My friend Darcy Rezac, managing director of the Vancouver Board of Trade, phoned me one day during 2008 to arrange an introduction to a business associate of his, a senior executive with a multinational corporation. The friend was Evaleen Jaager Roy, a Harvard MBA who not only climbed the corporate ladder, but who had served with distinction on community boards as well, most notably the YWCA and the Simon Fraser University Board of Governors.

Darcy, a published author himself, explained that Evaleen had a unique idea for a book and that perhaps I might help guide her in the next steps.

It was impossible not to be both charmed and inspired by Evaleen's enthusiasm, determination and logic. In fact, it has been so much fun tracking her progress that the book became simply a good excuse for the next meeting.

With the help of mutual friend Umberto Menghi and three other noted chefs, the food content became fascinating stories, recipes and gorgeous photos. We introduced her to prominent names in the local gardening field - Elaine Stevens, Brian Minter and former Premier Bill Vander Zalm - and each of them became good stories. To further illustrate the west coast lifestyle that became the theme of the book, a meeting with internationally syndicated caricaturist Kerry Waghorn - a neighbour - grew into another feature.

It became apparent as the project marched toward publication that there were gaps in the four seasons photography, and my wife Patricia stepped into the breach with her usual extraordinary images, some taken specifically for the purpose.

Evaleen contracted with Peter Legge's talented team at Canada-Wide Media and the designers there turned this miscellaneous assembly of stories, philosophy, personality profiles, gardening advice and images into a terrific book.

Look for it soon in bookstores, leading garden centres or through on-line sellers. Start with the website www.fourchefsonegarden.com.

The developers of The Hotel Baru at Dominical on the Pacific Coast of Costa Rica have joint ventured with Queen Charlotte Lodge management for big game and inshore sports fishing.

Surrounded by hundreds of square miles of lush tropical vegetation and national wildlife preserves, the fishing potential is breathtaking. Several world records have been established in the area.
read the whole news release here

Greenscape Capital Announces 100%
Acquisition of Green.Switch

(VANCOUVER, Nov. 5, 2009) - Greenscape Capital Group Inc. (TSXV: - GRN) is pleased to announce that it has entered into a letter of intent (the "LOI") to acquire 100 percent of the issued and outstanding shares of Greenswitch Capital Ltd. ("Green.Switch") via a share transaction based on Earnings Before Income Tax, Depreciation and Amortization ("EBITDA"). Green.Switch has recently signed two major environmental (energy retrofit) contracts, one with Robbins Parking Services, headquartered in Victoria, B.C., Canada and one with Queen Charlotte Lodge at Naden Harbour near Masset, B.C., Canada.

read the whole news release here

A revolution in basket and planter watering
(TORONTO, ON - October 20, 2009) - A new patented watering device for hanging baskets and planters was made public here today at the opening of Garden Expo 2009.

The Basket/Planter Booster assures optimal plant moisture at all times, without timers or regular monitoring. It connects to any lawn faucet or water source (such as a bottle or container elevated higher than the Booster), it is very easy to install and requires little maintenance. It never over waters or under waters, conservation that is a vital consideration in many regions. Despite the perfect consistency of moisture in the planter or basket, this new invention reduces by 70 percent the water typically utilized in hand watering. All parts are rust and corrosion resistant. The system is almost invisible when installed and it can be left in place all year round. Water for the Basket/Planter Booster is gravity or pressure fed through a valve that releases drips based upon the weight of the basket or planter. There are no pressure regulators, filters or electronic components.
read the whole news release here

Registrar warns motor vehicle
consumers to watch for hidden fees
(SURREY, B.C. - 14 October, 2009) - The Registrar of Motor Dealers, Ken Smith, has urged vehicle buyers to make sure they know all of the costs they may face before concluding a purchase agreement.

"So-called 'documentation fees' and other extra charges undisclosed in vehicle advertising, are often added after the customer believes a final price has been negotiated," Smith said. "As in everything else, prices that seem 'too good to be true' most often are not true."
read the whole news release here

103 originals released for sale
(NORTH VANCOUVER, B.C., Canada - 20 March, 2009) - For the first time since 2004, renowned caricaturist Kerry Waghorn has released a selection of his original works for sale.

Since being founded by Chronicle Features in San Francisco in 1977, Kerry's Faces in the News feature became an international journalistic legend. Now represented by Universal Press Syndicate, his work has appeared in more than 400 publications in about 60 countries. The Waghorn archives, over the full-span of a 40-year career, contain 9,000 original images.

"We get enquiries all the time about the purchase of originals, but there are a few obstacles: I am very attached to these drawings and even when persuaded to part with one, I feel obligated to give the right of first refusal to the subject or their family, and, on top of that, I am invariably too busy with new work to retrieve them and prepare them for sale."
read the whole news release here

Queen Charlotte fishing lodge welcomes "the jet age"
(RICHMOND, B.C. -25 April, 2008) - British Columbia's world acclaimed salmon fishing in the remote northern reaches of the Queen Charlotte Islands, will take another giant stride this season as Air North 737 charter jet service speeds the sports adventurer guests to Masset, en route to Queen Charlotte Lodge (QCL) on Naden Harbour. From Masset, Helijet takes over with a luxury high-speed shuttle to the Lodge.

"This is yet another step in our determination to make our area - and Queen Charlotte Lodge in particular - the pre-eminent salmon fishing destination in the world," said QCL's managing partner Paul T. Clough. "When we announced the Helijet service in 2005, the speed and luxury comfort excited our whole industry. We are now confident that Air North as a partner, with their legendary experience in wilderness air and cargo service and their 737 comfort for most of our guests, will take us to yet another level."
read the whole article here

Oct 30-Nov 5, 2007; Issue 940

SFU eyed for mega-sports centre
Private company’s plan calls for a $250 million facility
that could include a World Doping Agency lab

By Andrew Petrozzi

North America’s second largest multi-use sport-medical facility could soon call Simon Fraser University’s Burnaby Mountain campus home.

The $250 million Burnaby Mountain Sport + Medical (BMSM) private sector development would include:

The project, which is scheduled to break ground next year, would be built on lands at the west end of campus that the university had earmarked for the Olympic speed skating oval before it was moved to Richmond.

The overall project is scheduled to be completed by the end of 2010, although some parts of it would be open earlier.

SFU would provide approximately nine acres of land for a nominal $25 for a 99-year lease and would in turn get majority use of the field house and substantial use of the rest of the facilities.

The project’s developer would cover the operating and maintenance costs.
read the whole article here

Milburn leads new economic development initiative

Veteran thoroughbred horse owner, trainer and industry executive David Milburn, a lawyer by profession, has been appointed to chair a new thrust to assess the economic foundation of both standardbred and thoroughbred horse racing in B.C., and to prepare an action plan for the future, exploring a "competition committee" model used successfully to manage the development of other professional sports.

A representative committee of racetrack managers, horse people (owners, trainers, association executives), marketers, communications specialists and horseplayers has been formed to explore what might be the best model for the future. Assisting in the project is Sam Hawkins, the Director of the Horse Racing Division, of the B.C. government's Gaming Policy and Enforcement Branch.

The vice-chair and secretary of the new committee is BANNERLINE's Gary Bannerman, who was also vice-chair of the B.C. Racing Commission's Economic Development Committee in 2000-2001, and author of the committee's 40,000-word report, The Road to Recovery. Milburn was also chair of that project.

New VSA web site launched

The regulatory authority for retail motor vehicle sales in British Columbia has gone through a complete new identity process during the past year. Formerly known as the Motor Dealer Council of B.C., it was believed that the old name was a disservice to the multifaceted role of the agency, equally dedicated to consumers and sales professionals as it is to servicing and regulating motor dealers.

BANNERLINE has been pleased to play a lead role in this process, and principally the work of graphic designer Christopher Clark of Serengeti Design Group Inc., Nigel Harvey of Pacific Printing and web designer Doug Cook of DigiCom WebDesign. Vehicle photography on the site is by Patricia Bannerman.

The projects were directed by the VSA's Diana Den Duyf, Director, Finance and Operations; and, Judy McRae, Manager, Corporate Services & Communications, with inputs from the entire VSA management team. www.vehiclesalesauthority.com
 

Vancouver spine conference: Regeneration breakthrough nears for discss

(VANCOUVER, B.C. 29 April, 2007) - Dr. Mark Erwin, a Toronto medical research scientist, told a conference here this weekend that he and his team are pursuing a breakthrough that could eliminate expensive and painful surgery for thousands of patients suffering from degenerative disc disease.

Dr. Erwin, a chiropractor who also has a PhD as a scientist, is an Assistant Professor, Department of Orthopaedic Surgery at the University of Toronto and Toronto Western Hospital. He holds the Canadian Chiropractic Research Foundation (CCRF) and Canadian Institutes of Health Research (CIHR) Chiropractic Research Chair at the University of Toronto.

The conference brought together some of the foremost research scientists in the world today dealing with neurophysiological issues. The British Columbia Chiropractic Association (BCCA), with the support of the School of Human Kinetics at the University of British Columbia and the School of Kinesiology at Simon Fraser University, hosted these distinguished doctors and scientists from several universities and major hospitals in Canada and the U.S., including one from Harvard Medical School.

One of the speakers, Dr. Greg Kawchuk of the University of Alberta and the University of Calgary said he was grateful to meet so many distinguished leaders in the field, adding that it is very rare that they have an opportunity to compare notes. "There is no clubhouse where we all hang out. This is a historic event, bringing us all together," Dr. Kawchuk said.

Dr. Erwin's report was eagerly anticipated by all of the doctors and scientists attending. He told the conference about his team's work concerning the biology of notochord cells and degenerative disease of the intervertebral disc. The investigation concerns the production of proteoglycan by nucleus pulposus chondrocytes and various aspects of cell signalling. This research is essential to enhancing our understanding of and the pathophysiology of this process.
Read the complete press release here (PDF)

Gotlib honoured by standing ovation

The Executive-Director of the Canadian Chiropractic Research Foundation (CCRF), Dr. Allan Gotlib, who has been instrumental in the establishment of research chairs at several Canadian universities, was honoured by his colleagues at the Vancouver Conference, Research 2007: The Spine Care Revolution.

Some of the foremost research scientists in the world today dealing with neurophysiological issues delivered papers at the April 27-28 conference, organized by the British Columbia Chiropractic Association, with the support of the School of Human Kinetics at the University of British Columbia, the School of Kinesiology at Simon Fraser University and CCRF.

When luncheon speaker Dr. Chris Martin of New Westminster, B.C., president of CCRF, thanked Dr. Gotlib for his years of work and commended him for the quantum leap in musculoskeletal research at major institutions, the response was a prolonged standing ovation from both the delegates - most of them doctors - and the eminent scientists in attendance.

The CCRF is the chiropractic profession’s primary national research funding organization and has been supporting worthy research projects since 1976. CCRF grants assist doctors of chiropractic to obtain their Masters and PhD degrees and to establish themselves in multidisciplinary research positions. The CCRF has also been instrumental in partnering with organizations such as the federal Canadian Institute for Health Research to establish Chiropractic Research Chairs in universities across the country.

Regulator of motor vehicle sales gets new name


BURNABY, B.C. (March 30, 2007) - As of this date, the Motor Dealer Council of B.C. (MDC) has become the Motor Vehicle Sales Authority of British Columbia (VSA), a new name for a new era, better reflecting both the public and industry service roles of the independent regulatory agency, ending any confusion with other business organizations.

MDC was created in 2004, one of the first examples in the province of a "delegated administrative authority," an innovative and alternative approach to the administration of the Motor Dealer Act, and other statutes that relate to consumers and motor vehicle sales. The VSA licenses and regulates more than 1,700 motor dealers and over 8,000 sales professionals, who engage in the retail sale of automobiles, light trucks, motorcycles and recreation vehicles. Read the press release here (PDF)

International Medical Journal Reports Success in Easing Fibromyalgia Pain

VANCOUVER (23 January, 2007) - A distinguished British medical journal, Clinical Rheumatology, has just published an article concerning the remarkable pain-reduction results of Farabloc, developed and manufactured by a Vancouver-headquartered company, in studies of patients suffering from fibromyalgia.

Fibromyalgia is a chronic condition characterized by fatigue and widespread pain in muscles, ligaments and tendons, creating multiple tender points. This rheumatic condition creates chronic pain at these tender points disturbing most normal activities. There is a predominance of women among those afflicted with the disease. Symptoms vary among patients from mild to severe but cures have been virtually non-existent. Debilitating side effects complicate many therapies based on chronic drug use.

The research report, The Efficacy of Farabloc, as an Analgesic in Primary Fibromyalgia, was authored by Dr. Gerhard L. Bach of Germany, who collected the clinical data, and Dr. Douglas B. Clement, Professor Emeritus, Division of Sports Medicine at the University of British Columbia, who compiled and analyzed the data. Professor Bach who has an academic affiliation with the Department of Medicine/Rheumatology at the University of Munich, conducted the research at Clinic Auerbach, Bensheim.

Farabloc, an electromagnetic shielding fabric, contains extremely fine stainless steel fibres and nylon, with an appearance similar to linen. This drug-free product has a significant shielding effect on high frequency electromagnetic fields (EMF) while permitting low frequency EMF through which stabilize the cell by polarization. Farabloc has been successfully used by many people in dealing with conditions causing chronic pain, e.g. osteoarthritis, carpal tunnel syndrome and reflex sympathetic disorder.  Read the complete press release here

SEE ALSO: www.farabloc.com

Squandering Billions continues during the "B.C. Conversation on Health"

RICHMOND (6 November, 2006) - A respected American think tank, in a report released last week in Washington, D.C., was the latest to criticize inefficiencies within health management in Canada, diagnostic mistakes and a failure to effectively use electronic records. Other studies have condemned the alarming growth of pharmaceutical costs, and chronic adverse events, yet the only debate seems to be how many more billions can be found to spend, with little or no effort made to link spending to patient outcomes. Read the complete press release here

Fedex and UPS "arrogant, deliberately unlawful and exploitative,"
court cases will prove

(VANCOUVER, B.C., 27 October, 2006) - A class action law suit filed here Thursday against Fedex parallels one commenced against United Parcel Services Canada Ltd. (UPS) last week. The actions concern the assessment of uncontracted "brokerage" fees on United States products delivered to Canada, a charge not specified in the sales contract.

The suits have been filed by the law firm of Poyner Baxter LLP of North Vancouver under B.C.’s "Class Proceedings Act." Such a suit is typically brought in the name of one or more individuals as “representative of a class,” and, if successful, would apply to every such brokerage charge levied on Fedex and UPS customers in this province. In the examples cited in the two actions, the claimants were each charged fees in the $30 - $40 range for a service which could have been provided by Canada Post for five dollars.

Poyner Baxter are working closely with the prominent Ontario law firm Siskinds, headquartered in London, and lawyer Daniel Bach, in a national legal strategy to ensure that every Canadian victim of these unconscionable practices is represented. Actions will imminently commence in Ontario and elsewhere.
Read the rest of the press release here

B.C. Crime Stoppers win prestigious international awards

VANCOUVER (12 October, 2006) - Greater Vancouver and Prince George Crime Stoppers earned prestigious honours earlier this month at the annual Crime Stoppers International Conference at Albuquerque, New Mexico.

The conference celebrated the 30th anniversary of Crime Stoppers, which now has 1,400 programs in 23 countries. British Columbia programs were among the earliest pioneers.

Among the awards presented for 2005 were:

• CIVILIAN OF THE YEAR - Shirley Stocker, among the founders of Crime Stoppers in B.C. and the current provincial president.
• MOST PROPERTY RECOVERED - Greater Vancouver Crime Stoppers
• BEST RADIO - SPECIAL REPORTS/FEATURES (communities 400,000 - 750,000) - CKNW AM 980 and MOJO Radio, and Greater Vancouver Crime Stoppers.
• BEST NEWSPAPER/SPECIAL REPORTS FEATURES (communities 75,000 - 250,000) - Prince George Free Press and Prince George Crime Stoppers

Read the complete press release here
Related links:
About Shirley Stocker
Bannerman letter endorsing the nomination (PDF)

Chiropractic research professorship awarded at UBC

(RICHMOND, B.C., 12 October, 2006) - The Faculty of Education and the School of Human Kinetics at the University of British Columbia announced here today the appointment of Dr. Jean-Sebastien Blouin as Assistant Professor in Human Kinetics in the named position, Canadian Chiropractic Research Foundation Professorship in Spine Biomechanics and Neuro-Physiology.

The British Columbia Chiropractic Association (BCCA), the School of Human Kinetics, other UBC professionals and the Canadian Chiropractic Research Foundation, cooperatively evolved this landmark education and research advance.

"It is an honour and a privilege for our profession to participate in the distinguished research tradition of this great university," said Dr. Don Nixdorf, the executive director of the BCCA . "We are obviously grateful to the Canadian Chiropractic Research Foundation, but even more importantly, to all of the individual family chiropractors who support research and education in BC.
Read the complete press release here

Odometer tampering gets jail term

NORTH VANCOUVER, B.C. (October 11, 2006) - Criminal charges related to odometer tampering, counselling sales tax evasion and selling vehicles without a valid motor dealer licence, has landed a North Vancouver man a three-month jail sentence and fines totalling $23,000.

Ramin Karamali had been charged following a joint investigation by ICBC, Motor Dealer Council of BC (MDC) and the RCMP. Karamali, also known as Raymond, and sometimes with the surname Caramel, Carmali or Karmali, was operating as a so-called "curber," an unlicensed person unlawfully engaged in the business of selling cars to the public.

Read the complete press release here

Class action suit seeks refund of unlawfully collected school fees

(VANCOUVER, B.C., 5 October, 2006) - A class action suit filed today in the Supreme Court of B.C. against the provincial government claims on behalf of parents a refund of unlawfully collected school fees.

The suit was filed Thursday by the law firm of Poyner Baxter LLP of North Vancouver under B.C.’s "Class Proceedings Act." Such a suit is typically brought in the name of one or more individuals as "representative of a class," and, if successful, would apply to every unlawful fee payment collected in the province, past and present.

In today's action, the Statement of Claim cites the father of two North Vancouver students, one currently in Grade 10 and the other in Grade 8. They had been assessed additional fees since kindergarten, and the law suit lists special charges this year totaling $169.50 for one student, and $165 for the other.
Read the rest of the press release here

March 21-27, 2006; issue 856

Profile: Ken Smith
Auto pilot
By Andrew Petrozzi

Education and professional development are just as important as enforcement when it comes to regulating the province’s motor vehicle industry, according to Ken Smith, the 58-year-old inaugural president and registrar of the Motor Dealer Council of British Columbia.

With his extensive background in mediation, law, regulatory regimes and education, Smith was a natural choice to lead the newly created industry council when it started operations in April 2004.

Instead of demonizing the industry by keying on enforcement, Smith focused his approach on improving it through education, licensing and professional training, while ensuring those who broke the rules were held accountable.

“We’re an independent regulatory agency that has been delegated the authority to use certain pieces of legislation to create a successful marketplace,” said Smith, whose modest corner office is located at MDC’s headquarters in a Burnaby industrial park and features pictures and images of his passions – family and sailing.

Read the complete article here

Prominent Prince George auto dealers fined

BURNABY, B.C. (6 January, 2006)
Northland Dodge Chrysler Ltd. and Northland Motor Holdings Ltd. of Prince George have been disciplined by the Registrar of Motor Dealers for a consistent pattern of unacceptable business practices. Northland Dodge Chrysler has been fined $50,000. Northland Motor Holdings Ltd., which also does business as Northland Hyundai, was fined $10,000.

In his ruling, the Registrar, Ken Smith, cited a number of violations to the Motor Dealer Act and the Business Practices and Consumer Protection Act, including a failure to clearly identify dealer ownership in their advertising; incorrect pricing of vehicles on display; the employment of unlicensed salespersons; failure to disclose "total asking price" of vehicles; improper pricing and innumerable "deceptive" advertising practices.

Read the complete press release here

Class action suit seeks repayment of PST on legal fees

(VANCOUVER, B.C., 22 December, 2005) - If a Supreme Court of B.C. class action suit filed here yesterday is successful, the provincial government may have to refund hundreds of millions of dollars in illegally collected sales tax on legal services since 1993.

The suit was filed by the law firm of Poyner Baxter LLP of North Vancouver, which works predominantly in the field of class action suits. The action follows a December 20 majority decision of the British Columbia Court of Appeal, granting "a declaration that to the extent that the Act purports to tax legal services related to the determination of rights and obligations by courts of law or independent administrative tribunals, it is unconstitutional as offending the principal of access to justice, one of the elements of the rule of law."

"This has been a shocking situation... Read the rest of the press release here

Dealer licenses cancelled

BURNABY, B.C. (3 November, 2005) The Registrar of Motor Dealers has cancelled the licenses of Mirage Auto Sales Ltd. of Burnaby and New Westminster, citing that this company has "persistently" operated in an improper fashion, and that "this dealer has little or no respect for the laws in British Columbia as they apply to selling motor vehicles to the general public."

In his ruling, the Registrar, Ken Smith, stated that Mirage principals have been uncooperative with MDC investigators and failed to heed numerous warnings. Named in the Mirage ruling were the owner, Alireza Ghavami and his son Amir Reza Ghavami, (Tony).

The Motor Dealer Council is an administrative authority established pursuant to the laws of British Columbia and has been delegated the responsibility of administering the Motor Dealer Act and related regulations. The legislation requires that all businesses selling motor vehicles to the public in British Columbia, and all salespersons working for those businesses, be properly licensed. The Registrar of Motor Dealers issues and oversees the administration of these licenses.

The Registrar said... The complete press release may be read here

Ownership change at Venue West
(Vancouver, B.C., 22 July, 2005) - Nils and Sue Daugulis have acquired all shares and assets of Vancouver’s preeminent conference management firm, Venue West Conference Services Ltd..

Earlier this year it had been announced that Sue Daugulis, a travel industry veteran and long-time friend of Venue West and its founder, the late Betty Fata, had joined the company in the capacity of vice-president, marketing, and a member of the Board of Directors. She now becomes president, succeeding Lou Cox, one of Venue West's founders. Her husband Nils, a partner in the law firm of Bull, Housser and Tupper, will serve as chief executive officer, while continuing in the practice of law.

"We view this as more of a transition than a departure from Venue West's legacy," Sue Daugulis said. "The three surviving partners will remain as consultants, available as needed, and it will be business as usual for the outstanding staff, clients and international networks."
Read the complete press release here

Boatswain's call launches "The Heritage District"
Former Vancouver mayor Owen named "Honourary President"
(VANCOUVER, B.C., 29 June, 2005) - In a ceremony presided over by former mayor Philip W. Owen, a naval officer sounded a "Boatswain's call" here tonight, to inaugurate "The Heritage District on Hastings West", a neighbourhood offering the most prestigious concentration of luxury retail stores in Western Canada, including some of the world's most renowned brands.

Mr. Owen was assisted by prominent historian Chuck Davis who related some of the history of the street and particularly the 1929 start of construction of the renowned Marine Building. Excavation for that structure commenced when the mayor of the day, W.H. Malkin, blew a golden whistle. Malkin, like Owen, was a noted retailer and wholesaler.

The Hastings Waterfront Business Association was incorporated late in 2004 to represent member businesses, expected to grow in time to include adjacent streets and nearby waterfront locations. Their choice of a marketing brand honours the prestigious history of this area.
See the press release for the whole story & more pictures

Eli Lilly must treat Canadian Zyprexa
victims the same as Americans
(NORTH VANCOUVER, B.C., 13 June, 2005) -Drug giant Eli Lilly and Company announced last week a $US 690 million offer to settle 5,000 claims emanating from the negative side-effects of Zyprexa, a drug prescribed for the treatment of schizophrenia and conditions such as bipolar disorder.
See the press release for the whole storyry

New Bannerman-Nixdorf book, a shocker!
(VANCOUVER, 16 May, 2005) - A new book authored by Gary Bannerman and Dr. Don Nixdorf, a brutally frank indictment of health spending and mismanagement in Canada, will be released near the end of June, 2005...

...Squandering Billions demonstrates that the absolute power of medical doctors, pharmaceutical companies, health bureaucrats and hospital administrators, enshrines mediocrity at the expense of patients. Read the press release - More book details here

Prominent tourism marketer joins Venue West
Venue West, founded in 1970, has been instrumental in attracting to Vancouver and managing all services related to some of the most prestigious international congresses ever held in Western Canada. Betty Fata, who died early in 2004, was the most publicly prominent member of this professional team, a past-president of the International Association of Professional Congress Organizers.

Sue Daugulis and Betty Fata had been close personal friends for over 25 years, as they pursued separate careers within the tourism industry. It is Betty’s dynamic sales and marketing role that she has now been asked to fill.
See press releasese

Government’s sincerity on Woodlands questioned
(NORTH VANCOUVER, B.C., 3 March, 2005) - Lawyers behind a class action law suit brought on behalf of an estimated 1,500 former residents of Woodlands School, most severely handicapped, questioned government comments earlier this week in the Legislature.

On Monday, 15 victims of abuse at Woodlands, and their caregivers, travelled to Victoria. They met with Opposition MLAs and were introduced in the Legislature. When New Democratic Party members Joy MacPhail and Jenny Kwan put questions to Premier Gordon Campbell, evasive responses came from Children and Family Development Minister Stan Hagen and Finance Minister Colin Hansen.
See release for more

Solara retains communications specialist
As Solara prepares for a public launch, the company has retained a communications specialist, a former broadcaster, journalist and the author of several books, who has served as a consultant to a broad range of corporations since 1989. This Solara release tells more

British Columbia class action suits target Celebrex and Zyprexa
Two more prescription drugs have become the subject of British Columbia class action law suits, with victims claiming that the pharmaceutical companies involved “knew or ought to have known” that these products, proposed to treat certain conditions, had disastrous side effects.....
See release for more

An incredible day for B.C. horse racing
The opening of the full casino at Fraser Downs in November, 2004, and a referendum victory focused on the redevelopment of Sandown Park, near Victoria, marked the successful conclusion of an 8-year campaign to win for horse racing fairer levels of taxation, better government policy and permission to participate in the broader gaming environment.

The complete $25 million reconstruction of Fraser Downs will be completed in April 2005. The same modern, high quality redevelopment will soon commence at Sandown, although more modest in scale.

But the big news at year-end was the sale of the business to Great Canadian Gaming Corporation, which had consolidated ownership of Hastings Park and the thoroughbred sector earlier in 2004.
This Fraser Downs news release tells the story.

British Columbians sue Sony
(NORTH VANCOUVER, B.C., 22 November, 2004) - Defective Sony wide screen television sets are the focus of a class action lawsuit initiated on behalf of British Columbia consumers.

The action against Sony concerns numerous models of wide screen Rear Projection Cathode Ray Tube televisions and was filed by the law firm of Poyner Baxter of North Vancouver, which works predominantly in the field of class action suits.
Read the whole release herere

BC Chiropractic Association approves new WCB agreement
(RICHMOND, B.C., 4 November, 2004) - British Columbia’s Doctors of Chiropractic have approved a new four-year agreement with the province’s Workers Compensation Board.

Back injuries and problems related to the spine constitute the second most frequent cause of WCB claims (about 25% of all claims costs), impacting employees, employers and the economy in the hundreds of millions of dollars each year. Claims and disputes involving back issues are by far the most constant and costly faced by the WCB.
Read the whole release here

Vioxx class action Initiated for British Columbians
(NORTH VANCOUVER, B.C., 4 October, 2005) - British Columbians who may have been put at risk because of the drug VIOXX, will be represented in a class action law suit filed October 1, 2004, in the Supreme Court of British Columbia.

The suit against Merck Frosst Canada Ltd. and associated firms, developers and promoters of VIOXX, was initiated by the law firm of Poyner Baxter of North Vancouver, which works predominantly in the field of class action suits. It will parallel similar litigation worldwide..
Read the whole release here

Law suit launched against BC Government
Bannerline clients Jim Poyner and Ken Baxter have launched a class action law suit against the B.C. government for "callous, arrogant" neglect of students with dyslexia. Read the rest of the story here as a PDF

Exciting Addition to the Harness Racing Sport
Fraser Downs' interim gaming centre opens April 5, 2004, an exciting addition to the harness racing sport for which the venue is famous. Read all about the new events and the vision for this industry in two new publications prepared by BANNERLINE for this client.

Artist impression of new Fraser Downs entrance area (click for detail))))

Harness Racing in British Columbia - A New Era Dawns
Sandown Park - Update 2004 (PDF 356kb - March 27, 2004)

Fraser Downs to commence $25 million redevelopment
(December, 2003) Orangeville Raceway Ltd., operators of the British Columbia harness racing centres, Fraser Downs in Surrey, and Sandown Park in Sidney/North Saanich, expect to begin construction at Fraser Downs in early 2004, to create a modern entertainment centre. This will include a slot machine casino. The company has recently reached agreement with the City of Surrey for a new long-term lease on the Cloverdale Fairgrounds. Final approval of the expansion, including machine gaming, is believed to be imminent. The development is a partnership between Orangeville and the British Columbia Lottery Corporation, and parallels similar racetrack developments elsewhere in Canada. The new attraction is expected to greatly enhance purses and improve the sport for both fans and horsemen. 
( (www.fraserdowns.com)

Ipsos-Reid survey says B.C. chiropractors "own" back care issues in this province