Create Your Own Adventure and Run with Ray Zahab

Strap on your running shoes and join Canada's ultra - marathoner and adventure athlete, Ray Zahab, for the 'Jog for the Bog' on September 26th 2010 and Gala dinner on September 24th 2010.

Mr. Zahab has competed in adventure racing challenges all over the world including the grueling 250km Gobi March and Libyan Challenge as well as expeditions to Baffin Island, Tunisia and the South Pole. In 2007, Zahab's love of running brought him to the Sahara Desert. After witnessing and experiencing the water crisis and malaria epidemic in Africa, he decided to dedicate his future to raising awareness and funding for causes that he supports and believes in. Zahab is a member of the board of Directors of the Ryan's Well Foundation He is the official Athletic Ambassador to the ONExONE organization and a representative of SpreadTheNet. In 2008, Ray founded impossible2Possible (i2P), an organization that aims to inspire and educate youth through adventure learning, and inclusion and participation in expeditions. Zahab will be participating in this year's Jog for the Bog, showing his support to conserve and protect Burns Bog, by running the 40km bog race route. All race participants will be able to run with Zahab for the last 10km of the race and a few lucky runners who are able to raise $2,000 in pledges will get the opportunity to run with Zahab for the entire race.

Zahab will also be sharing his inspirational stories and experiences at the Burns Bog Gala, taking place on September 24th 2010 at 7778-152 St. Surrey. Tickets are $75 and include a dinner based on the 100 mile diet, a silent auction and entertainment. All proceeds will go to educational programming at the Society.

For more information on the Jog for the Bog race and Gala dinner visit: www.jogforthebog.org

Contact: Katie Bianchin
(604) 572-0373 Phone

Email: info@burnsbog.org

Tsawwassen Area Plan Survey Shouldn't Mention Southlands

Editor:

Every Tsawwassen resident received a survey in the mail last week and people are now trying to figure out what it all means. As some of you know, I am active in the community and cherish what we have here. Here is my two cents worth:

Despite Councilor Bruce McDonald publicly assuring everyone that there would be no survey - as there is no development proposal, despite not being able to mention the Southlands (development) elephant in the room for much of the TAP committee meetings and despite not having a good structured debate on the development, this week we all received a survey to ask our opinion of the development proposal that does not actually exist. What a joke!

Personally, I do not call 'limited development' developing 50% of the land. This is yet another example of trying to skew a survey by the usual pro-development suspects (literally). What happened to asking us if 10% is OK? The question this survey is really asking is:

"Do you want the Century Group to pave the Southlands and build 1,900 homes on the land?"

Our council should not even be asking us this question without a concrete development proposal that has been properly discussed. This survey, if returned in the affirmative could be used as justification to change the OCP, and in subsequent submissions to Metro Vancouver to re-designate the land from 'Green Zone'. Be very careful what power you entrust with this group of councilors.

Why the rush? It is my opinion that they are trying to 'Beat the Buzzer' and get a change to the Official Community Plan prior to adoption of the Metro Vision 2040 plan. For those of you unaware, once Metro adopts its’ new policies the land will be very difficult to re-zone. Interestingly, despite certain public protest otherwise, Council and the planning department were briefed by Metro on their plans - prior to the start of the TAP process.

This travesty has cost Delta enough; it is time for the small town Councilors McDonald and King to put their pet project aside. Please vote for NO DEVELOPMENT.



Bruce Velestuk,
Tsawwassen resident

NOT a contributor to any municipal election campaign.
NOT a usual suspect.
PRO - planned growth and densification
PRO - maintaining a livable community
PRO - not messing up the best community in the Lower Mainland.

What are the real reasons behind the hold by Metro Vancouver for Ramsar status?

Editor:

This week Sandor Gyarmati wrote an article in the Delta Optimist. The headline read "Burns Bog proposal put on hold by Metro board".
Burns Bog proposal put on hold by Metro board

As I am getting to know more about the history of Burns Bog, and have been an attendee to some events and dialogue with the Corporation of Delta and Metro Vancouver, I would like to know the real reasons behind Mayor Jackson’s decision regarding Ramsar Wetland of International Significance status.

Could it be that she does not want international attention brought to her regarding the poor management by both Corporation of Delta and Metro Vancouver of Burns Bog (or all four levels of government for that matter)? Why has the conservation covenant not been used to stop the South Fraser Perimeter Road from winding its way along the lagg of the bog?

Mayor Lois Jackson, who chairs the board, says that Metro Vancouver's park people are not following the conservation covenant and seems to do what they want without concurring with all parties. Is she not talking about herself? I have a hard time not assuming that if she sits on Metro Vancouver's board as chair and is mayor of Delta, would she not be concurring?

I guess I just have to sit back over a glass of Arrogant Frog wine, help fund Burns Bog Conservation Society as I sip (proceeds of Arrogant Frog sales in June go to the society's education programs) and contemplate what Mayor Jackson wants. If it is a legacy Mayor Jackson would like to leave, she is not going to accomplish it this way.

Sonia Nazar
Administrative Coordinator
Burns Bog Conservation Society

Wizard of Oz Dance Revue at Genesis Theatre in Ladner

The Deas Island Dance Studio annual revue begins tonight at the Genesis Theatre in Ladner. This year's show is a rendition of the Wizard of Oz. The youth dance troupe features the full gambit of dance styles ranging from classical ballet to popular Hip-Hop choreographs.

In early May, this popular event had parents lined up around the dance studio for their chance to purchase tickets to watch their young stars perform. There are a limited amount of tickets still available for purchase at the door but the two most popular showings, the Friday evening and Sunday Matinee, sold out quickly.

Admission at the door is $16 and the show runs from June 3rd to the 6th.

Thursday, June 3 at 6:30pm
Friday, June 4 at 6:30pm
Saturday, June 5 at 1:00pm and 6:30pm
Sunday, June 6 at 1:00pm

For more information call (604) 946-5867 or email deasislanddance@telus.net

Tsawwassen Area Plan Survey Arrives in Mailbox

Surveys about the Tsawwassen Area Plan began showing up in mailboxes yesterday. The survey was contracted by the City of Delta to the Ipsos Reid company to ask residents a few questions regarding the make up of the town center and to gauge sentiment on development of the agricultural land known as the 'Southlands'. The survey comes on the heals of a recent controversy surrounding an online survey that had people up in arms about a technical glitch that was changing answers regarding uses for the Southlands. Participants found that when they answered in favour of conserving the property their answers were altered to be in favour of allowing development of the land. It would seem the city's decision to hire an independent firm is to dispel a growing sentiment that the process is tainted by local politics.

The survey consisted of many questions but the one that has polarized town residents the most is the two part question regarding the fate of the Southlands:

1. Southlands The Southlands comprise 217 hectares (535 acres) of privately-owned lands, located between 56th Street and the Boundary Bay neighbourhood. These lands are designated as 'agricultural' in the Tsawwassen Are Plan and any land use change would require the approval of Metro Vancouver. Existing policies and regulations state that the land can only be used for agricultural.

Option A: No change - keep agricultural as the only permitted use of the Southlands. Proceed to question 2.

Option B: Some change - allow a limited amount of residential and commercial development on the Southlands (to be determined through a public hearing process), in exchange for transfer of a percentage of the lands to the Corporation of Delta, to be protected for agricultural and conservation purposes.

If you selected Option B (allowing a limited amount of residential and commercial development), what minimum percentage of the Southlands should be transferred to the Corporation of Delta ownership to be protected for agricultural and conservation purposes?

◘	◘	◘	◘	◘
Less than 50% |	50% to 60% |	61% to 70% |	71% to 80% |	No Opinion

The choice for preserving the Southlands intact is very black and white. You want the entire property to remain zoned agricultural. The choice for development requires quite a bit more thought with the five options to choose from. The following chart calculates the breakdown of how much land could be developed as residential or commercial and what would be transferred to the city:

Option	Max.Dev. (in Acres)	Min.Dev. (in Acres)	Max.City (in Acres)	Min.City (in Acres)
Less than 50%	535	238	238	0
50% to 60%	237.5	214	321	238
61% to 70%	209	161	375	326
71% to 80%	155	107	428	380

With all the choices for the pro-development side it would seem the easiest choice would be to leave it 'as is'. But this is Tsawwassen and nothing ever comes that easy.

Citizen Group Prepares Tsawwassen for Southlands Survey

Photograph by : Les Bazso, PNG

Delta City Council has decided to contract Ipsos-Reid to conduct a mail survey of Tsawwassen residents and businesses on the Tsawwassen Area Plan and the future of the Southlands. The survey will contain five questions in total but the first question, dealing with development of the Spetifore farmland, will be a two part question. The first question asks whether residents (and business owners) support the existing agricultural designation. The second, to ask if they support some kind of change in exchange for land being handed over to Delta and if so what percentage should be developed and what should be given to the city.

This poll is the result of a recent botched attempt to poll the citizens of Tsawwassen electronically. After posting the answers to an online survey people noticed that when they answered in favour of keeping the land zoned agricultural that their answers were altered to say the opposite. Citizens complained to the city and a complaint was filed with the Delta Police Department. By commissioning this poll to Ipsos-Reid the staff and council of the City of Delta hope to cleanse themselves of the controversy surrounded this contentious property. The survey will cost the city $15,000 to undertake and the deadline for returning the survey is June 18.

Not everybody is happy with the latest poll. Southlands the Facts, a citizen's group dedicated to preserving the farmland in question, announced the launch of their new website www.southlandsthefacts.ca to provide information regarding Delta’s latest attempt to gauge public opinion, with another survey on the Southlands. "We’re still puzzled why it’s necessary. Staff and Council have ignored the will of the majority who voted against Southlands development on October 24th, 2009. It seems they will keep wasting taxpayers’ time and money until they get the answer they want. We can only hope this survey will be the last regarding Southlands and that it will not suffer from the same inaccuracies as previous attempts did, when managed by Delta Staff and Council”, said Dana Maslovat, one of the organizers of Southlands the Facts, commenting on the recent survey. “All too often Delta staff have avoided the tough questions regarding the impact of such a massive development in our community. We hope our new website will provide residents of South Delta with all the facts surrounding the Southlands, so they can make an informed decision.”

"Central to the survey is a question asking whether residents would support limited development in exchange for transfer of lands to the Corporation of Delta. This question has been previously asked in many forms and each time the overwhelming majority of citizens responded by not supporting development in any form and the preservation of this 535 acre farmland." The new website includes a link to a flyer with information about Southlands and how to respond to the survey.

The potential re-designation of the Southlands agricultural land to accommodate a housing development is by far the most contentious component of the process undertaken to revise the existing Tsawwassen Area Plan. Any redesignation will change the Official Community Plan and open up the Southlands for a 1900 unit housing development by Century Holdings.

This piece of farmland was the cause of the longest public hearing in Commonwealth history and a resident run plebiscite in 1989, which prevented a 2000 unit development that was proposed for the same property.

Teenage Girl Assaulted in Annieville - Delta Police Issue Warning

News Desk - The Delta Police Department has issued a public safety warning today after teenage girl assaulted in Annieville.

Delta Police responded to the report of an attack that took place on May 24, 2010 at 10:45PM where they learned that an 18 year girl was walking on the pathway that connects 11200 blk of 92A Avenue to Kendale Way when was struck from behind on the head by an unknown attacker with a blunt instrument. After the initial blow, a struggle ensued and the girl was able to escape the assailant suffering only minor physical injury. She fled home where she later called police.

Because the attacker approached the victim from behind and no words were exchanged there is very little information although it is believed the suspect had a knife as well as a blunt weapon. "Although there have not been similar incidents in the recent past or subsequently however, the Delta Police are reminding the general public to walk in well lit areas, walk in small groups and if approached yell or scream to draw attention to yourself and report incident to police as soon as possible.", said Sergeant Sharlene Brooks of the Delta Police.

Delta Police encourage the general public to report anyone who appears suspicious or is acting in a suspicious manner. If anyone heard anything or saw anyone suspicious in the area prior to or shortly after the
time of this incident (May 24, 2010 11:45 p.m), please call the Delta Police at 604 946 4411 or Crime Stoppers 1800-222 8477.