Westerly News

Westerly News

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TOURISM

Left out at the Junction: PRVC at risk of losing lease ANDREW BAILEY

Westerly News The Ucluelet Chamber of Commerce is in financial trouble and may have to give up its lease at the Pacific Rim Visitor Centre.

Municipal councillor Dario Corlazzoli raised the issue during last week’s council meeting and said it had been sprung on him during a chamber meeting the night before.

“At the meeting last night there was major concerns with what they’re going to do...some of the comments weren’t something that were very positive,” he said. “They were getting to the point of looking at taking their 90-day option of giving up the information centre at the junction; they just can’t afford to run it.”

The chamber leases the centre from the district for about $20,000 a year at $1,700 a month.

Corlazzoli put forward a motion to lower the chamber’s rent from $1,700 to $700 for the rest of the year with the condition that the two sides meet in the fall to discuss a long-term strategy for the PRVC. “They’re $18,000 short, their only option is to forego it and in three months they’ll shut the centre down because they just don’t have the funds to operate it,” he said.

“We either look at how we can help them or look at finding a new contractor; it’s as simple as that.”

See PRVC page 16

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Former newsman kicks off cross-country motorcycle Ride for Sight on West Coast

A photo celebration of West Coast Mums PAGE 10&11 A photo celebration of West Coast Mums PAGE 10&11

Tofino boat launch on Saturday.

Westerly News “I’ll turn around and Wheeling across Canhead across this land on ada with a good cause in two wheels,” Kenny said mind, Eoin Kenny kicked on his blog, acrossthisoff his Ride for Sight on landontwowheels. the West Coast of VanEoin Kenny, above at the Black Rock Oceanfront It’s all in support of couver Island.

Resort, sprinkles Pacific Ocean water on his ‘Bike-athe Foundation Fighting The Edmonton man, Lounger in Tofino on Saturday.

Blindness. recently retired from a “I have always worn career in newspaper and communications that included time with the Alberta glasses and over the years, they have become stronger as my vision gets weaker. And I’ve always government, baptized his BMW K1200LT – aka the See RIDER page 16 Bike-A-Lounger - motorcycle with water from a JACKIE CARMICHAEL

Talent showcase pics PAGE 19 Talent showcase pics PAGE 19

Ucluelet’s own Gravelmart at the Ucluelet RENT-IT Center • Top Soil • Bark Mulch • Delivery available 8am–5pm Monday – Friday & Saturday 9am–3pm 250.726.7368

Behind Barry’s Drug Mart

Page 2 | The Westerly News

Wednesday, May 21, 2014

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The Westerly News | Page 3

Wednesday, May 21, 2014

The Westerly News (1987) Ltd. is a division of VI Newspaper Group Limited Partnership

CALENDAR OF EVENTS/WHAT’S ON

The Westerly News publishes weekly on Wednesday and regularly posts online at www.westerlynews.

ca WHO WE ARE

Hugh Nicholson, publisher hnicholson@glaciermedia.ca Jackie Carmichael, editor editor@westerlynews.ca Andrew Bailey, reporter reporter@westerlynews.ca Paul Schroeder, advertising advertising@westerlynews.ca CONTACT US

21WEDNESDAY Recycling Day in Ucluelet Preschool Play Group, 10am– noon, Tofino Community Hall.

Seniors Social Afternoons, 1:30-4pm, Tofino Legion. Free admission & refreshments.

Dominos, crib, board games, pool, snooker & darts.

Strong Start, Ucluelet Elementary School, 8:35-11:35.

Holy Family Church, 9:30am, 1664 Peninsula Rd. Ucluelet.

Ucluelet library, open 1–6pm The Ucluelet Glee Club rehearse for their upcoming presentations of ‘A time traveling comedy of errors (...and musical solutions).’ Locals can take in two performances this weeked with the first running on Friday May 23 at 7pm and the second on Saturday May 24 at 3pm. Both shows are at the Ucluelet community centre.

P.O. Box 317, Ucluelet B.C. V0R 3A0 Helping Your Anxious Child, potluck dinner and workshop. Free 102-1801 Bay Street, Ucluelet shuttle from Tofino donated by Tofino Parks and Rec. 5:30 p.m. at Ucluelet Elementary School.

Info session at 6 p.m. Info session on Canada Child Tax Disability Certificate. Jason LeFevre, MCFD; Cathy Patterson-Sterling, district counselor, SD70; Kleri Venizelos, Wickaninnish Community School counselor/special ed teacher.

Ph: 250-726-7029 Fax: 250-726-4282 E-mail: office@westerlynews.ca DEADLINES Display ads Monday at noon Call 250-266-0557 office@westerlynews.ca Classified ads Tuesday at 10 a.m.

Call 1-866-415-9169 classifieds@westerlynews.ca Online ads Start anytime Call 250-266-0557 office@westerlynews.ca

22 THURSDAY

Letters to the editor Monday at noon office@westerlynews.ca SUBSCRIPTIONS

Healthy Babies Program/ Family Ties, 10:30am. Drop-in for expectant, new parents, Coastal Family Place, Local area: $75.18 Free community lunch, noon– Seniors (local): $63.91 2pm, Coastal Community Services Canada: $84.56 U.S.: $155.18 Hub, Ucluelet. Info 250-726-2343.

The Edge Youth Room, 3–6pm, To subscribe call: 1-888-311-7713 or 250-729-4266 Ucluelet Community Centre & Youth Nite at the Edge, Cooking, movies, art projects & more, We acknowledge the financial support of 6–8pm, $2. the Government of Canada through the Tofino library, 331 Main St., Canada Periodical Fund of the Department of Canadian Heritage.

3–7pm.

Pacific Rim Toastmasters, meet The Tofino-Ucluelet Westerly News, a division of the VI Newspaper Group Limited every Thursday at 7:30 - 9:00 at the Partnership, respects your privacy. We UCC, room 2. Guests always welcollect, use and disclose your personal come. Call 250-726-2766 for info. information in accordance with our David Crombie Live at the DriftPrivacy Statement which is available by calling 250-729-4223. The contents of this wood Café. Complimentary event. newspaper are protected by copyright 6:30-9pm. and may be used only for personal, non-

Night, 7pm - 9:30pm, 243 Main Street, Ucluelet, 250-726-7668.

Admission by donation.

Wickaninnish Community School spring concert, 1:15 p.m. in the gym.

Ucluelet Elementary School spring concert, 12:50 p.m. in the gym. All welcome!

Ucluelet Glee Club presents, A time traveling comedy of errors (...and musical solutions. 7pm at the Ucluelet community Centre. Adults $8, kids $5.

24 SATURDAY Tofino library, 331 Main St., open 10am–noon & 1–5pm.

St. Francis of Assisi Church, mass 5:30pm, 441 Main St. Tofino.

AA meeting, 7:30pm, St. Francis Church, 441 Main, Tofino.

Ucluelet Glee Club presents, A time traveling comedy of errors (...and musical solutions.) 3pm at the Ucluelet community Centre. Adults $8, kids $5.

Tofino hospital fundraiser, 6 pm, Tofino legion. No ticket sales at the door. Contact Arlene McGinnis at 250-725-3310.

REMAX Yard Sale for the Cure, 10am-1pm at the Moorage building in Ucluelet. Call 250-726-2228 to

23 FRIDAY

donate items.

Tofino Library Storytime 11:30 a.m.-12 noon. 331 Main St. Preschool The Edge Youth Room, 2–6pm, Ucluelet community centre Blackberry Cove Coffeehouse

May 21 *Ucluelet RECYCLES

25 SUNDAY Christ Community Church, 10:30am, 1419 Peninsula Rd.

Ucluelet.

Grace Bible Church, 10:30am, Ucluelet Community Ctr., 500 Matterson Dr. Holy Family Church, 10 am, 1664 Peninsula Rd. Ucluelet.

St. Columba Church, 10:30am, 110 Second St. Tofino.

Tofino Bible Fellowship at Tofino Legion Hall, 331 Main, at 10:30.

Winter’s Tale (Rom/Dr, US, 2014, 118 min, Rated PG). Director: Akiva Goldsman This is not a true story… this is true love. Set in a mythic New York City and spanning more than a century, “Winter’s Tale” is about miracles, crossed destinies, and the age-old battle between good and evil.

27 TUESDAY Fish and Loaves free community lunch 11:30 a.m-1:00 p.m at the Tofino Community hall.

Healthy Babies Program/ Family Ties, 10:30am.

Ucluelet library. Ucluelet Community Centre, open 1–6pm.

The Edge Youth Room, 3–6pm, Ucluelet Community Centre Youth night, 7-9pm, Tofino Legion.

St. Francis of Assisi Church, mass 5pm, 441 ADVENTURE Main St. Tofino.

SHOPPING Food Bank on at the Edge, pick up 1–3pm, Seaplane Base Rd. AA meeting, 7:30pm, St. FranQuality used cis Church, 441 housewares, Main, Tofino.

Sunday, May 25 - Crêpes Breakfast and CPF Pacific Rim Membership Drive in Tofino Crêpes Breakfast and CPF Pacific Rim Membership Drive, Tofino Community Hall, 10am -1pm.

Membership drive for Pacific Rim Chapter of Canadian Parents for French (CPF). Free if you are a CPF member or $5 per person. Memberships is $25 per household. French games for kids, French music.

Advanced Barista Training, 2011 Canadian Barista Champion and World Champion Competitor, 2 -5pm, Cost $40. Main Street Espresso at Tofino Sea Kayaking 320 Main St.

CARGO THRIFT

26 MONDAY Floor hockey, 7–9pm, Ucluelet Seaplane Base Rec Hall. $2 drop-in.

Indoor Soccer, 8–10pm, Ucluelet Secondary School gym, $2.

Competitive & drop-in darts, doors 7pm, play 8pm, Tofino Legion.

clothes, books & music

OPEN 11-5 MON-SAT MAIN ST. UCLUELET (across from CIBC) Supporting local charities Donation items welcome

Monday night at the Movies, Clayouot Community Theatre,

T H U R S DAY 2 2

F R I DAY 2 3

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M O N DAY 2 6

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TIDES Thursday 22 1:39 AM 7:34 AM 1:54 PM 8:32 PM

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Saturday 24 feet

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Monday 26 feet

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Tuesday 27 feet

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0.4 2.9 1.3

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Opinion

Page 4 | The Westerly News

Wednesday, May 21, 2014

COMMENT

Round 2: Hospital Infections, Drugs, Deaths (Round 2) In 2005, I was assured by the Health Minister of the day that Health Canada was actively investigating Dr. JAMES C. difficile deaths in LUNNEY, Canadian MP hospitals /LOCAL and the relation to VOICE stomach acid suppressant drugs called Proton Pump Inhibitors (PPIs). A study by the Canadian Nosocomial Infection Surveillance Program (CNISP) would get to the bottom of it. It didn’t. The

study presented in 2007 failed to collect data on the PPI issue. (Amazingly it purports to be the most extensive review on the subject in North America and useful as a base-line for future studies.)

In 2010, after five articles in the Archives of Internal Medicine, I met with regulators. No warnings to doctors or hospitals. The background information documents progressively weaker references to PPIs on the Health Canada C. difficile Fact Sheet with the strongest warning in 2004. I

see it was updated last week eliminating any mention of PPIs as a risk factor.

The government formed the Drug Safety and Effectiveness Network. DSEN reported back in 2012 confirming the concerns I have been raising since 2004. The advisory put out by Health Canada is weak and contradictory (see background info). Incredibly, Health Canada seems prepared to ignore even this report.

In a letter dated January 2014, the DSEN director confirms the strong association of PPIs to C. difficle

infection (CDI) but states DSEN has no role beyond reporting back to the regulator. DSEN’s key objectives (according to its website) are “to increase the evidence on drug safety and effectiveness available to regulators, policy makers, health care providers and patients. So DSEN seems confused about its role. Health Canada seems incapable of raising appropriate warnings.

A weak and contradictory website posting under recalls and alerts is just not sufficient.

How is it possible to do a

nationwide study in teaching hospitals and not collect data on the medications at admission?

Who is looking after the concerns of Canadians?

1,400 deaths a year; a widely distributed class of drugs that are overprescribed according to published medical literature. Where are the clear warnings to doctors and hospitals about reducing the use of these overused medications for patients at risk?

Where are the public warnings to consumers who are unaware their lives

and well-being are at risk?

Where are the meetings with Provincial/Territorial representatives/authorities to tighten controls on prescribing?

How many deaths, fractures, seizures, vitamin deficiencies and sudden acute heart attacks leading to deaths before the regulator acts to restrict use of these drugs to the small number of patients who warrant the risks? Who is looking after the interest of Canadians?

Dr. James Lunney is the outgoing Member of Parliament for Nanaimo-Alberni.

Thanks to local business for boost to SIMRS research Strawberry Isle Marine Research Society would like to give a great big thanks to Jamie’s Whaling JESSICA Station and HUTCHINSON their staff /LOCAL for their VOICE generous donation of $10,000.

Jamie’s Whaling Station provides an annual donation to the Strawberry Isle Marine Research Society through a $2 research fee that is added to each Jamie’s whale watching tours. At the end of each year, Jamie’s donates the cash to Strawberry Isle Marine Research Society and other charities in the community.

Strawberry Isle Marine Research

Society is a registered charity based in Clayoquot Sound. We are a group of dedicated naturalists and biologists who conduct marine research, monitor marine life unique to Clayoquot Sound, sup-

port other researchers and promote education and involvement in marine monitoring in Clayoquot Sound.

Over the past 22 years, we have monitored the location of birds

and mammals on our continental shelf, rescued several entangled whales, and mapped eelgrass meadows. We continue to map and log Killer Whales, count sea lions, performed necropsies and

evaluated Gray Whale feeding grounds. We have collect information on water quality sampling in Lemmens Inlet and monitoring sediment movement over Tofino’s sewer outfalls. We keep data logs of more than 20 peripheral or rare species of marine mammals, birds and reptiles, including the Gray Wolf’s use of the intertidal area.

And on top of all this we travel across Canada with our ‘Builda-Whale’ Killer Whale education program.

Thank you Jamie’s Whaling Station, for helping this important work continue! To find out more about Strawberry Isle Marine Research Society follow us on Facebook or visit our website (strawberryisle.org).

CBT: Education a priority on the West Coast On May 8, over 40 people from throughout the region and beyond met to discuss the state of eduADRIENNE cation on the west coast and to MASON begin to envision /LOCAL future direcVOICE tions. Educators, administrators, parents, teachers, and students, from Ahousaht to Macoah and all points in between, as well as from Vancouver Island University and North Island College, gathered at Marina West in

Tofino for a day-long Regional Learning Forum organized by the Clayoquot Biosphere Trust (CBT).

After a welcome by Chief Moses Martin of the Tla-o-qui-aht First Nations and a round of introductions, the group reviewed some regional statistics related to education. Given that statistics lack context, this presentation spurred a lot of discussion from the cultural relevance of foundation skills assessment tests to the challenges of tracking attendance and graduation rates.

Participants at the learning

forum were encouraged by the strong involvement of communities and organizations from throughout the region. Discussions were honest, open, and sometimes challenging, as we discussed the many facets of education, from the impacts of the residential school system to challenges around housing and seasonal- or under-employment to the limited ways in which we currently measure educational “success.”

As attendees shared information about their educational programs and initiatives, their successes and

their challenges, it was clear that through collaboration our efforts could be magnified.

To this end, the forum ended with some concrete next steps.

The first is for the CBT to convene a West Coast Learning Council with the goal of shaping ideas, energy, and resources into regional actions. (An excellent model for the education council is the Coastal Family Resources Coalition, a group of people serving children and families on the west coast.

Together, this group coordinates programs and services, advocates

for resources, and is an excellent venue for communication amongst service providers.) Another practical suggestion was an education listserv to be managed by the CBT, which will create a means of easily sharing education opportunities across the region. Lastly, the group decided to meet again before the end of the school year with a focus on specific shared projects.

If you are interested in learning more about the West Coast Learning Council or would like to add your name to the listserv, please contact the CBT at 250-725-2219.

LETTERS POLICY: The Westerly News welcomes letters to the editor. We reserve the right to edit letters for clarity, taste, legality and length. We require your hometown and a daytime phone number for verification purposes. Letters must include your first name (or two initials) and last name. Unsigned letters and letters of more than 300 words will not be accepted. Email submissions to office@westerlynews.ca

The Westerly News | Page 5

Wednesday, May 21, 2014

MUNICIPALITY

Touting UNESCO recognition, Ukee unimpressed by CCM ANDREW BAILEY

Westerly News Ucluelet won’t be carving out a piece of the Community Carbon Marketplace pie.

The Cowichan Energy Alternatives Society (CEAS) launched the Marketplace last year to create opportunities for local governments to spend their carbon-offset dollars in town and boost the profitability of local economically sustainable practices.

CEAS spokesperson Brian Roberts presented to Ucluelet’s council in February and encouraged

them to sign onto the program but Ucluelet doesn’t see a fit.

“The problem is they’re fairly restrictive in what they accept as offsets,” said Ucluelet Mayor Bill Irving. “They don’t recognize in hindsight what we’ve done, it has to be new initiatives.”

He touted Ucluelet’s 2006 UNESCO Gold Award for sustainable development as evidence of the district’s past commitment to environmental investment.

“That’s acknowledgement that we’ve looked at the broader picture using advanced planning

technologies and we were found to be very proactive and creative in using the existing modeling and putting it into practice on the ground to preserve the environmental and economic health in our community,” he said.

Irving was disappointed the marketplace only considers new initiatives and cited Ucluelet’s parkland requirements as an example of current environmental efforts the marketplace ignores.

The Municipal Government Act requires all subdivisions to dedicate at least 5 per cent of land to

parkland but Ucluelet requires between 30-40 per cent, according to Irving.

“The objective we’re trying to achieve is to maintain that healthy green environment but also allow developers to build hubs or centres of activity,” Irving said. “The province said ‘well, that was good of you to do that but we don’t recognize that as a contribution.’”

Ucluelet is one of 180 BC municipalities—BC has 188 municipalities—that signed a charter in 2008 committing to be carbon neutral by 2012.

Only 30 communities have achieved this goal and Ucluelet is not one of them.

Ucluelet spent about $3,500 purchasing carbon offsets in 2013 but Irving said the district will not rush to spend more in an effort to spend less.

“We’re somewhat reluctant to throw money at something just to save $3,000,” he said. “We’d rather have a good long-term investment for the health of the community regardless of whether it’s an offset or not.”

Ukee supports roller derby; tough to find space in Tuff for ANDREW BAILEY

Westerly News While they struggle to find practice space in Tofino, the West Coast’s roller girl team continues to be welcomed in Ucluelet.

During Tofino’s last municipal council meeting, Black Pearls spokesperson Christine Lowther urged council to allow the team to practice in the Tofino community hall.

She said most of the team’s members live in Tofino but district fears over potential floor damage has kept them out of Tofino’s facilities.

The Pearls have been practicing at Ucluelet’s Seaplane Base Rec Hall for the past two years but Lowther said

round-trip drives to Ukee are burning out team members and scaring potential new members away.

Ucluelet’s director of Parks and Recreation Abby Fortune said the district’s relationship with the team

has been solid and there was no hesitation on Ucluelet’s part to allow roller skates on the Rec Hall’s floor.

“My philosophy is we have these facilities to be used,” Fortune said.

“We didn’t build these facilities to be pristine, we built these facilities for the public to participate in activities.”

She noted the Black Pearls are not the Rec Hall’s only roller skating user group as the facility also hosts a youth roller derby program and a roller skating dance program. Fortune acknowledged the district would not allow roller skating events in the newer Ucluelet Community Centre but that this is the beauty of having multiple facilities in town.

Tofino’s staff is working with the team on the feasibility of a practice space. reporter@westerlynews.ca

COMMENT

Alarming health reports should help West Coast focus on issues A recently published report from Island Health doesn’t seem to paint a pretty picture for the West Coast – but there’s OUR an even VIEW bigger problem. The problem is that sweeping generalities don’t help anybody, and this document is actually crunching numbers from a far-flung region that includes the Alberni Valley and outlying First Nations communities as well as the West Coast towns of Ucluelet and Tofino.

The stats throw together a dizzying jumble of data, including the National Household Survey, the B.C. Statistics Agency, B.C. Vital Statistics and the prov-

ince’s Ministry of Health. It cites an eye-aching array of social, economic and health numbers in the hopes of providing a general depiction of area residents’ well being.

The overall impression after a read-through is the prevalence of unhealthy conditions on the Island’s West Coast; entire communities struggling to progress while hindered by excessive drinking and lower than average incomes.

Island Health’s regional profile suffers from generalitis.

It covers at least 10 communities over 6,904 square kilometers, stretching from the west side of Cathedral Grove to the Island’s coast, including Bamfield, Ucluelet, Tofino and the many First Nations that surround those communities.

We dare not ignore frightening numbers in this report that leap off the page. Overall, the region’s infant mortality rate is 8.2 deaths for every 1,000 births – double the provincial average.

Twenty-one of 1,000 children born on the West Coast are put into protective care by the time they reach 18, a disturbing statistic triple the rate seen across the province.

Thirty-two percent of children in the area are cared for by single parents – six per cent higher than the provincial rate – while 10.4 per cent of births in the region are to teenage mothers. The number of teenage births across the province is a much smaller three per cent.

Among adults, the West Coast has the highest rate of

coronary heart disease and medically-treatable conditions on the Island.

On average, an adult here drinks 177 litres of alcohol annually, compared to the 104 litres consumed by the typical B.C. resident. Rates of high blood pressure and depression are higher than across the province, and the region has an average life expectancy of 78 – four years lower than the B.C. standard.

The Island Health report goes beyond medical data to indicate the economic disadvantages of the entire area’s residents.

Labour force participation in the Alberni region is 60.5 per cent, five points lower than the number of adults in B.C. 25 and older who are working. While the median family income of $57,090 is almost $9,000 less than

the provincial earnings, the typical lone female parent makes just $33,077 – more than $10,000 below the average for single mothers across the province.

While the report doesn’t provide pull-out numbers for ethnicity, it does note that in the Alberni-Clayoquot Regional District, 16.9 per cent of individuals are either First Nations, Métis or Inuit, triple the portion of aboriginal people in B.C.’s population.

Other studies show a disproportionate number of aboriginal people suffer from health and economic issues in comparison to non-aboriginal Canadians.

According to Health Canada, First Nations heart disease rates are 1.5 times higher than other nonaboriginal Canadians, while Type 2 diabetes is at least

three times more prevalent.

This suggests the First Nations figures included in the larger West Coast picture should be specifically addressed as a more focused health issue.

The piece comes at a tough time; media over the last month has not necessarily been kind to Port Alberni, including a report from MoneySense Magazine ranking Port Alberni dead last among the 201 best cities to live in Canada.

While Island Health’s recent numbers could be seen as a blow to the area’s confidence, this disturbing data can also serve as a call to action to address health concerns in a focused manner.

For all of us, it’s important to collate the data so we can know what to work on. editor@westerlynews.ca

Page 6 | The Westerly News

Wednesday, May 21, 2014

CHAMBER OF COMMERCE

Gord Johns resigns; Jen Dart to take reins at TLBCC ANDREW BAILEY

Westerly News Gord Johns announced his resignation from the Tofino Long Beach Chamber of Commerce last week ending a successful four-year reign as its executive director.

“I’ve had some unique things presented to me recently that I need to consider,” he told the Westerly News.

“If I want to participate in being a part of greater change then it’s time for me to take some risks and play it on the wire and, in the coming months, I’ll be unveiling some of the considerations that I’m taking that will definitely put me out playing on the wire.”

He said he is excited to push himself and take on new challenges.

“If you want to have an impact in change you need to challenge yourself and push yourself and I felt like I’d done that here and I was ready to take it to the next level,” he said. “To push myself and challenge myself to do better for the community and our region and to see if we can take what we’ve done here and bring it to a larger audience and continue to motivate and make positive change.”

The Tofino Long Beach Chamber of Commerce’s incoming executive director Jen Dart and outgoing executive director Gord Johns at last week’s chamber luncheoun at Darwin’s Cafe. Lower right, chamber members listen to the announcement.

PHOTO ANDREW BAILEY

John’s resignation will take effect on June 30 and while he is excited at his future opportunities he spoke highly of the job he’s leaving behind.

“It’s been the greatest job I’ve ever had and that’s because the (chamber) board has allowed me

to make it the greatest job I’ve ever had. Their creative and innovative ideas have allowed me to be able to work really hard on behalf of them and have some success,” he said.

The Tofino chamber received ‘Honourable Mention’ for 2013’s BC Chamber of the Year meaning it placed second out of 130 province-wide chambers and Johns said the award marked the highlight of his tenure.

He said it was an honour to be part of the Tofino chamber’s 85-year legacy.

“I don’t think

58th Annual General MeeƟng

Wednesday June 4th, 2014, 7:00 PM Wickaninnish School • 2 Director PosiƟons for ElecƟon (NominaƟon Papers must be Įled by May 21st 2014) • Door Prizes • Refreshments Following MeeƟng

there’s an end here, I think it’s a continuum and it’s an exciting time,” he said. “To be part of that continuum has been an honour and a pleasure.”

Johns will hand over the chamber’s reins to his current assistant and former Westerly News reporter Jen Dart.

“It’s a daunting prospect to take over Gord’s role, especially because of the amazing energy he brought,” Dart told the Westerly. “Tough shoes to fill but great shoulders to stand on because he has been really instrumental in my involvement with the chamber over the years. He’s a very inspiring person to work with and I hope I can do it half as well as he did.”

Dart was hired as the chamber’s communications and membership services assistant in December 2013.

“We hired her with the idea and the hope that she would be the next executive director when we felt the time was right,” Johns said. “Her skill set is very strong, she’s very organized and she’s got great energy.”

Dart will officially become the chamber’s new executive director on Sept. 1.

“The goal of the chamber is to help businesses thrive in any way we can so that’s going to be my focus,” Dart said. “We have a really outstanding community of entrepreneurs and my goal is going to be to help them flourish.”

The chamber’s board is hashing out strategies to fill the assistant position Dart is graduating from.

Emotional last luncheon The chamber’s last luncheon of 2014 was held at Darwin’s Cafe

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last week and an emotional Johns told chamber members his passion for Tofino still runs deep and he will serve as an advisor and friend to Dart and she steps into her new role.

“I need you to show patience and to be understanding as Jen takes this role on,” he said. “To help her and give her the energy that she needs for our community to be even better.”

Tofino Mayor Josie Osborne thanked Johns for inspiring Tofino’s business community.

“Gord has had a huge role in literally transforming the chamber over the last four years,” she said, “doubling the membership, building the budget, and building so many programs that have extended so many fingers and tendrils not only throughout this community but across Vancouver Island and right across the country.”

Osborne said she had been awed watching Johns’ networking skills in action at various workshops and conferences.

“One of the phrases that I heard recently when somebody was talking about Gord was he’s a real ‘people whisperer’ and isn’t that the truth,” she said. “Gord has an extraordinary ability to bring out the best in people and to bring them together and network them like no one could believe.”

Don Travers, who served as chamber president when Johns was hired four years ago, said Johns’ high energy “ballooned the chamber until we just about burst with initiatives.”

Travers thanked Johns for his energetic commitment.

“You made me look good, it was so easy to look good you just did everything with our board in support,” Travers said.

Travers welcomed Dart to her new role and offered encouragement for a successful tenure.

“You’re not filling Gord’s shoes, you’re going to come in with your own skill set (and) your own expertise,” he said. “You maybe are not a people whisperer...but you’ll bring your own expertise...we’re looking forward to seeing where we go next.” reporter@westerlynews.ca

The Westerly News | Page 7

Wednesday, May 21, 2014

POLICE

Tourist’s air-soft gun causes stir ANDREW BAILEY

Westerly News A tourist caused a stir in Ucluelet last week after being seen walking through town with what appeared to be a pistol in his pocket.

A concerned citizen spotted the man around 9:45 a.m. and immediately contacted police and provided a description of the man to Const. Jarrett Duncan.

Duncan located the man near the corner of Peninsula Road and Bay Street and arrested him after spotting what appeared to be the butt of a gun sticking out of his pocket.

“All I could see was the butt end of it,” Duncan said. “The butt end of the gun looked identical to my pistol.”

Duncan pulled the perceived weapon out and discovered it was an airsoft gun, a replica that fires plastic pellets.

“It’s a toy essentially; it’s something you can pick up at the local drug store,” Duncan said. “He was released without charges. There wasn’t an offence there, but he was informed to be a little bit more aware of where he’s carrying that airsoft gun.”

While the incident turned out to be a false alarm, Duncan commended the concerned citizen for reporting the suspicious man and noted the call could have prevented a serious situation had the gun been real.

“If anyone sees anything suspicious don’t be afraid to report it, or embarrassed if it turns out that it’s not what you thought it was,” Duncan said. “Don’t feel shy to report to us because we’re going to follow up and make sure at the end of the Ucluelet RCMP Const. Jarrett Duncan.

FILE PHOTO ANDREW BAILEY. day everybody’s safe.” reporter@westerlynews.ca

SERVICE CLUBS

Rotary Club idea gathers steam in Tofino ANDREW BAILEY

Westerly News Service-minded Tofitians could soon have another local outlet to focus their efforts.

There are about 34,000 Rotary clubs across the world and Tofino might be the network’s next new addition.

During last week’s Tofino-Long Beach Chamber of Commerce luncheonhosted

by Darwin’s Cafe, several Rotarian representatives presented on the prospects of a West Coast Rotary club.

Outgoing Rotary District Governor Peter Taylor of Tacoma Washington traveled to Tofino to speak at the event and encourage Tofitians to sign on.

“It’s a great opportunity; I think everyone would benefit,” he said. “We love the area and we would love to have a club here.”

Incoming District Governor Michael Procter said the Rotary’s “service above self” mantra could be good for Tofino.

“We really just exist to help our communities and also communities all over the world,” he told the group.

He said Rotary clubs host local events to raise funds for their communities while international projects are largely funded through the Rotary Foundation.

He said Rotarians travel to the parts of the world their fundraising dollars are being spent to witness their efforts become much needed on-the-ground assets.

“It’s one of the most gratifying things in the world to do,” he said.

“It’s a very, very moving experience.”

He assured Tofitians would not need to sign on to a huge time commitment to get the ball rolling.

“You can’t have a meeting in this part of the world every week; it’s very difficult ,people are busy,” he said adding Rotary’s meeting requirements have changed to be more accommodating to members.

Ken Whiteman, Assistant Governor of the Arrowsmith Rotary Club

in Port Alberni, said his club could help guide Tofino through the process of getting started.

“What my club is prepared to do is to sponsor the Pacific Rim Rotary Club out here if you decide to get it going,” he said.

His Arrowsmith club has about 20 members and a Rotary must have 20 members in order to get off the ground.

“I like the smaller clubs because you get to know everybody and you get to work with them on different projects and it’s a lot of fun,” he said.

Whiteman, who has worked in Tofino in the past, said he’s thrilled by the demographic of his Tofitian audience.

“What amazes me is the number of young people here that are in business,” he said. “It’s not an old timers club anymore out here, there’s a lot of new young people, new energies, and that’s great.”

He said a Rotary club could be a strong fit for Tofitians looking to support local and international projects and cited

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Page 8 | The Westerly News

Wednesday, May 21, 2014

MONKS POINT

Land Conservancy: Dire straits hidden until too late ANDREW BAILEY

Westerly News The Westerly News recently reported on Lois Warner’s concern over The Land Conservancy’s consideration of selling Monks Point.

Warner’s brother Harold Monks left the property to TLC in 2008 and it is now one of many properties TLC is considering selling to pay off roughly $8 million worth of debt.

TLC has filed for creditor protection and all land sales must receive court approval.

Warner found out about the potential sale of Monks Point in an April Westerly News article and immediately wrote to TLC’s director of operations John Shields expressing her concern.

Shields wrote back to Warner acknowledging her frustration.

“TLC found itself borrowing money to save properties and to protect endangered heritage places or properties important to conserve for their ecological importance,” he wrote. “In the

The property Harold Monks left in care of the now-financially troubled The Land Conservancy.

economic downturn of a few years ago, donations fell off and TLC found itself with mortgages, suppliers, and even staff that it could not afford to pay except by more borrowing.”

He suggested the TLC’s debt had been hidden, growing to unmanageable proportions by the time the board realized its financial dire straits.

“There were only two choices, go into bankruptcy or attempt to pay creditors through a combination of donations and property sales.”

He said bankruptcy would Vaccine and Appointment Clinic have led to the

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TLC’s properties being sold at auction for “pennies on the dollar” and assured the TLC will strive to ensure the properties it does sell will be preserved by the new owners.

He said there is no immediate plan to sell Monks Point.

“We are exploring possibilities that will meet the expectations of the Supreme Court judge who is overseeing the payment of creditors and the Board’s intention to find the best possible situation for Monks Point,” he wrote.

As the TLC considers whether to sell Monks Point, the district of Tofino is considering its own course of action and recently published the results of a district circulated survey.

“The district of Tofino could conceivably purchase the property, and that was one reason why we asked community members how they feel about such a purchase,” said Tofino Mayor Josie Osborne.

The survey was circulated from March 29 to April 13 and 204 responses were received; 178 were filled out by local Tofitians.

A whopping 92 per cent of

responders said they supported the preservation of Monks Point and 74 per cent said they were in favour of Tofino acquiring the property but only 26 per cent supported raising the funds through taxation.

Tofino Mayor Josie Osborne told the Westerly News the results informed Tofino council’s discussions in two key ways.

“First, there was overwhelming support for the preservation of the property for public use, and second, community members raised very valid concerns and suggestions about the District’s possible involvement.

The latter especially improves Council’s deliberations and decision-making.”

Osborne noted the survey’s 204 responders represent over 10 per cent of the community’s population but said a grain of salt should be served with the responses.

“All surveys contain bias in their questions and methods, and they are just one way of gauging public opinion,” she said “This survey’s results need to be taken with those sources of bias

in consideration. For example, people who feel most passionately about saving the property likely felt more incentive to respond to the survey.”

She said she was not surprised by the survey’s results.

“I expected most respondents to be in favour of preserving the property in some manner, and I expected there to be varied opinions on who could be the property’s next owner and how funds could be raised to purchase and operate the property,” she said.

“I also expected statements of absolute outrage that we could even be in this position where a property is donated in good faith to an organization that now is considering selling it to service debts created by the management and purchase of other properties.”

She said the district has not planned any further community consultation on the matter and is still mulling over their next steps.

The full results of the survey are available on the district’s website at www.tofino.ca. reporter@westerlynews.ca

UCLUELET

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Westerly News Ucluelet has been looking for new opportunities for the Amphitrite Coast Guard facility and believes one may be found in oil spill response.

“We would like employment in our community and

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we would like higher skilled advanced employment opportunities that have a direct connection to our marine environment,” said Ucluelet Mayor Bill Irving.

Irving said the district has presented the idea to Kinder Morgan and both the provincial and federal governments and has been met with some interest.

“In all those cases there’s an interest and that’s all I can say at this point, there’s interest and that has got potential,” Irving said. “Nobody’s

making a commitment but, rather than slam the door on us, everybody has said there’s potential there.”

Kinder Morgan has proposed an expansion of its Trans Mountain Pipeline but Irving believes the outcome of this proposal should not affect the potential of an oil spill response centre in Ucluelet.

“Today 15,000 large ships go in and out of Juan de Fuca strait and each one of those carries enough fuel to be a potential oil spill,” he said.

“Our pitch to the govern-

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ment and Kinder Morgan was if you’re talking about showing Canada world class oil spill response you can do that right now, you don’t have to wait for increased tanker traffic, there’s enough fuel going up and down this coast now to develop programs which show Canadians that you are really serious, regardless of any increase in tanker traffic, about protecting the Coast.”

Irving said such a centre would bring high-level employment, and high-level technology to the region.

“We’ve suggested to government and universities that this could easily go well beyond just an oil spill response and a world class response centre to a real marine ecosystem management centre because the technologies are tied together,” he said.

“There’s a lot of technology in this area that could be tied together to a broader marine ecosystem plan...There’s a whole marine ecosystem science beyond oil spill that could be a benefit to the Pacific Coast and stationed out of Ucluelet.” reporter@westerlynews.ca

The Westerly News | Page 9

Wednesday, May 21, 2014

COMMUNITY

The Soccer Mini World Cup was held in Courtenay recently. Ucluelet sent a West Coast Team in the U10 boys division. The teams are usually made up of kids of all one age division split boys and girls, but with fewer members, Ucluelet’s team included a girl and a recruit from Tofino.

Each team is given a country and then there is even a parade of nations. The West Coast team was Armenia.

There were many spectators and out on Mother’s Day to cheer on the athletes in the beautiful sunshine. PHOTOS

First Ucluelet Beavers and Cubs participated in their first JOTT - Jamboree on the Trail with a hike to Halfmoon Bay. Jamboree On The Trail is an annual day for the World Scout Movement to hike together. All Scouts, whatever their age and wherever they may be in theworld, are invited to participate in whatever way they can.

COURTESY JENNIFER RHODES.

Tofino gets $496K in RMI funding; Ukee gets $133K ANDREW BAILEY

difficult for a small community like Tofino to provide these assets for our visitors and local residents,” said Tofino Mayor Josie Osborne.

Ucluelet has received about $1.1 million since joining the program in 2008 and has focused this money on building its natural assets to attract visitors. RMIfunded projects include Wild Pacific Trail developments and improvements to Big Beach, Little Beach, and Terrace Beach.

This year’s haul will be steered towards the Wild Pacific Trail, the public boat launch, parking and signage, according to the release.

“The District of Ucluelet is so appreciative of the strategic and practical investment the Ministry has made in our community,” said Ucluelet Mayor Bill Irving.

“We’re committed to our tourism indus-

Westerly News The Provincial government is making it rain money on BC’s 14 resort municipalities, dropping $10.5 million with over half a million of those dollars landing on the West Coast.

The money comes from the Province’s resort municipality initiative (RMI), which is designed to help resort-based communities deal with seasonally dependent economies and expand their tourism reach.

Ucluelet will receive $133,861 and Tofino will receive $496,306, according to BC’s Ministry of Jobs, Tourism and Skills Training. Resort municipalities are mandated to invest their RMI dollars in tourism infrastructure and programs designed to encourage visitation and extend stays.

Tofino’s money is earmarked for special events, trail improvements, beach access, downtown vitalization GARAGE SALE and civic centre upgrades, according to the release.

Tofino has THE ONE TIME A YEAR THAT received about PEOPLE GET EXCITED $4.6 million ABOUT BUYING worth of RMI funding since joining the program in 2008 and has spent this money enhancing the community’s visitor experience.

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try and the funds will help us produce positive results that benefit not only Ucluelet, but the region as a whole.”

The province has handed out roughly $86 million of RMI money since the program’s inception in 2006, according to the release, which adds BC’s tourism sector employs over 125,000 people and delivers about $13 billion in revenue to the province.

“The Resort Municipality Initiative is designed to help improve and strengthen the economies of these tourism hot spots,” said Minister of Jobs, Tourism and Skills Training Shirley Bond. “It also means more jobs and ensuring visitors return to the communities for years to come.”

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Page 10 | The Westerly News

Wednesday, May 21, 2014

SUBMITTED PHOTOS

EAT/PLAY/LIVE: MOM WITH ME PHOTOS

Westerly Mums: A celebration! empowering guiding

loving

There are mums who mother, mums who adopt, mums who foster, mums who care for others, there are JACKIE mums who CARMICHAEL shepherd families of /EDITOR animals and for whom their animals are their kids.

There are mums who do great jobs because they had great parents – and other mothers who do great jobs despite parents who could contribute little other than

a gene pool. There are mums who could only contribute a gene pool and a place for a baby to grow, who have shared their parenting with adoptive mums.

You are still a mum if your child is gone and you miss your child.

Your mum is still your mum if she is gone and you miss her. You can still honour your mum even if she is a frail shadow of the woman who raised you.

To mothers everywhere who do their best, the Westerly News salutes you with these pictures

and adjectives.

See our Facebook page to learn more about them, and to see the lucky name we drew for the prize.

Special thanks for the creative and touching memories shared in our Facebook Mother’s Day contest.

You rock.

I recently witnessed a miracle: my progeny’s progeny. Just to hold my new granddaughter was amazing, her compact 10-pound frame the sweetest, most wonderful bundle.

I went expecting to be of some help, but the greatest reward of all was wit-

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nessing the ease and affection with which her mum and dad took care of her infant needs. My work was done here, I thought to myself.

Forget Paris, Everest can stay where it is – this is my bucket list.

From there I journeyed to my youngest son’s college grad. College! I was just rocking him, five minutes ago!

During the ceremony, they had all the mothers in the auditorium stand up as the next day was Mother’s Day – and then again with their families as their particular graduate crossed the stage.

It was delightfully rewarding to see all three of my grown sons

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interacting, grown-ups who love and support each other, celebrating the “baby� of the family as he heads off to a doctoral fellowship in chemistry. I met his intended bride and her family, astounded again that my former babe-inarms is preparing to become a life partner.

Back in Ucluelet, my middle son served up his latest invention – some of the world’s best cinnamon buns. The family baker and my photo editor at the paper, he also does beautiful woodworking AND he is working on his business administration program at North Island College. He’s doing all this in his 30s despite an ongoing battle with debilitating and chronic illness, and I’m absolutely, unreservedly proud.

I’ve had a few accomplishments in this life:, but my bottom-line bucket list is these three children who have given me my happiest tears, who have taken their gene pool and done good things with it. They are a credit to themselves, and THAT makes me proud.

I think if you look at the pictures above, you’ll see that I’m not alone in feeling that pride, nor in having a great reason to.

May we all see the fruits of our family labours. For mums, every day is Mother’s Day.

The Westerly News | Page 11

Wednesday, May 21, 2014

EAT/PLAY/LIVE: MOM WITH ME PHOTOS

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Page 12 | The Westerly News

Wednesday, May 21, 2014

CLUES ACROSS 1. Extremely severe 6. Doctors’ group 9. Impetuous 13. Parks, Salazar and Blasi 14. Islamic leader 15. Shallowest great lake 16. A function to be performed 17. Bosnian border river 18. Boys 19. Midsummer derby 22. Rice wines (var. sp.)

23. College entrance exam 24. The first state 25. Payment (abbr.)

28. Fishing fabric 29. Short line after a character 31. Liquid dish 33. Evel Knievel 36. Progressive bodily wasting 38. Convert into leather 39. Gland secretion 41. Rundown apartments 44. A stratum of ore 45. Fathers 46. Goddess of the dawn 48. Feel regret 49. Bone component element 51. Steeped beverage 52. Set into a surface 54. 360 host 59. Southern annoyance!

60. Paths 61. Yemen monetary unit 63. Musician Clapton 64. Supplements with difficulty 65. Lofty nest of a bird of prey 66. Duct or masking 67. Used to be United ___ 68. 18th Hebrew letter (var. sp.)

CLUES DOWN 1. Honeymooners actor Carney 2. Outer covering 3. Former Soviet state 4. Bangladeshi currency 5. Spanish be 6. Out of order 7. Head of hair 8. Built up 9. Kins

10. Distilled Middle Eastern beverage 11. Took sides 12. Siddhartha author 14. Exasperates 17. Faked an opponent 20. Delivery vehicle 21. Counterbalances 25. CA local time 26. Trench 27. Toothpaste containers 29. Word strings 30. A cotton filament 32. Regret for wrongdoing 34. Functioned 35. Hawaiian Feast 37. More dried-up 40. Woman (French) 42. Childhood contagion 43. Individual performances 47. __ Paulo, city 49. Officer trainee 50. Frogs, toads, tree toads 52. Located further inside 53. Belgian city destroyed in WWI 55. Flow in drops 56. Acorn trees 57. Tayra genus 58. Surprise attack 62. So. General 65. Indicates position

THIS WEEKS ANSWER

EAT/PLAY/LIVE: BOOKS REVIEW: The Fisher Queen – A Deckhand’s Tale of the BC Coast Sylvia Taylor Heritage House Publishing, 2012 The photo on page 8 is of salmon trollers docked in Ukee’s boat basin. All the action of the book happens on the Northern end of Vancouver Island but the tales told

by Sylvia Taylor are typical of any of our local fishers.

Well, that is if they are a new couple heading SUSAN out on their first LEE salmon trolling /WEST season together COAST in a 40-year-old READS converted camp tender. And if the novice deckhand is a mid-twentyish recent divorcee madly in love with an older artist/ fisherman - and one tough cookie to boot!

When I started reading the Fisher Queen I expected the usual gamut of experiences found in true-life recollections of adventures of boats on the water. The breakdowns and equipment failure, the calm, the storms, the calm before the storms, the interpersonal dynamics of both love and conflict,

the beauty, the fear, the oddball coastal “characters”, the heroic coastal “characters”... And they’re all here.

Moments of idyllic rapture, near-death experiences, grisly tragedy and monotonous hours of unproductive fishing. But Taylor’s writing is infused with ever-present humour and crafty imagery. “How do you dress a salmon? In fish-net stockings of course... With trolled salmon it’s not so much a disemboweling as it

is a surgery … with as much precision as a tossing deck will allow” of course waiting till it’s “definitely dead” otherwise resulting in some “very nasty karma … and lots of dressing injuries”. And when trolling, “unless there’s a fish on every hook, which hasn’t happened since Christ was a cowboy, wait till the gear is pulled.”

The personal details of Taylor’s summer on the ocean evoke the lifestyle at the tail-end of salmon fishing heyday when there were real live people living in actual fish stations scattered along the coast in places like Bull Harbour and Winter Harbour.

And she doesn’t shy away from the larger perspective of political, social and environmental issues that spelled the end of this era.

Her epilogue and afterword are important additions to the final coastal salmon fishing picture.

Entertaining read that will teach you as much about salmon fishing in the early 80’s, as Taylor herself develops into a full-fledged deck hand, as it will about relationships and strength of character.

Susan Lee is a Ucluelet bookseller and book reviewer for the Westerly News.

Send your letters and photos to oϞce@westerlynews.ca Get your classiÀed at by calling 1-866-415-9169

HOROSCOPE ARIES - Mar 21/Apr 20 Aries, your thoughts are distant right now, almost as if you’re living in a fantasy world. This is creatively beneficial but not so helpful for practical tasks.

TAURUS - Apr 21/May 21 Taurus, if you’re not careful, you could find yourself debating family and friends this week. Instead, try to sit back and listen rather than fostering debate.

GEMINI - May 22/Jun 21 Gemini, a realization about what is really important to you instills a renewed sense of confidence this week. You will be focused on important things.

CANCER - Jun 22/Jul 22 Cancer, if your finances seem like they are in a state of upheaval, it could be because you have not looked at everything in black and white just yet. Make some changes.

LEO - Jul 23/Aug 23 You come on too strong sometimes, Leo. Those who know you best can handle this approach, but you can scare off potential new friends if you do not ease up.

VIRGO - Aug 24/Sept 22 Be patient and do not demand too much of yourself during the next few days, Virgo. You need to keep your workload light; otherwise, you may get easily overwhelmed.

LIBRA - Sept 23/Oct 23 This is a time to discover the value of others, Libra. A willingness to try new things and delegate some responsibilities will free up your calendar.

SCORPIO - Oct 24/Nov 22 Certain personalities don’t always click, Scorpio. Don’t feel the need to overcompensate for a strained relationship. Spend more time with those with whom you connect.

SAGITTARIUS - Nov 23/Dec 21 Flexible thinking is key, Sagittarius, especially as you face a few new challenges this week. There are some opportunities to reconnect with family later in the week.

CAPRICORN - Dec 22/Jan 20 A rush of activity fills your calendar and keeps your phone ringing off the hook, Capricorn. Your challenge will be separating the pressing events from others.

AQUARIUS - Jan 21/Feb 18 Aquarius, paperwork has built up and requires more time than you had originally planned. There is no way to avoid this task, but a helper can make it move more quickly.

PISCES - Feb 19/Mar 20 Moderation is your mantra for the week, Pisces. Do not let the pendulum swing too far in either direction.

SUDOKU

WEEKLY CROSSWORD

Fun By The Numbers Like puzzles? Then you’ll love sudoku. This mind-bending puzzle will have you hooked from the moment you square off, so sharpen your pencil and put your sudoku THIS WEEKS savvy to the test!

Here’s How It Works: Sudoku puzzles are formatted as a 9x9 grid, broken down into nine 3x3 boxes. To solve a sudoku, the numbers 1 through 9 must fill each row, column and box. Each number can appear only once in each row, column and box. You can figure out the order in which the numbers will appear by using the numeric clues already provided in the boxes. The more numbers you name, the easier it gets to solve the puzzle!

SUDOKU ANSWER

The Westerly News | Page 13

Wednesday, May 21, 2014

Kids love tennis, kick up a racquet as Tofino holds Try It Day Westerly News Tofino Parks and Recreation teamed up with Tennis BC to offer a Tennis Try It Day for students in Wickaninnish Elementary and Ucluelet Elementary School. Tennis BC instructor, Jeannie Rohr, led students in a progressive tennis clinic, using modified equipment to teach the fundamentals of the sport. The clinics were funded through the ViaSport British Columbia “Local Sport Development Fund”, which

Tofino Parks and Recreation was recently successful in receiving a grant from. Coach Jeannie Rohr also hosted evening youth and

adult tennis clinics, which were well attended by 22 local tennis enthusiasts! Tofino Parks and Recreation would like to thank

Jamie’s Rainforest Inn for donating accommodation for Coach Jeannie Rohr. We would also like to thank Tennis BC for their sup-

port in expanding tennis in our community. Parks and Recreation staff will be starting a free tennis program for children in Tofino on Thursday afternoons, starting May 15th. Interested participants can contact recreation@tofino.ca for more information.

Thanks to Wickaninnish Elementary School and Ucluelet Elementary School for hosting us and to all of the keen student participants!

ISLAND NEWS

Man arrested after pipe bomb discovered TIMES COLONIST

West Shore RCMP had a tense Victoria Day morning after a pipe bomb was discovered in a Victoria area apartment on Belmont Road.

Mounties discovered the pipe bomb around 9 a.m. Monday while they were assisting Victoria police with a firearms investigation in an apartment at 101 Belmont Rd. in Colwood, said Sgt. Max Fossum.

A 59-year-old man living in a ground floor apartment was arrested. He is expected to appear in court Tuesday and may face charges of possession of an explosive device.

“We had to call RCMP explosives disposal unit in Vancouver,” said Fossum. “They flew up here and we contained the area.”

Residents of seven apartments were evacuated. They were out of their suites for three hours while experts disposed of the pipe bomb.

Fortunately, the man lived in an outside suite and not everybody had to be evacuated.

“It’s kind of an old apartment building, so we were kind of concerned it was not concrete,” said Fossum. “But what really helped us was the location of the man’s apartment. We thought we would have to evacuate the whole building which would have been a lot more work.”

It was a busy scene, said Fossum. Two officers accompanied the explosives experts. Six officers contained the building and the Colwood fire department was also at the scene.

“It was actually pretty big,” he said.

The RCMP are continuing to work with Victoria police and will continue their investigation.

“There’s always a risk,” said Fossum. “Obviously the pipe bomb had been there for a while. If someone had touched it, the thing

would have gone off. I don’t know what kind of structural damage it would have caused. But I know we’re definitely getting an expert report on that from the explosive disposal unit.”

2 teens die in afterprom accident PRINCE GEORGE — Two teenagers have died after a vehicle plunged into a rural lake west of Prince George early Sunday morning.

It’s believed the pair had been attending an outdoor party at Kwitzil Lake, more commonly known as Gravel Pit Lake, which may have been a prom after-party, according to reports on social media.

The bodies of one male and one female were pulled from the vehicle at around 4 p.m. Sunday, according to RCMP. Officers say hundreds of people were attending a party in the area throughout the night.

Although the victims’ names have not been released, the female has been identified on social media as Kendall Moore, a high school student from DP Todd Secondary, and the male as Craig Woods.

“RIP Kendall Moore, you were a sweet, smart, beautiful girl with a great life ahead of you. We will miss you,” tweeted Caitlin.

“Rip Kendall Moore and craig woods only the good die young,” Karli May Lafon wrote on Facebook. “You guys will be forever in our hearts” The high school posted the following tweet on Sunday: “Info coming in about the tragedy at gravel pit lake. Please everyone breathe deep and take care. School will have supports in place for Tue.” The B.C. Coroners Service is

investigating.

Port Alberni company leads in fighting California fires A Port Alberni company is playing a lead role in fighting destructive wildfires in California.

Coulson Group of Companies has its C-130 Hercules, a slow-flying fixed-wing aircraft, on contract to U.S. Forest Services, owner Wayne Coulson said Sunday.

“We were the first aircraft to the Camp Pendleton fire on Wednesday,” said Coulson, who stations firefighting aircraft at nearby San Bernadino.

“We’ve been working that fire right up until [Saturday],” he said.

The plane was then diverted to a fire beside the San Diego freeway “and we dumped a few loads on that,” said Coulson.

“We’re right in the heat of the battle.”

Coulson keeps his aircraft in San Bernardino because it’s within 40-minutes flying time to three large forests in southern California. He’s got a 10-year contract with the USFS. “That’s our game right now,” said Coulson, who a few years ago had the iconic Hawaii Mars working California wildfires.

Coulson’s C-130 is the only turbo-prop aircraft in the fleet fighting California wildfires. The others are jets which lack the manoeuvrability of the C-130 in mountainous terrain.

“We can go slow and low in the mountains,” Coulson said. “The C-130 is a tactical aircraft — that’s what it’s designed to do.”

That Second World War-vintage Hawaii Mars, the largest waterbomber in the world, is now retired from firefighting and parked alongside the Philippine Mars at Coulson’s base on Sproat

Lake near Port Alberni. Talks are in the final stages to find new homes, perhaps in museums, for the old water bombers. They began as troop carriers for the U.S. Navy, then were converted into water bombers and owned by a consortium of forest companies in B.C. Coulson bought them in 2007 and set the aircraft to work in B.C. and several American states.

Contracts have been hard to secure of late because many jurisdictions are hiring newer, more efficient water bombers.

Pamela Anderson reveals she was assaulted while growing up in Ladysmith Pamela Anderson says she was sexually assaulted several times while growing up on Vancouver Island.

The 46-year-old actor, who was born in Ladysmith, revealed her painful past during an emotional speech in Cannes, France.

She was speaking at the launch of the Pamela Anderson Foundation, dedicated to boosting human rights, helping animals and the environment. At a yacht reception to inaugurate the charity, the actress went into detail about sexual assaults she says she endured from a young age.

“At the risk of overexposing myself, again. Possibly being inappropriate, again. I thought I might share with you events that in surviving drove me to this point, right now.

“I did not have an easy childhood. Despite loving parents, I was molested from age 6 to 10 by my female babysitter. I went to a friend’s boyfriend’s house and when she was busy, the boyfriend’s older brother decided he would teach me backgammon,

which led into a back massage, which led into rape. My first heterosexual experience. He was 25 years old, I was 12,” said Anderson, reading nervously from a sheet of paper.

The assaults didn’t end there, she said: “My first boyfriend in Grade 9 decided it would be funny to gang-rape me with six of his friends. Needless to say, I had a hard time trusting humans and I just wanted off this Earth.”

“My parents tried to keep me safe. But to me the world was not a safe place. My dad an alcoholic, my mom worked two jobs waitressing. My mom was always crying, dad didn’t always come home, leaving us in tremendous pain and worry. I couldn’t bear to give her any more disruptive information so I couldn’t break her heart any more than it was breaking,” she said.

“I kept these events to myself.”

She credits animals and nature for giving her hope to live.

“My affinity with animals saved me, they came to me naturally. The trees spoke to me, I wasn’t sure why I was alive, a burning question, a quest. My loyalty remains with the animal kingdom. I vowed to protect them and only them,” she said. “I prayed to whales with my feet in the ocean, my only real friends until I had children. …

“Baywatch was a turning point for me. Reluctantly famous (in over 150 countries) I tried to make sense of my place on Earth. I started to realize — while being interviewed endlessly about silly things — that I had a voice.”

The Pamela Anderson Foundation’s mission is to provide funding for groups and individuals “on the front lines of human rights, animal rights and environmental protection,” according to its mission statement..

Page 14 | The Westerly News

Wednesday, May 21, 2014

EAT/PLAY/LIVE

Friday concert series Wayne Vliet performs at Blackberry Cove Coffeehouse Night. Casual acoustic Friday evenings Cove Coffeehouse Friday concert series.

Admission by donation. 7pm 9:30pm. The nights coordinate with the Ukee Friday Night Market on the nearby Village Green.

Islands songwriting contest Songwriters, get out your notes for the 2014 Islands Songwriting Contest.

This is the fifth year the Cowichan Folk Guild has presented the contest, open to residents of Vancouver Island and the Gulf Islands.

“This contest is an excellent opportunity for all Islands songwriters to gain recognition for their talent.

The theme of the contest this year is history. Do not take the theme too literally, think outside the box, and write a great song about history,” said spokesperson Bobbie Blue.

The field will be narrowed to nine songwriters for each regional performance, where they will perform their

Otalith fundraiser The Ucluelet Aquarium was packed last Friday Night where a fundraiser was held to celebrate the release of this year’s Otalith Music Festival lineup.

ANDREW BAILEY PHOTOS

songs for an audience and a panel of judges, who will vote for their favorite song.

The contest is divided into three regional semifinals to be held in June: the North Island - Tuesday June 17th in Courtenay at the Mex Pub, 1003 Ryan Road, hosted by Bruce & Judy Wing.

The Central Island - Saturday June 14th in Duncan at the Cowichan Folk Guild Coffeehouse at Duncan United Church, 246 Ingram Street.

The South Island - Sunday June 15th in Victoria at the Victoria Folk Music Society Coffeehouse at Norway House, 1110 Hillside Avenue.

The nine semi-finalists (three from each region) will

perform their songs on the opening night Friday, July 18) of the 30th Anniversary Islands Folk Festival.

A panel of music professionals will select the three winners.

The first place winner will receive a professionally produced and recorded version of his or her song from Zak Cohen at Woodshop Recording Studios in Duncan, an additional performance at the Festival, and radio airplay.

Second and third place prizes will also be awarded.

Contest rules and a printable entry form are available at the Cowichan Folk Guild’s website: http://www.islandsfolkfestival.ca/. Deadline

Renowned barista trainer comes to West Coast JACKIE CARMICHAEL

Westerly News If a cuppa java’s your thing - if

you’re nuts about the bean - if you want to be the best barista, here’s a day for you.

Coffee aficionados and service

21st

professionals on the West Coast can attend Advanced Barista Training with Josh Hockin, the 2011 Canadian Barista Champion and World Champion Our Biggest Sale of the Year Competitor.

Hockin began his career in coffee in 2007.

As a part time

One Day Only

barista he began to learn about espresso and coffee brewing. To further his learning he began to compete in barista competitions, eventually winning the 2011 Canadian National Barista Championship. He represented Canada at the World Barista Championship in Vienna in 2012.

During his career he has taken roasting courses in Copenhagen

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and worked in coffee bars internationally, constantly learning more about how coffee is made around the world. In his current job as green coffee buyer for Transcend Coffee in Edmonton, he visits coffee-producing countries to find and purchase coffees for Transcend to roast and sell in Canada.

“This is a unique event for Tofino and of course it is a lead-in to the local Barista Challenge that we will host under the Tofino Food and Wine Festival,” said Dorothy Baert.

“The motivation to initiate this event is to raise the profile of excellent coffee served by skilled Baristas on the West Coast,” she said.

“This will offer experienced baristas a higher level of training in barista skills. The workshop will also cover the steps for preparing for the Barista Challenge which will take place June 8 as part of the Tofino Food and Wine Festival,” said Baert.

The event is set for Sunday, May 25 from 2-5 p.m. at Main Street Espresso at Tofino Sea Kayaking 320 Main St. in Tofino. Cost is $40.

To register call: 250 725 4222 editor@westerlynews.ca

The Westerly News | Page 15

Wednesday, May 21, 2014

UCLUELET

District of Ucluelet

District studies composting want to have zero waste we need ants will be a major concern if Westerly News to be extremely aware and diligent residents fail to keep their bins The District of Ucluelet is conabout effectively managing our secured inside between pick-up sidering the possibility of implewildlife,” she said. days, according to McMillan who menting a curbside compost She said curbside compost bins added Ucluelet will need to enforce pickup program. will be full of alluring odors that this through bylaw.

Composting in Ucluelet is curdraw bears into town.

“I really do believe that garbage rently restricted under the dis“Curbside compost people are and compost are always going trict’s Bear Aware protocols but going to put everything in there... to be the death of our bears...

Irving said the district is seeking all of their food waste is going There are always going to be those out ways to open it up. in,” she said. “It smells strong and people that are going to leave out “The smell is an attractant so bears can smell up to 20 miles their garbage and leave out their we’ve got to find a way to not send away.” compost,” she said. out odor that would ask a bear to The curbside bins of attractSee COMPOST page 19 come and look at what’s going on,” he said. “It’s one of those juggling acts, there’s not an easy solution but I think we’re sensitive on council (that) we’ve got to move forward; just restricting is not a Celebrate the solution.”

15th anniversary!

He said the district is also conwith a June sidering the possibility of hiring Great looking tech 7&8 volunteer shirt! a contractor to run a composting facility on the outskirts of town potentially near the junction where waste would be recycled into topsoil.

Ucluelet’s current composting restrictions stem from a HumanBear Conflict Management Plan We need you! the district produced and adopted If you can offer ff a few hours of your time to this exciting and in 2006 to reduce fun event, please p call 250-726-4641 the potential for human-bear conflicts.

One of the architects of this plan was Crystal McMillan, who initiated the West Coast Bear Aware committee in 2004.

McMillan won Ucluelet’s citizen of the year award in 2006 and was hired by the BC Conservation Core to be Ucluelet’s Bear Aware program delivery specialist.

She has since Sharron, Woman of Water. moved to Port She-Ferry for Oglers, Hikers, Tourists.

Alberni where Soul-Ferry for Seers, Communers, Wayfarers. she serves as the Sharron, Woman of water. executive direcFerry on the Eagle, the Killer Whale, your Seals, your Otters, tor of Bear Smart your Heron, your Five.

BC. Your Moment of Peace, your Care, your Simple Explanation.

McMillan told Sharron, Woman of Water. the Westerly Roots half known, but Nature-Nurture deep, News a curbIn the Paths, and Trees, and Spore, and Lore, and Wonder. side composting program could Sharron, Woman of Water. co-exist with Sharron, Share On. Ucluelet’s wildYou are dearly missed, Noni. life management From your Five Coral, Gil, Pearl, Fion, Shell protocols but & all who knew and loved you careful monitoring would be needed.

“While we

SPRING CLEAN-UP DAY

ANDREW BAILEY

VOLUNTEERS

Sharron Palm - Carbone April 27, 2014

Saturday, May 24, 2014 The District of Ucluelet will be hosting a municipal “Clean-Up Day”, for “residential” properties located within the municipal boundary. The intention is that residents can dispose of items that are not normally picked up through regular garbage collection.

The following materials will be picked up and are to be,

! ! ! SORTED INTO 3 PILES ! ! !

(1) Metals • Metal furniture – non metallic seat or backrest, • any padding and combustibles must be removed • Fridges, stoves, water tanks, other small metal articles, etc.

(2) Combustibles & Yard Waste • Furniture – wooden or fabric covered • Carpets and rugs • Wooden fencing – all wire and metal must be removed • Branches & brush – must be cut to 4 foot lengths by 2 feet max., secured together with twine (not to exceed 15 bundles)

(3) Bagged and smaller items • Leaves, grass, garden waste (dirt removed) (not to exceed 20 regular bags)

! ! ! ALL SMALL ITEMS MUST BE BAGGED OR BUNDLED ! ! !

All materials for pick up shall be neatly piled beside the public road or lane not later than 8:00 a.m. Please note that there may be different vehicles picking up the various materials.

The following are not acceptable and will not be removed as part of the clean up: - Recyclable materials - Electronics/TV’s - Construction materials - Gyproc - Building renovation materials - Styrofoam - Household hazardous wastes or pesticides - Car batteries and tires - Used oil, paint or any hazardous liquids - Utility trailers - Furnace oil tanks, Propane/Fuel tanks - Large satellite dishes - Car bodies or parts or outboard motors - Items over 10 feet in length

! ! ! NO LIQUIDS OF ANY KIND ! ! !

Non-conforming items left behind on your property must be removed by 8am on Monday, May, 26, 2014, or removal will be effected at the owner’s expense.

For further information call the District of Ucluelet Office at 250-726-7744

Page 16 | The Westerly News

Wednesday, May 21, 2014

Rider, continued from Page 1 feared that my eyesight would someday limit my ability to ride a motorcycle. My mother had agerelated macular degeneration, a condition that causes blindness due to changes in the shape of the retina,” Kenny said.

The foundation is dedicated to helping Canadian families affected by retinal diseases such as retinitis pigmentosa and age-related macular degeneration. These diseases strike the nation’s two most vulnerable populations, children and seniors. It is estimated that vision loss affects over one million Canadians.

Over the past 40 years, Foundation donations have supported an impressive 202 research grants, amounting to a $25 million investment in ground-breaking science at Canadian hospitals and universities.

Kenny first visited the West Coast on his honeymoon with wife

Mindy in 1996 – and he was thinking rain, only to be delighted with sunny skies that prompted him to strip off much of his gear.

“By the time I made it to Cathedral Grove, though, the weather had cleared; now sunny and in the low 20s. Perfect biking weather,” he said, recalling a stop in the majesty of Cathedral Grove on the way to the Alberni Valley.

“I walked under the shadow of

towering ancient Douglas fir trees – ‘majestic pillars untouched by the modern world,’ according to the interpretive signs,” he said.

“I went for a walk along Port Alberni’s Somass Estuary where I saw an older couple picking armfuls of what looked like pretty yellow wildflowers. But looks can be deceiving,” he said of his discovery of that imported scourge, Scotch broom.

Intentionally introduced to B.C. in 1850, the hardy invader quickly spread up the east coast of Vancouver Island before invading the Gulf Islands and mainland.

Highway departments planted Scotch broom as a bank stabilizer because of its deep root structure and rapid growth.

The weed is a strong competitor with various native plants – and digging it out is problematic as disturbance triggers the release of each tiny blossom’s cache of seeds,

Kenny said, adding that he was impressed by the volunteers working to eradicate Scotch broom and other invasive plants on the West Coast.

“I have to admire committed volunteers like these folks. Where would we be without them? It’s also got me thinking about putting my time to a worthy cause when I get home,” he said.

Kenny was impressed by the Ucluelet harbour, the sunset view from Black Rock Oceanfront Resort over appies with friends, Wickaninnish Beach and Tofino, where he honeymooned at Middle Beach Lodge almost two decades ago.

Now he will go through all 10 provinces on his way to Cape Spear, Newfoundland.

It’s a journey of 16,000 kilometres (10,000 miles).

“Along the way, I’ll be accompanied by the spirit of Stompin’ Tom

Connors, Canada’s unofficial poet laureate and travelling minstrel,” he said. “Hopefully, I’ll raise a little money for the Ride For Sight, Canada’s longest-running motorcycle charity fundraiser!”

Ucluetian and former Edmontonarea resident Gerry Carmichael lived in Olds, Alberta during the very first Alberta Ride for Sight fundraiser, set in Olds. There, riders from all over the country descended on the town and Carmichael tended the charity’s bar with fellow Lions Club members.

Now, almost three decades later, Carmichael played host to Eoin Kenny as he launched his crossCanada ride for the cause to fund research into macular degeneration, and he pledged a penny a kilometer for Kenny’s journey.

“It was great to see Eoin continue this tradition,” he said. editor@westerlynews.ca

PRVC, continued from Page 1 He said the Federal Government’s summer student cuts have put the chamber’s ability to meet Tourism BC’s visitor centre hours-of-operation requirements in jeopardy.

“It really hit them sideways and they don’t have a way of dealing with it short-term,” he said.

Coun. Geoff Lyons noted lowering the rent to $700 would cost the district about $7,000 in lost revenue and that it was too late to amend the district’s 2014 budget.

He suggested seeking another contractor.

“Is there anyone else out there that would take it on and pay $20,000,” he asked. “The chamber have done an incredible job, I’m not trying to deny that, but I just have concerns with a semiapproved budget and changing it at this 11th hour.”

Corlazzoli noted a willing new tenant likely lives next door but that leasing the space to Tofino

% % %

At risk? The Ucluelet Chamber of Commerce is finding it hard to meet their rent on the PRVC at the Junction.

ANDREW BAILEY PHOTO

may not be the right move.

“If we put this back out to tender I can guarantee you there will be

Then we want to talk to you!

We have some funding for a pilot program where youth, ages 16 – 20, are needed to give some of us “tech newbies” some tips. Anything from setting up email/facebook accounts, how to get apps on your phone, how to turn your notifications off or on (yes, we’re that desperate!) to setting up contact lists.

A minimum three hour commitment (spread over 2 separate events) is needed.

We’ll feed you, and we’ll pay you the best hourly rate you’ll get this summer!

two organizations that I can think of that will jump right in and they have substantial funds if that’s the direction we want,” he said.

“I don’t think that’s what we want to see...the purpose was to try to keep control for Ucluelet and it’s a little bit worrisome that money is going to drive what ends

up happening out there in the short term; it’s quite scary at the moment.”

Council Randy Oliwa asked why Tofino isn’t offering support.

“Why is Ucluelet footing the bill when we all know the majority of the traffic going through that centre is asking for Tofino?” he asked.

He said Tourism Tofino has bought memberships from centres “all up and down this Island” as part of a regional marketing approach but bypassed their own regional centre.

“We can speculate why that is but they know the fact that our chamber of commerce is struggling and yet they’re not coming forward,” he said.

“We’re already giving out Tofino information but yet they’re not stepping forward because of what reason? Why would you not support your local visitor centre and come forward and pay those services and join up; it’s perplexing.”

Corlazzoli noted Ucluelet chose to purchase the junction property and operate the facility in collaboration with the Pacific Rim National Park and Tofino was left out of the party.

He said Oliwa’s statement was “somewhat unfair” because some Tofino businesses do support the centre.

“There is constant dialogue between Tourism Ucluelet, Tourism Tofino and both chambers,” he said. “It’s just a matter of a little bit of a power struggle on what added things they would like to see happen but there is buy in, it’s just not the buy in we would like to see.”

Irving suggested referring the decision to lower the chamber’s rent to council’s next meeting and for council to meet with the chamber in the meantime to discuss potential strategies.

“I think we’re all very keen on a win-win,” he said. “I think there’s solutions that we can work on collectively to find a way to make this work.” reporter@westerlynews.ca

Wednesday, May 21, 2014

The Westerly News | Page 17

Page 18 | The Westerly News

Wednesday, May 21, 2014

Dog in custody after alleged biting incident at Tofino resort ANDREW BAILEY

Westerly News A dog that allegedly bit a young child at a Tofino resort last week is locked up at the Port Alberni SPCA waiting to hear its fate.

The dog was off-leash on May 17 when it was approached by a 3-year-old girl.

The girl’s father asked the dog’s owner if it was okay for her to pet the animal and the owner replied

that it was.

When the girl reached out to pet the dog it reportedly bit her, according to Sgt. James Anderson of the Tofino RCMP. Anderson said the girl was taken to the Tofino hospital where she received treatment for a facial laceration and puncture wounds to her head and ear.

RCMP arrived at the hospital and spoke to the girl’s parents who laid out what had happened

and police then joined Tofino bylaw officials to track the dog down.

The dog—a boxer—was found at the resort with its owners, a couple visiting from out of town.

After their initial investigation, police contacted the RCMP in the jurisdiction the couple was visiting from and discovered the dog had a previous history of aggression, according to Anderson.

Anderson said police also

received eye-witness reports alleging the dog had again been running off-leash at the resort despite its owners being warned not to let it do so.

The couple and their dog were evicted from the resort and arrangements were made to stay at another accommodation in town but after receiving information on the dog’s checkered past RCMP seized the animal and transported it to the Port Alberni

SPCA. Anderson said police are collaborating with local bylaw officials to determine whether the dog will receive the death penalty for its actions.

“When a dog is off its leash, it only takes one bite to land it in doggy jail and possible destruction,” Anderson said.

reporter@westerlynews.ca

Water plant clock ticking in Parksville JULIE BERTRAND

Oceanside Star The City of Parksville and Regional District of Nanaimo still don’t know how much federal funding they’ll get, if any, for a $40-million water-treatment plant and aquifer storage and recovery project that’s supposed to be up and running by December 2016.

And the clock is ticking.

In six months the city and region have to ask taxpayers to approve borrowing millions for the project and, if the city and region are to meet federal and healthauthority deadlines, there’s less than year left before they’re supposed to award Lawrence Benjamin, CH2M Hill vice-president and area manager, and Mike Squire, Englishman River Water Service program manager, show the membranes that will be used to filter water in the new water-treatment plant during an tenders.

City staff can’t submit an ERWS open house last Thursday. PHOTO JULIE BERTRAND/OCEANSIDE STAR application to the federal Gas Tax Fund and Building Can“Specific allocations to muni$40 million, a decrease of $2.5 milIf the city doesn’t get grants, said ada fund, said Mayor Chris Burger. cipalities will be determined lion from previous estimates.

ERWS program manager Mike “(Senior) governments haven’t through the federal-provincialterParksville will pay 74 per cent Squire, it will have to borrow $18 signed the agreement yet on the ritorial GTF agreements,” Strong ($29.6 million) and the Regional million, requiring annual debtfund.” explained. “The renewed agreeDistrict of Nanaimo (Nanoose Bay) servicing of $1,269,000.

Infrastructure Canada spokesments were sent to the provinces 26 per cent ($10.4 million).

Borrowing will have to be person Robin Strong said the and territories on Nov. 5, 2013, and Council voted to increase water approved during a referendum to department is in the process of we are working closely with the rates and development cost charbe held in conjunction with the finalizing the agreements for the provinces and territories to finalges based on the assumption the municipal elections in November. renewed federal Gas Tax Fund. ize these agreements as quickly as city will get $8 million in grants Burger said the city has $6 In B.C., the Union of B.C. Munipossible.” and will have to borrow $9.85 mil- million in reserve to pay for the cipalities administers the fund on The new treatment plant, intake lion, a debt the city plans to repay project. behalf of the province. and ASR are now estimated to cost over 25 years.

“Revenues, such as DCCs

(developmentcost charges), will make up the difference,” he said.

RDN water manager Mike Donnelly said the RDN’s share of the project would be paid through property taxes, DCCs and federal grants.

The ERWS board is to report on the feasibility of ASR in a public meeting this Friday, May 16, but without grants and design details, it will be hard to know how much will be needed for the whole ERWS project.

“We have our work cut out between now and the borrowing referendum in November,” Burger said.

DCCs will contribute $14 million to the project over the next 25 years, Squire said. However, because the municipality doesn’t have the DCC money in reserve, it has to borrow money to pay for the project. “[The estimated project cost] is a big hit. We can’t pay that upfront,” Squire said. “We have to lessen the burden by stretching it.”

Costs can be worked on as the design details evolve, he said.

“We’ll always have options [to decrease the costs],” he said.

“Between now and [the end of the year], we’ll be focusing on costs.”

The Westerly News | Page 19

Wednesday, May 21, 2014

EAT/PLAY/LIVE: COMMUNITY

Compost, continued from Page 15 “You can have bylaws until you’re blue in the face and they’re pretty documents but that education has to go with warnings and it has to go with fining eventually.�

She said Nanaimo’s recent venture into curbside compost pick-up is being monitored for effects on wildlife. “There is no compost container that is bear resistant for curbside as of yet,�

according to McMillan. “We recognize that communities are now starting to go curbside composting and we want to start gaining data so that we can get a better look to see if bears are getting access to curbside compost containers,� she said.

McMillan said Ucluelet would need to invest in state-of-the-art technologies

and that fencing off an area would not suffice. “If you’ve got a community that’s working towards a goal of zero waste and a goal of zero conflict with bears why not do it right to start,� she asked.

She touted Whistler BC’s composting facility . “It’s 100 per cent bear resistant,� she said. “They’ve done a bang up job there.�

The 4th Evening of Local Amusement for the Amusement of Locals was a hit at Clayquot Community Theatre in Tofino.

Among the performers, clockwise from above: Bethany Young, Savanna Callison, Spencer Baird, Toby Theriault.

(COURTESY PHOTOS)

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Page 20 | The Westerly News

Wednesday, May 21, 2014

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