Secretary of State for Multiculturalism and Canadian Identity Jason Kenney will be in Surrey, home to more than 100,000 Indo-Canadians, this Saturday to make an announcement on the "Historical Recognition Program" funding for the 1914 Komagata Maru incident.

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SHOULD PUBLIC SCHOOLS IN SURREY INTRODUCE UNIFORMS?
In response to a query from The VOICE on this issue, a Ministry of Education spokesperson told me this week: "The province could legislate school uniforms, but it would take a change to the School Act. Currently (school) boards have the authority to make rules regarding school uniforms in their district." [Full Story]

ZAKIR HUSSAIN CAPTIVATES A DIVERSE AUDIENCE, GRIEVES LOSS OF MASTER RAM KISHAN
Zakir Hussain, a classical tabla virtuoso who is appreciated in the field of percussion and in the music world at large as an international phenomenon, and the masters of percussion, hit the stage at the Chan Centre at UBC in Vancouver this week. This full-house event, which was presented by the Pandit Jasraj School of Music, was a first class concert that received a standing ovation from the captivated diverse audience. [Full Story]

AMARJIT (A.J.) SANDER NAMED RICHMOND COACH OF THE YEAR
Amarjit (A.J.) Sander, coach of the Richmond Midget AAA Devils girls' ice hockey team was named Coach of the Year at the 10th Annual Richmond Sports Awards Banquet hosted by the Richmond Review and the Richmond Sports Council. [Full Story]

U15 DEVILS SOCCER TEAM RAISE $16,000 FOR SURREY MEMORIAL HOSPITAL
The entertainment included performances by the U15 Devils bhangra team, a Punjab cultural dance, a Punjab Tigers dance performance, and dances by Acro and Karima dance studios.
Among the guest speakers was Cpl. Nycki Basra, Richmond RCMP spokesperson, and Jane Adams, President and CEO of the Surrey Memorial Hospital Foundation. [Full Story]

SKYTRAIN SECURITY A FARCE: VANCOUVER POLICE SAY THEY WILL NAIL SUSPECTS EVEN THOUGH VIDEO FOOTAGE LOST
Vancouver Police Constable Tim Fanning told The VOICE on Wednesday that although video evidence had been lost in the swarming of 18-year-old Sheshleen Datt at Nanaimo SkyTrain Station last week on Tuesday (April 29) by juveniles, 13- and 14-year-old girls, they were confident of nailing the suspects. [Full Story]

BRAVE YOUNG MAN RESCUES 11-YEAR-OLD FROM PIT BULLS
When his family heard terrifying screams emanating from the Cedar Hills Elementary School playground on Sunday evening, he and his mother ran out and witnessed a pit bull viciously attacking 11-year-old Sean Bajwa while another pit bull circled the kid. [Full Story]

INJURED HONEYMOONERS BACK IN B.C. AFTER NIGHTMARISH EXPERIENCE
Jennifer, 25, and Rick, 31, were on a bus headed to Cairo airport last week on Thursday from where they were to catch the flight home when, according to news reports, the bus sped off the road, hit a concrete block, rolled a couple of times and burst into flames. Rick pulled Jennifer out of the burning bus, jumped down a three-metre embankment and then persuaded her to jump down, too. [Full Story]

SUSPECTED INTERNET SEXUAL PREDATOR ARRESTED BY SURREY RCMP
The alleged Internet sexual predator, a 17-year-old South Asian, about whom Surrey RCMP had issued a warning after three late-night sexual assaults in the area of 93 Avenue and 126th Street, was arrested last week on Friday and held in custody over the weekend. [Full Story]

ONE MORE ARRESTED IN NEW WESTMINSTER RACIST ATTACKS
New Westminster Police Sgt. Ivan Chu said Terrance Ryley Crawford, 18, a black male who is supposed to be the only non-Indo-Canadian member of this group, has been charged with assault causing bodily harm and aggravated assault. Police suspect he was involved in the April 24 and 25 assaults. [Full Story]

NDP SAYS PREMIER'S FORMER DEPUTY TOOK DECISION TO DISCLOSE THREE DOCUMENTS TO RCMP
The infamous December 28, 2003 Raid on the B.C. Legislature Case seems to be getting more and more intriguing - and the provincial government's usual response continues to be 'no comment,' arguing that the matter is before the courts. [Full Story]

MISSING VANCOUVER INDO-CANADIAN STUDENT'S BODY FOUND
Vancouver Police have confirmed that the body found in the Fraser River on Thursday night near the Knight Street Bridge is that of Vancouver student Ranbir Singh Bains (Ronnie). [Full Story]

ADDITIONAL CLASSROOM SUPPORT FOCUS OF SURREY BOARD OF EDUCATION PRELIMINARY BUDGET
There will be 17 more teachers and 39 additional education assistants in Surrey School District classrooms to start the next school year, according to preliminary budget figures approved by the Surrey Board of Education this week. [Full Story]

YOUR TURN
#1. THREATS ARE WRONG, BUT SO IS BIASED REPORTING
#2. SLOT MACHINES: LIBERALS HAVE BETRAYED THE PEOPLE [Full Story]

WSO: NON-SIKH STUDENTS SHOULD NOT BE FORCED TO WEAR TURBANS
The World Sikh Organisation (WSO) on Friday expressed its concern over the decision of the Akal Academy in Punjab to force non-Sikh students to wear turbans, an essential part of the Sikh identity. It said Sikhism is a faith of tolerance and respect for all others. [Full Story]

ARROGANT B.C. LIBERALS ONCE AGAIN BUNGLE LEGISLATIVE AGENDA
Once again, Gordon Campbell and his MLAs have bungled B.C.'s legislative agenda. They are ramming through important legislation without full debate and public scrutiny. Now, British Columbians will pay the price. [Full Story]