Thursday February 27, 2014 (Vol. 39 No. o. 17)
V O I C E
O F
W H I T E
R O C K
A N D
S O U T H
Tangled tales: Southridge School’s senior students nts offer a very different take on the traditional fairy tale with their latest major theatrical production, n, Into The Woods. i see page 23
S U R R E Y
w w w. p e a c e a r c h n e w s . c o m
Suspect released without charges last fall after woman’s body found near river in 2012, police confirm
‘Someone did something terribly wrong’ Tracy Holmes Staff Reporter
Police investigating the July 2012 death of a young mother whose body was found near the banks of the Nicomekl River say they still believe someone has answers that could bring Ashley Lynn Chauvin’s family some peace. After learning in recent weeks that police had arrested a Surrey man last fall in connection with the discovery of the 20-year-
old’s body, Chauvin’s mother added her voice to the appeal. “It’s hard to move on forward when you still have some unanswered questions,” Carmen Perron told Peace Arch News from her home in Ontario. “Somebody’s got to know something.” Chauvin’s body was found in the 15500block of 40 Avenue on July 19, 2012. In the months following the discovery, police ruled
out foul play in her death, but shared little information regarding their investigation – including that they had identified a person of interest “within the first weeks.” Surrey RCMP Cpl. Bert Paquet said Wednesday there are other details that still cannot be disclosed, because the file remains open. He did confirm that an arrest in the case was made last October, and that police had
recommended an individual be criminally charged with “indignity to dead body” in connection with how Chauvin got to the South Surrey riverside. It’s believed she was moved there after she died. “Our major-crime section… knew that at some point, someone did something terribly wrong, and they wanted to hold that person accountable,” Paquet told PAN. i see page 4
Controversial leader
‘Incorrigible’ Ed McKitka dies in crash Kevin Diakiw Black Press
Tracy Holmes photo
Jordan Bateman and his ‘chauffeur’ deliver a golden-pig award to South Surrey’s new TransLink parking lot, which charges would-be users $2.
TransLink refutes federation’s ‘facts,’ saying the province funded lot
Tax critics snort at barren park-and-ride Tracy Holmes Staff Reporter
The new South Surrey Park-and-Ride lot has earned TransLink a ‘sow-er’ award from the Canadian Taxpayers Federation. Wednesday, the organization’s B.C. director announced a Teddy Waste Award for the transit authority in ‘celebration’ of the little-used $4.5 million lot off King George Boulevard. “The problem wasn’t giving them the award,” Jordan Bateman said prior to hamming it up at a news conference. “The problem was narrowing it down to the worst offence.” The golden, pig-shaped trophy – presented
to mark “the best of the worst in government waste” – is TransLink’s first Teddy win in the award’s 16-year history. Bateman said the 367-stall expansion to the South Surrey park-and-ride helped TransLink break through “the Teddy stratosphere.” But TransLink officials say the CTF has its facts “absolutely incorrect” with regard to TransLink’s role in the lot’s development. The province funded the capital costs and contributed to the land purchase, a Feb. 26 email from TransLink’s Jiana Ling to the organization states. “In the future, please check your facts with us to ensure accuracy,” Ling writes.
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The expansion was built to address chronic overcrowding at the park-and-ride, and opened shortly after a $2-per-day parking fee was implemented. It has remained virtually empty ever since – but not problem-free. On three occasions in December, thieves ripped out the lot’s pay station, prompting operators to beef up security. And last month, neighbours complained their streets were being clogged by motorists shunning the daily fee. Setting the stage for this week’s ceremony, Bateman said CTF “spared no expense” for the occasion. It featured $2 sparklers, confetti and a one-car parade.
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Ed McKitka, one of Surrey’s most colourful mayors, has died. McKitka, 75, was driving his truck near the Vedder River Bridge in Chilliwack on the morning of Feb. 4 when he got into a singlevehicle accident. He did not survive his injuries. McKitka’s nephew, Will, confirmed he heard from his father that his uncle died in a car crash. “My father told me he Ed McKitka passed away in former mayor a car accident, very few details, and his understanding from his sister was that there was no service,” Will McKitka said Tuesday. “Even at this time, I don’t think there’s going to be anything for the family. It’s going to be very quiet, and that’s all I know.” McKitka was first elected alderman in Surrey in 1968, and then became mayor for one term from 1975-’77. He was subsequently voted out of office. After that, following a police investigation, he was convicted of breach of trust and went to jail for misuse of the office of mayor. i see page 2
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