale Rodeo last weekend, as visitors to the fairgrounds were treated to all types of action – from bull-riding and mutton bustin’ to great food and carnival rides. For a full recap of the weekend-long event – plus more photos – see page 11.
Accused dog-napper alleges Crown counsel and RCMP official negligent
Olson unleashes counter-complaints Alex Browne Staff Reporter
Janet Olson, a South Surrey woman facing 37 criminal charges relating to alleged ‘dog-rescue’ efforts, has launched a counterattack against Surrey Crown counsel and Surrey RCMP. In a release sent to media Tuesday, Olson says two prosecutors and a police officer are under investigation for their conduct of her case.
Representatives for both the provincial Criminal Justice Branch and the RCMP would not comment in detail on Olson’s claims. Olson was arrested in November 2011 in connection with the theft of a bulldog from a Coquitlam backyard. A Surrey woman arrested at the same time, Louise Reid, was sentenced last September after pleading guilty to stealing two dogs, including the bulldog. The charge
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against Olson – along with the dozens of other charges laid in the months following her arrest – has not been proven in court. Olson alleges prosecutors were negligent in refusing to identify for her lawyer an informant. She further claims the officer was responsible for a “slanderous” press release, which she says turned public opinion against her. › see page 4