INSIDE: Tapping into the amazing memories of WW2 veterans Pg. 3 October 22, 2010
F R I D A Y
noises at new arts centre 28 Making 1985-
201
0
LOCAL NEWS, SPORTS, WEATHER & ENTERTAINMENT chilliwacktimes.com
Survey says . . . you like our city
Growing concern
BY PAUL J. HENDERSON phenderson@chilliwacktimes.com
C
time of their use as grow houses. Furthermore, it is believed that most (but not all) grow operations are run by people renting a home from an absentee landlord. The Times did not receive dates for when each grow operation was busted. Nevertheless, the scope of the data is revealing. The highway splits the grow houses nearly in two; of the 219 grow operations (seven homes were used twice), 124 were north of the Trans-Canada Highway and 95 were south of the No. 1. Prosperity was no guarantee of a grow house-free neighbourhood. In the grittier neighbourhood wedged south of Yale Road and north of the train tracks, 19 drug houses were busted. But that number is eclipsed in well-todo Promontory Heights, which was home to 22 “noxious trades.” Sardis Pond was another hot spot, with a map showing blue dots, signifying grow houses, clustered
hilliwack residents really like being Chilliwack residents. More than four out of five adults surveyed as part of the 2009 Quality of Life Survey reported being “somewhat” or “very” satisfied with Chilliwack as a place to live. That’s an 11 per cent increase over the 2004 survey. “I bring good news,” said UFV sociology professor Katherine Watson before she presented highlights from the Chilliwack Social Research and Planning Council (CSRPC) study to city council on Monday. Watson pointed out that despite the study being done last year, during an economic recession, satisfaction with life in Chilliwack among respondents increased from 2004. The study asked questions on a broad range of topics such as home life, neighbourhoods, crime, economy, health, housing and leisure. The latter topic showed some of the most dramatic changes since the 2004 survey was done. In what was called an “overwhelmingly positive response,” 95 per cent reported that Chilliwack offers or mostly offers the recreational facilities required. In 2004, that number was just 42 per cent. Gaetz said it was clear “the community had struck the right balance” when it comes to taxpayer funding of recreational facilities. She told the Times that satisfaction with recreational facilities helps the community beyond just helping people play. “What we know about healthy communities and recreational opportunities is it cuts down in areas
See GROWING, Page 27
See SURVEY, Page 27
/TIMES
Photo illustration
surround e grow houses tim eon of n io at omontory. For t concentr ss Sardis and Pr ro While the highes ac ad re sp es.com. are also w.chilliwacktim downtown, they w w at y or st e k on th a full map, clic
BY TYLER OLSEN tolsen@chilliwacktimes.com
M
arkel Drive sits at the very top of Promontory Heights. It’s an unimposing stretch of road barely 100 metres long where nine homes, plus half a duplex, look out over the nicely-curbed road; the houses are large, mostly new, and several are undergoing renovations. New— but not flashy—vehicles rest in driveways. If you overlook a couple unruly lawns and a red City of Chilliwack notice in the window of the largest home, you would hardly suspect that in the last six years, four marijuana grow operations have been busted on this block, including two in the same house. Whether by chance or design, Ma r k e l Dr i v e h a s b e c o m e a favourite neighbourhood for marijuana growers. But it’s hardly the only stretch of road that has hosted multiple grow operations in recent years.
{ Homegrown } Next: An unused deterrent Oct. 29: Grow house owner Nov. 2: Is it getting better?
An analysis by the Chilliwack Times shows that marijuana grow houses have been set up in a diverse array of neighbourhoods both poor and rich, rural and urban. From Sunrise Drive on Chilliwack Mountain, to Sunset Drive near Prospera Centre, grow-ops have been set up on nearly every block. Indeed, it’s more likely that you have a grow-op on your block than a corner store. In 2004, city council passed a
bylaw that required buildings that housed grow-operations and other so-called “noxious trades” to pass an inspection before they could be reoccupied. Earlier this year, the Times asked for, and received, a comprehensive list of nearly every property—210 in total—that has fallen under the bylaw’s purview in the last six years. Of those properties, all but two were marijuana grow operations. The non-pot pair hosted a different sort of drug business, according to city hall. Since receiving the city hall report, police have busted at least one more grow-op. However, the RCMP does not publicize every grow-op drug bust it makes. Using Google Maps, the Times plotted each address on a map, along with a few more recent busts. (The map can be viewed at www. chilliwacktimes.com). It’s important to note that all those addresses were former homes of marijuana and other drug production. In most cases the current residents of each property did not occupy the homes at the
Plumbing Service Department WWW.OCONNORGROUP.COM 06198229
8645 Young Street, Chilliwack 604-792-5151 www.jadamandsons.com
FREE 143 PT pre-owned inspection and one year membership!
only at
604-792-2754 DL#5952
02124924
Price 60¢