Columns: Affordable Housing In Abbotsford

By Dave Loewen. Soon after I was first elected to Council in 2005, public attention was drawn to an encampment of homeless individuals in the woods next to the Abbotsford-Mission By-Pass, near Save On Foods in East Abbotsford. This was only the tip of the iceberg, as we became aware of a greater number of [...]

Columns: Banman Is Right About Abbotsford’s ‘Pro-Harm’ Bylaw

By Mike Archer. On May 28 Abbotsford Council has a chance to stop interfering with the province’s delivery of health care to some of our most marginalized and desperate citizens.[Click On Image For Full Story Other than the multi-million dollar Abbotsford Heat subsidy and the failure of the Abbotsford Entertainment Centre (AESC) Abbotsford is perhaps [...]

Columns: City Of Abbotsford Spending Priorities & Ledgeview Golf Course

By Vince Dimanno. Guess what? We are in the top three cities for the highest unemployment rate in Canada, our median income is $5000 per year below the national average and the Mayor wants you to play a couple of rounds of golf this year to help Ledgeview out … for sentimental reasons! Mayor Banman [...]

Columns: The (Bad) Optics Of Diane Delves’ Committee Memberships

By Mike Archer. Is it proper for developer Diane Delves of Quantum Properties to be defending her plans for The Mahogany at Mill Lake tower while holding a seat on the Economic Development Advisory Committee? Delves is the President and CEO of Quantum Properties, the company that is building The Mahogany at Mill Lake, a [...]

Columns: Core Services Review? Good Idea Goes Undone

By Vince Dimanno. First term Councillor Henry Braun proposed a full Core Services Review almost immediately after taking his seat at the Council table. It seemed to have wide-spread support, but now more than six months later we haven’t seen any progress. Why? Grumblings around City Hall sound a lot like push back coming from [...]

Letters: Heat Are Not ‘Our’ Hockey Team

From Gerda Peachey. Our city leaders keep referring to the Abbotsford Heat as, “Our Hockey Team”. It is nothing of the sort. This is the private ownership group’s hockey team. This is an incredibly stupid contract that binds the Abbotsford taxpayers for at least 10 years, and possibly longer, if Council does not give notice [...]

Columns: Abbotsford Heat Failure Not The Fault Of The Fans Or The Players

By Mike Archer. Last week was an interesting week for the Abbotsford Heat. Despite the team’s best efforts on the ice they were taken out of the playoffs by the Toronto Marlies. No blame to be laid at the feet of the players, nor, I believe, should blame be laid at the feet of the [...]

Abbotsford Seniors: South Fraser CARP Chapter Inaugural Meet Thursday

Submitted. The public is invited to the inaugural meeting of the South Fraser chapter of the Canadian Association of Retired Persons (CARP) on May 10 where quality of life and transportation issues will be discussed. Rhonda Latreille Will where you live affect your quality of life as you age? International conference speaker and author, Rhonda [...]

Abbotsford News: Open House On Sustainability Wednesday

The City of Abbotsford is hosting an open house on the City’s Community Sustainability STrategy on Wednesday, May 9, from 6:30 – 8:30pm at the Matsqui Recreation Centre, Senior’s Centre. Community Sustainability Strategy Abbotsford’s Community Sustainability Strategy (CSS) will be a high-level, guiding document that will establish a long-term (25+ years) vision for moving the [...]

Letters: Fletcher’s Seniors’ Activity Centre Report Tonight At Mission Council

Dear Editor. I recently submitted some comments (critique below) on the Report to be given by Sharon Fletcher, Director Planning on Monday May 7, 2012 at the Mission Council meeting. Bob Rodgers sent along a few “historical” observations that I am taking the liberty to share with you, below, just as his views seem to [...]