Progress
The Chilliwack
Wednesday
27
4
15
Chiefs
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Film
Meet your Chilliwack Chiefs.
Food truck fest draws a crowd.
Chilliwack’s little film festival turns 15.
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Y O U R C O M M U N I T Y N E W S PA P E R • F O U N D E D I N 1 8 9 1 • W W W. T H E P R O G R E S S . C O M • W E D N E S D AY, S E P T E M B E R 2 4 , 2 0 1 4
Two more names in the hat for council
■ B ACK T O S CHOOL
Jennifer Feinberg The Progress City Councillor Sue Attrill is seeking a third term at city hall in the November election. “I have enjoyed the six years I have served as a city councillor and I have so much more that I want to give to our beautiful city,” she wrote in a release. Recently retired from full-time employement, Attrill said she’ll now be able to become even more involved with municipal duties. “I am proud of all we have accomplished and there are still many things to be done. “My priorities will continue to be keeping taxes as low as possible; Improving the quality of life in Chilliwack and fostering a strong local economy.” See more at susan.attrill@gmail. com. The new name this week is Michael Kha, a computer consultant, who has decided to run for city council. Kha says his goal is to bring his energy and enthusiasm to city hall, emphasizing transparency when it comes to government decision making. He has a degree in computer information systems and he is in the final year of his BA in history and political science at University of the Fraser Valley. “We have so many things to be thankful for living in a beautiful city like Chilliwack,” said Kha. “Our city has the room and the potential to grow in the next decade or so – and I want to be there, involved, and hands on when it does.” More on Facebook by searching MichaelKha4Council. jfeinberg@theprogress.com twitter.com/chwkjourno
Students make their way to class on the first day of school at Chilliwack secondary on Monday. Kids lost a total of five weeks of education (two last school year, and three this year) due to the teachers’ strike. The Chilliwack school district says there are no plans to make that time back, however upcoming professional development days were rescheduled for later in the year, and first term final exams may be delayed. JENNA HAUCK/ PROGRESS
Waste plant foes await court decision Jennifer Feinberg, The Progress Opponents of the proposed Aevitas waste recycling plant in Chilliwack had their day in BC Supreme court on Sept. 17. Now they await the judge’s decision expected some time in the coming weeks. The legal challenge, filed last spring by Chilliwack resident Glen Thompson, and the B.C. Outdoor Recreation Council, centred around alleged defects in the City of Chilliwack’s public hearing process to rezone property for a
hazardous waste recycling plant. The hearing was held in Chilliwack last February, to rezone the site chosen by Aevitas Inc. on Cannor Road, for recycling and transferring of waste like mercury and transformer oil. The opponents argued in their submission there was insufficient notice to the public, that the word “hazardous” should have been in the notice, and the map should have indicated the proximity of the site to the Fraser River. But city officials have stressed from day one that all legislative requirements were met. The
rezoning of the heavy industrial land to an M6 special zoning designation was unanimously approved by Chilliwack council on Feb. 4. “The approval process snapped shut before residents were aware of it,” said Glen Thompson, in an online message before heading to court. “In less than an hour, a hearing opened and closed public input.” Also people were unaware of the true nature of the proposal “because the public notice described the site as a waste recycling facility on Cannor Road, which sounds like tins and news-
papers” he noted. “Our case is based on the notice failing to mention the Fraser River, hazardous waste, infectious waste, PCBs and mercury.” Thompson said he felt the judge “didn’t seem to fully appreciate” the opponents’ assertion that the Fraser River should have been clearly indicated on the city map. “It looked like it could go either way but I have no idea,” said Thompson. “It was nerve-wracking, and I could be on the hook for the court costs if we lose.” Continued: WASTE/ p6
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