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That Awkward Stage
Impressive start
Three local teens star in Awkward Stage Production’s 13 The Musical, showing at the Vancouver Fringe Festival this weekend.
Richmond Sockeyes have come storming out of the gate to open the Pacific International Junior Hockey League season with a pair of lopsided wins.
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POLICE
DEVELOPMENT
Suicide averted
Hundreds attend Onni open house ‘I knew I would lose my view. But 12 storeys in front of me?’— resident
Cyclists talk man out of jumping off bridge BY NELSON BENNETT
BY NELSON BENNETT
nbennett@richmond-news.com
A couple of Richmond cyclists are being credited for talking a man, who was about to commit suicide, off the Ironworkers Memorial Bridge last week. Frank Robson and Kevin Hull were cycling from Richmond to North Vancouver last week and were about half-way across the bridge when they saw a shoe on the sidewalk. “Frank slammed on his brakes and said, ‘Did you see that guy?’” Hull told the News. “Frank saw a guy standing outside the rail on a cable.” Robson had been training last week for the Whistler GranFondo bike race and the trip to North Vancouver Sept. 6 and back was intended as a warm-up. Hull and Robson are both airline pilots, and Robson concedes his training may have helped. Hull said Robson took charge of the situation immediately, approaching the man, whom Hull described as “an old fellow” who was very upset. “I really think my friend Frank did an amazing job,” Hull said. “He engaged the man. He asked him his name — he befriended the guy right then and there.” Robson said the man was standing on a cable and holding onto another cable with his hands. He said he was cautious in approaching the man, as he didn’t want to do anything that might prompt the man to jump. “He was standing barefoot there,” he said. “I just approached him slowly and I kind of squatted down and talked to him through the rail.” see Robson page 4
When Mary Cohene moved to Steveston a few years ago, she knew she would eventually have a new condo building built in front of hers on Bayview Street. What she never counted on was the city moving the goalposts for the developer. And now, instead of a three-storey building, she faces the prospect of a 12storey tower going up right in front of where she lives. It would be one of two residential towers that would be built if Onni can persuade the city to approve a rezoning that would see land swapped to the city in exchange for a quadrupling of its current permitted density. “I bought there knowing full well that building would go up in front of me,” said Cohene. “I knew I would lose my view. But 12 storeys in front of me? I’ll have no sun at all.” Cohene was one of several hundred residents who crowded into the gym of the Steveston Community Centre Thursday to learn details of the proposal at an open house hosted by Onni. Many signed comment sheets, which will be forwarded to city hall, as part of the rezoning application. The land in question is 3.5 acres left over from the Imperial Landing development, which was built after Onni bought the land, rezoned, from BC Packers. The 3.5-acre strip along the water can be developed, as Onni already has a development permit to build up to six buildings, capped at three storeys, with up to 52 residential units. There is also a maritime commercial designation — something of an anachronism now, thanks to the decline of the commercial fishing sector over the last decades. see Buy it page 4
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Firefighter ... Richard Kam, above, explains what it’s like to be a firefighter at a job fair held at Brighouse Library last week where an estimated 1,000 job seekers came looking to be recruited by exhibitors such as the city and retail and service agencies. Many filled out applications and attached resumes.
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Beer, Wine, Pop, Juice, Water
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8171 Westminster Hwy. (at Buswell, one block east of No. 3 Rd.) Walkway access also from Save-On Foods parking lot
Mon-Sat 8:45-6:30 Sun 10-5 (604) 780-4959
07283111
nbennett@richmond-news.com