midweek edition WEDNESDAY, OCT. 13, 2010
Vol. 101 No. 82 • Established 1908 • East
32
Sentimental favourite Wale of a team
35
Angry crowd targets head of missing women inquiry Oppal denies that he fled meeting Mike Howell Staff writer
Speakers voiced their anger last Friday at a public meeting at the Carnegie Centre.
photo Dan Toulgoet
The recently appointed head of the Missing Women Commission of Inquiry was escorted by security guards as he left a meeting at the Carnegie Centre last Friday after he was jeered by an angry crowd calling for his resignation. Wally Oppal said he wasn’t fleeing the crowd of about 100 people and left an hour into a public meeting organized by the Vancouver Police Department because he had an appointment with two aboriginal leaders regarding the inquiry. “I knew that when I came here, that we would all hear an earful,” said Oppal in the lobby of the Carnegie, where he was flanked by two security guards from
the centre. “But I wanted to hear from them and, you know, I’m a big boy. I can take the criticism. But if we’re going to make this system better, then we have to hear from everybody and I fully understand the anger that’s been expressed in that room.” The VPD billed the “town hall” meeting as an opportunity for residents to speak to Police Chief Jim Chu and senior officers about “working together to endless violence against women in the Downtown Eastside.” Oppal stood at the back of the room in a collared shirt and jeans and listened as the majority of speakers accused police of violence, bullying and intimidation and stressed the need for more aboriginal officers. See DESPITE on page 4
City urges motorists to avoid Hornby bike lane construction Separated bike lane may open before Christmas Mike Howell Staff writer
The city’s director of transportation is urging motorists to avoid Hornby Street until early November because of heavy construction underway to build a separated bike lane. Jerry Dobrovolny said motorists
should choose alternate routes because there will be delays as city crews cut up curbs, install barriers, upgrade traffic signals and pave the 12-block downtown street. “Hornby is going to be a busy, busy construction site for the next several weeks,” Dobrovolny told the Courier. “For people whose destination is not on Hornby, I’m
just imploring that people use other routes. The Granville Bridge has lots of capacity.” The city has budgeted $3.2 million to build the lane, which could be open for cyclists before Christmas. A city report to council suggested the project would take 10 weeks to complete, weather permitting. City crews began work on
the project the day after city council unanimously approved the lane, although NPA Coun. Suzanne Anton later said she would rescind her vote because of claims the work started before the vote was finalized. Anton argued the lane was a “done deal” and council’s Oct. 5 meeting was a mere formality, despite concerns raised by business
owners about losing on-street parking and potential losses in revenue from customers. Dobrovolny said crews were working in the Hornby area prior to council’s vote but the construction was related to a paving project on Davie Street that runs across Hornby. See DIRECTOR on page 4
YOUR SOURCE FOR LOCAL NEWS AND ENTERTAINMENT! WWW.VANCOURIER.COM