The Surrey Now!

Wesley Romey, the boy featured in the article, is a 13-year old autistic boy who has had success with ABA therapy.




An autistic boy waits in the lobby for the presentations to begin.



Some young volunteers help out at the event.

These photos accompany an article that I had an article published in the Surrey Now on Oct 7.

The article is available to read online and the link is below,

http://www.canada.com/surreynow/news/story.html?id=8f45d08d-d1ba-40e0-b9c0-012848401d38

Published!

The Delta Chamber of Commerce published a few of my photos from the all-candidates' meeting at the North Delta Inn on Oct.2. The link is below.

http://www.deltachamber.com/events/All_Candidates_Oct_1_08.aspx

Also, from the same event, the Surrey Now published a blurb I submitted to editor Beau Simpson on their website. Currently, no credit is given, but that is going to change. Still exciting, though!

http://www.canada.com/surreynow/news/story.html?id=63497286-5eff-4848-8507-da9afa2ebc1b

Delta Chamber of Commerce hosts all-candidates' meeting for Newton-North Delta

The Delta Inn's banquet room was buzzing last night, as residents gathered for an all-candidates meeting to hear from their candidates in the Newton-North Delta riding.

Questions, which were asked by the Surrey Now's editor, Beau Simpson, were created by residents through the newspaper. Questions were also submitted during the meeting by members of the audience.



The candidates were asked a range of questions including issues surrounding the economy, health care, immigration, youth crime and specific questions were asked to some candidates.



Liberal Sukh Dhaliwal, the current MP for the riding for the last two and a half years, stressed to the crowd that he takes guidance from his constituents and takes those issues to the House of Commons, not the other way around. He mentioned his efforts during his time in house and said his first and foremost priority is that Newton-North Delta has a voice in Ottawa.



Conservative Sandeep Pandher stressed his support for lowering tax burdons, acting tough on crime and was the only candidate to support the Conservative idea that 14-year-olds should be tried as adults. He stated that the Conservative government will go forward with these amendments to the Youth Criminal Justice Act if re-elected.



Green Party Liz Walker has lived in Surrey since 1983, and since has been involved in years of volunteer surrounding the environment. Walker strongly supports the green vision and repeatedly mentioned the "Green Tax Shift" which will tax items that produce pollution and CO2 emissions and will put those tax dollars into things that promote a healthy environment.



Independent John Shavluck, nick-named as Shrek, spent two years with the Green Party and following that joined Mark Emery's Marijuana Party. Shavluck asked the crowd to vote for the "Newton-North Delta riding" as he suggests if you vote for the other candidates, you are voting for the parties.

Teresa Townsley was unable to attend due to a child being struck ill and apologies were given. James Miller-Cousteau was scheduled to attend, but no explanation for his absence was provided.



The next all-candidates meeting will be on October 8 at St. John's United Church at 7:30 pm.

Want to read my work?

Since school has started up again for the year, I have written a few articles for the Kwantlen Chronicle. I should explain that the second-year students in the program produce the online Kwantlen Chronicle and the print version. Our class is required to put out four issues of the print edition this semester. Also, each student is required to produce a total of 14 pieces for the online Chronicle this semester. Those "pieces" can be written articles, photographs, videos or audio slide shows.

I have a desire to cover events, writing for the entertainment section. I have already laid out plans in my mind for an event I would like to cover around Halloween. I plan an audio slide show covering Potters - which is a nursery turned house-of-horrors for the two weeks prior to Halloween.

But, alas, I have been assigned to write for the news section of the online Chronicle for the first half of the semester, much to my dismay. Below are links to the articles that I have written thus far. Questions? Comments? Rude remarks?


http://www.kwantlenchronicle.ca/2008/09/new-year-new-president/
(Be sure to check out the audio file with the link above. It took up quite a bit of time to do.)

http://www.kwantlenchronicle.ca/2008/09/rodenbour-suspects-death-threat-linked-to-lawsuit/

http://www.kwantlenchronicle.ca/2008/09/pubs-nights-first-step-toward-kwantlen-campus-pub/


CHECK OUT THE KWANTLEN CHRONICLE WEBSITE AT www.kwantlenchronicle.ca

Photo Illustraions.

I am writing an article for the Kwantlen Chronicle for the federal election issue. My article discusses the issue with wait times in Canada. Below are my attempts at creating a photo illustration to accompany my article.

Print issue on news stands September 29 (hopefully) at all Kwantlen campuses.
The article will soon be available online at kwantlenchronicle.ca
Link to follow.

Carnival of Sin rocked the Bourbon last Saturday in Vancouver. They call theymselves the best Motley Crue tribute band around. Judging by the crowd's reaction, they seemed to agree.




The medium-sized venue appeared slow, but as the band began to play the bar began to fill. Rockers united at the front of the mosh pit. Beers held in hands were raised into the air as a sign of cheers and head banging was out in full force.




The costumes are quite extravagant, including wigs, make-up and leather - lots of leather. The act consists of a drummer, lead singer and two guitarists. The act also includes female backup singers. The show consists of completely live music, nothing you hear at a COS show is previously recorded.



The band ended the show around midnight and began to mingle with fans and friends alike.



For individual bios and more information on the band, check out their website at http://www.carnivalofsin.net

Just Play.

Curious, it is, that when life is full and hectic one wishes for a break. When that break arrives, one wishes for stimulation. In both instances, my wishes were granted.

School has returned - or rather I have returned to it - and I find myself embracing caffeine and my MacBook. Neither of which were fully appreciated during my summer break in July and August.

The summer break was much appreciated, but dare I say, too long?

Only so much time could pass before the inevitable arrived and I came to remember why I want to be a writer - not a waitress. I began to dream of CP style and inverted pyramids, and began to have sinful desires to mistreat a rude persons cuisine or ignore an arrogant request. My mind wandered in circles without stopping for nothing was there to stop it.

Interestingly, I would like to blame my frustrations on something, but there is no one to blame but I. The mental stimulation for which I strived was all inside - waiting, lurking and screaming to be released.

Schools return has shown me the light, as has a birthday card that I received this summer. On the cover of the card it reads: Life is the music. You are the instrument. Just Play.