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Garibaldi at Squamish
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Navigating uncertainty — and what youth are thinking about
THURSDAY, AUGUST 27, 2020
S Q U A M I S H C H I E F. C O M
RESPONDING TO THE CALL TO DEFUND THE POLICE
K E D ’ O R ‘ I CO N ’ LOGO R P O R AT E / N O N - M A S T H E A D / S O C I A L M E D I A
RCMP and local leaders weigh-in STEVEN CHUA
steven@squamishchief.com
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R S E D + C O L O U R PA L E T T E
PHOTO BY BRIAN AIKENS
SUNNY SQUAMISH: Sunflowers, as they are commonly known (Helianthus annuus to the greenest thumbs) are in full bloom around town, like this one, which seems to be reaching for the sky — or maybe the top of the Stawamus Chief. Have a favourite flower photo to share? Email the highest resolution version to news@squamishchief.com.
ollowing the death of George Floyd at the hands of Minneapolis police in May, a reckoning over racial justice has swept the United States and spread all over the world. Squamish was not exempt from this. Here in town, hundreds gathered at O’Siyam pavilion as part of an anti-racism demonstration in June. Shortly after, before council discussed RCMP funding, residents sent letters to elected officials that urged the politicians to defund the police. Indeed, defunding the police has become a widespread mantra that is being repeated across the world and also in Squamish. What does ‘defund the police’ mean? Many of those demonstrating have advocated for taking at least some of the money allocated to police and placing it in services that would increase the welfare of the population and reduce the need for officers in the first place. For example, that money could be directed to mental health supports, thereby reducing or eliminating the need for officers to respond to mental health calls, activists say. These demonstrators also say that money directed to social services or education would increase opportunities and reduce poverty, thus reducing crime. Officers in town have not gone unaffected by the rallying cry to defund them. “I know for my police officers on the front line, it’s been deeply impacting,” said Insp. Kara Triance, the Sea to Sky’s officer-in-charge. At the time, Triance was speaking to The Chief in August as the top cop in the Sea to Sky. However, as of this fall, she will be transferring to Kelowna. RACISM: Continued on 4
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RE/MAX Sea to Sky Real Estate 38261 Cleveland Avenue Squamish, BC V8B 0A6
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