Just six weeks before Tuesday’s horrific case of deadly domestic violence in Surrey, The VOICE had warned about this dangerous situation in my article, “Community and Government Need to Do More to Prevent Violence against Women, Children.” (Lead story in The VOICE of July 5).

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DVD’S ON WIFE, CHILD AND ELDER ABUSE IN PUNJABI, CHINESE, SPANISH TO BE RELEASED BY VLMFSS
Family violence is still a major problem in Canadian society. In 2002, shelters for abused women admitted 15,909 women and children in B.C. Between 1996 and 2001, the number of child protection investigations in our province increased substantially, as did the number of children in care and one out of every 12 seniors in B.C. experiences abuse. [Full Story]

THOUSANDS PARTICIPATE IN JOYOUS CELEBRATION OF INDIA’S INDEPENDENCE DAY IN SURREY
Last weekend over 15,000 people gathered at Surrey’s Guru Nanak Sikh Gurdwara to celebrate the 61st anniversary of India’s independence organized by the Hindu-Sikh Forum of North America, a group of Hindu and Sikh societies. [Full Story]

THE SIKH DIASPORA AND THE MEANING OF INDEPENDENCE OF INDIA TO SOME
I recently attended a Sikh-Hindu forum in Surrey to celebrate the independence of India. However, rather than having all the attention on independence from a colonial power, the event focused on celebrating achievements of India and Canada and the shared values of democracy. Two weeks ago, a few Sikhs told me that they would not participate in this event and would question what people were really celebrating, especially in light of the escalating gaps of wealth, human rights issues and broken promises to the Sikhs after 1947 in India. [Full Story]

#1. SCC’S RINA GILL NEEDS TO BE BETTER INFORMED

#2. CHINA CONTROVERSY: HARPER HAS MADE AN ASS OF HIMSELF

#3. SKYTRAIN SAFETY: WHERE THE HELL ARE ALL THOSE COPS?

#4. MORE VISIBLE MINORITY REPRESENTATION ORDERED

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NEWS IN BRIEF

#1. INDO-CANADIAN SHOT DEAD IN SURREY IN TARGETED HIT

#2. KWANTLEN STUDENT ASSOCIATION SUES FORMER EXECUTIVES

#3. ROSS STREET GURDWARA PRESIDENT TO RUN IN CIVIC ELECTION

#4. BODY OF DROWNED MALE RECOVERED

#5. MOTHER PLEADS GUILTY TO INFANTICIDE

#6. WANTED: DAVID SINGH GREWAL

#7. CHARGES RECOMMENDED IN SURREY STABBING

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FOCUS ON SURREY

#1. HIGHLY SUCCESSFUL SOCCER SPORTSMANSHIP FAIR AT SURREY’S UNWIN PARK

#2. RCMP’S JUNIOR POLICE ACADEMY A GREAT SUCCESS

#3. BARINDER RASODE SAYS SHE SUPPORTS IDEA OF SURREY CHARTER

#4. SURREY NEIGHBOURING FAITHS PROGRAM ACCEPTING REGISTRATIONS

#5. MAYOR DIANNE WATT ON ILLEGAL DECK ENCLOSURES

#6. UNITED WAY ALLOCATES $290,000 FOR OUT-OF-SCHOOL PROGRAMS

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THE WORLD AT OUR DOORSTEP IN 2010
As the curtain closes on the 2008 Beijing Summer Games, all eyes will turn to British Columbia as host of the next Olympics. With the world expected at our doorstep in just over a year, the 2010 Winter Games present an unprecedented opportunity to showcase our dynamic province to an international audience. [Full Story]