ssues & ideas EDITOR BRENNA BROOKS THE DAILY VOICE, WEDNESDAY, NOVEMBER 27, onl Woman charged with murder Accused arrested Sunday in Quebec City following the 2011 killing of George Antone, 71, a Kwantlen First Nation elder, in his home on McMillan Island near Fort Langley By TAMMY ENGLISH First Nations elder was found mur- dered at home in a tiny community on McMillan Island near Fort Langley. Now, almost three years after his death, charges have been laid in the killing of George Antone. Michele Marie Serdar, 41, was ar- rested in Quebec City on Sunday. She will face a second-degree mur- der charge in a B.C. court within a |: March 2011, a 71-year-old Kwantlen week, according to Sgt. Bari Emam of the Integrated Homicide Investigation Team (IHIT). Serdar has a criminal record in B.C. Court records indicate she was convict- ed in 2011 of break-and-enter with in- tent to commit an offence. “Today’s announcement is the result of an extensive investigation that last- ed over two years,” Emam said. “The co-operation and assistance of the Kwantlen First Nations community was also instrumental in the success of this investigation.” Tumia Knott, a spokesperson from the Kwantlen First Nation, thanked THIT for their efforts. “We look at today as one step closer for closure on this matter for our family who have been through so much. “We await the judicial process to be- gin, as we continue to remember and mourn the loss of our dear elder. “We wish for closure for the family. We pray that the truth will be revealed and for justice to prevail.” JOHN GORDON, LANGLEY TIMES photo Kwantlen elder George Antone was killed in 2011. South Vancouver residents are up in arms about the possibility of rezoning Casa Mia, a heritage home on Southwest Marine Drive. BEN BULMER photo Mansion rezoning upsets residents The Care Group is planning to turn $10 million Casa Mia into private-care seniors home By BEN BULMER n anticipated private seniors home is causing a ruckus with Southlands resident group. The proposed re-zoning of Casa Mia, the 1932 Spanish Revival- style mansion on Southwest Marine Drive is raising concern among local residents. Maureen McIntosh and Lynn Aar- vold of The Care Group purchased the site in 2010 for $10 million and submit- ted a re-zoning application to Vancou- ver city council on Oct. 25. The Care Group, which runs several private care homes around Vancouver, have proposed a three-storey addition to the Spanish mansion with 62 rooms, 16 parking spaces and a green roof. “If you look at what’s in that neigh- borhood, it doesn’t fit for a variety of reasons,” said Joe McDermid of the Southlands Community Association. McDermid said that its poor access to transit, shops and community cen- tres made the location undesirable. The property sits 500 metres from a bus stop and 900 metres from banks and convenience stores. When he originally heard that a care facility was coming to the neighbour- hood he envisioned a similar develop- ment to Canuck Place saying that it fits in very well. “Tf this is what’s coming to the neigh- bourhood, then that’s great,” said Mc- Dermid. “But it’s not even close to that.” McDermid’s concerns were with traffic congestion and parking. “It’s just the wrong thing in the wrong place,” said McDermid, denying that it was a case of “not-in-my-back- yard.” Local business owner Jennifer May- nard opposes the re-zoning application and is concerned that if passed, in a few years the site would become bigger again. “T think it’s a stupid idea because if you open along Marine Drive, how are all the Filipinos who are going to work there going to get there?” said May- nard. “And how are they going to cross the street and where is all the parking go- ing to go?” Maureen Douglas, a representative of The Abbeyfield Houses of Vancouver senior supportive living centre, said they are currently full and rarely drop below 95 per cent occupancy. “With the aging population it’s a giv- en that there will be more seniors needing care,” said Douglas. Columbus Residence seniors home also confirmed its 76-unit occupancy is full, and always remains that way. Casa Mia owner Maureen McIntosh and councillor Andrea Reimer were unable to comment by copy deadline. WEDNESDAY, DECEMBER 4 5-8 P.M. RYERSON UNITED CHURCH 2195 WEST 45 AVE. The community open house will be hosted by the City of Vancouver. Rezoning applicant staff and city staff members will be present and available to answer questions from residents West Coast has huge potential for tiny house movement 66 It makes life easier for me mentally to have less and then focus on other things Shauna Langfield Wheeled houses between 100 and 300 square feet gaining in popularity By GAVIN FISHER ove over laneway houses - Mees a new small house in town, and this one comes on wheels. Meet the tiny house. As the name suggests, tiny houses are be- tween 100 and 300 square feet, usually mounted on top of a flat-bed trailer. “For a lot of people it makes a lot of sense,” says John McFarlane, who has been building tiny houses over the past three years. McFarlane used to design high-end residential homes and highrises before starting his own tiny house company, Western Camera Buildings, which he runs out of a co-operative workshop in East Vancouver. While the concept of tiny houses is nothing new, McFarlane says they are becoming increasingly popular in the Vancouver area. McFarlane equates this with the growing trend of small-house projects along the West Coast. Vancouver updated its laneway housing regulations in July, while cit- ies like Portland and San Diego have their own small-house programs. “There’s a will to create these things,” McFarlane says. “They’re ad- dressing the fundamental issue, which is affordable housing in nice places.” McFarlane says there is significant interest in tiny houses, both from young adults looking for a “lifestyle house” and from the aging population who want a simple, manageable home. Shauna Langfield, 26, sees tiny hous- es as a more sustainable and minimal- istic way of living. “It’s amazing how little you do need in life. It makes life easier for me men- tally to have less and then focus on other things,” she says. Langfield took a 10-week women’s woodworking and carpentry course earlier this year. Wanting to work on tiny houses specifically, Langfield sought out Western Camera Buildings for an apprenticeship. She is currently designing her own tiny home, which she plans to build herself. “Living in B.C. is expensive and a tiny house is doable for me. I like the fact that I can build it as well, and cus- tomize it,” Langfield explains. McFarlane admits tiny homes are not for everyone — particularly those who have large families or like expan- sive spaces — but it makes sense for some. And in Vancouver, where affordable housing and density is a concern, Mc- Farlane says tiny houses may be one of the solutions.