Comox Valley Echo - April 25, 2014 by Comox Valley Echo

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Garry oaks saved as land is gifted for nature park By Philip Round Echo Staff Rare Garry oak woods behind Vanier School will be protected in a newly-designated nature park thanks to a gift of nearly 15 acres of land to the City of Courtenay by Comox Valley School District. The ecologically-sensitive parcel has been a past target for potential development, but any future threats of that type are now gone. The property’s Garry oak woodland is a remnant of the most northern ecosystem of its kind in Canada, which is said to host a variety of unusual plant species. In addition to the trees and other vegetation, the land is also the headwaters of Towhee Creek, a small fish-bearing stream that drains into the Tsolum River. The announcement of the gift was made on Tuesday - Earth Day in the heart of the wood by School Board vice-chair Janice Caton, accompanied by fellow trustees, school district staff and environmental club students from Vanier. She said the School District had been involved in studies over several years to determine potential uses for the property. That work was now concluded, and the school board had agreed the most responsible course of action was to work with the City of Courtenay to establish a park to be protected in perpetuity. “It is clear that the school district is not in a position to manage such a sensitive and diverse forest environment, and we are now confident that the necessary stewardship of the land will occur,” she said. Courtenay Mayor Larry Jangula, accompanied by councillors and city staff, said the priority would be to ensure the new park’s environmentally significant features are protected. “We’ll be looking into creating a management plan for the property to determine how we can provide the necessary stewardship for these lands,” he said. “We’re extremely grateful to School District 71 for this beautiful gift to the community.” (Continued on page 2)

Volume 20, No. 33

Crown Isle chosen for new Galaxy Motors dealership By Philip Round Echo Staff A new auto dealership and service centre is set to join Toyota, Nissan and Mazda at Crown Isle. But this time the focus of the new development will be on used vehicles, as it is Island-based Galaxy Motors that is expanding its operations to the Valley. On Tuesday Courtenay Council granted a commercial development permit for the project, which will be on two acres of land between Crown Isle Boulevard and the north side of Silverdale Crescent, opposite Costco. The main indoor showroom, offices and five service bays will be at the centre of the site in a building that makes extensive use of stone and timber to give it a “west coast feel.” The 6,450 sq. ft. single-storey building will be surrounded by almost 150 stalls for the external display of vehicles for sale as well as customer parking, with access to the site from both adjoining roads. There will be some planting and landscaping along the edges of the site. City staff had recommended to Council the permit be granted, noting car dealerships were an approved use in that part of Crown Isle’s commercial zone. They had, however, hoped to see more trees on the site retained, but the landscape architect for the project had advised that would not be feasible due to the extensive grading of the property required to implement the development. Further, in the light of past experiences with Costco, municipal planners had alerted the applicant to the potential issue of noise, and suggested they get in a consultant to advise if any mitigation measures might be needed. But in response, the Ladysmith-based design consultants for the project, Delinea, responded: “We recognize sound attenuation is a concern with the proximity of residential developments. (But) we contend that this type of facility and the nature of the business does not generate any significant noise.” Privately-owned Galaxy Motors promotes itself as specializing in good quality, newer, previously-owned vehicles. It already has sales lots in Nanaimo, Duncan and Victoria, and after deciding to expand further north has homed in on the Crown Isle site as their first choice location.

Pictured centre cutting the ribbon to inaugurate the new nature park are Piet Rutgers of the Comox Valley Land Trust, Courtenay Mayor Larry Jangula, and School Board vice-chair Janice Caton.

pround@comoxvalleyecho.com

Snow to Surf champions gear up to defend 18 titles By Drew A. Penner Echo Staff This Sunday more than 150 teams will descend on the Comox Valley for the Royal LePage Comox Valley Snow to Surf Race, the country’s premier multi-sport team relay event. The course winds itself down Mount Washington, along dirt trails, roads and waterways as athletes push their limits and vie for dominance. The event features alpine skiing, snowshoeing, cross-country skiing, running, mountain biking, kayaking, road cycling, canoeing and of course post-race action. Certainly the favourite to win the competition again this year in the Men’s Open category is the dynastic Banzai team - which has won 18 times so far. The Echo caught up with legendary team captain Bill Brett, the canoeist of the bunch, to

Bill Brett hopes to be paddling across the finish line in first place once again

get the inside scoop on how they plan to dominate the field this time around. Brett leafs through stacks of newspaper clippings that fill multiple bags, each individual snippet another mark of success in the Banzai history books. Echo stories show the team guzzling devouring competitors and guzzling beers - although Brett notes the Genesis of the crew came when a rift developed on a formerly powerhouse squad called the Kamakazis. He had helped the team to victory twice in the 90s, but some players wanted a change. “The first team was a little bit of a hardcore party team,” he said. “The other guys didn’t want to party the night before. It just kind of split the team.” With “a little luck and a lot of hard work” Banzai was born and soon rose to the top of the heap. The one year they didn’t win was because they didn’t enter, he added. They have changed sponsors over the years,

and this year Old House Hotel and Comox Valley Nissan have jumped on board. Succeeding is all about each individual component coming together fluidly, he noted. “Everyone does their own sport to get ready,” he said. “You can’t have a weak link. You have to have 10 strong racers.” And when you come up with a solid team it’s nice to be able to hold that together for as long as possible, although this is easier said than done. “It’s hard to keep the same team back every year,” he said. “I have a lot of fun and compete hard.” This year the biggest thing threatening the Banzai reign was the injury of Matt Leduc. The team’s downhill ski racer blew his knee out in Europe, sending the team frantically searching for other people who might fill the void. (Continued on page 2)

A2 Comox Valley Echo Friday, April 25, 2014

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Comox Valley Weather

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Friday, 25 April Cloudy. High 13°C.

Saturday, 26 April Cloudy. Low 3°C. High 11°C.

Sunday, 27 April Periods of rain. Low 7°C. High 12°C.

Monday, 28 April Cloudy with 60% chance of showers. Low 6°C. High 13°C.

Tuesday, 29 April A mix of sun and cloud. Low 6°C. High 15°C.

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Blue Community bid evaporates despite watered-down motions By Philip Round Echo Staff

EVANGELICAL CHURCH APPROVED: This architects’ model gives an impression of how the proposed Central Evangelical Free Church of the Comox Valley could look when it is built on currently vacant at 2700 Inverclyde Way in east Courtenay. As reported in Tuesday’s Echo, the church has been designed to accommodate more than 460 worshippers, but the main auditorium could be quickly converted into a community facility

when needed to house events such as banquets and sports events. This week City Council gave unanimous approval to the issue of a development permit for the project, and the church now hopes to complete its fundraising and start work on site by the spring of next year. (Model created by Studio 2009 Architecture Ltd.)

Garry oaks saved in new parkland (Continued from page 1) He explained the proposed management plan would be developed as a cooperative venture between the City and School District in con-

Snow to Surf (Continued from page 1) “We did a lot of networking,” he said. “Fortunately on this team we have a lot of athletes who are good athletes.” With teams that are comprised of 10 different people, this is a challenge that is not unique to the Banzai members. In the days and hours before the race begins teammates will be doing last minute tune-ups to their performance and mindset in order to give themselves the edge - as will the legions of other teams eyeing for first prize status.

sultation with local environmental groups. It would determine the best ways to balance public access with protecting the park’s ecosystem. People can already walk through the land on a long-established informal trail, but the opportunity exists for a maintained greenway linking with other routes, he added. Piet Rutgers of the Comox Valley Land Trust was also on hand to welcome the protection of what the trust sees as key piece of property. It was one of the areas identified in the Nature Without Borders report that should not be developed. The School District has confirmed it will retain ownership of an adjacent 11-acre wooded hillside parcel behind the school, and that property’s zoning will not change. It is ‘Public Use and Assembly 3’ - a zoning that would allow several institutional uses and very limited development potential. pround@comoxvalleyecho.com

A City councillor’s hope of persuading fellow elected officials to support the idea of Courtenay becoming a Blue Community evaporated earlier this week. Councillor Ronna-Rae Leonard said the fact that Tuesday was Earth Day was a particularly good time to propose three motions on the issue of water security and availability. She noted that both Cumberland and Comox had adopted at least some elements of the Blue Communities campaign being promoted by the Council of Canadians, and she hoped Courtenay would play its part, too. But even though Leonard watered down the wording of two of the motions in a bid to make them more palatable to a wider range of political opinion, all were defeated. The closest she got was a tied 3-3 vote on her first, and in BC local government law, a tied vote is a lost vote. That initial motion sought to recognize and affirm that access to clean water was a human right (a step already endorsed by the United Nations General Assembly); called on

the federal and provincial governments to enshrine that right in our laws; and urged senior governments to develop a national action plan to ensure the right became a reality across the country. Leonard was supported by Councillors Doug Hillian and Bill Anglin on that vote, and opposed by Mayor Larry Jangula along with Councillors Manno Theos and Starr Winchester. Her other two motions, promoting the merits of public ownership of water supplies and waste water infrastructure (having removed phrases about opposing privatization), and affirming that bottled water should not be sold in municipal establishments, were lost on 4-2 votes, with Anglin joining Jangula, Winchester and Theos in opposition while Hillian continued in support. But while being defeated on all three counts, a suggestion made by Leonard about increasing the number of drinking fountains and accessible bottle-filling stations drawing from public water supplies did spark interest. Several councillors agreed those were ideas worth pursuing. pround@comoxvalleyecho.com

BIG SCHOLARSHIPS FOR LOCAL ARTS STUDENTS British Columbia’s artists to evaluate grant applications through a peer review process independent of government. Established in 1995, the B.C. Arts Council consults with the arts and culture community to develop policies, programs and strategic priorities for the sector. Last year, the Council approved more than 1,000 grants in over 200 communities in every region of the province. The provincial government is providing $24 million to the B.C. Arts Council this year, the highest funding level in the Council’s history. Overall, it is investing $60 million towards B.C.’s artists, arts organizations and cultural institutions during the 2014-15 fiscal year. For more information about the

Comox Valley MLA Don McRae has announced the names of five students from the region who have received scholarships from the B.C. Arts Council. “What an honour for these young people to be able to attend such prestigious institutions,” McRae said. “I’m very happy our government is able to help these students pursue their dreams.” B.C. Arts Council scholarships awarded in the Comox Valley: · Connor Lucas of Courtenay received $6,000 to study Theatre at Sheridan College

· Kristen Abdai of Comox received $6,000 to study Visual Arts at Royal College of Art · Taryn Goodwin of Courtenay received $5,500 to study Visual Arts at Emily Carr University of Art and Design · Persilia Caton of Hornby Island received $5,500 to study Museology and Conservation at Goldsmiths, University of London · Jeremy Potts of Courtenay received $5,000 to study Music at Eastman School of Music. As B.C.’s lead agency for arts funding and development, the B.C. Arts Council enlists the expertise of

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Motorists are asked to allow extra time, exercise caution, and observe directions given by traffic control personnel. If you have any construction or traffic related questions or concerns regarding this project, please contact Knappett Industries at (250)390-3022, or info@knappettindustries.com We thank you in advance for your cooperation during this construction period.

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Beaufort Avenue Upgrade – Nordin Street to Comox Avenue Beginning April 21 thru to June 27, 2014 construction crews will be upgrading sewer mains, roads, and sidewalks along Beaufort Avenue; mainly between Nordin Street and Comox Avenue. Non local motorists and pedestrians are encouraged to use alternate routes around the construction zone to avoid delays. Local residents and service providers will experience single lane alternating traffic between the hours of 7:00 a.m. and 6:00 pm, and may experience delays from time to time. Emergency services will maintain unrestricted access thru the site, at all times.

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Comox Valley Echo Friday, April 25, 2014 A3

gym a lot. It’s still the start of the season. I have to get back into jumping and maunalling.” But one of her favourite things to do is to give back, running a weekly mentoring clinic for kids every week, where she focuses on positive messages. “You don’t have to rely on other people,” she tells them, stressing any race is a win “as long as they try their best.” On Saturday April 26 from 8-10 a.m. a pancake breakfast will be held at the Cumberland CRI Hall, sponsored by the Cumberland Legion and Rotary club, so donations can be collected to help send Aleasha to the Netherlands. That way she will have the chance to try her best while the world watches, and hopefully bring back some hardware in the process.

Carpet, Upholstery & Duct Cleaning Aleasha and her dad Mike have been helping to build the BMX community in Cumberland.

A Force of Determination: Cumberland BMX rider prepares to take on the world By Drew A. Penner Echo Staff Not every girl’s dream is to hop on two wheels, strap on a helmet and soar to the top of the pack on the other side of the world. But then again, not every girl lives across the road from a dirt BMX track. Aleasha Wiebe has been riding since she was three years old. Now 17, the Cumberland rider is getting ready for a shot at world glory at the UCI BMX World Championships in Rotterdam Holland July 22-27. BMXing has become part of who she is. “I just like being out riding,” she said, adding, “Bossing the boys around is always fun.” Living in a community that worships all sorts of wheeled pursuits - from dirt biking and ATVing to downhill and cross country mountain biking - has provided a fertile place for the BMX community to thrive. Local riders are as young as one-and-a-half years and some keep going into their sixties. Out of this cradle of extreme civilization sprang Wiebe. “Just to ride and have fun - that’s all it’s really about,” she said. “It’s not a team sport, so it’s really about feeling good about your own riding and working on your self confidence.” Her dad Mike, who is the president of the Coal Hills BMX club in Cumberland, is proud of his daughter’s successes so far. “This is all she does all summer is ride,” he said. “She’s consistently been in the top three for her age bracket. Last year she was fifth overall out of all the female riders in Canada.” And the hungry BMXer has been placing well for years. “The last few world championships have been in Europe,” he noted. “She was seven when Nanaimo hosted the world championships and she went down there and finished seventh in the world then.” Aleasha remembers that day fondly. “I still have my trophy and my number plates from it,” she said. This year she played Senior Girls basketball at GP Vanier Secondary School. And now she’s focused on ramping up the BMX training. The Echo caught up with her at one of her favourite places to be, the Coal Hills BMX track next to Village Park in Cumberland. Rain started to fall from the sky, but she was not fazed, as she pumped her way up and down rollers before leaning into the first turn. She exuded controlled fury mixed with determination in the run,

something she will need to replicate in Holland, when the clock starts counting. “I’m here a lot riding,” she said. “I do sprints on my straight riding up and down and I work out in the

Comox Recreation COME PLAY WITH US!

GRAND RE-OPENING OF ANDERTON PARK TENNIS COURTS AT 175 STEWART STREET

To celebrate the successful completion of this project, you are invited to participate at the official opening celebration of the Tennis Courts, scheduled for April 26, 2014 at 11:00am at Anderton Park, 175 Stewart Street, Comox. Comox Community Centre COME PLAY WITH US! 1855 Noel Ave, Comox info@comox.ca 250-339-2255 www.comox.ca

Shoppe Talk April 2014 – Chorus Supernaturals It seems like everyday we are exposed to an increasingly complex array of chemicals in either the food we eat or the products we use. Wouldn’t it be nice to have a choice in personal care products that are safe, effective and affordable. The Medicine Shoppe is pleased to announce the Chorus line of products that will make your skin sing (pun intended – Chorus line – sing, get it). All Chorus skin care products contain only 100% natural source ingredients free of petro-chemicals. Look at the ingredient list on the back of your average shampoo bottle. You will find a lot of things that you will never find in Chorus hair care. Chorus Hair Care shampoos and conditioners are completely free of sulfates, parabens, propylene glycol, artificial preservatives and fragrances. Instead a wide range of unadulterated botanical extracts, pure essential oils, plant-derived cosmaceuticals and high-grade plant and vegetable oils have been blended with the foundation products which have been sourced from the pristine wilderness of British Columbia. Chorus products are delivered in “no contact” packaging to prevent any contamination by direct touch. We will be launching Chorus Supernaturals on Monday May 12th at our store between 10am and 4pm. Stop by and see why we are so excited. Have a chat with the company representative and try some of the products. Be the change. Feel the difference.

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A4 Comox Valley Echo Friday, April 25, 2014

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Unanimous vote for tax increases to fund Courtenay budget 60:40 split between homeowners and businesses By Philip Round Echo Staff Courtenay homeowners will face an average tax increase for municipal services of just over 1 per cent this year - but businesses will see a hike of about 3.6 per cent. The decision on how the burden should be spread between residential and commercial taxpayers was agreed unanimously at Tuesday’s City Council meeting. Courtenay’s director of financial services, Tillie Manthey, said final tweaks to the 2014 spending plans had resulted in a net reduction

of $40,000 as a result of not funding an extra RCMP member. That change resulted in a bottom-line spending increase of 1.7 per cent. To cover that, the council needed to set a tax rate impacting not only homeowners - who usually contribute about 60 per cent of the income received - but also businesses, which make up almost all the remaining 40 per cent. There is a formula known as the business multiplier that ensures all the money required is raised, and she recommended it be adjusted downwards ever so slightly for 2014. That was appropriate, she said, as commercial property assessments had risen over the past 12 months while residential ones had fallen. If there were no change in the multiplier, the gap between what homeowners and businesses paid would grow wider. So Council agreed the multiplier should be reduced to 2.80 from 2.85. That means for

every $1,000 of assessed value, a commercial property owner will pay 2.8 times more property tax than a residential homeowner. The result means the rough 60:40 split between residential and business will be maintained, although the downside for homeowners is that they will pay a little more than originally intended. If the formula had not changed, the residential tax increase would have been less than half of one per cent, which was the equivalent of a rise of $4.60 for an average house. But that would have meant a business rise of almost 4.7 per cent. So the compromise means a residential property owner in a house assessed at the city average of $276,000 will now see a 1.14 per cent increase to fund City services, which amounts to just under $12 extra. The average business assessed at $693,000

will pay an extra $255, which is $80 less that would have been the case if the multiplier had not been adjusted. A formal bylaw to authorize all the changes still has to be passed by Council, but all the key decisions allowing that to be drawn up have now been taken. However, Manthey stressed the figures quoted only related to the City’s own budget, and the tax notices that go out next month will also include requisitions from other authorities such as the Regional District along with the School, Hospital and Library Boards. There will also be additional utility costs to pay, and in Courtenay’s case the Council has already agreed a 12 per cent increase in sewer charges to help fund infrastructure costs - about an extra $24 per household. pround@comoxvalleyecho.com

Auditors give Courtenay a clean bill of health By Philip Round Echo Staff

External auditors who have gone through the City of Courtenay’s books for last year say the authority is in a sound financial position. Cory Vanderhorst of MNP offered a positive overview on the City’s 2013 financial statements at Tuesday’s Council meeting, and gave the municipality a clean bill of health. “There are no red flags that would cause us any concern,” he told councillors, as he praised the authority’s finance staff - especially Tillie Manthey (director of financial services) and Candice Hilton (manager of finance) - for their work. Vanderhorst noted existing financial obligations and service commitments could be maintained; the authority had the capacity to take on fresh debt if needed; overall debt payments for past projects had decreased over the previous year; and it was good that City revenues were not dependent on transfers from either federal or provincial governments. He also revealed that sampling checks on the expenses claimed by every elected official or senior staff member had not found anything at all that was improper or unreasonable. Manthey, who is also the City’s deputy chief administrative officer as well as financial services director, said that at first glance, the financial statements might be hard to interpret. “The annual audited financial statements are ‘consolidated’, which means that all the City’s various funds and operations are rolled up into one end-of-year statement which details the City’s financial position,”

she explained. “As well, they are in a format that is specific to government, and may look a little different than traditional financial statements.” As an example, Manthey points to the value of the City’s investment in capital assets, which are included in the overall reported “accumulated surplus and reserves.” At first glance it appears the City has more than $128 million in surplus and reserves, which looks like a big pot of money to draw on. But in reality, $105 million of that total is the book value of past public investment in roads, bridges, parks, buildings, and other assets owned by the City. It is not a bank account awash with cash. Manthey says she is pleased with the results of the audit: “Compiling information for our annual audits involves participation and cooperation from a number of staff and departments,” she explained. “It’s great to get that stamp of approval from an independent agency to show that we’re meeting our requirements as a local government.” To view the financial statements, to go www.courtenay.ca Also on the City website is a link to the Citizen Budget survey, providing the public with an opportunity to provide feedback on expenses for various City operations. pround@comoxvalleyecho.com

Artists on canvas and plate There’s a new place on Fifth Street to draw creative types who appreciate art and food. ‘Ginger Nine’ has moved from its former premises at Centennial Drive to the much more accessible downtown location where it opened for business on Tuesday. Paintings displayed on canvas around the walls of the stylish café and gallery, and on accessories such as bags and purses, are the creations of business owner Tonja Bjermeland (pictured left); while the food,

much of it drawing on local ingredients, is the work of manager Marilyn Veronneau (pictured right) assisted by staffers Georgie Evans and Caresse Nadeau. Ginger Nine opens Monday-Saturday from 8 a.m., the early start being a bid to capture the “grab and go” market of people seeking sandwiches or snacks with fresh coffee or other drinks on the way to work. On Mondays the business closes at 4 p.m. and the other days at 5.

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Comox Valley Echo Friday, April 25, 2014 A5

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WANTED If you have any information about the whereabouts of either of these two people, call the Comox Valley RCMP Detachment at 338-1321, or Comox Valley Crimestoppers at 1-800-222-TIPS (1-800-222-8477). You don’t have to give your name and you could be eligible for a cash reward.

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DOB: 1978-10-06 189 cms, 82 kgs, Brown eyes, Brown hair Warrants: Breach of Undertaking, Fail to comply with probation Comox Valley file # 2010-9796

DOB: 1968-09-30 160 cms, 50 kgs, Brown hair, Brown eyes Warrant: Theft under $5000 Comox Valley file # 20141248

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POLICE BLOTTER The Comox Valley RCMP responded to the following incidents between April 15 and 22: On April 15th the Comox Valley RCMP were called to a report of a chainsaw being stolen from an open carport at a residence on the 3200 block of Royston road in the Royston

area. The chainsaw is described as a rechargeable Green works saw. (2014-4244) A theft of two chainsaws occurred at a residence on the 300 block of Pritchard Rd. in Comox on April 19th. The owner reports leaving the two chainsaws in his carport on April 12th and returned on the 19th to find them missing. (2014-4404) On April 19 police took a

report of a theft of a 32-inch Samsung TV from a residence on the 400 block of Butchers Rd. in Comox. (2014-4421) On April 19 the Comox Valley RCMP took a report of a stolen E-Bike from outside a business on the 200 block of Port Augusta Street in Comox. The bike is a black colored E Cruiser. (2014-4408) On the night of April 19th vandals went to the school

located at 1475 Noel Avenue in Comox and spray painted rude words on the walls. (20144445) On April 20th police responded to a report of an assault that occurred at a party on Braidwood road in Courtenay. The victim reports that a female known to her attacked her and punched her while she was leaving. (20144486)

Jaw surgery for man after night of clubbing on Easter weekend ended in assault By Drew A. Penner Echo Staff A young man in his 20s was taken to hospital with a broken jaw after being assaulted in a dispute with three other men while waiting for a cab outside the Flying Canoe Pub early Sunday morning. Police said he was taken to St. Joseph’s General Hospital in an ambulance. “He had to go for surgery,” said Don Sinclair, Comox Valley RCMP spokesperson. “That’s fairly serious.” The victim had been seen having an argument with one of the suspects earlier on in the evening as DJ Mike pumped out Top 40 tracks to a packed house of Easter Weekend revelers at the popular Courtenay club.

As the evening wound down the heated discussion, apparently over a girl, intensified to the point of blows on public property across from Safeway. The victim was found in the bathroom with

blood coming out of his mouth and nursing a cut nose. Sinclair said while RCMP members will deal with small skirmishes and other bar incidents regularly, matters only escalate to this

level in the community every month or two. “It depends on if school’s out or if there’s something going on in town,” he said. “There’s always going to be people out there that are just jerks and are looking for a fight.”

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E&N Keeping Track Railway

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Lalonde’s Jitney at the Courtenay Station, 1924 Credit: Courtenay and District Museum 2004.27.4

The taxis in this 1924 image advertise travel beyond Courtenay, the northern E & N terminus. Campbell River was to have been the northern terminus because the land the province deeded to the Dominion in 1883 stretched to Duncan Bay. However, two days after the Courtenay line ofﬁcially opened in 1914, Britain declared war with Germany. All efforts shifted to WWI. The CPR didn’t completely abandon the Campbell River terminus idea. In January, 1920, CPR President E.W. Beatty was quoted in the Comox Argus , “Surveys of a line to Campbell River are being made, when they are completed a decision as to this extension will be made...” Island highway development put an end to the idea. Courtesy Courtenay and District Museum

Monday 8am-4pm Tues-Sat 8am-5pm Sun Closed

A6 Comox Valley Echo Friday, April 25, 2014

News

OYSTER RIVER VOLUNTEER FIRE RESCUE ASSOC. ACQUIRES NEW FIRE ENGINE The Oyster River Volunteer Fire Rescue Association has a new shiny new red truck that’s going to enhance their ability to save lives and properties. The new fire truck was recently purchased for around $440,000 and has been equipped with state of the art rescue equipment amounting to around $30,000. This has been a joint effort between the Comox Valley Regional District and the ORVFRA. The goal was to establish a program where fire rescue equipment is brought into service in a cost-effective manner and meets apparatus standards to enhance safety of crew members and the public. A key factor in attaining or maintaining an acceptable rating from public fire protection standards is the requirement to operate only equipment that is within specified age parameters. This engine replaces a 1993 Volvo engine and a 2003 Ford F350 rescue truck. “The members of Oyster River fire rescue and the manager of fire services for the CVRD all contributed to the design of this new apparatus, including the layout of the cabinets and the placement of equipment, said Edwin Grieve, CVRD director for PuntledgeBlack Creek (Area ‘C’). Features of the new fire engine include four-wheel drive capabilities, a full complement of firefighting equipment appropriate for the area, multiple ladders, a full range of medical first responder and rescue equipment, as well as vehicle extrication equipment. “This new truck will boost the Oyster River fire department’s ability to save lives and property. The truck holds numerous life-saving pieces of equipment, with up-to-the minute technolo-

gy,” said Brenda Leigh, chair of the Black Creek-Oyster Bay services committee and Strathcona Regional District director for Oyster BayButtle Lake (Electoral Area ‘D’). “Following several weeks of familiarization with the truck, driving experience and hands-on pump operation, the new unit went into service at the end of March and has already been the lead engine on numerous emergency responses,” added Oyster River Fire Chief Niels Holbek.

Pictured in front of the new engine are from left to right Oyster River Fire Chief Niels Holbek, Brenda Leigh, chair of the Black Creek-Oyster Bay services committee and Strathcona Regional District (SRD) director for Oyster Bay-Buttle Lake (Electoral Area ‘D’), Edwin Grieve, CVRD director for Puntledge-Black Creek (Area ‘C’), and Oyster River Deputy Fire Chief Bruce Green.

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Comox Valley Echo Friday, April 25, 2014 A7

News

SD71 plans to cut staff to balance its books With district facing $2.2M deficit, over 20 teachers expected to lose jobs By Michael Briones Echo Stafff School District 71 is facing an operational budget shortfall of $2.16 million for the 2014-2015 school year. The deficit has been attributed to an enrolment decline of 240 students,

implementation of the provincially negotiated support staff framework, as well as a structural deficit carrying forward from the 2013-2014 budget. Inorder to balance its budget for the next school year, the district’s finance committee held consultation session with different stakeholders that began in January. It has concluded and the committee is now set to release the outcome of the talks from April 23 to May 9. The committee is making adjustment recommendations in the follow-

ing areas: maintenance department, information technology department, district administration and school board office, student services and support teachers, student supervision and teacher pupil ratios. Among the groups to be impacted by the district’s cost-saving measures is the Comox Valley Teachers Association, which will see over 20 of their members be out of a job next school year. Vice president Nick Moore said while they understand the school

district is struggling to balance its books they are against the proposed staffing reductions. “They’ve consulted with us but we don’t agree with the cuts they’ve decided to make,” said Moore. “We’re expected to lose about 23 teachers next year. We’re not happy with it and we don’t agree with it.” Moore said they’re not fighting the school trustees in their decision because the district relies on provincial funding, which has been declining over the years. But he added that

tion and accommodation costs for families whose child is receiving treatment and an out-of-community hospital, and communication devices and therapies. On April 30 and May 1 tune in to 97.3 The Eagle, donate to the Variety Children’s Radiothon and make a difference in the life of a child who has special needs.

Local teachers taking part in province-wide job action over contract By Michael Briones Echo Stafff Comox Valley teachers have joined their fellow union members province-wide to initiate stage one of their job action. They went on strike on Wednesday but it did not involve any picketing, school closures and major disruptions to students. The vice-president of the Comox District Teachers Association, Nick Moore, said it’s unfortunate they had to follow this course. “It’s always the last resort,” said Moore. “We’re disappointed that after a year of bargaining the government hasn’t brought the resources to the table to reach a negotiated settlement. We’re hopeful this low level phase one job action will put enough pressure on local school districts management and government to come to a negotiated settlement.” The CDTA has around 450 full-time teachers in School District 71. In total, the group has around 750 teachers including those on-call and part-time teachers. SD71 superintendent Sherry Elwood has informed parents they’ve taken measures to ensure that the education and safety of the students are not compromised. “Schools will remain open, subject to essential services designation,” said Elwood. “Students will continue to attend classes as they would normally do. During the break periods like recess, and bus pick-up before and after school, students will be supervised by the principal or vice-principal or by district staff.” Contract negotiations between the BC Teachers’ Federation and the BC Public School Employers’ Association are still ongoing. But during the strike, teachers will not: • Undertake any mandated supervision of students outside of regularly scheduled classes, except as set out by an essential services order. • Attend any meetings with management other than meetings of the worksite Joint Health and Safety Committee. • Provide principals or administrators with any routine printed, written, or electronic communication. • Receive any printed, written, or electronic communication from an administrator. • Be at a worksite prior to one hour before commencement of instructional time and one hour after the end of instructional time, other than for pre-arranged voluntary activities. However, teachers will continue to teach, write report cards, communicate with parents, and participate in their volunteer extracurricular activities. BCTF president Jim Iker said negotiations have been disappointing because the Christy Clark government and employer’s

association have not backed off from unfair and unreasonable demands. He added the strike would pressure the government and employers to reconsider their key demands, strips and unreasonable position. “Unfortunately, more than six weeks since that vote, the government and employers’ unfair positions have barely moved,” said Iker. “The government and BCPSEA continue to demand concessions while ignoring the BC Supreme Court ruling on class size, composition, and staffing levels. In addition, the unreasonable 10-year term and salary proposals, which include up to two more years of zeros, are still on the table.” If negotiations fail to progress any further, the strike may escalate to Stage 2, which would mean rotating strikes “Teachers expect the government to abandon the ill-conceived 10-year scheme, make improvements to working and learning conditions like class size, class composition, and specialist staffing levels as well as offer a fair and reasonable salary increase. Our hope is for a negotiated deal at the bargaining table and not escalating job action,” said Iker. Iker said teachers hope to reach a deal with the province before the end of June. The BCTF wants: • Kindergarten classes capped at a maximum of 20 students. Legislation sets the limit at 22 and kindergarten classrooms in Vancouver serve an average of 18 students, as of Oct. 15. • Grade 1 to 3 classes at a maximum of 22 students. Current legislation sets the limit at 24, and classrooms in Vancouver serve an average of 22 students, as of Oct. 15. • Grade 4 to 12 classes at a maximum of between 27 and 30 students. Iker said some classes hold more than 30 students now. B.C. Supreme Court Justice Susan Griffin ruled in January that the government must restore collective bargaining provisions that relate to class size and composition and help provided in classes for special needs. The ruling said language would be returned to teachers’ collective agreement retroactively but would likely be the subject of bargaining. The government is appealing the decision. The BCTF wants salary increases of three per cent per year over three years plus a cost of living adjustment. The government has shifted its offer of a 0.5 per cent increase for the first year to a 0.75 per cent increase in the last six weeks, according to the BCTF. The government’s contract with teachers expired last June, so teachers received no pay increase in 2013-2014 and would receive no increase for 2014-2015, with various one per cent and 0.5 per cent increases until 2019.

it’s all about the priorities of the government. “The government could easily find the money to do it,” said Moore. “They have $2 billion surplus in contingency funds that they’ve included in their budget for this year. They could make different provisions that allow them to invest in education in British Columbia.” The final budget bylaw will be submitted to the school board for consideration at the May 27 regular meeting.

B.C. Arts Council supports culture in the Comox Valley

Talia Ruttan (12 mos.) of Courtenay has been helped by Variety - The Children’s Charity.

97.3 The Eagle and Variety The Children’s Charity present the 6th Annual Variety Children’s Radiothon Variety - The Children’s Charity and 97.3 The Eagle will team up April 30 and May 1 to present the 6th annual Variety Children’s Radiothon, a fundraiser to help families in the Courtenay and Campbell River areas with children who have special needs. Families like Kelsey and James Ruttan and their little girl Talia. Born two and a half months premature, doctors were not confident that Talia would survive. She received specialized care in a Neonatal Intensive Care Unit (NICU) at an out-of-community hospital, and after three months was finally strong enough to return home with her parents. Variety helped the Ruttans by covering Kelsey’s accommodation expenses so she could be near Talia in the NICU every day. As Kelsey recalls, “It was a huge weight off our minds and it enabled us to focus on Talia’s care.” Today Talia has a form of cere-

bral palsy, is G-tube fed, has hearing aids due to partial hearing loss, needs oral therapy to help her learn to swallow, and physiotherapy and occupational therapy to help loosen and stretch her muscles. But her mom says she is a happy one-year-old and her future looks bright. “Courtenay and Campbell River and the surrounding communities have always been very supportive of our Radiothon fundraiser, and we’re grateful for that,” says Bernice Scholten, Executive Director of Variety. “It’s about families helping families which is very powerful. We’re asking for your support again because we want to help even more children.” In the last two years, Variety provided funding to 46 local families in Courtenay and Campbell River to help with costs associated with the purchase of mobility equipment and vehicle modifications for wheelchairs, transporta-

Ten arts and culture organizations serving the Comox Valley and two residents of the region have been awarded a total of $188,870 in B.C. Arts Council grants, Comox Valley MLA Don McRae announced Wednesday. “From live music shows to improvisational comedy acts, our communities are deeply enriched through arts and culture,” McRae said. “This funding supports artists, arts groups and cultural organizations while boosting our province’s growing creative economy.” Organizations receiving B.C. Arts Council grants: Arts Denman received $6,000, the Comox Valley Community Arts Council received $16,531, the Campbell River Community Arts Council received $18,289, the Courtenay and District Historical Society received $25,000 and the Hornby Island Arts Council received $8,000 - all five of these groups will use the funds to help with operating activities The Comox Valley Art Gallery received a total of $47,575 to help with a printmaking project for youth, operating costs and to augment equipment in the gallery’s media lab The Comox Valley Folk Society received $20,000 to help with the 2014 Vancouver Island Music Fest The Hornby Festival Society received $13,000 to present the 2014 festival The Cumberland and District Historical Society received $6,000 toward a permanent exhibition on medical history at Cumberland General Hospital The Tofino Arts Council Society was awarded $4,475 to help with three community arts development activities Rader Matthews of Cumberland was awarded $12,000 for a new poetry manuscript titled Winter Horses Cornelia Hoogland of Hornby Island received $12,000 for a book of poems called Guide to the Underworld

Grand Opening & Openn House Inviting new ne and current clients client to join us on

April p 26 10AM - 5 PM

Mosaic Vision Care (and formerly Courtenay 1-HRR Optical) is now at its second convenient location in ntre Crown Isle Shopping Centre

Join us for door prizes, riz refreshments nts and eyewear promotions pr

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'HFRUD 'HVLJQ HEARTWOOD CONTRACTING

Thank-you also extended to many other local businesses: Evolve Lighting at Central Builders, ACS Computer Solutions, Better Mousetrap Marketing, JA Custom Cabinetry, Andrew Sheret Ltd, Comox Valley Flooring Center, Sound Security, and FD Interiors.

ou to all the A big thank-you local businesses nesses and suppliers who ho went the extra mile.... and helped us build a second location for foor Mosaic Vision Care! Care

A8 Comox Valley Echo Friday, April 25, 2014

News

Valley to host big Agriculture Show with a twist By Philip Round Echo Staff The Comox Valley is to host a big agricultural show with a twist next year - much of it will be held indoors. The Islands Agriculture Show aims to showcase, celebrate and grow all aspects of farming and agricultural production on Vancouver Island, the Gulf Islands and the Sunshine Coast. The intensive two-day event will take place on Friday and Saturday, February 13-14, mainly at the Florence Filberg Centre and nearby Native Sons Hall in downtown Courtenay. But this year’s program could be expanded to offer tours and visits to local farms or producers, and - weather permitting - potentially some outdoor exhibits in one of the downtown parks within walking distance of the two halls. For the past three years the same show has been hosted in Duncan, but a group of Valley organizations pitched for it to move to a new venue for 2015 and succeeded. The bid was coordinated by the Comox Valley Economic Development Society (CVEDS) in partnership with the local Farmers’ Institute, Farmers’ Market, Comox Valley Exhibition (Fall Fair), and the Comox Valley Echo/Glacier Media Group. The event will include food, trade and information booths and a series of conference-style presentations, workshops and seminars. Full details of the program have yet to be worked out, but the plan is to provide an intensive forum where suppliers can showcase their products and where farmers and producers can easily access information and have a hands-on experience of new equipment and technologies. “Holding the Islands Agriculture Show here in the Comox Valley is a feather in our cap and testimony to the importance of one of our Valley’s most significant economic sectors,” says Brad Chappell, who serves on the board of CVEDS and owns Heart of the Valley Farms in Merville. “It will not only showcase the most up-to-date and advancing trends, technology and tools but will also create and encourage a platform for sharing best farm and economic practices.” He believes that twin approach will help promote more investment in a growing sector. And he adds: “From my cattle ranching perspective, it’s great to see CVEDS taking the lead to secure the show in partnership with great regional partners who understand the importance and impact that such a show will have on our region.” The president of the non-profit Islands Agriculture Show Society (IASS), Kathy Lachlan, says moving the event around Vancouver Island will make it more accessible to farmers from different areas over time, and it had always been the intention to rotate it geographically once it was firmly established as an annual event. The planned show will provide

Find us on Facebook facebook.com/ComoxValleyEcho

CV HORTICULTURAL SOCIETY`S

ANNUAL PLANT SALE Saturday April 26 9:30-11:30 am In the Conference Hall at the Florence Filberg Centre 411 Anderton Rd Courtenay

Come early for best selection and bring a box!

Notice of Annual General Meeting Comox Valley Economic Development & Tourism invites you to attend their 2013 AGM Friday, May 23, 2014 4:30 – 6:00 pm Blackfin Pub, lower level 132 Port Augusta Street, Comox FMI and to RSVP: www.cveds2013agm.eventbrite.ca or call 250-334-2427 ext 222

a regional forum for education, information sharing and networking between farmers, rural landowners interested in new ventures in small-scale production, farm organizations, industry suppliers, government agencies, and the general public, she adds. They had enjoyed three initial years of success in the Cowichan Valley, attracting around 1,500 people to around 60 exhibition booths and many additional presentations each year, and now it was time for a change of scene. The Comox Valley bid was encouraged by Gary Rolston, who is a member of the IASS board and who is from the Valley. “We are constantly looking at ways to make improvements and find ways of keeping the show fresh and vibrant and one way to do that is to host the show in different regions so that communities can add their local flavour to the show,” he comments. For more information on the event, go to www.iashow.ca pround@comoxvalleyecho.com

Green Jobs Kick-off: Pictured from the left are Green Jobs BC’s Jonathan Kassian; local community organizer and activist Vanessa Scott; BC Federation of Labour treasurer Irene Lanzinger; Andrea Craddock from the Campbell River & Courtenay District Labour Council; Sierra Club campaign director Caitlyn Vernon; and BCGEU president and Green Jobs BC co-chair Darryl Walker.

Courtenay kick-off for Green Jobs BC tour Comox Valley residents joined leaders from labour and environmental groups for a ‘Green Jobs BC’ town hall event in Courtenay on Wednesday night. Members of the community engaged in discussion about how to create sustainable local green jobs. Some key themes included building retrofits, clean energy, food security, responsible aquaculture, a forest sector with intensive management and renewed value-added processing, and social impact purchasing. Speakers included BCGEU president and Green Jobs BC co-chair Darryl Walker; BC Federation of

Labour treasurer Irene Lanzinger; Sierra Club campaign director Caitlyn Vernon; local community organizer and activist Vanessa Scott; and Andrea Craddock from the Campbell River & Courtenay District Labour Council. Wednesday’s event was the first of a series of regional town hall events across the province. “With these town halls, we will be fleshing out our policy recommendations into a jobs plan, and in creating that plan we’re going out to communities to engage with people and get ideas and feedback,” says Darryl Walker. “The energy around these events is

showing that many BC communities share Green Jobs BC’s goal of overcoming the jobs versus environment debate and proving that a strong economy and a healthy environment can go hand in hand.” And Vanessa Scott added: “Our environment has always been the source of prosperity here, and we’ve got the people, know-how and energy to build on what we have locally to create sustainable jobs, green jobs for our community.” Green Jobs BC is a collaboration between labour and environmental organizations seeking to build a strong sustainable economy in B.C.

Comox Valley Echo Friday, April 25, 2014 A9

News

NURSE GIVING SEMINAR ON DEMENTIA care giving at home are among the topics she will discuss in this, the second in a series on “An Aging Brain.” Sharp has tested hundreds of people for memory loss and dementia, she shares her “on the ground” knowledge as a public service. She says, “Both my mother and grand mother had dementia” and her research has been directed to “sharing and inspiring others to have healthy brains for as long as possible.” Remember this date or write it down on your calendar. The public is welcome and admission is by donation.

As our population ages, it’s more and more likely we will either develop some form of dementia or spend time caring for someone with it. “A ROCKY PATH FROM CONCERN TO CAREGIVING IN EARLY DEMENTIA” is the subject of a seminar to be given at St. George’s United Church, 505 6th Street, Courtenay on Wednesday, April 30, from 1:30 to 3:30 p.m. This event will be presented by Ronine Sharpe, RN, “The Memory Nurse” who has spent nearly a decade studying the aging brain and what we can do about it. Forgetfulness, the steps in the diagnosis of dementia, and tips for

Easter Bunny assists staff at Comox Valley Airport Passengers arriving at the Comox Valley Airport onboard WestJet flight 257 were surprised to be marshalled into the terminal by a famous celebrity. E.B. (the chocolate distributor formerly known as “The Easter Bunny”) was a natural, according to Fred Bigelow, CEO of the Comox Valley Airport. “It appears that E.B. was looking to expand on the experience section of his Linked-In profile. With the increasing popularity of the Paleo Diet, polls are suggesting that chocolate consumption could decrease this year and he wanted to learn a back-up skill,” explained Bigelow. All appropriate safety mechanisms were in place, with an experienced ramp attendant accompanying E.B. on this training session. Operations Manager, Alex Robertson was also on hand to ensure that neither the bunny’s over-sized ears, nor the basket full of delicious hand-made artisan chocolates from Hot Chocolates, distracted the pilots from the task at hand. “I took good care of the chocolate,” Robertson admitted, patting his stomach. “As for those ears, it appears E.B. was able to pick up the chatter in the cockpit - though due to privacy issues we can’t reveal the exact contents of that conversation. We can confirm, however, that the pilots were pretty surprised to see an oversized bunny on the ramp and they appeared to be VERY interested in the chocolate once they parked the plane.” Following E.B.’s ramp training, he distributed chocolate treats (courtesy of Hot Chocolates) to disembarking passengers.

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A10 Comox Valley Echo Friday, April 25, 2014

Community

Free public Mack Laing Heritage Park Walk As a final contribution to the Earth Week celebrations, Comox Valley Nature invites young and old alike for a walk commemorating Hamilton Mack Laing’s contributions to the Comox Valley’s environmental history and heritage.

In keeping with trail mapping work done by Dr. Paul Horgen and Mrs. Frieda Home for the Mack Laing Heritage Society, Dr. Loys Maingon will lead an interpretive walk from Croteau Road, through MacDonald Woods, to Mack Laing

Park, via the designated trail graciously authorized by the Newson family’s private property. This is an area rich in its natural and cultural history overlying the K’omoks midden, which is the largest forest midden in British

Columbia. It was home to the work of Comox’s leading ornithologists in the last century, Alan Brooks, Ronald MacDonald Stewart, Mack Laing and Theed Pearse, and is today an invaluable part of our heritage to be cherished and celebrated on Earth Week. This 2-hour public walk with picnic is scheduled for SUNDAY, April 27th. Participants should park and gather at the Croteau Road Entrance to Mack Laing Park in Comox at 10 am. Pack a lunch and celebrate Mack Laing’s gifts to our community! Comox Valley Nature is a non-profit society affiliated to BC Nature which fulfills its educational mandate by hosting monthly lectures, organizing free weekly guided hikes for members, and undertaking a variety of environmental projects. Aside from its main activity as a non-profit, Comox Valley Nature also supports specialized groups ( Birding, Botany, Garry Oak Restoration, Wetland Restoration, Photography and Young Naturalists Club) which have separate monthly activities. Membership in BC Nature and Comox Valley Nature is $30 per adult and $40 for a family. Founded in 1966, it is one of the oldest environmental societies on the North Island. Meetings and lectures of the Comox Valley Naturalists Society are held on the third Sunday of most months at the Florence Filberg Centre, 411 Anderton, Courtenay. Meetings and guided walks are open to the public, including children and youth. Lecture is

free, though a $3 contribution from non-members is appreciated. New memberships are always welcomed. Anyone interested in this lecture or participating in CVNS activities can also contact us at the website http:// comoxvalleynaturalist.bc.ca/ or Loys Maingon (CVN President) at 250-3310143.

Classic Cruisers annual swap meet One of the first signs that spring is surely here in the Comox Valley, is the Annual Swap Meet at the Sports Centre at 3001 Vanier Drive. Members of the CVClassic Cruisers are looking forward to their event on Sunday, May 4th from 9 a.m. to 3 p.m. Public admission cost is $2 and children 12 years and under are free. The cost of selling your car is $10. There will also be a Show and Shine. The first 75 participating vehicles will receive dash plaques, and the fee for this portion is a donation to our local Food Bank. All are invited to come and swap stories, parts, and chat while admiring some classy vehicles, motorcycles, and perhaps buy or sell your car. Stall rentals in sizes of 10 x 10 at $10 and 10 x 20 at $15 can be obtained from Yvon at yjsavoie@ shaw.ca or telephone@250-898-9782.

Horticultural Society’s annual plant sale on this Saturday It’s Spring! Time to find a new treasure for your garden! The Comox Valley Horticultural Society is gearing up for their 35th Annual Spring Plant Sale on Saturday, April 26 in the Conference Hall at the Florence Filberg Centre from 9:30 11:30 a.m. This is one of the Club’s major fundraisers of the year. Money raised helps to bring in qualified expert speakers who give informative presentations at the monthly meetings that are always open to the general public. Our Monday, April 28 speaker will be Brenda Jager, Apiculturist, and expert on Apis Melifera,

the common European honey bee, will speak to us on a variety of bees you may find in local gardens, orchards and fields. She will include information on their homes, life cycles and the plants that support them. Brenda works with the BC Ministry of Agriculture as the Apiary Inspector for Vancouver Island and is a Master Bee Keeper and Bee Breeder. She runs her own honey production business on Gabriola Island; “Brenda’s Bees”. The proceeds from the plant sale also allow us to give back into the community. The CVHS is very proud of their commitment in maintaining The Herb Garden at the Filberg Lodge for

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the enjoyment of the many visitors who pass through their gates. In combination with their Gardens in Bloom Garden Tour fundraiser this year, the group also supported gardens at Glacier View Lodge, The Views at St. Joseph’s Hospital, Cumberland Lodge, Gardens on Anderton, the Dawn to Dawn Community Garden and the Green Sprouts School Garden Program at six elementary schools in the valley. So please help us help the community. The Hort Society would like to continue their work of both assisting the various local gardens and offering interesting, varied gardening topics at

their meetings. Mark April 26 on your calendar for the CVHS Plant Sale, bring a box for your purchases and come at 9:30 for best selection. There promises to be an awesome selection of plants available from perennials to shrubs, small trees, roses, ground covers, alpine plants, herbs, vegetable seedlings, annual seedlings and almost everything else in between. For more information or if you would like to donate plants for our sale, please contact Leslie at 250-337-8051 or visit our website at www. comoxvalleyhortsociety.ca.

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Comox Valley Echo Friday, April 25, 2014 A11

Community

responding by implementing Public Access Defibrillation programs. Public Access Defibrillation programs include both access to AEDS and training. Comox Fire Rescue knows the value of AEDs as they carry AEDs on most of their emergency vehicles and also have one mounted in their fire station. Please contact Comox Fire Rescue at firehall@comox.ca if you have any questions or would like to participate in this exciting project.

Ceremony at Simms Park to remember fallen workers Each year on the national Day of Mourning, communities and organizations across Canada pay tribute to workers who have lost their lives or been injured due to work-related incidents or occupational diseases. In honor of this event, the City of Courtenay, Work Safe BC, CUPE 556, the District Labour Council, and the United Steelworkers Union will hold a flag-raising ceremony at the Simms Park Pavilion in Courtenay on Monday, April 28, at 10:00 am. “The Day of Mourning is a time for us to remember fallen workers, and also to reinforce the importance of safety on the job,” said Paige Knapman, occupational health and safety coordinator for the City of Courtenay. “It’s a reminder to all of us that we need to stay vigilant, minimize risks, and speak up if we think something isn’t safe.” In 2013, 128 workers in B.C. were killed at work. Thousands more were put on long-term disability. Young workers are particularly vulnerable. In B.C., young males under the age of 25 are at the highest risk for a workplace injury. Everyone is welcome to attend the Day of Mourning ceremony. For more information, please contact Knapman at 250-334-4441. For more information on the Day of Mourning, including a list of other ceremonies around B.C., visit www. worksafebc.com/news_room/campaigns/day_of_mourning/default. asp

8th Marine Consignment Sale in Bowser

Left to righ,t Michelyne Lagotte (Manager), Jacquie Nichol (pharmacist owner) Kevin Ruston (pharmacist owner) and Comox Assistant Chief Rick Shelton.

Comox Pharmasave joins firefighters’ AED program Comox Pharmasave has partnered with the Comox Firefighters Association to add yet another automatic external defibrillator (AED) in Comox. This will be located in the Comox Pharmasave. Chief Gord Schreiner states: “It is great to see a business like this leading the way and assisting us in our efforts to have AEDs available all over Comox. Comox Pharmasave can see the value of having an AED in their business”. Pharmacist Kevin Ruston adds: “We are pleased to partner in such a great project. Not only does this benefit our many customers but it

also benefits our staff.” Comox firefighters are hoping to have more and more public access AEDs available in Comox. Their long term goal is to have an AED available in almost every business and public building in Comox. Public access AEDS are very simple to use, maintain and do save lives! A public access AED costs approximately $1500.00. The Comox firefighters are willing to supply an AED to Comox businesses if the business agrees to donate half of this amount ($750.00). The Comox firefighters will cover the remaining cost and place an

AED in the business. They will also provide both CPR and AED training to the businesses staff. This is a limited offer as the firefighters only have enough funds at this time for ten units of which a few are already spoken for. Sudden cardiac arrest (SCA) can strike at any time-during work, while at church, or while visiting your local business. Fewer than 10% of SCA victims typically survive, but studies show that 30% to 50% would likely survive if CPR and AEDs were used within five minutes of collapse. Communities across the country are

Deep Bay Yacht Club is holding its Annual Marine Consignment Sale Saturday April 26th at the Bowser Legion. This Annual Sale is an opportunity to sell your used, no longer required equipment that is in any way related to water activities boating, fishing, diving etc. It provides an opportunity for people to sell off items they no longer use but are still to good to throw out. It’s a chance to find some great bargains. There are no limits on price or size, though items should be related to marine activities. DBYC will do the selling for you and keep 25% commission. All the sellers have to do is pre-price the item and drop them off on the morning of the sale with the proceeds towards activities of the club. The Bowser Legion is on Highway 19A in Bowser. Pre-priced items can be dropped off April 26th 9-11am. The sale is noon to 3pm. Unsold items have to be picked up by 4pm or they will become the property of the Deep Bay Yacht Club. FMI: E-mail ricknickerson@shaw.ca.

Three-week education series for stroke survivors, caregivers A stroke is sudden, terrifying and destructive. A stroke occurs when blood flow to the brain is blocked or interrupted. When blood is unable to reach an area or areas of the brain, brain cells begin to die, which can cause permanent damage. The extent of that damage varies from person to person, and can result in problems with speech, memory or movement-but in all cases the person’s life is irrevocably changed. Nothing is ever the same. Of every 100 people who have a stroke, 15 die, 10 recover completely, 25 recover with a minor impairment or disability, 40 are left with a moderate to severe impairment, and 10 are so severely disabled they require long-term care. Clearly, these statistics tell a story that involves significant rehabilitation and recovery time for many who have had a stroke.

Every year in B.C., 6,500 people will experience a stroke. It is devastating for those who suffer one and for their families and caretakers as well. Life changes dramatically in an instant. But there’s hope - survivors can reclaim their lives with the help of medical specialists, family, friends and local support networks such as the Stroke Recovery Association of B.C. Starting Wednesday, April 30th, stroke survivors and family caregiver are invited to attend a 3 week community stroke recovery education series. The series takes place in the Cafeteria Room B, at St. Joseph’s Hospital located at 2137 Comox Avenue. Session start at 10:00am and are 90 minutes in length. Participants will learn: * Coping with change and stress after stroke * How to get what you need from your care

team * Building supports in your community * Your New Normal: redefining yourself after stroke * “Life after Stroke” - ways to cope with life not just in the days right after the stroke, but the weeks, months and years after the hospital stay ends. * Gaining increasing independence and life enjoyment after a stroke. Participants will also meet other stroke survivors and caregivers and will leave with knowledge, tools, skills and information that will help

in the journey through life after a stroke. They’ll learn life will never be the same again - but that it can be productive, enjoyable, and sometimes, even better. There is life after stroke. This program is by registration only. Please contact Wendy Johnstone at 250-650-2359 or by email at: vancouverislandsrabc@gmail.com We have space for 15 participants. Visit us online at: www.strokerecoverybc.ca

Congratulations!

Mary Frances Kutyn Bachelor of Science (Nursing)

Philip Neil Richardson Bachelor of Arts (Political Science)

Laura Grace Holland Bachelor of Science (Biology)

Comox ValleyTrinity Western Graduates

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A12 Comox Valley Echo Friday, April 25, 2014

Opinions ECHO

THE COMOX VALLEY ECHO Publisher Dave MacDonald Editor Debra Martin Advertising Manager Keith Currie Office Administrator Deb Fowler Circulation Manager Hedi MacDonald Production Manager Ryan Getz Phone 250-334-4722 Fax 250-334-3172 Classifieds 250- 334-4215 Circulation 250-334-4734 E-mail: echo@comoxvalleyecho.com

An independently owned and operated newspaper published by Echo Publications at 407-D Fifth Street, Courtenay, B.C. V9N 1J7 All material herein is protected by copyright. Reproduction in whole or in part is not permitted without written authorization from the publisher.

Canadian Publications Mail Agreement Number #0661538

Letters

Clarification on the flooding Further to City Council’s recent statement on Maple Pool, I would like to clarify - to the best of my knowledge - the series of events and the flooding issue leading up to my placing of the temporary lock blocks along the edge of the site. On October 15, 2013 the following people met on site - Andrew Gower, engineer; Tom Broadley, Biologist; Mike Fournier, Comox Valley Emergency Program Coordinator; Dali Lin, land owner; Brent Cunliffe, Concerned citizen; David Allen, City CAO; and myself, Mike Hamilton. Mike Fournier was on site and coordinated the evacuation during the floods that are being referred to in the City’s statement. His concerns are two fold. 1-His main concern was the current going through the site, in one particular spot along the river, was a danger - but if we placed a barrier along that stretch it would address that issue. 2-The flooding would still occur in the same set of circumstances, but was manageable from a safety perspective as there would be time to evacuate and this would need to be addressed at some time in the future. We discussed this amongst ourselves that the barrier was the main concern on the short term. David Allen had to leave the meeting early and in no way gave an opinion one way or the other. After everyone had left, I offered Dali that I would arrange to get and put up the lock blocks as a temporary safety measure and that I would personally take care of any costs incurred. It was, and still is, my contention that I did not need any permission from anyone other than the land owner to do that, and if I am wrong then it is not much of a task to remove them. I did this on my own and will take full responsibility for doing so. I felt it was pointed out as a safety hazard and so it required action, not more bureaucratic nonsense. The City then sent letters to both the Dept. of Fisheries and the Ministry of Environment informing them of the positioning of the blocks, to what end I am not sure. I don’t know what response they got, but have heard nothing further as of today. I met on site again on Oct. 25 with Mike Fournier and Tom Broadley after the blocks were placed and Mike Fournier was satisfied the current issue had been addressed, and amended his emergency response plan to reflect that. The delay from our side to put a proposal to the City for other works to address issues there has been waiting for the technical data on the flood study from the City. We have that now and will make a proposal on the safety issue, by raising land levels on the site. The piece about the blocks affecting someone down stream is a little hollow. If a large event takes place, I don’t think anyone can accurately predict what might happen - if a large tree wedges itself along the banks, or under a bridge, it would change flow patterns; or the river changes course slightly, which it does constantly; or the City allows sites to be raised for new development, for the Lewis Centre, Value Village, or the Honda Dealer, etc. Mike Hamilton Courtenay

MORE THOUGHTS ON THE FLOODING I write in response to Mr. Ed Zirkwitz’s letter which was published in the April 22nd issue of the Echo. In his letter Mr. Zirkwitz states that Mayor Phelps declared a state of emergency in the City of Courtenay. 54 people around Maple Pool campground and surrounding homes were evacuated. This is correct, the flood impacted huge portions of the city, not just the Maple Pool Campground. Other homes were evacuated and more homes were put on an evacuation alert. Only the unfortunate residents of the campground are facing eviction. Why is the city not acting to evict the others who live on the same floodplain? The flooding occurred when there was a low tide which was ebbing. Flooding occurred in the city in November 2009 and January 2010. No flooding took place at the campground in 2011 as is alluded to in Mr. Zirkwitz’s letter. The only logical conclusion that could be reached when it was all over was that this flood had been caused by a water release which was conducted by Hydro. Since the time of the floods Hydro has changed their practices and now releases water in advance of predicted precipitation so as to have better control over the downstream impacts. Justice Baird reached the conclusion in his ruling that the flood at Maple Pool was messy and inconvenient. He is a learned and experienced jurist who had all of the facts before him. Two RVs had been parked in an area with levels below the rest of the campground. They were flooded and damaged. Those lower level sites have not been used during the winter months since the flooding occurred. Those were the only two units that were destroyed. None of the other units in the campground even had water reach the floors. Mr. Zirkwitz states that a protective wall or barrier may have to be as high as 10 feet. This is not borne out by the engineering studies that have been done In fact the protective barrier that has been erected is 34 inches high and this has satisfied the concerns that had been expressed by both engineers and emergency response personnel with regards to fast water creating a hazard at the campground. I do agree with Mr. Zirkwitz that a solution outside of a courtroom would be best for all concerned but I do wish to point out that it was not the people at Maple Pool who initiated and continue with this expensive fruitless court case. Dick Clancy Courtenay

Letters to the Editor

City replies to Maple Pool Friends In response to some of the factual issues raised in the recent statement from the “Friends of Maple Pool”: We were asked to list the dates and occasions on which the City attempted to resolve the Maple Pool situation outside the courts. We have posted a timeline of events related to Maple Pool on our website, www.courtenay.ca, with details of floods, flood warnings, meetings, and other related documents. Included in this timeline are the following dates: In December 2010, Council resolved to extend the deadline by six months to July 31, 2011 to bring Maple Pool into compliance with bylaws. Court proceedings were adjourned in October 2012 and April 2013 to try and resolve this situation outside the court. The Friends of Maple Pool suggest that any legal liabilities could be dealt with by waivers of responsibility. Waivers and covenants do not protect people; they just waive some of their rights. Covenants that run with the land signed by the owner and supported by engineering reports stating the land is safe would, however, generally be considered as part of an application to vary the flood protection requirements on this property. This is one of the things that the City has been waiting for the owners to provide if possible, but which has not been forthcoming. On April 1, 2014, the engineering firm

assigned the responsibility of submitting the applications for the Maple Pool Campground informed us they had been directed not to proceed with the rezoning application by the property owner and their legal counsel. The statement from the Friends of Maple Pool also said the City was withholding data related to engineering studies. This is incorrect. On July 17, 2013, the City of Courtenay couriered the most recent technical memos and floodplain elevations to the project engineer working on behalf of the Maple Pool Campground. This latest information had only recently become available as part of the City’s floodplain mapping project. Furthermore, this information was provided by the City as a courtesy to assist the property owner’s engineer in preparing their analysis required specifically for the Maple Pool property. We are not aware of any other information the Maple Pool representatives require from the City that they have not yet received from us. David Allen CAO City of Courtenay

CONSUMER CHOICE Re: Courtenay should go ‘blue’ (April 8th) The Canadian Beverage Association and its members believe that bottled

water is a convenient, sustainable and healthy hydration choice. Bottled water provides a hydration option for Canadians away from home and on the go. Bottled water does not represent a threat to municipal water systems as it is so often claimed but it is a complementary option for activities and locations were healthy and accessible water is unavailable. Research shows that bottled water does not compete against tap water rather it competes with other bottled beverages such as pop, juice and sports drinks. For many, bottled water also offers portability and convenience. Water is the primary ingredient for many of the other beverages produced by our members and we fully support a vibrant and functional municipal water infrastructure as strong municipal water systems are as important to the Canadian beverage industry as they are to all citizens. It is important for consumers to inform themselves on all arguments and facts regarding bottled water before making a decision. The Canadian Beverage Association firmly supports the consumer’s right to choose the beverage that meets their needs and preferences, whether that is tap or bottled water or a combination of both. Jim Goetz President Canadian Beverage Association Toronto

More Beefs and Bouquets A HUGE BOUQUET of super clean, amazingly smelling carpets & furniture to Sears Home Cleaning and in particular, technician, Glen. I have used other valley carpet cleaning companies in the past but have never realized the level of satisfaction that I do when I hire Sears to clean my carpets & furniture. I am always so impressed with the wonderful job that Glen does so quickly and professionally and the cost is always very reasonable. Thanks, again, Sears & Glen. My old tired carpets look amazing and my entire house smells fantastic. SENDING A BEEF to the row of advertising billboards at the bottom of Ryan Road, by the CRA. What an eyesore! Surely others feel the same. I HAVE A BIG BOUQUET for Glenice Neal of Rice Toyota for her hard work finding us a new truck. Glenice was absolutely great to deal with and was very quick to answer any questions we had. She went to bat for us with every seemingly impossible deal we came at her with, and in the end we are VERY happy. It’s nice to see someone who cares so much about customers, unlike some of the rival companies we were also dealing with. We can’t say enough about Glenice, and she has been great. Even after the sale she has been in contact to make sure we are happy. If you need a new vehicle, you need to at least pay them a visit and see what they have to offer, you won’t be disappointed in the service you’ll get. THE CITY OF COURTENAY administration is progressive in displaying charts on where the money comes from, and where the money goes. Courtenay taxpayers pay top dollar for services and services are good - no complaints. Municipal staff and workers are well compensated and receive full

benefits. Many in the service sector and aquaculture industry are not nearly as well off. City taxpayers should then ask the question about the 6.2% profit that that the city takes for surplus funding. The cost for services is large enough. Give taxpayers a break. BEEF to the owner of 3 local gas stations for persistently being the first to boost the price of gas in the hopes that everyone else will follow. This has been going on since Costco came to town. If we all boycott this type of behaviour then maybe we can prevent the price escalation and keep things more fair for the consumer. An increase of 21 cents per litre (this week) is just gouging! Signed, empty wallet. A WHEELBARROW OF COMPOST to Crown Isle Shopping Centre OWNERS! I too like other articles being sent in do not approve of the type of stores going in at this shopping centre at Crown Isle. What a waste of property taxes for everyone. I have several questions to ask either the City Hall, owners of this shopping mall and all other parties who make decisions with what goes in this mall. Was any stats survey or research done to see if the community is supporting or not these type of shops. I recently sent an email to the Sobeys Construction owners back east of my dislike of the type of shops being leased out. They will send it to the owner or developer. Was a survey done in the paper or on line to see if the public would support them? Does it match our lifestyle of healthy food and high quality shops for home decorating? How can staff survive on a low salary without finanical gains and a pension benefit of some sort to make it an incentive to stay there. Are they able to develop transferable creative work skills. How does it help the community be supportive to be in a

better space emotional and mentally. Expensive in rehiring large turn over of staff, and if the building closes down who covers the cost of the lease, like the shops in downtown Courtenay. The Taxpayers are tired of making up for the shortfall businesses not surviving here. Times are changing in our world of going forward in building businesses. Every year we read in our local paper to support local businesses. Buy locally! Where has that taken us over in the last several years. Nothing has improved we are seeing more home businesses closing down not moving in. WHY: I read a survey that was done in the states over the year about people’s shopping habits. It was shared that every year people are going on line to make comparative pricing checks before a purchase is bought on line at the price they see fitting to their budget. If you want people to stay here to spend their money locally then a survey would help give developers an idea of the type of shops the residence would be willing to shop in. Thinking forward with high quality shops for home decorating like Home Sense, and ABC Restaurant or Dutch Pancake would not be in competition with other shops here, it provides a variety of new and different FUN shopping experience that not the same old stuff that already exists. People want to be drawn for different kind of opportunities to drive into this mall not be chased away because of the same old services. To survive financially for both customers and leases then new life of good quality shops like what I shared already would be a WIN WIN for all involved. Employment needs to increase here NOT DECREASE. YOU CANNOT SURVIVE BY THE MIND SET OF BUY LOCAL ONLY. If this be true then why are so many shops being closed down, and shops sit empty for a long time and unemployment on the rise.

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Comox Valley Echo Friday, April 25, 2014 A13

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BOUQUETS and thank-yous to Target staff for helping me when I literally fell into the store. MANY ‘SILVER LININGS’ to the staff at Courtenay Safeway ... you will be missed. I have shopped at Safeway for over 35 years and your customer service and caring will be remembered. This thank-you is overdue! Your store was hugely appreciated by our family. To the “old timers” Shaunette, Barb, Rob, Dave, Keith, Pete, Margo, Leslie - and to Mark and the rest of the staff, very best wishes for success and happiness in your next endeavours. HUGE BOUQUETS of spring flowers to the staff of the Cruise Ship Centre, especially Fran and Marla.

Beefs

Bouquets &

The Comox Valley’s First and Best Readers’ Forum Email to: echo@comoxvalleyecho.com They could not have done more for us to make our trip to Maui memorable, unless they had actually come with us on our journey! From tips on what to see, and what to wear, where to eat, etc., to phone calls asking if we needed any more assistance, both Fran and Marla gave an outstanding customer experience ... thanks for all your time, effort and humour - we will be back!

Your local “SOULution”

A BIG BEEF to the Mayor and Councillors of Comox who voted to give tax gifts to developers at the expense of Comox residential taxpayers and to change official community plans and bylaws without any consultation of the residents. I’D LIKE TO THANK Mr. Bob Lemay and co-workers at McLean GM for their continuous service and customer support. Always taking that extra time/step to ensure total satisfaction. Keep up the good work, cheers. DR.

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mountain where you can enjoy your meal. Come on out and check out this wonderful family owned business. I have introduced my friends to this wonderful establishment with its warm and friendly staff.

AN IPOD FULL of the best tunes to the teenage boy who holds the pizza sign at the corner of 17th & Cliffe. I see you quite often on my drive home from work and YOU ROCK! You have obviously made the best of a likely mundane job and you never fail to put a smile on my face :) You rock it like there’s no tomorrow and I appreciate it, thanks! BOUQUETS to the teachers of the Comox Valley. The BC Liberal government is severely underfunding school districts and it’s time to say enough is enough. Our district is cutting $2.1 million next year which means bigger classes and less supports for kids. I know I’m not alone when I say that teachers deserve a fair wage increase and I hope they get class size and composition limits. Daycare ratios are 15 to 1. Why is it ok for schools to be 30 to 1? SOME 100 environmentally responsible, formerly Royston, property owners have officially joined the City of Courtenay. Doing their part to clean up the Estuary, and generously contributing to the City of Courtenay’s Reserve Fund. A HUGE BOUQUET to all the awesome staff in special care at Glacier View Lodge who went above and beyond to make our 60th wedding anniversary so special. The decorating, the homemade decorated cupcakes, everything was perfect, all appreciated ever so much! INTERESTING that the Finance Director for the City of Victoria has resigned over an apparent disagreement on reserve funds, with City Council. At year end 2012, the city of Victoria had $68 million in cash reserves. Why aren’t Comox Valley Municipal Councillors and CVRD Directors asking questions about the $106 Million in cash reserves in CVRD, Courtenay, Comox Bank Accounts? This is “dead” money taken out of the local economy and out of resident’s pockets - many who

This week’s winner

can’t afford this approach. BOUQUETS to Cumberland Council for moving on a skate board park. Please sharpen your pencils, Cumberland Council. You could pave a few streets for half a million dollars. Just like the Courtenay Curlers, let’s see some Skateboard User fundraising before taxpayers foot this huge bill. A HUGE BEEF to the person who wrote in regarding the wait time at the lab at St Joe’s. I have been going to the lab twice a month for the last 11 years, and have never had a complaint. The Staff in the Lab are friendly, professional and always do a great job. They always make a somewhat unpleasant visit bearable. I have learned the days to avoid because of heavy levels, Monday morning for instance is always busy as are most days immediately following a long weekend. If this person feels that a private lab would do a “better” job then my suggestion to them would be find one and leave the lab at St Joe’s to those of us who appreciate it. BOUQUETS to S.M. Smith who raises the issue of priorities and questions the type of development at the top of Ryan Road. Sorry, too late - maybe. Comox Valley Taxpayers are investing $3.5 million a year in planning costs to maintain 4 OCPs and the outcome is the growth of the fast food and fast lube industry? This is not the only industry that is growing - check out the planning budgets! Check out the cost of the 4 local governments. Comox Valley consumers are paying for this overhead every time they shop locally. CVRD costs land on every consumer. Someone has to fund the $67 million budget. WE ARE VERY PROUD of our Valley Farmers. I attended a GreenJobsBC forum last night where we were asked what green jobs in the Comox Valley we are most proud of. It was unanimously determined that our farmers and food producers give us the most pride in our community. A ‘SUMMER OF SUNSHINE’ to Mark and Becky of Comox Catering who certainly went that extra mile in catering a luncheon for a special lady’s 80th Birthday! BOUQUETS to Mr. Smith for raising the issue of funding Art and Culture and Recreation in Our Communities. Not to worry, 96% of CVRD voters approved the Art and Culture tax in the AAP vote. Nobody is complaining about the $453,000 spent on the Exhibition grounds or the Recreation budget - these all provide benefits for tax dollars invested in the Community. While it is the Mayor’s job to ask questions, it is disappointing that nobody on Courtenay council is concerned about the $3.7 millions going into the reserve “slush fund”. Unlike Arts and Recreation, there is no benefit to taxpayers who have their money sitting in a big municipal bank account.

This week’s winner, drawn at random from submissions received up to Tuesday, is:

Jo Hellenes of Courtenay, 2 Classic Cheese Basket Meals from Dairy Queen. Winners, you may pick up your prize certificates at the front desk of the Echo, 407-D Fifth Street, during regular business hours. Thanks to everyone for the great submissions- keep ‘em coming!

WE WERE WATCHING the news on flooding in New Brunswick. All those cars, houses and RV’s severely flooded. It happens quite often , so the wife says “I wonder if their local government will evict them.” I just wonder if Courtenay Council members seriously think they will be re-elected in November. It is time for change. BEEF TO SHAW CABLE - They state an amount that you will be charged for your cable and that amount will be always. You pay that amount every month, then suddenly they turn around and state they are cutting you off for non-payment, even when you have been paying. Maybe you should phone the customer first! If one had a choice, one would not stay with Shaw! BIG BEEF to the jerk that hit the dog on Tuesday morning at the corner of Cumberland Road and Conrad Road just after 8:00am (older black Jetta). You slowed down but left the dog writhing on the ground without bothering to get out of your vehicle. You didn’t check to see if you had killed it or not - you just left it to suffer. While the dog shouldn’t have been on the road and it is unlikely you actually meant to hit the animal, ASK YOURSELF - WOULD YOU HAVE BEHAVED ANY DIFFERENTLY IF YOU HAD STRUCK A CHILD? After witnessing your callousness, I sincerely doubt you would. In case you are plagued by guilt, which I sincerely hope you are, the dog eventually got up and made her way to her home seemingly uninjured. I checked - why didn’t you! A LARGE BOUQUET for Sylvan Vale Nursery and the owner, Iola Elder! Sylvan Vale Nursery has donated seedlings to the G.P Vanier Secondary School’s Environment Club for the past 3 years, to help us celebrate Earth Day. This year they donated 180 western red cedar seedlings for students to plant! We would like to thank Sylvan Vale Nursery very much for their continued support of our environmental endeavors. A MASSIVE COCKROACH infestation to the Comox restaurant that charged me $1.69 (plus tax) for half a shot glass full of gravy. When the waitress asked if I wanted gravy there was no mention of an additional charge. What’s next on this slippery slope? Fifty cents for ketchup and twenty-five cents for salt and pepper?

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HERE’S HOW IT WORKS! Our weekly feature, Beefs and Bouquets, is intended to be a light-hearted forum for you, our readers, to express brief views on issues and events in your lives. It’s not intended to hurt people or make unsubstantiated and libelous comments. Names won’t be published with the beefs and bouquets; however, we do need your full name, mailing address and telephone number for verification purposes. Each week someone will win a 2 Classic Cheese Basket Meals from Dairy Queen. Have fun with this!

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BIG BOUQUET to Mickey Colburn, all the wonderfully spirited volunteers and the Comox Valley Curling Club for the JamCan Event. Thanks to all the energetic, fun and patient volunteers that introduced their passion to a whole bunch of keen kids in a “new” to them sport. Thanks for taking the time and opening your doors to the kids, their parents and their siblings that tried very hard to be on their best behaviour. There are a whole bunch of kids that can’t wait until the fall and starting a new sport! Team Costantino is super stoked for another trophy. Many thanks!

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The COMOX VALLEY ECHO ❑ Friday, April 25, 2014

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Bargains Saturday at Evergreen garage sale

The Evergreen Club Garage Sale takes place on Saturday, April 26th from 9am-noon at the Rotary Hall of the Florence Filberg Centre. The Evergreen Club is a 55 and better club that operates under the Courtenay Recreational Association. This fun event will bring all bargain hunters together. The items will be priced to sell. Typically you will find books, clothing, jewellery, kitchen ware, and so much more. As well the kitchen will be open for some well-priced treats. It’s a free event and all are welcome. For more information call 250-338-1000 or check out the website www.evergreenseniorsclub.org

Union Bay Community Hall spring craft sale Union Bay Community Hall is holding its popular Spring Craft Sale. Come along Sunday, April 27, 10-3. Enjoy the selections of 40 crafters from Nanaimo, Port Alberni to Campbell River, on two floors of the hall. The Hall is in its 72nd year of operation, on Highway 19A. Parking is good and a “Souper” Lunch is available. FMI: Dave Davidson 250335-2317.

Pancake breakfast for Cumberland BMXer Branch 28 Cumberland Royal Canadian Legion and the Cumberland Centennial Rotary Club are holding a fund-raising pancake breakfast and bake sale on Saturday, April 26 at the Cumberland CRI Hall, 8-11 a.m. Cost by donation. Proceeds from the event are for Aleasha Wiebe who will be attending the BMX World Championships in Rotterdam, Holland, July 23-27. She will be racing all five days there. Aleasha is a 14-year veteran of racing BMX bikes.

Tacky Tourist Night at Courtenay Legion It’s Tacky Tourist Time at the Courtenay Legion on Friday, April 25! Haul out your craziest Caribbean shirts, Mexican sombreros and Hawaiian grass leis and join us for an evening of great food and dancing. Steaks, baked potatoes with all the trimmings and tropical salads served at 6 for just $10. Meat draw starting at 6:30. Crosstown Express will play from 7 on. Members and bona fide guests. Membership in the Legion is open to all adult Canadians and costs $60 per year. We want you to join us!

Comox Valley Clown Club meeting Monday The Comox Valley Clown Club meets Monday, April 28th, 1 pm, at the Lewis Centre, in the meeting room. Lots coming up; be prepared, get all the info.

Isabelle Rowlinson, Grade 2, Evan Mctavish, Grade 7, and Morgan Grout, Grade 3 of Brooklyn Elementary practice their reading in front of Sheba while owner Jean Duggan watches from behind and also helping them go through some of the tough words and passages.

Retired teacher’s dog helps kids hone their reading skills By Michael Briones Echo Staff As young children read to her, Sheba lies still, quiet but is very attentive. Her ears are always up, absorbing every word, phrase and passage. Sheba is a seven-year-old smooth coat collie that frequents the schools here in the Comox Valley. She has been a valuable tool in helping young students hone their reading skills. Retired teacher Jean Duggan is the owner of Sheba. Both are volunteers in the Comox Valley’s St. John Ambulance Dog Therapy program and have been involved in the “Paws for Reading” program for three years now. Duggan, who is 80 years old, loves doing this with Sheba because, as a former teacher, she wants to continue helping young children to read. Sheba’s role is to be the kids’ sounding board. She sits and listens to the kids reading. Her presence, Duggan says, relaxes the children and puts them at ease. “She’s a little centre of calm in their stormy lives because some of them have pretty stormy lives, these kids,” said Duggan, who likes the effect her canine companion and friend has on the children’s education. “The reaction we received from day one has been positive,” said Duggan. “I have not heard one negative thing about it. The schools have been very receptive to it and

St. John Ambulance Therapy Dog Samara just had her 14th birthday and is celebrating her 12th year as a Therapy Dog. She has amassed more than 2600 hours of community service working with seniors, ‘special needs’ kids, the Paws4Learning reading program and drug and alcohol rehabilitation clients. While she shows no interest in retiring, Samara could use some help. If you and your dog are interested in joining the Therapy Dog Program, then call the St. John Ambulance office at 250-897-1098. The next orientation and evaluation sessions will take place in May. If you indicated an interest before Christmas and have not heard from St. John Ambulance since, then you got lost in a major computer crash. Please call the above number so you don’t get missed!

the kids love Sheba, even those who are not part of the program,” Both are very dedicated to Paws for Reading. They have been devoting a lot of volunteer time to the program. In the month of January alone, they have logged in almost 70 hours. “I just love doing it,” Duggan said. “I have nothing else to do and apart from church activity, this has been my main volunteer work. The kids enjoy having Sheba.” To get a young child to read in front of an audience or adult may be daunting and scary to some. The fear of being criticized and made fun of is one of the reasons why it’s difficult. But if they have some one that would listen quietly and not make judgments, children tend to be motivated, said David Fletcher, who is the coordinator of St. John Ambulance Therapy Dog Program. “Kids who are embarrassed to read to an adult can practice their reading in front of a dog,” said Fletcher. “The dog doesn’t criticize. It just sits there quietly and listens. “So what we’ve actually found out from reports we’ve received, kids are going home practicing so that the next time they read to a dog, they can do a better job.” Fletcher said teachers at one elementary school have noted an 80 per cent improvement in kids reading. “That’s because they have now some kind of motivation to read,” said Fletcher. (Continued on page B2)

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B2 Comox Valley Echo Friday, April 25, 2014

What’s On

Acclaimed pianist performs Sunday night Comox concert Shoko Inoue was a prize-winner at the Cleveland International Piano Competition, first prize winner for contemporary music at the Frinna Awerbuch Competition and first prize winner at the Chopin Competition in New York where she made her Carnegie Hall debut. Among other appearances, especially notable were a solo recital at the 9th Annual World Piano Pedagogy Conference in Las Vegas, 2004 Shostakovich Festival in Rome St. Cecilia Hall, 2006, a recital in Palm Beach, Florida, 2005, and several solo concerts at the Glenn Gould Studio in Toronto, Ontario. In addition to her commitment to enhance life through music, Ms. Inoue is active as a soloist, chamber musician, recitalist and teacher in Canada, the United States, Japan and Europe. She is known for the unique quality of drawing an audience into her innermost thoughts on the music she is performing, with unlimited colour and dimensions of spirit. Her broad and varied repertoire is remarkable is extremely well received and successful performances attest to her ability to bring the transcendental world of the composers’ vision to listeners. Born in Tokyo Japan, Shoko Inoue began playing the piano at the age of three, studying with Shun Sato and Takashi Hironaka. Following her appearance at the Casadesis International

Competition, she traveled to the United States to study under full scholarship with Sergei Babayan, world renowned concert pianist, teacher, and artist in residence at the Cleveland Institute of Music. Following that, Shoko studied with Marc Durand and John Perry in Toronto, Canada. As a student of Marc Durand, she received her M.A. in Piano Performance from the University of Montreal, Quebec. Shoko now resides in Victoria, B.C., Canada where she worships grand Nature and the animals that surround her. Shoko Inoue - Pianist Piano Concert at the Comox Golf Club House Sunday, April 27, 2014, 7:30 Cash Bar and Refreshments available after the concert. Ticket Prices $30.00.

Flat Nine at the Cumberland Hotel Flat Nine will be performing at The Cumberland Hotel on Saturday, April 26, wit special guest Anela Kahiamoe. Flat Nine is an international recording group based in the Comox Valley that has been performing and recording together since 2008. Their versatile style ranges from jazz to blues to funk to fusion to soul to country to gospel. This they’ve affectionately wrapped up into one word: Funksion. They perform everything from Steely Dan to Bonnie Raitt to Dr. John to James Taylor, Sting, Boz Scaggs, Stevie Wonder and more in addition to their own tunes.

What makes them distinctive is their focus on unusual harmony, progression and that all of their recordings are live, one take, in front of an intimate audience. Their ability to captivate and engage and audience with their passion, vulnerability and soulfulness is remarkable. Their aim is to play the music people want to hear and makes them feel unexplainably great. Visit their site at: www.flatninegroup.com Show at 9 pm. Tickets are $15 and available at Cumberland Hotel, 214 Dunsmuir Ave., Cumberland, and Got-it-Need-it-Want-it, 2270 Cliffe Ave., Courtenay.

Highland Interact variety show tonight Are you interested in an evening of entertainment and tasty desserts? If so, consider joining us for Variety Night at 7:00 pm on Friday, April 25th in Highland’s multi-purpose room. This evening is hosted by Highland’s Interact Club which is raising money for the Comox Bay Care Society’s Care-A-Van initiative. This programme, which relies upon a variety of volunteers, provides healthcare services to those who are homeless or at-risk of homelessness here in the

Comox Valley. The cost to attend the Variety Night event is $10 per person or $20 for families. The admission covers the entertainment, as well as coffee, tea, iced tea, and desserts. In addition, there will be a Silent Auction of some fabulous items generously donated by local businesses and individuals. Please come and enjoy a great evening, while supporting a truly worthwhile cause.

Neil Osborne goes solo at The Avalanche As lead singer and chief songwriter of 54-40, Neil Osborne has achieved critical acclaim, released a dozen albums and weathered the fickle music business for more than three decades. He is known primarily as a rock musician but is also an accomplished producer and a songwriter of amazing depth and clarity. And this month, Osborne’s songwriting will be the focus when he performs a series of solo acoustic shows in intimate venues on Vancouver Island. From April 26 to May 3, Osborne will embark on his first solo tour, brought together by the Vancouver Island Music Connection, a dedicated group of

venues, promoters and house concert hosts bringing great talent to small spaces. Osborne performs Tuesday, April 29 at 8 p.m. at The Avalanche Bar at 275 Eighth St. in Courtenay with special guests Ryan McMahon, a three-time Vancouver Island Music Awards winner from Ladysmith, and Laryssa Campbell. Doors open at 7 p.m. Tickets are available for $25 plus surcharges in advance at Bop City Records and The Avalanche Bar in Courtenay or online at www.ticketzone.com, or for $30 at the door. This show is presented by Got Pop? Concerts and 98.9 Jet FM.

Therapy dog helps kids read (Continued from page B1) St. John’s started this in the Comox Valley three years ago at the Courtenay Library and the schools picked up the concept. Fletcher said Sheba is the perfect dog for the program. To become a certified therapy dog, Sheba underwent stringent screening and eval-

uation process. She was placed under different situations and conditions, which Fletcher said are mandatory to ensure that dog is safe and suitable to be with children. Duggan and Sheba help students at Brooklyn Elementary, Airport Elementary, Queenish Elementary, and Highland Secondary. They have around 55 students in the program.

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Comox Valley Echo Friday, April 25, 2014 B3

What’s On

Imagining a green sustainable Comox Valley Guy Dauncey speaking during Earth Week event Many people are looking for a powerful new vision that will inspire our hearts, guide our actions and help us build a better world. They are looking for big, bold new ideas on everything from energy-efficient, affordable homes and neighbourhoods to sustainable food and farming; creating an economy that puts the well-being of people first; and ways to create the energy we need without fracking our future. As we seek solutions for the threats of global climate change, many are asking how we can design a transportation system that gets us where we want to go without frying our atmosphere. Can we, together, imagine a future where every business plan includes the well-being of our community; where ending poverty and revitalizing our democracy underlies politics at all levels? Yes, we can! Come and hear Guy Dauncey’s presentation on Imagining a Green Sustainable Comox Valley and share your vision of how we can create a community vision that includes our well-being, a healthy planet and a sustaining world for our children and their children. Dauncey’s April 26th presentation, sponsored by the Comox Valley Council of Canadians, will be held 4:30-6:00 pm in the Lake Trail School drama room, the final event of Earth Festival Day. “I work with the Council of Canadians because we believe that a better world is possible if we just plan for it,” says Linda Safford of the Comox Valley Council of Canadians. “The thing that really excites me about hearing from Guy Dauncey is that he also has plans to create a better world, and he will be sharing them with the Comox Valley community.” Guy Dauncey is a speaker, author and eco-futurist who works to develop a positive vision of a sustainable future, and to translate that vision into action. He is founder and Communications Director of the BC Sustainable Energy Association, co-founder of the Victoria Car Share Cooperative, and author or co-author of nine books, including the award-winning books Cancer: 101 Solutions to a Preventable Epidemic and The Climate Challenge: 101 Solutions to Global Warming. He is currently completing a new book titled City of the Future. He is a Fellow of the Findhorn Foundation in Scotland, and an Honorary Member of the Planning Institute of BC. His website is www.earthfuture. com

Samples from the Keeping It Living Collection, which includes the five winning pieces from the past campaigns

WORLD CLASS ART HELPS PROTECT WORLD CLASS ESTUARY Project Watershed, CV Art Gallery present award-winning art and gala evening The Keeping It Living Campaign uses locally made world class art to raise funds and awareness for the restoration and protection of the K’ómoks Estuary. The K’ómoks Estuary (formerly the Courtenay River Estuary), second only in importance to the Fraser River Estuary, is a special and unique feature of the Comox Valley. It is one of only eight Class 1 estuaries in British Columbia and provides habitat for 145 bird species (more than 70,000 birds), 218 plant species, 29 fish species (including all five species of pacific salmon) and innumerable species of intertidal ani-

ducting the Keeping It Living Campaign to raise awareness and funds for the protection and restoration of the K’ómoks Estuary since 2009. This year celebrates the art that has honoured our cause, our achievements and future aspirations. Project Watershed and the Comox Valley Art Gallery will also be presenting a Gala Evening 7-9 pm on April 25th to showcase the Keeping It Living Collection and sponsorship opportunities. The evening will showcase 5 short performances to help us reflect on the issues associated with our estuary,

our work to protect and restore it as well as to inspire attendees to contribute to our cause through our world class art sponsorships. Performances will include music by Helen Austin - Juno Award winner of Voices Three, aerial arts by Kaya Kehl of 7 Story Circus and dance by Methuselah Dance. Other highlights for the evening will include Blue Moon wines, Natural Pastures cheeses, smoked salmon and a 3 item mini silent auction. For more information and to RSVP visit our website online at www.keepingitliving.ca.

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On select models. *Dealer is reimbursed for holdback included in invoice price.

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2014

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14,220

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ACCENT L 4-DOOR MANUAL. DEALER INVOICE PRICE INCLUDES $779 IN PRICE ADJUSTMENTSΩ, DELIVERY AND DESTINATION.

HWY: 5.3L/100 KM CITY: 7.5L/100 KMʈ

Limited model shownʕ Selling Price: $23,754

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Hornby Island Blues Odyssey concert May 10 at The Sid Music in the spring blossoms in its own incredible way and nothing is as special as the music of Hornby Island’s Blues Week. For the last 15 years Hornby has come alive with Blues aficionados who come from all over North America to gather for one purpose and that is to learn, make and propagate blues and roots music under the guidance of some of best musicians in Canada. After working all week at the Hornby Island Blues Workshop and firming up their groove in two midweek concerts, these ten world-class musicians are ready to bring you a one-night-only performance exclusive to the SidWillisms Theatre. With a full-house of headliners including 2014’s Maple Blues Award Guitar Player of the Year, Paul Deslauriers; 2014 Maple Blues Award Female Vocalist of the Year, Angel Forrest and 2014’s Maple Blues Bassist of the Year, Gary Kendall. The 2014 Odyssey also features Tim Williams who took top honors in January 2014 at the world’s largest gathering of blues acts in Memphis, placing first in the solo-duo category at Tennessee competition. The 2014 Odyssey ‘s remaining players are no stranger to Blues awards themselves have compiled enough of that kind of hardware to fill a railcar. They include drummer fatale, Maureen Brown Gratton; ace guitarist, Jack de Keyser; groove master, Rick Fines; the impressive roll and shake guitarist Brandon Isaak; one of Canada’s top harp players, Al Lerman and closing out the lineup the incomparable Kenny ‘Blues Boss’ Wayne. Tickets on sale now for the Saturday, May 10 show at 7 pm. Go to http://www.hornby-blues. bc.ca/ for more musician and event details

mals (clams, worms, bacteria etc.). In conjunction with Earth Week this year Project Watershed is partnering with the Comox Valley Art Gallery to highlight the issues surrounding the K’ómoks Estuary and present the Keeping It Living Collection from April 15th to May 2nd. The Keeping It Living Collection includes the five winning pieces from the past campaigns. Each of these original works has been made into limited edition sponsorship images. Both the originals and custom hand framed prints will be on display. Project Watershed has been con-

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16,352

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ELANTRA L MANUAL. DEALER INVOICE PRICE INCLUDES $1,197 IN PRICE ADJUSTMENTSΩ, DELIVERY AND DESTINATION.

HWY: 5.3L/100 KM CITY: 7.6L/100 KMʈ

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B4 Comox Valley Echo Friday, April 25, 2014

What’s On

Big band music, ethnic food, music and fun at community dance in Elks Hall You are invited to join us on Saturday April 26 at 6:30 pm in the lower Elks hall to kick up your heels with the 17-piece Campbell River Big Band. The Comox Valley Multicultural Society will operate the concession with delicious ethnic food at the Elks Hall in downtown Courtenay. This fun collaboration between community groups aims to build friendships and foster ties that strengthen our community. The Elks hope to build membership through this partnership initiative. In the middle of our downtown the Elks facility has a 180 seat upstairs lounge and a 225-person space in the downstairs hall that is a valuable space for all types of community events. While the Elks is one of the first community non-profits to set up shop in the Comox Valley the passing years have given rise to many other community groups that could in fact compliment each other through more collaboration.

The Campbell River Big Band It is exciting to see more of these partnerships taking shape downtown. Most importantly it should be fun getting to know each other and how we can work together in the community. So, come to check it out! Bring your kids! Bring your grandma! If you have ideas, talent or timebring those too! We are building a family event

celebrating community, music, dance and food as part of monthly series. Tickets are $10 at the door for adults, money will use to cover the operation fees: band, utilities, etc. Children and youth are free. The Elks is located on Sixth Street in Courtenay across from the Atlas café. For more information or tickets, call: 250-334-2512.

If you love dance don’t miss Ballet Victoria’s ‘Carmina Burana’ Saturday night

BALLET VICTORIA RETURNS TO THE SID WITH ‘CARMINA BURANA’ After a magical performance of The Secret Garden last year, Ballet Victoria is back by popular demand. Don’t miss their production of Carmina Burana in Courtenay on Saturday April 26, at 7:30 pm, part of the Sid Williams Theatre Society’s Blue Circle Series. Come and see this fiery love story set to Carl Orff’s epic score. The Times Colonist calls the music “exhilarating” with “dramatic story and visual spectacle.” The story begins with the depiction of a couple in crisis: lost in frustration, self pity, and sulking about their miserable love life. The fate of the couple seems to be sealed but with the advent of spring and the irresistible drive to love inspired by the three graces, the couple, through good and bad experiences, discover how their Animus and Anima can converge in simple love and harmony. Carmina Burana promises to be a

Sarah M Wood, left, and Joanna Finch perform at 1st Tuesday

Finch-Wood together for the Transition at 1st Tuesday A local singer well known for her charismatic stage presence and sultry voice, Joanna Finch welcomes award winning pianist, arranger and composer, Parksville musician Sarah M Wood to the Comox Valley, to join her for the 1st Tuesday Fundraiser at The Mex Pub on May 6th. “From Paris to Broadway and Motown to Hometown”, is a collection of popular songs from the ‘20’s to the present, that take the audience on a joy ride to Paris, through the music of Piaf, to South America with Latin Classics that highlight Finch’s sultry emotive voice, to Broadway with select show tunes and then to Motown for the soft rock of Carol King, Sade and Stevie Wonder and the smooth jazz of Gino Vanelli. Early jazz tunes of Fats Waller, Gershwin and Hoagy Carmichael, for which Finch’s voice is absolutely delightful, will also be part of the repertoire. The duo are both recording artists and will be adding their originals to the mix. Finch plays flute, percussion and her famous “cornet”, and both women sing, so together the duo have a very full sound. The two women met at the Vancouver Island Music Awards two years ago when Sarah won the award for Best Instrumental Album for her original debut, Ocean Tapestry. Finch had been nominated in 2006 for best female vocalist and best album and has gone on to tour in Antigua and Ecuador. Both very busy with their perspective careers, Finch-Wood have limited opportunity to perform together so catch them while you can! Proceeds from admission donations will go to support the Comox Valley Transition Society. Since 1987, the organization has been providing shelter, counseling and support services to women and their children who are experiencing abuse in their relationships. Last year, Lilli House sheltered 234 women and children and received 1567 crisis calls. The house was full on 243 nights. Over the last several years, the Transition Society has expanded its programs to reach out to include support services to women who are homeless or at risk of homelessness. “We have a long history of responding to community needs, but we couldn’t do it without community support,” says Heather Ney, Executive Director. “We truly appreciate the generosity of Comox Valley musicians who give their time to support our services.” The evening starts at 7:30pm with an opening set by event hosts Judy and Bruce Wing. Food donations for the Comox Valley Food Bank Society are also greatly appreciated. You can learn more about 1st Tuesday events on their Facebook page: Facebook/1stTuesdayFundraisers

visual and musical feast. The renowned score drives the emotionally charged choreography. The sculptural and athletic movements will leave the audience in awe of the dancers’ talent. Founded in 2002, Ballet Victoria has transformed into a first-class professional arts organization. Every day, twelve professional dancers and apprentices train and rehearse original works being created at their studio space in downtown Victoria. Having produced over 50 new works, the artistic team continues to explore new territory. Music creates an uncompromising range of choreographies, from baroque to rock, from opera to folk songs. The result: pure magic. The experience: fascinating. Under the artistic direction of Paul Destrooper, the company has become a cultural asset to Victoria and the province, receiving accolades in

national and international media. Destrooper has created works, taught and coached for professional companies and schools including the Royal Winnipeg Ballet, Oregon Ballet Theatre, Northwest Professional Dance Project, Ballet Kelowna, Ballet BC and the Okanagan Summer Dance Intensive. Destrooper’s choreography focuses on ballet as an “Art of Light” - shaping light with movement to reflect musicality and trigger emotion. This is the only North Island stop on Ballet Victoria’s tour of Carmina Burana. Ballet Victoria’s Carmina Burana begins at 7:30 pm. Tickets for this Blue Circle Series performance are $23 for students, $44 for members, $49 for the general public. Purchase in person at the Ticket Centre Tuesday to Saturday from 10am to 4pm, by phone 250.338.2430, or online at sidwilliamstheatre.com.

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Comox Valley Echo Friday, April 25, 2014 B5

Gardening

Help your kids get started in the garden By Ellen Presley Anderton Nursery

Master BeeKeeper Brenda Jager

Bee expert speaking at Horticultural Society meeting The Comox Valley Horticultural Society is pleased to welcome Master BeeKeeper Brenda Jager to the April 28 meeting. The evening begins at 7 p.m. at the Florence Filberg Centre. Brenda Jager is a Master Beekeeper, bee breeder, and the Apiary Inspector for Vancouver Island and the Gulf Islands. Under the Ministry of Agriculture, Brenda provides inspection services on for beekeepers selling bees and is involved with outreach and education programs throughout communities. She has worked for the last 7 years with the BC Bee Breeders’ in research and breeding projects, whose initial goal was to improve the honey bees’ natural resistance to Varroa mites. Brenda started the first cooperative BC Bee Breeders’ Assessment and Training Yard on the coast which is currently involved in assessing cold hardy bee stock from across Canada to supply BC beekeepers with the best possible stock. ‘Many Bees Live Here’ is the topic of Brenda’s lecture and although she is, without a doubt, an expert on Apis Mellifera, the common European honey bee, she will also speak on life cycles and habitat of a variety of native bees in local gardens and fields. Brenda operates her own bee yards on Gabriola Island, ‘Brenda’s Bees’; selling bees, queens and honey. For more information about the evening or the CVHS please visit our website at www.comoxvalleyhortsociety.ca or call Leslie at 250 337 8051.

Structure: Don’t forget to allow for trellis or bamboo poles for climbers such as sweetpeas or Scarlet runner beans. Signs: Everyone likes to see their name in print (example: Lauren’s garden). Having their name posted at the front of the bed makes them feel proud of it and they will feel like taking ownership. With group plantings, you might want Wayne’s carrots, Cheryl’s radishes, etc. Add Themes to your garden such as Alice in Wonderland, Dinosaur hill, or ladybug heaven. Be creative. You want to hold their interest while they wait for the fruits of their labour.

Some of the best memories of my childhood are in the garden with my Father: picking weeds, harvesting vegetables and working with the dirt. Whether we talked about the day we had or were silent in our own thoughts, spending time in the garden was fun, nurturing and filled with many hours of shared quality time. You can start gardening at any age - from the toddler sitting down and flinging dirt, to the teenager who is learning about the environment, to the adult wanting to grow your own vegetables. Whatever your age or motivation, planting a garden can be shared by all. How do you get the younger members of your family started? Whether it is a family project or school learning experience here are a few things to consider: Planning the Garden Space: How much room do you have? If you have a large sunny lot, then 4 feet by 4 feet is plenty to grow most things. You can section off the area with landscape ties or just raise the garden bed to help with good drainage and access. If you have a balcony or limited area your garden space may be one or more large pots. You can choose what to plant by reading gardening books together and picking out flowers and vegetables. Make it simple. Let your new gardeners make most of the decisions. Plants: You can choose your plants either by seed or bulb or transplanting bedding plants that have already

been started. Start the indoor seeds now. Egg cartons make great containers for your new seeds. Fill them with sterilized soil and have fun with a spray bottle to mist your seedlings. Kids love water! Just make sure you get some on the plants. Some of the easiest and most popular plants include: flowers such as nasturtium, sunflowers, violas and pansies, sweet peas, and marigolds;

and vegetables such as pumpkins, beans, peas, carrots, radishes, lettuce and cherry tomatoes. They are all easy to grow, colorful and not poisonous. Whatever plants you choose, make sure you have their favorite plant in their garden and have them draw a picture of how their garden will look. You can also take pictures of their garden as it grows. Note:

Explaining the Process Water - All plants need water on a regular basis in order to grow. Food - Most new gardeners need help with this one. The NPK or Nitrogen, Phosphorus and Potash lesson can be learned and it may be as simple as Nitrogen produces the green, Phosphorus is flower power and root growth and Potash helps makes the plant strong and prevent disease. This is a good time to get the family involved with a compost bin and learning the value of mulching to feed the plants, conserve water and reduce weeds. Soil - good soil encourages vigorous plants. With a raised bed you can start off with good top soil and a soil booster to get the plants off to a good start. Sun - 6 hours of sunlight or more is great for many plants. Choose a nice sunny spot for vegetables but if you are surrounded by shade perhaps a flowering shade garden is the answer. (Continued on page B6)

SHARE YOUR GARDEN With an increase in the number of people looking to grow their own food, Lush Valley Food Action Society aims to support opportunities for people to access land to plant gardens. You are invited to assist our community to flourish with our Garden Share Program. We match people who are looking for a place to garden with persons who have potential garden space on their property. The Garden Share program is a great way to turn unused green space into an abundance of fresh local produce. For more information about this program please contact chantal@ lushvalley.org or 250-331-0152 and check out the Garden Program page on our website www.lushvalley.org.

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B6 Comox Valley Echo Friday, April 25, 2014

What’s On Gardening with kids

Clairmont hosts open house; Transition Society to benefit Clairmont Custom Draperies & Décor, 1500 Skeena Drive in Comox, is hosting an open house and sale on Saturday, April 26, 10-5. There will be drawings, open-house specials, and refreshments, as well as a tour. A portion of the sale of remnant fabrics will be donated to the Comox Valley Transition Society. Prior to the recent expansion to include slipcovers and outdoor living furniture, she has focused on creating custom draperies, room ensembles, pillows and decorating accessories, and even personalized gifts (robes, placemats, etc.) for individual clients, as well as many interior designers from Campbell River to Nanaimo. The company also specializes in window treatments-from valances and blinds to draperies and Roman shades. Clients can provide their own fabrics for projects, or they can choose from Clairmont’s extensive sample room. Donna Clairmont is president of the Comox Valley Small Business Association, serving her second term; the company is a member of the Chamber of Commerce.

(Continued from page B5)

2014 May Queen and her party for Cumberland’s 126 th Empire Day Celebration: May Queen Caley Herd, Attendants Libby Wallace and Shea McCooey, Flower Girl Aliya Liesch, Train Bearers Madisyn TheriaultOsborne and Lilly Reist.

Free Family History Workshops at Lake Trail April 28 and May 5 Have you ever wondered how to explore your own ancestry? Join two life-long dedicated family historians, Sherry Irvine and Barbara Page, on April 28th and May 5th for a closer look at your own unique past in “Digging For Your Roots: How to Research Your Own Family History”. In these two free workshops presented by the Lake Trail Living History Project, we’ll cover the basics of genealogy research and why it’s so important to be “web-smart”. The first session will go into a brief history of the Comox Valley and give advice on local research methods and pitfalls. Topics for the second session will be determined by a simple questionnaire to reveal your own interests. As well, everyone is asked to bring a family heirloom or artifact with a story, or a mystery, asso-

ciated with it. Both presenters have extraordinary experience and enthusiasm for the subject of family history. Sherry Irvine lectures around the world and has written several books on English, Scottish and Irish ancestry. She is co-author (with Dave Obee) of “Finding Your Canadian Ancestors”, and teaches genealogy on-line for Pharos Tutoring. Barbara Page is Projects Coordinator of the Comox Valley Family History Research Group, and has been “climbing the family tree” for over 30 years. With our mandate of preserving local heritage for future generations, The Lake Trail Living History Project wishes to share these methods with the public at-large. We’ve just

completed a year-long project with Lake Trail students, who gathered the neighbourhood’s fascinating life stories through video interviews with community elders, including Ruth Masters, Lawrence Burns, Wendy Kotilla, Anne Minard and more. These compelling new interviews, with complete transcripts and many resources for studying one’s own heritage are now a permanent archive to be viewed at http://www. laketrailstories.ca. Everyone is welcome for these two free family history workshops on Monday, April 28th and May 5th from 3:30 - 5:00 p.m. in the School Library (Lake Trail and Willemar; look for signs in the hall). The programs are free of charge, but space is limited. Please register with LTNC in advance by contacting: laketrailvision@ gmail.com.

Tip: Watching a plant grow can be fascinating for new gardeners. One method to try indoors is to buy a glass bulb vase and watch the roots grow. This way the new gardener can see what goes on above and below the soil. Tools: A young gardener wants everything the adult gardener has but in their size. Buy them a small shovel or trowel, small gardening gloves, or a small bucket. They might have special garden boots or shoes and their own garden nozzle or watering fan to give the plants a gentle spray or even their own watering can in their favorite color. Don’t forget the garden hat to protect them from the sun and sunscreen for when it gets hot. Finishing Touches: You can add whimsical characters - they don’t have to cost a lot. You can recycle toys or household items. Visit second hand or thrift stores, or flea markets to find marvelous treasures. If a budget is not a problem, then garden centers are filled with wonderful items to tempt everyone. Things to keep in mind. Don’t do it all yourself. Let new gardeners do as much as possible. Be flexible, seeds do not have to be planted in rigid rows. Why not Squiggles or rainbow shapes? Allow for some veggies to be pulled up early ... it’s difficult to be patient. Encourage young people to add personal touches like a shell off the beach or a favorite plastic toy to decorate their beds while they wait. If the weather is inclement, you might want to have indoor garden projects like decorating garden hats or painting rubber boots or adding sparkle to your gardening gloves with fabric paint. You can find more ideas from the many books and internet sites that relate to children’s garden. Keep it simple and most important keep it fun and you and your loved ones can share many hours together exploring the world of gardening and creating wonderful memories. Happy Gardening

Comox Valley Echo Friday, April 25, 2014 B7

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(250) 334-3060 • 5291 North Island Highway, Courtenay, BC V9J 1S7

Sports and Recreation GOLF NEWS

CODES COUNTRY LANES Bowling highlights from Codes Country Lanes: Monday AM Club 55 - Nick Tjart 253, Bruce Pirrie 208, Barb McCuish 228, Barb Casey 238, Arnie Auerbach 206. Monday PM Club 55 - Lucille Smith 185, Bob Sharp 209, Pat King 191, Rita Grill 179, Bruce Ram 211, Rick Rodriguez 215, Grace Rodriguez 230, Ivan Ally 230. Tuesday Ladies - Barb Potruff 218, Barb Randall 198, Joanne Douglas 236, Laurie McWillis 263, Sandra Burgess 151, Sylvia VanVliet 191. Tuesday Club 55 - Ev Andrews 218, George Andrews 208, Allison Bennett 148, Judith Munro 128, Garry Pearson 105. Tuesday Mixed - Barbara Rodgers 180, Jan Harding 180, Wayne Couzens 170, Bob VanNes 278, Rick Granneman 202, John West 207, Craig Finnick 215, Brian Booth 262, Bud Taylor 273, Peter Hauser 185. Wednesday Club 55 - Laura Webber 207, Erin Robertson 173, Ria Tjart 230, Kaela McLean 223, Bert Brown 196, Pat King 212, Andrew Melancon 238, Art Wesner 190, Aggie Aucoin 222, Laurie Aucoin 221, Joyce Slater 173, Dave Stacey 190, Heather Abraham 199, Pat Schmidt 185, Audrey Haughn 190, Pat Ailles 172, Lorne King 193, Minnie Frame 184. Tuesday/Wednesday Recreation Linda Christie 173, Debbie Downer 139, Cori Pagnoni 153, Gary Scavarda 129, Richard Major 134, Karen Slater 190, Linda Scott 117, Jeff McLaughlin 149, Tiffinee Nicoll 124. Wednesday Mixed - Gord Potruff 270, Duwanee Granneman 223, Travis Webber 222, Eric McWillis 218, Gary Coomb 202, Tom Lever 226, John West 238, Vicki Major 191, Rick Aker 255, Steve Robson 210, Maureen Woodruff 195, Al Gavel 283, Sue Egli 227, Paul Zorz 205, Sandy Nurse 262, Tom Nurse 218, Brian Booth 219. Thursday Club 55 - Rick Kroeker 248, John Kendall 183, Ben Braun 222, Grace Rodriguez 246, Ivan Ally 223, Bob VanNes 222, Arni Morrison 262, Bob Sharp 281, George Railian 175, Rosemary Montreuil 230, Linda Meers 187. Thursday Mixed - Rose 176, Goerge Wedge 182, Lorne Sutcliffe 192, Anne Lawrey 201, Chris Roberge 233, Alfred Cyr 210, Elaine 202, Laurie McWillis 241, Lorne King 202, Roy Brekke 214, Vern Greenhill 289, Jessica 276.

Scramble winners, L-R, Keith Lamond, Ron Pinke, John Huisman and Silvio Alberti

SUNNYDALE MEN SCRAMBLE SUNDAY The weather cooperated for the 38 players who showed up to compete in the very popular once a year scramble. Divided into 6 fivesomes and 2 foursomes the men set out to devour the course in this team format. The much sought after prize was a trip to Fairwinds golf course to represent Sunnydale at the annual British Columbia Golf Associations Zone 6 Scramble tournament, May 4, all expenses paid. The team of John Huisman, Ron Pinke, Keith Lamond and Silvio Alberti were first with a net 53.6. Congratulations and good luck at Fairwinds! This Sunday is a regular draw 8:00 for 8:30—see you there.

1, 2, 3 GOLF GAME AT CROWN ISLE The Crown Isle Ladies Club spent another beautiful sunny day on the golf course and then were treated to a delicious lunch. Many thanks to Anne Sands and Pat Johnson for coordinating all our social functions and making it all happen so nicely. THE TEAM GAME: 1 best net score on hole #1, 2 best net scores on hole #2, 3 best net scores on hole #3 and then back to 1 again, oh what fun! The Winners Are: 1st low net: Team Judy Aldcroft, Pat Chalmers, Pat Johnson and blind draw 129 2nd low net: Team Brenda Barrigan, Anne Sands, Shirley Ketter and blind 131 KP’S - Doris Ellis #7, Katy Macaulay #16 Par 5’s - Janet Phillips #1, Peggy Quinney #5, Jean Wharton #5 Birdies: Liz Ellis #7, Katy Macaulay #16 Our captain informed us of upcoming events and announced that we are planning another Next to New Golf clothing sale again this

year in our ladies locker room. The proceeds from this sale go towards junior golf and at the same time we can all improve our golf wardrobe for next to nothing ... everyone is welcome to stop by and have a look at the great bargains so please stay posted for times and dates. - Submitted by Audrey Clark

COMOX LADIES HAVE FUN GAME On Tuesday, April 22, the Comox Ladies Golf Club played a fun game of just counting the holes that start with T and F. First low gross: Pat Ailles; second: Nancy Newton; third: Louise Luster. First low net: Jean Kirby; second: Pat Schmidt; third: Anne Patterson. KPs: Pat Schmidt, Barb Buchanan, and Sharon Crowe. Grace Coulter had the longest putt. We would like to thank our sponsors: Panago Pizza, Playtime Gaming, Loonyrama, the Tee Box Restaurant and Gibby in the Golf Shop for their continued support of the Comox Ladies Golf Club. Next Tuesday, we will be playing flighted stoke play. We hope to see all the ladies and their guests at the club at 8:30 for a 9 a.m. start. Make sure to sign up before Monday at noon. Our Thursday Night Ladies Golf is starting Thursday, May 1 at 5 pm for 5:30 shotgun start. This league is open to all lady golfers, members and non-members. Please call the Golf Shop at 339-4444 to sign up your group. We encourage all ladies and their friends to join us every Thursday evening for a fun 9-holes of golf followed by prizes, food and fellowship. - Submitted by Linda Callender

0-16 Low Gross - Marty Petersen 76, Billy Schneider 78 17 + Low Gross - Tony Venuta 88, Marc Dewinter 89 Low Net - Brian Hegg 66, Dane Petersen 67, Rick Curiston 68, Bill Bowles 68 KP PRIZES donated by Pacific Express Bowlzy Breakfast, WestView Ford Sales, Comox Men’s Club: 1/10 Marty Petersen 3/12 Brian Buchanan 4/13 Rick Siddall 5/14 Burt Meek 6/15 Brian Hegg 7/16 Tracy Branch 8/17 Marc Dewinter 9 Marty Petersen 18 Rick Curiston Deuce Pot: Billy Schneider + Bill Bowles 0-16 Snips: Marty Petersen, Dane Petersen, Bill Wheeldon, Rick Siddall, Bill Bowles, Billy Schneider 17 + Snips: Ken Tait, Marc Dewinter - Submitted by Vic Crisp

PIN DAY FOR GLACIER GREENS LADIES Our first pin day at Glacier Greens had a great advantage of super weather and a well maintained golf course, but somehow a lot of the scoring did not reflect this. Leading the pack and recipient of the pin was Ellie Nicholas with a net 71 followed closely by Rosslyn O’Rourke with a net 72. Brenda Livingstone was the low gross winner with 98. Lynne Pringle had the least putts with 31. Rikki Farrell and Leslie Houser had chip-ins. KP’s went to Bernice Henderson on #4 and Ann Johnston on #12. Gill’s gastronomic skills continue to be a hit with the ladies. Next week will be a regular game with Stableford scoring, so hone up the math. - Submitted by Lori Cameron

COOL DAY FOR GLACIER GREENS MEN Saturday, April 19th the weatherman was wrong. No rain, just cool and windy so 92 players braved the weather and had some good scores at Glacier Greens.The results are as follows. HCP 0-10 1st Low Gross Rob Borland 71, 2nd Terran Berger 73, 3rd Barry Norris 74 c/b 1st Low Net Kevin Hunt 68, 2nd Larry Lott 69 c/b, 3rd Clint Perry 69 Snips Hole #5 & #9 Kevin Hunt, #6 (EAGLE) & #15 Terran Berger, #12 Chris Kalnay HCP 12-18 1st Low Gross Karl Cameron 79, 2nd Bruce Henderson 82, 3rd Wally

D’Esterre Duplicate Bridge Results for Tuesday, April 15 (31 pairs): N/S - 1. Betty Fountain and Barb Morris; 2. Barb McCrindle and Denise Holst; 3. Lorraine Waring and Lorraine Gargan; 4. Carole and Jack Bradshaw; 5. Sharon Feduniak and Jean Tait; 6. Carrie Mulcahy and Mark Lawrence. E/W - 1. Judy and Ron Morrison; 2. Keith Ware and Roy Hagg; 3. Dorothy Branch and Doug Poole; 4. Corinne Montgomery and Karin Franzen; 5. Irene Smith and Cynthia Tree; 6. Patti Wheldon and Ramona Ruf. Results for Saturday, April 19 (21 pairs): N/S - 1. Bernice and Lloyd Snyder; 2. Barb McCrindle and Denise Holst; 3. Neil Jackson and Jean Tait; 4. Betty and Tom Thomsen. E/W - 1. Jeanette Baron and Tom Dugdale; 2. Lynn and Dick Sangster; 3. Sheila Lockhart and Joan Erickson; 4. Roy Hagg and Keith Ware.

SUNNYDALE LADIES ENTHUSED The second week of our season was a good one. Everyone is full of enthusiasm and high hopes for fun and “improving” games. Here are the stats for our top players this week. 1st Low Gross was Teri Sleigh with 99, 2nd Low Gross was Joan Brown with 101, 3rd Low Gross was Sandra Galloway with 103. 1st Low Net was Vicki Bombini with 77. 2nd Low Net was Norma Rankin with 78 and 3rd Low Net was Pat Costello with 81. They all were awarded a credit in our Pro Shop, where the new arrival of golf fashions are in. The lowest number of putts was won by Teri Sleigh with 29. No one got the KP on #15, so maybe next week the winner will get 2 prizes? Betty Lund won a sleeve of balls for her KP on #10. A gift certificate to Rhodo’s Coffee was won by Teri Sleigh for her 2nd shot on #5. Maylene Friesen won some money for the longest putt on #9. Becky Kenner won the golf towel, donated by Earl Costello of Royal LePage in the Comox Valley. The 9 hole ladies had a small but enthusiastic group out. Joanne Larison pared #10. Please don’t forget to come out and join us...9 holes is a great way to start playing golf. Rumour has it, next week we will be playing off our new yellow tees. This is now making our course a lot shorter. Everyone is welcome, 8:30am sign in and 9:00am tee off. See you all there. - Submitted by Pat Costello

THURSDAY NIGHT GOLF STARTS MAY 8 Sunnydale Ladies Thursday Night Golf will be starting on May 8th. Sign up at 5 pm for 5:30pm. Everyone welcome!

DRY BUT COLD FOR COMOX MEN A dry but at times cold Sunday morning produced the following men’s club results at Comox:

UADRA

ISLAND GOLF

BRIDGE NEWS Comox Valley Duplicate Bridge Club The Thursday lessons are finished until fall, so .... See you in September! If you wish to be on the mailing list, just email Linda at playbridge@shaw.ca The next tournament is on May 2nd to the 4th in Qualicum. Visit www.unit429.com for more information. The results of our regular game on Monday, April 14, 2014 were: 1. Arlene Petersen - Barbara Morris 2. Lyall Smith - Howard Cohen 3. Jack Bradshaw - Carole Bradshaw 4. Pete Marinus - Linda Marinus Our mentor game on Thursday April 17, 2014 had these results: N/S 1. Al Hopwood - Lorraine Gargan 2. Linda Marinus - Marilyn Hannah 3. Tom Dugdale - Myrna Horley 4. Arlene Petersen - Cathy Wolfe E/W 1. Pete Marinus - Glen Parsons 2. Patricia Lowe - Roy Lowe 3. Jack Bradshaw - Clemmie Fraser 4/5 Gillian Earl - Richard Earl 4/5 Daphne Welsh - Karin Franzen Our club is located on Nordin Street across from the Comox Mall under the newly renovated Museum and Art Gallery. Thursdays at 12:30 we have FREE 20 minute information sessions before the game. We also offer guaranteed partnerships, so if you’re visiting or your regular partner is away, make sure you come out to play anyway! If you don’t have a regular partner, I’m sure you’ll meet one. Our Website is www.cvdbc.com and our email is playbridge@shaw.ca For more information, please contact Linda Marinus at (250) 338-2544.

Berger 83 1st Low Net Keith Allan 64, 2nd Rudge Wilson 68, 3rd Norm Fellbaum 69 c/b Snips Hole #1 & #6 Keith Allan HCP 19+ 1st Low Gross Wayne Hay 88, 2nd Paul Schroeder 90, 3rd Glenn Horsepool 91 1st Low Net Keith Ross 66, 2nd Art Trto 67, 3rd Len Doyle 68 c/b Snips Hole #4 Judson Bettle, #7 Al Dafoe, #10 Philip Ball, #12 (POG) Paul Schroeder, #13 Tim Hautziner Winners of the clubhouse improvement meat draw were Sue Powers (twice), Norm Fellbaum {again), Wayne Wood (again). Also thanks to Lee Johnson For donating painting to be drawn for the last day of the shoot out. Till next week, see ya. - Submitted by Ron Carter

It’s in our nature.

Friday night duplicate bridge Results for April 18 (10 1/2 tables): N/S - 1. Denise Holst and Betty Fountain; 2. Tom Dugdale and Dianna Rickson; 3. Jean Tait and Evelyn Ware; 4. Chuck and Lorraine Hodson E/W - 1. Daphne Welsh and Karin Franzen; 2. Warren Burd and Cynthia Tree; 3. Phyllis Taylor and Maureen Taylor; 4. Jeannette Baron and Bernice Blonarwitz

CARRIERS WANTED No collection required. Great exercise! Call Comox Valley Echo • 250-334-4734 or drop by 407-D 5th Street, Courtenay Courtenay – Kilpatrick, 29th - 27th, Moray – Kilpatrick, Anfield Centre (Walmart) – Cliffe (Between 19th & 10th), Riverside Lane, Beckensell Comox Rt. 2129 – Sylvan, Parry, Aspen, Idiens Rt. 2136 – Pritchard, Dogwood, Elm, Noel Rt. 2126 – Robb (between Pritchard & Stewart), Elm, Dogwood, Noel (between Pritchard & Stewart) Substitutes: (May/14 to Oct/14) Rt. 2145 – Jubilee, Bolt, Heron Rt. 2153A – Olympic, Murrelet Rt. 2155 - 2300 – Murrelet Crown Isle Rt. 3120 – Monarch, Royal Rt. 3134 – Crown Isle Dr., Birkshire, Sussex Valleyview Rt. 3122 – Swan, Trumpeter, Sparrow, Valley View Mission Hill Rt. 5102 – Stafford, Dingwall, Valecourt, Cruickshank Rt. 8105 Rt. 8106 Rt. 8130

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FREE* SHUTTLE SERVICE to/from Ferry, Marinas & Resorts * with advanced tee time booking

250-285-2811 • www.quadragolf.com • info@quadragolf.com

B8 Comox Valley Echo Friday, April 25, 2014

CARRIERS WANTED EARN $$$$$$$$ COURTENAY Rt. 8105 – Kilpatrick, 29th - 27th, Moray Rt. 8106 – Kilpatrick, Anfield Centre (Walmart) Rt. 8130 – Cliffe (Between 19th & 10th), Riverside Lane, Beckensell COMOX Rt. 2129 – Sylvan, Parry, Aspen, Idiens Rt. 2136 – Pritchard, Dogwood, Elm, Noel Rt. 2126 – Robb (between Pritchard & Stewart), Elm, Dogwood, Noel (between Pritchard & Stewart) Substitutes: (May/14 to Oct/14) Rt. 2145 – Jubilee, Bolt, Heron Rt. 2153A – Olympic, Murrelet Rt. 2155 - 2300 – Murrelet CROWN ISLE Rt. 3120 – Monarch, Royal Rt. 3134 – Crown Isle Dr., Birkshire, Sussex VALLEYVIEW Rt. 3122 – Swan, Trumpeter, Sparrow, Valley View MISSION HILL Rt. 5102 – Stafford, Dingwall, Valecourt, Cruickshank

No Collection Required Call COMOX VALLEY ECHO 250−334−4734 or drop by 407−D 5th Street, Courtenay

Comox Valley Echo Friday, April 25, 2014 B9

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CO-ED 7 ASIDE

You are well on your way! You have got the equipment and are comfortable with using it. You are in the know on hydration and nutrition so over lets’ look at the sports involved, swim, bike and run. Most of us have some experience in at least one of the three activities. When training we tend to rely on and consequently put forth a majority of our energy in our particular specialty. Unfortunately, this can prove to be harmful to our overall performance. It is important to think of the triathlon as one event made up of three interrelated activities with its components (swim, bike, run) working together. And swimming is where the balance begins. Swimmers and cyclists burn out because they have put everything they have into the water or on the ride. Runners will hold back waiting for the last leg but this can backfire too, leaving the triathlete so far back in the pack that the gap cannot be made up. Balance is the key. And training to know the balance is critical for success. The swim leg is often considered the “forgotten” leg of the triathlon. Compared to the other legs swimming is the shortest and takes the least amount of energy and time. However it is a very crucial stage in the race. Being the first leg of the triathlon, and regardless of your swimming background, the swim can often be the determining factor of a racer’s overall triathlon performance. Go out too fast and you run the risk of “blowing up” during the bike or run. Go out too slow and you can be left too far back being forced to play catch-up for the remainder of the race. The cycling leg! The longest, and for me the toughest. Most courses, like the Shoreline Orthodontics Tri-K Triathlon, are not technical, lots of corners. It is a pretty straight forward out and back. The out part is a gradual incline, up. So coming back is an incline, down. Use it to hydrate. Try to keep your cadence about 90 rpm. The final leg of the triathlon is the run which occurs after the athlete has already been exercising in two other disciplines for an extended period of time, so many muscles are already tired. The effect of switching from cycling to running can be hard. First-time triathletes are often astonished at their muscle weakness usually caused by lactate acid, the sometimes painful sensation in their thighs as they start out onto the run. Often athletes discover that they run at a much slower pace than they are accustomed to. Ensuring your training program contains “bricks” back-to-back workouts involving two disciplines, most commonly cycling and running will help prepare your body. Balance is the key, know your strengths, know the pace that you can push and maintain and you will have a successful event.

Week Three

OFF or Weights

Swim 800 M 1500 M

Ride :55 1:00

Run :35 :45

Swim 800 M 1500 M

Ride 1:00 1:15

Run :35 :45

Please note: The suggested workout lengths for beginners are on the second line and intermediate participants on the lower line. Swims are in metres and runs and rides in minutes. Swim workouts can be broken up into manageable segments. Participants may want to use a combination run/walk for the runs over the first four weeks. With each outing, try to increase the time you run and decrease the walking time.

Good luck with your training. We’ll see you at the finish line!

Soccer Tournament Friday, June 6th – Sunday, June 8th REGISTER YOUR TEAM EARLY AND SAVE $$$$!!!!

• Door Prizes • Silent Auction • Rafﬂe • 50/50 Draw • Free Draw Prizes • Beat The Keeper

Early Bird Registration by May 1st $300 per team. May 2nd–May 31st $350 per team.

Hosted by the CVUSC Revolution Women’s Soccer Team!

Registration fees must be collected no later than May 31, 2014.

FULLY LICENSED!

MAIL TO: CO-ED TOURNEY SHANNON MYERS BOX 226, LAZO, BC V0R 2K0

4 DIV DIVISIONS: • Women’s Open • Co-ed Open • Men’s Open

Any other inquiries can be directed to: Erin Lynn Brown via email at elb_28@hotmail.ca

• Co-ed “Wreck”reational

COME PLAY! HAVE FUN!

B10 Comox Valley Echo Friday, April 25, 2014