The record, 9 février 2011, mercredi 9 février 2011

Special souvenir issue inside A reprint of the original February 9, 1897 issue niiniimiHiiiMifflMr THEi The voice of the Eastern Townships since 1897 own prosecutors hit the picket line Page 3 SUBARU SHERBROOKE - Estrie Auto Centre - Come see our new showrooms 4367 Bourque Blvd., Rock Forest 819-564-1600 • t-800-567-4259 www subarusherbrooke.com 75 CENTS + TAXES PM#OOKXX)7682 Wednesday, February 9, 2011 The Sherbrooke Record staff in the pressroom.(L to R) Anne Poirier, Janet Daignault, Jo-Ann Hovey, Steve Blake, Sheila Henderson, Daniel Coulombe, Josée Hamel, Sharon McCullv, Corrinna Pole, Doug McCooeye, Laurie Schoolcraft, Michel Duval.WK- 9 m .A|, IIAKIII K rrihe Record was delivered as usual last Friday but I there wasn’t anything usual about it at all for the JL people who made it happen.A piece on our antiquated press broke just as the pressmen prepared to rev it up.It was 10 p.m.before a mechanic could come to assess the damage, and midnight before the roar of the motor kicked in.The delivery trucks which normally leave the building at 11:45 were delayed and the tiny band of workers who stuff inserts into the paper and prepare The Record for delivery, along with the weary pressmen, finished their shift at 3 a.m.A few hours later, a team of carriers climbed snowbanks and waded down unplowed streets to ensure the papers were delivered before first light.A few subscribers called to complain their paper was wet or late.It was just another day on the job for the dedicated staff of The Record who have persevered through fire, floods, snowstorms, illness, computer crashes, staff shortages and much more to bring a 114-year-old paper to Townshippers.Why, you ask?I’ll repeat the answer: Because someone has to do it.As long as there is a community newspaper out there, there is proof of daily life within the English-speaking community it mirrors through its schools, churches, businesses and community groups.Being part of a minority community means nothing can be taken for granted.Not the hospitals built and maintained by our ancestors, not the community school our parents and grandparents attended, not the church where we were baptized and married, and not the paper that recorded the events.In January, 1999,when a major fire destroyed the Record's Delorme Street building, its computers and presses, it could have marked the end of a century-old institution and one that we tend to take for granted.After all, we can get all the news on TV or the Internet right?Wrong.This community newspaper cares about the community it covers and the people in it.It is here to celebrate the heroes and chastise the villains.It knows the issues and concerns of readers and keeps them informed on decisions of elected bodies that can affect them.It is more than a purveyor of news and events.It is a link between the past and the future, between the French and English-speaking communities, and tangible evidence of the continued presence of an English-speaking population in the Eastern Townships.It is also a newspaper with one of the richest histories in the newspaper industry, claiming among its owners the most prominent names in the business.As well.The Record has been fertile training ground for journalists whose bylines grace major newspapers and magazines across Canada.Naysayers who predict the demise of this newspaper fail to consider the fierce loyalty of readers, advertisers and the determination of a tiny staff to continue this 114-year tradition.It is a paper with a proud heritage and a noble mission.True, those associated with The Record have learned to balance on the brink.This in turn has spawned creativity, ingenuity, and the reward that comes from providing what is truly an essential service.Sharon Mccully, Publisher.McDevitt on Egypt Editorial — Page 6 Murder case: Crown wants teen tried as adult Page 5 Page 2 Wednesday, February 9, 2011 newsroom@sherbrookerecord .com The Record Comic Jam and Graphic Novel event The Community Art Lab of the Foreman Art Gallery is pleased to invite the public to a special participatory event with artist Joanne Hui on Wednesday, February 16 from 5:30 -7:30 p.m.at the Lennoxville Library (101 Queen Street).This event, Drawing Revisionist Histories and the Transcul-tural Present, will consist of an artist talk, the creation of a collaborative comic-style poster, and a comic jam open to all.Joanne Hui, artist and PhD candidate in Interdisciplinary Studies in Society and Culture at Concordia University, will draw from key Canadian examples to discuss how graphic narratives can create contemporary memoirs and revi sionist histories of resistance and activism.This participatory event will begin with a brief presentation of the artist’s work and research.Following this, a photographer will be on hand to take headshots of audience members, who will each be drawn by Hui into a comic-style poster.The poster will be printed following the event and mailed to each participant.To conclude, a comic jam will allow participants to experiment with the ideas and techniques presented by the artist.This unique event is free and open to all.Registration is recommended as space is limited.To register or for more information, contact: Yaël Filipovic, Curator, Education & Cultural Action, or Sevan Injejikian, Assistant Curator, Education & Cultural Action at 819-822-9600 ext.2279 or artlab@ubishops.ca A co-presentation by the Foreman Art Gallery and Sporobole, centre en art actuel.Weather iTODAY: 'J* 'i' ’ SNOW ?1 # •—» ^ G 'i' V' HIGH OF-8 lowot-19 THURSDAY: MIX OF SUN AND CLOUD HIGH OF-11 LOW OF-15 FRIDAY: MIX OF SUN AND CLOUD HIGH OF-5 LOW OF-14 SATURDAY: SNOW HIGH OF-4 LOW OF-9 SUNDAY: SNOW HIGH OF 1 LOW OF -6 Keeping In Touch ToWN/hipppr/ LINDSAY TUER Ina Cohn-Leboff, a dedicated volunteer with Townshippers’ Association’.s With Respect to Our Elders project, is proud to be launching the new Friendly Calls initiative on Valentine’s Day this year.It is her hope that the service will bring a little warmth and sunshine into the lives of people who would like to receive a call, from a friendly voice, every once in a while.For more information about this project, contact Evelina, Townshippers’Association's Information and Referral Coordinator, at info@townshippers.qc.ca, or Ina Cohn-Leboff, With Respect to Our Elders Volunteer, at ilc@townshippers.qc.ca.A Friendly Call from the Heart Anew service for seniors will be launched Monday, February 14: the With Respect to Our Elders Friendly Calls service.This initiative is being coordinated by enthusiastic volunteer Ina Cohn-Leboff, in collaboration with Townshippers’ Association staff members.Ina has gathered together a team of volunteers to make regular, friendly calls to people who feel lonely or isolated.When asked about her motivation to start this project, Ina said that it was simple: “Who doesn’t need to hear a human voice and receive a little kindness in their life?” Who is Ina Cohn-Leboff?Ina is a volunteer who became involved in the With Respect to Our Elders project through the very successful intergenerational music festivals.Ina is particularly passionate about helping others, a quality that has somewhat defined her life.Years ago, Ina moved to the Townships to care for her mother who was suffering from Alzheimer’s.The doctors had agreed that a life in the Townships would be beneficial for her mother and give her a better quality of life.Ina, an avid farmer and cook, decided to move here with her to enjoy the peace and quiet of country life.With help, Ina cared for her mother until she passed away in the familiar setting of their Townships’ farm.Before moving to the Eastern Townships, Ina studied at MacDonald College.With the knowledge gained there she was soon at work producing eggs from her well-fed chickens and cooking up a storm, making home-made dinners for customers to buy from her well-stocked freezer.Her healthy menu of garden casseroles and pies made from her own berry bushes even included home-grown guinea fowl.After living as a ‘gentlewoman’ farmer for a few years, however, Ina soon realized that she would like to help others and work to address some of the needs in the community around her that she had observed.The idea for an initiative that would see volunteers reaching out to isolated seniors led Ina to ask people at the in- tergenerational music festivals if they thought that a service such as the Friendly Calls one might work; everyone said they thought it would.Ina was sure that such a service was necessary, especially given the demographics of the Eastern Townships region.“There are many people who return home and are alone,” Ina told us.“Having a regular, friendly call would offer people, especially those who are lonely or isolated, someone to talk to once a week.” With the launch of the Friendly Calls initiative, Ina hopes to be able to change this reality, at least for a few people.Monday, February 14 is the official launch of the Friendly Calls initiative.Why launch this new Townshippers’ Association initiative on Valentine’s Day?It’s simple, according to Ina.With a smile on her face, she told us: “This project is from our hearts.” If you would like more information about the Friendly Calls initiative, or if you would like to be a caller, please contact Evelina at 1-866-566-5717.You can also call Townshippers’ Association’s Knowlton office at 450 242-4421.Our staff members there - Kate Wisdom, Kate Murray and Lindsay Tuer - will be more than happy to assist you.We are also still looking for people who would like to receive regular, friendly calls.If you, or someone you know, would be interested in receiving a call from a friendly volunteer, contact Evelina or Townshippers’ Association’s Knowlton office.Intergenerational Dance Contest at Lennoxville Winter Fun Day! The live music and intergenerational dance contest at this year’s Winter Fun Day in Lennoxville (taking place on Saturday, February 12) will be organized by Eric Akbar Manolson, coordinator of Townshippers’ Association’s ‘With Respect to Our Elders’ project.It promises to be fun for everyone! “I think this activity is going to bring extra fun to the Winter Fun Day”, Manolson stated.“If the weather is good, the last dance will take place outside in the snow.It’s a contest, but every person dancing will win a prize!” The live music will start at 12:30 p.m.and the intergenerational dance contest will begin at 1:15 p.m.For more information about either the live music or the intergenerational dance contest, contact Eric Manolson at 819 566-5717 (toll free: 1-866-566-5717) or eam@townshippers.qc.ca.Correction to Last Week’s Photo The wonderful picture featured in last week’s Keeping in Touch column -which featured Lindsay Tuer, co-coordinator of the Montérégie-East Partners for Health and Social Services Network, cooking with a young girl from Butler Elementary - was actually taken by photographer Karen Smith.We apologize for omitting to give Karen credit for her photograph last week and thank her very much for having captured the magic of the ‘It’s a Girls’ World’ project in photos for us.Ben by Daniel Shelton ( wmcm ffliN' YOU CAN use, my pincers too.' TMÉN XDU CAW COUNT to .TWENTY/ ^ YOU'RE POUR 'ÆAR50O?-MOW GAN YOU MELRT/ //*5; MATH.ANP ITS REALLY HARR/, 7+S MAY0E X CAN HELP.m£=mïï, Wednesday, February 9, 2011 Page 3 The Record newsroom@sherbrookerecord.com ^qcal News Even at full capacity the Quebec judicial system is backlogged, as it currently takes an average of 184 days to process a case in the province, the highest in the country.Crown prosecutors on strike DOUG MCCOOEYE A group of Sherbrooke-based Crown prosecutors picket outside the Raynald-Fréchette courthouse on Tuesday.By Doug McCooeye More than 1,400 Quebec government lawyers, including the 450 Crown prosecutors, went on strike Tuesday in protest of the current state of their contract negotiations with the province.The judicial system has essentially been halted, as all new cases will be postponed for the duration of the work stoppage.Only cases involving an already detained defendant will continue to proceed.In front of the Raynald-Fréchette courthouse on Tuesday morning, the majority of the 20 or so Crown prosecutors who ply their trade in Sherbrooke were picketing.Wearing their black robes overtop their winter coats, the prosecutors not working on Tuesday marched up and down King Ouest holding signs that read “À qui profite une couronne affaiblie?” (Who benefits from a weak Crown?).Paul Crépeau, the Eastern Townships representative for the Association of Prosecutors in Criminal and Penal Prosecutions of Quebec, was among those picketing on Tuesday.“Every other province in Canada has enough staff,” he said in an interview with The Record.“We don’t even have enough to staff our offices.” Crépeau echoed the sentiments of association president Christian Leblanc, who says that Quebec prosecutors are among the most overworked and lowest paid lawyers in North America.According to the association, prosecutors in Quebec are paid between 35 and 40 percent less than other prosecutors in Canada.Crown offices are also understaffed, as there is currently one prosecutor for every 15,600 people, by far the highest provincial ratio in the country.Even at full capacity the Quebec judicial system is backlogged, as it currently takes an average of 184 days to process a case in the province, the highest in the country.The association is asking the government to hire 200 more prosecutors and seeking a 40 percent pay increase.Crépeau said that little negotiations went on between the two sides over the weekend, as the government has refused to budge on its stance.The plight of the Crown prosecutors is all too familiar to Henry Keyserlingk, retired Townships lawyer and former association president.In an email correspondence with The Record, Keyserlingk said he was not surprised that the province was hesitant to give in to the Crown’s demands.“Little seems to have changed since I opted for early retirement in 1997,” he said.“The issues continue to involve (the Crown’s) excessive workload coupled with the lowest salary scale throughout all of Canada.” “I was never convinced that the quality of justice in Quebec was a major political priority except perhaps when it resulted in a whiff of a political scandal, the type that provoked the attention of the media and of government leaders.” The lack of public interest in the Crown’s burden is understandable, says Keyserlingk, because most people are law-abiding citizens and have never been a victim of a crime issues involving public prosecutors doesn’t touch them personally.“Then comes the piggy-back problem.Every Quebec provincial finance minister knows that the minute he or she agrees to improve the working conditions of the 450 or so provincial prosecutors, it won’t be long before the many thousands of other public service professionals will demand the same concessions." For the duration of the strike, two Crown prosecutors will be appointed by Quebec everyday to handle the entire workload at the Raynald-Fréchette courthouse for that day.Jury trials, like the Bedford drug cartel trial, and cases involving detained suspects will proceed as scheduled.Crépeau did not give a timetable for the strike and seemed unsure whether the pressure tactic would prove effective.“In 2003 they gave us the right to strike and we didn’t even want it,” he said.“But, since we have it, we might as well exercise it (.) We’ll freeze our feet for a few days and see what will happen." dmccooeye@sherbrookerecord.com Students bring studies into the community Tuesday, nearly fifty community organizations in the Eastern Townships gathered at the University of Sherbrooke’s (UdeS) Cultural Centre to present challenging projects for the third edition of the Carrefour de l'engagement étudiant (Crossroads of student involvement).The initiative connects community or non-profit organizations with students who can take on specific projects under their training to combine meaningful learning and a sustainable community.Last year, 20 per cent of students present at Crossroads 2010, one of the initiatives of the Experiential Apprenticeship by Community Involvement Program, were directly involved in the Sherbrooke community through organizations such as Secours-Amitié Es-trie and the Support Services for New Canadians.By enhancing the integration of students into the community, students have had access to a variety of experiences and practices in all spheres of activity.For example, Sherbrooke’s Maison de la famille relied on a social work student in order to promote father involvement and last fall communication students proposed public relations strategies to help the Centre d'aide in the fight against sexual assault.Organizations have also benefited from university expertise to meet multiple needs, such as providing legal advice, implementing a business plan or setting up workshops.For example, a team of students helped the Maison des grands-parents de Sherbrooke with the promotion of intergenerational play.“The team made contacts in several seniors homes and with various Sherbrooke agencies to present our services, “ stated Louise Brisson, director of the Maison des grands-parents.“Students gave us valuable support and our senior members have been touched by their dynamism and commitment.” Among the field projects, Marie Champagne helped the Sherbrooke Journal de rue Le Nouvel Espoir to develop a food aid service open on weekends."Doing a project in community involvement, it is an experience students will remember all their lives, "stated Champagne.“We discover that the theory is one thing, but the practice even more." During 2009-2010, the program supported projects in 25 courses, most Master's level, involving nearly 90 organizations and 500 students.More than 200 students are expected to be involved in the project this year.Supporting Students: Serving Communities Important Notice to Employers Canada Summer Jobs is a Government of Canada initiative.It provides funding for not-for-profit organizations, public-sector employers, and small businesses with 50 or fewer employees to create summer work experiences for students between the ages of 15 and 30.If you are an eligible employer, we invite you to submit your application from February 1 to 28, 2011.Effective February 1, the application form and the application guide will be available on our Web site, or at any Service Canada Centre.Applications can be submitted online, by mail, or in person at any Service Canada Centre.¦ ' .I • For more information: Click servicecanada.ca/csj2011 Call 1-800-935-5555 (TTY: 1-800-926-9105i Visit a Service Canada Centre Service Canada People serving people Page 4 Wednesday, February 9, 2011 newsroom@sherbrookerecord.com The Record Sherbrooke and Haut-Saint-François __________make green deal gold Career STANSTEAD COLLEGE POSITION DIRECTOR OF FACILITIES JOB SUMMARY The Director of Facilities reports to the headmaster and is responsible for guiding the facility management functions.He/she is primarily responsible for overseeing the facilities on the school campus and managing the plant and maintenance employees, and acts as a key staff resource person to the Property Committee.The Director of Facilities is responsible for ensuring the management of the school's buildings and ground and is also expected to work and consult closely with the Headmaster in implementing all strategically important institutional initiatives.RESPONSIBILITIES Physical Plant - Contract for all major plant repairs and maintenance projects - Review and maintain the school's insurance programs - Develop long-range financial projections for building maintenance - Coordinate physical plant master planning and implementation schedules - Assist with architectural planning and implementation - Supen/ise Head of Maintenance and Head of Custodial Services - Coordinate daily cleaning routine of all buildings and grounds with Head of Maintenance and Head of Custodial Services - Develop and administer preventive maintenance programs - Inspect condition of interior/exterior of all buildings for scheduled maintenance - Coordinate compliance with current provincial and local regulations as required - Provide for adequate security of building and grounds - Serve as member of the Property Committee Auxiliary Use of Facilities - Jointly hire staff under his/her responsibility and act as administrator for the arena - Arrange and oversee facility utilization by outside organizations - Monitor all real estate belonging to the College (Fitch Bay, gravel pit, industrial park, tree plantations) Serve on Long-Range Planning Committee The candidate must have: Degree in administration and/or facility management High knowledge of buildings, land, human resources Familiarity of various laws/regulations/standards pertaining to building codes.Microsoft Office and various software knowledge Bilingual: French & English Communication & organizational skills This is a permanent position with excellent fringe benefits: the salary will be based upon experience and performance.Interested candidates should send their CVs before February 28 to: Stanstead College, Marie-Josée Gaboriault, Controller, 450 Dufferin, Stanstead, QC, JOB 3E0 mgaboriault@stansteadcollege.com.By Corrinna Pole Sherbrooke With a more than $2.5 million investment, the City of Sherbrooke is now a joint partner with the Haut-Saint-François MRC (Regional County Municipality) in a waste management company that will see waste management in the Townships focus more on recovery.Tuesday afternoon in Bury, Valoris President Nicole Robert, Sherbrooke Mayor Bernard Sévi-gny and Jean-Claude Dumas, deputy warden of the Haut-Saint-François, joined representatives from Teknika HBA and Raymond Chabot Grant Thornton, to announce the financial terms of the partnership.With a shared commitment to manage waste in a form that respects sustainable development, Sévigny hailed the City’s $2,601,000 investment in the engineered landfill as a boon to the regions environmental waste reduction efforts.Robert explained to The Record that the MRC and Sherbrooke became partners in 2009 of the Regie intermunicipal waste recovery centre, which adopted the trade name Valoris last September.“The site was originally a SLF (Sanitary Landfill) site but with new (sanitation) laws we had to close the SLF site to open a TLF (Technical Landfill),” said Robert.The TLF consists of an engineered landfill, a waste recycling centre and an environmental industrial park in Bury.The partnership was an answer to Sherbrooke’s search for a new and sustainable waste management site and that of the MRC to generate enough waste material to optimize the performance of the new TLF site.“The City of Sherbrooke brings us the tonnage required to make our operations profitable, and the Haut-Saint-François RCM has a 400-acre site that is strategically located, away from housing.Valoris has leading-edge infrastructures and extensive expertise.” said Robert.“We already have municipalities as customers who guarantee good tonnage, but the partnership with the city of Sherbrooke enables us not only to really ensure the profitability of Valoris but also to put in place a business development plan and to look to the future with opti- Career STANSTEAD COLLEGE #' v.Mttrxty* POSITION HEAD OF JANITORIAL/LAUNDRY RESPONSIBILITIES - Oversee the general management of the Janitorial and Laundry Departments - Responsible for ordering supplies using the College’s requisition process - Distribute various tasks in general and during special events - Budget control - Supervise/monitor execution of tasks - Manage employees’ working hours and absences - All other related tasks The candidate must have: - Experience in managing a group of employees for a minimum of 3 years - Knowledge of janitorial and laundry needs - Good organizational skills - Sound judgement and diplomacy - Bilingualism (French, English) - Communication skills - Professionalism and discretion - Efficiency This job is permanent and full time.Interested candidates should send their CVs before February 28, 2011 to: Stanstead College, Marie-Josée Gaboriault, Controller, 450 Dufferin, Stanstead, GC, JOB 3E0, mgaboriault@stansteadcollege.com MRC mism.” Robert adds that the partnership brings with it “enormous potential for business development”.After developing expertise in waste management and recovery in the townships, Robert stated Valoris planned on shifting its focus to develop the specialized industrial park and then production, technological development, training, and socio-environmen-tal issues which would help the Bury site to become a centre of excellence in the region and province.“We have to go through a new plan that will be effective by 2013.It won’t change anything for now but we are looking at alternate possibilities for waste management that will be even greener for (present) and for future generations.” Their expanding rage in the field will also see the creation of many specialized jobs in the region.While she could not estimate on the number of potential jobs, Robert did say the employment opportunities would stem from companies who installed themselves in the environmental industrial park.As part of the deal, the MRC will be contributing the site which is expected to be used for the next 40 years, and along with their payment, Sherbrooke brings a compactor and a scale to measure the volumes of incoming waste on the site.Taxpayers can breath easy since the partnership promises to maintain relatively low costs with the price per ton being $60 from 2010 to 2012 with a $5 increase for 2013, excluding waste disposal fees.“This transaction means we will be able to keep prices low for the 14 member municipalities and Saint-Malo and Martinville since it will be based on tonnage,” said Robert.“Our mandate is not to get more than 40,000 tons per year for the first 13 years.We want to do something about the amount of waste being generated.” In arriving at the financial terms of the transaction, Valoris invested $100,000 in two evaluations, one which examined the environmental liability of the MRC site from Teknika HBA and an estimation of the fair market value from Raymond Chabot-Grant Thornton.The evaluations determined the MRC to receive $1,622,000, representing the $2,601,000 invested by Sherbrooke to acquire the 50 per cent ownership of Valoris, less $979,000 to fill the postclosure investment account related to the sanitary landfill.Valoris will continue to be CONT’D ON PAGE 12 The Record newsroom@sherbrookerecord.com Wednesday, February 9, 2011 Page 5 By Doug McCooeye f «.jhe 16-year-old boy accused of I kidnapping and sequester-X ing 82-year-old Réjeanne Pel-letier-Charette saw a new charge of first-degree murder laid against him in a Quebec Youth courtroom on Tuesday at the Ray-nald-Fréchette courthouse in Sherbrooke.The teenager - who has been detained since his arrest last August - entered a plea of not guilty during a brief court appearance on Tuesday morning.The accused is already facing charges of kidnapping, sequestering, theft, and auto-theft.The Crown also plans to file a request that the 16-year-old be tried as an adult.Addressing a group of assembled reporters waiting outside the Youth Court area, the boy’s defence lawyer Claire Dejean acknowledged the gravity of the new accusation, but was hesitant to discuss the case in detail.“Despite what is being said in the media, my client is presumed innocent until proven guilty,” she said.The case was suspended until March 9 to give the defence time to analyze the new evidence filed by the Crown.Dejean said that she was not expecting any fur- Teen charged with first-degree murder ther evidence to be filed.The defence lawyer denied to comment on her client’s emotional state.The crime Réjeanne Pelletier-Charette disappeared from her Rock Forest home on August 13 and police launched an all-out search for her.A few days later, on August 16, police released a statement asking for the public's help to find a 16-year-old boy who may have knowledge of the woman’s whereabouts.The boy in question had recently escaped from the Val-du-Lac youth centre and matched the description of a boy seen by multiple witnesses in the area at the time of the disappearance.At the time, his name was released to the public and he was not described as a suspect in the case.The teenager was eventually found later that night at the Si-boire microbrewery on Depot Street in Sherbrooke, just hours after Pelletier-Charette's missing car had been discovered in the nearby Maxi grocery store parking lot.The elderly woman’s dead body was found the following day and charges were eventually filed against the teen.Initial psychiatric evaluations deemed the defendant unfit to face the charges laid against him.However, further tests were conducted and the subsequent results led to the reversal of the previous ruling, making the defendant fit to stand trial.The victim’s family Marielle Charette-Rondeau, daughter of Réjeanne, attended Tuesday’s proceedings with her husband André and their daughter Laurence - one of the 82-year-old woman’s ten grandchildren.“It’s a relief,” said Charette-Rondeau to the group of assembled reporters.“It’s justice that is going forward.That’s all we wanted since the beginning.” Charette-Rondeau spoke of the support she has received from law enforcement during the last six months, commending the Sûreté du Québec and local police for their efforts in the case.“I was on the scene when they were looking for her,” she said.“I was really impressed with the humanity that the (officers) showed.” If tried as an adult and found guilty of first-degree murder, the accused could face a maximum penalty of life in prison without the possibility of parole before 25 years.dmccoo- eye@sh erbrookerecord.com Fofana sentenced to nine years By Doug McCooeye Alfa Ibrahim Fofana - found guilty on a series of charges related to a March 2010 armed robbery incident at Wera Farm in Waterville -was sentenced to nine years in prison on Tuesday for his role in the crime.Presiding Quebec Court judge Serge Champoux - who characterized Fofana’s interpretation of events as both absurd and unbelievable following the guilty verdict last October - rendered his decision Tuesday at the Raynald-Fréchette courthouse in Sherbrooke.Citing the violence and the severity of the crime.Crown prosecutor Denis Petitclerc had been asking for ten years in prison.Fofana's defence lawyer Serge Lamontagne was asking for five years, pointing to his client’s lesser role in the offence as justification.On the morning of March 4, 2010, Fofana and two accomplices - Khodr Afif Kanaan and Yassine Fares Haddar - drove from Montreal to Wera Farm.Fofana, who was behind the wheel, dropped the two off near the property, and parked a short distance away.Hearing a knock, François Wera - son of the farm's owner Richard Wera - opened the door to the main farmhouse and was greeted with two guns pointed directly at him.The two intruders proceeded to bound and beat the younger Wera, threatening repeatedly that they would kill him.According to François Wera’s testimony at trial, Kanaan and Haddar were communicating with Fofana via walkie-talkie throughout the ordeal.After about an hour, Fofana picked up the two intruders and the three fled the premises with about $3,000 and two firearms.Following a quick police investigation, the three suspects were pulled over later that morning near Highway 10 and were promptly arrested.Reading from a hand-written prepared statement during his sentence recommendation hearing in December, Fofana continued to deny having DOUG MCCOOEYE Marielle Charette-Roruleau - daughter of S2-year-old Réjeanne Pelletier-Charette who was found dead last August in afield in Rock Forest - addressing reporters at the Raynald-Fréchette courthouse on Tuesday.Career DOUG MCCOOEYE Sûreté du Québec officers survey the crime scene at Wera Farm in Waterville in March 20W shortly after three intruders perpetrated a home invasion, attacked François Wera, and made off with $3,000 and a number of firearms.Alfa Ibrahim Fofana - the getaway driver in the affair - was sentenced on Tuesday to nine years in prison.anything to do with the planning of the crime, saying he had no knowledge that a robbery was about to take place until Haddar and Kanaan were already inside the home.“I was just at the wrong place at the wrong time,” he said in December.Because the defendant has been detained since his arrest in March, judge Champoux knocked off the time served from his penalty on Tuesday.Fo-fona will serve a maximum sentence of just bver eight years in prison for the series of charges, which include armed robbery with an illegal weapon, conspiracy to commit robbery, extortion through the use of a firearm, sequestering, breaking and entering with the use of a firearm, unauthorized possession of a prohibited firearm, and assault causing injury.Yassine Fares Haddar’s case has been postponed to February 25.Kanaan - the alleged mastermind of the plan who pled guilty to a series of charges for his role in the crime in October - was sentenced to 11 years in prison in December.dmccooeye@sherbrookerecord.com STANSTEAD COLLEGE POSITION SUMMER PROGRAM COORDINATOR RESPONSIBILITIES - Oversee the coordination of all summer programs - Budget preparation and follow up - Serve as contact person for participants' families for every program - Provide necessary documents for the admission/travel of all participants - All administrative tasks related to the complete organization of these programs - Develop new programs - Coordinate activities with business office and management team - Coordinate with the head driver regarding participants travel and various outings for summer programs - Hire staff for summer programs upon the internal procedure - Purchase all required materials for programs using the College's requisition process - Coordinate meal requirements with the cafeteria management - Develop marketing and advertising strategy for summer programs - All other related tasks The candidate must have: - Leadership - High communication and organizational skills - IT skills and Microsoft Office knowledge - Three years of experience in business administration - Bilingualism (French-English - Spanish an asset) - Professionalism - Efficiency This is a permanent position with excellent fringe benefits; the salary will be based upon experience and performance.The yearly vacation is taken during late autumn or winter.Interested candidates should send their CVs before February 28 to: Stanstead College Marie-Josée Gaboriault, Controller, 450 Dufferin, Stanstead, QC, JOB 3E0, mgaboriault@stansteadcollege.com. newsroom@sherbrookerecord.com Page 6 Wednesday, February 9, 2011 The Record DITORIAL We’d better get used to it Political and economic power is shifting dramatically eastward these days.Mike McDevitt % As epochal events continue to unfold in Egypt, and threaten ominously elsewhere in the Middle East, those of us in the west have been treated to a front row seat to an impressive human outpouring.Inspired by the relatively uneventful revolution in Tunisia, the people of Egypt finally broke free from under the oppressive, yet ineffectual, heel of President Hosni Mubarak.Demanding the president’s resignation and expansive political reform, apparently unorganized protesters have ensured that, at least, Mubarak’s personal political career is over and have heard promises of reform from the battered, but still standing, remains of his regime.Mubarak, however, is no Saddam, with his rule hanging on a personality cult and tribal loyalties.Ending his presidency does not end the regime and it is one with long, probing tentacles.It will be tricky to untangle.As negotiations begin between representatives of the ruling interests and self-appointed delegates of the demonstrating hordes, Western nations have taken the public stance of benign interest - after some rather hilarious theatricality in Canada’s case - ‘supporting the people.’ file obvious preference of most developed countries, however, is that whatever change must happen, should do so gradually and in an orderly fashion.There’s money involved after all.There are some serious problems to this logistical reverie, however.First of all, as they clearly demonstrated during the government’s futile attempts to quell the disturbances, the regime’s security forces are large, well-armed, trained, and ruthless.The personal and organizational concerns facing these people are grave and serious, and they have the potential to play a powerful political role.Unlike the army, which has behaved honourably, the security forces are more closely tied to the regime than to the nation and they have a lot to lose.As we witnessed in Iraq, we Power and the People ignore these people at our peril.So, obviously, does the international business community, which has done well under the ‘friendly’ Mubarak, yet has failed to endear itself to, or share the wealth with, the average Egyptian.Beneath the cries of ‘freedom’ are the urgently bellowed demands for economic and social justice - and an end to corruption.Adjustments will have to be made.With similar rumblings beginning to be heard in Jordan and Sudan, a nervous Israel faces a decidedly less predictable neighbourhood with its few instruments of security threatened on all sides.A nervous Israel, on the other hand, especially one fighting its own rather vicious internal battles, is, in turn, cause for general concern.The scenario in Egypt is a complicated affair - both in its origins and in its potential impact.We in the west must remember that we are not watching a sporting match in which either the good guys or the bad guys must win.It could, in the absence of any clear and unified leadership, dissolve into a political free-for-all pitting everyone against everyone else.On the other hand, a workable, progressive and peace-loving society could also develop in which its people feel safe and at home.We’ve seen both scenarios unfold during the last 30 years and all kinds of variations in between and we can only hope that the true inspiring desires of the Egyptian people will ultimately shine through.In any event, we’d better get used to it.Political and economic power is shifting dramatically eastward these days and as China prepares to assume its global potential, many emerging societies will find themselves under increasing pressure to change.Cold War era arrangements no longer fit the new scenery and new ones, with new alliances, will have to be developed.Strategic areas tend to be the fault lines in these tectonic political rearrangements, so the ground is going to shake from time to time until things readjust.Let’s hope we make it through the process.¦ Mini ¦! RECORD P.O.Box 1200 Shertrookf Jill 5U>or 1195 Galt E,SherbrookeJIC 1Y7 Fax ho* Newmxim oni v: 819-569-3945 h-m.au: neAvsrooitw'sherbrookerw'ond.com Website: www.sherbrookereconl.com Sharon McCiiuy Publisher .(819) 569-6345 Sharon McCiimy Managing Editor .(819) 569-6345 Daniit Coulombr News Editor .(819) 569-6345 Stephen Bi akt Corresp.Editor .(819) 569-6345 Shich Gagnon Chief Pressman.(819) 569-9931 DEPARTMENTS Accounting.(819) 569-9511 Advertising .(819) 569-9525 Circulation .(819) 569-9528 Newsroom .(819) 569-6345 KnOAVI YON OFFICE SB Victoria Street.Knosvi ton, Quebec.JOE 1V0 Tet: (450) 242-1188 Fax: (450) 243-5155 MAIL SUBSCRIPTIONS GST PST TOTAL Canada: 1 year 120.00 6.00 10.71 $136.71 6 MONTHS 63.00 3.15 5.62 $7 1.77 ;i MONTHS 32.00 1.60 2.86 $36.46 Out of Quebec residents do not include PST.Rates for other services imiiluhle on re(|uesL The Record is published daily Monday to Friday.Back copies ofThe Record are available.Tlie Reronl was founded on February 9.1897.and acquired the Sherbrooke Examiner (est.1879) in 1905 and the Sherbrooke Gazette (est.1837) in 1908.The Record is published by Alta Newspaper Group Limited Partnership.PM#0040007682 Return undeliverable Canadian addresses to The Record, 1195 Galt East, Sherbrooke.QC JIG 1Y7 Member ABC, CARD, CNA, QCNA HARRIET, YOU SHOOK THE QUEEN’S HAND AT A PARADE THIRTY YEARS ASO.SHE’S M?r INVITINS YOU TO HER GRANDSON’S WEDDINS.IT’S STILL NOT „ HERE., Happy Birthday ‘Record’ by Manfried H.Starhemberg If there were a press club in the heavens, it would be fun to chat with Leonard Channell, the original owner and publisher of what is now the Sherbrooke Record.I might be able to tell him that newspaper history was made not only in Sherbrooke that ninth of January 1897 but also in New York city where the New York Times for the first time used the famous slogan; “All the News That’s Fit to Print”.Originally publisher Adolpf S.Ochs had offered a $100.award for a new slogan but then he wrote this one himself and pocketed the prize money.In Germany that day, the famous 403 year old Hofbrauhaus moved into its current location in Munich, an event Mr.Channell and I might have been able to toast with a large stein of Lager and he might have been amused to learn that that same morning the New York Stock Exchange officially opened its first ladies restroom much to the consternation of its gentlemen members.Of course the British were at it again because that fateful Tuesday they invaded the 400 year old empire of Benin, now Nigeria.Currently, international commissions with Canada’s participation are trying to secure the return of thousands of historic masks, art and artifacts looted during the British colonial rule.In America it was business as usual, the Navy laid keel to the massive 11,565 ton warship USS Wisconsin at a San Francisco shipyard, a ship which would play a major part in World War I.President Grover Cleveland that day vetoed a bill which would prohibit admission of illiterate immigrants, a bill that stands to this day.He also, on January 9, established the first Interstate Commerce Commission in an effort to control the machinations of the railroad magnates and their corrupt freight price fixing.On a lighter note, after years of debate, the state of Michigan officially adopted the apple blossom as the official state flower.In Russia, the Empire published the first official census ever undertaken by a major European power.In Australia the later famous aviator Sir Charles Edward Kingsforth Smith was born and American inventor Robert Hope-Jones, a famous organ builder, patented a foghorn for use in lighthouses which was to serve on both Canadian coasts for more than a century and some remaining examples operate even to this day.In Vienna, Austria, Siegfried Marcus patented his Marcus Wagen, an automobile that predates Benz and is still in existence in a museum in Vienna.So much for my contribution to Mr.Channell.What I would love to hear from him is how his news were gathered.What means of communications did the paper have?What cameras if any were used.I know that photogravure was available but did the paper have the machines for rapid transfer of the picture to the old fashioned block mounts?What type and size was the press?I have seen some the old monster presses in action, especially the flat sheet presses then just appearing in newspapers around the globe.I can even envision the smell of lead and ink and the wet proofs, hand rolled and read upside down.I can see the typesetters working their magic with tiny hand mounted type “leaded” in large metal trays.Happy birthday Sherbrooke Record.Obviously you have managed to transition through 114 years of technical innovation and the intrusion of electronic news dissemination to remain a strong voice in the Townships today. The Record newsroom@sherbrookerecord.com Wednesday, February 9, 2011 Page 7 MNIST His energy and sheer love for the sport of rock performer makes him a shoe-in for on-stage quarterback, team captain, coach, manager, mascot and the half-time show, all rolled into one.Gowan: Return of the Strange Animal Dishpan Hands Sheila Quinn He was born in Glasgow, raised in Canada.He’s a classically trained pianist who studied at the Royal Conservatory.He’s sung from the top of a pyramid, recorded an album in a house formerly owned by John Lennon and then Ringo Starr.He grew up singing along with the big progressive rock bands only to later collaborate with Jon Anderson, lead singer of Yes.For the last dozen years, he’s been on tour with Styx.His name is Gowan.Clearly, here’s a guy whose passion for music knows no bounds.He also knows that investing energy in the unfolding of the universe can lead to some very interesting opportunities.There’s no sitting back and waiting for life to happen for Lawrence Gowan, paired with humble recognition of the results of hard work, and the stumbling blocks and growth necessary for building a career in the music industry.February of 2011 marks the 26th anniversary of the release of “Strange Animal” - that album referred to in the first paragraph of this column - recorded at the home formerly owned by Lennon and then Starr.After years of touring with Styx, Gowan is on the road playing to fans of his own recordings, and among those stops is March 17’s date at Sherbrooke’s Granada Theatre.The intimate nature of a theatre show of this sort is thrilling no matter who is on stage.There is no “bad seating,” and the artist in question has the opportunity to truly connect with his/her audience.There’s a vibe of Phantom of the Opera meets The Muppet Show meets your favourite artist.So when someone who has toured the world, who is as gen- erous, as fun and looking forward to performing as Gowan comes along, it’s a performance that just can’t be missed.Professionally speaking, Gowan has six Canadian Top Ten songs, namely: “A Criminal Mind,” “Strange Animal,” “Cosmetics,” “Moonlight Desires,” “All The Lovers In The World, and “When There’s Time For Love.” The list goes on, with twelve Juno nominations, two Juno awards, one Casby award, and several Socan awards.On his musical resume are four Platinum albums, three Gold albums and one Gold single.Oh, that, and according to www.gowan.org, he also has the “Highest Scorer in Minor-Atom Hockey playing for Cedar-Hill, Ontario (1967).” Gowan’s performance holds particular importance for this music lover, having been a child of the music video generation; where kids of the 1980s traded in their soothers for their Much Music/Musique Plus/Video Hits and MTV.If Gowan’s stage presence translates as his dy- namic video presence did, the Granada may not be able to contain him.His energy and sheer love for the sport of rock performer makes him a shoe-in for on-stage quarterback, team captain, coach, manager, mascot and the half-time show, all rolled into one.Gowan’s not selling rock and roll, he’s living it.He is SHARING it.With this generous an offer to those in the Sherbrooke area on March 17, the question isn’t, will you buy a ticket, it’s how can you possibly miss this?We’re in for one memorable night.Sate your “moonlight desires” as a Canadian music legend makes a one-night appearance, at such a terrific venue.Make Gowan a part of the unfolding of YOUR universe.For more, don't miss DH Radio tonight on CJMQ 88.9 fm, when Sheila Q.airs her interview with Gowan, AND that of David Usher.David Usher will be taking to the stage at the Granada tomorrow evening, February 10.Selling yourself Gordon Lambie Last year at about this time, I wrote a book of poetry.Well, no, that’s not exactly true.Last year at about this time I put together a book of poems that 1 had written over quite a span of time and started attempting to sell it.The difference between those two statements is what I want to write to you about this week, because it’s easy to miss.Writing poetry is fun.No, I’m not joking, I teach English, but I did not always feel this way.My feelings toward poetry were hesitant and confused in high school: through Dennis Lee and AA.Milne: we had met in childhood but, as is the case with the majority of high school relationships, we just seemed to confuse each other as I moved into adolescence.I now read the poetry I wrote in high school while hiding around corners and covering one eye, hoping to dull most of the pain.We got to know each other much better in CEGEP.In my first semester, with the help of my “Introduction to College English” teacher, Ms.Huffels, I met William Blake, and my eyes opened a little further than they ever had before.In my second semester I took a poetry class taught by Professor Richard Adams, and it changed my whole perspective on: a) how an English Teacher might behave in class and b) what sorts of things one can say or do with poetry.In the latter class 1 met Robert Frost.After that my whole approach to the world of writing shifted.I started writing haiku in the margins of my history notes: poetry quickly replaced my doodles, and I started thinking about syllables, rhythm and meter.I have a file in my room with stories I have writ- ten going all the way back to the second grade, and I wrote a lot of short stories while in mid-to-late high school in an effort to deal with school pressure and the tumultuous feelings that come with being seventeen, but from CEGEP onwards, the majority of the work that I have produced that I actually like has been poetry.Poems piled up in the margins of my schoolwork all through university, and I never gave them a second thought until one day my friend Chris approached me to say that he was thinking of putting together a little folio of his work at the printshop, and that maybe if we pooled resources, we could both put together something decent.Chris reminded me that, although we live in a world of publishing houses today, a lot of the writers that are now held in high esteem started out by self-publishing.The idea sounded delightfully bohemian and not terribly hard, so I started reading back through my margin-notes to see if 1 had anything I thought other people might like to read.As it turns out, I did.So, that was the writing part.In the year since then, 117 copies of the book have been printed.The amount is odd because Lulu.com, through whom I assembled “New Bright Idea” (the book’s title), prints by demand.Seven of those were bought online by friends of mine, and the other 110 came to my house before travelling on to other places.There are currently four in my backpack, eight in the Bishop’s University Bookstore, one in the staff room of École Vision Sherbrooke, one on a bookshelf in my bedroom and fourteen with the Townshippers’ Association.If you do the math, that means that in a little over a year I have managed to sell somewhere in the area of 85 books (I gave one or two as gifts to significant parties).On one hand, that is a very cool achievement, on the other hand, it means that I currently own almost 30 copies of a book that I myself wrote; even with my favourite book in the world, 1 don’t feel the Cont’d on page 12 Staying > 2,,d edition BE A PARTNER in the success of our youth An invitation (tom Partners (or (durational Success (strie (Projet PPff) lummtimm www.reussiteeducativeestrie.ca I » v • ' # ' # 6 ' 1 • - / / Page 8 Wednesday, February 9, 2011 newsroom@sherbrookerecord.com | The Record The Record celebrates 114th Anniversary Sixth generation Townshipper still operating family meat shop (i (ilïXE 0FJÏXPE1UEN OÏ mm J ÙS& fa ; Hovey’s Gourmet Meats 181 LIVINGSTONE ST.E.(705) 722-5799 The Carnivore Candy Store Certified Angns B