Table Of Content

Vancouver mn mM er ri oy very SIZ WEDNESDAY, JANUARY 25, 2017 How can you help? Today, Bell will donate 5¢ more to mental health initiatives for every: a@ Text message” Mobile and long distance call’ Tweet using #BellLetsTalk Instagram post using #BellLetsTalk Bell Let's Talk Facebook video view Snapchat using the Bell Let’s Talk geofilter ates Let's Talk bell.ca/letstalk X wv f & GET EXCLUSIVE ACCESS! “ wai : 6to9p.m. 1-800-661-4101 BACK LOT TOURS VFS.EDU/METRO one, is VFS EXCLUSIVE Vancouver, (| [| wy % worn Your essential daily news | weDNESDAY, JANUARY 25, 2017 High 5°C/Low3°C Cloudy O@ KRYPTONITE; DC Comics threatens to sue Vancouver | Realtor and self ited superhero | BC Hydro defends ie ot substations under parks and schools .s HEATED SEATS. 3 oe © STANDARD ON THE 2017 TOYOTA RAVA. RAV toyota.ca TOYOTA ROYAL*GENTRE 1055 West Georgia Street, Vancouver Corner of Burrard & Georgia Your essential dail Nation inspired by mini women’s march in rural Nova Scotia. Canada Prevention, not response oniorenisis, Clg urged to redirect money toaddin more safe spaces ‘We can't emergency respond our way out of this.” provincial health officials warned Vancou- ver's city council on Jan. 24 — as council considered spending $19 million for an additional medic crew for Fire Hall No. 2 ‘and $200,000 to create a new ‘community policing centre in Strathcona. The initiatives would make up the first round ofa possible $35 million earmarked to fight a deadly opioid overdose crisis that killed 215 Vancouver residents in 2016, Vancouver had both the highest number and rate of drug deaths in the prov- Deputy city manager Paul Mochrie said city staffare also ‘working on several other initiatives that will come before council in the future, including support for overdose prevention sites located in singleroom oc- cupancy hotels, public educa tion campaigns and programs targeted to Indigenous drug In December, the city added ‘an extra 0.5 per cent property tax increase in onder to raise the ‘$35 million. VANDU, adrug user advocacy group, has been critic. al of using a substantial portion of those funds to create the new ‘The majority of people who have died of overdoses have been using drugs alone community policing centre, de- scribing itasa "NIMBY" reaction to homelessness and drug use. VANDU would like to see that money spent instead on creating more overdose prevention site. Overdose deaths spiked in November and December of 2016, and early indications are that the number of fatalities will be the same or higher in January, said Dr. Reka Gustaf son, medical health officer for iss) Addictionis notachoice. Dr. Reka Gustafson Vancouver Coastal Health. She emphasized that the only ‘way to get the number of fatalities down is to decriminalize ilicit drugs and offer a range of ef treatments, including prescrip- tion heroin and other inject- able substitutions like hydro- morphone, “Addiction is not a choice,” Gustafson said, Gustafson stressed that muni- cipal leaders need to advocate to the federal and provincial gov- emments for change. But more immediately, the city can support the creation of safe spaces to use drugs in singleroom oc- side their home. entarex cauriaeniron MerRo cupancy hotels and help train staff there to respond to over doses, she said. The majority of people who have died of overdoses have been using drugs alone inside their home. No fatalities have occurred at several overdose prevention sites that have been operating since December. Council will hear from speak ers on the issue on Jan. 25 start ing at 9:30 am. B.C. will not wait for law changes British Columbia's health minister says the province's overdose prevention sites and at least one “sharing room” ‘where people use drugs may not be legal under federal laws but they're intended to save lives Terry Lake said an unpreced- ented opioid epidemic forced the province last month to open the fist locations in Van- couver where people could inject ilicit drugs while mon- itored by trained staff. Since then, a total of 18 overdose-prevention sites have opened around the province, from the Fraser Valley to the Interior and Prince George at existing locations where people receive addiction sup- ports. Two more sites are pend- ng on Vancouver Island. “Are we skirting federal law? You could make that argument, I guess, but we weren't pre- pared to wait for changes to save lives." Lake said Tuesday. The federal government re- cently introduced legislation to rake it easier for provinces to pen supervised injection sites but Lake said 914 overdose deaths in B.C. last year meant radical action had to be taken. “You have to do what you need to do to keep people alive, and longer term, obviously. we're pushing the federal gov 3 emment to approve supervised 2 consumption sites as quickly s possible.” | You are invited to an INFORMATION SESSION 3 STENBERG COLLEGE OPTICIAN Diploma Program Do you have retail/customer service experience? An eye for fashion? Opticians are an integral member of the eye-care team who design, produce and fit eyeglasses, contact lenses and specialized products for their clients. Our program provides training in eyeglass, Contact lens fitting and automated refraction. This program prepares students to successfully complete the national licensing exam. Average wage for an optician is $21+/nour with the potential to earn more than $85,000/year. Accredited by the National Association of Canadian. Optician Regulators (NACOR). $2000 Bursary for next start on May 8, 2017 604-580-2772 stenbergcollege.com | 4 | Wednesday, January 25, 2017 vancouver |met Airbnb pays offhomes faster eevee . It just shows there is a significant Vacation suites financial incentives to Airbnb, so recoup price if we want to keep our housing to 60% quicker ipa be used as housing, we require a some government intervention. ‘ Karen Sawatsky than renting David P. Ball Metro| Vancouver to fight their way onto the argued that the service offers property ladder to make the ordinary people a chance to most out of their property.” be able to afford to stay in But compared to other cit- the cities they live and work ies, Vancouver does not stand in. Critics counter that many out significantly, according of the units offered are mul- to the report, ranked No. 68 tiple listings and are simply below Toronto and Montreal helping turn housing into an on cities with the biggest gap investment commodity at a between Airbnb and tradition- time rental stock is depleted. al rental revenues. Sawatsky, who sits on Van- The findings came as no _couver's renter advisory com- surprise to Karen Sawatsky, mittee, said she was heartened an urban planning research. by the city's move to restrict ex whose Master's thesis last Airbnb — requiring hosts to year examined the impacts apply fora license, and only for of thousands of Airbnb units their principal residence, not on Vancouver's rental hous- vacant investment properties. Vancouver homeowners can recoup the cost of their home 60 per cent faster by posting it on Airbnb than renting it out to tenants, according toa new report released Wednesday. The study, by online real estate sales firm Nested, compared 75 cities around the ‘world and found Vancouver landlords have to rent out their suites for roughly 28 years to recover their investment — but using the controversial short- ‘Short-term rental regulations kick in this spring, but enforcement needed to offset term vacation rental service “financial incentives’ turning rental units into vacation suites. scwerce caurerymerRorLe ing shortage. While the rules are worth- could shorten that period by “That's consistent with what while, Sawatsky said they're more than a decade. and prices are skyrocketing for and City Council has passed are preferring to rent to short found,” she said. “The average _ only as good as their enforce- ‘The research adds fuel to both renters and owners like. new regulations which come term renters who pay a pre-_nightlyrate for Airbnb seemed ment. “It also requires on- the fire ofa bitter debate in Critics have attributed the into effect this spring. mium,” explained Nested CEO like it worked out to in the going monitoring and enforce- Vancouver, where a severe shortage partly to owners in- “The rise of Airbnb is mak- Matt Robinson ina statement. range of 10 per cent of what ment, as well as just making rental shortage has brought creasingly turning to vacation ing it harder for renters tofind “But this is a great opportunity the monthly rent would be.” the rules in the first place,” the vacancy rate to nearzero rentals to pay their mortgages, properties as more landlords for those who have managed Airbnb supporters have _ she noted. oday’s jackpot We Facetimed with our kids to share the new: we wanted because | to see their reactions and that was priceless.” | _ Coquitlam ‘$21 MILLION ‘Nanaimo MILLION. rarove WIN. a It could be you. Know your limit, play within it. GameSense 19+ FINANCING YOUR FUTURE, NOT YOUR PAST ¢ Private Answers - Email or Text » No Payments For 6 Months (oac) + ¢ Over 700 Vehicles to choose from * Same Day Approval + * Drive Away the Same Day + » Employed for a minimum of 1 month - need 1 paystub showing income of a minimum $1800 per month « GUARANTEED AUTO LOANS (604) 506-3514 GUARANTEEDAUTOLOANS.CA Every Day If you are feeling exhausted and in need of revitalization, you should consider a detox or cleanse. With Active Liver” you have the tool to do this gently and on a daily basis. Each day, our liver is working hard to remove waste products and toxins from processed foods, unclean ir, water and even our own body. But as we get exposed to increasingly more toxins, the liver struggles to remove them all and staris storing them in our body fat. We quickly notice the resulls in our energy levels, in our lack of youthful appearance ~ ‘and surprisingly - on our waistlines. UNJUNKING YOUR BODY ‘A detox, like a water or juice fast, is an excellent way to rid the body of stored toxins, but itis offen difficult to abide by, and THE LIVER AND YOUR WAISTLINE The liver is an important fat burning organ. Ifthe liver is sluggish or clogged with waste material it will be less able to work, and fat will start to build up, under the skin, as belly fat and even inside the internal organs (as in a fatty liver). Making sure your liver is working well will help you flush fats from the body. {At participating pharmacies, health food stores and online. For more information o to purchase, visit our website or call 1-877-695-6734, Walmart >.< ‘Superstore LIVER HEALTH —_—s involves days or even weeks of feeling fired ‘and sick. However, there are other ways. DETOX WITH ONE TABLET A DAY Active Liver™ is a natural health product that improves your liver’s health and helps you detox on a daily basis ~ all year round, With just one tablet a day, it gently but effectively uses known herbal extracts to facilitate detoxing the body ~ without the “side effects" wets j Active Liver” es ec net cama ° =a Loblaws @ amazonca 6) vancouver metre NEWS | (604) YOUR KEY Li | i Realtor lan Brett, who also markets himself as ‘Captain Vancouver! received a stern warning from DC Comics’ lawyers after he tried to register the name “Real Estate Superhero." waneeunezno Realtor faces suit from DC Comics TRADEMARKS Company may sue Ian Brett over likeness to Superman logo Wanyee Li Metro | Vancouver A local real estate agent may be facing legal kryptonite after DC Comics threatened to sue him over his brand, “Real Estate Superhero.” Realtor lan Brett, who also markets himself as “Captain Vancouver.” after the city’s namesake, British naval ex- plorer Capt. George Vancou- ver, received a stern warning from DC Comics’ lawyers on Jan, 9, 2017. ‘According to a letter pub- lished on Brett's website, DC Comics wants him to withdraw his trademark application for “Real Estate Superhero” and to stop using a red and yellow lan Brett markets himself as a "Real Estate Superhero” and wears a shirt that features a shield, reminiscent of Superman's ‘Costume, CAPTAIN vaNiCOUVERICONERIUTED how real estate is conducted, “We decided, hey let's try to tackle this problem we have in Vancouver with shadow flipping ‘andall this dishonesty you hear ‘about in the news,” he said “It has worked remarkably. I've had so much interest. 1 think people were looking fora change. That's when the super hero persona came on.” of Superman's “S." But Brett, who has worked as a fulltime Realtor for four ‘years, called DC Comics’ request unfair, characterizing the fight asa David and Goliath situation. “don’t think I should be @ shield symbol, reminsceat of ‘don’t think I Bret told Metta be ls ea Divi au css acc LADUE RTOR ey onthe mica ae bjecttoweorCaPta van, When youseeme, rere nat inne meantime COUVER to promote your real Idon’tlooklike _heistakinga tongue-incheek cat ae ne PSUR se eee ae Sate Sapormans: pees negating vi skin & Parr as if the firm was Superman, He signed off on the letter with this line: “Alas Superman, fear not, you will always be the ‘Man of Steel’ just as | will always be the ‘Man of Sales.” Bereskin & Parr did not respond toa request for comment by deadline. HERO trademarks is not per- missible,” stated a letter from Bereskin & Parr, the Canadian intellectual property law firm representing DC Comics. Brett's website depicts the Realtor in a blue 18th century British navabofficer outfit with a shirt underneath that features a sixpoint shield — but with “Re” for Realtor in it instead a threat. When you see me, I don’t look like Superman, I don't have muscles upon muscles. I've got glasses that I can't take off because I can’t see, he said, He chose to call himself a “superhero” because he believes people want to see a change in |metrenews]| | 5-year police plan addresses fentanyl STRATEGIC PLAN. Mental health of officers, city residents to be made priority Wanyee Li Metro Vancouver The Vancouver Police Depa ment released its five year pl Tuesday, highlighting strategies that address the fentany! crisis as well as the mental health of its officers and the city's residents. The 2017-21 plan also includes regular policing priorities like reducing violent crime. Police chief Adam Palmer em. phasized the fentanyl crisis will Continue unless both sides of the problem are addressed — the supply and demand for illicit drugs. While officers will continue to go after drug trafickers, substances like fentanyl will continue to ill unless people receive addiction treatment, he explained. Police Chief Adam Palmer osniv1 ovcx/te CANADIAN RSS ‘You'll never win any type of ‘war on drugs. The supply will keep coming in,” he said. “Not coy do we have toworkas police officers on the supply side of the ‘equation, we also have to work on the demand side. That's why the VPD is dedi cated to raising awareness about treatment options for people ad- dicted to drugs, he said The department is also part nering with St. Paul's Hospital with a new mental health hub, Palmer noted. Maintaining the mental wellness ofits officers is also a priority for VPD, he said. ‘The VPD's 2016-21 Strategic Plan was informed by public com- sultation, including responses from 2900 people online, and internal reviews. Celebrate the Year of the Rooster with Shen Yun! Sunday opening night tickets sold out! Only 2 shows left. Don’t miss the experience of a lifetime! NADEINU SA. wom QUEEN ELIZABETH THEATRE * JAN 29-31 2". 2? Sunday 7:00 pm Jan.30 Monday 2:00 pm Tickets: ShenYun.com/Van | 888-974-3698 Jan.31 Tuesday 7:30pm EXCELLENT SELECTION OF PREOWNED VEHICLES WE WILL GET YOU FINANCED! 2015 KIA RONDO LX 2006 ACURA RSX PREMIUM Alloy Wheels seat CD Player Power Windows, Power Doors, Bower Steering. Ar Conditioning, Chaise Conta Bluetsoth, Ipod! USB/AUX inp Regular cab, 57LV8 ge Rich Raghu box ing. ‘audio controls $10,995 csurnce’B, 888 auto- latch Blustooth ear "sina IMN LAT 2004 TOYOTA COROLLA CE Buctooth connectuny 1163 ott, $20,688 2014 CHEROKEE NORTH lowes, power locks €O men ester heated cont Baye acon soni he era abs wipagectina tee eater Beatie sates Mar dum $184 oft itl $22,908) raked? great fuel eeShoms ‘endo much more! 32,995 _onsur'5,888 gaieshaai ipod/ush input $162 oft iia 19.995 ‘Navigation, spat allo pedalyard wheel,” Bhietooth connectivity, ‘Speed manual sunroot, body Kit spoler, filhsttomatl headlights 61 oti 17,688 Purchase 4 tires for the price of 3! 3771 NO.3 ROAD, RICHMOND, BC (OPPOSITE YAOHAN CENTRE) CALL US TODAY 1.855.582.3691 FOR YOUR QUICK APPROVAL! VVAVVAVVAY,Y AU DECT OV $ gning bonus upon completion of 2 week training program Ea 700+ a week with guaranteed hourly wage + daily and weekly performance bonuses Flexi schedule for top performers Paid every Friday Close to Brentwood Town Centre SkyTrain Station in Burnaby Advancement opportunities 20 Full-Time & 10 Part-Time Positions Available ASK ABOUT OUR EVENING CLASSES! (e eawayeoet $O0/HR* ) ‘Study in an accelerated program that can get you career ready within a year. Develop skils that can greatly improve the lives of others. Change yours with CDI College today! 1.800.675.4392 ADDICTIONS. CDICOLLEGE.CA to qualified applicants. | *jobbank.ge.ca ps) vancouver met Proposed stations sparking concerns CEO defends substations under parks, schoolidea Parents need not worry about the safety of proposal BC Hy- dro floated last week to build two new electrical substations underneath downtown Vancou- ver parks and near schools, the Crown corporation's CEO said Tuesday. Speaking ata Greater Vancou- ver Board of Trade luncheon, Jessica McDonald sketched out further details of her agency's proposal, insisting it was just one “scenario of how this could work” — but that two new substations must be built in Yaletown and the West End regartless, she said, to meet an expected 75 per cent increase in electrical demand in the next 30 years. if we were to simply do noth ing, we would start to see brown- outs in the downtown Vancou- ver area within about 10 to 12 years,” she said. “This of course Jessica McDonald, CEO of BC Hydro, speaks tothe Vancouver Board of Trade on Tuesday. oso ontieerro can do is put together a pretty compelling scenario and know that it's workable. (One of those attending Mc- Donald's speech, former V: couver School Board chair Patti Bacchus — who the province fired last October along with the other elected trustees, replacing them with an appointee — ac knowledged the underground substation idea was “innovative and new.” But she countered that BC Hydro's timing of the idea was suspect at a time when there is no longer a democratically elected board to consider the public's interest and vet the idea. “She tells us it's absolutely safe and fine,” she said, “I'm not suggesting it's not safe, but if |was a parent, I'd want some independent research and ex- pertise to tell me that — who isn't someone who's financially benefiting (from i). Answering questions from the audience about electromagnetic MF safety concerns, Mc- Donald said many people asso- ate electrical infrastructure with danger, but that substations iy, you particularly the security around it — and think it must be something you should stay away from,” she Sad. “That's what we want people to think. “The ment: there must be ‘with this, butthe levels are min- iscule... The challenge for us is to ensure we can get that level of transparency and comfort to something that intuitively sug- «gests the opposite.” In December 2015, an above. ground Richmond substation caught fire, leading to air qual- ity warnings from authorities isnot our plan.” However, she emphasized it process in the community — and that ultimately it is up to the parks and school boards to decide on, not BC Hydro, “We have to finish discussing how would the park board and the school board and the city want to deal with mitigation of the impacts, and what their suggestions are,” she said, “These are not our decisions ... All we wallls Javtwavy 2.8, 2017 @ 10:00 can Siow Dentce @ 1:30 pan $19 BET/ Hat Tea 50% off Lud waffte ten 3726 Canada Way, Burnaby, BC (718) 379-6499