Citizens for Livable Cranbrook Society create defining moment for city

The Citizens for a Livable Cranbrook Society has created a defining moment in the history of this small city in the southeastern corner of British Columbia as citizens now prepare to vote in a referendum on a boundary expansion proposal supported by Mayor Scott Manjak and the majority of the council.

City council decided on September 14 to hold a referendum after its effort to gain approval for the boundary expansion using an alternative approval process, supported by first term Mayor Scott Manjak and the majority of council went down to a resounding defeat when the grassroots group obtained more than 3000 signatures opposing the council's action. The group received more than twice as many as the 1475 required to halt the council decision. The referendum is scheduled for November 14, 2009.


Manjak and Councillors Denise Pallesen, Liz Schatschneider, Angus Davis, Jim Wavrecan and Diana J. Scott, who voted for the AAP totally misread the citizens they represent, but upon reflection, it may have been a good thing for Cranbrook in the long term as citizens pro and con the boundary expansion are now energized and involved in the local political scene. This mayor and council were elected almost a year ago by about 30% of the eligible voters who turned out on election day. Councillor Bob Whetham opposed the AAP.

There can be little doubt that no matter the referendum result, the next municipal election campaign, although just over two years from now, will be already underway, and a major issue will be the type of community the citizens want, and the people they want to lead it. The defining moment for Cranbrook will continue for some time, and that's good.

The lines are now being drawn as the boundary expansion campaigns get underway with a "yes vote" group of "concerned citizens" setting up a campaign office, hiring a campaign manager, launching a web site, running a full page ad in local newspapers, handing out yes buttons and holding a "catered lunch" to launch its campaign. That's in the first week. A co-chair of the group is Brian Sims, who announced that he has taken a leave of absence from his duties as president of the Cranbrook Chamber of Commerce to be involved.

If I owned the land in question, I would be absolutely delighted to have a group of "concerned" citizens launching such an aggressive campaign really on my behalf. And I am sure everyone would love to have a city council that spends taxpayer dollars on advertisements urging the people it represents, even those opposed to its decision, to vote yes in the referendum, do the same for their pet projects. After all, the whole boundary expansion issue has arisen as result of an application from companies that own the land.

Had the Citizens for a Livable Cranbrook Society not opposed the AAP, the mayor in one of his advertisements would not have offered to remove submitted forms from those who changed their minds, I would never have become interested in the issue. Obviously British Columbia law is not clear on this one, and it should be and that is matter for the legislature.

At the council meeting of September 14, speaking in favour of a motion to proceed to a referendum, Manjak referred to the local chamber of commerce as "our community partner", which represented the community's "business leaders." I have nothing against a chamber of commerce, but I am concerned about a mayor referring to it as a "partner" in effect giving it special status. As a result I visited the local chamber's web site and discovered that the city's chief administrative officer is a member of an "advisory" group to the board of directors and attends its meetings. Councillors Schatschneider and Pallesen are also listed there although the latter is noted as representing "DBA" which is the Downtown Business Association.

Apparently the chamber is supporting the council's boundary expansion decision, but according to a recent letter in the Cranbrook Daily Townsman, all members are not happy with that decision.

I would respectfully suggest to the mayor and council that it move to strictly an arm's length relationship with the chamber of commerce, as they really only have one partner. It is the citizens of Cranbrook that elected them to office, not any organization within the city that may or may not always have the same interests as a council must have in serving all the people.

Had the grassroots group not taken action, I would not have been looking around. I received an email from a reporter this past week who had been reading my blog, and it said in part that my "journalistic juices" must be flowing. Indeed they are.

Most importantly though, I hope the citizens of Cranbrook will stay energized at this defining moment in the life of their community.

Vancouver Sun writer weighs in on Cranbrook boundary referendum and Jumbo Resort

Daphne Bramham of the Vancouver Sun has written an excellent piece -- much food for thought in it -- on the Cranbrook city council decision to pursue the Alternative Approval Process and now after being defeated on that one by the grassroots, has approved a referendum on its desire to extend the city's boundaries. The referendum is set for November 14, 2009.

Daphne also writes about the Regional District of East Kootenay decision on the proposed Jumbo Resort.

A good read at http://www.vancouversun.com/news/citizens+battle+heard+local+town+halls/2003164/story.html


COMING THIS WEEKEND!!!!! The Battle Lines are Drawn in Cranbrook Referendum Debate

Hockey history made as seven members of Hong family appear in one game - including referee and female player

After chatting with Bill Hong (Yen's son) and Geoffrey Hong (Jim's son) at a great party at the home of Harry 'Butch"  and Brigitte Pellow, in Toronto recently, and with hockey season upon us, I decided to update this story first done five years ago. I also had pics of Bill and Geoff from the party.

Bill and I are talking hockey and the movies while Geoff is putting finishing touches on a Boston Cream pie made famous by his grandmother Mrs. "Ma" Hong. His Aunt Jean is supervising.

Here is the story:

Leave it to one of the pioneer families of Chapleau, Ontario to have undoubtedly made hockey history in a Bantam tournament more than 20 years ago. I don't believe anyone has ever reported until now (first in the Chapleau Express of September 12, 2009 in my column) that seven members of the same family, including the referee and team captain who was female were all members of the Hong family.

In 1924 Fong Hong opened the Boston Cafe in Chapleau, a small community on the main line of the Canadian Pacific Railway in northern Ontario. After his death the restaurant was operated for many years by "Ma Hong", his wife. It is now known as Honger's at the same location and is owned by Jim Hong, one of Fong Hong's sons.

Bill Hong, who played on the team, shared the story of all seven of his family members participating in the same hockey game recently. Bill is the son of Yen Hong, the eldest member of the family, who owned the Bridgeview Motel adjacent to the family restaurant. Yen retired in 2009

Bubbie, one of Yen Hong's daughters and to the best of my knowledge the first girl to play organized hockey in Chapleau was on the team and was also the captain. Bill commented: " How do you think I felt with my sister as captain of the hockey team!" Bill played defense while his sister played right wing.

Jim Hong was the referee and his son Murray was one of the linesmen. Three more of his sons --Geoff on defense, Doug at centre and Barry on left wing were all named on the scoresheet.

Bill said this was how the scoresheet looked with seven members of the same family on it.

No mention was made of the final score in the game.

The Hong family was involved in Chapleau hockey for many years and ``Ma Hong`` as she was fondly known was a hockey mom of course. When Bill contacted me with his story, I immediately recalled another anecdote involving them and hockey but this one took place in the Boston Cafe.

Lillian (Donivan) Therriault told the story in Chapleau Trails, edited by Dr. William R. `Bill`Pellow, a member of another Chapleau pioneer family.

Ma Hong let the boys turn the restaurant into a hockey arena on two successive Sundays and the front entrance door and back kitchen door were used as goalposts. Over the next two Sundays, the boys ``easily managed to wreak havoc on the family business breaking the glass in the front door and destroying the large wind-up pendulum clock hanging over the back door.```

Ma Hong closed the arena!!!!

(My thanks to Bill Hong for the story, and to all the Hong family for many happy memories of growing up around the Boston Cafe )