TIM FELGER FINDS NEW SPOT IN MISSION

Pot activist Tim Felger, who has been evicted from his Abbotsford
location, has found a new place in Mission.

Felger won't reveal the location of his new Da Kine "political
office," but said he has had the site lined up for some time - before
his battle over rent with Dan Banov, the owner of the Abbotsford
building at 33770 Essendene Ave.

"I was going to open another store anyway," Felger
said.

He said his eviction in Abbotsford simply sped up the process. Felger
said he hasn't yet decided if he will apply for a business licence to
sell goods from the Mission location.

"It depends how the municipality of Mission treats me," he
said.

The City of Abbotsford cancelled Felger's business licence last
summer, and he could no longer sell T-shirts, books and other items.
The site then operated solely as a political office for the
legalization of marijuana.

Felger was forced to vacate the Abbotsford Da Kine last Tuesday, after
Banov obtained a court order. He had until Wednesday to remove his
belongings or they would be removed for him.

Banov is suing Felger for almost $53,000 in back rent.

Felger has appealed the case, saying he owns half the building and his
rent is paid in full. He vowed to win his appeal, return to that
location and open a second store in Abbotsford.

"Don't for one minute think I'm leaving, and don't think for one
minute that it's over for Dan Banov."

After Felger's eviction, Banov painted over the political statements
that covered the storefront. He now plans to do some renovations -
including splitting the office space in two - before finding new tenants.

He said he will look for "good paying ones ... that don't cause
trouble." The upper floor of the building is already occupied by
Bikram Yoga.

Felger's presence in the downtown core has drawn a mix of reactions
since he set up there in 2006. Some supported his political views,
while others felt he detracted from an area that has undergone a major
facelift in recent years.

Gerry Palmer, vice-president of the Abbotsford Downtown Business
Association, said Felger's store, with its "cartoonish" paintings on
the windows, did not fit in with the look of surrounding businesses.
Original 1930s glass on the storefront had been covered up, but can be
seen again.

"I'm pleased to see somebody is going to do some work restoring the
building," Palmer said.