New court date for Morrow
The first court appearance for Shane Morrow has been delayed until Feb. 24.
At the North Vancouver Courthouse Wednesday morning, Morrow did not appear in court but his lawyer, Herb Chambers, appeared and asked for a later date. The Crown had requested more time to prepare, Chambers said.
Morrow, 40, a former karate instructor in Squamish, faces criminal charges of sexual interference of a child under 16 and sexual assault, according to the North Vancouver court registry.
A publication ban remains in effect for a third charge against Morrow.
The judge set the new date of Feb. 24 at 9:30 a.m.
MP’s office opens
Newly minted Member of Parliament Pamela Goldsmith Jones opens her constituency office in Horseshoe Bay Thursday.
The grand opening of the office at 6367 Bruce St. will be held from 4 p.m. to 6 p.m.
The West Vancouver-Sunshine Coast-Sea to Sky Country MP will be on hand for the opening and said that the location was chosen because it is central.
“Our riding is one of the largest in the country,” she said in a news release. “Horseshoe Bay is central for the greatest number of people. We hope it is well used for group meetings, and that people will feel comfortable in the private meeting space for personal matters.”
Natural gas leak
About 20 residents on Buckley Avenue were alerted to a natural gas leak over the weekend, according to FortisBC.
Two leaks occurred near a residence at 38788 Buckley Ave. at the point where the service and the main pipelines meet, according to Karen Zukas of FortisBC.
The cause is not known, she said. The crew isolated the section of the pipe, which stopped service to about 20 homes for three hours. Once the repairs were made, workers went to each home to relight natural gas appliances, Zukas said.
Zukas said as soon as residents smell the rotten egg smell of a natural gas leak, they should call FortisBC.
Willow Park upgrades
The Willow Park playground may be getting a facelift this year.
Council passed a motion at its committee of the whole Tuesday to put $40,000 for upgrades to Willow Park into the draft budget deliberations currently underway. Members of the Willow Park Neighbourhood Association recently lobbied council for an overhaul of the park.
Residents say the area has seen increased density over the years and pay significant taxes to the municipality and yet don’t have a playground large enough or sophisticated enough to serve the many children in the community.
Dispute fees double
It’s bad news for already cash-strapped Squamish renters and landlords needing to seek a resolution through BC’s Residential Tenancy Branch (RTB).
Starting this month, an application to the RTB will cost $100, up from $50, according to a news release. The cost of filing paperwork for an appeal review is up to $50 from $25.
Some applicants who have very low incomes can apply to have the fees waived, according to the RTB website.
Trailer park landlords wanting to raise fees above provincial inflation also have to pay more. Those fees have gone up to $300 plus an additional $10 for each unit, up from $200 plus $5, according to the Manufactured Home Park Tenancy Regulation.
The fees were approved by a cabinet order on Dec. 17 and came into effect Jan. 8.
Filing fees last increased in 1998.
Avalanche training
Want to learn how to be safe in case of an avalanche? BC Parks Avalanche Awareness Days will be taking place Jan. 16 and 17 at the Red Heather Shelter in Garibaldi Park. Experts will be on hand from 11 a.m. to 2 p.m. All ages are welcome, and the event is free. For info go to www.env.gov.bc.ca/bcparks/explore/parkpgs/garibaldi.
Have your say on the community plan
Outreach for the review of Squamish’s Official Community Plan (OCP) is set to begin.
The first public visioning event takes place at the West Coast Railway Roundhouse on Thursday, Jan. 28 between 6 and 9 p.m. Brief presentations will take place at 7 and 8 p.m. The idea is to have Squamish residents come and share their visions for the future of the district. There will also be a chance to win a Sea to Sky Gondola Annual Family Pass.
Municipalities typically renew their OCPs every five or 10 years. Squamish’s plan was last updated in 2010. For more information, go to squamish.ca/ocp.
