Hat trick takes lacrosse The kids

playoffs to a tie gotta rock

page 17 In this Sundays Leader

Friday
August 5, 2005
Serving Surrey and North Delta

 www.surreyleader.com

City restricted harassment inquiry
Fearful employees
wonder why their
complaints go unheard
KEVIN DIAKIW
Staff Reporter
SURREYS MAYOR gave orders to
scale back an investigation of a se-
nior manager in city hall, limiting
the scope of a harassment inquiry
to just one complaint even though
others became apparent, The Lead-
er has learned.
In March, the city hired prominent
Vancouver lawyer Richard Hamilton
after the human resources depart-
ment received a claim of harassment
from a female employee in the ofce
of a senior manager.
Mayor Doug McCallum said
Wednesday it was not an investiga-
tion, but several internal city docu-
ments describe that as the process,
and Surreys general manager of
nance, technology and human re-
sources, Vivienne Wilke, said in gen-
eral terms an external lawyer would
be hired to conduct an investigation.
As to why he intervened, McCal-
lum would only say he has acted
on the advice of city lawyers and in
keeping with the citys Respectful
Workplace Policy.
I follow every area of the work-
place policy to a T on anything I have
become aware of, McCallum said
Wednesday.
The Leader has learned that an al-
legation of harassment was received
by human resources in December
last year. It then became apparent
that there were other complaints.
In an April 7, 2005 letter to McCal-
lum and Surreys human resources
department managers, Hamilton
referred to other legal opinions
sought early in the process which
... expressed the rm view that the
city (would be) abdicating its legal
obligations and exposing itself to
enormous risks if it did not conduct
an investigation.
In March, Hamilton launched a
broad-based inquiry, inviting wit-
nesses and complainants to be in-
terviewed at the Sheraton Guildford
Hotel. Several witnesses and com-
plainants came forward.
Mayor Doug McCallum
Please see CITY / Page 4

After 8 years, a
family reunites
It should not have taken this long, legal
advocate says of Canadian immigration process
PAULA CARLSON
Staff Reporter
FOUR YEARS ago, a sombre Hafa Rasul used
to watch the neighbourhood kids play from
her basement suite window in Surrey, her
own ve children thousands of kilometres
away in a Pakistan refugee camp.
I am very cry, Rasul told The Leader
then, detailing how a clogged Canadian im-
migration system was keeping her and her
children apart.
On Wednesday, after nearly eight years,
thousands of dollars, and according to one
advocate, a legal kick in the butt, Rasuls
tears of sadness had been replaced with cries
Hafa Rasul has nally been reunited with her children (clockwise from left) Shabana, 14,
Shabnam, 17, Benafsha, 15, Naweed, 13, and Ruheed, 8. Rasul, originally from of joy.
I am so very happy, the 44-year-old
Afghanistan, came to Canada as a refugee in 1997, and has been ghting to bring her
children here ever since. EVAN SEAL / THE LEADER mother says, her face beaming as she gathers
her kids around her. They nally arrived in
Surrey from Islamabad, Pakistan via Hong
Kong late Tuesday afternoon.
The youngest, Ruheed, was just an infant
when Rasul last saw him. Now eight, the lit-
tle boy could pass for age four evidence of a
difcult life in a refugee community. He calls
Rasul Auntie, still grappling with the fact
she is his mom.
His brother Naweed, who turned 13 the day
he arrived in Canada, looks years younger
than his real age, and is suffering a fever,
Rasul says.
The boys sisters, however, seem in good
spirits, their smiles bright and big and their
long hair gleaming as they preen for a photo.
I knew this day would come, Rasul says
quietly, clearly overjoyed by the sudden inux
of people into her two-room, Fleetwood suite.
Please see MOTHER / Page 5

Editorial 6 Letters 7 Sports 17 Classieds 25

4 NEWS
Councillors didnt know City: Lawyer terminated
Not told of
investigation
KEVIN DIAKIW
Staff Reporter
CITY COUNCILLORS knew noth-
ing about an investigation
of a harassment complaint
levelled against a senior city
manager.
Surrey Mayor Doug Mc-
Callum did not tell council as
he worked with the city so-
licitor and human resources
department in ordering a re-
view of the allegation.
Council learned of the mat-
ter on July 6, after the Cana-
dian Union of Public Employ-
ees sent a letter to council
asking for the details of the
investigation.
On two occasions, Coun.
Penny Priddy asked McCal-
lum for a special in-camera
meeting of council to discuss
the issue, but was declined
both times.
He said on the rst occa-
Surrey / North Delta Leader, Friday, August 5, 2005
sion there was no outstand- matter of this gravity, council From Page 1 I advised Mayor McCallum that I under-
ing complaint and on the sec- should be informed. stood that I had been appointed to conduct an
ond occasion he said there McCallum also kept his
Each of the witnesses whom I met exhibited
investigation into whether there had been a vi-
fear of retribution as a result of providing infor-
was no reason to have that Surrey Electors Team (SET) olation of the Respectful Workplace Policy, that
mation, Hamilton wrote in the letter. It would
discussion, Priddy said. colleagues out of the loop. had been supplied with the names of some of
be inappropriate for me to expand upon the
What I dont know is SET Coun. Barbara Steele the potential witnesses, that meetings were set
results of my investigation to date. However, I
whether or not there are said she was never informed up for me to meet with certain individuals who
can say that, if the information provided to me
people out there who need of the investigation but is un- felt (and whom the city felt) might have mate-
by a number of witnesses were accepted, there
support, Priddy concerned about rial evidence to contribute, and that as a result
would be a prima facie case that the Respectful
said. The question not hearing of the of gathering new evidence there might be other
Workplace Policy has been violated.
has been raised, so situation. witnesses who might come forward, or whom
The citys Respectful Workplace Policy is a
it deserves looking If its a stafng I thought I should interview, Hamilton wrote.
15-page document dening harassment, dis-
at. issue, no, Im not I told Mayor Doug McCallum that I did not see
crimination, complaint procedures and conict
She said a full in- surprised I wasnt how I could carry out a complete investigation
resolution.
vestigation is impor- brought into it. without interviewing such witnesses.
On Monday, April 4, 2005, I received a call
tant for all parties. SET Coun. Mar- Hamiltons services were terminated, and
from Mayor Doug McCallum, states Hamil-
Coun. Bob Bose vin Hunt said he the investigation was discontinued.
tons April 7 letter. He advised that it had been
said he was made wasnt bothered Its left at least one other female city employ-
his intention to investigate only one complaint
aware of an issue by Penny Priddy by being left out. ee wondering why her complaint was not going
of (the original complainant) and no others.
city employees. In a sense as to be heard.
He advised that since he had only been
Theres a very serious ab- a politician I want to know She told The Leader that several years ago,
made aware of one complaint, that was the only
dication of responsibilities, there is a policy and a pro- she reported an incident of alleged harassment
one which the city was willing to investigate.
Bose said of McCallums cess that will look after it, to her immediate manager. He wanted to get
However, according to a memo written by
failing to inform council. Of Hunt said. I dont neces- her a lawyer at city expense, but she was too
a former manager at city hall, the mayor was
course we should have been sarily have to be part of the afraid to pursue the matter.
informed of other complaints.
told, the allegations are seri- loop. Her fear continues in the wake of the closed
For your information, the mayor was told
ous. McCallum said he didnt investigation. The Leader interviewed several
of other complainants at a meeting with ...
Coun. Dianne Watts also inform council because he staff members who came forward as witnesses
Vivienne (Wilke) and me on February 10, 2005,
said she hadnt been in- was following the Respect- or complainants. Each of them is extremely
as well as in our memorandum to him dated
formed by the mayor. ful Workplace Policy, which anxious about what might happen if their sto-
March 3, 2005, the manager wrote in the letter
Weve not been given any requires confidences be ries go public.
to city solicitor Craig MacFarlane. Your view
information. When there is a kept. In dismissing Mr. Hamilton, each and ev-
of the Respectful Workplace Policy is unset-
ery employee whom he met with has been
tling.
left to feel very much alone and I am sure, in
MacFarlane was out of the country this week
their view, open to retribution, the managers
and could not be reached.
memo states. If the complaints are found to be
In his letter, Hamilton questioned the mayor
legitimate, then action must be taken. We need
about the wisdom of limiting the scope of the
to concentrate less on process and procedure
investigation.
and more with doing the right thing.
 Rams travel to Kelowna, Reprieve for Indian teen
shock the Sun fighting to stay in Surrey
page 3 page 13

Wednesday
August 10, 2005
Serving Surrey and North Delta

www.surreyleader.com

A loving dad
is mourned
New charges possible in Bear Creek
Park attack after Surrey senior dies
Dan Ferguson
Staff Reporter
The family of Shingara Singh
Thandi is mourning the passing of
a beloved father of six and grand-
father of nine after the 76-year-old
Surrey resident died in hospital
Saturday, three weeks after he
was attacked and robbed in Bear
Creek Park.
Police and the Crown prose-
cutors office are now consider-
ing whether to lay new charges
against the Surrey teens arrested
Jhalman Thandi (left) and brother Jaswinder Thandi say their father Shingara Singh Thandi was a for the attack on Thandi and an-
compassionate parent who believed in helping the less-fortunate. The senior died Saturday. EVAN SEAL / THE LEADER other assault on a senior in the
same park.
The teens, 15 and 13, are charged
with robbery and assault.
Thandis sons remembered him
with affection Tuesday as a lov-
ing, compassionate parent who
believed in tolerance and helping
less-fortunate people, sometimes
directly giving help to deserving
people.
I never saw him angry, Jas-
winder Thandi said.
The retired farmer from India
was a physically active man who
would tease his middle-aged sons
Please see VIOLENCE / Page 3

Harassment allegations began seven years ago

Special meeting of city
council scheduled to
address the issue
Kevin Diakiw
Staff Reporter
A number of harassment allegations
made against a senior manager at
city hall spanning seven years are
expected to be the subject at a spe-
cial city council meeting scheduled
for next week.
The city clerk sent notice out
Monday that a special in-camera
council meeting is scheduled for
Tuesday, Aug. 16 at 2 p.m. at city
hall.
The only item on the agenda
is City Restricted Harassment
Inquiry, The Leader, Friday August
5, 2005.
The story detailed how Surrey
Mayor Doug McCallum gave orders
to scale back an investigation of a
senior manager at city hall, limiting
the scope of the investigation to just
one complaint, even though more
became apparent.
McCallum said he has followed
the citys Respectful Workplace
Policy to a T.
Councillors say this week theres
no choice but to pursue the matter.
Both Couns. Bob Bose and Penny
Priddy want a full investigation into
the managers conduct in order to
bring closure to the matter.
Otherwise you contribute to an
unsafe and unhealthy workplace,
Priddy said last Friday.
Tuesday morning the Canadian
Union of Public Employees (CUPE)
filed a policy grievance with
the city and is demanding a full
investigation.
We request that we
be involved in all of the
investigations and that the
city enforce all aspects of
the Respectful Workplace
Policy, said Laurie
Larsen, president of CUPE
Local 402.
The Leader has been
able to build a timeline
of how the harassment Bob Bose
allegations emerged, first
only two, then a third, causing many
on Surreys senior management
team to wonder how the matter
should be handled:
n March, 1998 n November, 2000
A woman raises a complaint that After learning additional incidents
a senior manager is touching her have occurred, the supervisor
inappropriately. reports the activities to the human
She is afraid to come forward, resources department. At that time,
but brings her the supervisor arranges for
complaint to a lawyer, but both women,
her immediate fearful of losing their jobs,
supervisor, who are unwilling to proceed.
keeps detailed The supervisor arranges
notes. for a counselor through the
She also citys Employee Assistance
relays a similar Program.
complaint from n September, 2003
another woman, By this time, another
who doesnt feel complaint surfaces from a
c o m f o r t a b l e Penny Priddy woman who had worked in
going to her own the managers office.
immediate supervisor. Both women The allegations are similar to those
are members of the Canadian Union made by the previous two employees,
of Public Employees, Local 402. outlining inappropriate touching by
Please see SHOOTING / Page 3 Please see POLICY / Page 4

Editorial 6 Letters 7 Sports 13 Life 23 Classifieds 28

 Surrey / North Delta Leader, Wednesday, August 10, 2005 NEws 3

New
Dhaval Patel, 18,
lives on his own charge in
SkyTrain
in Whalley and is
learning English
and math while

slaying
his case makes
its way through
the Canadian
immigration
system. Patel
and his family Additional count of
came to Canada murder in teens death
for medical
reasons in 2000,
Dan Ferguson
and his parents
who had to Staff Reporter
return to India
continue to A new charge of second degree
support their murder has been filed in the July
son, whose attack that claimed the life of 16-
life-threatening year-old Vancouver resident Mat-
illness has thew Martins at the Surrey Central
improved since SkyTrain station.
hes lived here. The count was laid against Kath-
erine Anne Quinn, 22, who also faces
EVAN SEAL one count of attempted robbery.
THE LEADER Quinn was originally arrested as
a first degree murder suspect by po-
lice, but only charged with robbery
at her first court appearance.
The reason for the change cannot
be reported due to a court-ordered

Teens five-year fight continues

Immigration wrangling
a waste of taxpayers
money, lawyer says
Paula Carlson
Staff Reporter
Dhaval Patel may have won an
immigration battle last week, but
the teen who wants to remain in
Canada for health reasons must
continue to fight the war.
Patel, now 18, came with his
parents to Surrey on a visitors
visa in March, 2000 on the advice
of medical professionals in his
native Gujarap, India.
Pa t e l s u f f e r s f r o m a n
undetermined disorder that is
both painful and potentially fatal.
Since coming to B.C. however, he
has enjoyed better health.
Doctors believe Patels condition
which caused the teen to develop
a body rash and severe swelling
around his eyes would be
aggravated by a return to Gujarap
and its heavy pollution.
In addition, the complex
therapies Patel needs to stay
healthy are not available in India.
But despite the opinions of local
medical professionals, ongoing
finiancial support from his parents
(who have returned to India to be
with their other two children and
have been refused vistors visas
to see Patel), and support from
the community, Patels bid to
remain here on humanitarian and
compassionate grounds has twice
been denied by Citizenship and
Immigration Canada (CIC).
On Friday, there was a bit of
good news for Patel and his lawyer
Barinder Sanghera, as the Federal
Court quashed the most recent
CIC refusal, allowing Patels
application process to continue.
If we had been unsuccessful in
that bid, Dhaval would be gone,
Sanghera said Monday.
The decision, however, means
more legal wrangling, something
Sanghera says is a waste of
taxpayers money.
The Federal Court has sent a
clear message (to immigration
officials) to do the right thing.
The majority of the community
supports this kid.
Since his parents returned to
India, Patel has lived on his own,
teaching himself English and
learning math from a retired
teacher.
I only know one person my
age, Patel says, someone I met
at the (Hindu) temple.
He says he misses his family.
My dad calls almost every
day.
White Rock resident Gerry
Price, who befriended the Patel
family four years ago and is now
the teens legal guardian, says if
there was ever an immigration
case in need of compassion, Patels
is it.
This kids spent all of his
childhood trekking around India
trying to find an answer to his
medical problems, says Price, who
is known as Dada, or Grandpa,
to the family.
He got better here.
publication ban.
Another suspect, Robert Allan
Forslund, 27, is charged with second
degree murder in the same case.
The pairs next Surrey Provincial
Court appearance is scheduled for
today (Wednesday).
Martins died in hospital a few
hours after he was found lying in
a pool of blood
at the bus loop
near the Sky-
Train station
on July 2.
Th e t e e n
had taken the
train to visit
some friends in
Surrey on the
Matthew Martins Canada Day
weekend.
In the wake of Martins death and
an unrelated attack on a 35-year-old
man at the same station, TransLink
announced transit security patrols
of the area would be stepped up.
Anyone with information about
the Martins case can call the Inte-
grated Homicide Investigation Team
at 604-543-9217.

Violence: It worries us all, park seniors say

From Page 1 Gurdev Singh Grewal, president of the Bear rested and remain in custody.
Creek Seniors Society that hosts the afternoon They (the teens) are not out in public, they
about their waistlines, they said.
card games, said the 125-member group has are behind bars, Searle said.
He would work out on his treadmill every
written letters to the mayor and local MLAs Additional investigators have been assigned
morning for 15 minutes, Jhalman Thandi said.
warning conditions at the park have deterio- to the Thandi case, to assist the Crown in de-
He said his father used to regularly go to
rated. termining whether to lay additional charges,
the park, a popular place for seniors who play
It worries us all, Grewal said . Searle added.
cards in the pavilion near the arts centre, but
Another senior, Krishandev Singh Rana, The two teens, whose names cannot be re-
this year cut back to about once a month.
said police need to be a more visible presence ported because of their ages, will be back in
S eniors who frequent the park told The
in the park. Surrey Youth Court today (Wednesday).
Leader they now avoid walking alone after the
Theyre not doing anything, Rana said. One is scheduled for a bail hearing.
attacks.
Surrey RCMP Const. Marc Searle said the Anyone who has any information about the
Its getting scary here in the afternoon,
park is well monitored by municipal staff and attacks is asked to contact the Surrey RCMP
said one man, who asked not to be named.
police, and park visitors should be reassured at 604-599-0502, or Crime Stoppers at 1-800-222-
Gurdev Singh Grewal Its getting worse.
by the fact the two suspects were quickly ar- TIPS.
4 NEws 
Policy: Followed to a T
From Page 1
the manager and invitations
to travel with him.
She also is reluctant to
come forward officially.
n November, 2004
More complaints arise
from the last employee.
The touching incidents
continued, she says, yet she
is still hesitant to launch a
formal written complaint,
fearful of reprisal.
Her reluctance to formally
complain complicates matters.
The senior management
team cannot agree whether
it is necessary to act, but the
allegations are so serious,
they seek a legal opinion.
n December, 2004
The manager is informed of
the allegations.Two days later,
the city arranges for a job for
the complainant in another
city department.
The city seeks several
legal opinions, all of which
indicate an investigation
must be undertaken to avoid
enormous risk to the city.
For the duration of the
month, several senior
managers continue to discuss
whether they need to do
Surrey / North Delta Leader, Wednesday, August 10, 2005
anything at all, given there is
no written complaint(s).
n January, 2005
Manager who received the
complaint from the woman
in 1998 learns she is willing
to come forward as part of a
follow-up investigation.
n February, 2005
The mayor is informed. He
suggests some of the cases are
too old to pursue and points
out the complaints arent in
writing.
n March, 2005
Lawyer Mike Hunter issues
a second recommendation
that the city undertake an
immediate investigation
into the allegations.
Mayor Doug McCallum
selects lawyer David
Buchanan to handle the
investigation, but Buchanan
discovers a conflict of interest
and later declines.
McCallum leaves for India
on a business trip. While
hes gone, Richard Hamilton,
of Vancouver law firm
Hamilton Howell, is hired as
a replacement for Buchanan
to investigate the complaints.
The terms of reference are
transferred from Buchanan
to Hamilton.
A room at the Sheraton
Guildford Hotel is reserved
under the name Hamilton
Howell for late March and
early April and several
interviews with complainants
and witnesses are scheduled.
n April, 2005
On April 4, the mayor calls
Hamilton and tells him to stop
interviewing complainants
other than the most recent
one. Hamilton is subsequently
terminated.
n June, 2005
Th e L e a d e r b e g i n s
interviewing complainants
and witnesses and gathering
documentation.
n August, 2005
Mayor Doug McCallum
insists there has been no
investigation and that he
has followed the Respectful
Workplace Policy to a T.
n August 5, 2005
Two city councillors call
for a special council meeting
to discuss the recent
revelations, and to find out
why the mayor has kept
them in the dark throughout
the process.
n August 8, 2005
A special council meeting
is scheduled for Aug. 16.