Wednesday June 24, 2015 (Vol. 40 No. 50)
V O I C E
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W H I T E
R O C K
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S O U T H
S U R R E Y
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Winding up: With the Canadian Open Fastpitch Championships on the horizon – and Olympic inclusion once again a legitimate possibility – interest in women’s softball is ramping up on the Peninsula and beyond. i see page 31
City of White Rock dealing with Church of the Holy Smoke ‘within the law,’ mayor says
Pro-pot church claims persecution Tracy Holmes Staff Reporter
Proponents behind White Rock’s marijuana-focused religious organization are calling for a worldwide boycott of the city, following an order issued Friday to dismantle the gathering place or face fines. Robin Douglas – who calls himself Pastor Robin, a title he says will soon be official – told Peace Arch News Monday the boycott led by the Church of the Holy Smoke is in protest of “their violation of human rights and freedom of religion.”
“They gave us a notice that we have to have our tent down by Friday (June 26) or else they’re going to start to issue us a $150 fine,” Douglas said. “If they’re going to give us a ticket… the City of White Rock has to, by law, ticket everybody that has a tent on the property, otherwise it becomes selective prosecution. “White Rock should not have a right to shut a religion down that is trying to do good for the community.” Mayor Wayne Baldwin, however, said he does not believe the organization is appropriate for White Rock,
and he is “not going to be overwhelmed” by the boycott threat. “We’re dealing with it within the law,” Baldwin said. Douglas opened the facility in a tent structure on property in the 14700-block of Marine Drive about 2½ months ago. His goal, he told PAN, was to create a place where residents and visitors alike can safely enjoy cannabis; to keep pot “off the beach and off the street.” Signage outside notes entry is restricted to those 18 years and older, and while Douglas confirmed he is
under court order not to have anyone younger than 18 in his residence – the condition was part of a sentence imposed last November on a trafficking charge – he said the restriction at his facility would have been in place anyway. “Regardless if that was there or not, it would still be 18-plus,” he said. The city’s interest in the facility was sparked by a complaint earlier this month, and officials told PAN at that time that efforts were underway to have it taken down. Gord Goble photo i see page 2 Pastor Robin plans boycott.
Past cuts still helping
Less pain as district balances budget Sheila Reynolds Black Press
All aboard
Gord Goble photo
Father and son Hans Ignatius and Rudi Schantli check out the model trains on display at the Father’s Day open house at Historic Stewart Farm in South Surrey Sunday. The event featured members of the Greater Vancouver Garden Railway Club on hand to chat with visitors about model trains and the history of Surrey’s railway.
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While last year was a painful one for the Surrey School District, trustees have balanced the preliminary operating budget for the coming school year without making any drastic cuts to staff, programs or student services. For the current school year ending this month, the district faced a shortfall of about $9 million and was forced to lay off staff, cut others’ hours and not fill vacated positions. Nearly 50 teachers who left were not replaced, meaning schools had to adhere much more strictly to class-size restrictions this year. Trustee Shawn Wilson, chair of the Surrey Board of Education, says those cutbacks helped ease the pain in drafting the 2015-2016 budget. “The cuts we made last year, they carried on into the current year,” he said. “You take a bloodbath one year and then the following year, it’s a little bit easier.” i see page 10