Tuesday October 21, 2014 (Vol. 39 No. 84)
V O I C E
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W H I T E
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S O U T H
Sharing her joy: Southridge grad and cancer survivor Serena Bonneville continues to “breed optimism� in a new community as she inspires others with her story and her spirit. 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
Program cancelled after White Rock mayoral hopeful set precondition of having questions in advance
Candidate likens TV debate to ambush Tracy Holmes Staff Reporter
David Bradshaw
A planned televised debate for White Rock’s two mayoral candidates has been cancelled, after one declined the invitation to participate. And while challenger David Bradshaw changed his mind Friday afternoon – about 24 hours after saying no – it was too late to change the course.
“As soon as he cancelled on us yesterday, we had to move,� Shaw producer Ian MacKenzie told Peace Arch News that morning. “It’s his right and we’re moving on.� Bradshaw told PAN Friday morning that he had accepted the invitation to participate – on the condition questions and topics to be discussed would be disclosed beforehand. He declined when
he learned that wouldn’t be the case. “(The producer) knew the precondition and he didn’t say there was a problem with it – initially,� Bradshaw said. “Then all of a sudden he just says not only do we not give the questions out, we don’t even tell people what the topics are. “I’m not going to engage in a debate unless I’m allowed to prepare.� Bradshaw is the sole candidate to chal-
lenge incumbent Wayne Baldwin for the city’s top seat. Baldwin, who agreed to participate in the debate, is hoping to win a second term in the chair when voters go to the polls on Nov. 15. MacKenzie, who is arranging debates for mayoral candidates in all Metro Vancouver communities, said Bradshaw was the only one to decline. i see page 2
Ex-agent’s arrest makes international headlines Tracy Holmes Staff Reporter
Betina Albornoz photo
Trolley driver Ron Cooke waves from atop one of the more sizable props and, below, community leaders launch the Diwali Integration Festival.
20,000-plus people drawn to inaugural event on White Rock waterfront
Inclusive Diwali attracts huge crowds The success of Saturday’s Diwali Integration Festival, held on White Rock’s waterfront, bodes well for the event’s future, officials say. It’s estimated the festival, presented from noon till 8 p.m. by the Sanatan Cultural Society of B.C. and the city, drew 20,000 to 25,000 people to the beach over the course of the day. “I think it has huge potential,â€? Eric Stepura, the city’s director of leisure services, said Monday. “It was a very large crowd and a very‌ warm crowd. Lots of whole families coming down to enjoy it – three, four generations of people.â€? The festival included live music, traditional dances, food trucks, a vendor marketplace, a
Tina Bali photo
life-size decorative elephant and fireworks. Sanatan Cultural Society president Vivek Vasistha said the success was due to support from “so many organizations and it provided opportunity to all of us (to) learn about others and their cultures‌ We can build better communi-
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ties by understanding better what others believe in, and this was the perfect occasion for that.â€? Event chair Moti Bali said 10 cultural organizations were represented. “This is the first time ever in the history of Canada that such an event of this magnitude has been held,â€? Bali said. “It was a festival of all the communities and all the cultures.â€? Stepura noted that historically, Diwali – “the festival of lightsâ€? – is celebrated around the world by people whose family heritage is from India. “In this case‌ they wanted to do something different. I think that really added to the success of the event,â€? he said.
A former South Surrey real-estate agent who ventured into modeling is now making headlines around the world as she faces drug charges in the U.S., following an arrest in California this month. Krista Boseley – who grew up in Langley’s Brookswood neighbourhood – and a man identified as B.C. native Gilles LaPointe, 61, were arrested at an airport in Orange County, Calif. on Oct. 9. According to U.S. District Court online Krista Boseley documents, the aspiring model pair arrived by private plane, reportedly with a cache of MDMA powder and pills, as well as a large amount of U.S. currency. According to the documents, Boseley, 30, denied knowledge of anything illegal and stated that she and Lapointe had won the money gambling at a Las Vegas hotel. An office manager at Re/Max Colonial Pacific Realty confirmed Monday that Boseley held a licence at that office for one year (around 2012-13) before taking a leave. i see page 4