The Vancouver Sun from Vancouver, British Columbia, Canada • 1

J- 2St. Nil 7 i VIGOROUS ACTIVITY CAN CUT CANCER Itttt 3 VF.i Si in VANCO II II 1 VI I SERIOUSLY WESTCOAST SINCE 1912 MONDAY, MAY 26, 2008 www.vancouversun.com A BRIDGE FOR EVERYONE' LICE DHDiJ 1 ii ISii (IB 'XlLri. 111! AJfail r4A 3' v. T- (jC -w. if 4 H.J.J,J.,al& i-J i Equipment to play key role in search for traces of water on red planet BY CATHERINE ROLFSEN VANCOUVER SUN NASA's Phoenix spacecraft successfully landed on Mars Sunday evening, carrying on board equipment built by Richmond-based MacDonald, Dettwiler and Associates (MDA) that will probe the planet for water and the potential for life.

"It all comes to fruition today," MDA Space Group's vice-president and general manager for satellite missions and robotics Steve Oldham said in an interview Sunday. He spent the evening watching live television feeds from labs in California and Arizona, where several MDA employees were working. "You could see the moment that they got the signal that said it landed, they all jumped up and down and erupted, and everybody applauded. It was great," Oldham said. Word arrived at 4:54 p.m.

Vancouver time that the spacecraft landed on the Vastitas Borealis region of Mars, near the planet's north pole, where scientists think water could most likely be, Oldham said. DESMOND MURRAYSPECIAL TO THE SUN Cars and pedestrians flow over Okanagan Lake Sunday on the new five-lane bridge that bears the name of former premier Bill Bennett. Bennett was the first to walk across the bridge with his wife Audrey and Premier Gordon Campbell. Kelowna celebrates opening of William R. Bennett Bridge See INSTRUMENTS A4 BY DENISE RYAN VANCOUVER SUN trian access.

Bennett said that when Campbell contacted him in 2005 to say he wanted to name the bridge for him, he was so taken aback he didn't say yes right away. "I had to think about it. It was a surprise, but I decided to accept it and thank him, and thank the public for the honour because at my age, well, you never know how much longer you'll be around," he said with a chuckle. served as B.C.'s 27th premier, holding office from 1975 to 1986. For Bennett, the bridge opening was both a historic occasion, and a moment of personal pride.

His father, W.A.C. Bennett, opened the Okanagan State Bridge 50 years ago with Princess Margaret. Bennett, flanked by Premier Gordon Campbell, used the same scissors to cut the ribbon that were used by his father half a century ago. Bennett, who spoke with The Sun on Friday, recalled the splendour of that occasion, and said he sees the new bridge as an important moment of forward movement for the community. "With the new bridge, it opens Kelowna's west side towards Pen-ticton and Vernon.

This area is growing so fast, and it's going to grow more. I'm so looking forward to seeing how it develops. "It's a bridge for everyone," said Bennett. The five-lane bridge should relieve gridlock along Highway 97, and includes improved safety features and better bicycle and pedes The opening of the new William R. Bennett Bridge in Kelowna was marked by fanfare and community celebrations on Sunday as residents and dignitaries crossed its span for the first time.

The floating bridge, one of only nine floating bridges in the world, replaces the three-lane Okanagan State Bridge. The bridge is named for long-time Kelowna resident Bill Bennett who Artist's Illustration of the Phoenix Lander on the surface of Mars. See BENNETT IS A2 INSIDE 3,600 ready to roll in Bike to Work Week It's time for B.C. to warm up to Taiwan BY ALLISON CROSS VANCOUVER SUN yr CI Births Deaths F8 Bridge F7 Business D3 Who Classified knows? Cam Cole Full Comics E8 rePrt'F7 Crossword C2J7 $1.00 letters A6 PLUS GST Ferry Schedule F7 Horoscope C2 MINIMUM lsSUeSIdeaS OUTSIDE Keeping Track D6 Lotteries A2 MAINLAND Jonathan Manthorpe PS Movies C7 IanMulgrew Bl Sports Pf Sudohi E8 conado.com jy BYMIRO CERNETIG VANCOUVER SUN COLUMNIST land. Bonfield is among the 1,043 registrants who are biking to work for the very first time, according to organizers, the Vancouver Area Cycling Coalitioa "I've been trying to educate people about alternative transportation.

It's part of my job," Bonfield said. "And I decided I better try it too." Bike to Work Week has also attracted 707 work teams who can visit commuter stations on their way to the office and get free food, coffee and encouragement until the week ends on IMAGtNECHINA It's been years since Candace Bonfield even sat on a bicycle, but she plans to embark on a gruelling hour-long climb up Burn-aby Mountain every morning this week. "I live at the base of the mountain. Tve been going to the gym a little bit," said Bonfield, who works at Simon Fraser University as a sustainability coordinator. "You know, to get my legs ready." The 30-year-old is one of 3,600 riders registered to participate in Bike to Work Week, starting today across the Lower Main I had dinner the other night with the forgotten Chinese.

You know, the creators of the sort of China our western leaders all say they want to see namely a democratic, outward-looking society where human rights violations, peasant poverty and purges led by secret police are largely relegated to history. See TAIPEI'S NEW A3 Bird's eye view Labourers put the finishing touches on the Bird's Nest National Stadium in Beijing, which will host the opening and closing ceremonies of the Beijing Games. Jonathan Fowlie's sneak peek inside. Story, B3 in 11 57040 11 0035 See BICYCLING A2 CARS OR CASH FOR DAD JgiJin WHAT A GREAT FATHER'S DAY SURPRISE $3.1 MILLION IN PRIZES TICKETS $50 each, 3 for $1 00 or NEW 9 for $250 aS3 Chances are 1 in 207,275 (total tickets for sale) to win a grand prize. BC Gaming Event Licence 7125.