Tuesday, December 28, 2010 Maple Ridge’s young Carter helps kick off a new website offering free photography for children and families facing life-altering diagnoses.
Page A3
ary Annivers 1985-2010
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Holiday festivities
Haven spreads Christmas joy WWW.MRTIMES.COM
The 11th annual Christmas Haven brought cheer to about 300 people who would have otherwise been alone for the holidays. by Teija Beck
editorial@mrtimes.com
The weather outside on Christmas Eve may have been frightful, but the mood at Christmas Haven that night was most definitely delightful. This year, Christmas Haven – held at the Maple Ridge Baptist Church – opened its doors and its kitchens to almost 300 people. Volunteers served up a free turkey dinner, presents, entertainment, and even a visit from Santa Claus. “We got lots of positive feedback about the meal,” said Christmas Haven chair Kathy Quayle. “A lot of people told me it was excellent. Not just good, but excellent.” The dinner was catered by Cosmic Catering in Maple Ridge. Quayle said the help of 40 to 50 volunteers made the event run smoothly with “zero problems.” “The volunteers did an outstanding job,” she said. “The cleanup went very well. The whole event was a success.” A few days before Christmas
MORE PHOTOS ONLINE
Santa brought joy to kids of all ages, including young Kaylin Bell, during his visit to the 11th annual Christmas Haven in Maple Ridge on Christmas Eve. Among the festivities, the jolly old elf handed out gifts donated by the community. The evening event, held at Maple Ridge Baptist Church, attracted about 300 people. Bob Wick photo
Eve, Quayle said the event was receiving fewer donations than anticipated, but the last-minute contributions of many generous Maple Ridge and Pitt Meadows citizens helped out.
“I would say we probably just about covered out expenses,” she said. “We’ll probably still get some this week at the [Maple Ridge] Leisure Centre.”
Quayle said the event went extremely well and helped make Christmas a little brighter for many community residents. “The special part was just to see the kids enjoying them-
selves,” she said, “especially the kids you can tell don’t have much. We just spoiled them. We got some fabulous gift donations... you could tell people had put some thought into it.”
Treaty negotiations
Land claim issues leave park’s future in limbo The loss of Grant Narrows Park has sparked speculation that Katzie First Nations might become involved. by Larry Pynn
PostMedia Network Inc.
Metro Vancouver has lost control of one of the region’s smallest but most important parks – Grant Narrows, at Pitt
Lake – in a dispute with the province that is raising concerns about the vulnerability of parks to first nations land claims. Grant Narrows is only about 11 hectares, but holds strategic importance as the main boat-launching site to several recreational areas: Pitt Lake and its private cabins; the upper Pitt River, the Lower Mainland’s best wilderness fishing stream; Pinecone Burke Provincial Park and Widgeon Slough canoe area; and the
west side of Golden Ears Provincial Park. But its future is clouded after Metro Vancouver could not reach an agreement on a new Crown lease with the B.C. government due to outstanding land claims to the area by the Katzie First Nation. Metro Vancouver officially washes its hands of the Grant Narrows park as of Dec. 31, leaving the province in charge and the prospect of Katzie Frist Nations involvement in the near future.
• More online at www.mrtimes.com, click on “News”
Glenn Baglo
Grant Narrows Park reverts to provincial hands on Jan. 1.
Don’t miss information about a flash fire involving a camper van Monday on Page A5
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