Metro Halifax - January 29, 2013

3.6 MB·English

by  Metro International

DEBT WORRIES? BURIED ALIVE
We’ll help you find the right solution to
alleviate financial stress.
902 425 3100
IN PART 2 OF 5, METRO TAKES A LOOK AT
BDO Canada Limited 2DAY
Trustee in Bankruptcy | Credit Counsellors | Proposal Administrators
www.bdodebthelp.ca ONE MAN’S NEAR-DEATH EXPERIENCE IN THE B.C.
BClBlimtMniihmmDDateeeenOOiimm ttBraeen dDbbCIddanaeeOa ttlb rriLnie oa yFfiLnrabn inPrgedriam.amult ailBwtt a sBLisDyor.o.i D amBnOprnOkDaai t tClrae O etnLanendie n,mdie stiaa sr wfitnds otahhoedarne di r epfL ka,boaL , a forrciPfis amfh,U lnaai isnKoad m Cdt fp cn eateaeo ahnpormmmteaef obdnBpBefeidaD Da ftrneonO Ohonyr e f t AVALANCHE WEEK BACKCOUNTRY THAT CONTINUES TO LURE MANY PAGES 8 & 9
HALIFAX Tuesday, January 29, 2013
News
worth
sharing.
metronews.ca | twitter.com/metrohalifax | facebook.com/metrohalifax
Victim robbed
of ‘right to be
a little girl’
Stanley Robert Lowther. the proceedings.
Quote
Former soccer coach When Lowther stood to
“This is one of the more speak, he asked to face the
sentenced to six and a
victim, but Crown attorney
serious sexual assault-
half years for ‘extreme’ Rick Woodburn stopped him,
cases that I’ve dealt with.” saying she did not want to see
sexual abuse that went
Lowther face-to-face.
on from 2005 to 2011 Crown attorney Rick Woodburn “There’s nothing I can do
to take it back,” Lowther said
“She will never have an- as he stared at the floor, hands
other chance for a first kiss,” clasped. “The shame, the guilt
HALEY said Justice Arthur LeBlanc, — it’s all on me. It’s not yours
RYAN who said he considered the to carry,” he said. “Sorry’s not
[email protected] acts to be of “extreme vio- enough.”
lence.” Woodburn said Lowther’s
A former Halifax soccer coach LeBlanc noted the abuse remorse was “hollow” in the
has received a lengthy sen- began with sexual touching face of his predatory nature
tence for sexual abuse span- and escalated to oral, vaginal and manipulation.
ning several years that a judge and anal sex a few times a “Mr. Lowther was very late
said robbed the victim of her week. in the day taking responsibil-
“right to be a little girl.” The judge also condemned ity for his actions, blaming the
Stanley Robert Lowther, 39, Lowther’s use of God and the victim (instead),” Woodburn
was sentenced Monday to six Bible to convince the victim said outside court. “The victim
GLOBAL PROTEST and a half years in a federal that his behaviour was accept- ... is a strong, brave woman
penitentiary. able. who has fought her way out of
The hearing in Nova Sco- “You knew what you were a horrible, horrible time in her
tia Supreme Court revealed doing. It was wrong,” said Le- life and hopefully now she’ll
graphic details about the Blanc. be able to move on.”
abuse, which began in 2005 The victim, whose identity Lowther must submit a
PAGE 4 when the victim was 12. It end- is protected by a publication DNA sample and will be added
Aboriginal activists and supporters wave flags as they cross the MacDonald Bridge in Halifax on Monday as part of the Idle No ed in December 2011 when ban, was visibly upset and left to the national sex-offender
More global day of action. JEFF HARPER/METRO she told a family member. the courtroom once during registry.
TELUS 4G LTE
mobile service
.
It’s here It’s fast
. .
Halifax, connect with blazing speed on
4G LTE, our fastest mobile service yet.
Join our 4GLTE service
telusmobility.com
at
For more details on TELUS 4G LTE mobile service, visit your TELUS store, authorized dealer or retailer, or call 1-866-264-2966.
TELUS STORES & AUTHORIZED DEALERS
Bedford Halifax Lower Sackville
Bedford Place Mall Bayers Lake Power Centre Downsview Plaza
936 Bedford Hwy Unit 111 Halifax Shopping Centre Sydney
Dartmouth Parklane Mall Mayflower Mall
Dartmouth Crossing Scotia Square Mall
Mic Mac Mall 6100 Young St
202 Brownlow Ave
metronews.ca NEWS 03
Tuesday, January 29, 2013
Crime Stoppers
Police appeal for
tips in 25-year-
old murder case
Twenty-five years after the
shooting death of a Dart-
mouth man, major-crime
investigators are asking
that anyone with informa-
tion — no matter how N
trivial — come forward.
“Someone somewhere
knows what happened
there,” said Halifax
Regional Police Const.
Pierre Bourdages. “So E
we’re looking for any
kind of
informa-
tion, as
small and W
minute as
it could be.
Sometimes
the small-
est infor-
mation Derek Alan Lowe
can help CONTRIBUTED Ground search-and-rescue volunteers pack up and prepare to leave on Monday after several hours of searching the woods in Beaver Bank for a man reported
in these missing. The reports turned out to be a hoax. JEFF HARPER/METRO S
cases.”
Case of missing
Derek Alan Lowe, 23,
was found shot to death
around 7:30 a.m. Jan. 28,
1988.
The body was discov-
ered in the Maybank ball
field just off MicMac Drive man a hoax: Police
in Dartmouth.
Bourdages said inves-
tigators have established
Lowe was at a bar in
north-end Dartmouth ear-
lier in the night, but need
help to fill in the timeline Beaver Bank. Search- where he eventually confessed
after that. Quoted to the hoax around 2:30 p.m.
“We spoke to people and-rescue eff ort He’s now facing a charge of
“Information came forth that there was potentially
that saw him at the bar, involved more than public mischief.
who were interviewed, an injured man in the woods in the wintertime, in MacRae said late Monday
100 people; man faces
but we still don’t have cold temperatures, and we have to err on the side afternoon that police had yet to
any information as to public-mischief charges find a motive.
of caution.”
where he was between RCMP spokesman Cpl. Scott MacRae “We realize that sometimes
the bar and the time he people don’t tell the truth,” said
was located at the sports ANDREW than 100 volunteer search-and- that he had been involved in a MacRae. “It will be a question
field,” said Bourdages. RANKIN rescue officials, with the aid of snowmobile accident that left a that he’ll have to answer to the
Bourdages said Lowe [email protected] a Department of Natural Re- friend injured in the woods. courts.”
wasn’t in any disputes sources helicopter and Halifax The man was transported Investigators are looking
with friends, relatives or The case of the missing man Regional Fire services, painstak- to hospital by ambulance with into whether alcohol was a fac-
anyone else, as far as in- in Beaver Bank that ultimately ingly combed a forested area in non-life-threatening injuries tor. MacRae said it was unfortu-
vestigators can ascertain. proved to be a hoax was actual- frigid temperatures for hours in while police organized a search nate that the search included
Anyone with informa- ly a good-news-bad-news story, an ultimately futile search. of the nearby woods. so many resources, but he said
tion about Lowe’s murder said RCMP spokesman Cpl. “The search for Mr. Gregory In the meantime, a relative police had to let due diligence
is asked to contact the Scott MacRae. Yhard was based on a lie,” said of Yhard informed the police take its course.
Integrated Major Crime The good news is that Greg- MacRae. that he was safe and living out- “We have to go through a
Unit at 490-5333, or Crime ory Francis Yhard, 36, is safe MacRae said a 38-year-old side the province. process of verifying or disprov-
Stoppers at 1-800-222- and sound at home. Beaver Bank man called police After being discharged from ing and unfortunately that
TIPS. RUTH DAVENPORT/METRO The bad news is that he at 7:45 a.m. Monday morning hospital, the man was brought sometimes takes time,” said
was never lost — and more from his own home to report back to the scene by police MacRae.
Financing
RCMP. Mother charged in Stolen jewelry. Woman
Correction:
nine-year-old girl’s death accosted and robbed
‘Let the games
begin, Halifax’ outside Dartmouth bar
RCMP have charged a 30-year- porting about the relationship
old woman with impaired driv- of the lady charged,” he said. Incorrect information
ing causing the death of her Candice Moore is also facing appeared in a Metro Halifax Regional Police are him back and was punched
nine-year-old daughter in an a charge of failing to submit to story published Jan. 25, looking for a man who ac- in the face in the process.
incident earlier this month. a breathalyzer. 2013. costed a woman outside a The man took her jewel-
Police initially declined to Olive was dropped off at a The story “Let the Dartmouth bar and stole ry and took off on foot.
confirm if Candice Roxanne home on Corkum Road on Jan. games begin, Halifax” some of her jewelry. The victim wasn’t ser-
Moore of Pleasantville is the 19, and she was allegedly hit as identified Hal-Con as a The 34-year-old victim iously hurt and reported
mother of the dead girl, Olive a van left the driveway. funding partner of the left Celtic Corner on Alder- the incident to police the
Moore. Candice Moore is scheduled Games People Play store. ney Drive around midnight next day.
However, late on Monday, to appear in Bridgewater prov- Financing was in fact Saturday to have a cigarette. Only a limited descrip-
Cpl. Scott MacRae said the incial court on March 27. provided by the Centre She was approached in a tion of the suspect is avail-
media reports stating that Can- An obituary for Olive says for Entrepreneurship nearby alley by a man who able.
dice Moore is the girl’s mother she was a poet who wanted Education and Develop- was also smoking. Anyone with informa-
are accurate. to be a rock star. It says Olive ment. Police say the man tried tion is asked to contact po-
“RCMP in Nova Scotia are is survived by her parents and METRO to pin her against the wall lice or Crime Stoppers.
confirming what media is re- five brothers. METRO to rob her, but she fought METRO
04 NEWS metronews.ca
Tuesday, January 29, 2013
Spirit of solidarity pushes
Halifax to be Idle No More
Big picture. Protesters federal legislation, such as
Bill C45, that they argue ser-
say movement is about iously threatens the environ-
more than aboriginal ment, their treaty rights and
their territory.
rights — it’s about
But for Young the protest
many different values had a deeper significance:
She harbours a deep distrust
Canadians hold dear
of the federal government
and feels it is increasingly en-
croaching on aboriginal land
ANDREW and values.
RANKIN She said she supported
[email protected] Attawapiskat Chief Ther-
esa Spence’s 44-day hunger
Growing up in Eskasoni, Mar- strike, which was aimed at
ina Young never experienced convincing the country’s top
the horrors that some of her leaders to take First Nations
aboriginal Canadian counter- concerns seriously.
parts currently endure in “For me, Chief Spence
communities across the coun- helped us recognize that you
try. have to take drastic measures
The co-organizer of Mon- to get the attention of the
day’s Idle No More demon- government, because noth-
stration, which included ing has changed,” she said.
nearly 500 participants Seeing such divers-
marching from Dartmouth ity at Monday’s event only
to Citadel Hill, said she has strengthened her resolve.
her Mi’kmaq elders to thank “They’re showing us that
for fighting for the rights her there is a problem,” said
community deserved. Young. “The federal govern-
“We had scholars and law- ment has been showing its
yers who fought for us,” said arrogance and its unilateral
Young, 33. approach to environmental
For Young, Monday’s regulations for a long time.
event, which brought ab- This is a revolution. So many
originals from across the have decided that we need to
province together with non- fix this problem.
aboriginals, was born out of “Our ancestors would be Aboriginal groups and supporters walk up North Street after crossing the MacDonald Bridge as part of Idle No More protests on Monday. JEFF HARPER/METRO
that same spirit. proud that we have so many
All ages braved the bitter allies. People are standing “I really think it’s import- ing for his people and for pos-
cold, armed with traditional with us. It’s not a sprint; it’s a ant to band together and terity.
drums and signs of protest marathon. It’s important that fight against the oppressive “You look at what Chief
and unity, marching in tan- we act and react.” practices that are happening Spence did,” said the 29-year-
dem with demonstrators in Halifax resident Georgia in this country at an alarming old Mi’kmaq. “She did that be-
cities across Canada. Schurman participated in rate,” she said. cause she believe that there is
Many in Halifax, including Monday’s protest to demon- Michael Stephens of Mill- a real risk to our people and
a number of elders, spoke of strate her solidarity with the brook First Nation spoke at future generations. I believe
the danger posed by proposed cause. the event and said he’s fight- that too.”
Priorities Can’t stand still
“That’s the fundamental truth: We need clean “We have responsibilities to fight and to stand
water and clean air. With our current government, together for the long-term health of this country.”
those rights are at risk.” Halifax resident Georgia Schurman After the march, aboriginal groups and their supporters formed a friendship
Eskasoni resident Marina Young circle on the Halifax Common. JEFF HARPER/METRO
$1.52-billion application filed for Teachers’ union hopes conciliator
undersea cables to Muskrat Falls can speed up contract negotiations
A subsidiary of Emera Inc. is the lowest-cost option for the would be responsible for the The union representing teach- met for nine bargaining ses-
has applied to the Utility and long term. remaining 80 per cent. ers in Nova Scotia has asked sions since then.
Review Board for approval of The application also said the Emera will get 20 per cent of the minister of labour and ad- “While we have made
the subsea cable portion of project would provide renew- the project’s energy. vanced education to appoint a progress throughout the bar-
the $7.7-billion Muskrat Falls able power for at least 50 years Last week, Premier Darrell conciliator to help with nego- gaining process, our negotiat-
hydroelectric project. and supports the development Dexter said the cost of the sub- tiations that have been under- ing committee believes the
NSP Maritime Link Inc., an of other renewable resources. sea cable will raise power rates way since June. services of a conciliation of-
affiliate of Nova Scotia Power, Under the deal, Emera for people in the province by The Nova Scotia Teachers ficer will help us reach a col-
has asked the provincial regu- would build a 180-kilometre less than one per cent. Union opened negotiations lective agreement,” said union
lator to approve $1.52 billion subsea cable to convey power Progressive Conservative on a new contract for public- president Shelly Morse in a
in capital spending with a vari- from Cape Ray in Newfound- Leader Jamie Baillie said Dexter school teachers on March 1, statement.
ance of up to $60 million for land to Lingan, N.S. has endorsed the project with- and the “exchange of pack- The public teachers’ last
the entire project. Emera would be responsible out knowing the final bill, and ages” took place on June 12. agreement expired on July 31.
The company says the pro- for 20 per cent of the cost of said his caucus will intervene at According to a statement The conciliator has 14 days
ject to bring hydroelectricity the overall project while New- UARB hearings. from the NSTU, the union and to meet with the two sides after Nova Scotia Teachers Union
from Labrador to Nova Scotia foundland Crown utility Nalcor THE CANADIAN PRESS Department of Education have being appointed. METRO president Shelley Morse METRO FILE
metronews.ca NEWS 05
Tuesday, January 29, 2013
Faculty and support staff on
strike at St. Francis Xavier
Talks break down. The would in fact undertake
strike action this morning
strike was a last resort we also included an invi-
after eight months of tation (to resume negotia-
tions), but they didn’t take
contract negotiations, us up on it.”
according to an official The faculty association
has been without a contract
since June. McInnis said it
can’t accept the university’s
Classes for about 4,800 stu- latest offer because salary
dents at St. Francis Xavier increases are well below the
University were called off cost of living.
Monday after about 400 fac- School spokeswoman
ulty and support staff at the Cindy MacKenzie said the
school in Antigonish went on contract offer includes a
strike. minimum salary increase of
Peter McInnis, president nearly seven per cent with
of the school’s association an average increase of 16 per
of teachers, said there were cent.
no last-minute contract talks “The university made a
with the administration. fair and reasonable offer
The strike was a last re- comparable to national and
sort after eight months of regional settlements,” said
contract negotiations, he MacKenzie.
said. “The bottom line is that
“When we entered nego- government cuts to post-
tiations we said we would secondary funding have put
always go back to the table the university into a deficit
if we were invited to,” said ... and make any settlement
McInnis. “When we told difficult.” Classes were cancelled Monday at St. Francis Xavier University as hundreds of faculty and support staff hit the picket lines to back their demands for more
the administration that we THE CANADIAN PRESS substantial wage increases. CLAYTON BLAGDON/THE XAVERIAN WEEKLY
Deep Panuke back in working order after fire
The owner of the Deep Panuke suppression system to fail, but After the fire have been taken enabling
natural-gas platform off Nova she said the valves have since the operator to proceed,” the
Scotia says a fire-suppression been tested and are now func- memo reads.
system that failed when a tioning. (cid:580)(cid:3) (cid:78)(cid:209)(cid:238)(cid:229)(cid:302)(cid:317)(cid:3)(cid:279)(cid:244)(cid:221)(cid:229)(cid:292)(cid:296)(cid:3)(cid:315)(cid:255)(cid:302)(cid:254)(cid:3)(cid:302)(cid:254)(cid:229)(cid:3) The development received
small electrical blaze broke “Everything is working (cid:17)(cid:209)(cid:274)(cid:209)(cid:225)(cid:209)(cid:575)(cid:56)(cid:279)(cid:314)(cid:209)(cid:3)(cid:78)(cid:221)(cid:279)(cid:302)(cid:255)(cid:209)(cid:3)(cid:61)(cid:240)(cid:575) regulatory approval in 2007
out earlier this month is in now as it should,” she said. (cid:296)(cid:254)(cid:279)(cid:292)(cid:229)(cid:3)(cid:71)(cid:229)(cid:302)(cid:292)(cid:279)(cid:268)(cid:229)(cid:305)(cid:273)(cid:3)(cid:16)(cid:279)(cid:209)(cid:292)(cid:225)(cid:3) and was initially supposed
working order. An investigation involv- (cid:254)(cid:209)(cid:314)(cid:229)(cid:3)(cid:314)(cid:255)(cid:296)(cid:255)(cid:302)(cid:229)(cid:225)(cid:3)(cid:302)(cid:254)(cid:229)(cid:3)(cid:289)(cid:268)(cid:209)(cid:302)(cid:238)(cid:279)(cid:292)(cid:273)(cid:3) to go into production by late
Anne Guerin-Moens, a ing SBM Offshore and energy (cid:302)(cid:315)(cid:255)(cid:221)(cid:229)(cid:3)(cid:296)(cid:255)(cid:274)(cid:221)(cid:229)(cid:3)(cid:302)(cid:254)(cid:229)(cid:3)(cid:243)(cid:292)(cid:229)(cid:553) 2010.
spokeswoman for Dutch-based giant Encana found the fire Guerin-Moens said con-
SBM Offshore, said a valve that was contained to an electric- struction workers began re-
was supposed to release car- al cabinet in the emergency Details of the probe posted turning over the weekend to
bon dioxide didn’t open when switchboard room aboard the on the Canada-Nova Scotia the site, which is still expected
the fire broke out Jan. 19. platform. Offshore Petroleum Board’s to begin producing natural
Work was put on hold and Guerin-Moens said the fire website said necessary elec- gas within the first half of this
The jack-up rig Rowan Gorilla III, pictured, has been used to drill on the 46 people were removed from was extinguished within min- trical repairs have since been year.
Deep Panuke offshore platform. The owner of the Deep Panuke says a the platform as a precaution. utes by firefighters when the carried out. “We’re sticking with that
fire-suppression system that failed when a small electrical blaze broke Guerin-Moens could not fire-suppression system didn’t “The board is satisfied that target,” she said.
out earlier this month is in working order. ANDREW VAUGHAN/THE CANADIAN PRESS say Monday what caused the kick in. appropriate corrective actions THE CANADIAN PRESS
06 metronews.ca
Tuesday, January 29, 2013
Let your savings
have a happy
new year too.
GIC Chadian soldiers are seen securing Gao airport, north of Mali, on Saturday. Canada’s special forces are on the ground
in the troubled West African country, sources within the Department of National Defence said Monday, but not in a
combat role. GHISLAIN MARIETTE/EMA-ECPAD/THE ASSOCIATED PRESS
1-YEAR Canadian forces are
1.6 %*
SPECIAL in Mali, but not in
RATE
combat role: Sources
Take advantage of this limited time offer. Islamist insurgency. International pressure protected.”
Canadian Forces crews have
Feds stand behind non-
Purchase a 1-year GIC at a rate of 1.6%* while been piloting and supporting
intervention mandate The Harper government has Canada’s C-17 heavy-lift trans-
this special offer lasts. despite landing boots been under pressure from port as it moves military equip-
the African Union — and ment in support of French
on the ground from countries bordering troops. That mission, which
Mali that are plagued by was originally only supposed
Visit your nearest Scotiabank branch, Islamic insurgencies of to last a week, is now sched-
their own — to take more uled to continue until Feb. 15.
call 1-800-515-3329 or go to Scotia OnLine. Canada’s special forces are decisive military action. Prime Minister Stephen
on the ground in Mali to help Harper said Monday that any
protect Canadian personnel further role for Canada would
who are already operating in of special forces soldiers does require consultation with par-
scotiabank.com/gic the troubled African country, not signal an involvement in liamentarians.
say sources within the Depart- combat. “We are providing technical
ment of National Defence. “We have been clear; there assistance to French and other
Few other details were im- will be no mission in Mali,” a military forces who are there,”
mediately available, although Foreign Affairs official said in Harper told the House of Com-
the Department of Foreign Af- a statement. “Steps have been mons in response to a question
fairs went to lengths to com- taken to ensure our mission from NDP Leader Tom Mulcair.
municate that the presence and Canadian personnel are THE ASSOCIATED PRESS
Born in the U.S.A.
Bureaucrat sex tapes.
L.A. cracking down
Chinese police trying to
on makeshift
maternity wards squeeze whistleblower
Los Angeles County is
planning a crackdown A Chinese whistleblower hold- the videos. I firmly refused to
on makeshift maternity ing secretly filmed sex tapes give it to them because I have
wards where pregnant featuring city bureaucrats has to protect my source,” said
® Registered trademarks of The Bank of Nova Scotia.
women, mostly from Asia, come under pressure from Zhu, who lives in Beijing but
stay while giving birth so police to hand them over for was, he said, interviewed by
* The 1.60% annual interest rate applies only to the Special Rate 1-year non-redeemable GIC, which is a
their children will be U.S. an investigation into an em- Chongqing police officers.
Canadian dollar investment. The Special Rate 1-year non-redeemable GIC is available within registered,
non-registered and TFSA portfolios. Interest is accrued daily on your GIC from the issue date up to, but citizens. barrassing scandal that has al- “They threatened me with
The county has received ready cashiered 11 officials. the law, saying I could be ac-
not including, the maturity date. Also, interest will be accrued on the leap day in a leap year. Annual
60 complaints about such Police questioned Zhu Rui- cused of concealing evidence.”
interest rate for a GIC paid monthly is 1.35% and semi-annually is 1.475%. Last interest payment is on
facilities in the past month, feng, a former journalist who The first high-profile case
maturity. If the maturity date does not fall on a business day then the term of the GIC will be extended
the Los Angeles Times triggered the scandal in the broke in November after Zhu
to the next business day and interest will be paid to that day. This Special Rate GIC offer is not to be
reported Sunday. southwestern city of Chong- released a video online of a
used in conjunction with any other rate bonus or discretionary offers. The Bank of Nova Scotia, Scotia
Pregnant women can qing, for seven hours Monday 50-something Communist
Mortgage Corporation, Montreal Trust Company, and National Trust Company each issue this Special
pay thousands of dollars to about the tapes and said he Party district official having
Rate GIC. We reserve the right to change, extend or cancel this offer at any time without prior notice. A
stay in the facilities, author- could be liable for prosecution sex with a woman allegedly
$1,000 minimum investment is required.
ities said. if he did not surrender them. hired by developers in an ex-
THE ASSOCIATED PRESS “The police were very po- tortion bid.
lite, but they said they wanted THE ASSOCIATED PRESS
metronews.ca NEWS 07
Tuesday, January 29, 2013
Egypt unrest Plane crash Beloved matriarch
South Pole Station.
Memorial service The agency says the dead Queen of the
men made the ultimate sac-
continues in held in Antarctica rifice while supporting sci- Netherlands to
entific research in a remote abdicate throne
A memorial service has and hostile environment.
been held in Antarctica to American and New Zea-
defiance of honour three Canadians land searchers were able to Dutch Queen Beatrix, 74,
who died in a plane crash recover the voice recorder announced Monday that
there last week. from the plane’s tail and it she will abdicate on April
The three employees of is being sent to Ottawa to be 30 after 33 years as the
Calgary-based Kenn Borek examined. head of state, clearing the
Morsi curfew Air were killed when their But searchers have way for her eldest son,
Twin Otter slammed into a decided they cannot safely Crown Prince Willem-
mountain on Wednesday. recover the bodies of the Alexander, to become the Queen Beatrix, Prince Claus and a
The U.S. National Science men until possibly October, nation’s first king in more baby Willem-Alexander in 1968.
Foundation held the cere- when winter in Antarctica is than a century.
Five days of violence. Tahrir Square, protesters set mony at its Amundsen-Scott over. THE CANADIAN PRESS THE ASSOCIATED PRESS THE ASSOCIATED PRESS FILE
fire to an armoured personnel
State of emergency
carrier.
and army presence “I will be coming back here
every day until the blood of
don’t prevent protests
our martyrs is avenged,” said
19-year-old carpenter Islam
Nasser, who wore a Guy Fawkes
Protesters battled police for mask as he battled police.
hours in Cairo on Monday and Angry and screaming at
thousands marched through times, Morsi on Sunday de-
Egypt’s three Suez Canal cit- clared a 30-day state of emer-
ies in direct defiance of a gency and a nighttime curfew
nighttime curfew and state of on the three Suez Canal cities
emergency, handing a blow to of Suez, Ismailiya and Port
Islamist President Mohammed Said and their provinces. He in-
Morsi’s attempts to contain structed police to deal “firmly
five days of spiralling violence. and forcefully” with the unrest
Nearly 60 people have been and threatened to do more if
killed in the unrest that has security was not restored.
touched cities across the coun- But when the 9 p.m. to 6
try but has hit hardest in the a.m. curfew began Monday
canal cities, where residents evening, crowds marched
have risen up in outright re- through the streets of Port
volt. Said. In Ismailiya, residents or-
The latest death came on ganized street games of soccer
Monday in Cairo, where a pro- to emphasize their contempt.
tester died of gunshot wounds Army troops backed with
as youths hurling stones bat- tanks were deployed in Port
tled all day and into the night Said and Suez, but they did not
with police firing tear gas near intervene to enforce the cur-
Qasr el-Nil Bridge. In nearby few. THE ASSOCIATED PRESS
Protesters run for cover near Tahrir Square. KHALIL HAMRA/THE ASSOCIATED PRESS
Mexico. Ten bodies found
in well believed to be part
of missing band and crew
Searchers pulled 10 bod- ported missing early Friday
ies from a well in northern after playing a private show
Mexico on Monday, near the at a bar in the town of Hidal-
site where 20 members of a go, north of Monterrey.
Colombian-style music group Members of other musical
and its crew disappeared late groups have been murdered
last week, according to a state in Mexico in recent years,
forensic official. usually groups that perform
It was hard to determine “narcocorridos,” which cele-
how many more bodies were brate the exploits of drug traf-
submersed in the water, said fickers. But Kombo Kolombia
the official, who spoke on did not play that type of
condition of anonymity. music, and its lyrics did not
Sixteen members of the deal with violence or drug
band Kombo Kolombia and trafficking.
four crew members were re- THE ASSOCIATED PRESS
08 AVALANCHE WEEK metronews.ca
Tuesday, January 29, 2013
Call of the mountain
lures powder hounds
Extreme winter-sports
warrior. Despite almost
dying in an avalanche,
Jeremy Hanke is still
drawn to the wilds of DAY
2
B.C.’s mountains
KATE
WEBB THE RISK
Metro in Vancouver
Discovering B.C.’s back- Tomorrow: The Rescuers
country 20 years ago was the Meet the two- and four-
moment that Jeremy Hanke
legged frontline avalanche
says turned his life around.
He got his first taste of responders.
extreme winter sports at 15
after moving from his adopt-
ive grandparents’ home in BREAKING THE SILENCE
southern Alberta to the north- Hanke says he did not speak
ern B.C. town of Mackenzie to publicly about his shocking
live with a different side of his experience for six years, but
family. was back on his sled three
He was troubled and, in weeks later. He said he has
his own words, headed down never spoken to a psycholo-
the wrong path — until some gist or counsellor, although
friends handed him a snow- the emotional trauma of what
board and introduced him to he felt and saw still lingers.
Powder Keg Mountain. But three years ago Hanke
“With everything that Former professional snowboarder and snowmobiler Jeremy Hanke still lives for snow, despite its having taught him broke his silence after a friend
was going on in my life at some hard lessons. TYLER RIDDELL/CONTRIBUTED reached out to him on behalf
the time, it seemed to be the of avalanche-safety educa-
answer of peace and solitude fessional snowboarding and recounted. the crushing weight of the icy tors who were trying hard
and motivation,” he told Met- started getting into snow- Recognizing the danger, he debris. to engage the newest and
ro during a recent interview mobiling as a way to enable and his friends began to pos- “I kind of just lost that fastest-growing contingent of
in Revelstoke, B.C., where he himself to go farther into the ition themselves for escape — hope for the last minute and backcountry users — snow-
now works as an avalanche backcountry. but it was too late. Two men went to sleep,” Hanke re- mobilers like him.
safety educator for snow- He didn’t expect that de- from the other group began called. Since then, Hanke said
mobilers. spite all his avalanche-safety climbing the slope right above “My tongue was in the he has told his story to back-
“It’s the feelings that you training, someone else’s lack them, and one of them trig- back of my throat when they country enthusiasts and the
get out there, it’s the friends of experience would almost gered a Size 3 avalanche (on a pulled me out. When a friend media at least 100 times. He
that you’re with, the experi- cost him his life. zero-to-five scale), burying his of mine pulled me out he was still cries every time but he
ence in the mountains. companion, along with Hanke really nervous that my back continues to tell it for two rea-
“To be honest with you, if BURIED ALIVE and three of his friends, under was broken and one leg was sons.
it wasn’t for snowboarding or Hanke had just dropped down up to two metres of snow. over above my head. I looked First, Hanke hopes the mis-
what I do here, I’d probably be a cliff encrusted with a thick, “There’s one rule in the like Gumby, and I was blue.” takes that were made — both
in a jail cell somewhere.” unstable snowpack in March It turned out that he his and those of the others
Before long, snowboard- 2004 to join a group of fellow looked to be in worse shape — will inspire more people
ing took over his life entirely, experienced snowmobilers Waiting to be rescued than he was in, and Hanke to get training and carry an
Hanke, 35, said. He spent when he heard the distant ended up walking away with avalanche kit with them at all
summers working in the Al- rumble of another group of “I kind of just lost no injuries other than some times.
berta oil patch so he could sledders coming toward them. oxygen deprivation. But not The second, he said, is
spend whole winters board- The avalanche danger that that hope for the everyone was so lucky. more personal. As he started
ing the backcountry in Can- day was listed as “consider- last minute and One of the two men from to explain, he paused, took
more and Banff in Alberta able” — not high or extreme, the other group, a 29-year-old some deep breaths. “For some
and Fernie, Golden and finally which might have kept them went to sleep.” from Alberta with a wife and odd reason I feel like it gives
Revelstoke, in B.C., where he inside, but the dangerously young children back at the meaning to the person that
eventually settled. optimistic yellow zone in Jeremy Hanke hotel, had forgotten his trans- lost his life — the father that
By 25 he which experts say most acci- ceiver that day. He was buried was lost, the husband that was
had dab- dents happen. for almost half an hour and lost, the friend that was lost —
bled in “We were parked at the backcountry: You never did not survive. so that he didn’t die in vain.”
pro- bottom of the run-out, which climb or scan or travel above
was a mistake of somebody else on any sort of
our own, and avalanche terrain,” Hanke ex- Exclusively online
exposed to a plained. “No fault of their own
slope above our- — I just don’t think they had
selves,” Hanke the knowledge.” To watch a video
In the terrifying min- of Jeremy Hanke
utes that followed, those in recounting what it
Jeremy Hanke Hanke’s group who weren’t was like to be bur-
turned to a career buried were able to rescue the ied in an avalanche,
as an avalanche- others using their beacons, visit metronews.ca/
safety educator probes and shovels — the backcountry.
several years after life-saving holy trinity of any
surviving one. avalanche kit. Hanke was the Jeremy Hanke
MATT KIELTYKA/METRO last to be rescued, spending WREN MCELROY/CONTRIBUTED
IN VANCOUVER eight to 10 minutes under
metronews.ca AVALANCHE WEEK 09
Tuesday, January 29, 2013
Backcountry use is
in our Canadian DNA
Answering the call of the wild
A slice of Canadiana
is simply a way of life in this
country.
“It’s where we really
“Winter in the mountains
is part of the Canadian ex- understand what’s
perience,” says Ilya Storm, important in life. It’s
forecast co-ordinator for the
who we are. You can’t
Canadian Avalanche Centre
in Revelstoke, B.C. “We come take that away from us.”
from a country of igloos and
Brent Hillier, Avalanche Skills Training
fur traders and birch-bark ca- instructor at Vancouver’s Canada West
noes. We love our snowshoes, Mountain School
and in today’s world it means
split snowboards and skis. Be- backcountry skiing,” says
ing out in the mountains is a Rob Elliot, general manager
great thing.” of the Revelstoke Mountain
And, experts say, proper Resort. “We just sell good
risk management can en- skiing. People love this area:
sure that the dangers associ- It’s so easy to traverse into
ated with venturing into the great alpine terrain and tree
mountainous backcountry skiing.”
don’t outweigh the rewards. Statham says backcountry
In fact, those tasked with trips are all good things at
keeping the public safe are once: spiritual journeys, so-
also some of the staunchest cial occasions and great ex-
supporters of the public’s ercise.
right to explore Canada’s vast Parks Canada has enforced a winter-permit system for users of Glacier National And the more people do
provincial and federal parks. Park in an eff ort to keep backcountry users safe. it, the more they’re hooked.
“It can be done safely. CONTRIBUTED/PARKS CANADA “The more you learn
Closing access — that’s not about the mountains, the
the answer,” says Brent Hill- It’s an experience that em- flying over your forehead all more interesting they be-
ier, an Avalanche Skills Train- powers locals, and is sold to day long — it’s just fantastic.” come,” says Statham, one of
ing instructor at Vancou- international visitors as part Revelstoke may be a small the architects of Canada’s
ver’s Canada West Mountain of our nation’s appeal. B.C. community nestled in existing avalanche-danger
School. “For people that do “It’s amazing every day,” the mountains along the scale and forecasts. “You
go into the backcountry, it’s says Grant Statham, moun- Trans-Canada Highway (415 begin to understand them.
where we learn about our- tain-risk specialist for Parks kilometres west of Calgary You learn the science of
selves. It’s where we really Canada and a mountain and 564 kilometres east of snow, see how it changes if
understand what’s important guide. “People come out to Vancouver) but it’s carved the wind blows in a specific
in life. It’s who we are. You enjoy some peace and quiet. out a big reputation for itself direction. There’s a lot to
can’t take that away from The skiing is awesome, you on the world stage. learn and appreciate.”
us.” get beautiful soft powder “This is the epicentre for MATT KIELTYKA/METRO IN VANCOUVER
Canucks running to the
hills in record numbers
More people than ever are winter fitness activity — es-
Backcountry by the stats
heading for the hills 14 7,000 pecially in the many prov-
Across the board, the so- incial parks that are, quite
called “avalanche industry” literally, at Vancouver’s
is in agreement that the doorstep — is also placing a
number of people skiing, new group at risk.
The approximate number of annual The number of people who take Ava-
snowboarding, sledding and “It’s a user group that’s
avalanche-related deaths in Canada, ac- lanche Skill Training courses each year.
touring through Canada’s cording to the Canadian Avalanche Centre. exploding, I’d say exponen-
wilderness is increasing mas- 1.4M 124% tially,” says Brent Hillier,
sively. a snowshoe guide and Ava-
Just how many people go lanche Skills Training in-
into the backcountry, how- structor. “With $200 you
ever, remains a mystery. can get everything you need
The approximate number — 1,413,230 The increase in users at Glacier
“It’s hard to know what to go snowshoeing. It’s a
to be more precise — of requests for National Park from 2009 to 2012.
goes on in the mountains,” great way to take people
public avalanche forecasts in 2011-12.
admits Ilya Storm, Canadian out there, but at the same
Avalanche Centre forecast time there isn’t as much
Emma-Jane Hetherington ski-tours
co-ordinator. “We only talk he says. “We don’t really lanche fatalities in B.C. awareness of the risk in that
through the backcountry near Duff ey
about the fatalities, in part, know what the rate of ava- “(Snowmobiles) make world.”
Lake, which is about a three-hour
because they’re tracked.” lanche fatalities and close the mountains much more Now the race is on to get
drive from Vancouver.
Storm says the number calls are.” accessible,” says Storm. the new generation of back-
DYLAN LABELLE/FOR METRO of avalanche-related deaths Backcountry skiers have “You don’t need to be super country users trained and
in Canada hovers at around established a good safety skilled to be able to do the conscious about their safety.
14 people each year, but the record through decades of things hotshots were doing “People don’t go out
number isn’t necessarily in- industry growth, but new just a handful of years ago. thinking they’re doing any-
dicative of how dangerous at-risk user groups are emer- Sleds have just become bet- thing that’s unduly risky,”
the backcountry may be. ging. ter, and now the hotshots says Storm. “If we can help
“Fourteen fatalities for Sledders — aided by are pushing it (further into people match their percep-
100,000 backcountry users rapidly improving tech- the backcountry).” tions to the reality, that’s
is a way better story than 14 nology — now account for The popularity of snow- what I see as our goal.”
fatalities for 50,000 users,” nearly 41 per cent of ava- shoeing as an affordable MATT KIELTYKA/METRO IN VANCOUVER
10 NEWS metronews.ca
Tuesday, January 29, 2013
Neglect, errors contributed
Flight. Monkey in rocket
launched into space:
to Brazil nightclub blaze
Iranian state TV
Iran said Monday it has success-
fully sent a monkey into space, 231 dead.
describing the launch as an- Lack of fire alarm,
other step toward Tehran’s goal
sprinklers, fire escapes
of a manned space flight.
According to a brief report resulted in worst fire
on state TV, the rocket, dubbed of its kind in more
Pishgam, or Pioneer in Farsi,
reached a height of 120 kilo- than a decade
metres. The report gave no
other details on the timing or
location of the launch, but said
the monkey safely returned to In this undated image taken from AP There was no fire alarm.
Earth. Television, scientists in Iran surround There were no sprinklers
Still images broadcast on a monkey ahead of a space launch. or fire escapes. And when a
state TV showed a small, grey- THE ASSOCIATED PRESS band member tried to put out
tufted monkey presumably be- a fire that had been started by
ing prepared for the flight, in- to send an astronaut into space pyrotechnics, the extinguish-
cluding wearing a type of body as part of its ambitious aero- er didn’t work.
protection and being strapped space program, which includes All the elements were in
tightly into a pod that resem- plans for a new space centre an- place for the tragedy at the
bled an infant’s car seat. nounced last year. In 2010, Iran Kiss nightclub early Sunday.
The photos draw historical said it launched an Explorer The result was the world’s
links to the earliest years of the rocket into space carrying a worst fire of its kind in more
space race in the 1950s, when mouse, a turtle and worms. than a decade, with 231
both the U.S. and Soviet Union The U.S. and its allies worry people dead and the south-
tested the boundaries of rocket that technology from the space ern Brazilian college town in
flight with animals on board, program could also be used to shock and mourning. Relatives and friends carry the coffin of Vinicius Rosado through a cemetery during his burial in Santa Maria, Brazil,
including American capsules develop long-range missiles Funerals began on Mon- Monday. A fast-moving fire roared through the crowded, windowless Kiss nightclub in this southern Brazilian city
carrying monkeys and Mos- that could potentially be armed day, as reports continued to early Sunday, killing 231 people. FELIPE DANA/THE ASSOCIATED PRESS
cow’s crafts holding dogs. Many with nuclear warheads. Iran emerge about the accumula-
of the animals on the flights denies it seeks atomic weapons tion of neglect and errors at every 1,500 square feet as of that appears to have hap- how many people are admit-
perished because of equipment and claims it is pursuing nucle- the packed night spot. well as multiple emergency pened at the Santa Maria ted in a building,” said Joao
failure or technology unable to ar reactors only for energy and According to state safety exits. Limits on the number nightclub. Daniel Nunes, a civil engineer
cope with re-entry from orbit. medical applications. codes here, clubs should of people admitted are to “A problem in Brazil is in nearby Porto Alegre.
Iran has long said it seeks THE ASSOCIATED PRESS have one fire extinguisher be strictly respected. None that there is no control of THE ASSOCIATED PRESS
Baltimore. First soldier to survive losing
all limbs in Iraq war gets new arms
The first soldier to survive after “He was the first quad am- viously worked at the Univer-
losing all four limbs in the Iraq putee to survive” from the wars sity of Pittsburgh, including the
war has received a double-arm in Iraq and Afghanistan, and only above-elbow transplant
transplant. there have been four others that had been done at the time,
Brendan Marrocco had the since then, said Marrocco’s in 2010.
operation on Dec. 18 at Johns father, Alex Marrocco. “He was Marrocco’s “was the most
Hopkins Hospital in Baltimore, really excited to get new arms.’’ complicated one” so far, Lee
his father said Monday. The The Marroccos want to said in an interview Monday.
26-year-old Marrocco was in- thank the donor’s family for It will take more than a year to
jured by a roadside bomb in “making a selfless decision ... know how fully Marrocco will
2009. making a difference in Bren- be able to use the new arms,
He also received bone mar- dan’s life,” the father said. Lee said.
row from the same dead donor Surgeons plan to discuss the “The maximum speed is an
who supplied his new arms. transplant at a news conference inch a month for nerve regener-
That novel approach is aimed with the patient on Tuesday. ation,” he explained. “We’re
at helping his body accept the The 13-hour operation was easily looking at a couple years”
new limbs with minimal medi- led by Dr. W.P. Andrew Lee, until the full extent of recovery
cation to prevent rejection. plastic-surgery chief at Johns is known.
The military is sponsoring Hopkins, and is the seventh While at Pittsburgh, Lee
operations like these to help double-hand or double-arm pioneered the novel immune-
wounded troops. About 300 transplant done in the United suppression approach used for
have lost arms or hands in the States. Lee led three of those Marrocco.
wars. earlier operations when he pre- THE ASSOCIATED PRESS
Possible change U.K. Politics
U.S. Boy Scouts Rupert Murdoch Obama asks
considering apologizes for police chiefs to
retreat from ‘offensive’ cartoon help pass gun
no-gays policy legislation
Media baron Rupert
The Boy Scouts of America Murdoch has apologized President Barack Obama
is considering a dramatic re- for a Sunday Times cartoon on Monday asked police
treat from its controversial depicting Israeli leader Ben- officials from the three
policy of excluding gays as jamin Netanyahu building communities hardest hit
leaders and youth mem- a wall using blood-red mor- by mass shootings last year
bers. Monday’s announce- tar, an image Jewish leaders for help in getting Congress
ment comes after years of said was reminiscent of to pass tough new gun
protests over the policy. anti-Semitic propaganda. legislation.
THE ASSOCIATED PRESS THE ASSOCIATED PRESS THE ASSOCIATED PRESS