Let’s take another step back in time and check out what was happening in the pages of the Delta Optimist on this day in 1982.
The lead story in the Aug. 11 edition was 120 Delta teachers facing layoff notices as the school board had to cut an additional $1.2 million under the restraint program recently implemented by the Social Credit government. Board chair Caroline Porter said, “This is going to have a horrendous affect in the school district.” One solution explored was having a salary rollback.
Some of the other ads that ran in the Aug. 11, 1982 edition of the Optimist included Video World at the Tsawwassen Town Centre Mall, Boston Pizza and Cask Surf restaurants, both on 56th Street and Matterhorn Pastries and Overwaitea in Ladner. Richmond Toyota was advertising free Disneyland trips with the purchase of a vehicle
Another story was Delta MLA Walter Davidson writing a “strong letter” to Municipal Affairs Minister Bill Vander Zalm, calling on him to halt a proposed regional landfill at Burns Bog.
Another story in that edition covered the Tsawwassen Business Association also writing to the provincial government expressing strong opposition to the plan. TBA member Ken Bjorge said there was enough garbage already being dumped into the bog with only Delta and Vancouver using it.
Seated proudly at the wheel of his K-9 car is Yorkshire terrier ‘Pepper’ who was named overall winner in the Tsawwassen Sun Festival’s pet dog show
Another item in the edition was about Delta Mayor Ernie Burnett telling the TBA that the municipality is having to borrow money due to a number of businesses that haven’t yet paid their 1982 property tax bills. The previous year the municipality started legal proceedings against a number of businesses.
“I don’t think it is fair to taxpayers who have paid their taxes to let those other taxpayers off the hook,” he said.
The ‘teenagers’ of the Kinsmen Seniors Recreation Centre marched and rode down 56th Street for the Sun Festival parade
Another story covered a detailed report on mosquito control in Delta that left council members convinced there was little which could be done about the increased number of mosquitos in Tsawwassen “except to use insect repellant and a quick swat.”
That edition of the Optimist also had a feature story about two members of the Royal Air Force’s maintenance crew who took part in the Falkland Island War paying a visit to Tsawwassen to see relatives. They said they found the peacefulness of Tsawwassen a pleasant change.
The sports section included a lengthy piece on Delta Cablevision capturing the gold medal in the Division 1 Lacrosse Provincial Championship.
More than 500 runners took part in the fourth annual Groundbreakers half-marathon a few days earlier. The starting point was the Town & Country Inn with the finish line at Centennial Beach
Workers outside the Ladner Liquor Store began their strike early as most of the B.C. Government Employees Union hit the picket lines that year
People of all ages enjoyed a game of bingo at the Tsawwassen Sun Festival at Winskill Park
