Comox Valley Echo, May 16, 2014 by Comox Valley Echo

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Volume 20, No. 39

Project to get kids walking, biking to school moves forward By Michael Briones Echo Staff

Comox Valley Housing Task Force chair Ronna-Rae Leonard presents the proposed budget for an arms-length agency.

Referendum on integrated poverty strategy canned By Drew A. Penner Echo Staff If you listen to the Comox Valley’s homeless population as they panhandle and traipse from one temporary resting place to another you’ll hear stories of disenfranchisement from civilian life, police harassment and brutal addiction. You can’t believe everything you hear, but one thing that’s beyond doubt is governments have once again failed to come up with a solution for how to help these most vulnerable of residents. In the most recent example of politicos butting heads on the issue came in the form of a vote at the Comox Valley Regional District that killed off an idea to send the concept of a cross-community non-profit agency to a referendum, meant to see if locals were interested in kicking in up to $300,000 to fight the problem. But competing concepts of how to help the poor clouded the debate and at least one director became furious that more than half of the money was slated to go to adminis-

trative costs, under a preliminary financial plan. “I cannot champion this at all,” said Courtenay director Manno Theos, during the CVRD’s committee of the whole meeting May 13. “This is exactly why I’ve wanted to get into public life, is to not have budgets of 50, 60, 70 per cent going into studies, going into legalities, going into hiring somebody. And then people are going to say, ‘I thought that money was going to put people into warm places. Where is that money going towards again?’” Under a proposed budget presented by the Comox Valley Housing Task Force $93,900 represented the maximum amount suggested to go to hiring a social planner. There would be up to $20,000 set aside for legal costs. Another $12,700 would go to regional district staff. And $12,000 was listed as the office space amount. Theos was not the only officical who balked at the $150,000 expenditure tab. (Continued on page 2)

Manno Theos was visibly angry with the budget as presented, saying he could not champion the referendum plan.

The pilot project that is aimed at encouraging students to walk or bike to school is set to enter the implementation stage. The Hub for Active School Travel, or HASTe that was introduced last October is being tested at three elementary schools, École Puntledge Park, École Robb Road and Huband Park Elementary. The project was initiated by School District 71 and has received support from the City of Courtenay, the Town of Comox, Comox Valley Regional District and the Comox Valley Cycling Task Force, which all helped with initial funding for the $30,000 program and also provided staff resources for it. Coordinator Angela Holmes, and Ian Heselgrave of SD71, who appeared in a delegation to Courtenay council on Monday, said they have been actively working on the plans and now have the data to start the implementation phase of the project. To get a better idea on how parents and families feel about allowing their child to ride or walk to school, Holmes sent out nearly 1,000 surveys at the end of October. They received positive feedback, she said, from between 44 to 55 percent surveyed. The data collected showed the main reasons why kids are driven to and from school. Top on the lists are distance (it’s far from home), traffic danger and personal safety issues. Parents also said they would allow their kids to walk or cycle if they were older, if there were reduced traffic dangers, if there were safer walking routes, and if they’re not alone. The impetus behind the implementation of this project in the school district is due to traffic congestions, particularly at key elementary schools said Holmes. “Out of this process of gathering data from the parents in the recent survey and also doing a walkabout, we were able to draft a best routes map,” said Holmes. “The idea for this map is to help families figure out what is the way to get their kids to school so that they’ll feel safe to either let them walk or cycle.” The map will show preferred family bike routes, park and walk areas as well as bus exchange. It also contains priority action plans that calls for reducing traffic congestions at school through education campaign, proposed bike lane extensions, crosswalk upgrades, painted pedestrian lane, develop park and walk/ride sites, and also start a walking/biking school buses. (Continued on page 2)

Rogue Cumberland councillor gets an earful from Mayor By Drew A. Penner Echo Staff Cumberland’s mayor publicly called out the conduct of a councilor who recently announced she would not run for reelection, describing comments made in an Echo article as “inappropriate” and “out of line.” Speaking at the outset of the regularly scheduled council meeting May 12 Leslie Baird chastised Coun. Kate Greening for her method of airing frustrations with the political process and her actions at past council meetings. “There has been repeated comments to members of Council during open meetings that other members of council have taken offence to,” she said. “Members of council have treat-

Ends June 30/14

“Your behaviour is not appropriate and contrary to our procedure bylaw” ed you with respect in listening to your comments during discussions and have voted on issues with their conscience. Your behaviour is not appropriate and contrary to our procedure bylaw.” She took particular issue with statements made in the May 2 edition of the Echo in which Greening lambasted Cumberland political system and announced she was quitting life as an elected Village official come

November. In the article Greening claimed to have been contacted inappropriately by CAO Sundance Topham in relation to concerns she had about the contract with the new Multi Materials BC recycling deal, which had been both spurned and agreed to by council previously. Topham has said he is unaware of the particular conversation she was referring to since he speaks with councilors on a variety of issues often. “Your comments in the local newspaper regarding the political process and commenting on the CAO were inappropriate and out of line,” Baird said. “As a member of council you are aware that staff members have no recourse to defend themselves against your comments. As a professional

courtesy we deal with staff on an in camera basis.” The mayor then read out Section 22 of the Council Procedure Bylaw, which notes council members who do not use “respectful language” during an open council meeting can be ordered to leave. Refusing to do so “may cause the member to be removed by a peace officer” and only allowed to return if they apologies and are allowed back in by resolution. There was a mixed response to the mayor’s statement from the rest of council. “Council needs to be conducted in a respectful manner,” said Coun. Roger Kishi, who has been the target of some of the crass phraseology used by Greening at their biweekly Monday

evening meetings. “That respect needs to go across to other council members and staff and the decisions of council. Those are decisions of the entire council.” Greening doesn’t always appear to perceive her actions as disrespectful. For example, when council voted to go for the MMBC deal and accept what was estimated to be a $55,000 annual incentive, Greening purchased chocolate dollars and distributed them to council members at the next meeting in order to show her displeasure. She says this was just a way for her to voice her disagreement with council having made one decision only to change their minds weeks later, though little material had changed with the strict contract. (Continued on page 2)

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Comox Valley Weather

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Friday, 16 May A mix of sun and cloud. High 19°C.

Saturday, 17 May Cloudy with 40% chance of showers. Low 12°C. High 16°C.

Sunday, 18 May Cloudy with 40% chance of showers. Low 11°C. High 15°C.

Monday, 19 May Cloudy. Low 11°C. High 17°C.

Tuesday, 20 May Sunny. Low 11°C. High 20°C.

1405 Carron Road, Courtenay May 17, 1-3pm

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More night markets to brighten up downtown Comox in summer By Michael Briones Echo Staff

The Comox Valley Food Bank is losing one of its main providers of food, Safeway. The supermarket closed its doors for good on May 10. Safeway has been donating to the food bank for over three decades. “We’re going to miss them,” said Jeff Hampton, president of the CVFB. “They have been generous to the people

in the Comox Valley.” And as a token of their sincere gratitude, the CVFB presented Safeway with a certificate of appreciation for over 30 years of generosity. Hampton (left) and treasurer Faye Friesen presented the certificate to Safeway store manager Grant Stamford (middle).

The Comox Valley Business Improvement Association wants to increase the frequency of street markets this summer. The BIA wants to hold night street markets every third Thursday of the month from June to September from 4 p.m. to 7 p.m. It has requested the Town of Comox block off Comox Avenue from Port Augusta to Nordin from motor vehicle traffic during these days. The BIA decided to expand the days of the event following the success of last year’s Sunday Street Market that was held during the Nautical Days and Filberg Festival weekend. “It was great to see how the down-

town BIA could meaningfully participate during the town’s most exciting weekend of the year,” said president Vaughn Smith in his letter to council. “Turnout was excellent and comments from locals suggested this event was long overdue.” They’ve received a lot of feedback from businesses and citizens calling for the event to be increased. “With the assistance of the Comox Fire Department, and Farmer’s Market vendors, alongside our own member booths, we hope to create some needed vitality in the downtown core,” said Smith. The Sunday Street Market during Nautical days is slated to be held on August 3 from 7 a.m. to 1 p.m. Council agreed that the night market will be a good feature during the summer and granted the BIA’s request.

Pilot walk-bike project ready to go to full implementation (Continued from page 1) Part of the way this project would come to fruition, said Holmes, is through collaboration. The all the different stakeholders come together. They will include, not only, the CVRD, Comox and Courtenay, but also other groups like VIHA, the RCMP, the Comox Valley Cycling Coalition, CV Transit Futures, and many others. Holmes said schools play a vital role in the project. To encourage kids, one school introduced a physical log book program that allow students to record daily the number of times they walked or bike to school, including distance and time. The action plan has been involved in a variety of events like the Community Bike Swap where $10,000 was raised which will go towards

legacy projects at Robb Road that will include covered bike racks and creating school loading signs. At this stage, Holmes said in the next three weeks they will be meeting with the different stakeholder. Holmes, and Ian Heselgrave of School District 71, expressed gratitude to Courtenay council for the support and believing in the project. Heselgrave showed a photo to council of the bike rack at Ecole Puntledge. The bicycles parked there was a long as the school. Traffic at the school has dropped considerably as reported by trustee Donna Gambacorta, who lives in the neighborhood. Heselgrave said it indicates to them that they’re doing something right. “The best thing about this is the ties and the collaboration that has allowed us to move forward,” said

Heselgrave. “It’s definitely a marathon journey. That’s why we’re honouring the commitment that the city has made and others have made by providing us that cash upfront just to start it. It was a real leap of faith. That was an amazing community gesture.” The school district intends to sustain the project for a long time, hiring a coordinator to oversee its implementation. The plan is to introduce the program to three schools per year. Valley View is one of the schools being targeted next year. HASTe is a resource and networking centre for groups taking action on reducing school transportation emissions in British Columbia. Its mandate is to help students, teachers and schools improve the health of individuals, communities and the environment.

Referendum on poverty strategy shot down by directors (Continued from page 1) “The budget to our taxpayers is everything,” said fellow Courtenay director Starr Winshester. “When I mention office space, and money for social planners that could total $300,000, that’s not a red herring. It looks like we have very tight timelines here. It looks like nobody really understands where we’re going. “I really don’t understand where we’re going.” Bill Anglin, another Courtenay director, spoke about the need to sell the idea to the people. “When we walk out of this room we have to be able to go to the people every time we talk to them and say, ‘You know what? This is why

this is important for the Comox Valley. This is what this money’s going to do,’” he said. “They want to know what it’s going to be used for. “At some point you have to fish or cut bait.” He suggested giving money to agencies already in existence might make more sense than starting up a new central planning organization to coordinate the others. The issue was further confused by Courtenay officials who noted their council is putting all their eggs in the Braidwood property basket, while forging on with the lawsuit against the de-facto low income housing units at Maple Pool Campsite. Vice-chair Jon Ambler said there

Mayor scolds councillor (Continued from page 1) Coun. Conner Copeman says while he does not support many of the positions Greening has taken or the language she has used in the past, he was surprised to hear the mayor quote from the policy document in open council. “I thought it was strange she thought Coun. Greening could be removed,” he said. “I realize there should be some level of disappointment that Coun. Greening is harsh sometimes, but I’m going to stand by that councillors should be entitled to their opinions.”

Both Baird and Coun. Gwyn Sproule declined to comment for this article. And as for Greening’s opinion of the mayor’s public rebuke, she isn’t saying much - for now. “I wasn’t sure who she was talking about,” she said, pointing out her name was not explicitly used in Baird’s statement, adding, “I was disappointed.” Although she has no regrets about going to the media. “My legal counsel said I hadn’t done anything incorrect by speaking to the press,” she said. “They can’t stifle you from being able to speak.”

are three ways to approach the problem of homelessness in the Valley. “We can do nothing - and as they say in the Simpsons, ‘We’ve tried doing nothing and that hasn’t worked,’” he said. “Or we can create a service that is a facilitator. And the third option is we can create a conduit that takes taxpayers money and dole it out to worthy causes in the community.” Ambler spoke about reasons to get behind the establishment of an arms length body, but noted if the idea was going to be put to a referendum in the fall it should be presented in the best way possible. “We’re struggling with this,” he said. “I think there’s a unified opinion that we want to do something to make it better, and we certainly don’t want to fail on a referendum,

“Hopefully everyone will be able to enjoy Cumberland’s Empire Days this weekend. Don’t forget the parade at 10AM on Monday, May 19.”

but I’m not really sure if we’ve got an answer today that we’ve all got our arms around.” Comox director Tom Grant asked staff if there were new and better ways to phrase the referendum question, to which he learned it would be hard to get away from the central issue of the budget. “Well I haven’t really heard anything new in the last half an hour,” Grant noted.

Meanwhile each director pulled in $125 for attending the meeting. Housing task force chair RonnaRae Leonard said the vote against the referendum plan sets the non-profit agency idea up to be an election issue. “What I heard today was they don’t see a need to be coordinated,” she said, clearly disappointed. “It would have been sent to the people. Now it will be an issue.”

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Comox Valley Echo Friday, May 16, 2014 A3

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Regional district monitors pair of coal company acquisitions around the Raven Underground Coal Mine,” said Alice de Wolff, a Comox Valley Council of Canadians coal campaigner, adding this would be a more expensive project than other types of extraction. “If they find that there’s coal closer to the surface they may go ahead with proposals for strip mining.” She’s also worried by the province’s recent proposal to increase the capacity for storing coal on Texada Island. “There’s some longer term thinking going on here that’s looking at us as a coal resource area,” she said. “It’s not just the one site, but a whole bunch of them. On March 31, I-Comox Coal Inc. officially backed out of the Raven Underground project, although Ellis says LG, from Korea, is still committed to the venture. Compliance recently issued 16,000,000 common shares at a price of $0.025 each, to generate about $400,000 to make up for the loss of the other player. Ellis is optimistic the company will be able to resubmit their environmental assessment later this year, though planners had originally expected the comprehensive document as early as last December. “We’re in a good position to move forward mid-this year,” he said. Mullaly said the Raven Coal Mine falls under the old federal Environmental Assessment Act, but worries how much review newly acquired parcels would face, due to what environmental groups have characterized as a weakening of protection. “We’re not sure how these projects would play out here,” she said. “Our thinking would be that it would be less stringent.” The Tsolum River, Dove Creek and Browns River could all be affected by any coal extraction in the new areas. Lazo North director Gillis said in a nutshell the company can now sit on its licences until it devises a strategy. Baynes Sound direcor Jollife noted the chief gold commissioner for the province has a lot of power in these matters. “They can actually recommend that this coal be kept for a long time before we develop it,” he said. “Unfortunately they don’t ever seem to authorize it - we have pointed that out to them. We will just see where things go, and I really appreciate staff keeping us up to date with these activities.” Cumberland director Gwyn Sproule noted the CVRD has specifically asked the gold commissioner to require baseline environmental studies to be done before such licences are issued. “The chief gold commissioner asked us for comments and we gave our comments,” she said. “These were not heeded as far as I can see.” This has led to a feeling of being “totally powerless and not listened to,” she noted. “The other issue is that these are very important fish bearing areas,” she said. “All these lakes are very sensitive.”

By Drew A. Penner Echo Staff

Protesters fight against fossil fuel industry projects May 10, including the Comox Valley coal mine proposals.

Concerns about Cumberland school campus project Ulverston Avenue slated to be closed between First and Egremont By Drew A. Penner Echo Staff While Cumberland Junior School’s 7-9 classrooms are half empty, Cumberland Elementary School is teeming with life. In order to keep the doors of the middle school open long enough to get these youngsters inside, the school district has been working with the Village to close the road that bisects the facilities in a bid to create a single campus environment. Cumberland administration has come up with a deal in partnership with the school board to shut down a .37 hectare portion of Ulverston Avenue and hand it over to the school district. The public had the opportunity to give input on the work in progress May 12 during the regularly scheduled council meeting. Shirley Evans, who lives right at Egremont Road and Ulverston Avenue said she had concerns about drawings indicating parking spaces direct-

ly in front of her driveway. She also said she wanted to make sure there would be someone clearing snow, despite land changing hands in a property swap to make the new campus setting a reality. School district staff said they are no longer planning to put parking along that stretch of road. Coun. Roger Kishi stated that because the village still owns little indents of roadway that are at the edges of the portion of Ulverston that will be closed Village crews would still end up clearing snow in front of her house. Evans also indicated a concern about traffic volume increases on the streets left unclosed. “Oh boy, a freeway on Egremont,” she said describing her initial reaction. “I can just see the cars going, ZOOM ZOOM!” School board trustee Rick Grinham said a big reason for the road closure has to do with a desire to keep local kids close to home for as long as possible. Since the primary school is “bursting at the seams” but the junior high is only half full it has become a priority to bridge the divide by integrating the two facilities more closely. Carol Snaden, who also lives directly adjacent to the school cam-

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Comox Valley Regional District staff are monitoring a couple recent property deals by coal companies in the area, as protesters maintain a vocal opposition to turning Eastern Vancouver Island into a fuelling station for Asian development. Alana Mullaly, manager of planning services for the Comox Valley Regional District and Kent Leontowich, rural planner, said while mining operations aren’t exactly around the corner, there are a lot of unknowns that make local officials uneasy, during the committee of the whole meeting May 13. “These coal licences are for the purposes of obtaining the subsurface coal rights only,” Leontowich said, of the 2,287 hectares of underground land now in the hands of Hillsborough Resources Ltd and the 1,448 hectares by Compliance Coal Corp. “Staff will ensure that a follow-up report is brought to this committee.” On March 24, 2014 the CVRD received confirmation that two permits had been issued to Hillsborough within the Woodhouse Creek/Oyster River area. One is for 1,110 hectares in area and the other for 1,177 hectares. A separate licence was issued to Compliance May 5, 2014 by BC Ministry of Energy, Mines and Natural Gas, with the tenure covering 1448 hectares in size that encompasses the

sensitive Tsolum River watershed. Compliance president and Chief Operating Officer Steve Ellis said this was an old application that was submitted in 2007 and even paid for at that time. “We own lots of coal licences,” he said, in an interview. “In 2007 we were still in the exploration phase. We were buying coal licences when we could get them. “Right now we have no intention of expanding on that at all. You would have to get a permit for exploration which I don’t think you would get, because it’s in the runoff area for Courtenay. If you were to develop it as a coal mine you would have similar issue to what we’re having with the Raven Coal mine. So we’re only progressing the Raven Coal Mine environmental assessment at the moment.” Compliance has faced stiff opposition from aquaculture, First Nations and citizen interests groups for its proposed Raven Coal Mine project, which is an underground extraction operation designed to take the fossil fuel from near Fanny Bay and send it across the Pacific Ocean. Over the weekend the Council of Canadians held a really that attracted more than 100 people to downtown Courtenay with signs in protest of fossil fuel projects, including the Raven Coal Mine plan. “Right now the price of coal is down which we think has seriously affected compliance coal’s plans

pus vehemently questioned the need to close Ulverston Avenue, suggesting it would only make the area less safe for pedestrians. She also questioned the need for the school district to embark on their Cumberland campus ambitions at a time when it is facing an operating deficit of over $2.1 million. In an interview with the Echo, Snaden said she was particularly peeved that she hadn’t received any leaflets about the closure and only saw the public notice in the newspaper. Coun. Conner Copeman asked about the possibility of building a pedestrian bridge over Ulverston Avenue as opposed to closing it. School District 71 director of operations Ian Heselgrave said it’s something that might make a lot of sense in other school scenarios, such as around Ryan Road in Courtenay, but noted an overhead walkway in those cases would cost between $500,000 $1 million. Copeman noted that price would relate to a four-lane road as opposed to the situation along Ulverston. The road closure bylaw received first reading by Cumberland council on April 14. Laurie Tobacco, an area resident,

submitted written comments outlining her own worries. “I am concerned about putting the parking lot entering the school area off of Egremont,” she wrote. “I feel this would create a bottleneck situation on Egremont.” But her main fear is that trees would be removed from the Egremont area. “Creating more parking lots doesn’t make sense when we already have the office areas with them,” she stated. Heselgrave said there was no requirement for the removal of trees under their deals with the Village. Under a land-swap deal the Village will also receive a portion of land back from the school district, which is why no money will change hands. The road closure bylaw must receive four readings before it can go forward.

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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 donâ&#x20AC;&#x2122;t have to give your name and you could be eligible for a cash reward.

Alicia Mercedes FALCONER Alicia Mercedes Falconer DOB:1982-07-28 Brown hair, Green eyes Warrant: Criminal Harassment Comox Valley File # 2013-12479

www.comoxvalleycrimestoppers.bc.ca

POLICE BLOTTER The Comox Valley RCMP responded to the following incidents between May 6 and 12: On the morning of May 7th police were called to a scene of a mischief that had just taken place at 3273 3rd street in Cumberland, the Caffeeclars coffee shop. The reports hearing noise in the front of the store and found that someone had thrown rocks through 2 plate glass windows, causing about $4000.00 damage. Two people were seen running East on Penrith. One person was wearing dark clothing and the second was wearing tan colored pants and what is described as a â&#x20AC;&#x153;Lumberjack â&#x20AC;&#x153;style jacket. (2014-5156) Police received a report of an indecent act that took place on May 8th on a foot trail in the Condensory road and Anderton avenue area of Courtenay. Three women were taking photos when a male walked past them totally nude. No conversation was initiated and the male was not identified. (2014-5209) On May 9th the Courtenay Canadian Tire store staff called police to report a theft of tools that had just occurred. A BC licence plate was obtained from the getaway vehicle and the owner was tracked down and arrested. This investigation is continuing for the vehicle owners accomplice. (2014-5256)Statistics for the period May 4 â&#x20AC;&#x201C; 12, 2014, 2014 Assaults 7 Thefts (All excluding Theft of Vehicles) 31 B&E (All types) 4 Cause a Disturbance 14 Impaired Driving Related 5 Total Files For Period 340

Comox Valley RCMP name their â&#x20AC;&#x2DC;Police Officer of the Yearâ&#x20AC;&#x2122; Constable Robert Smith was named Comox Valleyâ&#x20AC;&#x2122;s â&#x20AC;&#x153;Police Officer of the Yearâ&#x20AC;? for 2013. The local RCMP officer was honoured on May 2 along with Brad Fairall who was voted â&#x20AC;&#x153;Civilian Employee of the Yearâ&#x20AC;? for 2013. Smith was posted to the Comox Valley detachment in 2001, where he spent the majority of his service with the General Investigation Section, a unit which investigates serious and complex crimes. The constable has been responsible for many high profile investigations during his time in the Comox Valley and has performed his duties in an exemplary manner. He will be transferring to another detachment and will be promoted to the rank of corporal. Smith is an example of what hard work can accomplish and the Comox Valley RCMP family wishes him well in his future endeavours. Fairall is a member of the Comox Valley support staff, working as front end clerk at the detachment. He was given this award because he shows professionalism and compassion at all times in the way he deals with the public. He addresses people at their worst and makes everyone feel that their complaint is the most important thing in his day. Fairall has demonstrated what is expected from employees. He has been instrumental in raising funds for the Special Olympics and assisting with the 2013 Tour de Rock.

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Violent criminal banned from the Valley arrested in Prince George after credit union robbery A man arrested following the robbery of a Prince George credit union has a violent past in the Comox Valley. In October 2009, Denny Stanley Hoggan, 35, was sentenced to a further six months in jail months for assaulting his girlfriend inside a Courtenay apartment building three months before. During the incident he threatened to kill her family and burn their house down. The day after the assault police got a frantic call from the womanâ&#x20AC;&#x2122;s family. Hoggan was at their home trying to kick in the front door. Police arrested him, after a struggle, with guns drawn. Hoggan threatened to track the cops involved down when he got out of jail. Then, just a day after he was released from jail, Hoggan was arrested for threatening his mother on the phone, allegedly for talking to police regarding the July 2009 incident. According to Crown prosecutor Robert Richardson, Hoggan said to his mom: â&#x20AC;&#x153;When I get there itâ&#x20AC;&#x2122;s all over. You better

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not call the police on me because itâ&#x20AC;&#x2122;s done.â&#x20AC;? Hoggan, who had been in jail since his arrest, was given a further five months behind bars and a year probation during which he was banned from the Comox Valley. Hogganâ&#x20AC;&#x2122;s lengthy criminal record also includes sentences for assault and other crimes in Prince George, committed during a spree in November 2001. Roughly a year later, he was sentenced in Vancouver provincial court to five months in jail and one year probation for assault causing bodily harm. He also received two-month sentences for two counts of possession of stolen property. Police apprehended Hoggan on Thursday afternoon about 20 minutes after they were called to the Integris Credit Unionâ&#x20AC;&#x2122;s Riverpoint branch on Ferry Avenue at Highway 16 East at 3:20 p.m. He was reportedly arrested at Pine Centre Mall without incident and remained in custody as of Friday. - Prince George Citizen

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Comox Valley Echo Friday, May 16, 2014 A5

Changes to Echo writer honoured with St. John Ambulance award recycling depots starting May 19 By Drew A. Penner Echo Staff

The Comox Strathcona waste management service is informing residents of upcoming changes to recycling depots throughout the region as the Multi-Material BC’s packaging and printed paper product stewardship plan comes into effect May 19. When the program comes into effect some recycling depots will expand to accept new materials. T his includes the depots at the Comox Valley and Campbell River waste management centres, on Cortes, Hornby and Denman Islands, and in Sayward, Tahsis and Gold River. These depots will be considered MMBC-approved depots and will accept plastic foam packaging (i.e. Styrofoam), glass, and plastic bags/film wrap. The CSWM recycling depots located at the Courtenay Country Market, behind the Canex store in Comox and in Campbell River at the Sportsplex and Strathcona Gardens recreation complex will be considered non-MMBC approved depots and will not take any new items. However, residents can continue to drop-off cardboard, hard plastics and metal containers. For the time being, this also applies to the recycling depots located in Zeballos, on Quadra Island and at the old fire hall in Oyster River. There are also privately-run operations that have also been approved to be depot collectors under MMBC’s new plan. These businesses include the Encorp Return-It Centres in Courtenay and Comox, and the Sun Coast Eco Depot on Maple Street in Campbell River. The Island Return-It Centre on Willow Street in Campbell River, is not an official MMBC-approved depot, however it will be accepting items on the extended material list, including paper, cardboard, aluminum, plastic, Styrofoam, and glass. “Residents who have access to a curbside recycling program are encouraged to use that convenient service for the majority of their recyclables,” said Koreen Gurak, CVRD’s manager of communications. “The MMBC depots offer a service for those who don’t have access to a curbside program or for residents wanting to recycle materials such as glass and plastic foam packaging.” For more information on depots and the recyclable materials that will be accepted, visit www. cswm.ca/depots. www.cswm.ca/ depots.. Residents can also learn more about the changes to recycling in BC by visiting www.recyclinginbc.ca .

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When Judy Hagen notices breadcrumbs leading deep into the reaches of the past she cannot help but follow the trail with vigour and persistence. It is this drive which has resulted in the Echo writer being honoured by St. John Ambulance for an article she wrote about the history of the Comox Valley. “There are so many more stories,” she said. “I’m like a terrier. I get my teeth into something and I have to finish it.” Hagen was selected to receive the BC Council Award for recognition by the Most Venerable Order of the Hospital of Saint John of Jerusalem for a piece she penned about AJ Taylor, who was the first person to teach first aid to the miners in Cumberland. “Judy’s been writing articles for the paper for quite some time now,” noted Don Jellie, Serving Brother of St. John and the past chairman of the Comox Valley branch of St. John Ambulance. “She just keeps writing. It’s all good stuff.” When Hagen, a Simon Fraser University history major, first came to the Valley she became involved with the Courtenay museum. She sort of ended up telling stories on the then new medium of cable television by accident. A woman she worked with had been presenting the Hunt for History program, but one day became sick.

Judy Hagen is presented with the BC Council Award for an article she wrote in the Echo by Don Jellie, a Serving Brother of St. John.

“Suddenly she got ill,” she said. “I said, ‘Well I’ve got five kids.’ They said, ‘We’ve got a babysitter lined up.’” It was with that bit of action that Hagen launched a career of voluntary service through writing. She has been writing a history column for the Echo for a couple decades, but she doesn’t have any interest in slowing down. How could she? There’s just so much more to tell. “There are just such neat stories,” she said. “They’re like mysteries.” In 2006 Hagen wrote a column on Page B2 of the Echo which pointed to AJ Taylor’s role as the Collieries Blacksmith and First Aid instructor. But it was an April 2008 column that delved into the history of St. John Ambulance in the valley. “AJ Taylor had joined the St. John Ambulance in Dudley, England, when he was only ten years old. In 1927, as a serving brother, he was made a member of the Order of St. John,” she wrote. “AJ’s passion for the work of the St. John Association was passed on to John Buchanan who served with the Cumberland Fire Department for 50 years, beginning at age 19 in 1931.” Jellie said the organization thinks it is important to remember those who promote the work of the order. “It’s important of St. John to recognize people that support their aims and objectives,” he said.

A6 Comox Valley Echo Friday, May 16, 2014

News

Sombre reflection during Day of Honour ceremonies By Drew A. Penner Echo Staff The courage and resolve of military members and their families was lauded by 19 Wing Commander Col. Jim Benninger during a powerful address during of the National Day of Honour May 9 meant to officially bring the Canadian contribution of the War in Afghanistan to a close. In front of the flagstaffs at the base headquarters building soldiers and members of the public looked on in silence, as the very sort of aircraft used on many sorties during the war loomed large in the background. “Since October 2001 following the terrorist attacks of September 11th the lives of all Canadian Armed Forces members, including our military families and all Canadians, have been touched in some way by the Afghanistan conflict,” he said. “For more than a decade hundreds of personnel from 19 Wing deployed overseas to various parts of Afghanistan including Kabul and Kandahar, as well as other locations such as Camp Mirage and various headquarters located throughout the region, in support of the mission.” Multiple former base commanders stood alongside veterans of former wars as Benninger recognized the toll the Middle Eastern engagement had exacted on the local community. “Our military families sacrificed precious time with their loved ones so their members could serve Canada,” he said. “Sadly, like many Canadians, we at 19 Wing are no strangers to the great costs of the mission. We did our solemn duty to the fallen, and did our best to support their families at their time of need throughout Vancouver Island, the Sunshine Coast and other parts of British Columbia.” The event included addresses from MP John Duncan, Lt. Col. Dave Berry and the base chaplain, and featured a two minutes of silence observance timed to be in sync with other ceremonies taking place across the country. As an airplane roared overhead in support of Canada’s current NATO support mission, Benninger promised the base wouldn’t let the soldiers who were injured physically

Soliders, veterans, military officials and members of the public gathered to reflect on Canada’s Mission to Afghanistan May 9. fellow soldiers, sailors, airmen and women and pledged to continue “breaking down those stigmas that till exist” around mental health issues. Yan Joseph Marcel Berube, a former corporal with Princess Patricia’s Canadian Light Infantry, was charged with uttering threats and weapons-related offences in connection with two incidents in May 2010. He had been dealing with an apparent theft of his military medals from his home in Cumberland. A judge stayed the charges and ordered treatment when he realized Berube’s best friend and three other fellow soldiers had been killed by friendly fire in Afghanistan. Canadian Forces served in the War on Terror in roles that included active combat, counter improvised explosive device work, air operations, administrative duties and administration of critical logistical support. (Continued on page 7) and psychologically as a result of the Afghan conflict down. “The end of our deployment to Afghanistan does not mean an end to our support to

those still bearing their wounds from service in theatre,” he said. “As armed forces members we have perhaps never been so in tune to the

need to maintain an open dialogue on the subject of operational stress injury and post traumatic stress disorder.” He urged members to look out for

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Comox Valley Echo Friday, May 16, 2014 A7

News

He rrrrrolled up the rim and won $5,000 By simply rolling up the rim of his Tim Hortons cup, Paul Jenson of Courtenay won a $5,000 Visa prepaid card in this year’s RRRoll up the Rim to Win contest at Tim Hortons. Mr. Jenson was presented with his new Visa prepaid card on May 2. “Our guests are happy when they win a donut or a coffee, so you can imagine how exciting it is when someone rolls up the rim and wins a big prize like a $5,000 Visa prepaid card,” said Lynda Brocklehurst, Tim Hortons restaurant owner in Courtenay/Comox. “Having a big prize winner at our restaurant is so great for our guests, team members and the community.” During the contest, guests who purchased a small, medium, large or extra-large hot beverage at Tim Hortons, had a chance to win one of 40 2014 Toyota Corolla Sports, 100 $5,000 Visa prepaid cards, 25,000 $100 Tim Cards, 10 additional prizes of the 2014 Toyota Corolla Sport on the RRRoll Up the Rim to Win Bonus Roll and millions of coffee and food prizes. The Roll Up The Rim To Win contest runs until cup supplies last. Contest rules, odds of winning and prizing information can be found at participating Tim Hortons locations or at rolluptherimtowin.com.

Stephen Caissie, Paul Jensen (winner), Lynda Brocklehurst, Restaurant Owner.

Sombre reflections at ceremony (Continued from poage 6) Cpl. Mike Wood, an Afghanistan veteran, said the ceremony reminded him of his earlier days in the military. “We don’t often do ones like this,” he said. “We used to do ceremonies like this for ourselves more regularly. “It was nice.” During his speech retired Lt. Col. Dave Berry told soldiers to be proud of “our service to Canada when she asked” as part of Canada’s volunteer force. “For there is no greater duty that a man or a woman can do than to serve their country,” he said. “Like our great grandfathers, our grandfather and fathers who served Canada in the conflicts of the 20th century, the current generation of Canadian forces stepped up when they were called up. This is no little thing.” In an interview with the Echo, Berry reflected on his own experience in a training mission trying to turn around a country that was woefully unprepared to deal with the challenges it was facing. “The greatest challenge was working in an Afghan bureaucracy that really did not have the capacity to do the work that they were assigned to do,” he said. “You couldn’t just staff it and say, ‘Get something done.’ You had to do it yourself. “It’s not that they weren’t willing to do it. They just didn’t know how to do it.” MP John Duncan recognized both Cpl.

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SOCIAL PLANNING AGM MAY 29 The Comox Valley Social Planning Society is holding its 17th Annual General Meeting on Thursday, May 29th, 3:30-5pm. The meeting will be held at the Courtenay Firehall, Cumberland Road, upstairs. The release of the 2014 Comox Valley Quality of Life Report will be the central focus of the meeting, followed by the election of the Board of Directors for the 2014/2015 year. Everyone is welcome to attend. Light snacks will be provided.

Andrew “Boomber” Eykelenboom from Comox and Stephan John Stock from Campbell River, two soldiers who died in the war, during his address. While 158 Canadian Forces personnel died as part of its operations in Afghanistan, about 20,000 civilians were killed. While speaking with the Echo, Duncan said Canadians should take heart in the legacy left for Afghans, many of whom now attend school, while they never could before. “It’s the longest mission that we’ve had. Somehow I think we need as a country to bring closure to it,” he said. “That’s what today’s all about - bringing closure to it.” But it’s not a storybook ending for Afghanistan. During recent elections in some areas of the country half of polling stations were either closed or had barely any voters turn up because of roadside bombs place on route to the stations and pervasive threats from the Taliban, according to reports. Berry acknowledges that the end of our longest war is a bit messier than we might like, but says that’s modern conflict in a nutshell. “There is no clear-cut victory,” he said. “You haven’t crossed a line and defeated their forces and now you’re going to sign a treaty. There’s nothing to sign. And that’s just a reality. How do you get by? One day at a time. You’re just going to have to learn to deal with it. Be proud of what you’re done in the past. Be proud of your service. And take comfort in that.”

To join the conversation online, please visit our website www.renewingriverview.com where you can participate in our online open house starting May 25, 2014.

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Canadian Blood Services has launched its first mobile App. The new GiveBlood App, available now in the Apple App Store and in Google Play, gives users a quick and easy way to find, book and schedule a blood donation appointment in your calendar and share with friends on social media. You can also track the number of donations you’ve made, find out about donor eligibility and more. The App is the first step to make it easier to interact with Canadian Blood Services online. Canadians looking to help save lives can use the GiveBlood App now to answer the Blood Signal. Blood donations can decrease around long weekends because many regular donors are away or busy with family activities, but the demand for blood remains constant. That’s why Canadian Blood Services has activated the Blood Signal to remind community members from coast to coast about the importance of donating blood before, during and after a long weekend. There is a need for more first-time and current blood donors to give before and after Victoria Day. While there is a continuous need for all blood types, there is always a greater need for blood donors with O negative blood. Upcoming clinics in Courtenay after the long weekend at K’omoks First Nations Band at 3320 Comox Road include: May 20 & 21, 1:30 p.m. to 7:30 p.m. - 55 open appointments · May 22, 12:30 to 6:30 p.m. - 30 open appointments

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A8 Comox Valley Echo Friday, May 16, 2014

Cumberland Empire Days Pubs and restaurants also get into the action with great dining specials, craft beer, fine coffee, street bbq, pizza by the slice and other delicious offerings. Live music is always a treat in Village Square. Kick back with a fresh doughnut and a fair trade coffee and enjoy live music from young local talents Josie Patterson, Alannah Clarke and Keisja Cox; Flamenco powerhouse Oscar, Brit and Tomomi and local ensemble Figment featuring Vig Schulman, Blaine Dunaway and Tom Walton. Check out street levels art and craft activities for kids including a special craft from the Cumberland Community Forest Society and Elevate the Arts. Together they’re making colourful magic wands with kids of all ages as part of the Gumboot Fairies for the Forest Project. Kids and their parents are invited to find out more about the Cumberland Forest and even join in the parade on Monday! Make sure you pick up your ticket for Cumberland Thunderballs, a fantastic new addition to Monday’s parade day - 2000 balls rolling down Dunsmuir Avenue between 1st and 2nd in an exciting race! The first ball to cross the finish line wins a cash prize of $500! Buy your $5 ticket this weekend at Village Market Day! All funds will support the Cumberland Community Schools Society and the Cumberland Skatepark Project. Add to that community vendors of toys,

jewelry, art, cards, artisan soaps, community info booths, furniture, herbal teas and tinctures, original designs and so much more and you have an awesome day in the small but mighty Village of Cumberland. Bring your bike or a good pair of shoes and head out on the trails for some springtime exploring. Or stop by the Museum and find out more about the amazing history of Cumberland. Village Market Day is this Saturday May 17th from 10 am till 4 pm on Dunsmuir Ave in Cumberland between 1st and 4th. For last minute vendor opportunities email sue@elevatethearts.com. For detailed schedules check out Village Market Day on facebook or www.elevatethearts.com.

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MARKET DAY IN CUMBERLAND Cumberland is always the place to be Victoria Day Weekend and this Saturday the streets of downtown Cumberland will be bursting with energy at Village Market Day! From 10 am till 4 pm the streets are alive with over 60 vendors, live music, kids activities, food and drink, plants sales, artists, crafters, community groups and more! Village Market Day is a rich collaboration between the merchants of Cumberland,

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local non profits and Elevate the Arts, who have provided coordination for this years street celebration. It’s a showcase of the very best of Village life. Local shops will be showing off their wares including hand made chocolates, vintage clothing, consignment fashions, home and bath boutique items, books, art supplies and curios, salons and stylists, flowers and bedding plants and much more!

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Schedule of Events Saturday May 17

Monday May 19

Soap Box Derby

9:00 AM–11:00 AM

Legion Pancake Breakfast

Market Day

9:00 AM–4:00 PM

Thunderballs

9:30 AM–10:00 AM

Quilt Show

10:00 AM–5:00 PM

PARADE

10:00 AM–11:00 AM

Highland Dance Competition

8:00 AM–4:00 PM

Quilt Show

10:00 AM–4:00 PM

Food Vendors

10:00 AM

Woofy’s Pet Foods

10:00 AM–4:00 PM

Table Tennis Tournament

11:00 AM–6:00 PM

Food/Services Booths

10:00 AM

Washoe Tournament

11:30 AM

May Queen Crowning

11:00 AM–11:30 AM

Westies Dog Parade

1:00 PM

May Pole

11:30 AM–12:00 AM

Golf Hole in One

2:00 PM

Children›s Races

12:00 PM–1:00 PM

Comox Valley Kickers Rugby

4:30 PM– 7:00 PM

Sunday May 18 Quilt Show

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Follow the Call of the Pipes Saturday to Cumberland Highland Dance Competition and Westie Walk move to Cumberland Village Park It’s the May Long Weekend - and the pipes are calling you! Follow their lilting call up to Village Park in Cumberland on Saturday May 17th for a wonderful day of Highland Dancing and other Highland activities. While the Highland Games will not be taking place in Lewis Park , the dance competition is still on! This is the 19th year that a Highland Dance competition has taken place in our valley on the May Long Weekend. Dancers are coming from up and down the Island as well as across the province. They are all looking forward to some excellent competition. From the youngest primary dancers - many competing for their very first time - to the premier categories featuring dancers who compete internationally - the competition will provide excellent entertainment for all! The dancing begins at 9: 30 am and will carry on through the afternoon. Piping for this year’s dance competition will be provided by the very experienced Phil MacKenzie of Port Alberni and Alan Walters of Surrey. The dance judges are Lindsay McBlane of Edmonton and Heather Richendrfer of Bellingham. The Annual Westie Walk - Highland Hike was always a popular feature at the Highland Games! The good news is that the Westie Walk is still on this year, joining the dancers at the new location! The Westies will begin their Highland Hike at the Cumberland Legion at 12 noon. They will then be accompanied by members of the Comox Valley Pipe Band on their walk to the

Cumberland Village Park. Come on out and welcome them as they arrive at the Park! Throughout the day, there will be food vendors located in the Village Park. Great food. Energetic and graceful Highland dancing. Bagpipe music drifting off towards the Cumberland Hills. Proud Westies. You will want to be there - it sounds like a great day!

8th Annual May Plant Sale Comox Valley Growers and Seed Savers Saturday, May 24 9am -12 noon at Simms Millennium Park (near 5th St Bridge) Strong, healthy, locally grown, seedling veggies, herbs, fruit, Ě ǰȱ ȱ ǯ Come early; Bring friends! ǯ ǯ

Comox Valley Echo Friday, May 16, 2014 A9

A10 Comox Valley Echo Friday, May 16, 2014

Gardening

Sharing the joys of being a local grower By Ellen Presley Anderton Nursery Growing plants is a wonderful occupation. I am very grateful to witness the miracle of life every day from seeds germinating to the plants blooming. We try to grow the best product for your garden and in turn make you a great gardener. Buying locally helps everyone in so many ways, and locally does not mean North America. We grow most of our products right here in the Comox Valley by local people most of whom have lived their whole lives on the island. It is all about caring for our plants and respecting our customers. That is why our staff advises you if it is too cold to put your plants outside not because the day time temperatures are a problem but because we are still having frost at night. We make an attempt to tell you when a plant is deer resistant or rabbit resistant and have knowledgeable staff who can advise you what plant to put where, how to look after it and what the plant needs. I love the new gardener who looks overwhelmed. I had one yesterday who was disheartened. She was going to do another basket and was sick of just putting petunias in it. After walking around and discussing the various choices, she was able to make a lovely selection of different plants to try. She was excited to go home and create a new design telling me her neighbours will be surprised this year. We are not perfect but we try to assist our customers, care about our plants and want you to be a success-

ful gardener. We donâ&#x20AC;&#x2122;t just put the plants on a shelf and hope for the best. There is a team of people hand watering and fertilizing, pruning and watching to make sure our plants are as healthy as possible. It is about being safe and realistic when dealing with plant problems. We use the IPM management to treat any bug issues - that means the least toxicity possible. That is why we have hummingbirds, swallows, frogs, butterflies, honey bees and dragonflies in our greenhouses. No that is not new age music playing; it is the real thing. There will always be bugs - good and bad, some you can see, others you canâ&#x20AC;&#x2122;t. There will always be some

new problem, as with the Impatiens this year. Growing plants locally from seed and treating any damage or insect as safely as possible is the key. So far, our Impatiens are fine and we have not noticed any signs of wilt. Keep them well ventilated and water the ground not the leaf. And yes we have lots for sale. New Varieties: The advantage of being a grower is that we have access to new plants before they hit the market. One of the newest is the â&#x20AC;&#x2DC;Rapunzelâ&#x20AC;&#x2122; Tomato. This seed will not be available until 2015, but the seed company gave us some to try. The test trials have been fantastic. It is a red grape tomato that is very sweet and grows in vine clusters. You can try it with us. I do apologize that sometimes we have plants in our baskets that are not available for individual sale. Our creative basket team are always trying new material. Just because it is new, it is not always better. We try to test the plants before we recommend them. If they are outstanding performers, we grow more to sell the following year. It is a balancing act of growing what is tried and true and what is new on the market. The baskets are really amazing and the team have so much fun playing with plants. The combinations, the color, the fragrance and the overall designs are unique and inspiring. We are fortunate to live in a time when the abundance of choices can allow us to make some sensational creations. If you are overwhelmed with the number of varieties, we are here

to help you create your masterpiece. Yes we recycle. Most farmers are not rich. We have a small profit margin on our product and thus we recycle as much as we can so that we can reduce our cost and yes, in turn, save the environment. Growers and Farmers have been doing that for years, before it was vogue. That does not mean you can use us as a garbage depot. Please check with us before you empty your recycling in our lot.

I know that I usually just talk about the pretty flowers but today I want to say thank you. I am very appreciative of our hard working and dedicated staff. I would also like to thank the Town of Comox, Filberg Park, Crown Isle and most importantly, all our many wonderful customers for being loyal supporters of Anderton Nursery. We wouldnâ&#x20AC;&#x2122;t be in business without you. And as always: Happy Gardening.

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2012 Anderton Road, COMOX (on the way to Powell River ferry) 339-4726 www.andertonnursery.ca | HOURS 9am-6pm

! "

Comox Valley Echo Friday, May 16, 2014 A11

News

Registration under way for Bike to Work Week Also on May 23 come and check out the Commuter Challenge, starting at the Driftwood Mall at 3:30pm. We are putting the question to the test; which way is faster commuting by bike, by car or by bus? Attention pre-schoolers! Thanks to Courtenay Recreation, Strong Start and The Cycling Coalition, children ages 3 - 5 years can come to Simms Park on Wednesday May 28 or to Brooklyn Strong Start on Thursday May 29 at 10:45 and participate in Bike to Play. Your children will be given great biking tips before they head out on their bike from Simms Park to The Lewis Centre playground. They will be ending their bike with playtime and some treats. The Comox Valley is one of 17 BC communities participating in 2014 Bike to Work Week through Bike to Work BC. Bike to Work BC is a non-profit organization dedicated to encouraging people to cycle to work for fun, health and to lessen our impact on the environment. For more information, visit www. biketowork.ca/comox-valley or call Active Comox Valley at (250) 8909116.

With the help of funding from and Bike to Work BC, Active Comox Valley and many community partners have been gearing up to roll out events to celebrate this year’s Bike to Work Week from May 26 - June 1. Whatever your reasons for taking part by commuting on two wheels, whether it’s to save a few dollars at the pump, help reduce pollution, improve your fitness level, or just for the fun of it, be sure to register yourself or your team online, log your miles and be entered to win a 2014 Kona commuter bike, thanks to the generosity of Simon’s Cycles. Log on to www.biketowork.ca/ comox-valley and click on the orange ‘Register Team’ button on the top right and enter your info. The draw will take place mid-June when one lucky winner can continue their commute to work with a brand new ride. During your commute be sure to give yourself some extra time to stop by a Celebration Station, enjoy a snack and meet other bike commuters. A list of the confirmed stations can be found on the Bike to Work website and in a special supplement in the ECHO on Friday, May 23.

Our Water, Our Future forum here Vancouver Island Water Watch Coalition will be hosting their 3rd Water Forum, OUR WATER - OUR FUTURE - 2014 on May 23 - 24 at the Filberg Centre in Courtenay with a great line up of speakers, and bus tours of two restoration sites within the Courtenay area. Attendance is free. Doors open 5:00 p.m. Friday evening. At 6:00 pm the film “Fractured Land” by Damien Gillis will be screened. Damien will introduce the film and answer any questions that may arise. Following the film Todd Butler will entertain everyone with humour and song. Saturday from 8:45 a.m. sessions begin with Kel Kelly as moderator. Guest speakers include Maude Barlow (Council of Canadians), Andrew Nikiforuk (freelance writer on energy and economics), Jessica Ernst (environmental consultant and anti-fracking activist) and Ingmar Lee (woodsman and direct action activist). In the afternoon, bus tours of the Tsolum River and Nile Creek Restoration Projects have been arranged. Lunch and refreshments will be provided. Join the Vancouver Island Water Watch Coalition May 23 and 24th at the: Florence Filberg Centre 411 Anderton Avenue Courtenay, BC a great line-up of guest speakers, film, entertainment and tours of two local areas where volunteers have reclaimed the health of our watersheds.

Tourism industry workshop for the Comox Valley With summer around the corner, Comox Valley Economic Development and Tourism, in partnership with the Comox Valley Destination Marketing Advisory Committee, and Destination British Columbia, are bringing together two leading sector speakers to support increased tourism industry professional and product development during the afternoon of May 28, at the Best Western Plus, the Westerly Hotel. Bill Anglin, Chair of the Destination Marketing Advisory sees this as a unique one-stop opportunity for the tourism sector. “In one afternoon, the workshop boasts a social media expert, as well as a leader in the travel trade sector to support tourism businesses in not only leveraging and managing their online presence, but also to tap into or expand within the travel trade market,” said Anglin. “After the sessions there will also be a networking reception, to allow the sharing of ideas and further business-two-business discussions amongst the industry; well timed before the busy summer season arrives.” The “Online Reputation Management Workshop”, with Daniel Edward Craig, of Reknown, is being hosted by Destination British Columbia. The workshop focuses on how increasingly, travelers are bypassing traditional sources of trip information and advice and using social networks to consult sources they trust: other travelers and friends. The trend has given rise to a critical new function in tourism: online reputation management, the process of monitoring, reacting to and generating online reviews and social media content.

Daniel Edward Craig

Peter Lloyd Jones

The workshop topics include why online reputation management is essential to the tourism industry, creating a virtuous cycle using customer satisfaction to build loyalty and advocacy, time-saving tools for listening

and analyzing reviews and feedback, best practices for reacting and responding to reviews and feedback, building awareness and shaping reputation by generating reviews and content; all supported by examples

and success stories from the travel industry in BC and beyond. Next delegates will jump into “Preparing your Business for the Travel Trade”, led by Peter Lloyd Jones, Principal and Strategic Marketing Consultant at Spectacular Ink. Jones, a Travel Trade expert, will review the structure of the Travel Trade and the tips and tricks for tourism business engagement. The workshop will give participants an understanding of the needs of Travel Agents, Tour Operators and Wholesalers, as well as the challenges and benefits of using these avenues to sell tourism product. Following the workshop, the attendees and the broader tourism industry who perhaps couldn’t attend the session, can attend the Spring Tourism Industry Reception; an informal networking opportunity. Registration is at www.cvprodday. eventbrite.ca, and is $25.

Teams sought to ride Heart and Stroke Big Bike The Vancouver Island office of the Heart and Stroke Foundation is recruiting teams to participate in Comox’s annual Big Bike event, presented by Dairy Farmers of Canada, which is taking place at the Comox Centre Mall on June 7th. Local organizations are invited to help Take a Seat to Extend a Life by getting a team of 29 together to ride a 2km route in their community on Canada’s only 30 seat bike. “This fun, team-building event is a great opportunity to increase employee morale and your organization’s visibility in the community

and all for a good cause” says Jami Christie, Special Events Coordinator of the Vancouver Island area office of the Heart and Stroke Foundation. Last year Comox’s Big Bike raised over $15,600. Since its community debut in 2001, Comox Big Bike events have raised $178,000. These funds have helped support life-saving research here in BC, by researchers like Dr. Karin Humphries. Dr. Humphries is investigating gender-based differences in cardiovascular disease, to build understanding and ultimately help

improve the outcomes that women with heart disease face. Register today to put your organization in the spotlight and to help continue the tradition. Please call Jami Christie of the Vancouver Island area office at 250754-5274 and visit bigbike.ca. The Heart and Stroke Foundation (heartandstroke.ca), a volunteer-based health charity, leads in eliminating heart disease and stroke, reducing their impact through the advancement of research and its application, the promotion of healthy living and advocacy.

Share your views with the Cycling Public Advisory Committee All members of the public are invited to attend this meeting of the Cycling Public Advisory Committee (CPAC) in the Evergreen Lounge of the Filberg Centre (near the Syd Williams) at 7:00 PM on Thursday, May 22nd. We are looking for your ideas on cycling in the Comox Valley. Commuters, recreational cyclists, mountain bikers or anyone with thoughts on how to help us make cycling safer and more enjoyable are welcome. CPAC advocates for cycling issues in the Comox Valley, and make recommendations to the Comox Valley Cycling Task Force and specific jurisdictions on regional cycling issues.

They also communicate with the general public on cycling issues, concerns and suggestions. The Cycling Task Force is made up of members of all local governments, working together to develop a comprehensive cycling strategy. Their goal is to improve cycling access in the Comox Valley, both recreationally and for commuting, and to improve safe travel for all

members of the public and safe access to regional bikeways by communicating public ideas to other elected officials. Topics of Discussion will include: 1. Proposed changes in the Terms of Reference of CPAC and the Cycling Task Force. ( This is a major development and will require at least 20 minutes) 2. Survey and GPS Mapping for

Cyclists 3. Street Sweeping 4. Progress with the HASTe Program 5. Any Other Topics Participants wish to Raise

Comox Recreation COME PLAY WITH US!

Legion golf tourney will feature great meal Looking for adventure? The Courtenay Legion is sponsoring a public 9-hole Golf Tournament and Dinner on Saturday, May 31, at the Sunnydale Golf Course - for only $40! Proceeds from this event will help to pay for Legion projects. Carts are available at Sunnydale (contact Rob). Tee off is at 1 pm. The bar in the upstairs hall of the Courtenay Legion will open at 5 and a delicious gourmet dinner will be served at 5:30. Fabulous prizes will be awarded to all golfers. To register for golf and to order steak or chicken for dinner, please contact the Legion bar at 250-3344911 or email branch17@shaw.ca. This event is open to the community so please come out and support your Legion in Courtenay!

The Cycling Task Force and CPAC meet quarterly. For more information on their activities, including future meetings, visit www.courtenay.ca/ cycling.aspx

TEAMS 18 year s

Join us for the 18th Annual Comox Cup Road Hockey Tournament.! Outdoor rings Beer Garden

Food Concession Certified Referees

Comox Community Centre COME PLAY WITH US! info@comoxrecreation.com 250-339-2255

1855 Noel Ave, Comox www.comox.ca

A12 Comox Valley Echo Friday, May 16, 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

not as loud as the F18 Hornet who flies daily like the Snowbirds and that the glider program is NOT going anywhere. To the pilots of the Snowbirds and the F18 Hornet, the tow plane for the gliders and all those teenagers who fly the gliders GREAT job, keep up the good work, and for the military members past, present and future, thank you for every thing you do to keep our country safe. We ALL appreciate what you do so a couple weeks of noise from above is a SMALL price for us to pay to say thank you. I look forward to your response Mr. Good Riddance.

THE OLD CHURCH THEATRE Society held their third annual Luncheon and Bridge Tournament on April 27th. We would like to send Bouquets to our amazing planner/ chef Karen Henrich, to Bridge co-ordinator Wendy Peddy and to CoVal member volounteers under the guidance of Mary Douglas. Many thanks as well to Jerry Gagne, tireless helper. Entertainers Beryl Regier and her choristers, troubadour Richard Lavoie and singer/poet Barb McCrindle desrve Bouquets and a great round of applause. Cheers to Louise Hotsenpiller who knows how to pick helpers and please send a boutonniere to the handsome waiters. Congratulations to the winners and bouquets to all of the players who came out to support the upkeep of this beautiful historic building. Bouquets to our generous donators: Comox Pentecostal Church, Art Knapps gardening supplies, and to Courtenay Credit Union, for their usual donation of First Prize.

SINCERE THANK YOU and spring blossoms to the kind returner of my wandering wallet at Safeway. And thank you to Safeway for its prompt return to me.

Take a Pill. A BASKET FULL of bouncing tennis balls to coach extraordinaire Brenda Dean. You are an absolute treasure and the Valley is privileged to have you. Your tireless efforts to develop the community’s tennis programs is really out of this world. You have made such an impact our family’s health. Thank you.

BOUQUETS to the BC Chamber of Commerce. They see the need for more accountable and transparent local governments. They have proposed benchmarking of core service costs to inform administrators and those who approve budgets. For some reason this is not supported by Comox Valley politicians, who approve all budgets, without knowing their costs, compared to others. When will the Province act on the Chamber 2011 recommendations?

TO THE LADY that found my ring in the parking lot at Dairy Queen, I cannot thank you enough for its return; you are an honest individual and I respect that very much. Once again thank you very much.

THE SALVATION ARMY would like to send a Thank You Bouquet to the Comox Presbyterian Church for their faithful monthly donations of food such as the cereal which is added to our hampers for those in need of emergency food.

A LARGE BOUQUET to the housekeeping staff at The Views. The norwalk virus outbreak has been declared over. Golly gee, that took what, 2 weeks. Let’s see a P3 cleaning crew do that.

A BOUQUET of gratitude to Tony Reynolds for his invaluable and tireless work on behalf of L’Arche Comox Valley and the I Belong! campaign. We would not be where we are today without his wisdom, drive and the positive energy he brings.

A BIG SPRING BOUQUET to Comox Valley businesses, organizations & individuals who support the Explore program: The students, teachers and families of the SD 71 Explore Outdoor Education Program would like to express their heartfelt appreciation and thanks to the hundreds of businesses, organizations and community members who supported our recent Explore Gigantic Garage Sale/Fundraiser through such generous donations of time, effort and items - including plants, goods, services and gift certificates for our silent auction, plant sale, concession and bake sale. Without your support, the Explore Outdoor Education program would not be possible. Thanks to your tremendous generosity, Grade 11 students in the Comox Valley will continue challenge themselves in the outdoors and learn valuable leadership and environmental skills for the future. A detailed list of supporters can be found on the Explore Garage Sale website - http://jevans02.wix.com/exploregiganticgaragesale

A BOUQUET to the new owners of Courtenay Country Market, who have cleaned out and fenced a nice new area for the recycling bins (the only ones left in the valley). A large chunk of undercooked beef to whoever has made the decision to remove from said area the bins for newspapers and magazines, and tin cans (no explanation posted anywhere). Unless I am willing to drive miles to the landfill to recycle these items (I’m not), all that is left to recycle anywhere are plastics and cardboard. How ironic it is that we are all encouraged to recycle, yet within the past year we have lost the ability to recycle glass, almost all of the bins have been removed, and now the only ones left have been reduced to only two types of products. Does anyone else find it frustrating that it is just getting more and more difficult to do the right thing for our community and our planet? I AGREE WITH THE PERSON that said you should only have bouquets. There are too many people with beefs. Like the one who wrote in about the “Snowbirds”, calling them flying “garbage cans”. I always love watching their maneuvers and what’s a little noise now and then. We should all be glad we have hearing to be able to enjoy the wonderful sounds of nature around us. Yes there are a lot of noises that are irritating (like barking dogs, motor bikes, crows etc.) but you have to take the bad to have the good. I say thanks every day for my sight and hearing as long as I have it. Life is short, Enjoy. MANY BOUQUETS of brightly coloured flowers and our Thanks to all the people that helped out with Central Builders’ Ladies Night on May 1st. To Thrifty Foods for your food donation, we raised $373.40 for the CV Transition Society! To the local businesses: Rattan Plus, Sunkissed Beauty Bar, Carderos, Laughing Oyster, Coles, Cinnamon Salon, Velvet Underground, Lavish Hair & Nail Salon, Cockeye’d Optical, Black Rose Tatoos, Hairpins Boutique, and Delicados, who donated all the great door prizes for the ladies. To John with Greenspace Renovations, Steve with Dietrich Electric, and Justin Abreu; thank you for coming and doing demos for the ladies. To all the staff of Central Builders’ that volunteered your time for the evening, and with smiles on your faces. And especially to all of you ladies who came and had fun with us that night. We raised $1,471.95 for Y.A.N.A., and we had a fantastic time doing it! We look forward to seeing you again next year. A BOUQUET to the Comox Regional District for developing a very comprehensive bylaw on Medical Marijuana. This bylaw needs to be shared with Comox, Courtenay and Cumberland to avoid duplication of efforts, and to take a common approach to this issue, in the Comox Valley. The CVRD MM bylaw should be shared with other RD’s/municipalities for the same reasons. BOUQUETS of “PAYING IT FORWARD”, to all the generous merchants in Cumberland who donated to our Merchants Basket for our raffle at the OAP Spring Bazaar and Luncheon. Thank you to all our hard-working and generous members who donate their time and talents all year long. Thank you also to all the people that attended and left with a “full tummy”, many treasures, door prizes and raffle prizes. The generosity that we receive from our community enables our organization to thrive, support others and donate to worthy projects in the Comox Valley. SEE YOU AT OUR WINTER BAZAAR. A BIG BOUQUET to the Comox Recreation Association for their generous donation to the volunteers of the Comox Valley Therapeutic Riding Society. This donation will be used as a coffee fund for when the volunteers take a break from whatever duties they are doing. Thank- you! OUR BOUQUET goes to Visual Sound. We are seniors and rather ignorant when it comes to modern technology. We have had great success with Visual Sound. Yes, the big box stores may have lower prices, but the service we have received from Kevin and the guys is invaluable. They always sort out our problems and take away all the stress and frustration. Thanks for years of great customer service.

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More Beefs and Bouquets

THE SALVATION ARMY Emergency Shelter “Pidcock House” would like to send a bouquet of flowers to the Canadian Dispatch Rider Veterans Motorcycle Club, Comox and to say a big thank you for the wonderful donation of food that was delivered to our homeless shelter.

An independently owned and operated newspaper published by Echo Publications at 407-D Fifth Street, Courtenay, B.C. V9N 1J7

REST AND BE THANKFUL. As one who has travelled more than a mile or two across this world and now finds myself resident in the Comox Valley, I would state my delight at living in this area community. Overall, we are safe in our homes, have doctors, have food, shelter and are clothed. The weather has to be the best available in our great nation, Canada, and I particularly appreciate and enjoy what others have turned Courtenay/Comox into for living. Never have I seen so many activities available to all ages, and today I pay a special salute to those in retirement who have thrown themselves into any number of far flung potential adventures ranging from tai chi, biking, dominoes, stone polishing, fishing, learning how to fly an ultralight, gardening, the Elder College and its multitude of activities, church groups, music, camping, book clubs, social groups, sports, the arts, the environment; you can even learn to play the ukulele for Pete’s sake; indeed, you name it and the chances are it is available within the distribution range of this paper. Oh! There is another good thing; the local papers are informative and nowhere else have I seen such a section dedicated to “Beefs and Bouquets”. People here are without question, downright friendly and considerate; not just retirees, but I also include shopkeepers, waitresses, staff in offices, workmen, people in lineups, or just the guy hanging on the rail looking at the tide coming in. Generally, they are all more honest and open than anywhere else I have been in my travels. With this in mind I would address those who have “Beefs” which include such concerns as; those causing such insurmountable grief by turning left into the golf course, the aerial team “Snowbirds” and the noise they make or the gas they burn, the government, (at any level) the Transit system, the learning truck driver that held you up for a minute or two, the drinking water, the RCMP, the time it takes to be seen at St. Joseph’s, the winter rains or snow and what “the council” does, or fails to do about it; and any number of inconsequential little nonsenses. My Dear “Beefers”, please realise that although the drug Prozac may not have worked for you when it arrived on the market many years ago, many advances have been made and there are other similar products with slight variations available which may meet your medical requirements; you only have to discuss concerns with your highly qualified physician, and by so doing, might lead yourselves to a fulfilling and wonderful life, a rich life which is right here for the taking. In other words, and not to put too fine a point on the matter....

BEEF to “Good Riddance” May 9. No, you don’t have to move. It would be interesting to know why you would move to the valley knowing there is an airbase here and knowing the “Snowbirds” do and will be around every year for two weeks. You don’t like the “noisy” glider program, have you listened to those noisy gliders, deafening. It seems you just like to complain, have you got a problem with too much rain, maybe those Trumpeter Swans, they sure do honk loud, the list goes on. You move to the valley and then cry and complain about whatever you don’t like in hopes that others will band with you for change. I would think it’s time to pull your head out of you rectum and deal with your problem. Don’t tell me that you pay your taxes and should have a say, so do the rest of us, they were here long before you, will be here long after you. Remember that head thing, think about it. HUGE BOUQUETS of Spring and Summer flowers to Paul and his crew at Sunwest Autoshine for making our 10-year-old vehicle look and smell like new. And at the best price we could find! MANY THANKS AND BOUQUETS to Randy on Suffolk Cres. for his efforts and care that he puts into the lawn and garden on a large section along Hebrides Park. He planted and maintains lovely rockeries of flowers and shrubs for all to enjoy that use the walkway. Thank you for your thoughtfulness. MUCHO GRACIAS, Charlene, for touching up the fabulous paint and wallpaper job you did 7(!!!) years ago. Thank you so much. WE GREATLY APPRECIATE the well wishes from all our fine customers and the great people around Comox on the relocation of our used book store to the corner of the building this week. Your support has made this big move one of joy and we look forward to having you see our new store on your next visit! - Nearly New Books A HEARTFELT THANK-YOU to the ICU staff at St. Joseph’s Hospital. Your care for me was astounding. You were so informative to remove any fears, compassionate and patient all the time and treated my family and friends as such. Janice, Nick, Susan, Ursula, Todd, Rhonda, Trevor were just some of the awesome nurses I encountered. Also great appreciation to Francine RN Life-support and BC Ambulance drivers Dayna and Hugh ... You made my ride to Royal Jubilee so easy and comfortable. You all were my Gifts from Heaven! And Blessed I was to have YOU! BOUQUETS to the BC Liberal government for finally taking some action to address the skill shortages that have been predicted for decades. Post Secondary Institutions needed some direction. Money talks. Now let’s see some Provincial direction on the inefficient local governments in the Comox Valley. Three governments, CVRD, Courtenay, Comox taking profits on services to create over $125 million in reserve funds. Money taken out of the local economy, and from many of those who can’t afford to pay a huge profit on essential services -water, liquid and solid waste. Re “GOOD RIDDANCE” and the so called “flying garbage cans” aka Snowbirds. I have spent the past 30 years in this valley and the SNOWBIRDS are a welcome sight every spring and the glider program is not that bad at all. You are one of those people who have nothing better to do than complain. If you moved to this valley then shame on you for not doing your research on the place you are moving to. Would I love to see you GET OUT of out valley? Of course I would. But I would rather you close your mouth and never speak another word again. To every one in this valley YES we have a military Air Force base in our town and have had this base for ever, but wait, a military Air Force base can’t be loud, there will not be planes flying overhead daily, there will not be loud jets flying daily. So knowing that there is an Air Force base in the valley before you move here that means YOU will be putting up with noise from above if you happen not to like that then I have a suggestion for you. Stop complaining enjoy the place you chose to live in and get over the fact the Snowbirds who are

BOUQUETS to the CV curling club for keeping curling alive in the Valley. If Taxpayers don’t like the funding arrangement they can vote in June. Taxpayers should be aware that they are committing to much more than the $1.9 million in upgrades, but future liabilities and further taxation to raise reserve funds. The CVRD already has $67 million in cash reserves, but they can’t be used for this. A P3 approach would be better for taxpayers. We are investing $240 million in the new P3 hospital, why not the same approach for curling? Comox Valley taxpayers will not own the hospital - why would we want the liability of a curling club? There has to be a better way to keep curling alive in the Comox Valley. I WOULD LIKE TO EXTEND a glorious spring bouquet to the staff of The Views at St Joseph’s Hospital who worked tirelessly to bring all the residents through the recent Noro-virus outbreak. Your wonderful efforts were appreciated. Thank you! A VERY SMALL BOUQUET to the City of Courtenay for trying to engage taxpayers with their budget survey. Ninety-nine percent plus are not interested, but hopefully many will vote in November. It seems that the Canadian Taxpayers Association is getting the attention of Federal and Provincial politicians. Is it time for a Comox Valley Rate Payers Association? Visit cvrpa.wordpress.com and find out out more. You can make a difference with little involvement. We only ask that voters be informed and vote. HUGE THANKS, to everyone who contributed to this year’s Youth Week Celebrations May 1-7th at The LINC! Special thanks to: Worksafe BC, Thrifty Foods (England Ave), Water Pure and Simple, Saputo, CV Regional District, Youth Unlimited, Onethirythree Boardshop, Code Country Lanes, The Foto Booth, Blind Amusement, Abstract, Dj’s Corey and Adam from Etherial for their donations, sponsorships and contributions that helped to make all the events even better. And most importantly, thanks to all the youth and youth teams who registered for our Young Ones vs. Old Ones Road Hockey Tourney! The youth in our community are doing so many great things; take some time out of your day to recognize a youth in your life! A BUNCH OF BOUQUETS to the staff at St. Joseph’s Hospital. From the moment I walked through the front doors during a recent 3 day stay for (TLKR) surgery, every department I was in contact with was amazing. In my opinion, the people who work there are a very special group and the excellent care they provided was very much appreciated. YOU SIR, ARE AN IDIOT! Actually take away the “Sir”, because that implies a gentleman. A gentleman would have stopped to see if I was alright after you breezed through the stop sign this afternoon on Marsden and Lake Trail and almost caused an accident. What if I had been an IDIOT too, and been texting or distracted or just too old to react as quickly as I did. You are completely undeserving of that N sticker on your car. Only by my quick reaction, can I kiss my kids goodnight tonight. Anyone reading this ask your N driver buddy if he’s the IDIOT this is written about, slap him upside the head about twenty times and send him back for a crash course in HOW TO DRIVE. Best it come from the passenger in said car. VOLUMES OF FRESH AIR: If you need a true stand alone HEPA air purifier for your home that does not produce ozone give Shawn at Thermotec Mechanical a call. After days of phoning around and searching the internet for one that you can buy in Canada I was ready to give up. I then gave Shawn a call and he took time to research it for me. Shawn found one with one of his suppliers that would do the job and had them ship it half way across the country to us. Great caring service from all of them at Thermotec Mechanical. Thanks. BEEF to the lady in the pink & turquoise jacket that rides the red scooter with the basket on the front of it, it would be nice if you could use some manners while riding on the sidewalks, like perhaps rather than almost hitting people saying “excuse me”. You almost hit several people today (May 7th) at the four way stop on 5th & England; the next time it happens I will report it to the proper authorities!

WWW.NIC.BC.CA

Comox Valley Echo Friday, May 16, 2014 A13

Tourism & Hospitality Management

Find out more, visit www.nic.bc.ca or call 250-334-5000

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ANY IDIOT can use Common Sense. Whatâ&#x20AC;&#x2122;s needed is a display of Uncommon Sense, some creative thinking by Courtenay Council to end this tar pit the Maple Pool legal case has become.

Beefs

the volunteers that helped to make the Mini World Cup a great success. We had no trouble in finding out where our child was playing and everywhere I turned was a smiling face ready to help. The energy of the event was electric and everyone I spoke with said it was really a stand-out year! Thank you so much.

The Comox Valleyâ&#x20AC;&#x2122;s First and Best Readersâ&#x20AC;&#x2122; Forum Email to: echo@comoxvalleyecho.com

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Bouquets &

Local collector would like to purchase your old

COINS & BANKNOTES I pay cash for collectible coins and Notes and usually more than a Dealer, Pawnshop or Auctioneer!!!!! Trades with other collectors are welcome! Please contact me for a confidential appointment or to discuss your collection

Email: coincollector@shaw.ca Tel: 1-250-897-6648 Member: RCNA (Royal Canadian Numismatic Association) Note: I will NOT respond to anonymous Calls

Cockeyeâ&#x20AC;&#x2122;d Optical When ordinary . .

IS NOT ENOUGH

s TH 3TREET www.cockeyedoptical.com

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WE EXTEND OUR THANK YOU, most sincerely, to the staff and management of Plates Restaurant for their thoughtfulness and generosity over the years. Our clients have benefited throughout this time from the bounty of freshly-made food stuffs, including entrees, generous platters of sandwiches and desserts. It all looks so good! All treats for the client-families of the Comox Valley Food Bank are most appreciated. Thank you so much. THE OPERATING ROOM NURSES of St. Josephâ&#x20AC;&#x2122;s General Hospital would like to thank the following businesses who contributed so generously and made National Nurses Week very special for us. Coffee and lunch breaks were memorable and we really appreciate it. Atlas Bistro, Dairy Queen, Plates Eatery and Catering, Supreme Convenience, Thrifty Foods, Tim Hortons. Last but not least, our thanks go out to those surgeons and anaesthetists who kindly provided goodies when they came to work. A BOUQUET to the staff of Johnâ&#x20AC;&#x2122;s Independent Grocery Store in Comox. Last week I had a bad fall on the sidewalk outside the store. I was walking from buying a cart full of groceries to where I live at Berwick. The front wheel caught on something and it stopped suddenly and I went flying face down on the sidewalk. A wonderful man came right over to help me sit up. It was pouring rain and I was pouring blood from my nose. He held me and tried to stop the nose bleed and almost immediately was joined by staff members of the store. They called for the ambulance and got paper towels for my face and never left me until I was in the ambulance. They were all superb and so caring, they even delivered my cart to Berwick. They all should get great praise and thanks! I can never thank them enough. I AM SENDING A BOUQUET of colourful spring flowers to Steve at Fortis Gas; when he came to our complex last week to service the gas line I took the opportunity to ask him a number of questions regarding using natural gas as I am a relatively new customer. Not only did he take the time to answer all of my questions, but when I mentioned an odd smell when the fireplace was on (not a gas smell) he immediately checked it out. As he took the doors off he found they hadnâ&#x20AC;&#x2122;t been installed properly and were almost dangling, and the metal piece above them was also not attached properly. He explained that exhaust was being released into the room when the fireplace was in use! Not only am I enjoying the fireplace much more, but alsoâ&#x20AC;&#x201D;-he may have prevented me from becoming ill, or worse, from the noxious fumes. Thank you Steve for your excellent customer service! IT IS NOW IMPORTANT for the taxpayers of Courtenay, not just the nearby residents of the subsidized

This weekâ&#x20AC;&#x2122;s winner

housing complex on Braidwood, to speak up after the comments by the consultant on this proposal. He â&#x20AC;&#x153; believes it would work if they do an exemplary job at supportive housing for the homeless.â&#x20AC;? What this means is money. We are not talking about putting up a building and moving in the residents, we are talking about long term care, not only with the social issues of the tenants, but the upkeep of the building, the staff that will be needed, the service providers etc. If you think paying the legal fees for Maple Pool is excessive wait until you see what you will be paying for this. Council are not talking about any of this and probably would look downward and shuffle their feet if questioned. The report notes there is no money available provincially so council has decided to send the mayor with his cap in hand to speak to the local MLA. We all know what that result will be. Provincially and federally, the issue of homelessness has been left to the responsibility of municipal government. As I said before, this comes down to money and we the taxpayers will be responsible. The consultant said that an annual operating cost of over $400,000. I would like you to focus on the word â&#x20AC;&#x153;overâ&#x20AC;?. My guess is it will be quite a bit over and council will not be disclosing how much. They need to answer some difficult questions about how much more the taxpayers can handle especially before the next election. A BEEF to ridiculous complaints. I think something needs to be clarified here. Despite what you might think you know, itâ&#x20AC;&#x2122;s not just an airport, itâ&#x20AC;&#x2122;s an airforce base. This is not just a matter of semantics; it is a matter of purpose and function. In airports, planes shuttle people to and fro. At an airforce base, planes are used to train pilots. The silver lining here is that we donâ&#x20AC;&#x2122;t really need to remind the complainers of the difference and of their negligence when choosing the home they refuse to move from ... theyâ&#x20AC;&#x2122;re reminded every spring. ON TUESDAY, May 13, in front of Ecole Robb Rd, YOU, yes, pointing the finger at You, the driver of a small grey car with grey roof luggage carrier, YOU displayed road rage as YOU drove at dismissal time on Robb Ave. If Comox Valley school zones are too much for YOU to handle, may I suggest that YOU take a different route! Rest assured that YOUR rudeness didnâ&#x20AC;&#x2122;t go unnoticed! YOUR aggressive behaviour behind the comfort of YOUR steering wheel is far from acceptable. I WISH TO SEND a beautiful bouquet to the wonderful young women who work in Don McRaeâ&#x20AC;&#x2122;s, our Honourable Memberâ&#x20AC;&#x2122;s office, on 5th street. While in the office I witnessed nothing but respect and regard for all who entered. They can be commended for being such fine ambassadors. Thank you, also, to our MLA, Don McRae, for taking time to meet with me.

This weekâ&#x20AC;&#x2122;s winner, drawn at random from submissions received up to Tuesday, is:

Jennifer Evans of Comox, 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 â&#x20AC;&#x2DC;em coming!

WILL YOU PLEASE JOIN ME in sending an e-mail to: www.noluxtonrodeo.com to protest yet another exploitation of animals at the Luxton Pro Rodeo upcoming in Langford? This is a show of so-called macho men and heartless crowds benefitting from the agony of helpless creatures...Thank you. P.S: Kudos to the Canadian Superstore for finally providing bigger tanks for the storeâ&#x20AC;&#x2122;s lobsters and crabs! Ever consider how it was for endless hours as the low crustacean on the â&#x20AC;&#x153;totem poleâ&#x20AC;? stack of four? THE COMOX VALLEY Montessori Society would like to thank the following businesses for so graciously donating to the High Tea and Silent Auction on May 4th. WestJet, Vancouver Canucks, Science World, Royal BC Museum/IMAX, Seascape Resort, Planet Kids, Whaleâ&#x20AC;&#x2122;s Tales, Comox Valley Regional District, Hot Chocolates, Acreview Dental, Prime Chophouse & Wine Bar, Edible Island, Podlings, McKinnon Photography, Toscanoâ&#x20AC;&#x2122;s, Iconic, Muck Off Car Wash, Snowy Tree Designs, Northern Rain Designs, Atlas Cafe, Courtenay Recreation Centre, Esthetics by Michelle, Uranus Gifts, Be Clothing, Jessie Turner Jewelry, Starbucks, Ceylon Cuisine & Spices, Paperdoll Patchworks, The LED Guy, Phillips Brewery, Finneron Hyundai, Hairpins Salon, Boardwalk Hair Design, Motif Music Studios, Bijou Blyss Jewelry, Cumberland Crate Company, John Czegledi Inventions & Designs, 4 Cats Art Studio, Eatmore Sprouts, Lady Glitz Designs, Tree Island Yogurt, Blue Moo n Winery, Hornby Island Winery, Ocean Metal Custom Metal Fabricating, Coastal Eye Care Centres Blush Salon and Spa, RK Designs, Lisa Wilcox , MiskWill, Kelly Everill, Fluid Bar & Grill, Trousers, Norma Fuerstenberg, Kathy Roberts, Suzanne Faulkner, Shirley Stirling, Kyla Savage Reflexology, Angela Somerset & Lyne Lantaigne, Samudra Weight Loss (Health & Wellness), Colleen Olsen, Deanne McRae, Keithâ&#x20AC;&#x2122;s Automotive, Bonduelle Veggies, Walmart and McGavinâ&#x20AC;&#x2122;s Bread Basket. And lastly, the radio sponsorship by the Eagle 97.3 and Breana Morgan. Our students had a wonderful time serving tea and treats to all those that attended, while they had the pleasure of listening to the outstanding performances by Pamela Tessmann and David Somers. Thank you all so much for the support; the students truly appreciate it. A DELIGHTFUL BOUQUET to Quality foods in Driftwood Mall for calling me by telephone, and informing me that they forgot to give me the money I requested, when paying for my food purchase. I forgot all about it and I thank their service counter employee for informing me. Quality Foods employees are extremely helpful to seniors in wheelchairs and walkers and all others that shop there. We certainly appreciate it. Thank you. A GIGANTIC BOUQUET to all of

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A14 Comox Valley Echo Friday, May 16, 2014

News

Courtenay Legion remembers On Friday, May 9, members of the Courtenay Legion held a Ceremony of Remembrance for those who died in the service of Canada while on duty in Afghanistan. President Hap Hanson and Past President Dave Bell laid a wreath at the cenotaph in Jubilee Square at 1 pm. Members of the Legion Colour Party and Town Councillors from Comox also attended. The Branch welcomed serving military personnel back to the Legion on Cliffe Ave. for a time of fellowship and many Legion members gathered to honour those who served in Afghanistan.

Laying the wreath are Past President Dave Bell, President Hap Hanson, Comox councillors McKinnon, Swift and Grant.

Saluting those who served in Afghanistan at the cenotaph in Jubilee Square, Courtenay, Acting Sergeant at Arms Doug Jamieson

Saluting those who served in Afghanistan are President Hap Hanson, Past President Dave Bell, Acting Sergeant at Arms Doug Jamieson, previous Sergeant at Arms Don Reiser, Service Officer Frank Burden.

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Extra ECHO

Comox Valley, BC

The COMOX VALLEY ECHO ❑ Friday, May 16, 2014

etc. ECHO

British Invasion at the Courtenay Legion tonight

Attention Mods and Rockers! You know who you are! The Courtenay Legion is holding a British Pub Night this Friday, May 16. Fish and Chips for $10 will be served at 6 pm just before the meat draw. British Band music from the 50s, 60s and 70s will rock the crowd starting at 7. Prizes for outrageous British costumes will be awarded at 8. We hope you will join us for this crazy blast from the past! Legion members and bona fide guests only.

Hospital Auxiliary meets Tuesday afternoon St. Joseph’s Hospital Auxiliary Society will hold their regular meeting on Tuesday, May 20th at 1:30 pm in the upper hall of the Comox Legion. Everyone welcome. Tea and cake after the meeting. FMI please call 250-339-1407.

B.C. Retired Government Employees doing lunch The B.C. Retired Government Employees Association, Comox Valley Branch, meets Tuesday, May 20 in the Lower Native Sons Hall. Potluck lunch at noon, meeting to follow. Guest speaker will be a member of the RCMP. All members welcome. FMI: 250-338-6930.

Schoolhouse Quilters celebrate with big show The Comox Valley Schoolhouse Quilters’ Guild is celebrating 30 years with a Quilt Show this weekend May 17, 18 & 19. Saturday and Sunday 10:00 am to 5:00 pm. Monday 10:00 am to 4:00 pm. Held at the Cumberland Cultural Centre, 2674 Dunsmuir (back door), Cumberland. Admission is $5.00 (12 and under are free). Join us for a Quilt Show, Quilt Raffle, Raffle Baskets, Guild Boutique, Merchant Mall and Cupcake Tea Room.

Pt. Holmes Recreation Association having AGM The Point Holmes Recreation Association Annual General Meeting is being held 7PM, on Thursday 22 May, at the pavilion beside the Point Holmes boat ramp. Everyone is welcome to attend, both old and new members, and renew your 2014 PHRA boat ramp vehicle sticker. For more information, please visit our new webpage, www.pointholmesrecreation.ca

Myeloma Support Group meets Tuesday for lunch North Island Myeloma Support Group meets Tuesday, May 20, 12:15 - 3:15pm at the Best Western Westerley Hotel, Courtenay. We are a group of multiple myeloma patients, family members and friends who meet to keep up to date on the latest info about myeloma and to share positive interaction with each other. It is both fun and informative. Come for lunch at 12:15 PM (buy your own lunch), meeting starts at 1 PM.

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The United States Air Force squares off against the Chilean Air Force in a friendly game of street hockey as the Air Task Force Commander, Colonel Jim Benninger, commander of 19 Wing Comox, performs the opening face-off. The game was part of the meet and greet held on April, 23, 2014 for participants in Exercise COOPERACIÓN III, in Peru. Approximately 60 members of the Royal Canadian Air

Force take part in the two-week long humanitarian aid exercise, involving 12 other partner nations in the Sistema de Cooperación entre las Fuerzas Aeras Americanas (SICOFAA). Canada provided a CH-149 Cormorant search and rescue helicopter and a CC-130J Hercules transport plane to support this key Latin American exercise. All photos by Cpt. Trevor Reid/19 Wing Public Affairs

Peruvian training mission builds rapport among international forces By Drew A. Penner Echo Staff Engines roared as pallets carrying lifesaving supplies are airlifted across the desert and through the Andean mountains by Canadians, working in partnership with 12 other countries, following a violent earthquake. Luckily, as six Peruvian Air Force members offload items with a forklift and check to make sure paperwork is in order, they find the boxes are empty. It would be bizarre if they weren’t, since this is all part of a Sistema de Cooperación entre las Fuerzas Aeras Americanas training exercise involving about sixty Canadian Forces and many from 19 Wing Comox including the contingent commander Col. Jim Benninger. The Exercise COOPERACIÓN III exercise included a Hercules and a CC-177 Globemaster III - and it was the first time that a Cormorant helicopter has ever ventured abroad to take part in a mission, since it had to have its tail taken off and reassembled during the trip. “We had the strategic objectives to connect with the air forces of the Americas,” Benninger said. “On the operational side we wanted to prove the concept of dismantaling the giant Cormorant helicopter and putting it inside the (Globemaster).” The aircraft proved they were up to snuff. “Once you get into the desert and the mountains there are a lot of really remote towns,” explained Cpt. Trevor Reid, who was on the mission alongside the commander and 19 Wing Operations translator Sgt. Yan Senechal. “Some of these towns are at really high altitudes, so the Cormorant really shined. It was really cool being able to fly in those kinds of conditions especially given the

Cpt. Eric Willrich, a C-17 pilot with 429 Squadron, Canadian ambassador to Peru, Patricia Fortier and Col. Benninger in front of a Globemaster on the ramp at Callao Air Base (Lima).

Sgt Senechal at work on the flight deck of a C-130 doing Spanish translation for the crew (he’s on the left)

humidity. Helicopters tend to lose a little bit of their performance in the heat.” The scenario wasn’t exactly a far-fetched one. Back in 2007 there had been a magnitude 8.0 earthquake there. With an epicenter 150 km southeast of Lima the quake killed 519 and injured at least 1,366 injured. As part of the exercise some Canadians were stationed in both of the Combined Air Operations Centre, since the mission included two focal points - one in Lima and one in Pisco. (Continued on page B2)

B2 Comox Valley Echo Friday, May 16, 2014

What’s On

Classic film ‘Salt of the Earth’ showing next week at college As part of Mayworks celebration of arts and labour, World Community screens the dramatic 1954 film“Salt of the Earth” May 20, 7pm at NIC theatre Courtenay. Based on an actual strike against the Empire Zinc Mine in New Mexico, the film deals with the prejudice against the Mexican-American workers, who struck to attain wage parity with Anglo workers in other mines and to be treated with dignity. The film explores complex issues of labour relations, minority rights and the struggle of women to achieve

A scene from ‘Salt of the Earth’

equality in their daily lives. When the company got an injunction preventing the workers from picketing, the wives of the miners play a pivotal role in the strike. “It’s amazing that this film was made in the 1950s,” says programmer Janet Fairbanks. “The role reversal when men take over some of the household chores as the women head to the picket line is quite stunning for this era.” The writers, director and producer of the film were all blacklisted by the Hollywood establishment during the

McCarthy era. In neorealist style, the producers and director used actual miners and their families as most of the actors in the film. Will Geer was one of only four professional actors in the film. “Salt of the Earth” was selected by the Library of Congress as one of 100 films to be preserved for posterity. Please join us for a celebration of the 60th anniversary of the making of this classic film. Admission is by donation. Everyone is welcome. FMI : 337-5412

Improve your singing skills at local workshop Love to sing? Do you want to sing more confidently? Would you like to develop your skill and comfort with improvisation? Want to get to the heart of the songs you sing? There’s a vocal teacher you need to meet. Jennifer Scott is considered by her peers and fans to be the finest jazz vocal improviser in Canada. She is also a skilled and intuitive teacher. Jennifer will be offering two vocal workshops in Courtenay, on Saturday, June 14th, sponsored by the Georgia Straight Jazz Society. You may have heard Jennifer sing at Vancouver Island Musicfest in 2009, or at any one of her beautifully crafted performances with bassist Rene Worst. She has also toured across North America and Europe, including appearances with Clark Terry, Paul Horn, Jane Bunnett and Kenny Wheeler. Listen to samples of her music at www.jenniferscott.ca The singing workshops will take place at the Lower Native Sons’ Hall, 360 Cliffe Avenue, on June 14th. The morning session on Vocal Technique and Improvisation will run from 9:00 to 12:00. Participants will sing patterns and songs to develop breath control, explore vocal tones and colours, and grow their improvising skills. Most singing will be in a group though there will be optional soloing opportunities. The afternoon session, Getting The Most From A Song, will run from 1:00 to 4:00. Participants will perform a solo number (accompanied by piano and bass) and receive individual feedback to refine their performance. Singers may take one or both workshops. The morning session is $20, the afternoon session is $25, and there is a discounted price of $40 for those who take both. The afternoon session is strictly limited to 12 registrants, although others may audit the session for a $5 fee. Advance registration is required for both

Water Park at Lewis Park opening for the season Get soaked, sprayed and splashed in the Valley’s wettest playground! On Saturday May 17, the Water Park at Lewis Park opens. Enjoy water play from 9:00 am to 7:00 pm daily throughout the summer till mid-September. The Water Park is free and open to everyone. The water park features a safe new recycled rubber tire surface with improved traction,

thanks to funding from Tire Stewardship BC. The park also includes playground areas for children of all ages. Bring a picnic and enjoy this fun spot beside the Lewis Centre at 489 Old Island Highway. For more information on the Water Park, visit www. courtenay.ca or call 250-338-5371.

Improving relations at Peru mission (Continued from page B1)

Jennifer Scott sessions. To register or for more information, phone Dale at 250 339 6989. Jennifer Scott will also be performing in Courtenay on June 12th, with bassist Rene Worst. The Georgia Straight Jazz Society is pleased to present these leading lights of the Canadian jazz scene at the Avalanche Bar and Grill. For more information on society activities and performances, go to www.georgiastraightjazz.com

Col. Benninger was kept busy going from location to location, surveying the exercise and maintaining active communication with senior members of the other delegations at hand. But it wasn’t all sweat and toil. The first day brought another kind of lesson - the Canucks took it upon themselves to hold an impromptu ball hockey game. On April, 23, 2014 a couple of nets were produced and Air Task Force Commander Benninger played referee, dropping the puck as a United States Air Force member battled it out in a more friendly kind of way with a Chilean airman. Passing along knowledge of our national

game was the perfect “icebreaker” officials said. The Columbians were particularly eager apparently. “What they lacked in skill they made up for in enthusiasm,” Reid said. “It was pretty good.” It’s this sort of camaraderie that represents the fluidity among nations of the Americas that member countries hope will be fostered by the exercise. The idea is to practice working together in the good times so that if things go awry in geologic, economic or diplomatic terms military forces will be ready to respond. At the end of the disaster relief training the Peruvians even hosted a luncheon where members exchanged patches and stories.

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Week Eight – this is it, this is what you have been striving for, this is what you have been training the last seven weeks for. Yes you have made it! Below is the last week of your training plan. In my years of triathlons I have been involved in, seen or heard of some funny things that have happened at an event. All of these things could have been avoided through preparation. At one event I got to the race and as I was setting up my transition I noticed that my water bottles were nowhere to be found. Did I leave them in the car? No they were back at the hotel in the frig. Luckily my wife was hanging around and she was able to drive back and get the bottles. If you are like me you like cool water, so if you put you bottles in the frig over night to keep them cold, put a note on your steering wheel to remind you to bring the water. (That is provided you are driving to the course.) The Shoreline Orthodontics has always been a special race for me. However I have had my troubles in transition. The evening before one race I carefully pinned my number to the front of my shirt. Ready to go, right? Wrong! As I slipped my shirt over my head I got stuck! The pins had gone through both the front and the back of the shirt preventing me from putting the shirt on. After looking around to see if anyone saw my mistake I repined my number, to the front of my shirt, all the while chuckling to myself. Should have taken a minute last night to slip the shirt over my head. In order to make running shoes smell a little better I put sneaker balls, scented perforated balls, in my shoes after each run. After finishing the bike ride I was pumped up for the run, off goes the helmet and bike shoes, on with the hat and shoes. Ouch, what was preventing my foot from getting in my shoe? I had for gotten to take the sneaker balls out. Now with it crammed into the toe of my shoe I had to loosen off the laces in order to get it out. It doesn’t hurt to have a check list of all the things you will need in a race and do one last check before you set out for the race venue. A few tips for triathletes Your feet are wet from the swim. Sprinkle baby powder in your socks, before the event, your feet will slide in with great ease. Make sure your bike is in a low gear, it makes it easier to start going, especially if you are on a hill. Every time you go into transition it will look different. Although you are not allowed to mark your spot in transition with a balloon filled with helium or by flying a flag etc. you can lay a brightly colored towel down next to your bike. Technically you aren’t marking your spot, but the bright color sure reminds you where you racked you bike. First things first. Be sure to lay your clothes out in the order that you use them. Have your cycling gear at the top of your clothes pile, or to the front of your transition spot, and the running gear on the bottom, or towards the back of your transition spot. Sometimes less is better. Try to keep your equipment needs to a minimum.

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Tuesday May 20

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Thursday May 22

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Saturday May 24

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Comox Valley Echo Friday, May 16, 2014 B3

What’s On

Entries invited for Photopia photography feast Multiple prizes offered in ‘Elevate Arts Fest’ exhibition Thought, creativity and a sense of art and wonder all go into good photographs. But such captures have a very limited audience if they live only on the owner’s hard drive. A chance to bring those striking, compelling and beautiful images to hundreds of eyes is not far off. The annual Photopia contest/exhibition - part of the third annual Elevate Arts Festival - hits the screens June 7 and organizers are inviting photographers to share their art. But the May 28 deadline for entries looms close on the horizon. “Photos are meant to be seen,” says Photopia organizer Jamie Bowman. “A sense of true satisfaction comes in sharing one’s work, having it seen and admired in supersize. “Last year, hundreds of people came to see the photos rotating across the big screens. Many, many of the submitted photos were really terrific and people knew it. I’m pretty excited about what we’re going to see this year.” The show is moved to the Courtenay Library this year, due to the overwhelming response last year and the need for additional space and screens. The images will be displayed on large-screen televisions, thanks to sponsorships by London Drugs and Visual Sound AVU Store. Photopia is open to all ages and there are no entry fees. Artwork will be juried for both awards and exhibition. There are great prizes coming from generous community partners including London Drugs. Photopia 2014 features the following categories: 1. Stepping toward ... what/who can we be, how can our community thrive? 2. Imagining ... 3. The Other Side (Weird, Wild and Bizarre) 4. Manipulated / Transformed Up to 25 photos can be submitted by each entrant. Entry forms and submission details are available at www.elevatethearts.com, under the ‘Engage the Elevation’ link. All images must be your own original work and must be in .jpeg or .jpg format, at least 1920 X 1080 pixels. The Elevate Arts Festival reserves the right both to refuse artwork deemed inappropriate and to use winning submissions for future, non-commercial promotion of Photopia and Elevate the Arts.

Justin Guo’s entry won last year in the manipulated category

ELEVATE THE ARTS CALLOUT FOR WORDPLAY AND FOUND SOUND SLAM Do you like to write or perform the spoken word? Have the ability to breathe life onto paper or twist words and let them tumble from your tongue? To kick off the 3rd annual Elevate the Arts festival, we bring you WordPlay, an evening featuring spoken word in a non-competitive, friendly setting. Join us Wednesday, June 4, 7pm at the Grotto on 5th St. Courtenay We would like to highlight a variety of the spoken word - whether its poetry or full-on rap. So dust off those

journals, collect your scraps of poetry left scattered about, or create something fresh. All ages welcome! Pre-registration required and ends May 30. Find our registration form online under the Events section on the Elevate the Arts website: www.elevatethearts.com Found Sound Slam Portals and Thresholds is the theme of the Found Sound Slam happening at Elevate the Arts this year. Think out of the box, through the window or teetering on the edge of a precipice

and write a poem or three for this poetry event happening on Saturday, June 7th at the Lower Native Sons Hall. Hosted by Two Dope Boys in a Cadillac and in collaboration with dj Harley Rose, who will be playing found sounds throughout the evening, this slam will bring a new dimension to the traditional poetry slam experience. Poets are invited, though not required,

to collaborate prior to the slam with Harley Rose to add sound and rhythm to their performances. Pre-register by emailing keenanbernadette@hotmail.com or by signing up at the event by 6:30. Performances and judging will commence at 7pm with prizes awarded for the slam and Literary LiterAlley at 9pm.

EXPLORE YOUR CREATIVE SIDE WITH JEWELLERY DESIGN AT NIC Jewellery & Metal Art 3- or 4-day July Workshops

WWW.NIC.BC.CA

• • • • •

Low Tech Casting Enamelling Found Objects & Recycled Materials Hollowform Rings Torch-created Surfaces

Attend a FREE information session* to learn about these workshops and the Metal Jewellery Design Certiﬁcate at NIC’s Campbell River campus. Saturday, May 24th, 4:00-5:30 pm or Thurs, June 5th, 6:30-8 pm *Register for Info Session online at www.nic.bc.ca/continuingeducation | Use course code GENI-1212 For more information contact Julia Peters | 250-923-9724 | julia.peters@nic.bc.ca

CARRIERS WANTED No collection required. Great exercise! Call Comox Valley Echo • 250-334-4734 or drop by 407-D 5th Street, Courtenay

Have you been treated unfairly by a provincial or local government agency? The B.C. Ombudsperson may be able to help

Ombudsperson’s staff will be in your community on the following dates, and are available by appointment to discuss your complaint: • Port Hardy • Port McNeill • Campbell River • Powell River • Courtenay Comox

June 2 June 3 June 4 June 5 June 6

For an appointment call 1-800-567-3247 (toll-free) www.bcombudsperson.ca www.bcombudsperson.ca

Courtenay Rt. 8105 – Kilpatrick, 29th - 27th, Moray Rt. 8106 – Kilpatrick, Anfield Centre (Walmart) Rt. 8130 – Cliffe (Between 19th & 10th), Riverside Lane, Beckensell Rt. 7115 – 5th to 4th, Menzies to Willemar Rt. 7127 – Marsden, Baird to Charter Rt. 7108 – Fitzgerald, Grieve 17th to 13th Comox Rt. 1110 – Skeena, Pritchard, Chilcotin, Chinook, Nimpkish, Noel 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 Rt. 3105 – 10th St. E., Farquharson, Williams Rd. Mission Hill Rt. 5102 – Stafford, Dingwall, Valecourt, Cruickshank Cumberland Rt. 9103 – Dunsmuir, Derwent, Sutton, 1st Rt. 9108 – 6th & 7th Dunsmuir to Windermere

Earn extra $$$$ for all that fun stuff that mom won't buy!

339,000

1826 Hawk Drive

301-178 Back Road

Looking for a three bedroom two bathroom elegant rancher in a central East Courtenay location? This could be the one. Master bedroom has walk-in closet with a three piece ensuite. Walk out to your private deck and fully fenced backyard. Added pluses are newer heat pump, hot water tank, roof in 2009, double garage and a new front door.

Sunny southern exposure with marvellous mountain views. Adorable 1bedroom, top corner condo with elevator. Well managed complex with bright clean lobby & shared laundry - all with secure & convenient entry and access.

NEW PRICE $

89,900

10% down -approx. $444/mo. 25 yrs 5yr term 3.5%

First Time Buyer? 304-178 Back Road

2158 Downey Ave

319,900

This sparkling family home located in the centre of Comox is one of the few homes in this price range with an ocean view. Featuring a large lot with 2 gas fireplaces and an ocean view overlooking Comox Bay. Close to schools, the hospital and bus routes, this is a fine family home.

NEW PRICE $

PRICE REDUCTION

10% down -apprvox. $547/mo. 25 yrs 5yr term

1778 Grant Ave

Large 0.21 acre property close to beaches. This Rancher comes complete with 3 bedrooms, 2 bathrooms, a sunken living room and large deck. Private large yard is fenced.

NEW LISTING

299,900

mls 357998

111,900

Rancher in Royston 4354 Briardale Road

unit has been painted and is ready for you to move in. Two bedroom condo located centrally -great floor plan.

289,900

Quality family home with hardwood floors and coved ceilings. The windows have been replaced with the roof a few years ago. Downstairs is made for your kids or hobbies or both with a bedroom, a rec room, 3 piece bath, laundry and workshop. Private treed backyard. Quiet neighbourhood is located close to parks, recreation, shopping and bus routes.

Ocean Pacific Realty (e) waynemcloughlin@remax.net 282 Anderton Road, Comox

250-897-9189 (c) 250-339-2021 (o)

Wayne’s

quote of the week

B4 Comox Valley Echo Friday, May 16, 2014

What’s On

Denman welcomes visitors to studio tour Spring on lovely Denman Island is a festive affair, and the annual Pottery Studio Tour draws visitors from near and far! On May 17th and 18th eleven venues will throw open their doors between 10 am and 5 pm daily to reveal the latest clay creations from some of BC’s finest artisans. Splendid red, pink and purple rhododendrons dot the forested lane-way up to Gordon Hutchens Pottery. 2014 marks the 40th anniversary for this internationally acclaimed potter, well known for his sensational use of form and colour. Studio visitors are sure to be enthralled by a series of stunning new works incorporating crystalline glazes actually inspired by the shimmering turquoise, watery blue tones, and rich purples found in Monet’s famous water lily paintings. On another recent series including small to medium-sized vases - Hutchens has combined crystalline glazes with his iridescent ‘Denman Island lustre’ (made from materials unearthed on the artist’s own land), along with textured glazes that crawl to reveal contrasting colours underneath. Both multiple techniques and multiple firings are required to achieve the results mastered in these exquisite works. Bev Severn also has an affinity for lily ponds - her slab-constructed shallow vessel forms include sculpted leaves and other flora, making perfect indoor or outdoor centrepieces for displaying floating spring blossoms. Stately blue herons adorn some of Severn’s functional wares, and lovely hand-sculpted goddesses may be found in the potter’s studio heralding the season with arms raised to the moon and sun. Be sure to inquire about dragon eggs, custom-designed wedding goblets, other ritual items and individualized goddess sculptures specialty items this lover of the prima matera enjoys creating. Exploring Denman’s country roads is definitely part of the tour adventure, and arrival at Scott and Garnet Beardsley’s studio is all about discovering yet another fabulous island treasure trove nestled within a picturesque forest setting! This talented couple’s extensive repertoire ranges from the playful to the sublime. Eccentric human characters occupy brightly painted wall plaques and soap dishes, while delicately rendered chickadees and forest landscapes grace

lidded pots and mugs. Stunning bowls and plates bathed in satiny shades of blue and green are also to be found on display alongside other works decorated with a spotted leopard-like glaze rich in tones of gold, chocolate and velvet black. A charming new series of bowls and casseroles adorned with rolling waves are further embellished with sea sprites in the form of tiny faces delicately modeled with streaming locks of seaweed hair. Dante Ambriel,Tom Dennis, Hanne Christensen, Bentley LeBaron, Sean Woods, Marjo Van Tooren of Down to Earth Pottery, and Shirley Phillips of Lilac Sun Pottery will also be unveiling brand new creations on the tour. The Denman Arts Centre will feature examples of work from each of the artist’s participating this year, and is conveniently situated right at the top of the island’s ferry hill. Pick up a free map for your self-guided adventure at the Buckley Bay ferry booth, or at the Arts Centre gallery upon arrival. For a link to ferry schedules and a tour sneak preview, please visit www.denmanpottery2014.blogspot. ca . - Submitted by Dianne Radmore

Beardsley casserole pot

Blue goddess by Bev Severn

Blue wave cup by Gordon Hutchens

Colour celebration at Crown Isle Three talented local artists Marg Selkirk, Gail Neuls and Martha Ponting exhibit their” Colour Burst” collection of original paintings at Crown Isle resort. You will be treated to 3 diverse styles from realistic to intuitive and a semi-abstract stylist. Each artist offers something of special interest and unique to share. Now is your chance to meet with the artists and view their work as it lights up the Gold room with colour! Saturday May 17 from 10:00 a.m. to 8:00 p.m. Sunday May 18 from 10:00 a.m.

to 4:00 p.m. Gail says “It is wonderful and totally exciting to have so much freedom to not have to hold back any imagination in expressing myself through line and colour”. Margaret draws her inspiration from the tranquility and beauty of B.C.’s wilderness. Her richly detailed oil paintings reflect her deep spiritual love of the natural world. Martha’s work is intuitive and symbolic. Image, flowing lines and vibrant colour invite the viewer to explore self-awareness, inner change and relationships.

‘BRUSHWORKS’ ANNUAL SHOW AT FILBERG LODGE On the Victoria Day long weekend, The Brushworks presents its annual Show and Sale at the Filberg Lodge from May 17th to 19th (11 a.m. to 5 p.m. daily). The Brushworks is a group of 28 talented Valley artists that meets and paints weekly. A broad range of styles and mediums will be exhibited for sale.

While there, you can enjoy the beautiful setting of the heritage Filberg Lodge and perhaps stop for a “cuppa” at the tea house to complete your visit to the Show, lodge and grounds. Members of The Brushworks will be in attendance to guide your viewing and answer any questions you may have.

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

May Golf Specials

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www.CrownIsle.com 399 Clubhouse Dr., Courtenay, BC 250-703-5031

Comox Valley Echo Friday, May 16, 2014 B5

9 & Dine is Back at Sunnydale!

•$20.00 plus gst •includes 9 holes of golf and your choice of meal from the grill menu, or the daily special. •Monday-Friday 3pm-6pm •Book tee-times at the pro-shop

(250) 334-3232 5291 North Island Highway, Courtenay, BC V9J 1S7

Sports and Recreation

The United Riders are resurrecting the popular “Coal Town Classic” marathon mountain bike race May 25.

Coal Town Classic marathon bike race May 25 The United Riders of Cumberland (UROC) are cleaning the coal dust off of a classic mountain bike race. The “Coal Town Classic,” a 50-kilometre endurance race with a 30-kilometre “lite” version, takes place May 25 after a more than decade of absence. “We’re getting back to our roots by resurrecting the Coal Town Classic,” explains UROC secretary Jeremy Grasby. “We’re all about promoting mountain biking and promoting the phenomenal riding we have here in Cumberland, and what better way to do both than to host a race that showcases 50 kilometers of

our best riding?” The race starts at 10 a.m. on Sunday, May 25 at the Village Park in Cumberland, with registration beginning at 8 a.m. In addition to a great course, Grasby says riders will also be eligible for great prizes. Registration is now open via the events tab on UROC’s new website at www.unitedridersofcumberland. com. The entrance fee is $50 preevent and $60 on race day. Various categories will be tailored toward beginner, advanced and expert riders, with separate divisions for male and female riders. “This is an epic race that will fol-

Students from Nick Moore, Doug David, and Michelle Attfield’s classes at Ecole Puntledge Park were keen participants in the “CIBC Wood Gundy School XC Ski Program. Here, students pass a cheque from Rick Morson of CIBC Wood Gundy to Lynda Magor and Lynn Swift of the Strathcona Nordic Ski Club, who oversee the

low the same course that will be featured in the Cumberland stage of this year’s B.C. Bike Race, ” says Martin Ready, UROC Vice President “For something that covers slightly fewer kilometers but is still pretty epic, The Coal Town Classic Lite is a 30-kilometer version of the same race.” The Coal Town Classic is the third event of the Cumberland Crown. Points will be awarded to male and female riders in the expert category in each of five UROC-hosted events, with the winners earning the prestigious title of King and Queen of Cumberland.

program. This past winter, the program took local elementary students cross-country skiing for a toal of 2139 visits to Mount Washington! To learn more about the program or to get in touch with Lynda, visit StrathconaNordics.com/school-groups/

Former record holder Diane Palmason (left), and new Canadian Record holder Roslyn Smith (right), both from the Comox Valley

Outstanding local runners in Vancouver Marathon The BMO Vancouver Marathon took place on Sunday May 4th. The event also included a Half Marathon and an 8k event. It was a wet and dreary day, but the runners spirits were undampened. Close to 4000 runners braved the weather to test themselves on the beautiful marathon course. Starting in Queen Elizabeth Park, it wound its way up to UBC and then circled down past Spanish Banks and Jericho Beach. It then crossed the Burrard Street Bridge and circled around Stanley Park, finally finishing up close to downtown. In the marathon, Brad Crowe led the Comox Valley Road Runners with a time of 2 hours 46 minutes. This was good enough for a 28th place finish, and was also a personal best. He was followed by Derek Brenchley, who had a great run and finished with a time of 3:31. Melissa Dekker also had a strong finish in her first marathon, finishing in a time of 3:32. She was followed closely by Marion Bryan, who had a great run and finished in 3:34. Jaime Moffat had an excellent first marathon and finished with a time of 4:16. There were two outstanding marathon performances by local athletes.

First was Roz Smith, who finished the marathon in 3:40. This was not only a record for the course, but is in fact a Canadian Record. The previous record holder in this category was Diane Palmason, another exceptional runner from the Comox Valley. The second amazing finish for the day was Janet Green, who finished in a time of 4:00. This was not only her fourth marathon in four weeks, but it also marked her 300th marathon. The largest event of the day was the Half Marathon, with nearly 8000 runners participating. The first local to finish in the Half Marathon was Jack Campbell, with a time of 1:52. Only seconds behind was Graham Garner, who also finished with a 1:52. Next were husband and wife Darrell and Sharon Fisher, who both finished with a time of 1:53. Sandra Rowland also had a great run, finishing in a time of 2:03 and followed closely by Kim Campbell with a time of 2:04. There were many other excellent performances by local athletes, with too many finishers to list here. Please visit bmovanmarathon.ca to see the full results. Congratulations to all who participated.

New

Disposal Fee Schedule Comox Valley and Campbell River Waste Management Centres Eﬀective July 1, 2014

ch 10 oi a c s fru es o sor it f m ted pi i es xe d

Highlights to Fee Schedule Changes Fee Description

Eﬀective July 1, 2014

Site access fee (would be applied to vehicles that pass over scales at the Comox Valley & Campbell River waste management centres)

$4/per vehicle

* some exceptions apply

Comox Valley Minor Hockey NOW ACCEPTING APPLICATIONS FOR

ALL REP TEAM HEAD COACHES Deadline June 1st

Minimum load charge (currently $4 for loads not weighing more than 60 kilograms) Clean ﬁll (soil or turf suitable for landﬁll cover, currently charged at $5/tonne; loads less than one tonne are currently accepted for free.)

$6 for loads not weighing more than 100 kilograms

$15/tonne; $6 minimum for loads <400 kg (Prices are per metric tonne and will be pro-rated for a portion thereof and subject to this minimum charge.)

*The new site access fee will not apply to residents dropping oﬀ recyclables, scrap metal,or product stewardship items, or for customers picking up SkyRocket.

Probable teams: 2 Atom, 2 PeeWee, 2 Bantam and 2 Midget

The Comox Strathcona waste management service encourages residents to maximize their trip to the waste management centre by making one trip to dispose more per load.

To apply send resume and cover letter to dalegstew@gmail.com

Tel: 250- 334-6016

New Players REGISTER ON OR AFTER JUNE 1ST PHONE 250-339-0952 FOR DETAILS

To review a detailed fee schedule and to download a copy of bylaw 170 “schedule of fees and charges”, visit www.cswm.ca/fees

B6 Comox Valley Echo Friday, May 16, 2014

Comox Valley Echo Friday, May 16, 2014 B7

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 Rt. 7115 – 5th to 4th, Menzies to Willemar Rt. 7127 – Marsden, Baird to Charter Rt. 7108 – Fitzgerald, Grieve 17th to 13th COMOX Rt. 1110 – Skeena, Pritchard, Chilcotin, Chinook, Nimpkish, Noel 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 Rt. 3105 – 10th St. E., Farquharson, Williams Rd. MISSION HILL Rt. 5102 – Stafford, Dingwall, Valecourt, Cruickshank CUMBERLAND Rt. 9103 – Dunsmuir, Derwent, Sutton, 1st Rt. 9108 – 6th & 7th Dunsmuir to Windermere

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

B8 Comox Valley Echo Friday, May 16, 2014

Sports and Recreation

LADIES GOLF NEWS LOTS HAPPENING AT CROWN ISLE What an amazing week of golf Crown Isle members and residents have been treated to. On a glorious sunny Tuesday, Crown Isle ladies had their PIN Day. Congrats to Dee Horie and Raelene Robertson for tying low gross at 85 and Val Dingwall right behind them with 87. Low net was won by Linda Stickney and Joanne Meyer (she loves competition!) at 69 and second low gross was Mathilde Schneider. Low putts was Barb Parker (always in the money!) and tied for second Linda Stickney and Doris Ellis (Welcome to Crown Isle ladies club!). KP on 7 was won by Rosemary Smith and on 16 by Linda Stickney. Dee, Val, Ev, Barb and Mathilde all shared the birdie pot. Congratulations to our Crown Isle Interclub team, including Sandy, Marsha, Barb, Rosemary, Katy, Dee, Val and Raelene who did very well in their first matches against Sunnydale. We will keep you informed about the Interclub winners as the summer progresses. Crown Isle ladies also did well at the Comox Ladies North island Tournament held on Mother’s Day. Congrats to Raelene, Dee, Val, Katy, Sheila and Carol. Haven’t we heard these names before?? Now ladies stick one finger in one ear and LISTEN. You must sign up on the ladies’ website for the Tuesday luncheon after golf on May 20th and June 10th. The first LADIES NINE AND DINE is on Wed. May 28th with a 5:30 shotgun including a glass of wine or beer, appys, prizes and 9 holes of golf. Come out for a night of great comraderie and laughs. Sign up by yourself or as a team by calling the pro shop at 250 703-5031. Mark your calendars for the ladies’ night dates: May 28, June 25, July 30, Aug. 27 and Sept. 10. After the golf and prizes, everyone is welcome to go to the Silverado Room and listen to The Dueling Pianos. Should be fun! Crown Isle ladies are having a “gently used” clothing sale in the Ladies’ lounge on May 20/21. Bring your clothing to sell on May 18/19. EVERYONE IS WELCOME TO COME. All proceeds go to Junior Golf so please come out and have a look. There will be something meant just for you there. Not to forget about our men, make sure you go to Gentlemen’s Night At The Office on Thursday nights. ALL Men welcome for a night of golf, prizes and lots of laughs. Call the pro shop to register 250 703-5031. A big thank you to Bryan and Elaine, Allan and Sandra, Bob and Pat and Allan and Judy for hosting the couples’ golf every Sunday and special events once a month. Make sure you sign up on the Crown Isle Men’s Website for Couples’ Trouble Golf on June 1st with brunch before and appys after golf. If you missed the PGA Qualifying Tournament last week at Crown Isle shame on you! David Bradshaw shot a 10 under from the tips for the Course record. When I congratulated him he said he wondered who was buying him a house on Crown Isle! The way he golfed my guess is he will be able to buy lots of houses where ever he chooses! Everyone was totally enamored with the Comox Valley and Crown Isle. Five Canadians got full status on the Canadian tour. Check the PGA website for full results. Well, everyone it feels great to be back in the saddle (even though I am not a horse enthusiast!). What a week! Kudos to Audrey Clark who looked after the newspaper articles while I was basking in the sun in Southern California. - Submitted by Donna Cunliffe

Sunnydale Pro Shop for more information: 250-334-3232. - Submitted by Vicki Bombini

SPRING FLING AT GLACIER GREENS Tuesday May 13th was a glorious day for the Glacier Greens Ladies Spring Fling, happy we were that Spring Rain had withdrawn her entry. In teams of 3 with Stableford scoring, the team of Judy Brown, Wendy Dowe and Carmel Horochuck commanded a good lead with 116 points. 2nd place went to Brenda Livingstone, Glenda Kinney and Lynn Pringle with 112. 3rd place was a tie going to Bernice Henderson, Janet Edwards, and Pat Verchere, with 111, matched by the team of Tobi Norris, Roberta Cadieu and Gillian Iddiols. KP’s: #4 Gillian Iddiols, #12 Brenda Livingstone, #15 Roberta Cadieu #17 Wendy Dowe. No takers on #7 so in a draw Marie Israel was picked. The prize team did a magnificent job of choosing a lovely array of flower baskets and planters/plants for all the prizes. Next week will come quickly with the early bird deadline on May 24th for the GG ladies tournament on June 14th. These entries will be in a draw to win back your entry fee. Next Tuesday we are scheduled for the CTC qualifier and regular golf for others. - Submitted by Lori Cameron

The Comox Valley Yacht Club holds group cruises up and down the coast. Find out more at info session this weekend.

Clubs hold info session for boaters The Comox Valley Yacht Club (CVYC) in conjunction with the Cape Lazo Power and Sail Squadron will be holding their annual Information Session on Saturday, May 17th from 11:00 to 4:00 at the Comox Marina in Comox. Follow the signs and look for us near the Harbour Air Reception area (adjacent the boat launch in Comox’s Marina Park). The CVYC is a fun-loving group of people who share a love of being out on the water. Some members may not yet own a boat or are ‘in-between’ boats; others have boats primarily used for fishing or weekend overnighting; while some own large

cruisers equipped for long range passage making. The club is split relatively equally between power and sail. The club is very social, no white pants or blue blazers here; that’s why we call ourselves “The Blue Jeans Yacht Club”. We go on group cruises up and down the coast from May to September and in the other months we gather together, usually at the Comox Golf Club for monthly Tech Talks, social get-to-know-you nights and special themed events. The Cape Lazo Power and Sail Squadron is our local chapter of the national group providing boater edu-

cation as well as social and technical information gatherings. The Squadron offers one of the best boating courses available; successful graduates have more confidence on the water and often receive discounts on marine insurance. For more information about the Information Session or membership in the Comox Valley Yacht Club, contact Sue at 250-898-8333 or at memberships@comoxvalleyyachtclub. com or visit the club’s website at www.comoxvalleyyachtclub.com For the Cape Lazo Power and Sail Squadron contact Barb at 250-3392333 or visit them online at www. capelazocps.ca

SUNNY AT SUNNYDALE AGAIN

250-338-7761 bcnonda.com

DLR # 30592

Thirty-five ladies were blessed by sunshine again for our regular Tuesday draw at Sunnydale Ladies Club. Scores are now starting to reflect the drier course conditions with all five loss gross winners posting scores in the 90’s. 1st Low Gross was Marlene Gerrie with a score of 96, followed by a tie for 2nd by Lys McCrone & Lois Westbrook with 98. Charlene Cebryk and Teri Sleigh tied for 3rd with scores of 99. Low Net winner was Francis Shaw with a score of 71. Four players posted Net Scores of 76 for 2nd place: Sharon Littler, Andrea McInnes, Vicki Bombini and Mo Ross. Lowest # of putts was Betty Lund and Longest Putt on # 9 was Chris Annand. Sally Sloat won the KP on Hole #10 which was sponsored by Rob Speer Pro Shop...and she made the putt for Birdie. KP on #15 was won by Patricia Lowe and KP on #5 on the 2nd shot was won by Becky Kenner. We also had 6 players in the 9 Hole Group. Trudi Garratt posted the Low Gross Score; Coral Tanner won Low Net and Ardene Larison had the lowest # of putts. There was only one par on the back 9 which occurred on #15. Ladies Club captain Rona Lawson has returned from her vacation and she promises to add some new variations to our Tuesday morning games. We always welcome ladies to join us. Sign up in the Clubhouse one or two weeks in advance or phone the

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