Shooting on Sto:lo Nation linked to child protection office
CBC News
Posted: Feb 14, 2012 12:40 PM PT
Last Updated: Feb 14, 2012 12:39 PM PT
The RCMP's serious crimes section is investigating a shot that was fired at the child protection office on the Sto:lo Nation in Chilliwack on Monday afternoon.
RCMP say it is not yet clear why the single shot was fired from a distance into a window on the second floor of the administrative building.
"Thankfully no one was injured," said Cpl. Tammy Hollingsworth in a statement issued by RCMP Tuesday morning.
"At this point, there is no indication this was targeted. If this was an accidental discharge of a firearm, we are asking that person to contact us."
But Sto:lo Tribal Council president Doug Kelly he's not surprised the child protection office was hit in the incident.
Kelly says the actions of the Ministry of Children and Families have been a growing source of frustration in the community ever since it took over the aboriginal child protection services following the death of two-year-old Chassidy Whitford in 2002.
"Sometimes there's a very good reason to take children from their home. Other times there is not. It's often put before a judge and when it is put before a judge, it often gets plugged up in the court system," said Kelly.
Court backlogs have grown to the point where parents are having trouble reclaiming children who have been apprehended.
"They go into treatment. They get the treatment. They do everything they are supposed to do to prove they are a worthy parent. They can't get their children back in a timely way."
Kelly says there is a second backlog within the ministry itself.
"Social workers ask for continuances because they haven't been able to keep up with the paperwork. They haven't been able to keep up with the timelines."
Chassidy died when she was accidently smothered by her father when he was drunk. He was later convicted of criminal negligence causing death.
Share Tools
Latest British Columbia News Headlines
- Ryder Hesjedal wins prestigious Giro d'Italia
- Victoria, B.C., native Ryder Hesjedal has become the first Canadian to win one of the cycling world's three Grand Tour events, wrapping up the 2012 Giro d'Italia with an excellent performance in the final stage in Milan. more »
- Surrey RCMP seek hit-run driver
- Police are looking for a light-coloured Chrysler with damage to the driver's front side after a pedestrian was hit in Surrey, B.C., early Sunday morning. more »
- B.C. man who scaled Everest returns home
- A Vancouver man who climbed the world's highest mountain is back home and talking about the adventure. more »
- Fort Langley restaurant damaged in fire
- A sushi restaurant in Fort Langley, B.C., was damaged in a fire early Sunday morning. more »
Top News Headlines
- CP Rail negotiations stalled, union says
- Negotiations between Canadian Pacific Railway Lt. and the union representing 4,800 striking locomotive engineers and conductors have come to a "stall" after the government-appointed mediator walked out at 2 p.m. ET, a union spokesman says. more »
- UN Security Council blames Syrian regime for massacre
- The UN Security Council condemned the Syrian regime at an emergency meeting Sunday, holding president Bashar al-Assad's military responsible for the massacre of more than 100 people, dozens of whom were children younger than 10 years old. more »
- Ryder Hesjedal wins prestigious Giro d'Italia
- Victoria, B.C., native Ryder Hesjedal has become the first Canadian to win one of the cycling world's three Grand Tour events, wrapping up the 2012 Giro d'Italia with an excellent performance in the final stage in Milan. more »
- Neighbour may have helped find missing kids in Mexico
- Two Winnipeg children who had been missing for nearly four years were found in Mexico after a man raised concerns about his neighbour, according to a private investigator. more »
- Canada's Ryder Hesjedal gets boost from family
- B.C. Coast Guard Auxiliary gets new name
- Psych ward escapes worry neighbours
- Environmental coalition pulls out of fish farm talks
- Passengers' families sue for fatal B.C. plane crash
- B.C. premier unhappy with disgraced Mountie's transfer
- B.C. man who scaled Everest returns home
- Tsunami motorcycle heading to Harley museum
- Fort Langley restaurant damaged in fire

