Stories
We've gathered a few stories and "I remember.." thoughts about Royal Kwantlen Park and the surrounding neighborhood. Read about Midnight Swimming, the treehouse, the parties, good times and a crime or two.
We're always listening for interesting stories and memories. Send us your Kwantlen tale so we can share it with others.
Innocent Victim
On Old Yale Road, just south of 104a Avenue, there is usually a commemorative wreath or flower arrangement nailed to a telephone pole. Given the speed some people drive down Old Yale at, it may surprise you that it's not for an automobile victim. It's the result of a classic case of wrong time, wrong place.
On August 31,1996, Basant Singh Dhaliwal, 24, was talking with family and friends on the grassy boulevard of Old Yale. He had very recently immigrated with his family to Canada from India. They had been watching an annual kabaddi tournament being held in Royal Kwantlen Park that afternoon. About 5:30 PM a brown mini-van with the side door open came down Old Yale. As it passed the group, a man in the back fired a number of rifle shots. The shooter shot at leg level intending to wound not kill. Five men were hit by the bullets, three in the leg area and the fourth in the shoulder. Basant wasn't so lucky. At just that moment he was kneeling down. A single bullet hit him in the head and killed him instantly.
After an emergency meeting of city officials, police and members of Guru Nanak Sikh Temple Saturday evening the rest of the event was canceled. The following Monday Ajmer and Sukminder Braich turned themselves in to police. They were charged with second-degree murder and attempted murder. Sukminder had been driving the van while his brother Ajmer fired the rifle as he sat on the rear floor of the van. The shooting stemed from a disagreement between the two families the previous weekend. In 1998 they were convicted on the lesser charges of manslaughter and aggravated assault. Each received a sentence total of nine years for both charges.
The brothers appealed and won on the basis of possible collaboration and important inconsistencies between witnesses. The Appeal Court then ordered a new trial. In 2002, the Crown won it's case against the Braich's in the Supreme Court and the sentences were reinstated. That decision and the reasons for it can be found here.
Basant Singh Dhaliwal left behind his future wife in India and a grieving family. Two months after immigrating to their new home, they had lost a son and were left wondering if it had been a wise decision.
randy@kwantlenpark.ca
Updated Feb. 28, 2009 Copyright 2009