Stories from Tri-City News headlines of decades past will be a reoccurring feature as the publication approaches its 40th anniversary in 2024.
A wise journalist once said that community newspapers are mostly stories about people and their problems.
And that, for the most part, sums up much of the coverage in the Tri-City News over the decades.
Case in point, a story in the July 23, 1995, edition in the Tri-City News about an anti-pedophile crusader whose telephone number and address were mistakenly published in a phone book.
The phone book — which, before cell phones, used to be widely used to find numbers and addresses — was published by BC Tel at the time.
The woman, whose first name is Sandra, told the Tri-City News that she was assured her phone number and address was needed just for billing and wouldn’t be published.
Sandra was shocked to find it was included in the phone book despite the assurance.
“Every sex offender I’ve ever run will know where to find me,” she said.
“I’ve got chronic masturbators phoning me until two in the morning and weird calls from sex offenders. I had to stop my daughter from answering the phone,” Sandra told the Tri-City News at the time.
The woman, who reportedly tracked down sex offenders, and listed them in a Tri-City Child Care Guide, said she had to move into a transition house while she waited to find a new place to rent because of the address publication.
According to Tri-City News at the time, Sandra received anonymous tips from informants to identify pedophiles and sex offenders whose profiles she published in the guide, after getting confirmation they were convicted.
As many as 11 profiles were published and nine more were prepared.
But being “outed” by the phone company put the anti-pedophile crusader at risk, she told the Tri-City News.
BC Tel offered the woman a $20 gift certificate, and apologized, offering to pay some of her submitted expenses, as well, but Sandra chose to retain a lawyer.
The article does not say what compensation she received, if any, but confirmed that BC Tel admitted the error.
But it’s clear the woman thought she had a good case.
“If I take it to court, it will be a morals call for sure.”
Among the files of the Tri-City News is coverage of Coquitlam, Port Coquitlam and Port Moody councils, local crime, local festivals and events similar to today’s stories you’ll find online and in print on Thursdays.
For a digital version of this week’s paper, visit the Issuu website.
