The Chilliwack
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95 Years
Work
Builder
The local Elks Club is celebrating 95 years of service.
Rotary at Work is making a difference.
Jack Covey’s fingerprints all over local sports scene.
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 • F R I D AY, N O V E M B E R 1 3 , 2 0 1 5
Hemlock gets $1.5 billion expansion plan go-ahead
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Jennifer Feinberg The Progress A unique collaboration and a bold master plan will usher in a major transformation of Hemlock Resort into an all-season resort. A five-phase expansion of the ski hill was announced Thursday from Hemlock Valley, featuring an innovative partnership between the B.C. government, Langley-based Berezan Group and Sts’ailes a Band. B “Hemlock If we can say Resor t has a world-class been an important contribuall-season tor to the local mountain economy for resort is just 45 decades,” said hilliwackminutes away, C Hope MLA that’s a huge L a u r i e hroness. plus for our area T“With this new master plan, ~ Brian Hemlock is better positioned Coombes, to suppor t CEPCO continued economic development and tourism in the Fraser Valley as a unique all-season resort.” Since buying the resort in 2006, the proponent has invested $10 million into upgrades for 217 private homeowners. Now the “controlled” recreation area of the resort is set to explode from 350 hectares to 6,000 hectares. CEPCO president Brian Coombes said he could see the inherent logic of turning Hemlock Resort into a yearround attraction. “From a tourism perspective, the strength of Chilliwack and the Fraser Valley is as a regional destination. So having Hemlock Resort developed over time the way they are planning to, will
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Alarmes Batteri expires
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Eight vacant house fires so far this year Jennifer Feinberg The Progress Firefighters were called out in the middle of the night to another vacant house fire last week. The deliberately set fire was the eighth vacant house to go up in flames so far this year in Chilliwack. But officials say that despite the relatively high number there is no set pattern to the evidence. So that makes it unlikely it’s the work of a firebug. The most recent arson fire saw crews from two firehalls battle the flames on Nov. 6 at 2 a.m. in
the 7000-block of Lickman Road. The structure was completely destroyed by fire, according to Chilliwack Fire Department’s Mike Bourdon, assistant fire chief. He used the incident as a reminder that the Fire Department urges owners of vacant properties slated for future development, to secure them properly, and ensure windows are boarded up. “These buildings should be demolished as soon as possible due to the fact that a fire within a vacant structure significantly increases the risk to fire fighter
safety and surrounding exposures,” he said. Despite the numbers, Mayor Sharon Gaetz reported that fire and RCMP investigators are actively looking into the arson files, and have reassured city officials that there is “no set fire pattern” in evidence with these incidents that would lead anyone to suggest a serial arsonist was at work. “That set our minds at ease,” she said. It’s also important for owners of vacant buildings to ensure utility companies disconnect all services, like gas, electricity and
water, Bourdon said. Mayor Gaetz said the numbers show that about half the vacant buildings still have utilities connected. This Lickman Road fire was deliberately set and is under investigation by Chilliwack Fire Department and RCMP fire investigators. If anyone has any information , they are asked to call the RCMP at 604-792-4611 or anonymously through Crimestoppers at 1-800222-TIPS (8477) or www.chilliwackcrimestoppers.ca jfeinberg@theprogress.com twitter.com/chwkjourno
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The colour guard at Wednesday’s downtown Chilliwack Remembrance Day service brave a pelting downpour at the conclusion of the event. The threat of rain did not deter hundreds of residents from lining the streets to honour the veterans. For more photos from the service – and the one held at Vedder Crossing – see page 17. GREG KNILL/ PROGRESS