Here are just some of the news stories that the Optimist covered in 2023:
January
*A youth from Surrey was arrested in connection to an overnight shooting in South Delta.
Delta Police said in news release that officers responded to reports of shots fired in the 5300 block of 4A Avenue in Tsawwassen. Upon arrival, officers confirmed that shots had been fired into a residence. While the home was occupied, the residents were not harmed.
*City of Delta crews were busy filling in potholes left behind due to the recent icy roads and colder temperatures. Caused by freezing and thawing, potholes of all sizes, including larger ones, greeted drivers throughout Ladner, Tsawwassen and North Delta. Residents posted on social media warnings about nasty-looking potholes.
*A bomb hoax forced evacuation of the GCT Deltaport container terminal.
Marko Dekovic, the vice-president of public affairs for GCT Global Container Terminals, said the security incident required evacuation and notification of authorities, including the Delta Police Department. Transport Canada said that it closely monitored the situation for the duration of the event.
*People were confused and understandably upset about having to pay a fee for fast food paper bags, Delta council agreed during its discussion on the city’s plastic bags and single-use items bylaw. Council voted in favour of a staff recommendation to begin enforcement of the bylaw with education continuing to be the primary approach when it comes to gaining business compliance. Polystyrene for prepared food, such as foam plates, clamshell containers, bowls and cups, are also banned. The bylaw also mandated a minimum .25 cent charge for paper shopping bags and $2 fee for reusable bags.
*It’s all about possibilities, building a bridge between the traditional aviation industry and a future with exciting innovation and sustainable, cleaner technology.
That’s how Teara Fraser described her newest venture she founded, elibird aero, at a celebration launch at the company’s new facility at Boundary Bay Airport
*Delta Police issued a public information warning about the high number of recent catalytic converter thefts. DPD said since Jan. 1, the department had received 33 reports of catalytic converter thefts. Most of these thefts have occurred overnight and are spread throughout South and North Delta. Police said catalytic converters are stolen because they contain several precious metals more valuable than gold.
*Former Tsawwassen First Nation Chief and current Kwantlen Polytechnic University (KPU) chancellor Kim Baird was among the 2022 recipients of the B.C. Reconciliation Award.
Baird and other winners were honoured during a ceremony at Government House. Baird was recognized for being an accomplished leader, a respected advocate for Indigenous people, and for her work in Reconciliation.
*It was aimed at alleviating illegal parking and traffic problems on a narrow rural road, but not everyone was happy about the City of Delta’s solution. The city received complaints from those wanting to access the Brunswick Point trail at the end of River Road. Some were not pleased about no parking signage on the road, having to now walk to the trail from a new parking lot built further away. The Optimist also received several letters in opposition by those saying they are being punished by the change.
*A NAV CANADA information session was held at Delta Secondary for residents to learn about proposed new flight path and approach procedures for aircraft arriving at Vancouver International Airport (YVR). In collaboration with the Vancouver Airport Authority, NAV CANADA’s airspace modernization review was focused on mitigating aircraft noise impacts over Delta by shifting aircraft approaches away from more populated areas.
February
*A second man was charged in the homicide of a Coquitlam senior. The Integrated Homicide Investigation Team (IHIT) announced the arrest and charge of a Delta man in relation to a fatal stabbing that occurred Feb. 10, 2022. Chalice Slavik of Delta, 24, was arrested Jan. 27 and charged with manslaughter. The recent charge followed the arrest of 21-year-old Jeffrey Stevens of Surrey, who was charged with second degree murder.
*Someone was going out of their way to cause late night destruction of a soccer field in Tsawwassen. City parks and rec maintenance crews were at Brandrith assessing the latest act of vandalism on the micro (junior) size pitch that is located just north of the main ball diamond. It appeared that it was a large pick-up truck that left deep tire tracks all over the field and even behind the soccer goals. It was estimated the repair work would cost in the thousands of dollars.
*It was a light dusting of snow, but it created several traffic headaches for drivers and first responders. Residents woke up to snow throughout Delta and the Lower Mainland. Road conditions were tough to navigate in many areas. One of the hardest hit was Ladner Trunk Road, which was closed to traffic in both directions for several hours.
*The preliminary design phase was completed for a new track at Delta Secondary School.
That was the latest update from city staff to the Delta council/Delta Board of Education Liaison Committee on plans to build a new track at the Ladner high school.
*An off-duty paramedic helped a family escape a house fire in Ladner. Delta firefighters were praising the quick action of Jen Hastie who noticed smoke or fog blowing across the road near 55B Street in Ladner. She rolled down her car window and recognized the distinctive smell of a house fire. She slowed down to investigate and drove another block, then turned around to see flames coming from the back side of a house, from the back porch or patio. A nearby bush was ablaze too.
*It didn’t come as any surprise that Mayor George Harvie and the Achieving for Delta slate for city council and school board had the most in campaign contributions and was the biggest spenders in the 2021 municipal election.
Disclosure statements for the 2022 General Local Elections were released showing how much each of the candidates or electoral organizations received and spent.
The statements include information on all contributions, election expenses, transfers and other transactions related to the campaign. In total, Achieving received $347,876 in contributions and spent $327,926.
*Council endorsed a final draft of a new Cycling Master Plan for the city. In the works for a couple of years, the plan intends to provide a course of action that reflects the community's priorities related to cycling. The plan outlines strategies, recommends infrastructure, policies, and education to help enable and encourage cycling as a practical and convenient form of transportation.
*Without more serious criminal charges, some companies will continue putting their employees lives needlessly at risk, or death, as nothing more than a cost of doing business.
That’s what Tsawwassen resident Genevieve Cragg told the Optimist after charges were laid against a tug and barge company and one of its officials following a tugboat accident two years ago, which claimed the life of her 25-year-old son Charley and its captain 58-year-old Troy Pearson. Charley died on his first day on the job.
*It was great news for voters in the federal electoral riding of Delta. The Federal Electoral Boundaries Commission for British Columbia released a report with updated recommendations on proposed boundary changes, reversing an earlier recommendation to carve up the Delta riding.
March
*The Delta Hospital and Community Health Foundation was honoured to receive a transformative donation of $1,000,000 from former Delta resident, David Harris. The donation was in honour of his late mother Pauline Harris.
*A B.C. woman filed a lawsuit against a former Delta Police inspector as well as the city and police department alleging damages arising from a sexual assault. In a notice of civil claim filed in B.C. Supreme Court, the woman — known only as A.B. — alleges Varun Naidu contacted her via LinkedIn after she expressed an interest in a policing career. A.B. alleges Naidu probed her Sikh upbringing and her sexual orientation.
*Students at South Delta Secondary demonstrated their support for Ukraine by marking the somber one-year anniversary of the Russian invasion. Students, with support from the school’s Interact Club, organized a campaign to mark the one-year anniversary of the ongoing invasion to help raise awareness in the school and wider local community.
*A large contingent from the Delta Fire Department and beyond paid their respects to Thomas Haydon in Victoria as part of the Sixth Biennial B.C. Fallen Firefighters’ Memorial service. In October 2018 Haydon lost his battle with pancreatic cancer at the age of 36.
*A new independent Indigenous-led organization was focused on cumulative effects data gathering and advocating for monitoring of the health of the Salish Sea, particularly with the Port of Vancouver’s proposed Roberts Bank Terminal 2 (RBT2) project looming large over their communities. Saying they are seeking meaningful participation when it comes to public policy, development, and sustainable land-use planning, as well as informed decision-making on impacts to traditional lands and waters, the Salish Sea Indigenous Guardians Association (SSIGA) recently requested an Indigenous-led multi-phased regional assessment of the Salish Sea.
*The City of Delta is open for business. That was the message made abundantly clear from Mayor George Harvie during his Mayor’s Economic Business Breakfast, held at the Cascades Casino Delta an event with many business leaders from Delta and throughout the region in attendance.
*His years of dedicated political and community service has once again recognized by the City of Delta with their highest honour. Former Delta Coun. Bruce McDonald was presented with the Freedom of the City Award, one of several awards presented to outstanding Deltans at the inaugural Mayor’s Achievement Awards at Tsawwassen Springs. McDonald was only the fourth recipient to receive this award in the history of Delta.
*The Tsawwassen Legion was scrambling for its existence as it must find a new home.
Branch 289 of the Royal Canadian Legion, which acknowledges the rent break it has been getting from Century Group, faced its biggest challenge as the property management company for the owner notified them when the lease was renewed last summer that it would be the last. That left the Legion looking for another hopefully affordable location as the clock ticks on the current lease, which expires Aug. 31.
* The long arm of the law extended from Delta to Prince George. That led to the arrest of a youth suspect after police surrounded a vehicle in a fast-food restaurant parking lot in the 1000 block of Central Street West. Delta Police took the youth into custody after making the trip to Prince George to apprehend the suspect, believed to be connected to a shooting Dec. 29 in South Delta.
