1. By Steph Troughton
newsroom@mapleridgenews.com
Protesting the proposed devel-
opment of a seven-hectare rock
quarry on Sheridan Hill has been
ongoing, but not in the form of
public rallies or demonstrations.
Katzie First Nation chief Susan
Miller says her band of 552 mem-
bers, occupying three of their five
reserves, has been continuing to
meet with ministry officials and
planning next steps for what ac-
tion to take should the develop-
ment application proceed.
The applicant, Meadows Quar-
ry of Maple Ridge, is proposing
to remove the top 30 metres of
Sheridan Hill, reducing tis height
from 75 to 45 metres. That process
would involve removing 240,000
tonnes of rock a year.
In March, Miller made it known
her band was opposed to the pro-
posal because Sheridan Hill has
historical significance to the Katz-
ie people, and because it is part of
the territory her band has claimed
in the treaty process.
She remains confident the pro-
posal won’t advance to develop-
ment.
“This quarry will not move
ahead in our traditional territory,”
Miller said. “ … we have proven
strength of claim. There’s no ques-
tion about that.”
The Katzie band is currently in
Stage 4 of six in the treaty process.
The band is considering a settle-
ment offer of land and cash from
the Canadian government and is
moving toward self-governance.
The Katzie are among thousands
who oppose the project and have
signed a petition organized by
neighbors of the proposed quarry.
The petition is online and at city
hall, in hard copy format, for any-
one to sign.
At last count, more than 2,500
people had signed the online pe-
tition and hundreds had signed
paper copies.
“This issue has engaged a huge
number of people, both inside
and outside of Pitt Meadows, and
I believe it will continue to do so,”
Pitt Meadows Mayor John Becker
said.
In their efforts to continue with
reminding the public about the
negative effects of the project,
Becker said a display will be set up
for Pitt Meadows Day on June 6.
The proposal is currently in the
hands of the B.C. Ministry of En-
ergy and Mines. Becker said he
did not expect to hear a response
from the ministry about the proj-
ect before the end of summer.
By Steph Troughton
newsroom@mapleridgenews.com
Dozens of children as
young as 10 who live
in the Maple Ridge-Pitt
Meadows school dis-
trict are learning to be-
come leaders.
Annually, the Dis-
trict Student Advisory
Council works with
approximately 100 stu-
dents in grades 5 to 7
who, throughout the
year, take part in vari-
ous activities that range
from volunteering in
schools and the com-
munity to fundraising
for charities such as the
B.C. Children’s Hospi-
tal.
Olivia Leaf, in Grade
10 at Samuel Robert-
son Technical Second-
ary grade and DSAC
co-chair, said she feels
the experience for the
students involved helps
build their confidence so
they can lead initiatives
themselves as they start
to appreciate the impor-
tance of their commu-
nity contributions.
“It’s very important
for these kids to realize
how even a small con-
tribution can make such
a big impact.”
Leaf, who started with
the leadership program
in elementary school,
plans to continue until
she graduates because
she loves working with
younger students.
“These kids are amaz-
ing. They have the great-
est ideas about how they
can make their commu-
nities better.”
Students who take
part in the program
were recognized at a
year-end event called
Celebration of Respect.
Held Monday at the
Greg Moore Youth Cen-
tre, the event incorpo-
rated six workshops, as
well as a donation pre-
sentation to children’s
hospital.
Students raised $3,248
for the hospital this
year.
Katzie continue to fight quarry
THE NEWS/files
Debbie and Susan Miller of the Katzie Band claim the proposed quarry for
Sheridan Hill would be on disputed native land.
Kids learning to become leaders