LAB A 'REALITY CHECK' FOR RIDGE

The Neighbourhood Is Improving Despite Small Setback, According To
Maple Ridge Mayor

This weekend's synthetic drug lab explosion in Haney is a "reality
check" for Maple Ridge, according to Mayor Ernie Daykin. There is more
work to be done to fix the neighbourhood.

Firefighters, police, and hazardous materials professionals were on
224th Street, south of Lougheed Highway, most of Sunday cleaning up
after the explosion.

"It's a reminder there are still things we need to address," Daykin
said about the drug lab.

"The sad reality is there's a market for this poison," he
added.

But the mayor described the neighbourhood of Haney as having taken
several steps forward, and now this is one step back.

Daykin was "disappointed" that the lab blew up in the neighbourhood
that the District of Maple Ridge has been working to clean up, but he
would have been equally disappointed if it had happened in his
neighbourhood.

The property owner will be billed for police, fire, and cleanup costs,
which Daykin said can be several thousand dollars.

In addition, if the building inspectors find the electrical system has
been tampered with, there will be a "do not habitate" sign on the door.

But Daykin is encouraged by the improvements to Haney, including the
fact Northumberland Court - a crime-ridden townhouse complex on Fraser
Street - was closed down two years ago, and an old gym on 224th Street
was demolished.

Currently, a high-end hotel is being planned at the bottom of 224th
Avenue, across from where a condominium building is under
construction.

"I'm not going to let [the drug lab] dampen my optimism for that neck
of the wood," Daykin said.

Michael Joinson, president of The Always Growing Green Society, a
marijuana dispensary on 224th Street (next door to the lab), said the
neighbourhood atmosphere in Haney has improved even from when he set
up more than a year ago.

"I really think there's more of a community feel now," Joinson said.
"People are more apt to say hello."

While there is still some bad people in the mix, he said there are a
lot of good people living there, as well.