‘Change Is
coming soon

“We are a wave of change and together
we are unstoppable,” said Swedish
environmental activist, Greta Thunberg
Friday Oct. 25, in front of a crowd filled
with thousands of climate protestors
like herself.

Thunberg’s speech highlighted the 15
young Canadians who have sued the
Canadian federal government claiming
their rights have been violated due to

governmental contributions to climate

change.

Thunberg encouraged students to con-
tinue protesting each Friday afternoon
and encouraged working adults to leave

work.

“Change is coming whether you like it

or not,” Thunberg said.

LIAM HILL-ALLAN PHOTO

Downtown Florist flower shop, located on Vancouver's Davie Street, has sustained losses daily up to $150, said shop

owner Ali Tabasson. PALAK KLA/RE PHOTO

Shoplifting freely

Shopkeepers say more police action needed

By PALAK KLATRE

igh rent isn't the only

thing that challenges

Vancouver shops in the

downtown core. Some
small business owners say robbery
— sometimes with inadequate police
response — also contributes to major
difficulties.

Two Vancouver business owners
said they have struggled to get help
from the Vancouver Police Depart-
ment and are beginning to lose faith
in the justice system.

Statistics reported by the VPD in
2018 state that, Vancouver's Central
Business District alone, 4710 inci-
dents of theft were reported and the
city’s total was 12,270 reported inci-
dents in one year.

Vancouver police media spokes-
person, Constable Steve Addison
said they work quite closely with loss
prevention officers and take all calls
very seriously.

“If someone needs us, if some-

one calls us, we will attend,” Addi-
son said.

Yet, Downtown Florist shop
owner, Ali Tabasson, said he has
sustained losses from theft anywhere

from $100 to $150 daily. Although

“We callthe VPD to
report about the
issue, but they don't
answer [the call].”

—ALI TABASSON, DOWNTOWN FLORIST
SHOP OWNER

‘Tabasson said he has nabbed suspects
in the past, when he needed police,
he said often they do not respond.

"We call the VPD to report about
the issue, but they don't answer [the
call],” Tabasson said.

Amy’s Jr. Loonie Toonie Town
owner, Sui Huynh, said that her
business partner and husband have
sometimes needed to do the police’s

job when shoplifters come in — and
it could be dangerous.

“I am upset,” Huynh said.

With some small businesses being
pushed out of the downtown core
due to high rents, the theft of even
small items can be devastating.

“We rely on selling product to
pay this high rent... [stolen goods
valued] less than $50, they don't
seem to care,” said Huynh, of their
dollar store merchandise. “The law
seems to be in favour of shoplifting,”
she added.

Addison said the police don’t
measure the seriousness of the crime
by the value of the product.

“Anything ranging from high-end
products valued at several hundred
dollars, to someone stealing a bag of
chips and a chocolate bar, we will be
there,” Addison said.

On its website, the VPD offer
crime prevention and safety tips for
businesses which may discourage
shoplifters from targeting the busi-
ness.

Francophones
fraternize, unify

Vancouverites
want to learn
French, stats say

By HENRI NGIMBIS

alila Gonzales, a retired
businesswoman who immi-
grated from Peru 40 years

ago, said that although she learned
French while living in Montreal,
she appreciates the opportunity
to continue speaking French in
Vancouver.

Gonzales last week attended
the Rendez-vous Apéro, a type of
French cocktail hour put on by the
Alliance Frangaise de Vancouver,
where she can practise in the largely
Anglophone city.

The Alliance Francaise de Vancou-
ver, founded in 1904, provides
French courses and cultural activi-
ties where adults and young students
may come and learn.

“I am so fortunate to see such
events in Vancouver where I] can
practise my French,” said Gonza-
les, adding that being fluent in both
Canadian national languages helps
unify Canada.

Friday, Oct. 25, was the first social
gathering of the school year called
Rendez-vous Apéro: Celtic. Eloise
Loriot, the event coordinator of
the centre, said that this particu-
lar evening is always successful and

sees a bright future for students who
attend.

“Members come from all over
Vancouver, sometimes with their
families, to meet and talk with
friends in French, and to enjoy
French food,” Loriot said.

Attendance at the South Vancou-
ver French language learning centre
is on the rise and so is Francophone
influence in Vancouver.

Canadians understanding
the importance of their official
languages, English and French, is
becoming more popular. In a 2016
survey, French immersion enrolment
in schools increased 30 per cent
over the previous 10 years and those
who speak French a home in B.C.
increased 21 per cent over the prior
decade. The Alliance Francaise de
Vancouver has seen increases as well.

“We have observed an increase of
French learners of 35 per cent in the
last five years in all age groups in our
institution,” said Loriot, who added
that their students include federal
government workers and children
who would like to work within the
federal administration in the future.

Another participant, Eric Lebrun,
a Belgian chemical engineer who has
been living in Vancouver for 30 years,
also praised the unity of Canada
by the knowledge of French and
English languages.

“Knowing French and English
reinforces the unity of not only the
country but the community as well,”

Lebrun said.

Fifty-eight per cent of B.C.'s Francophone population live in the Lower

Mainland.

One-third of B.C.'s students are enrolled in core French programs.

Seven per cent of B.C.'s population are bilingual in English and French.
SOURCE: OFFICE OF THE COMMISSIONER OF OFFICIAL LANGUAGES, 2016