Comox Valley Echo - June 6, 2014

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Volume 20, No. 45

City agrees to discussions with Maple Pool supporters By Philip Round Echo Staff

Vintage Wings of Canada spokesperson Terry Chester and Jon Ambler, program manager and volunteer coordinator of the Comox Air Force Museum show off the progress done on the restoration of the World War II Roseland Spitfire.

Y2-K Spitfire to go on a road trip to Quebec Space constraints at local hangar force proponents to move project to Gatineau By Michael Briones Echo Staff The Roseland Y2-K Spitfire will soon be getting its wings. However, the installation on the fuselage of the tailor-made wings from the United Kingdom will not be done here at the Heritage Hangar at 19 Wing, which has housed this historic World War II fighter plane since 2000. Vintage Wings of Canada, the non-profit organization that took over the meticulous restoration of the iconic combat plane from the Comox Valley Air Force Museum, will be taking the Spitfire on the road and travel east to its base in Gatineau, Que. where the aircraft will be completed due to some complexities of the rebuild. Spokesman Terry Chester said they could finish the Spitfire in the valley but it would not have been easy because of the hangar’s space constraints. “That would involve bolting the wings on and then taking them off again,” said Chester. “The way those wings are fitted, there are five to six bolts to put them in.

And when those bolts go in, they can only be taken out so many times before you have to reshim them and reshim the wings. Therefore we decided we just wanted to do one fit. Clearly we can’t fit the wings on here.” Chester said that they needed to do all the final phases of reconstruction in one location where they can paint the aircraft in its distinct 442 Squadron colours, featuring Y2-K call letters, and also hold test flights to be conducted by a Transport Canada certified test pilot. “The way it is with vintage airplanes is you don’t know when you do a test flight, how long it’s going to be, what’s going to

be broken, what needs to be tweaked so it was decided it would be done there,” said Chester. The wings are now almost complete in Gatineau and ready to be connected to the Spitfire. It will take six to nine months to properly install them, hook all the hoses, and all the fittings. “We’re very excited to be moving forward to the next stage of the aircraft,” said Chester. Around $2.5 million has already been spent and more funds will be needed to finish the job. When the project started, Chester said the team behind it showed a lot of enthusiasm but had no idea how they could grow and how expensive it could be. He estimates the final cost to be over $3 million. Once completed, it’s only going to be the second Spitfire every rebuilt in Canada but Chester said it’s going to be a crown jewel because of the way it’s being restored. “Once it’s completed and it’s flying, it’s going to be the best built Spitfire flying in the world,” said Chester. (Continued on page 3)

Did someone just blink? In the ongoing legal standoff between Maple Pool Campground and the City of Courtenay, councillors have agreed staff should meet with the group of business people and campground supporters who have offered to help bring the land up to a standard acceptable to the municipality. Councillors have yet to be convinced anything has changed since a previous face-to-face meeting in November 2012, but they have responded positively to a call by a local realtor to talk to the group on a “without prejudice” basis. Brent Cunliffe wrote to the mayor and councillors to say he believed there had been “huge misunderstanding and miscommunication” in the campground controversy. “On the one hand, I comprehend the concerns of the City with regard to the safety of the residents and being held liable in the event of damage due to flooding,” he wrote. “The opposing view is that eviction of these residents would render most of them homeless and add to an already alarming problem in the area.” He added: “You have stated that you are very willing to help find a solution to resolve the issues at hand, and you have also expressed disappointment that no solutions have been proposed.” Cunliffe noted that two years ago he and Mike Hamilton met with a group of supportive businesspeople with the express intention of finding a solution that would satisfy the concerns of the City and allow the 57 residents to continue living at Maple Pool. “We have presently, and have had for some time, suggestions which we would dearly like to present before council,” he said. In particular they wanted to talk about: - Engineering drawings that had been prepared showing how material could be dug out of low-lying areas of the campground without displacing river water flows and then used to raise existing trailer sites to a height satisfactory to both parties. - The signing of a waiver by the owner and all residents releasing the City from any and all liability in the event of future flooding. - Consultation with BC Hydro to ensure future releases of water from Comox Lake do not coincide with high tides. - The signing of a caveat by the owners of the site (Dali and Jin Lin) stating they will not change the use of the land. Cunliffe added the group is willing to pursue all correspondence necessary to satisfy the requirements of federal and provincial departments and other pertinent bodies. (Continued on page 2)

Local taxi services to be opened up to competition By Philip Round Echo Staff People wanting to call a taxi in the Comox Valley will soon have a choice of operators. The BC Passenger Transportation Board, which regulates the industry, has agreed Ambassador Shuttle Service should be allowed to compete head-on with Comox Taxi. It won’t be a competition of equals, as Comox Taxi’s licensed fleet is far bigger than that being granted to Ambassador, but the landmark ruling ensures future passengers will have alternatives. From later this summer, Ambassador owner Kevin East and his team will be able to pick up people who hail or flag from the street, respond to calls for service, and

It’s all smiles from Ambassador Shuttle Service owner Kevin East, who has been granted a licence to operate a full taxi service in the Comox Valley.

charge metered rates for journeys. His existing licence has restricted operations to pre-booked trips under limited conditions, and those services will continue. East’s bid to run a full-blown taxi service had been vigorously opposed by Dave Smith, the owner of Comox Taxi Ltd., who was joined by the BC Taxi Association and 287 Taxi Ltd. of Campbell River in trying to block the application. But in its ruling, the Passenger Transportation Board (PTB) said there was strong support to open up the market, with 58 submissions backing Ambassador from a wide range of civic and community organizations, restaurants, hotels and other businesses large and small. “Letters of support contain numerous complaints from both businesses

and individuals of excessive wait times, unreliable and poor service,” note papers issued with the PTB’s decision. “Many felt that another taxi provider would have a positive impact with improved customer service, vehicle conditions and reduced wait times.” So strong were some of the comments that the PTB undertook its own follow-up investigation to verify reports of unsatisfactory service. “Ten supporters were contacted and asked a set of questions - the responses corroborated that there are service issues with Comox Taxi,” states the judgment. “We assigned considerable weight to the letters of support for the applicant. “All claimed a public need exists

for a new, additional taxi service. We concur that there are service issues and a public need exists for an additional taxi service.” The PTB noted Comox Taxi submitted ten letters of support for its service, some stating that service levels had improved and wait times decreased since the company began operating with a digital dispatch system. Others argued competition would not be healthy in this case, as profits would fall, potentially impacting employment, vehicle maintenance and public safety. Comox Taxi itself suggested that there was no public need that was not being met, noting it was not even using its own fleet to full capacity. (Continued on page 2)

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A2 Comox Valley Echo Friday, June 6, 2014

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Comox Valley Weather

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Friday, 6 June Sunny. High 21°C.

Saturday, 7 June A mix of sun and cloud. Low 13°C. High 22°C.

Sunday, 8 June A mix of sun and cloud. Low 14°C. High 22°C.

Monday, 9 June A mix of sun and cloud. Low 12°C. High 18°C.

Tuesday, 10 June A mix of sun and cloud. Low 11°C. High 17°C.

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City agrees to discussions with Maple Pool supporters (Continued from page 1) “We ask the City on their part to grant concessions and allow continued use of the property as non-conforming and to drop the existing law suit that has cost City taxpayers to date over $120,000.� He noted if the legal action is pursued further, it could end up costing hundreds of thousands of dollars because of constitutional Charter issues that have now been added to the pending case. “I am sure you would agree that this is a no-win situation and would no doubt infuriate the electorate,� he suggested. Cunliffe implored the Council “to at least grant us an audience to hear our proposals

and brainstorm together to find a satisfactory solution. “By doing so ‘without prejudice’ you would not be required to decide or vote - just hear what we have to say. “We are not out to win any battles; we just want to help. Volunteers, expensive machinery, manpower and wherewithal stand ready to help.� In response to the letter, Council has now agreed unanimously that senior staff should meet with the group - likely to be later this month. The chief administrative officer, David Allen, will then report back to Council on what transpired, at which point it will be decided whether a further meeting involving

elected officials is appropriate. Councillor Doug Hillian said he was unsure what had changed since the meeting he and Coun. Starr Winchester, Mayor Larry Jangula and City staff had attended with the campground’s business supporters in November 2012. After that meeting they were expecting specific proposals to be brought forward to address the issues raised, but as yet none had been forthcoming. But having staff meet them again on a ‘without prejudice’ basis might just clear up any confusion that might exist. Councillor Ronna-Rae Leonard also supported the proposed meeting, but added there were points in Cunliffe’s letter that

deserved an immediate public response. In particular, she was concerned about the suggestion that campground residents could be evicted, as the Council has already resolved that whatever happened with the legal case, “people would not be turfed on to the street and it’s important to state that publicly.� Councillor Starr Winchester said she was unsure if Cunliffe had authority to act on behalf of the Lins as campground owners, but he was imploring the council to listen and she was in favour of that - especially if it helped clear up any miscommunication and specific proposals to address the City’s concerns were now coming forward. pround@comoxvalleyecho.com

Local taxi services to be opened up to competition (Continued from page 1) A second company in the market would be fighting for business in what it called the ‘gravy shifts’ - Friday and Saturday nights - leaving no profits to support service on slow nights. Comox Taxi stated trip volumes were down, wages were at an all-time low, and expenses were increasing. That was not an economic climate in which to introduce an additional operator. Dave Smith also highlighted some businesses that supported his service. WestJet, for example, stated Comox Taxi provided “a safe, dependable, professional and timely service� for its contract. But in the same business sector, Ambassador was able to call in support from Pacific Coastal, Harbour Air and YQQ Comox Valley Airport itself in suggesting passengers wanting taxis were subject to unreasonable delays and deserved better service. Part of Ambassador’s application was to provide a wheelchair- accessible taxi that it believed would be well used by seniors’ homes and other facilities in the Valley - a proposal supported in letters from seven care establishments as well as the airport. In response, Comox Taxi maintained there was no financial or business need for such a taxi. It had reintro-

duced such a vehicle into its own fleet after Ambassador’s application had been submitted, but only received about two requests a month for such a service. The PTB noted the submissions it had seen pointed to the fact that “there is a need for a reliable accessible taxi service.� Ambassador’s application had sought permission for four taxis, including two accessible vehicles, but at least for the present the PTB has approved only two, one of which must be accessible - but which can also be used for regular taxi trips for up to seven people thanks to flip seats. But the PTB makes clear it believes

the local market needs to be opened up. “The applicant has provided evidence of public need, community growth in his service area, and a positive economic environment,� it states. “These factors combine to lay the foundation for the benefits of a healthy competition. “Support material indicates that the present taxi provider is not meeting the needs of the community and that another service provider is required.� East said it was a great outcome after 18 months of trying to get his licence extended to include a full taxi service, which he planned to have up and running later this sum-

mer once the extra vehicles to the three he already has have been acquired and the dispatch system set up. In the meantime, all existing Ambassador services would continue as usual for pre-booked trips. For Comox Taxi, Smith told the Echo he had opposed the granting of the licence to help protect 50 employees and the viability of his business. He noted his company offered 15 licensed vehicles and he wondered how an efficient taxi business could be operated with just two when the costs of dispatching and other business expenses were added in. “Obviously it will be a bit like a mom and pop place opening against Tim Hortons, but good luck to him,� he said. “We’ve got our work to do and we’ll continue doing it.�

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Outstanding achievement award for Valley’s ‘Blue Box Babe’ By Philip Round Echo Staff For 15 years, Courtenay resident Gayle Bates has been banging the drum to encourage less waste and more recycling. Now there’s been a drum roll for her, as the Recycling Council of British Columbia has awarded its Environmental Educator of the Year award to her, recognizing “outstanding achievement to increase environmental awareness and stewardship.” Because of the medical treatment she is currently receiving, Bates could not be at a gala dinner attended by 500 people in Whistler, where the provincial recycling awards were presented last week. But on Tuesday she received the ‘Mobi’ trophy in Courtenay from Koreen Gurak of Comox Valley Regional District, who had nominated her and who had accepted it on her behalf at the Chateau Whistler Resort. “This is amazing,” Bates told the Echo. “It’s more than an award, it’s a validation of how I’ve spent the last several years. “I will do anything to get people’s attention

and to promote waste diversion - even if, occasionally, it’s a bit risqué or humourous. Whatever it takes.” While she gratefully accepted the award, she wanted to recognize the Comox Valley and Strathcona regional district boards and staff for the role they had played in promoting waste reduction and the support the community had given locally. In particular, she had been moved by the enthusiasm of young school students and the messages some had sent to her while she was away from her regular educational work with the Comox Strathcona Waste Management Service due to illness. When she gave presentations outside the Comox Valley, her peers often commented it must be wonderful to have such a supportive regional government and such a receptive public. Sometimes people put up with a lot from her extrovert personality and persistence in plugging environmental messages. She joked: “I’ve heard it said: ‘Do we want that Blue Box Babe again? Well the answer is ‘Yes, you do!’” Gurak commented: “No one gives more

Spitfire heading to Quebec (Continued from page 1) “It’s currently only one of two being built in North America right now.” Commander at 19 Wing, Col. Jim Benninger signed an update to the contract regarding the Roseland Spitfire, to allow it to be moved to Gatineau where it will get ready for full operation as an ambassador of the Comox Valley and 442 Squadron to Canadians across the country in late 2015. “When it’s finished, the promise was made, it will return to the valley,” said Chester. “We’re looking now at a celebratory flight across Canada, working with Vintage Wings, so that it will come back to the home where it started.” Program manager and volunteer coordinator at the Comox Air Force Museum Jon Ambler said they are proud of the many years of dedicated work on this aircraft and the support garnered from the community and across Canada. “This aircraft would not be so close to completion without the untold hours of volunteer effort over many years,” said Ambler. “We have

been committed from the outset to seeing this iconic aircraft fly, for the education of all Canadians and to commemorate those who flew these aircraft in service in Canada. The move to Gatineau is an important final milestone on the long road to seeing the dream finally realized.” Benninger also expressed pride in the project that would not have been possible without the help of many volunteers throughout the community and also 19 Wing. “In particular, the folks that have spent so much time labouring over this aircraft for more than a decade to try to make sure that we preserve our aviation history for the youth of today, to see and touch, and appreciate just how complex things were, how complex the world was and learn a little bit about that through a physical object, an aircraft,” said Benninger. “We have several aircraft in the air park here but none of them flies. This is a bit different. It will fly.” The Roseland Spitfire is a dedication to Arnold ‘Rosey’ Roseland, who flew Spitfires 65 times while at 442 Squadron, and died in the line of duty.

wholeheartedly, with more enthusiasm and devotion to the cause of waste education than Gayle Bates. “She is extremely gifted at tailoring her presentations to the age and knowledge of the participants. “We have received numerous testimonials describing her presentations as dynamic, engaging and most encouraging - all demonstrating the power of each individual to make a positive difference in reducing the amount of waste going to our landfills. “The communities within this region have been truly inspired by the way she lives her life and the impact she continues to have on us all.” Bates’ messaging, Gurak added, always encouraged people to stop and think about their purchasing choices, minimizing the process of generating waste in the first place. In addition to Bates’ lengthy career providing waste reduction and waste avoidance education to students, community groups and the general public, she had demonstrated leadership province-wide by facilitating waste educator round tables at workshops and conferences and had supported other communities with on-site training. She had also worked closely with the Coast Waste Management Association and her involvement and participation had inspired waste reduction programs in other communities. pround@comoxvalleyecho.com

Gayle Bates (right) receiving the Recycling Council of BC Mobi Award trophy from Koreen Gurak on Tuesday.

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COMOX LAKE WILDFIRE HALTED By Drew A. Penner Echo Staff A rogue campfire is suspected as at the top of the list of culprits that could have caused a midday blaze that grew to a 20 x 70 ft blaze along the northern edge of Comox Lake in an ecological preserve area Wednesday. A helicopter confirmed the nature of the fire just outside of Cumberland’s boundary and a

Extremely drunk driver gets credit for dealing with issues By Drew A. Penner Echo Staff A 52-year-old woman was sentenced to 18 months probation in Courtenay provincial court May 29 as the judge called her extremely drunk driving an “extremely serious offence.” Judge Brian Cleaver chose to impose the minimum fine of $1,000, noting Elaine White had already gone to significant lengths to deal with personal issues. “This case is unusual to me,” Cleaver said, referring to the $14,000 she had spent to attend alcohol and drug addiction treatment centre for men and women. “Most people wait until sentencing.” On the night of Sept. 7 police were alerted to a driver passing though downtown Courtenay in an erratic fashion. A female officer watched as White swerved all over the road in a heavily traveled road downtown. When emergency lights were activated the woman did not pull over right away. Crown prosecutor Richard Ellsay noted that the woman could have pulled over by the McDonald’s at the 17the Street bridge, but chose to carry on to 19th Street. She provided two breath samples, one blood alcohol content reading .310 and the other .300. Judge Cleaver said White was extremely lucky she didn’t hurt anyone with her actions. “Every week there are too many people who can no longer give their daughter a hug because they’ve been killed by a drunk driver,” he said, adding White’s own daughter will now be a useful resource as she moves forward. “I’m very encouraged that she talks to her daughter every day. I can’t think of anything more important to her recovery.” Defence lawyer Al McGarvey characterized the evening driving in question as a “bizarre situation” and noted, while there’s no excuse for her behaviour, she was driving below the posted speed. He added she had been going through personal family struggles at the time and noted with all the charges from various agencies are added up she will have lost a total of $21,000 directly related to the incident. Cleaver said he is very familiar with the residential drug treatment facility Cedars at Cobble Hill where White went in the wake of the incident, as his daughter interned at the facility. And he agreed with McGarvey’s suggestion that the months of not driving following the arrest, including the time since January in which she could technically have reapplied to get her licence back, should be figured into the official court-imposed driving prohibition. White will not be allowed to drive anywhere in Canada for 12 months, under the suspensions imposed. She will also have to pay a Victim Surcharge fee.

Firefighters quickly got a 20 x 70 ft blaze under control and think a campfire may have been the cause. Photo by Drew A. Penner

Coastal Fire Service crew arrived to quell the flames. “It’s gonna stay small,” said Cpt. Jesse French, of the Cumberland Fire Department, which assisted the Ministry of Forests firefighters on the front lines around 3:30 p.m. “It’s under control.” Officials were alerted to the blaze just after noon Wednesday. Luckily for residents in the area the vegetation where the fire erupted consists mainly of lichen and moss, with the odd shrub growing out of the rock. Generators were brought on site to pump water on the flames emerging from the side of a cliff. The land is a former TimberWest parcel which has been set aside for conservation purposes. Using a fire boat, Cumberland Fire officials worked to provide supplies to Coastal Fire Service crews throughout the afternoon as water vapour and smoke snaked upwards in a small trail under the blue sky. This is the first Comox Lake wildfire of the season.

Comox Valley RCMP responded to the following incidents between May 27 and June 2: On May 27th the Comox Valley RCMP were alerted to a possible theft from Central Builders located at 610 Anderton Avenue in Courtenay. An employee reports witnessing a male walking from the store with a box containing a power tool and no power tool had been purchased. This investigation is continuing with police seeking to locate the suspect male. (2014-6006) Police received a call of a theft of a wallet on, May 27th, from the loss prevention officer at the Real Canadian Superstore located at 757 Ryan road in Courtenay. A wallet was stolen and its contents taken . This investigation is continuing. (2014-6009) On May 28th police received a call of a theft from a resident of 1027 Ryan road in Courtenay. The person reports leaving their apartment unlocked while out for just a few minutes and found that someone entered the apartment and stole a wallet and purse that contained ID , credit cards and cash.( 2014-6077) On May 29th a report of a break and enter was taken by the Comox Valley RCMP. It is reported that a residence on the 6000 block of Central road on Denman Island was entered via a smashed window and once inside the thief stole several small carved elephants and one large carved piece of ivory. (2014-6162) On May 30th police responded to a single vehicle towing a trailer going off road on Comox Avenue in Comox. The

vehicle is reported to have crossed over the oncoming lane of travel gone into a ditch and then collided with a tree. No injuries were reported and the driver of the vehicle was charged under the motor vehicle act. (2014-6155) Police took a report of a break, enter and theft from a resident on the 1000 block of Cumberland road in Courtenay on June 1st. The resident reports that someone entered through a window and once inside stole their Black and Silver Kona bicycle and some African money. This investigation is continuing. (2014-6280) On June 2nd police attended to a two vehicle collision at the intersection of Huband road and highway 19A. The investigation revealed that a vehicle traveling Southbound on highway 19A turned in front of an oncoming vehicle travelling north. Non-life threatening injuries were treated at St. Joseph’s hospital. The offending driver was charged under the motor vehicle act. (2014-6285) Police received a report of an attempted theft of a vehicle that was parked on the 2100 block of Kilpatrick avenue in Courtenay. The owner reports that on June 2nd they discovered that someone had entered their van and the ignition was damaged and wires had been ripped down under the dash. (2014-6287) On June 2nd a report of mischief was received from the owner of two excavators that had been parked at the end of Green Avenue on the logging road leading to the power line. The two excavators had damage to their fuel tanks and other areas of the machines. As well, tools had been stolen. (20146289)

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McRae surprises striking teachers by meeting them they decided, because they were being locked out and were not supposed to do school work at those times, the would listen to the government and do what the government told them to do,” said Moore. “It’s nice for our employers to tell us that we can do those things but they sent us a letter and docked our pay ten per cent. That’s just unacceptable. It’s unfortunate, that, that happened. That was a very hard decision to make. The teachers walked into the gym during their grad practice and those grads clapped and gave them a standing ovation when they found out.” Some students in the Comox Valley have decided to join a provincial walk out to express their frustration on the ongoing contract dispute that is adversely impacting them. Moore agreed that what’s happening is having a profound negative effect on the students. “I feel for them,” said Moore. “But the bottom line is, I am a teacher and I’m in my classroom everyday seeing my students not get what they need to be successful. And because of that, I am fighting for my students to get the support that they need. So I respect that they are feeling disenfranchised. Absolutely. I hope that they’re able to see that we’re doing this ... yes we’re doing this for a fair deal for us ... but really doing this so that future students can have a better education. “It’s the hardest thing we have to do. We always say we don’t take this job action lightly. We don’t. It hurts. We’re not fighters. We like to bring people together. So we want to see a deal.”

By Michael Briones Echo Staff Comox Valley teachers got a big surprise when the man they thought would not dare show up at their rally on Tuesday, emerged to boldly face them all. Don McRae, Comox Valley MLA, met the striking teachers who converged in front of his office on Fifth Street to express their disappointment and frustrations over the ongoing contract negotiations between the BC Teacher’s Federation and the provincial government. McRae received quite a loud and noisy reception as the teachers chanted “class size, class size, class size.” One even asked McRae when he last got a raise. McRae addressed the BCTF’s first vice president Glen Hansman and Nick Moore, vice-president of the Comox District Teachers’ Association and told them he was willing to meet and have a conversation with them at any time as long as they set up an appointment. He understood their demands but said negotiations should be done at the bargaining table not in public. “It’s important,” said McRae. “We live in a democratic society. Mr. [Peter] Fassbender says we want a fair deal. It’s a tough conversation to have. There’s a lot of requests and pressures on government. The BCTF, teachers are asking for things that I understand.” McRae, who is also a former Comox Valley teacher and former minister of education, also wants an amicable settlement. He told teachers to “remember your kids and my kids too are in the same system.” Moore said he was pleasantly surprised to see McRae turn up at the rally and listen to them even for a brief moment. Some teachers expressed gratitude to McRae for being present to hear their concerns. “If he heard anything here today and he’s able to bring that back to cabinet, because he’s a cabinet minister, then we hope that he can successfully advocate for the public education system in BC,” said Moore. “We haven’t seen the results of that advocating yet.” Close to 200 people that included members of the CDTA, parents, students, and members of other unions that came out to support them like CUPE, BCGEU, and HEU staged a rally in front of the School District 71 office then went to deliver a message to McRae’s office. Moore said the last time teachers had a raise was July 1, 2010 and “that’s not fair.” “The cost of living has gone up so much since that time,” said Moore. “It has been four years since teachers got a raise, we don’t believe that’s fair and that’s one of the reasons why we’re here.” He pointed out that when Christy Clark was education minister in 2002, she enacted an act that stripped away all the class size and composition language from their contracts, resulting in the provincial government saving $225 million a year off the backs of the neediest children in the province. “We deserve better than that,” said Moore. “Our children deserve better than that. To me education is an investment. Education is not an expenditure. It’s not a line item in the budget. It’s about investing in our future. Our students are our future and we need to get them the support that they deserve.” Shawn Holland, a teacher from Mark Isfeld, reflected on the impact the strike and the lockout the provincial government has imposed on teachers are having on the students. He emotionally highlighted the Highland Secondary teachers who were forced to miss out on last weekend’s graduation ceremony and did not get to share the final celebration of their students. Moore said the decision for the Highland teachers not to attend the commencement ceremony was a difficult one. “Those teachers got together and

Comox Valley MLA Don McRae (red shirt) met with teachers and union reps outside his office Tuesday

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A6 Comox Valley Echo Friday, June 6, 2014

News

Local cyclists to take part in Ride2Survive fundraiser running the event. No costs come out of the donations raised. Trainor’s goal is to raise $10,000. He is currently at $8,000 and rising. They were at the Bike to Work Week closing event at The Broken Spoke where they rode a stationary bike for eight hours to raise funds.

By Michael Briones Echo Staff Rob Trainor and Gary Egli will be joining a team of cyclists who will be pedaling from Kelowna to Delta in just one day. The avid cyclists from the Comox Valley are participating in the annual Ride2Survive, a fundraising event on behalf of the Canadian Cancer Society. They will be among the 150 participants who will be challenging themselves to cover 400 kilometres climbing just over 12,000 feet through all kinds of weather, all in a single day. “It’s not a race,” said Trainor, who along with Egli has been preparing for the grueling event for the whole year. “We are going to be traveling together and no one gets left behind.” Ride2Survive will take place on June 21, the summer solstice. The team will leave at around 3:30 a.m. in Kelowna and will cycle all the way to Delta. The goal is to raise $500,000 this year for the Canadian Cancer Society. At present, the whole group has already raised around $350,000. Trainor and Egli have always wanted to take part in Ride2Survive. They have a strong passion for cycling and both feel it’s a good opportunity, not only to engage in the sport they love, but also to be part of the fight against cancer. “We both have been avid cyclists all our lives and so when we heard about this we thought this is perfect,” said Trainor. “The chance for us to raise a bit of money for cancer and we like riding our bikes. This is long and dumb enough to get our interest.” The trip will be arduous and challenging said Trainor. The team is expected to reach Delta by around 10:30 p.m. “It’s a little different than Ride to Conquer Cancer which the big one here and ends up in Seattle,” said Trainor. “That’s a 200 kilometre two-day ride. This is a 400 kilometre one-day ride. The things is they don’t just turn us lose. We are all going to be working together all the way and rich the finish line together. You to maintain a 25 kilometre

ANNUAL GENERAL MEETING Tuesday, June 17th 2014 5:30 PM Potluck Barbecue Live Music with Luke Blu Guthrie Band 7:30 PM Annual General Meeting At the CLT Space: 1625 McPhee Avenue (behind Jet FM) Courtenay BC www.courtenaylittletheatre.com

Tickets on sale for Downton Abbey garden tea

Gary Egli, lefl, and Rob Trainor raising funds for the Ride2Survive ride during the Comox Valley’s Bike To Work Week finale that was held at The Broken Spoke last Friday. an hour average. We have 16 hours of riding time to do 400 kilometres. It’s 18 hours total with two hours of stop time.” Both Trainor and Egli have been training every weekend, completing

long distance rides on different courses and terrain. “Two weeks ago we went to Port Alberni and back,” said Trainor. “That’s our longest ride so far. That’s 210 kilometres and 6400 verticals

and declines.” Trainor and Egli, and all the other participants in the ride, had to fork out $250 each to take part and also are required to raise a minimum of $2,500. Entry fees pay all costs of

Elegant, authentic English tea and dainties in one of the most beautiful gardens in the Comox Valley are yours for an afternoon on Sunday, July 20th from 2:30 to 4 p.m. A true variety of butterfly gardens, bees in the apiary, meditation gardens, a labyrinth as well as a rose garden featuring over 30 species of roses will delight your senses as you enjoy your elegant English tea while listening to soft background music. You will be served by characters dressed as the staff of Downton Abbey and there will be a prize for best dressed Downton character attending. This fund raising event is sponsored by the Kiwanis Club of Courtenay and the Gardens on Anderton for the maintenance of the Anderton Therapeutic Gardens. Tickets are $20 from Square 1 Travel or the Gardens on Anderton.

Gardening

Comox Valley Echo Friday, June 6, 2014 A7

Fabulous choices for the shade garden By Ellen Presley Anderton Nursery There is something so peaceful about a walk in the woods surrounded by lush green vegetation, the sound of birds calling to one another and the rustle of the wind blowing through the underbrush. You can create your own woodland garden with some spectacular shade plants. One of the best grasses for the shade is the evergreen Hakonechloa macra ‘Aureola’ (Japanese Forest grass). It has gorgeous variegated golden- green foliage throughout most of Spring and Summer followed by a pink tinge in the Fall. It is slow growing until established and then it gets better every year. At 14-16”, it is great in the garden bed, planted along borders, accenting the waterside or controlling erosion on a slope. Water it regularly until established after which it is drought tolerant and low maintenance. Zones 5-9 Another outstanding variety is the ‘All Gold’ which is completely golden in color. Bright colors in a shade garden really stand out. The lovely graceful arching blades of grass create movement in the garden and form lovely mounds of 14” by 36”. The effect is quite dramatic. Grasses are great to add to containers for color accent, used as a groundcover or in the border and they are deer resistant. Among your Hostas and Ferns, add some Polygonatum odoratum ‘variegata’ (Solomon’s seal) which is an architectural plant. The narrow leaves are streaked in white and produce graceful arching tall burgundy stems with dangling fragrant white bell-shaped flowers in late Spring. The sweet lily-like fragrant flowers mature into spherical black fruit in the autumn and the leaves turn a golden yellow. It loves partial to full shade and makes a lovely additional to woodland gardens or containers. It is slow to establish, but clumps are long lived and carefree. Great as a cut flower and is both deer and rabbit resistant. Last year it was chosen as Plant of the Year by the Perennial Plant Association. (20-23”) An underused woodland plant is the Kirengeshoma palmata (Yellow wax bells). This plant is native to the mountainous areas of Japan and Korea and can tolerate part to full shade. It can grow up to 36” and has wonderful maple shaped leaves to 8” across. In the late summer, this plant really puts on a show when purplish stems rise up above the foliage and produce narrow yellow waxy bell shaped flowers. This small shrub is slow to establish and needs a mulch of leaves to keep the soil moist and cool. Once established it needs little maintenance. Winner of the Royal Horticultural Award of Garden Merit, it is the perfect specimen for the woodland garden or used in large containers. The lovely yellow bells can be used in floral arrangements and is another great deer resistant choice. The foliage needs to be cut back to the ground in late autumn and sheltered from wind. Zone 5. Polemonium (Jacob’s Ladder) ‘Touch of Class’ is a low growing perennial with green fern-like leaves edged in white. The blooms start off as pinkish buds and form clusters of

Queen of the Prairie

Solomon’s seal

Yellow wax bells light fragrant baby blue bells. Good from Spring through late fall as an edging plant in a shady border or along a woodland path. It prefers the morning sun or dappled light. Trim back the flower stem after bloom. It adds a pretty and delicate look to containers or the garden. Another variety is the ‘Stairway to Heaven’. Considered an improvement of ‘Touch of Class’

with even more variegation in its leaves edged in cream white and flushed with pink during cooler spring weather. Even after the lovely violet blue bells have finished, new leaves continue to appear all season. It prefers average moist soil conditions and afternoon shade. Great at attracting butterflies and hummingbirds and is deer resistant. At 10-16 inches, it is perfect for the border, in containers, mass planted or as a specimen in the woodland garden adding both texture and form. Zone 3-7. Ligularia dentata ‘Othello’ is a bold specimen plant that does well in a moist location. It forms stunning mounds of large, leathery rounded dark green leaves with a purple underside and serrated edges. In June, taller stems appear bearing clusters of bright golden orange fringed daisy like flowers. At 35-47”, it is great for the back of the border, at the waterside, or in large containers and can be used as a cut flower. This native of China and Japan prefers part shade or dappled light, is very large and easy care and is deer resistant. A unique Canadian selection of Ligularia is the compact ‘Osiris Café Noir’ which grows into mounds of large jagged edged leaves emerging deep black purple and aging to bronze shades and then to olive green. The tall stems appear in midsummer, bearing shaggy golden yellow daisy like flowers hanging in loose clusters. Its dwarf habit (20-23”) makes it excellent in the middle of the border, in containers, by the waterside or in a bog garden. Both the flower and leaves can be used in floral arrangements. Prefers part shade or dappled light, attracts but-

Osiris Café Noir terflies and is deer resistant. It loves humus rich soil and is a repeat bloomer. Every shade garden has a sunny spot that is perfect for the Filipendula rubra ‘Venusta’ (Meadowsweet) or (Queen of the Prairie). This upright bush has a bold appearance with large panicles of deep pink fragrant flowers above lacy green foliage. Its commanding presence gives it the regal name of Queen. At 47-70”, the height makes it ideal for the back of the border or as a specimen. It prefers to be kept moist and in full sun to part shade. (Continued on page 8)

A8 Comox Valley Echo Friday, June 6, 2014

News

Whatever floats your GOAT Comox Valley latest stage in Vista’s massive rebranding effort By Drew A. Penner Echo Staff The general manager of the station formerly known as the Jet was there at the birth of what would ultimately become the animal form the broadcaster would morph into. But when Doug Zackodnik helped shepherd the brand through infancy years back in Lloydminster there was no way he could have guess how au courant the corporate identity called the GOAT would be in 2013 - although it’s not that he didn’t like it. “I grew up at the base of Goat Mountain,” he said. “I used to swim in Goat River. It was kind of eerie.” As Vista Radio Ltd. rolls out major changes across the dozens of markets in which it has radio licenses, latest of which is the Comox Valley - the GOAT (Greatest Of All Time) was selected as a format to be bred far and wide. Considering the company’s goal is to lean on old rock songs to get into the pocketbooks of aging males it’s interesting they settled on an image that has quite the currency this year. Of course there was last year’s Taylor Swift mash-up with desperately bleating goats, a parody on one of the country star’s attempts and pulling from the dubstep genre to further her own popularity. A picture of goats hanging out on near vertical drops titled Spider Goats has been making the rounds. And the animal is a favourite for inserting in conversations switching out the word “got” for “GOAT” - for example, letting people know that “s*** just goat serious” or other such varieties. By far the biggest crossover success has been this year’s Goat Simulator video game, launched on April 1, where users control a goat with amazing abilities. Even before it was released the game was being called one of the most anticipated releases of the year, and it gained a fair amount of exposure after it was released. Journalists and commenters were taken by the ability to soar through the

are what we say we are,” said Andrew Davis, program director, commenting on the rock-heavy lineup of music they’re planning. “We’re going to be heavy 80,s 90s and the stuff from the 60s and 70s with a little bit of the new stuff.” That means - well not much - considering many of they artists that will make up the new tunes on which the GOAT will graze are not far off what it already plays. Expect to hear the Eagles, Fleetwood Mac, Rush, Metallica, Soundgarden, and some Foo Fighters, Nickleback, the Sheepdogs for good measure. Zackodnik says the brand was extremely successful back in Lloydminister with fans. “The GOAT became kind of like a cult,” he said. “It was really good rock and roll.” And if the reaction of any of the staff members’ kids here are to go on, they may be in store for a positive buzz based on modern internet culture beyond what even they had been expecting. “It’s going to be a better, tighter format for our listeners,” he said. “It’s going to be better than it already is.”

Great shade choices (Continued from page 7) Think of a wild natural setting in wet meadows or along streams or ponds. Great as a cut flower, it is valued for both its leaves and flowers in arrangements - providing wonderful texture and form. This plant is low maintenance, needs no deadheading or staking and is rabbit and deer resistant. Truly spectacular when mass planted in a large garden. The Royal Horticultural Society gave this plant the Award of Merit for its outstanding performance. It is easy to grow and looks good with Gunnera manicata. Zones 3-8 . For the smaller garden, try the enchanting dwarf Japanese variety ‘Kahone’, with feathery plumes of rosy pink held above low mounds of ferny leaves. At 8-12”, it adapts well to containers. It is a wonderful flowering groundcover that is attractive to bees, butterflies and birds. When putting together the shade/woodland garden, add some interesting textured plants and those walks in the woods will be filled with wonder. Happy Gardening!

Getting his worship’s goat: The new Goat FM’s Dave Tymo and Marc Mulvaney feed Courtenay Mayor Larry Jangula some lunch at last Friday’s official announcement of the station’s name change air, go wild with an axe and bounce on trampolines, all the while tackling decidedly goat-esque activities such as perusing grassy fields with a tongue hanging out. But don’t expect any big surprises when you flick your dial over to 98.9 - except maybe a change to the name of your favourite show. “We’re trying to build a format that we

NOTICE OF ANNUAL GENERAL MEETING ST. JOSEPH’S GENERAL HOSPITAL FOUNDATION To be held in Cafeteria Room A St. Joseph’s General Hospital 2137 Comox Avenue, Comox BC TUESDAY, JUNE 24, 2014 at 12:00

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Comox Valley Echo Friday, June 6, 2014 A9

News

Healing garden to benefit patients, visitors and staff By Michael Briones Echo Staff St. Joseph’s Hospital unveiled its new healing garden last Friday. The completed project was opened to the public following a ribbon cutting ceremony. It is located near the hospital cafeteria. Among those who attended the event was Health Minister Terry Lake and Comox Valley MLA Don McRAe, who also made an announcement of a $250,000 grant to the St. Joseph’s Hospital Foundation to support the creation of four hospice beds in the community. The healing garden features a tranquil and calming setting that has a breathtaking view of the Beaufort Range and Comox Bay, beautiful flowers, the soothing and relaxing sound of running water from its cascading water pond, and benches for patients, visitors, staff and families to rest on. The project, which proponents determined would fit well with the Lasting Legacy of the hospital, was funded by St. Joseph’s Hospital Charity Golf Classic, which raised around $45,000 last year. Lynn Dashkewytch, executive director of St. Joseph’s Hospital Foundation, said they are excited to see the garden open. She added they all loved this project and are grateful for the support and dona-

Proponents of the healing garden at St. Joseph’s Hospital took part in a ribbon cutting ceremony to officially introduce it to the community. tions they’ve received from many groups and individuals in the community. Barb Paulson, who has worked at the hospital for 18 years, said the healing garden will benefit not only patients, but also visitors and

staff. For the staff, Paulson said, the garden will provide them an opportunity to break away from their hectic work. “It will give us some time to get away from that constant stimuli

just for a few moments,” said Paulson. “We will have the oppor-

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tunity to retreat, regroup and gather our thoughts and clear our minds so we can go back to work a little refreshed and little bit more clear.” For people that go to the hospital, it is not always a happy occasion. Paulson pointed out the calming effect of the garden will help “reduce the stress and anxiety a lot of people, a lot of visitors and support staff have coming in here.” Paulson said patients could also find solace in the garden following surgery or a bad news diagnosis. “I’m a cancer survivor of ten years and as a patient, I would have loved the opportunity to have this garden,” she said. “To come here after I have received the diagnosis of my cancer, after I’ve had the surgery so that I can just come and sit here and digest all the information that was given to me. And I could reflect on the different pathway in life I had to take. All in all, I think this is a great investment for our community.” The garden was designed by the owner of Island Waterscape and Design and landscaper David Bloom. WestJet donated funds to build the benches.

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A10 Comox Valley Echo Friday, June 6, 2014

News

Bike to Work Week attracts increased participation illustrates what is important in the Comox Valley. When you run an event of this size to have that amount of participation and support, it really feels like a pat on the back.� Two events were added this year. The commuter challenge and the ride with the mayor and elected officials and Dawn said it was such a success that they will again be offering it next year. The positive result also has given a strong indication that the campaign to get the community active and out of their cars and vehicles is working. “We still have a little ways to go but some great additions that are actually allowing more people to cycle is getting the message into the schools, which is big,� said Stevens. “When you start them young that’s really important. Another thing that is important is our municipalities and our councils are starting to realize the importance of safe cycling routes and addition of bike lanes, bike racks and other amenities. We need to have all those parts come together to make that message really happen. I believe we’re definitely, definitely on the right track.�

Comox Valley achieves top five ranking in province By Michael Briones Echo Staff Bike to Work Week was a huge success as this year’s increased participation has put the Comox Valley up on the pedestal. Coordinator of Active Comox Valley and organizer Dawn Stevens said the number of cyclists they have registered for the weeklong event went up from last year. In doing so, Comox Valley ended up being ranked second on Vancouver Island behind Victoria which Stevens said “is pretty impressive.� In the province, the valley placed fourth behind Greater Vancouver, Victoria and Kelowna. There were 41 communities across British Columbia that participated this year. “We had 563 riders registered and a total of 153 new riders which is great because it’s double of what we had for new riders last year,� said Stevens. “We cycled a total of 22,260 kilometres as a whole. And we saved carbon emissions, 4,826 kg GHG. So it was a huge success for us this year.� The event featured celebration stations throughout the week and Stevens said the numbers of participants were also up. Stevens said they couldn’t have done it without the support of the many sponsors and volunteers in the community.

Union Street Grill put on a barbecue last Friday at The Broken Spoke to celebrate end of Bike to Work Week

Crown Isle presents

“We had 19 community sponsors that either hosted celebration stations or provided prizes and lots of different things,� said Steven. “It was a great community coming together sort of thing. “To come in the top five in the province, as an organizer it makes me really proud. This event ran smoothly. There were no hiccups. But it also

APPEARING: June 4 & June 11

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Comox Mayor Paul Ives, left, at kickoff event for Bike to Work Week

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Comox Valley Echo Friday, June 6, 2014 A11

News

Still undecided on homelessness plan, CVRD revives referendum option By Drew A. Penner Echo Staff Ashton Chaplin, 23, headed to the Comox Valley from Quesnel a few months back. “I basically just wanted to get out of where I was,� he said. “I pretty much just closed my eyes and put my finger on the map.� It hasn’t all gone according to plan and he’s recently found himself technically homeless. Chaplin has seen the junkies shooting heroin in tents around the city and has developed a knack for finding safe, secluded spots to bed down for the night. Recently he’s been couch surfing, trying to get a leg up - but that’s easier said than done. “There’s definitely a lot less housing,� he said of one of his biggest day-to-day challenges since arriving. “But it’s beautiful, and it’s definitely a different climate than where I’m from.� While he realizes there are support services available, he’s been surprised to read about the bureaucratic discussions at the Comox Valley Regional District in the Echo that have resulted in confusion about what to do on the homelessness front. “I sense anger,� he said. “I see no end in near sight.� Literally steps away CVRD officials clad in crisp business attire soaked in the Tuesday afternoon sun following a May 27 meeting where the question of how to attack poverty in the region was brought back to the table. While all directors agreed something needs to be done and that the regional district is the entity to set this in motion, there was little concrete progress made on what form this should take. A report was brought forth by long-time Comox Valley Housing Task Force member Tom Grant suggesting a referendum on a service controlled by the regional district that would engage in an undetermined set of functions. Grant said his notion was to fund whatever the board decided to support on an annual basis. This would remove the need for a social planner, which a task force report indicated could cost over $90,000 a year under current market conditions. Director Jon Ambler pointed out that the difference between the referendum concept that was rejected two weeks ago and the one considered at this meeting was that the CVRD would have more control in where the money goes under Grant’s plan. But he worried that it would become politicized. “As this reads right now this isn’t something I can support,� he said. “But I mean, the debate continues.� Multiple CVRD members indicated they had been disappointed with the “rigid� disposition of the task force when it presented its preliminary budget proposal for a non-profit service (which included more than 50 per cent allocated to administrative functions). Director Roger Kishi said it’s better to do it right than to whip up a referendum question in time for municipal elections in the fall. “If it was going to be the direction of the board to move in this direction we could have done this years ago,� he said of a CVRD controlled function. Director Jim Gillis asked staff what the process would be for creating a referendum question. “I’m in favour of seeing this go forward,� he said. “If we wait another year, another year goes by.� Staff indicated there are binding and non-binding referendums, and that different guidelines govern each. Director Manno Theos, who was most incensed by the proposed budget for a non-profit entity at the last meeting, was calm and collected, but still withheld his support for the latest crack at homelessness. “I think director Grant may have read the temperature fairly correctly,� he said, adding he likes the idea of a referendum in principal yet noting there were still too many unknowns. “The question in my mind would still be ‘What are the other communities doing?’� Grant said the new entity could put out Request For Proposals whenever it has money to spend, and lauded the work done by Dawn 2 Dawn to help vulnerable people on a shoestring budget. “I’m looking for a broader approach,� he said. “Less prescriptive.� For awhile politicians mulled kicking the issue back to local governments, though it was noted that all municipalities in the area are already represented at the CVRD board. After more than an hour directors were unanimous in directing staff to draw up a report about holding a non-binding referendum. The staff report is not directed at selecting a particular structure for the homeless aid entity. “Bureaucrats! Arrgh!� Chaplin said when informed of the incremental step in the process. “Man it seems like it’s going nowhere. There’s way too many people for the

STRATHCONA SUNRISE ROTARY Community Service Director, Larry Rennison, presents a $3000 cheque to Murray McRae, principal of Glacier View Learning Centre. The donation goes towards the purchase of a student bus.

NO TAX EVENT ON NOW! Comox Valley newcomer Ashton Chaplin, 23, has had a first-hand look at the poverty present in the area. amount of housing that’s available. That’s just for the people who are

here, never mind the people who are coming.�

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PUBLIC HEARING NOTICE

BYLAW No. 329 “Comox Valley Zoning Bylaw, 2005, Amendment No. 60�

Public hearing to be held: Monday, June 16, 2014 Location: Comox Valley Regional District boardroom 550B Comox Road, Courtenay Starting at: 7:00 p.m. Bylaw No. 329 This bylaw, if adopted, would rezone aquatic crown land license of occupation 0R)/152 ÀOH 1R GHVFULEHG DV FURZQ IRUHVKRUH RU ODQG FRYHUHG by water being part of the bed of Baynes Sound, Nanaimo District, between %XFNOH\ DQG 8QLRQ %D\V IURP DTXDFXOWXUH RQH $4 WR DTXDFXOWXUH WZR $4 DV VKRZQ RQ WKH PDS EHORZ

It only takes one drop of oil to contaminate a million drops of water – and thankfully, it only takes one simple act to prevent this from ever happening. Please do your part, by doing your best to recycle. Whatever the item – from used oil and antifreeze, to car tires and old medications – just visit BCRecycles.org or download the BC Recyclepedia App to ďŹ nd a recycling centre near you. $ FRS\ RI WKH SURSRVHG E\ODZ DQG UHODWHG LQIRUPDWLRQ PD\ EH YLHZHG DW WKH UHJLRQDO GLVWULFW RIĂ€FH &RPR[ 5RDG &RXUWHQD\ %& EHWZHHQ D P DQG S P 0RQGD\ WKURXJK )ULGD\ H[FOXGLQJ KROLGD\V IURP )ULGD\ -XQH XQWLO 0RQGD\ -XQH RU DW ZZZ FRPR[YDOOH\UG FD $Q\RQH ZKR EHOLHYHV WKH SURSRVHG E\ODZ ZLOO DIfect their interests will be JLYHQ DQ RSSRUWXQLW\ WR EH KHDUG DW WKH SXEOLF KHDULQJ /HJDOO\ WKH &95' FDQQRW FRQVLGHU DQ\ UHSUHVHQWDWLRQV PDGH DIWHU Whe FORVH RI WKH SXEOLF KHDULQJ ,I \RX FDQQRW DWWHQG WKH SXEOLF KHDULQJ DOO ZULWWHQ VXEPLVVLRQV PDLOHG RU HOHFWURQLF PXVW EH UHFHLYHG E\ WKLV RIĂ€FH no later than 4:30 p.m., Monday, June 16, 2014. Enquiries should be directed to Kent Leontowich, rural planner 3ODQQLQJ 'HYHORSPHQW 6HUYLFHV %UDQFK &RPR[ 9DOOH\ 5HJLRQDO 'LVWULFW &RPR[ 5RDG &RXUWHQD\ %& 9 1 3 ‡ 7HO 7ROO IUHH ‡ )D[ (PDLO SURSHUW\VHUYLFHV#FRPR[YDOOH\UG FD

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A12 Comox Valley Echo Friday, June 6, 2014

Opinions ECHO

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

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

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Letters

Remember their courage This Friday marks seventy years since what Churchill called ‘the greatest amphibious operation in history’. Many thousands of Allied servicemen, including the Third Canadian Division, made their way across the English Channel to begin, on the Normandy beaches, the final push against the Nazi régime. ‘The fighting is certain to be heavy, bitter, and costly’, said Canadian Prime Minister Mackenzie King. ‘No one can say how long this phase of the war may last, but we have every reason for confidence in the final outcome.’ While their ideal goal - ‘a world in which goodness and honour may be the foundation of the life of men’, as King George VI put it - is really attainable only by spiritual, not by political or military, means, the indomitable determination of the Allies led eventually, at great cost (more than 5,000 Canadians killed just in the Battle of Normandy), to victory over Hitler’s evil rule. Today we remember the courage of those who invaded France seventy years ago, and we gratefully honour the Second World War veterans who are still with us - may we always value their service! Brendon Johnson Courtenay

HOUSES NEED TO BE MOVED Driving or biking from Comox to Courtenay, I can’t help but wonder why our Regional Board officials allow the parking of Nickel Brother’s derelict houses along this pretty stretch of road. Nickel Brothers may own the property, but should this really be permitted? I say not on your life! If they are going to offload these buildings in this location, they should be required to move them to a less sensitive location within days, not years as seems to be the case. The other eyesore on the Dyke Road, the La Farge cement tower was removed, thankfully, a few years ago, and it is time that the regulations regarding the Nickel Bros. property were changed to clean up this ongoing assault on our eyesight. Ask yourself, would Qualicum, Parksville or Campbell River put up with this nonsense on their city entrance? I think not! Bill Morrison Comox

HOSPICE MONEY DROP IN THE BUCKET The local papers have given much publicity and praise to our MLA Don MacRae because the provincial government has provided $250,000 for hospice beds at the local hospital. Yes, it’s nice that the money was provided. Question: does Mr. MacRae and his party deserve such lavish praise? In my opinion NO. You see the provincial government has spent a great deal more money on other things which were of no benefit to the sick and dying in this province. Ms. Clark spent $11 MILLION on a Bollywood extravaganze in Vancouver prior to the last provincial election. Just think of what that money could have done for the dying taxpaying people of this province. Just $1 Million could have paid for 16 hospice beds at our local hospital. If the whole $11 Million had been spent on hospice beds in this province the dying and their families might be able to face it with some dignity instead of having to die on a four bed ward, surrounded by strangers coming and going. The film industry in B.C. receives $284 Million a year in tax rebates and the mining industry has almost a billion dollars coming in rebates. It is suggested the $250,000 is just a drop in the bucket. It bought the Liberals more free press than if they had to pay for that much ink. The $250,000 was needed, but it isn’t a generous amount. More is spent by the Premier and her aides just travelling to other countries every few months. More money needs to be spent on the dying taxpaying citizens of this province and any politician who can stand up in public and pretends $250,000 is a generous “gift” is a better actor than Sean Penn. E. A. Foster Comox

CURLING CLUB GREAT PLACE FOR KIDS I am writing this letter in support of the Comox Valley Regional District’s alternate approval process to upgrade the “ice out” area of the Comox Valley Curling Club. I have been a member of the Curling Club since 2010 and did not realize when I first showed up to try junior curling that it would change my life the way it has. Right away I very much enjoyed the sport and started competing in bonspiels up and down the island. This past season I reached my goal of competing at BC Winter Games, which was an amazing experience, as well as traveling to Junior Provincials! These were only two of many competitions across BC I attended and it has been very rewarding and fun to say the least. I have made friends from teams all over the province and I spend about 4-5 days a week at the rink playing and practicing with the many people I have gotten to know right here. This past season, I have also been volunteering twice a week helping and learning to prepare the ice as well as teaching the younger kids about curling. To say that the Curling Club is my second home is an understatement, but there is no place I’d rather be. The people have been very generous to me and my time competing I will never forget. As I said before I very much support the decision to upgrade the rink. I have grown up there and believe it is a great place for other kids to spend their time in the future. I didn’t expect curling to consume my time the way it has, but now I can’t imagine it any other way. Jordan Koster

Letters to the Editor

Talk to the school children I have been thinking about the current dispute between the B.C. Liberals and the B.C. Teacher’s Federation and I was wondering where the students’ voices are in these decisions. These decisions directly affect students. The outcome of this negotiation will continue to affect our children for years to come, yet I believe their voices are missing from the debate. Article 12 of the Convention on the Rights of the Child [1990] states that: “Parties shall assure to the child who is capable of forming his or her own views the right to express those views freely in all matters affecting the child, the views of the child being given due weight in accordance with the age and maturity of the child...the child shall in particular be provided the opportunity to be heard in any judicial and administrative proceedings affecting the child, either directly, or through a representative or an appropriate body, in a manner consistent with the procedural rules of national law”. I believe our children are key stakeholders in this debate, and I decided to use our rotating strike day as an opportunity to ask my own children, who are students in a public school in B.C., how they are affected by some of these decisions. First, I asked my daughter Sophie, who is in grade 4, to imagine what it would be like to have a smaller class, and this is what she had to say: “I would love a smaller class. Thirty kids is a lot. Some of the students who need help can’t get the help they need. There would not be as many people. So, if we were working on a project, we would get done faster and we could move on to other things. We wouldn’t have to stay on one project forever. More people would get chances to answer questions from the teacher. Sometimes we run out of time to

do things like math and science because people are being disruptive and my teacher can’t help all of them. We waste our time when we are noisy and we don’t have time to do everything in the day. If we had smaller class sizes it wouldn’t be as noisy and we’d have time to do everything in the day”. My other daughter, who is currently in grade 2 started the year with a class size of 24 students. She now has 20 students, so she has been directly affected by a smaller class size. Below is her response to my question regarding how a smaller class has impacted her learning: “When we first had lots of people we were a lot noisier and we couldn’t get as much done. The noise made me feel weird. I couldn’t really think when the noise was going on and when we got a smaller class it felt better. There is not as much noise. For example, in math when I do need help, I try to figure it out. It was harder to do the math when it was noisy. Now, it is quieter so I can do the math better. It would be nicer for people like me to be able to concentrate. It wouldn’t be so noisy in the classes so you could get more things done. You wouldn’t have to ask the teacher as much to calm things down”. There are many other stories out there, and if we all stopped and asked our children the same questions, what would their answers be? I believe there is a collective wisdom in our children, and I hope parents take the time to ask their children how some of these outcomes might affect their learning, and share these answers with the provincial government so they too can hear the childrens’ voices. Jody Macdonald Parent of Public School Children

ACCESS AWARENESS DAY Did you know that almost 1 out of every 5 adults in British Columbia lives with a disability? This means that almost 1 in 5 adults in the Comox Valley has activities of daily living limited because of a health related condition or problem. Did you also know that more than 1 in 10 adults has difficulty with mobility; that is, climbing a flight of stairs or walking from one room to another? These facts are from the StatsCanada 2006 Participation & Activity Limitations Survey. To help raise awareness around issues of accessibility, the Social Planning & Research Council of BC (SPARC) designates a day in June as Access Awareness Day, this year June 7. Here in the Comox Valley, the CV Accessibility Committee is an informal group that meets once a month to work on raising awareness around accessibility in the Comox Valley. Accessibility means access to places and services for people in wheelchairs and scooters. It also means access for people with hearing or sight impairments, as well as other disabilities. The CV Accessibility Committee is having its next meeting on Tues., June 10, at 12:00 noon at the Lewis Centre. We are a low-key and fun group, everyone interested in accessibility issues is welcome to attend. If you have any questions around accessibility or the Committee, call Marg 250-218-0357 or Heather 250-338-5371, or email hcrites@courtenay.ca. Marg Misener Secretary Comox Valley Accessibility Committee

More Beefs and Bouquets BOUQUETS to School Teachers who have a challenging job in today’s society. Most are dedicated professionals who we expect to provide direction and encourage learning of our children and grandchildren, from Kindergarten to Grade 12 - the most formative period of their lives. We need the best possible teachers in these jobs. We constantly hear that we need to pay high salaries to attract good executive leadership in Government. BOUQUETS to members of the RCMP, who have to deal with many of society’s failures and those that have lost their way. Effective, caring teachers will help to reduce the policing workload. Both of these professions have high rates of absenteeism. These are not easy jobs, but what better use of taxpayers dollars?

stick to their longstanding tradition of not negotiating during the summer. If it truly is all about the students, why not negotiate only in the summer to avoid using the education of children as a weapon? THANK YOU to all the parents, students, businesses, CUPE (from the school district and North Island College) who stood on the picket lines today in support of public education. Thanks especially to the small but mighty group of parents and students who stood at the cross roads of the Old Island Highway and Ryan Road outside the Lewis Centre Park encouraging drivers to “honk for teachers”. We can only say that this is why we work so hard, care so much and believe that standing up for public education is right. Thank you from the bottom of our hearts.

A BIG BOUQUET of roses to the entire Comox Valley community for your amazing show of support for teachers on their picket lines. There were dozens and dozens of parents and local businesses who brought baked goods and coffee to teachers, and the numbers of horns that were honking in support warmed our hearts and made us proud and thankful for the community in which we live.

BOUQUETS to Romeo Dallaire who served our country with great personal sacrifice. A great Canadian who is resigning from a well-deserved Senate appointment. Canadians would support an appointed Senate, if all were of Mr. Dallaire’s status and qualities. Unfortunately, he is the exception. We need more exceptions in the Senate.

IT’S INTERESTING to hear the same rhetoric about the children coming first from both sides of the dispute between the BCTF and the Government. Meanwhile if the dispute is not solved by the end of the school year, apparently the BCTF will

BEEF to the older male in the old blue Mustang that barged in at the Cumberland Road roundabout on the 28th around 11:40AM. We had to slam the brakes to avoid you. Stupid is the kindest thing I can call you. If you have a death wish

please do it alone and not with other people. A BIG SLAP on the wrist to the picketers at the Tsolum School on Thursday May 29th. Having a dog UNLEASHED on the side of the highway is very irresponsible and almost caused an accident when the black dog rushed out onto the road, in front of a truck. Luckily, the driver of the truck was a responsible fellow - aware of people and dogs on both sides of the road and able to slow down. THE COMOX VALLEY Adult Learning Centre would like to send out a huge bouquet of red roses to our tutors and volunteers who have worked so hard this year. We greatly appreciate the support and dedication you have shown in helping those with educational needs. Countless hours were spent helping others learn English, computers, mathematics and many more subjects. Have a great summer, and we hope to see you all back next fall! RURAL TAXPAYERS are paying 3 times more for CVRD services compared to Courtenay and Comox. The yellow paper with the tax notice, listing 33 services, states that rural taxpayers are funding liquid waste management. Liquid waste is unmanaged in most rural areas and there is no rural representation on the Comox Valley Sewer Commission - what service are we paying for?

Comox Valley Echo Friday, June 6, 2014 A13

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PROPS to the lovely receptionist at Orca Denta Care, who, when asked about affordable treatment possibilities, suggested a D.I.Y. solution that worked. Thanks! BIG BOUQUET OF ROSES to Lee McIsaac and everyone who supported the Evergreen Club Spring Fever Fashion Show. So many volunteers helped make the fashion show a success; from the kitchen volunteers who served a wonderful lunch, to Marlene and Deanne for all their help. Lastly, to the girls at Roxanne. Their beautiful line of clothing was displayed by six Evergreen models (plus Greg, our escort, who was decked out in a suit from Jim’s Clothes Closet). A job well done to all. Thank you! A GREAT BIG BEEF to John Duncan and his Conservative Party. Prime Minister Harper’s recent junket to Israel, with 200 of his nearest and dearest, cost you and me, the taxpayers, around ONE MILLION DOLLARS. The break down: Israel—$676,545; Jordan—$187,549; West Bank— $18,170. When Conservative M.P., Mark Alder, called out he wanted his picture taken at the Wailing Wall because it was “the money shot”, he wasn’t kidding. Almost $300,000 went to Prime Minister Harper’s “headquarters” while on the visit, whatever that means. All of this was happening while Veterans offices were being closed around Canada, to save money. But then of course the Conservatives are now spending $4 MILLION on ads trying to tell us they are doing such a good job of providing services to Veterans. WOW, I AM SHOCKED. Courtenay is going ahead with its own fire training centre and second fire hall. Why are we so afraid to use the regional fire training centre located in Comox? Departments all over the Island are using it. It is one of the best in Canada, already paid for and under-utilized. The Comox firefighters have an outstanding reputation and are willing to share with us for very little cost, and the Comox centre provides all that is needed for fire fighter and fire officer training. The City of Vancouver has ONE training centre for over 800 firefighters and 20 fire stations - why does Courtenay need its own? While others are finding ways to work together, our department leadership is trying to find ways not to work together: they are trying to build their own empire. Council, reverse your decision before it is too late. THE COMOX VALLEY REGIONAL DISTRICT was officially created in early 2008. How are they doing? Well, since this “more efficient” Regional Government model was initiated, Area B Comox Lake water supplied customers have seen a 126% increase in water costs. All rural tax-

Beefs

Bouquets &

The Comox Valley’s First and Best Readers’ Forum Email to: echo@comoxvalleyecho.com payers have seen a 47% increase in planning costs, although the Area has been split in about half. If this is a concern to you visit: http://comoxvalleyratepayers. com/ and sign on a as supporter of change. It’s free ... and teachers want a 3% increase - the CVRD area directors have voted themselves a 30% increase in 2015! Time for change. THERE USED TO BE recycle bins at the Driftwood mall, Comox mall, Home Depot, Walmart, maybe 1 or 2 other places, and now they are gone. This should not be allowed to continue. My suggestion/solution is to pressure these areas into returning the recycle bins, and possibly adding a few more. Here’s how: The areas mentioned would re-install recycle bins on their parking lots by 2 July 2014. If they refuse to do this, please join me in a boycott of their stores for the remainder of July, to see if they get the message. To me it seems quite simple. For example, Costco & Home Depot share a property line. Somewhere along that line, bins could be put in “back to back” accessible from both sides and do a community service. The Comox and Driftwood malls could return them to a suitable spot as well. Superstore could put them on the south side next to the bypass and the farmland. I believe that this would give the subject malls etc, almost a month to figure it out, and if they don’t, a month of dwindling sales might get the point across. It should not be a hardship on anyone in the Comox valley, to find an alternate source of whatever products they need for a month, to try and get the message out. Hit them where it hurts: in the wallet. Another suggestion is to go to the service desk in any of these establishments and make them aware of this idea. NO BINS, NO BUISNESS. We have a month to think about this. They have a month to do something. If they don’t I will speak with my wallet. Here is your chance to do something that will benefit all of us. Please give it some thought. We have the power, let’s use it. THANK YOU Stanley Hanson Roofing for the excellent job you did on my roof last week. Your hard working crew was courteous, friendly, on time and very professional. The clean up was terrific. Again, thanks a lot, Stan and crew. A BOUQUET to the young lady at Dairy Queen with the great smile. Your customer service is excellent. Wish we had more people like you in the valley. It is so nice to see someone engage the customer rather than face grumpy indifferent staff. I rarely am surprised by staff at food or other retail establishments but you did so I thank you and wish you a pleasant summer. I WOULD LIKE TO TURN A BEEF into a bouquet. On 14 December 2012 at 11:00 AM, my mother slipped and fell in the parking lot in front of Shoppers Drugs

This week’s winner Your local “SOULution”

on 8th Street in Courtenay. She broke her arm in three places. A claim was filed to compensate her for pain and suffering. A year and a half later the claims adjuster will not process the claim for lack of evidence. My mother is 85 years old. She did not break her arm elsewhere and crawl to the parking lot. My mother recalls that there were 3 witnesses present at the time. If you are one of those witnesses, please contact me 250-338-3878. Thank you. BOUQUETS to the corporate thrift store employees who are standing up for themselves and, therefore others as well. Far too many workplaces suffer from harassment from management (beef); it’s a difficult situation to remedy once it becomes the norm. Until this company enacts some real change instead of regurgitating the same tired line; I for one, will no longer be supporting its stores. There are many locally owned thrift stores in town to choose from and I know from experience that laughing is not a problem there. A BIG BOUQUET to Will and partner from GOT GUTTERS, for prompt, friendly service and beautiful new, seamless gutters. Great teamwork all around from a local company! Very competitive rates and full clean up included! TIRED OF THE MAPLE POOL legal fiasco? Of course you are. Everybody is. Think you’ll put things right by voting the rascals out in the next election? Don’t wait! You can act now! Lobby council members and the mayor with letters and emails, start a petition, tell them what you want done. These people work for you. They’re the hired help. They tend to forget that. They’re supposed to do what the public wants them to do, but so far, the tail has been wagging the dog. THANK YOU to Dunn Right Towing & Recovery. Great service, quick response, reasonable price and a great professional operator. Damon is providing our community a great caring service, and operators like Mike only add to it. Quick efficient dispatch. Thank you for your great service. Will definitely recommend and use you again if necessary. BOUQUETS to the researcher who found teachers taking Fridays off at an alarming rate of 13.6%. This is a management problem and indicates that School Principals and School Superintendent are not doing their jobs. However, this has nothing to do with compensating the dedicated 86.4% of teachers who have the huge responsibility of educating and developing our children and grandchildren. There is a huge problem with entitlement in the public sector, and absenteeism, which is twice as expensive as the private sector. Self-employed people, and those in small business do not get paid if they do not work for the

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

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

day. It’s a different world. A BIG BOUQUET to the awesome parents at Ecole Puntledge Park Elementary who organized an amazing Bike to School Week. It was a beautiful thing to see so many kids biking to school, and riding around a car-free parking lot with pride! You rock. A BEEF to the teachers and their employer for not figuring things out in a way that models maturity and forward movement. I appreciate the teachers and the amazing jobs they do (in general), but this is not one of them. The wages and benefits that the teachers already receive are very generous compared to what the majority of us in the valley have. As for the government, I realize there are many competing interests to balance. Education is a basic investment, so let’s see some movement in terms of investing in class sizes, and needed supports for public education. In fact, I don’t see why we invest as much as we do in private schools. And finally A BOUQUET to the anonymous Comox Valley folks putting up the cool signs that encourage us! I love it.

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A HUGE BOUQUET to everyone who supported the Cumberland Community Schools Society HUGE Garage Sale Fundraiser. Thank you to everyone that donated items and volunteered their time! Special thanks to The Village of Cumberland, Georgia Straight Towing, B&D Containers, Comox Valley Regional District, Econo U Store It, School District 71, Cumberland Ele, Riders Pizza, Currently Cumberland, JET FM, newspapers, and Chris Sperber of Re/ Max Ocean Pacific Realty. We couldn’t have done it without you all! QUIT WHINING ... all you people who are complaining about the teachers strike and the long waits at the hospital. I too have had to wait long periods of time for my treatments but when you look in the mirror in the morning how many of you voted for Clark and her crew. That’s where the blame lies. All that’s happening is more and more cutbacks to the common working people while they push through an enviromently disastrous pipeline [which Enbridge’s own advertising says will only employ 4 to 5 hundred fulltime jobs and less when finished). At least I can look in the mirror and say I didn’t vote for the Cheshire cat (you know, the cat that steered Alice the wrong way in looking glass).

A BOUQUET to all the dedicated teachers who make a difference in the lives of our children and grandchildren. They should not be out on strike for fair compensation. There are dozens of employees in local governments who earn more than teachers and don’t have to bargain or disrupt students and parents lives to get executive compensation and benefits. The public sector is disconnected from the average wage earner in the Comox Valley. Teachers deserve fair compensation for their contribution to society. What’s fair? Likely an arbitrator needs to decide. HEARTFELT GRATITUDE to all those who graced my birthday celebration with their presence, their songs, their dancing. Thank you for the gifts - many of which I don’t know who gave to me - they are a delight; I get a laugh every time the cuckoo calls out the hour. I feel humbled to be so loved and appreciated. - Hazel Lennox

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If you are over 50 and you would like to help, Comox Valley Senior Peer Counselling wants and needs you. Training and support for volunteers provided. A 4-session training program begins on

June 19th Call Pam at 250-871-5940 for more information.”

I COULD THANK the BCTF for Thursday’s strike. I spent an enjoyable day with our grandson. He said “we’re on strike”. He enjoys school and his teacher, but I wonder what he is gaining from the ongoing negotiations. Although we had a great day, I wonder how he will recover the 6 hours of learning. COURTENAY AND COMOX commercial car washes will be sending Bouquets to CVRD for the stage 3 water restriction. The good news is that with the Hydro Penstock closed for 5 days, there will be enough water saved in Comox Lake, to provide a water supply to 40,000 residents for a year! The Comox Valley is blessed with such an abundant water supply. ROYAL BEEF to the Nanaimo

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

SUBMIT YOUR OWN BEEF OR BOUQUET ON OUR NEWLY REDESIGNED WEBSITE:

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Company that was at our Home Show in April that sold retractable screen doors. They came to my home, measured, took my cheque, cashed it and I have never heard from them again. I am out my cash and no screen door. After many unanswered phone calls I went to Nanaimo today and they are long gone. I hope they sleep at night, I wonder how many other seniors they ripped off. I would hope that who ever puts on the home show checks that the companies are reputable. I have learnt a lesson.

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Help Markus Yule and family with raffle, Boston Pizza

Ten-year-old Valley View Elementary Student Markus Yule was diagnosed with brain cancer in the fall of 2013. In efforts to help alleviate some of the financial pressure on his family as they travel back and forth to Vancouver for treatment, Boston Pizza has joined forces with Quality Foods and Home Depot to create an amazing raffle. Raffle tickets are available by donation and the deadline has been extended until June 8th. In conjunction with the raffle, Boston Pizza will be donating $5.00 from the sale of every Pizza Bread and Bandara Bread. The grand prize draw will the evening of June 8th, so come on down and help Iron Man Markus Yule battle the fight against cancer. Also a special thank you to Courtenay Sure Copy for creating and donating the raffle tickets.

Shellfish Festival looking for some volunteers The eighth annual BC Shellfish & Seafood Festival, happening throughout the Comox Valley from June 13 to 22, is looking for volunteers for Comox By The Sea Shellfish & Seafood Celebration on Saturday, June 21. The event takes place at Filberg Lodge & Park in Comox from noon to 5 p.m., with volunteers required for shifts throughout the day. In addition, two or three volunteers may also be required for small stage set up the day prior. The Festival organizers are looking for volunteers to fill positions for ticket taking, parking attendants, celebration ambassadors and beer tent hosting. Between 30 and 35 volunteers are needed. If you are interested in volunteering, please call Holly Grant at 250.334.6837 or email: holly@comoxbythesea.com.

Lanyards on sale for Relay for Life event Saturday The Cancer Office team is selling lanyards with beads for the Relay for Life on June 7th so that walkers can count how many laps they have walked. The lanyards are available at the Cancer Office from 10 am to 2 pm until June 7th and then also at the Vanier track for the Relay for Life event. They would like to thank Diane at “Your Dollar Store With More” in the old Safeway Plaza for her generous discount, this year and last year.

Concert Band performing at Comox Marina Park Comox Valley Concert Band takes its show to the seaside Sunday, June 8, 2:00 pm. at Comox Marina Park. In an attempt to continue the successful Summer Sounds series that ran for many years at the Filberg gardens, residents of the valley can enjoy the full sound of a fifty piece wind ensemble in a casual outdoor setting. A unique dynamic occurs when music is performed in collaboration with the calls of seagulls, the laughter of children on swings and the rustle of breezes in the chestnut trees. Bring a chair or blanket and share in an afternoon of music designed for the outdoor listener. Plenty of marches, hummable pop tunes and rhythmic dances will round out the programme. Summer means music on the green and the concert band will be pleased to meet you there with sounds for the season. Concert contingent on weather. By donation. Sunday, June 8, 2:00 pm. Sponsored by Comox Recreation.

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Birthing the White Whale New pub aims to showcase local food, craft beer By Drew A. Penner Echo Staff Out of the ashes of the Monte Christo a White Whale is rising. On Canada Day Comox Valley residents will have the first chance to peak behind the curtains of the latest establishment on the culinary scene. Located on the bank of the Puntledge River the owners imagine their creation, called the White Whale Public House & Restaurant, as a place where guests can arrive by boat or car for world class local oysters, crab, prawns and craft beer. “We’re going to be a seafood centric pubstyle restaurant,” said head chef Aaron Rail, one of the owners who brings with him more than five years of experience at Avenue Bistro, stressing their commitment to sourcing food locally is genuine. “It’s very gratifying to build good personal relationships with where my food is coming from.” Plans have been rolling along surprisingly smoothly, especially since the idea for the business only emerged a few months ago. For co-owner and general manager Max Oudendag, a former Lighthouse Brewing Company rep, when Rail approached him with an opportunity to launch a restaurant it was too good to pass up. “He makes good food and he cares about what he serves,” he said, sitting on the patio in the warm breeze where a couple of kayakers paddle on by. “I came and took a look at this location and I saw a lot of raw potential.” Between the two they have over 47 years of experience in the food and beverage industry. But neither had operated a business before. That’s where third partner Robin McKamey came in. He had been looking for a way to get back to the Valley after running a gas fitting business, now planning to take on numbers duties behind the scenes at the White Whale. Rail says the difference between Victoria, where he used to work, and the Comox Valley, is that in Victoria there are over 500 restaurants and a couple of dozen farmers, whereas in the Valley there are a couple of dozen restaurants and over 500 farms. That’s something the team expects to take full advantage of. “I can phone them directly,” he said of the

Aaron Rail (in white) and Max Oudendag, two of the owners of the White Whale can’t wait to open their doors to the public. convenience of having your suppliers almost at your doorstep. “There’s a lot of people up here doing really great things.” The menu will be a smorgasbord of seafood, featuring salmon, cod, tuna, halibut, mussels, as well as pig, chicken, beef and lamb. “We’ll get it from the Valley if we can,” he said, name dropping places like Tannadice Farms and Natural Pastures. “Then we’ll look at the Island.” Oudendag says the plan is to create a hub for the community to gather amid a buzz of energy. “I’m really enjoying the whole process of making connections with all the people and all the businesses that are going to help us make this happen and make this a special place,” he said. “You’re going to know you’re at the White Whale when you come here.” The owners have been overwhelmed by the

extent to which the local community is reaching out to get behind what they’re doing. An important element of that is the commitment to offering 10 local craft beers on the taps in their auspices. Before working at Lighthouse Oudendag worked as Lighthouse Brewery’s first North Island rep. He’s now reaping the rewards of tilling the hard earth of building up the microbrewery industry. “In a big way we were introducing craft beer to Northern Vancouver Island,” he said. “I’ve put beers in a lot of people’s hands in this valley and that seems to be coming back.” The pair seek to maintain the family feel and clientele from the old Monte Christo on the River, hiring much of the staff and working with the building’s strong points while still putting their own mark on the property. (Continued on page 2)

B2 Comox Valley Echo Friday, June 6, 2014

What’s On

70 years ago today, Valley-trained troops landed By Judy Hagen Echo history columnist The D-Day landings at Normandy were an extraordinary military achievement making it one of the great moments of history. When 21,000 Canadian troops descended upon Juno Beach on June 6, 1944, it was the culmination of years of preparation and many of the assault teams had been trained under a scheme known as “Combined Ops”. One training site was Courtenay. Many lessons had been learnt at the ill-fated Raid on Dieppe in August 1942. It was hoped that the “Combined Ops” training better prepared the men for landing at Juno Beach on D-Day. After the December 7th 1941 attack on Pearl Harbour, the Canadian government set up the “defense of the Pacific Coast”. It was the first effort to have combined operation between the navy and the army. The plan called for the army to build one hundred mechanized wooden Landing Craft that would be manned by the navy. The Landing Craft would located at key positions along the coast from Alaska to Washington State As early as July 1942 men volunteered for the “Fishermen’s Reserve”; they were given basic naval training for Landing Craft duty only. Their training was at Williams Head near Esquimault. The army began training in the fall. When the operation was forced to vacate this site, they were moved to Courtenay with the Army setting up a tent camp on the old Piercy farm on Headquarters Road, the present site of the Exhibition Grounds and G.P. Vanier High School, while the Navy erected barracks at Lewis Park between the CRA Hall and the Memorial Swimming Pool. The Assault Craft were moored at the Courtenay River Slough by Simms Park. This gave easy access for the Navy across the Old Island Highway and was within marching distance of the Army camp which was an Infantry Battalion. Here men trained in sessions which had a four-week rotation.

C. Company 2nd Btn, Canadian Scottish, 20 Sept. 1939 at Native Sons Hall (Courtenay and District Museum and Archives)

About the time the new site had become fully functional, it was realize that the threat of a Japanese invasion no longer existed. The focus of training shifted toward another assault on continental Europe. The Comox Valley became one of several training sites in Canada. The Spit was renamed HMCS Naden (III) as an extension of the training at Naden (II) in Victoria. In 1943, the Spit was also commissioned as HMCS Givenchy (III). For nearly three years the little Landing Craft zipped around Comox Harbour and the surrounding islands. Many Army and Navy personnel became “family” to households in the

community. Two men who would become Mayors in the City of Courtenay had their training with the Combined Ops. William (Bill) Moore, who had grown up in Courtenay, enlisted in the Fishermen Reserve. He was seconded to the British Navy to train the British Army for beach assault. He took part in the D-Day Landing and was discharged, returning home in the fall of 1944 because his “Mission was accomplished”. George Hobson, from Edmonton, enlisted in the Navy and was sent to Givenchy (III) on “the Spit” in Comox. He partici-

(Continued from page B1) Top quality dining is the goal, although they’re not going for upscale. “It’s definitely not a white tablecloth make a reservation sort of place,” Rail said. “We want to be casual and approachable and you’re not going to pay more than you would if you went to White Spot or Tita’s. If you want a fancy restaurant you can walk down to Locals.” Perhaps the biggest sign the new management is on the right path comes from Chris Sabanis, previous owner of more than 15 years. “It’s gonna be excellent,” he said. “I think what these guys are going to do here is really good. I like it.” On July 1 the doors will open with a mingler event at 4 p.m. where the public can pop in to the sound of live music, shimmy up to the oyster bar and meet the new owners first hand. “We’re going to use some of our local suppliers to highlight the local ingredients,” Oudendag said. “People can get a taste of the White Whale.”

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pated in assault landings in North Africa, Sicily and Italy. After the Mediterranean Campaign his unit returned to “the Spit” to assist in gunnery training of the Pacific Theatre. In 1945, the Army Camp closed. When WWII ended, Givenchy (III) also closed. “The mission was accomplished.” On D-Day, many of those participating in the Landing were men who listed their “hometown” as one of the communities in the Comox Valley. Captain John Tarbell BRYDEN was born in Cumberland in 1908. He enlisted with the Canadian Scottish on 01 September 1939.

He was killed in action two days after D-Day. Sadly, while only wounded, his family was later notified that in the desperate heat of the attack before he could be evacuated for treatment, he was run over by one of our Canadian Tanks Private Douglas ETHERINGTON came to Canada with his family in 1927. After finishing school he went “down into the mines”. He enlisted in Courtenay with the Canadian Scottish on 14 September 1939. He died three days after D-Day. Lieutenant Ian Phil MACDONALD was at the dance at the Royston Pavilion when he heard the news that Canada had entered the war. The next day he enlisted in the Canadian Scottish. He died four days after D-Day Alexander (Sandy) MCINTYRE who was working in the valley, returned to England. He has no known grave. He died on D-Day Major Kenneth Siddon OSLER, whose parents operated the Elk Hotel in Comox, died six days after D-Day. Corporal Francis Wittham TOWNSLEY enlisted with Canadian Scottish on 07 July 1940. He had been working in the Bevan mines. He died on D-Day plus one. He left a wife and children. Accounts of the massive allied D-Day assault on the Normandy coast describe the ocean as crimson with blood. The Canadian Scottish, who started their training here at the Native Sons Hall in 1939, played an important and costly role in that colossal offensive.

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Comox Valley Echo Friday, June 6, 2014 B3

What’s On

Healthy mochas on tap at evening of mixology Samudra Weight Loss Health & Wellness and Royston Roasting Company will be hosting an evening of mixology June 11. Sample some delicious mochas, and drinks that incorporate Ideal Protein Products with local Royston Roasting Company’s coffees and teas. This event will be held at Royston Roasting Company located at 3904 Island Highway South, Royston, on June 11, between 5:00 7:00 PM.

cy and non-stop support. Working as a team, we were able to reverse diagnoses such as diabetes and hypertension. Given the global scale of obesity, diabetes and associated hypertension, the work is not done yet. Samudra is a business our community can be proud of”. To RSVP call Samudra Weight Loss at 250871-7006 or drop in to the studio at #2 - 625 Cliffe Avenue, Courtenay, B.C. two doors down from Atlas Cafe.

Protein Method. She loves the program for its “ease” and the fact that the foods are “non gmo, made in Canada tastes great and the method really works”. Dyan will be mixing up some very tasty beverages for you to sample and there will be an informational about how this approach to weight loss works. A local physician says “I have great confidence referring patients to Samudra. Patients are treated with great professionalism, priva-

Samudra Weight Loss opened for business February 2011 and it has been growing steadily since. The Weight Loss Studio uses the Ideal Protein approach that has been gaining international attention over the past 27 years for a combination of long term health benefits and successful weight loss rates. To date clients at this location have lost over 6700 pounds. Dyan Spink, owner of Royston Roasting Company, lost 25 pounds following the Ideal

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Offer(s) available on select new 2014 models through participating dealers to qualified customers who take delivery by June 30, 2014. Dealers may sell or lease for less. Some conditions apply. See dealer for complete details. All offers are subject to change without notice. Vehicles shown may include optional accessories and upgrades available at extra cost. All pricing includes delivery and destination fees up to $1,665, other fees and certain levies (including tire levies) and $100 A/C charge (where applicable) and excludes licensing, registration, insurance, other taxes and variable dealer administration fees (up to $699). Other dealer charges may be required at the time of purchase. Other lease and financing options also available. 0% financing offer for up to 84 months available O.A.C to qualified retail customer, on approved credit for the new 2014 Forte LX MT (FO541E)/2014 Optima LX AT (OP742E)/2014 Rio LX MT (RO541E) with a selling price of $14,584/$22,802/$12,584 and includes delivery and destination fees of $1,485, tire tax of $15, A/C charge ($100 where applicable) and a cash bonus of $2,918/$3,500/$2,918 (which is deducted from the negotiated price before taxes). Bi-weekly payments of $80/$125/$69 for 84 months with $0 down payment. Credit fees of $0. Total obligation is $14,584/$22,802/$12,584. See retailer for complete details. 'Cash purchase price for the new 2014 Forte LX MT (FO541E)/2014 Optima LX AT (OP742E)/2014 Rio LX MT (RO541E) is $14,584/$22,802/$12,584 and includes a cash bonus of $2,918/$3,500/$2,918 (which is deducted from the negotiated price before). Retailer may sell for less. §Cash Bonus amounts are offered on select 2014 and 2015 models and are deducted from the negotiated price before taxes. $4,000 cash bonus only available on the 2014 Optima Hybrid LX (OP74AE). Offer ends June 30, 2014. See your dealer for complete details. 6Model shown Manufacturer Suggested Retail Price for 2014 Forte SX (FO748E)/2014 Optima SX Turbo AT (OP748E)/2014 Rio4 SX with Navigation (RO749E) is $26,395/$34,795/$22,295. ÇHighway/city fuel consumption is based on the 2014 Rio LX+ ECO (A/T)/2014 Forte 1.8L MPI 4-cyl (M/T)/2014 Optima 2.4L GDI (A/T). These updated estimates are based on the Government of Canada’s approved criteria and testing methods. Refer to the EnerGuide Fuel Consumption Guide. Your actual fuel consumption will vary based on driving habits and other factors. °The Bluetooth® wordmark and logo are registered trademarks and are owned by Bluetooth SIG, Inc. 1Sirius, XM and all related marks and logos are trademarks of Sirius XM Radio Inc. and its subsidiaries. Information in this advertisement is believed to be accurate at the time of printing. For more information on our 5-year warranty coverage, visit kia.ca or call us at 1-877-542-2886. Kia is a trademark of Kia Motors Corporation.

B4 Comox Valley Echo Friday, June 6, 2014

What’s On

SCENICS START SATURDAY The lingering snow from last winter is giving way to the grassy slopes of summer on Mount Washington. To celebrate, the mountain is running their popular scenic chairlift rides earlier than originally planned. The first chair ascends the mountain this Saturday! “We’re operating the Eagle Chairlift for scenic rides over the next three weekends,” explains Don Sharpe, Director of Business Operations and Marketing. “Our wedding season is already underway so we’re opening earlier than expected to give people an opportunity to see the amazing views from the top of Mount Washington.” Visitors will be able to take the chairlift to top of the mountain from 11am to 5pm on Saturdays and Sundays. Ted’s Bar and Grill will also be open for meals from 11am to 6pm on weekends. Daily summer operations begin Saturday, June 28th and will feature Mile High Scenic Chairlift Rides, Alpine Action Packs, alpine hiking, dining and shopping, seven days a week. For more information on the early weekend openings, festivals, events and the full summer schedule, visit mountwashington.ca.

The views in summer parallel the sublime views of winter. Photo: slipstreamimages.com

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Sports and Recreation

Comox Valley Echo Friday, June 6, 2014 B5

Some of the young cyclists who will be competing in the provincial youth road cycling championship this weekend

Provincial cycling events here Beginner Men’s podium. Breckin Nowak, Evan Luksay and Kieran Nilsen in first, second and third respectively.

Locals do well in final mountain bike race Members of the Trail Bikes Junior Team and several other local riders had great results in the series final of the 2014 Island Cup. The event took place on the technically challenging trails of Snowden Forest in Campbell River on Sunday June 1st, 2014. This event forms part of the Vancouver Island Mountain Bike Race Series. In the Beginner Men’s Category (13km), Breckin Nowak claimed 1st place, while Evan Luksay was 2nd , Kieran Nilsen 3rd , Carson Damery

4th and Luke Damery 7th. In the Beginner Women’s Category, Anja Leikermoser was 2nd, Brynn Johnston 3rd , Shelby Nilsen 4th and Eva Leikermoser 5th. In Intermediate Women (26km), Emily Johnston was 3rd. In the Expert Men Category (39km), David Damery came in 2nd, Greg Macdonald 3rd ,Tristan Geisel 4th ,Derek Vinge 7th and Clay Ward was 8th. For full results - http:// www.islandcupseries.com/2014-results/.

Comox Valley Host Provincial Cycling Championships The Comox Valley Cycle Club will be hosting two provincial championships this coming weekend. The Provincial Youth Road Cycling Championships will take place on Saturday, June 7, and it will feature riders aged 11 to 18 years. The next day, the Provincial Youth and Senior Time Trial Championship will be held and it will see competitors from 11 to 60 years old pedalling for top honours. Riders are coming from as far as the Yukon and the Okanagan, with the majority arriving from the Lower Mainland, Victoria and with a large contingent from the Comox Valley. The Comox Valley Cycle Club is

pleased to be hosting these two events. Other local clubs that will also be represented at the two championships include Trail Bikes and the VIPYRS. The Youth Road Race will be held on the Minto Road circuit from 9 a.m. to 12 noon on Saturday. The start will be at Village Park in Cumberland with the finish on Royston Road at the top of the infamous Boulder Hill. The number of times riders will climb Boulder Hill range from two times for the under-13 riders to a leg-numbing 10-trips for the under-19 men. The race course covers Union Road in Cumberland then down Cumberland Road to Minto Road. After a quick trip down Minto, a right turn onto Royston Road starts riders

on the ascent to the top of Boulder Hill. After the fast descent from Boulder Hill racers turn back onto Union Road. Road users and local residents are asked to pay special attention for riders on the race course on Saturday morning. The Provincial Time Trial Championship will be held this Sunday on the Dove Creek loop from 10:00 am to 1:00 pm. The time trial or “race of truth” is one rider at a time racing against themselves and the clock. Having races like this in the Comox Valley is a great way for local riders to exercise “home field” advantage and for others to enjoy the benefits the Valley offers.

VALLEY BRIDGE NEWS Comox Valley Duplicate Bridge Club The results of our regular game on Monday, May 26, 2014 were: 1. Dick Grant - Warren Burd 2. Pete Marinus - Dianna Rickson 3. Cathy Wolfe - Barrie Turnham 4. Katie Christie - Carole Bradshaw Our game on Thursday May 29, 2014 had these results: N/S 1. Arlene Petersen - Ann Cook 2/3 Pete Marinus - Linda Marinus 2/3 Glen Parsons - Tom Dugdale 4. Warren Burd - Cynthia Tree E/W 1. Dianna Rickson - Slava Simice 2/3 Irene Pearl - Carole Bradshaw 2/3 Bob Dugas - Jack Bradshaw 4. Lysbeth McCrone - Eileen Maclean Our club is located on Nordin Street across from the Comox Mall under the newly renovated Museum and Art Gallery. We offer guaranteed partnerships, so if you’re visiting or your regular partner is away, make sure you come out to play anyway! If you don’t have a regular partner, I’m sure

you’ll meet one. Our Website is www.cvdbc.com and our email is playbridge@shaw.ca For more information, please contact Linda Marinus at (250) 338-2544. d’Esterre Duplicate Bridge Results for Tuesday, May 27 (32 pairs): N/S - 1. Slava Simice and Sharon Hysert; 2. Jean and Jim Boase; 3. Evelyn Ware and Jean Tait; 4. Carole and Jack Bradshaw; 5. George Law and Art Morgan; 6. Jeanette Baron and Tom Dugdale. E/W - Trish Heyland and Doug Poole; 2.

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Patricia and Roy Lowe; 3. Carol Ante and Keith Ware; 4. Dianna Rickson and Howard Cohen; 4. Karin Franzen and Corinne Montgomery; 6. Julie Tuepah and Pat Pantuso. Results for Saturday, May 31 (17 pairs): N/S - 1. Neil Jackson and Jean Tait; 2. Penny and Doug Poole; 3. Dianne McKinnon and Ruby Paulson. E/W - 1. Jeanette Baron and Tom Dugdale; 2. Irene Smith and Irene Pearl; 3. Carole and Jack Bradshaw.

Friday Duplicate Bridge Results for 30th May (14 tables): N/S 1. Tom Dugdale and Dianna Rickson; 2. Keith Ware and Barb McCrindle; 3. Phil Sanford and Maureen Olafson; 4. Cynthia Tree and Pat Pantuso. EW 1. Warren Burd and Harvey Piercy; 2. Ben and Iris Vansterkenburg; 3. Denise Holst and Betty Fountain; 4. Carol Ante and Barb Casey.

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B6 Comox Valley Echo Friday, June 6, 2014

Sports and Recreation E.B. Horsman fishing derby great success E.B. Horsman & Son hosted its first annual fishing derby May 24 with great success. The event that was held at Pacific Playgrounds and drew around 40 people, was also a fundraiser the B.C. Children’s Hospital. Around 40 springs were caught. Tony Hryko from Courtenay was the grand winner of the derby. Harry Bulpit took second place and Craig Pearson won biggest bottom fish. The organizers would like to send out a very big thank you to the local sponsors; McDonald’s, Tim Horton’s, Subway, Boston Pizza, Tyee Marine, Gone Fishing, Crown Isle, Mulligans, Progressive Systems and Falcon Electric. The derby, they said, wouldn’t have been possible without help of the sponsors.

Fly Tying workshop perfect for Father’s Day Just in time for Father’s Day! Join us in this introductory class to fly tying, Saturday June 14, 1:00 p.m. to 3 p.m. at the Black Creek Community Centre, 2001 Black Creek Rd. We will look at some basic patterns and how to begin fly tying. Participants will need a fly tying vice, fly tying scissors and a bobbin and tying thread. All other materials will be provided. The instructor for this workshop is Rick Jantzen, and the cost is $25.00 per person. You must preregister by calling 250-337-5190.

Tony Hryko from Courtenay shows off the big catch of the day that made him the grand winner of the inaugural E.B. Horsman & Son fishing derby.

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Comox Valley Echo Friday, June 6, 2014 B7

CARRIERS WANTED EARN $$$$$$$$ COURTENAY Rt. 7107 – Between 17th & 13th - McPhee, Grieve, 16th, 14th Rt. 7115 – 5th to 4th, Menzies to Willemar Rt. 7108 – Fitzgerald, Grieve 17th to 13th Rt. 7140 – Archery Cr., Timberlane Rd. COMOX Rt. 1102A – Bolt, Lindshart, Martin, Noel, Anderton Rt. 1103 – Skeena, Totem Cr., Pritchard Rt. 2103 Summer Sub – Murphy, Beaton, Park (Beside Hospital Rt. 2129 – Sylvan, Parry, Aspen, Idiens Rt. 2144B – Gardener Way, Mason Ave, Potter Pl. CROWN ISLE Rt. 3120 – Monarch, Royal Rt. 3134 – Crown Isle Dr., Birkshire, Sussex VALLEYVIEW Rt. 3110 – Back Road, Glen Urquhart, 10th St. E., Hobson, 6th St. E., Aston Rt. 3113 – Elkhorn Ave, 9th St. E., Malahat, Arrowsmith Rt. 3122 – Swan, Trumpeter, Sparrow, Valley View Rt. 3123 – Nechako, Chemainus, 5th St. E., Cowichan, 6th St. E. Rt. 3135 – Hawk, Swallow, Whiskeyjack Rt. 3136 – Bluejay Place COLEMAN ROAD AREA Rt. 4106 – Sea Terrace, Avonlee, Loxley

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B8 Comox Valley Echo Friday, June 6, 2014

Sports and Recreation

zling 61, followed by the 2nd low net of 68 by Rosslyn O’Rouke. Low putts came in with a tie of 30 for Marie Israel and Rosslyn O’Rourke. KP on #4 went to Wendy Dowe. KP on #12 Rosslyn O’Rourke. Chip in on #12 Lori Cameron. There is still a small window of opportunity to enter the Glacier Greens Ladies Tournament on June 14th ... the clock is ticking. - Submitted by Lori Cameron

GOLF NEWS NASSAU AT CROWN ISLE So who has been to Nassau? Did you know it is where Crown Isle ladies golf to win front nine low net, back nine low net and overall eighteen low net? AND THE WINNERS ARE: Front nine- first low net- Marsha MacKinnon 32 and second-Mathilde Schneider 34 Back nine-first low net-Dee Horie 32 and second Katy Macaulay, Maggie MacLean and Kathy Thompson 33 Overall low net-Dee, Marsha and Katy 69 and second-Maggie and Mathilde 70 KPs: Dee and Maggie Par 5s- Marsha and Sheila Potts Birdie pot: Anne, Diane, Donna and Dee. Congratulations to our Crown Isle champions, Raylene and Janet who competed in The Champion of Champions tournament in Comox. Next year it will be held at Morningstar, which tells you who won of course. Crown Isle Ladies Nine and Wine was an overwhelming success with a SOLD OUT group of ladies playing 9 holes, having appys and wine and winning lots of prizes. Thanks to our sponsors who make this event so amazingEAGLE FM radio, our 2014 title sponsor, Comox Pharmasave at Quality Foods, Cascadia Liquor store, The Head Shed, Royston Roasting Company, Chances Casino, Kernaghan Adjusters and Crown Isle Golf Shop. Don’t miss out on a lot of fun and prizes-register individually or as a team at the Crown Isle Proshop 250 7035031. Crown Isle’s special couples’ event on Sunday was a rip roaring success again with SOLD OUT teams of golfers who had a wonderful brunch, played Trouble Golf, and finished with appys and drinks. Kudos to Bob and Pat, and Allan and Judy for organizing this fun event -even made sure the weather was phenomenal! Team winners were first place Donna, Brent, Karen and Steve and second place Ken, Kathy, Ron and Marsha. Mark your calendars for the monthly events: July 6 - Roll Of The Dice; Aug 10 - Couples’

Comox Valley Echo Friday, June 6, 2014 B9

LOTS OF WINNERS AT SUNNYDALE

Captain’s Trophy Winner - Clyde Levy (centre), Tyler VanAnrooy (left) and Men’s Club Captain, Dave Pye (right).

Captain’s Trophy at Sunnydale 52 eager golfers showed up under sunny skies at Sunnydale on Sunday morning, June 1st to play a course in perfect condition. The Captain’s Trophy was on the line and the winner was Clyde Levy with a Low Net of 63. Tyler VanAnrooy won Low Gross with a very good score of 65. A new format is starting for Wednesday’s: Men’s Night is turning into Men’s Day and Night. Rat Packers and Millionaires are invited to enter the competition with their scores on the Front 9 on Wednesday mornings. There will be some extra prizes for those that show up on Wednesday nights from our new sponsors Westview Ford (Cory Nickerson) and Championship; Sept 21 - Alternate Coloured Ball and full moon in early October - Glow Ball. Don’t forget to sign up for golf every Sunday between noon and 1:30 for couples’ golf. This Sunday is count your putts. Thanks to Bryan, Elaine, Allan and Sandra for looking after these events. = Submitted by Donna Cunliffe

Sleeman’s Brewery. Check for details in the Pro Shop. Results from Sunday Low Handicap Division Low Gross Greg Koster 69 2nd Mitch Carr-Hilton 73 3rd Jordan Rallison 74 4th Robin Ward 77 Low Net Bill Watkin 68 2nd Andrew Flaro 71 3rd Damon Gaudet 72 4th Ken Cottini 72 High Handicap Division Low Gross Sylvio Alberti 78 2nd Rob Heron 79 3rd Viking 81 4th Randy Bennett 83 5th Rick Dawson 83 Low Net Emil Zap 65 2nd Darryl Smith 66 3rd Guy Traverse 66 4th Jack Currie 67 5th Harvey Skerrit 68

SUNNY DAY AT GLACIER GREENS The brighter the sun shines the lower the scores. A regular game at Glacier Greens today had Leslie Hauser carding an 87 for 1st low gross. 2nd low gross with 93 was Marie Israel on a countback. Hot score for a low net was Lorraine Courtemanche with a siz-

On our 1st Tuesday in June almost one quarter of the Sunnydale Tuesday Ladies Club recorded one or more birdies on a wide variety of holes. Congratulations to all eleven women who got to record their names in the “Birdie Book”. Good scores were recorded by a lot of the members as the course is in terrific shape thanks to a couple of weeks of sunshine and the hard work of the grounds crew. The Ladies simply seem to golf better when the sun is shining. Our Low Gross Winner for the 2nd week in a row was Carolyn Walker (86),

followed by Pat Peden (87), Teri Sleigh (93)and Linda Lee Root (94). Trish Heyland and Lys McCrone tied with a score of 96.. Our Low Net Winner was Fran Gibson (68). Fran also had the lowest # of putts - 24. Becky Kenner was net 69, Sharon Littler 71, Lorna Fowler 73 and Lucille Campbell 74. Andrea McInnes recorded the longest putt on #9, while Trish Heyland had the KP shot on #15 and 2nd Shot Low Hdcp on #5. Magge Miller won a sleeve of balls from Rob Speer Pro Shop for the KP #10. Lorna Fowler won the 2nd shot 25+ Hdcp on #5 and Darlene Clark won the 2nd shot 25+ Hdcp #17. Tuesday was also the Club Team Championship Qualifying round. Joan Brown, Vicki Bombini and Charlene Cebryk will be representing Sunnydale Golf Club this coming Monday at the Zone 6 Club Team Championship at Myrtle Point in Powell River. Good luck! In the 9 Hole Division, Louise Smiley was the overall winner with the Low Gross score and a chip in and par on #1 and #6. Coral Tanner recorded the lowest # of putts.

■ COURTENAY LAWN BOWLING CLUB

Green Team takes first in Fours Courtenay Lawn Bowling is a busy place. Our travellers this week were Vern Greenhill, taking his “Green Team” to first place in Nanaimo’s Centennial Fours, May 23/24, with a different crew this time, faithful Melie Ursulom and added Ross Younger and Jackie West to the mix. Dean Penny also tried the different green with Carolle Allen, Cath and Don Wiseman. The President’s Cup, a Zone tournament for the Club executives to allow them a chance to get to know one another and share ideas, was on Wednesday, May 28 in Pt. Alberni. The Zone Executive team took the honours with Courtenay’s group winning 3 or their four games for third place. At home, after 3 weeks of play in the Wednesday Mixed Triples league, Peter Harding with Rosemary Montreuil and Bill Whitehouse is tied with the team of Frank Lo with Melie Ursulom and Barb Boney at three wins each. With 2 wins each are Cath Wiseman, Marlene Gerrand and Cecil Kerr and Dean Penny, Bev

Hambley and Mellva Proudlove. Thursday 242 after 3 weeks has Michael Lynch in the lead with Vern Greenhill in close pursuit. Friday Aggregate with an excellent turnout each week, has Melie Ursulom in the lead with 12 points, there is a big gap until Michael Lynch and Dave Hambley turn up with 7 points. A logjam at 6 points with 5 players but everything can change quickly with this point system and the season is young. This is a drop-in evening but you need to have your nametag in by 6 pm for inclusion. June starts off with a full slate of 32 teams in the Scotch Pairs Open Tournament as the players come from the other clubs in the Zone. In this event, the players change from rolling the first bowls to rolling the last bowls on alternate ends. Lots of exercise in this one. It is not too late to come down and try the game. The coaches and players are always willing to help a newcomer. - Submitted by Pat Cutt

Time to sign up for annual basketball camp Summer fun is here soon! The Annual Comox Valley Summer Basketball Camp is quickly approaching, one month away. This ‘camp’ is for basketball enthusiasts in grades 3 through 12 and this 24th edition of the camp has had children from around the world attend in the past. The Lake Trail section of the basketball camp features local product and teacher supreme BLAKE TOBACCA, who has developed a solid reputation for being not only a great teacher of the game, but his work with the younger athletes is always fun stuff. He’ll be assisted by long time coach DON HERMAN from Maple Ridge. Don has coached numerous provincial teams, and he is a former Provincial Champion coach with his girls team at Maple Ridge. He’ll coach not only the young boys at Lake Trail, but also help with the girls camp in the afternoons at G.P. Vanier. Larry Street is the prime organizer of the camps and he will spearhead the older boys at Vanier in the mornings, and then will work with the girls of all

ages in the afternoons at Vanier. This Hall of Fame coach has coached many provincial teams, over 100 teams at the school level, many provincial tournament teams, and has sent over 50 players to various college and professional programs. He also is an experienced player (two World Championships at the Masters level) and has forgotten more drills than he can remember. We think we have lots to offer our local kids, give them something to do that first week of July, and our goal is always to help with their understanding of the game. Assisting us will be college players, and quality high school players. The camp runs June 30th to July 4th, and forms can be attained by emailing Larry Street at larrystreetcar@gmail. com, or phone 250 703 3646. There are forms at all the schools, and the community centers. Times: Young boys 9 am to noon at Lake Trail. Older boys 9 am to noon at Vanier. All the girls from 1 pm to 4 pm at G.P. Vanier.

FINAL WEEK OF THUNDERBALL WEEK #7: Sunday June 1st . THUNDERBALL BASKETBALL THE GRADE 4 AND 5 BOYS/GIRLS LEAGUE, games played at Lake Trail Head Coach BLAKE TOBACCA was extremely pleased with the improvements, and the efforts that our grade 4 and 5’s made in this league over seven weeks. A good time was had by all, and all the participants were very appreciative of their coaches. The coaches sure made a big difference: Blake Tobacca, Ken McRae, Colin Tinga, Coen Loepkey, Colton Derycke, Jordan Bell, Stephanie Johnson, Susie Hang, Hope Lewis, Darren Smith and Chloe Speed THE GRADE 6 AND 7 GIRLS who played at G.P. Vanier. What a HUGE improvement these girls made over the 7 weeks of play and practice. Everyone has really started to understand the fundamentals of this game. The passing and cutting to the hoop was awesome and the girls played great team basketball. Everyone worked really hard and played tough defense. From all the coaches: GREAT JOB GIRLS! Thanks coaches: Jakob Jungwirth, Faeryn Curtin, Jessica Pitre, Aleasha Wiebe, Ty Edwards, Michaela Ashlee, and John Lapp. Grade 6 and 7 Boys who played at Vanier: The BULLS vs the PACERS Coach Pitre was very impressed with the Bulls today. The shots and the passing were very good and this kept the game very tight. Nolan Piket was a flash today and Ian Rutledge was a terror on the rebounding. For the Pacers..FIRST WIN of the short season! The boys were elated, just as Coach Jake Fernandes was. He described the game as fast paced, and the score was a seesaw battle throughout the game. This feisty game ended up a draw, and had to go into overtime. Pacers go ahead. Then the Bulls were fouled with

a chance to tie again, but the free throw was missed and hooray Pacers. NETS vs the THUNDER Coach Tracy Tran lost her voice cheering on her Thunder team, but alas, score ended up 38 to 50 for the Nets. The Thunder, led by Braden Perfitt, played one of their best games, but the Nets were just too much. Ryan Moonen was the Nets catalyst and played very aggressive defense. He also had his way using his size inside. Coach Jordan Balon says it was a huge pleasure coaching these fellows this season. He hopes they play again next year. SKYWALKERS vs the SPURS Players of the game for the Spurs were Cedric Rochsteiner and Eric Jung, who helped influence their teammates to play tough defense and run hard. For the Skywalkers, Jeremy Knopp was a terror on defense, and ran the fast break very well. He was helped Hayden Fieret on a grand scale, lots of great passes. The Skywalkers went through the whole season undefeated - great job boys! SONICS vs the SUNS This was a close one, won in the end by the Sonics 43 - 39. A fun game to watch, and the Player of the Game was sharp shooter Cedar Lloyd. This was a back and forth battle all game that highlighted fast breaks, many steals, and some awesome plays. Coach Bryce Olsen says he had so much fun with all the amazing boys on his team, and can’t wait to see them in the near future. Maybe they can become “pro-ballers”! The participants of Thunderball Boys League wish to thank their coaches: Bryce Olsen, Joss Biggins, Jordan Balon, Brandon Balon, Danny Yeo, Jake Fernandes, Foster Dewitt, Tracy Tran, Danelle Campbell, Dawson German, Maddie Naswell, Tyler Knopp, Chase Hobenshield, and Tony Edwards and all the others who chipped in a little to help with the improvement of the boys.

B10 Comox Valley Echo Friday, June 6, 2014

Sports and Recreation

Men’s Baseball action heats up Last Friday night the ‘Daryl Robbins C.G.A Athletics’ welcomed the ‘Dependable Lawn Care Rockies’ to the Comox Valley Mens Baseball League by a score of 7 - 1. The A’s offence was led by Jake Osborne, Jake hit a long homerun for the As to provide the spark for the Athletics’ offensive fire that never let up on the Rockies’ pitching staff. In the second game of the night the ‘Happys Source for Sports Reds’ jumped out to a quick 4 - 1 lead over the ‘Temprite Climate Solutions Orioles’. The Reds were led by Adam Berkenstock (3IP, 0 ER) and Dallas

McDonald (2IP, 0ER) on the mound and the Reds offence was provided by Jake Dojack (2-3, 2B) at the plate but he Oriole’s bats kept picking away at the Reds lead until the Orioles were up going into the last inning. The Orioles’ pitching staff (Keenan Andrew 2IP, Hayden Scheck 3IP, 1W, Hunter Edwards 2IP, 1SV) got stronger throughout the game - Hunter Edwards struck out the final batter of the game with 2 outs and the tying run on third to secure the victory for the Orioles 7 - 6. All games are Friday nights at 7 pm at Bill Moore Park in Courtenay.

England soccer fans gathering for World Cup opener Enthusiastic England soccer fans in the Comox Valley are getting together to cheer on their team in their opening match of the World Cup. The English-born owner of Courtenay heating company 21 Degrees Mechanical, Graeme Sargent, is coordinating what he hopes will be a celebratory event at the Flying Canoe pub at the Best Western Westerly Hotel. The first group match for their team is against Italy on the afternoon of Saturday, June 14. There are eight qualifying groups in the competition, with four national teams in each - the others in England’s group, apart from Italy, are Costa Rica and Uruguay. Two teams from each

group will go through to the next round, until the last two meet in the Rio de Janeiro final on July 13. “It’s four years since ex-pats and friends all got together at the former Edgewater Pub to watch England’s first game in the South Africa World Cup,” he recalled. “Since then we have had a barbecue, watched a rugby match and, of course, come

together for the Royal Wedding.” Sargent said the gathering was open to all soccer lovers, not just England fans, and he hoped the pub would be packed with fans of the game to watch the action unfold on the big screen. More details can be had by emailing him at gsargent33@gmail.com

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