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LangleyAdvance
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Friday, July 2, 2010
Your source for local sports, news, weather, and entertainment: www.langleyadvance.com
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Audited circulation: 41,100 – 28 pages
Education
Teachers question timing
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Emma Hill and her kid sister Sophie showed their patriotism during the opening day of Canada Day festivities Wednesday at McLeod Athletic Park (MAP). The country’s birthday was also celebrated Thursday as visitors enjoyed music, games, displays, and food at sites throughout Langley including MAP, Fort Langley, and Aldergrove.
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The Langley School District’s largest employee union continues to voice opposition to the top bureaucrat.
Professional songwriters believe local tune will go national after Wednesday’s debut at McLeod Athletic Park.
months ago. “She, at the time, was trying to find David Foster. We’ll, I’m not David, but we talked…” Gibson explained. The rest, he only half joked, is history – or at least history in the making. “We made magic together,” said Gibson, who has carved out an unofficial anthem niche for by Roxanne Hooper himself in the music industry. rhooper@langleyadvance.com He teamed up with Buckley – the pair co-wrote and produced Expo 86’s This Is My Home – and Move over O Canada, there might be a new after a month of brainstorming and back-andnational anthem in the offing. forth lyric swapping, came up with what both And it hails from Langley. describe as a powerful, high-quality production When the voices of two Langley singers emansong that could and likely will sweep the nation. ated from the stage at McLeod Athletic Park dur“This is looking bigger than just Langley,” ing the Canada Day celebrations on Wednesday Gibson said. “It keeps that sort of flame evening – and again three times on of the Olympic torch burning.” Thursday – the partiers in the crowd all During the 2010 Winter Games, but stopped in their tracks. Buckley remembers being pleasantly Most eyes were fixated on 11-year-old astonished by the spirit and pride that Willoughby singer Cole Armour and took over Canadians – especially here actress and singer Gemma Martini – two in the Lower Mainland. up-and-coming Langley entertainers He was involved in writing some of hand-picked to perform a new anthemthe music for the Olympic opening and like song, Keep the Pride Alive. closing ceremonies, and recounted: “It This song – performed in both English was finally okay for Canadians to be and French – was part of a pride camCole Armour nationalistic.” paign debuted Thursday by Langley’s 11-year-old Langley singer So when he and his wife, chorown Maria Martini. eographer Marlise McCormick, were The campaign – the slogan, song, approached to be part of the Keep the Pride Alive and a flash-mob dance – was inspired by the campaign, they jumped at the opportunity. euphoria everyone felt as Canadians during the “I think this song is something to be proud 2010 Olympics. of… This could be a very valuable contribution The music, along with a choreographed dance, was unveiled during the Canada Day celebrations to Canada,” Buckley said. “It’s for the whole country,” said Gibson, who in Martini’s hometown of Langley. joined Buckley in Langley for all four Canada While the unveiling was limited to Langley, Day performances. thus far, she and the music makers believe this This number transcended both artist’s hopes song has potential to go national – and quickly. and expectations. Keep the Pride Alive was written by Vancouver “We believe this thing can get national legs. composer and songwriters Bob Buckley and We’re just at the starting gate now… hopefully Brian (Hoot) Gibson, a pair who haven’t worked it will live well beyond the Langley celebration,” together for 15 years but who were anxious to Gibson said. “I’m hoping to sit back one day and come together for this production. point, and say ‘remember when it was unveiled Gibson and Martini were first introduced by in Langley, and now, it’s on the national stage’.” Langley tunesmith Howie Vickberg about three
The Langley Teachers’ Association is wondering about the timing of the Langley School Board’s announcement regarding renewal of the superintendent’s contract. The board sent out a brief statement late on Thursday, June 24, three days after the last public school trustee meeting of the school year. In it, school board chair Joan Bech expressed the board’s confidence in superintendent Cheryle Beaumont. “This announcement, coming at the end of the school year after the [final] public board meeting [of the school year], was completely unexpected,” said teachers’ union president Susan Fonseca. She said the Susan Fonseca board would have union president to give 12 months notice if it was not planning to renew, but the district could have waited until closer to when the contract expires next school year. The next school district election is November 2011. “This decision was premature, and it now commits the next board to this extended contract,” she said. The teachers’ union has been vocal in its opposition to the superintendent and critical of senior administration as the district works to deal with a $13 million combined debt and shortfall. “We were hoping for new leadership and a new vision for the district, and expecting that the board would set a higher bar in terms of accountability,” Fonseca said. The LTA noticed the district contract renewal announcement didn’t say the trustee vote was unanimous. “We also note that the contract is only for three years, and not the five years in her current contract,” the union president added.