Tuesday March 25, 2014 (Vol. 39 No. 24)
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Animal farm: The BC SPCA Adoption and Education Centre opened its doors early this month at a new location in Cloverdale. The facility will house small animals – including cats, rabbits and rats – as well as horses and livestock in the future. i see page 11
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
Licensees can continue to grow at home – for now, judge rules
Medical-marijuana users win reprieve Jeff Nagel, Kevin Diakiw & Sarah Massah Black Press
Medical-marijuana users have won a lastminute court reprieve that allows them to keep growing their own pot at home instead of destroying it and turning to new federally licenced commercial suppliers. Federal Court Judge Michael Manson granted a temporary injunction Friday for
those with a personal-production licence to continue to grow medical marijuana, pending the outcome of a constitutional challenge still to be heard. Health Canada’s new regulation outlawing personal growing had been slated to take effect April 1, but the decision throws a wrench into the Conservative government’s pot-reform plans.
Medical-marijuana users and their supporters are jubilant. “I’m very excited,” said Sandra Colasanti, a member of a coalition seeking to repeal the new rules who said she doesn’t use pot but her husband needs it. “I’ve seen a lot of people who have everything from MS to cancer to full-blown AIDS and I’ve seen people die if they don’t have access to this.”
She said she’s optimistic the action launched by Abbotsford lawyer John Conroy will succeed when it goes to trial. No date has been set but it’s expected sometime this year. White Rock resident and medical-marijuana advocate Joy Davies echoed Colasanti, noting that the decision shows that the courts are listening to patients. i see page 2
Five minutes requested
Senior fights for parkland Alex Browne Staff Reporter
A South Surrey senior is wondering why her mayor and council won’t take five minutes to hear her presentation as a delegation to a regular council meeting. Grandview Heights resident Sybil Rowe, 78, wants to make sure that “majestic evergreens” along 168 Street from 24 Avenue to 32 Avenue – which she feels are integral to the character of her neighbourhood Sybil Rowe – receive petitioner formal heritage designation in future development plans. And she wants the city to formally dedicate a nine-acre property – a former horse farm – one the east side of 168 Street (in the 2700 block) as a green park. She’s gathered 730 signatures from area residents as part of a petition supporting her proposal and prepared a statement to read to council. “I timed it by my microwave,” she said. “It takes just under three i see page 4
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Larry Robinson was remembered for his humour and dedication at a celebration of life Monday afternoon at the White Rock Community Centre.
Standing room only crowd pays respects to White Rock councillor
Robinson was ‘inspiring to all of us’ Tracy Holmes Staff Reporter
Hundreds packed the White Rock Community Centre Monday to standing room only to pay tribute to city councillor Larry Robinson. The dedicated – and often animated – firstterm councillor was remembered as a man passionate about his duties as an elected official and his spirituality, who found humour in all manner of situations but also had a quiet side when it came to expressing his own artis-
tic endeavours. Robinson, 65, died in Peace Arch Hospital on March 15, following a public battle with cancer. As prominent as the disease became in his final months – he did not let a fast-growing tumour on his face deter him from public duties – the focus Monday was on who Robinson was and the contributions he made. Mayor Wayne Baldwin described Robinson as a friend and colleague; a man meticulous in researching issues he was keen on, “outspoken
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(and) strongly opinionated.” The comment evoked laughter – a sound heard time and again throughout the service, prompted by amusing anecdotes and emotional memories from speakers, including brother Ron, son Jesse and father Gordon, as well as friends, colleagues and constituents. Jesse Robinson said his dad was a larger-thanlife character – “a wonderful father” whose positivity throughout his fight with cancer “was inspiring to all of us.”