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Open FRIDAY January 16th in Float Lounge at 3pm and in Fetch Restaurant for dinn er service at 5:30pm ight Local’s N rday! This Satu
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Wednesday
$1.25 [INCLUDING TAX]
WEST COAST SUCCESS STORY Y
Man chases cougar out of his house
ocals Night & 6th Anniversary Party Saturday, January 17th in Float Lounge! Party starts at 8:30pm Live Music with Down By Law, Drink & Menu Features, Door Prizes and more!
January 14, 2015
Call 250-726-4800 for mo
re information.
$99 Studio Lodge Suites for Loc al Residents this weekend!
Jan. 16th & 17th only, new reser
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address required
INSIDE THIS WEEK: INSIDETHIS WEEK K
A breakout
role for
INSIDE: NEED FOR DEER CULL DEBATED, A CLOSER LOOK< Page 6, 7
Karis
ANDREW BAILEY
Westerly News Ted Benson was getting ready for bed on Jan. 6 when his cat walked in, followed closely by a cougar. “It was weird, there was no sound, no nothing, it was eerily quiet and just all of a sudden I see my cat squirt in and, next thing you know, all I hear is claws trotting across concrete,” Benson told the Westerly. “My cat wasn’t sprinting at superhuman top-speed and neither was the cougar; it was like slow motion: ‘oh there’s my cat,’ and then ‘oh there’s a big cat trying to eat it.” See COUGAR Page 6
Onni Group steps up to buy Wyndansea; creditors to get pennies on dollar PAGE 11
JACKIE CARMICHAEL
Westerly News
This could be ToÀno actress Karis Cameron’s big chance. The Tuϝ City native is starring in YTV’s suspenseful new series, Open Heart. Filmed in Toronto by Epitome Pictures, the producers of the ‘DeGrassi’ series, the show’s Àrst year (12 episodes) debuts Jan 20 at 9 p.m. on the Youth Television Network. “This is my Àrst big break – this is my Àrst lead role. It’s actually all very new an very exciting,” said Cameron, who was See SUCCESS, 16 Tofino actress Karis Cameron on set of new YTV show ‘Open Heart’ in lead role of Dylan Blake, a young woman trying to get to the truth of her father’s mysterious disappearance. The show premieres Jan. 20.
Ucluelet resident Ted Benson with his cat.
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Large selection of: Carpet • Lino • Blinds • Laminate • Hardwood
Tangled deer hard to help PAGE 6
Deer cull weighed as second cougar destroyed PAGE 7
Chipper fundraiser PAGE 9
Page 2 | The Westerly News
Wednesday, January 14, 2015
EMERGENCY PREPAREDNESS
4.8 earthquake strikes 13km from Tofino JACKIE CARMICHAEL
Westerly News A house-jarring 4.8 earthquake struck at 6:02:56 p.m. last Wednesday. Centred just 13 KM eastnortheast of Tofino on the West Coast of Vancouver Island, the biggest quake in recent memory was reported at a depth of 5 km and rumbles were felt as far away as the Lower Mainland. A flurry of Facebook posts reported feeling the ground shaking and homes shaking around the West Coast. At a home in Ucluelet and also at a home in Tofino, it sounded like a bear or cougar jumping on the deck. A visitor in Tofino reported it sounded like a truck had hit the building. At the Hot Springs in Hot Springs Cove, the spring was reportedly temporarily blocked and seeping cold water, prompting wild rumours to circulate that the treasured tourist attraction would become defunct. Further out, initial reports included possible damage to cement foundations. Ahousaht teacher Kaitlyn Matthews reported it shook her whole house. “When the first shake happened I thought my neighbor was banging on the wall and then the second one came which was much more intense. My body is still full of adrenaline. I packed a bag for me and my dog Beau just in case we get evacuated,” Matthews said. “I turned my VHF radio on and everyone was checking in on their families and being really helpful. It’s one of the great aspects of this community,” said Matthews. Karla Robison, environmental & emergency service manager for the District of Ucluelet, said the district took immediate action, including working with the Ucluelet Volunteer Fire Brigade and the RCMP to let residents in community safe zones know there was no threat of an imminent tsunami. “The earthquake was what is referred to as a strike slip fault and those generally do not create tsunamis,” Robison said. “However, if a megathrust were to occur, these almost always generate a series of tsunamis. Megathrust earthquakes occur at subduction zones at destructive plate boundaries, where one tectonic plate is subducted by another.” In case of tsunami, the rule of thumb is that water can go 20 meters in 20 minutes, she said. The first step in the event of a major earthquake is to drop, cover and hold on. “The ground will shake for approximately 3 to 5 minutes; this is your tsunami siren. You
Ucluelet high points GRAPHICS COURTESY DISTRICT OF UCLUELET
and your family will then have approximately 20 minutes to get to high ground before the first tsunami wave hits the coastline,” Robison said. When the shaking stops and
you have assembled your family and grabbed your emergency kit, evacuate to the closest community safe zone. If you are out on the beaches in the area or on the Wild Pacific
Trail, leave and go to high ground. Robison said households on the West Coast should have supplies – food, water, medicine, pet supplies - that could last them from 72 hours to seven days.
For additional links to informative sites with more information about earthquake and tsunami readiness, read this article online at www.westerlynews.ca jcarmichael@westerlynews.ca
The Westerly News | Page 3
Wednesday, January 14, 2015
Equipment snatched in Ukee’s first theft of 2015
The Westerly News (1987) Ltd. is a division of VI Newspaper Group Limited Partnership
outside Ucluelet’s Wyndansea development and was out with her dogs around 2 p.m. when someone entered her unlocked vehicle and took her purse, according to Sgt. Swann. Swann said theft is “a pretty rare crime to happen in Ucluelet” but said the woman was “particularly hit hard,” because her stolen purse contained Christmas gifts she had received. The purse has not been recovered and an investigation is ongoing. “We identified a person of interest at the beginning but we have no real suspects at this point,” Swann said. “There’s somebody we think may have done it, but knowing and proving are two different elements. We may know somebody did it but in order to get enough
ANDREW BAILEY
The Westerly News publishes weekly on Wednesday and regularly posts online at www.westerlynews.ca
Westerly News A commercial building on the WHO WE ARE North side of Peninsula Road in Ucluelet was hit by thieves in the Jackie Carmichael, Publisher first week of 2015. editor@westerlynews.ca The theft was reported to police Andrew Bailey, reporter on Jan. 5 and is believed to have reporter@westerlynews.ca occurred sometime between Jan. 1 and Jan 5, according to Sgt. Jeff Geoff Johnson, advertising gajohnson@westerlynews.ca Swann of the Ucluelet RCMP. He said no significant property CONTACT US damage was reported but about P.O. Box 317, Ucluelet B.C. V0R 3A0 $1,000 worth of equipment was 102-1801 Bay Street, Ucluelet stolen including a chainsaw, a Ph: 250-726-7029 Fax: 250-726-4282 hedge trimmer, and a leaf blower. E-mail: office@westerlynews.ca Anyone with any information about the theft is encouraged to DEADLINES contact the Ucluelet RCMP detachDisplay ads Monday at noon ment at 250-726-7773. Call 250-266-2400 office@westerlynews.ca
Wyndansea dog walk proves costly for local woman
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Pavle Sobajic was charged with theft and received a suspended sentence with nine months probation.
Lorenzo came from the “heroic” days of post-war immigration to Canada. Born in Bondo, in the mountainous Bergamo province of Italy, he left on his great adventure at age 21 (when ocean crossings took 11 days) and arrived at Halifax, with his older cousin, Stefano. He worked his way across to the West and in 1953 was logging at McLeans Point. He loved to tell stories of those times. If somebody asked him how hard it was, he would chuckle and say they had never known life on mountain farms in Italy: logging was kind in comparison, he would say. But for all his life he kept to the traditional values, especially respect for people and work ethics, of his mountain birthplace.
ADVENTURE SHOPPING at
CARGO THRIFT
He returned to Italy in 1957, married his sweetheart Meri, and brought her to Ucluelet in 1958. Those were the days when there was no highway and they arrived by ship, the Uchuck, from Port Alberni. Ucluelet has been their home ever since. He worked as a faller for MacMillan Bloedel up to the age of 65 (and could still show a good hand with an axe even a year ago!). He had such abundant energy that after a full day’s labor he would set about building. He put up the Pacific Rim Motel and Pleasant View Apartments in his “spare time”, after work.
Quality used housewares, clothes, books & music
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Lorenzo was a quiet man, not given to making drama over things. But he always stated firmly, and from the heart, his gratitude to Ucluelet. The village had welcomed him, given him the space to put down deep roots, raise a family well and provide him opportunities in life. He never forgot that. He was softly proud that, in return, he had been able to contribute to Ucluelet’s development over the years. If ever somebody spoke badly of the village, that might be one of the rare occasions when Lorenzo’s smile would turn to scowl. Although he returned to Italy several times in his younger years, there was no doubt where home was and where his affections belonged. With Lorenzo departing another of the few remaining links between Ucluelet of today and the tougher times of a past, in some respects almost “pioneer”, vanishes. He will be mourned and missed greatly in Ucluelet, and in the wider West Coast Italian community.
He was wood from an old block, of rare grain and strength. *** Lorenzo is survived here by his wife Meri, and children Lidia, Giuseppe “Joe”, Dario and Giuliana “Julie”, and their spouses; 11 grandchildren - Justin, Kyle, Joel, Jason, Daniella, Angelo, Giordano, Talia, Armerina, Aubry, Matteo, and two great-grandchildren: Maci and Arabella. In Italy, he was pre-deceased by his parents Giuseppe and Marianna, brother Batista and sister Lidovina, and is survived by six siblings: twin brother Servilio, brothers Mario, Reno, Giovanni and Stefano, sister Louisa, all in Bergamo.
MAIN ST. UCLUELET (across from CIBC) Supporting local charities Donation items welcome
Jan. 14 *Ucluel et RECYCLES
10
Lorenzo was a gentle giant, strong in body and soul, a still handsome man, but in the last two years had suffered from a rare, wearying illness, that he bore with dignity and, typically, hid from others as much as possible, hardly complaining. He was more worried about the sadness caused to his family than himself, which says all. He was tended to the last by his beloved wife of 57 years, Armerina “Meri”, surrounded by his family. He had always put old-style family values to the top of his life and enjoyed his role as head of a large and vibrant family, which he was proud of. He loved that he could be a good husband and father, and it was the driving force of his life. The comfort of his family around him was a fitting conclusion.
We acknowledge the financial support of Lance Wilson was fined $500 and the Government of Canada through the Canada Peri odical Fund of the Department prohibited from driving for one of Canadian Heritage. year for driving
Jordan Whyte was fined $1,000 and prohibited from driving for two years for driving while prohibited.
This Week at…
LORENZO CORLAZZOLI, ONE OF UCLUELET’S MOST FAMILIAR FIGURES FOR MORE THAN 55 YEARS, PASSED AWAY PEACEFULLY AT HOME ON JANUARY 4, 2015.
Ashley Mickey was fined $500 and prohibited from driving for one year for driving while prohibited.
while prohibited.
Police are looking for the owner reporter@westerlynews.ca of a bicycle that was turned in to the Ucluelet Thurs: Canucks @ Flyers 4:00 RCMP detachFri: Canucks @ Hurricanes 4:00 ment on Jan. 6. Mon: Canucks @ Panthers 4:30 Tues: Canucks @ Lightning 4:30 The Trek SR Suntour was HAPPY HOUR SPECIALS · 3-7pm found in the Mon: Ciders $4.75 bushes near Tues: Fireball & a Lucky $8.75 Wyndansea. Wed: $3.5O Domestic Beer & Swann said Bar Highballs the bicycle was Thurs: $4.25 pint Islander Lager never reported CRIB EVERY Fri: $4.24 Apple Pie Shot THURSDAY AT 7PM missing or Sat: $3.50 bar Highballs $ stolen and it is Sun: $5.25 Caesar $ waiting to be 2 Glass Islander Lager claimed at the
FEBRUARY 22, 1927 - JANUARY 4, 2015
Tuff Provincial Court
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Bike found
LORENZO CORLAZZOLI
A local woman was unceremoniously separated from her Christmas money when she took her dogs for a walk on Jan. 6. The woman had parked her car
Letters to the editor Monday at noon office@westerlynews.ca
Ucluelet detachment. If it goes unclaimed for 90 days it will be turned over to the person who found it, according to Swann.
evidence to prove it, that’s what we’re working on.”
A Celebration of Life will be held at Ucluelet Community Center on January 24th at 2 pm
T H U R S DAY 1 5
F R I DAY 1 6
S AT U R DAY 1 7
S U N DAY 1 8
M O N DAY 1 9
T U E S DAY 2 0
Rain 9/7
Showers 8/6
Showers 9/6
Showers 9/5
Showers 8/5
Light rain 7/4
R E M E M B E R — R e d u c e , R e u s e , R e cy c l e !
Son Bird Refuse & Recycling 250-726-4406 Chris Bird 250-726-8144
Local tides brought to you by:
TIDES Thursday 15 metres
1:08 AM 7:42 AM 2:49 PM 9:10 PM
Friday 16 feet
1.8 5.9 3.3 10.8 1.2 3.9 2.7 8.9
metres
2:18 AM 8:38 AM 3:46 PM 10:11 PM
Saturday 17 feet
1.9 6.2 3.5 11.5 1 3.3 2.8 9.2
metres
3:22 AM 9:32 AM 4:37 PM 11:02 PM
Sunday 18 feet
1.8 5.9 3.6 11.8 0.7 2.3 3 9.8
metres
4:20 AM 10:23 AM 5:23 PM 11:47 PM
Monday 19 feet
1.7 5.6 3.8 12.5 0.5 1.6 3.2 10.5
metres
5:12 AM 11:13 AM 6:07 PM
Tuesday 20 feet
1.6 5.2 3.9 12.8 0.3 1.0
metres
12:30 AM 6:02 AM 12:03 PM 7:50 PM
Wednesday 21 feet
3.4 11.2 1.5 4.9 4 13.1 0.2 0.7
metres
1:12 AM 6:52 AM 12:52 PM 7:32 PM
feet
3.5 11.5 1.3 4.3 4 13.1 0.2 0.7
Ucluelet / Tofino www.coastrealty.com
250-726-7474
Opinion
Page 4 | The Westerly News
What do YOU think? Go online to www.westerlynews.ca to answer this week’s poll question: How do you feel about the idea of a deer cull in Ucluelet in an effort to keep predators out of town? a) Good idea. Hope the meat doesn’t get wasted. b) Bad idea. What makes a deer’s life worth less than something else’s? They don’t hurt anyone. Just don’t feed them, they’re part of the charm of the coast. c) The cougars have culled them already.
?
Read The Westerly News next week for results of the online vote. Last week’s results: Asked “Is it good news that the value of property has risen this year on the West Coast?” 40% said Yes, my home is a big investment, I need it to be worth more, and 60% said No, real estate is already too pricey on the West Coast. It makes it hard for people to get a place.” 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 will not be accepted. Email office@westerlynews.ca
COMMENT
Entangled in deer cull issue With rope and clothesline entangled around his antlers and face, a young Ucluelet deer spotted this week on Pine looked uncomfortable to say the least. (Thanks to Signy Cohen for the picture.) My first instinct was to get a pruning lopper and try to cut off JACKIE CARMICHAEL his unfortunate /WESTERLY headgear from a “safe” distance – VOICE after reviewing accounts of deer/ human contact, I am not sure there’s any such thing. Sea lions similarly entangled with plastic detritus look just as piteous, and with expert help from the Vancouver Aquarium’s Dr. Martin Haulena and West Coast marine biologist Wendy Szaniszlo and an entire team of volunteers – and doses of tranquilizer – they can be freed, but it’s a labourintensive and costly effort. (Learn more about this at a presentation by Haulena and Szaniszlo brought by the Raincoast Education Society on Jan. 22 at Tofino Botanical Gardens at 7:30 p.m.) My instinct to help the entangled deer runs counter to a movement afoot in Ucluelet to do a deer cull (with the reasoning that the deer lure the predators, like cougar and wolves, into
Community Events 14 WEDNESDAY Preschool Play Group, 10am–noon, Tofino Community Hall. Seniors Social Afternoons, 1:30-4pm, Tofino Legion. Free admission & refreshments, games Free drop-in meditation class, Westcoast Community Resources Society at UCC, Wednesdays at 7:30 a.m. Strong Start, Ucluelet Elementary School, 8:35-11:35. Holy Family Church, 9:30am, 1664 Peninsula Rd. Ucluelet. Ucluelet library, open 1–6pm
15 THURSDAY Bingo, Royal Canadian Legion, Tofino, every Thursday at 7:30 p.m. Healthy Babies Program/Family Ties, 10:30am. Drop-in for expectant, new parents, Coastal Family
Place, Ucluelet AA weekly Monday and Thursday at 8pm. at Holy Family Church at 1663 peninsula rd. The Edge Youth Room, 3–6pm, UCC & Youth Nite at the Edge, Cooking, movies, art projects & more, 6–8pm, $2. Tofino library, 331 Main St., 3–7pm. St Columba Anglican/United Church Bible study, 10:30 a.m., UCC
16 FRIDAY Tofino Library Storytime: 11:30 am – 12 noon. 331 Main St. Join us for songs, stories, rhymes and more! Ages 3-5 with caregiver. The Edge Youth Room, 2–6pm, UCC Storytime at Tofino Library.
17 SATURDAY Black Rock Local’s/ 6th Anniversary party Saturday Jan 17th, 8:30.
To report a conÁict with wildlife that threatens public safety, call 1-877-952-7177. Remember, don’t feed wildlife
Wednesday, January 14, 2015
town.) (See stories on page 1, 6 and 7 of this week’s paper.) Not sure we have the necessary bylaws in place on this. While there is a bylaw that makes it illegal to hunt wildlife in town, there is not a local bylaw that makes it illegal and fineable to feed the wildlife. Feeding marine mammals seems to be more of a no-brainer, although people have been observed throwing fishing remains to sea lions. As I write this, a Conservation Officer is no doubt grappling with the latest cougar report: a mother and grown cub have already been destroyed for their habituated ways, and this morning a cougar was spotted (also, coincidentally, near Pine in
Ucluelet) headed in the general direction of the Ucluelet Elementary School during school rush hour. It’s an amazing thing to live on the cusp of paradise, where glimpses can be caught of mammals most people only see in zoos. It’s probably safe to say most people hate to see wild animals destroyed. However, people need to be able to walk, children need to play, dogs need to get out and go. We can’t cull people and cats. In November 2013, I had to screech to a halt near Kennedy Lake to let the biggest black bear I’ve ever seen cross the road. He took up the entire lane. He looked over his shoulder at me and shook a massive back foot as he sort of hopped the last bit. This was November 2013, and it’s emblazoned on my memory. I was too stunned to honk or do anything except to think “Good for you, old guy. Being way out here is the way wildlife can live to a ripe old age.” Wild things belong out of town. Between not feeding them and being rude to them with honking and hazing, we need to do everything we can to keep them out of town because a habituated predator is an animal with a death sentence. jcarmichael@westerlynews.ca
To list your West Coast event, call 250 534-9213 or e-mail office@westerlynews.ca
New community centre opening in Hitacu at noon. See article Page 10 Silk Road with Wen Wei, Clayoquot Sound Community Theatre, 7:30 p.m., part of Winter Music Society series, tickets at door and Mermaid’s Tale Tofino library, 331 Main , 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.
18 SUNDAY Christ Community Church, 10:30am, 1419 Peninsula Rd. Ucluelet. Grace Bible Church, 10:30am, Ucluelet Community Ctr., 500 Matterson Holy Family Church, 10 am, 1664 Peninsula Rd. Ucluelet. St. Columba Church, 10:30am, 110 Second St. Tofino.
Tofino Bible Fellowship at Tofino Legion at 10:30.
19 MONDAY Jan. 19-24 - Free Fitness Week at Ucluelet Parks & Recreation - see article Page 8 Monday Night Movies, Clayoquot Community Theatre, “Cowspiracy” (US, 2014, Doc, 85 min, Rated G) Directors: Kip Andersen, Keegan Kuhn Follow the shocking, yet humorous, journey of an aspiring environmentalist, as he daringly seeks to find the real solution to the most pressing environmental issues and true path to sustainability. Strong Start, Ucluelet Elementary School, 8:35-11:35.
Ucluelet AA, weekly Monday and Thursday at 8pm. Holy Family Church
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.
20 TUESDAY StrongStart, 5-8pm Fish and Loaves free community lunch, Tofino Community Hall Healthy Babies Program/Family Ties, 10:30am. Ucluelet library. Ucluelet Community Centre, open 1–6pm. The Edge Youth Room, 3–6pm, UCC Youth night, 7-9pm, Tofino Legion. St. Francis of Assisi Church, mass 5pm, 441 Main St. Tofino. Food Bank on the Edge, pick up 1–3pm, Seaplane Base Rd. AA meeting, 7:30pm, St. Francis Church, 441 Main, Tofino.
Check out the new hours at the Westerly News!
Open 9 a.m.-12 noon Weekdays except for stat holidays for your convenience. Our oϞce is located at 1801 Bay Street, Suite 102 in Ucluelet. To reach sales representative Geoϝ Johnson in ToÀno, call 250-266-2400. To reach publisher Jackie Carmichael, call 250-534-9213.
The Westerly News | Page 5
Wednesday, January 14, 2015
COMMUNITY
COASTAL NOTES
Winter clothes donations Report release on fatal crash welcome at Food Bank STAFF REPORTS
JACKIE CARMICHAEL
Westerly News Do you have a coat someone else should be wearing? Boots gathering dust that could keep a fellow West Coaster’s feet dry? A blanket in the closet someone else would be happy to sleep under? These things could find a new home, thanks to the Food Bank on the Edge. “It’s winter time, it’s kind of cold – this is important for people who need assistance, and it’s important for kids too,” said board member Cris Martin. The agency serves a lot of single men, but families as well, Martin said.
“The people who come in, some people would appreciate getting a winter coat, socks or sweaters,” Martin said. The Food Bank on the Edge, at 160 Seaplane Base Road, doesn’t just serve Ucluelet. “We serve Tofino, Ucluelet, the First Nations bands.. the whole community on this side of the West Coast here,” she said. The front of the food bank is reserved for household things that could help someone out. Clean, useful items are welcome for donations, Martin said. “We can arrange to pick it up or meet them at the food bank,” Martin said.
As for the food side of the food bank, donations are appreciated. Nonperishables and cash are both helpful, as some items must be purchased, and gas money is needed for runs to A Greater Hope Farms in Duncan, where donations come in from Victoria’s Mustard Seed organization. Jars for cash donations can be found at several local businesses. Volunteers are at the food bank starting at 11 a.m. on Tuesdays. Distribution hours for clients are from 1-3 p.m. For information, call 250-726-6909. jcarmichael@westerlynews.ca
According to a TSB press release issued Tuesday, Jan. 13, the Transportation Safety Board of Canada Tuesday released its investigation report (A13P0166) into the August 2013 crash of an air taxi near Hesquiat Lake, British Columbia. The float plane, with 6 on board, crashed shortly after take-off. Everyone aboard survived the crash; however, the pilot and one passenger died when they were unable to exit the aircraft before it was consumed by flames in a post-crash fire. At 1015 Pacific Daylight Time, a de Havilland Beaver floatplane, operated by Air Nootka Ltd., left Hesquiat Lake for Air Nootka Ltd.’s water aerodrome base near Gold River, B.C. with a pilot and 5 passengers on board. Visibility at Hesquiat Lake was about 2 ½ nautical miles in rain and the cloud ceiling was about 400 feet above lake and sea level. Approximately 3 nautical miles west of the lake, while over Hesquiat Peninsula, the aircraft struck a tree top at about 800 feet above sea level and crashed. Shortly after the aircraft came to rest, the fire started. The accident investigation identified flight at low level in poor weather as causal. It also found that Air Nootka did
not have effective methods to monitor its pilots’ in-flight decision-making and associated practices. As a result, Air Nootka had no way to detect and correct unsafe behaviour or poor decision making. Further, the investigation found that risks still persist in the area of post-crash survivability. The lack of a requirement for shoulder harnesses on all passenger seats, the lack of technology to reduce fuel leakage or to eliminate ignition sources, and the lack of alternate means of escape such as push-out windows, all increase the risk of tragic results in the event of a crash. These issues have all been highlighted in previous TSB accident investigations. In November of 2014, the TSB announced that it would conduct a Safety Issues Investigation into Canadian air taxi operations to understand the risks that persist in this important sector of the aviation industry. The study will engage industry, the regulator and other stakeholders to gain a full understanding of the issues affecting air taxi operations. The Board may make recommendations to address any identified systemic deficiencies.
Above, Ucluelet Secondary School students are raffling off a game-worn autographed Todd Bertuzzi jersey to raise money for the school’s athletics program. USS athletes Rowan Mayes, left, and Ottis-James Crabbe were at the Ucluelet Co-op selling raffle tickets last week. ANDREW BAILEY PHOTO
Fraud ring suspected in pre-paid card scam Times Colonist - West Shore RCMP have arrested two men uspected of making dozens of purchases using fraudulent credit cards at a big-box store in Duncan. On Dec. 22, two men made a total of 85 transactions with different prepaid Visa or Mastercards at the Duncan Real Canadian Superstore. The men were in possession of dozens of the fraudulent prepaid cards for denominations of $50, $100 and $200. Police say the prepaid cards were loaded using stolen creditcard numbers from the States. “Suspects will sometimes use the card numbers associated to active credit cards in the U.S., as they do not require a chip, whereas most Canadian cards require a chip,” said West Shore RCMP Const. Alex Berube, who said it’s possible the two are part of a larger fraud ring.
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Page 6 | The Westerly News
Wednesday, January 14, 2015
HUMAN/NATURE
Entangled deer is hard to help JACKIE CARMICHAEL
Westerly News A deer with clothes-line and rope looped around his antlers evoked some sympathy in downtown Ucluelet, even as city council members debated a deer cull. Signy Cohen snapped a picture Sunday of the entangled buck in her backyard in the 1300 block of Pine Road in Ucluelet, where he was grazing with another buck. “I was able to get close very gently and talking to him and even touched his antler hoping to unloop the clothline looped over it, but he was skit-
tish,” Cohen said. The trailing line appeared to pull at the fur at the buck’s neck. He appeared to still be eating and healthy, Cohen said. Helping the animal could be a challenge; deer are known to be fierce defenders of their personal space, capable of incurring big damage with their hooves and horns. Tranquilizing them is apparently not a good option, as 75% have hearts that can’t handle tranquilization. Deer have been known to lock horns with everything from fences to other deer.
Signy Cohen snapped this picture of a deer entangled with clothesline and rope on Sunday in residential Ucluelet.
COUGAR, continued from Page 1 The 37-year-old local had opened the front door of his Norah Street residence to air his place out after having his wood stove burning all evening. He went into his bedroom around 10:45 p.m. to plug his cell phone in and was walking back into the living room to close the door when he saw his housecat come in from outside. “Then, all of a sudden, I heard claws on the cement floor and saw a big head lunging to eat my cat,” he said. “I thought it was a dog originally; a cougar would be the last thing I’d expect.” Benson lunged at the animal to scare it away before discovering he was not dealing with a dog at
all. “As soon as I realized it was a cougar I just charged it and got as big as I could and tried to make loud bear sounds to scare it away,” he said. He said the situation unfolded too fast to think and his survival instincts took over. “It was just instantaneous. I don’t know what happened, I just automatically tried to charge it and acted big because it’s in my domain, it’s in my house, I’ve got to get this thing out of here,” he said. “If I had of thought about it I probably would have been attacked because I would have been scared...it was already in
predator mode going after my cat so if I had backed up it probably would have pounced.” After his initial scare tactics failed to scare the cougar off Benson upped his intimidation level. “I got louder and tried to act more aggressive...I was just basically lunging at it; it was one or two feet away at most,” he said. “You can’t act scared, you’ve got to definitely fight for your life. If you show you’re bigger than them and shout and try to intimidate them, they don’t want to get hurt... They want the easiest way to get a meal and not have to risk their lives.” Remembering a tip he had heard from loggers, Benson kept constant eye contact with the animal. “I looked it straight in the eyes,” he said. “I remembered
loggers saying that they used to have eyes painted on the back of their logger helmets... a cougar won’t attack if you’re staring at it; I’ve heard many a logger say that.” The cougar eventually sauntered off and, as it walked away, Benson got a solid look at the animal’s impressive stature. “He, kind of, smoothly turned around, not in a hurry, and just trotted out,” Benson said. “As it was walking away I’m like ‘Holy, that’s a big cat,’ you could almost feel the physical muscle vibrations from the thing twitching with each step it’s taking as it’s leaving the house.” Once the cat was outside, Benson rushed to slam his door shut and saw Lesley Poirier of Ucluelet Taxi honking her taxi’s horn in his driveway. “Lesley stopping in the cab and honking probably helped a lot because that added a lot more noise and commotion where the
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cat was probably like ‘OK, I’ve got to get out of here this could be dangerous,’” Benson said. He said he watched the departing cougar walk towards a second cougar that was sitting in his driveway and he believes the two cougars had been hunting together when they spotted his housecat. The experience was so foreign to Benson that he had a hard time accepting it had actually happened until he heard Poirier’s account of watching the cougar walk into his house. “After it happened I thought, ‘did that just happen really or am I dreaming or something,” he said. He has reported the incident to the BC Conservation Officer Service and believes the two cougars have become habituated and will be euthanized. “I definitely got the impression staring into the cougar’s face that it wasn’t afraid of humans. It didn’t freak out and turn around immediately it was just like ‘meh, alright I’m out of here, and just trotted off; it wasn’t in a hurry by any means,” he said. Benson said he leaves his front door open often but will likely alter this routine after coming face to face with a cougar. “People live here their whole lives and never see a cougar so this is a pretty rare exception and hopefully it’s the last one. I don’t really feel like seeing one face to face without the benefit of a fence,” he said. “It was a really neat experience but I’m obviously glad it went the way it did because I could have easily been fending for my life and having to worry about four paws with big claws and some big teeth getting a hold of me.” reporter@westerlynews.ca
The Westerly News | Page 7
Wednesday, January 14, 2015
HUMAN/NATURE
Ukee ponders deer cull as 2nd cougar is killed ANDREW BAILEY
Westerly News A cougar was shot and killed in Ucluelet last week. The BC Conservation Officer Service (CO) located and killed the cougar on Jan. 8, according to Sgt. Jeff Swann of the Ucluelet RCMP. The animal is believed to have been one of two juveniles whose mother was killed by the CO on Dec. 16. “There’s still one more out there,” Swann said adding the family unit of three cougars had remained in town despite consistent efforts to haze them out. “A decision has been made that these animals are no longer suitable to be in the community.” With two cougars having been killed in Ucluelet in a matter of weeks, and a third being sought out, Swann said public opinion is mixed and he has received calls from locals on both sides of the coin. “I understand there’s concern in the community about why Conservation Officers or police are shooting at a wild animal when we’re in their space and I also understand the flipside,” he said. “It’s sad, but the alternative is we do nothing and then, all of a sudden, if we do nothing and then something happens people are going to be questioning why we didn’t do something sooner.” Conservation Officer Brittany Mueller said Ucluelet’s deer population is a magnet for predators like cougars and Ucluetians must start hazing deer out of town. She believes deer are not only being made to feel welcome in Ucluelet, but some locals are going as far as feeding them. “Something we’ll have to look at in the future is ways to deter deer and obviously the main one there is to not feed them,” she said. “They don’t need to be fed, deer can survive without us and they have for many years.” Ucluelet local Lisbeth Edwards said she has witnessed people feeding deer and has become frustrated by some locals’ seeming refusal to kick the animals out of town.
Deer grazing on a Bay Street lawn across from the Westerly News office on a recent weekday morning. (ANDREW BAILEY PHOTO)
“There’s people that want the deer in their yard because they think they’re cute,” she said. She noted signage within the Pacific Rim National Park urges visitors not to feed wildlife and said this mantra should be displayed in town as well because, she believes, deer are creating a doorway for cougars to enter Ucluelet. “Deer are a huge attractant to these animals,” she said. “It’s just a matter a time before a child is picked off.” She suggested some locals are not reporting cougar sightings to the CO out of fear that the CO will kill the cougar but this lack of reporting has led cougars to become habituated and comfortable in the community. “People have become complacent and have allowed them to stay in this space and they won’t go away until they’ve been put down which is sad. It’s really sad,” she said. Edwards, who has lived in Ucluelet for about 40 years, wrote a letter to council in December asking them to consider a deer cull but, while she plans to continue lobbying for a cull, she is not optimistic that one will take place. “I don’t think it’s going to happen,” she said. “I don’t know how strong the will is for council and
I think it would be another Clayoquot (Summer); you’ll have people throwing themselves in front of the CO or something.” Ucluelet Mayor Dianne St. Jacques said council has not discussed a potential deer cull since they reviewed Edwards’ letter last month. “It’s not something that we’ve discussed at all,” she said adding the issue would likely come up during 2015’s first council meeting on Jan. 13. “I expect that it will be brought up at that time but at this point there’s been zero discussion amongst the group about it.” She suggested the rise in cougar activity is relatively new. “In all the years we’ve lived here I don’t recall there being as many cougar sightings or as much cougar activity as there has been in this last while,” she said. St. Jacques cited Ucluelet’s efforts to tackle its bear population in the past decade through Bear Smart practices and suggested similar solutions could be found to nix the cougar concern. “We need to get some more information from the Conservation Officers and from people who have more knowledge about these animals and what their traits are and what their routines
are to try and understand what the next steps might be,” she said. Coun. Sally Mole said she needs more information about what a deer cull would look like before she takes a stance but her immediate reaction was to seek another route. “I think it would strike a bit of horror,” she said. “I would need more information but my gut reaction is ‘is there not another way we can manage our deer population?”
She added Ucluelet’s visitors see deer as photograph opportunities and questioned what a cull would do to Ucluelet’s reputation. “If you look at the broader picture, how do people from across the province or across the world look at a town that’s culling the deer,” she asked. “That’s another consideration that I would like to take into account.” Coun. Randy Oliwa suggested a deer cull would be unnecessary because preda-
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tors have already done the work. Oliwa has lived in Ucluelet for about 30 years and said he has personally observed a significant decrease in deer. “I believe the predators have already done the cull...I see the numbers (of deer) at about 25 per cent of what I’ve seen them at historically,” he said. “Cougars have always come through town; they come, they go, and wolves come and they go. For whatever reason about two years ago—and I’m guessing it was because of the deer population—they decided to stick around and reside here and they’ve just been picking (deer) off. They’ve been slowly whittling them down.” He added council plans to speak to the CO and other wildlife groups about intown predators in the coming months. Coun. Mayco Noel and Coun. Marilyn McEwen did not respond to the Westerly News by press time.
Editor’s note: as the Westerly News wentto press, reports that the remaining cougar was headed to the schools from Pine Street during morning school rush prompted a round of reports to the CO. reporter@westerlynews.ca
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Page 8 | The Westerly News
Wednesday, January 14, 2015
NEW YEAR/NEW YOU
Free fitness week in Ucluelet offers tailored help ANDREW BAILEY
Westerly News Holiday feasts are over and the leftovers are dwindling down, which means it’s the perfect time for Ucluelet’s parks and recreation team to roll out Free Fitness Week. The Ucluelet Community Centre will be offering free samplings of its recreational menu from Jan 19-24 to give locals a taste of the fitness-improving activities available to them. “We want people to come and do as many classes as they want that week and hopefully they will find their fit,” said Ucluelet’s recreational programmer KK Hodder. “It’s a good time of year to make those commitments to be healthy and active.” The week is held twice a year—once in January and once in September—to let locals try a variety of activities before signing on to a course-long commitment. “For people that are new to yoga classes or fitness classes sometimes it can be intimidating so we want people to come in with a clean slate and just try everything they want to try,”
Senpai Ian Shu leads local kids through his Purple Dragon Don Jitsu Ryu class on Monday as part of Ucluelet’s parks and recreation winter programming. ANDREW BAILEY PHOTO
Hodder said. The Ucluelet parks and recreation winter program supplement went out last week and registration for this season’s slate is up and running. “The local community has a desire and expectation for diverse programming offerings and we try our best to meet those expectations,”
Hodder said. “It seems like we’re able to bring on new instructors almost every season, which is great, but we also have really long-term, loyal, steadfast, talented instructors that across the board are really dedicated to this kind of work.” It’s not all about fitness at the centre as arts and
language courses are also being offered. The arrival of new ballet instructor Sandra Hinder means ballet courses are on the docket, and Denise Aujla is kicking off a new French language program for preschoolers. A new offering for adults is a selection of handbuilding ceramics courses. “We have been really
busy trying to convert our current art studio into a multi-purpose clay studio,” Hodder said. “There’s a lot of interest within the community to see something like that happen.” Some courses are already filling up and Hodder encourages everyone to put their names in soon. “Even if something is full we ask people to come in
and register and get themselves on a wait list so that we know what kind of interest there is and if there is interest then we try to add classes as much as we can,” she said. “We try and accommodate as many kids as we can...A lot of it is based on the availability of the instructor but all of the instructors are really keen and really want to make everything work.” Ucluelet parks and recreation offers a subsidy program to help boost the accessibility of their offerings and anyone interested in this program is encouraged to get in touch with the centre. “Ideally, I really want these programs to be accessible to as many people within the community as absolutely possible,” Hodder said. She said the centre’s recreational schedule is based on the availability of instructors and she encourages anyone who may be interested in teaching a course to contact her. “I’m always interested in meeting new people who are interested in offering programs to the community,” she said. reporter@westerlynews.ca
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Wednesday, January 14, 2015
The Westerly News | Page 9
Ukee Fire Brigade hosts Christmas tree chipping event
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Westerly News The Ucluelet Volunteer Fire Brigade offered locals a unique way to say goodbye to their Christmas Trees over the weekend at Ucluelet’s first Christmas Tree chipping event. Locals gathered at the fire hall on Saturday afternoon to enjoy a barbecue and refreshments while watching about 30 Christmas Trees go through a wood chipper. Ucluelet’s environmental and emergency services manager Karla PHOTOS ANDREW BAILEY Robison said the Fire Brigade jumped at the opportunity to host the community event. “It provides a ‘green’ or sustainable solution for residents with Christmas tree disposal, while providing more awareness about the important services the Brigade provides to the community,” she said. The event marked the first of what Robison hopes will become an annual tradition. “I feel the event was a success and will be even more successful in years to come,” she said. CANCELLED “The Brigade would like to express a big thank you to Ukee Dogs, the Co-op, Dave Edwards, Ukee Radio and the residents who supported this community event.” Robison said the wood chips obtained would be donated to local composting programs. reporter@westerlynews.ca
Page 10 | The Westerly News
Wednesday, January 14, 2015
COMMENT
Get-together makes for good holiday company Christmas 2014 was a wonderful one! Mild weather, just enough storm and chill to remind us it was indeed winter, and a fantastic HEIDI couple of communSHAW ities to celebrate /LOCAL with. What started from a dream of VOICE providing a space for those alone to share Christmas has become an amazing day of celebrating the very best of the holiday seasontogether. This was the 14th (or 15th- I forget!) annual get together of folks all of our coastal communities - gathering to eat a Christmas Dinner and share in some visiting, music, and cheer. Almost 100 dinners were dished up and there was plenty to send home for tea and goodies the next day. We enjoyed the company of locals, tourists, and returning visitors. From Arizona to Vancouver and encompassing all of our local communities- it was so great to see so many happy faces. A wonderful dinner was cooked by Sandy at the Matterson House. . Lovely wild salmon complemented the turkey and ham this year and from the reception it seems that it will be a staple in future years as well. The volunteers and ‘elves’ were so generous with their time and this din-
ner could not possibly continue without them. Hanging boughs, setting tables, carving turkeys, and just being available- wherever I looked folks were smiling and sharing. Christmas cheer at its finest. If I could get one thought across it would be that this was not and is not a ‘charity’ event. This is a ‘coming together’ - an old fashioned, yet always needed time of gathering in the midst of winter bleakness and holiday craziness. This years event showed this spectacularly as young and old, families and friends gathered together and feasted. The whole evening was fantastic! Huge thanks to the District for providing the space, to the Coop veggie guys Albert and Randy- to Just some of the volunteer elves who made Christmas a community thing this year - and every year for the past 14 or so. Aaron and Louise (and Sysco), Black Rock and the Coastal and Matterson House for cooking Scott at Far West...oh my goodCommunity doesn’t get any better Community Credit Union for the up yet another feast. OH, and the ness, see what a community we or more fun than this! turkeys- Gerry and Jackie and goodies- SO many goodies Thank have? And helping hands to decorHeidi Shaw, her husband Mark Long Beach Surf Shop for the you so much to Brandi, Julie, ate, set up, serve, take down, and and their family and friends help hams. Jeff & Suzanne and WildRomona, Lilia, Grey Whale Deli just enjoy! Steve & Robin, John & put on a community-wide Christside Grill and John and Rosa for gals, Wick Inn gingerbread team, Karen, Steve, Mike, Karen, Rick, mas Day dinner in Ucluelet each the amazing salmon..The Float Kasia and Cody at Solidarity, and Allison & kids,Camilla, the list year that draws neighbours from House and Ukee Dogs for helpanyone whom I may have missed. goes on and on..I could write a around the West Coast. ing keep it all warm and Sandy Sue & Billy at Murrays, Kevin & book. So love living on this coast-
Public invited to centre opening Saturday in Hitacu Westerly News Yuułu’ił’at’ citizens are inviting the public to join them in celebrating the grand opening of their new community centre and gym Saturday, January 17. The celebration starts at noon with lunch and will carry on throughout the day with dancing, speeches, socializing, fireworks and dinner. “The Yuułu’ił’at’ government extends a warm welcome to all Nuu-chah-nulth Nations, our
neighbours across the bay (in Ucluelet) and other friends from across Vancouver Island,” said a press release. The $7 million facility is approximately 17,000 square feet and contains the government offices as well as a community gymnasium and commercial kitchen. The building features huge timbers at both entrances and a spectacular wooden staircase from the main lobby. In September 2013 citizens gathered for an official sod-turn-
ing event and by December 2014 the building was occupied. “Yuułu’ił’at’ citizens have been wanting a basketball gym for many years and now there are regular practices for teams as well as drop-in basketball and volleyball. The kitchen is also getting regular use with the twice-weekly community dinner and Culture nights,” the release said. Yuułu’ił’at’ President Charles McCarthy said he’s thankful for the vision of many citizens, some
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of whom have now passed on, to have a community gym where people could gather for recreation and culture. “We have a top-notch facility and hopefully it will be the catalyst for improved relations in our community and improved health. This facility is being used by citizens and will continue to be used for many, many years,” McCarthy said. The Community Centre is located at the end of Wya Road in Hitacu. From the Pacific Rim Highway,
follow Thornton Road to Hitacu, which is approximately 7 kilometers from the Hwy. When you reach the community of Hitacu, please continue on the road until you come to the top of the hill at the intersection of Hit-tat-soo Road and Wya Road. Turn left and follow to the end of the road. There is overflow parking at the old community hall which is at the top of hill, just past the intersection of Hit-tat-soo Road and Wya.
Upcoming events in Tofino Film fest The Best of the Vancouver International Mountain Film Festival will be shown Sat., Jan. 24 at Clayoquot Sound Community Theatre in Tofino. Doors at 7pm. Films at 8pm. Advance tickets at the Common Loaf Bakery $10 or $12 at the door. Favourite and award winning mountain culture, sport, adventure and environment films from the 2014 festival. Refreshments, treats and raffle. This event is a fundraiser for the Clayo-
quot Action Society.
Sea lion disentanglement “Responding to HumanCaused Injuries in Marine Mammals: Development of a Sea Lion Disentanglement Program in BC” with Dr. Martin Haulena and Wendy Szaniszlo is set for Thurs., Jan 22 at 7:30 pm at Ecolodge Classroom, Tofino Botanical Gardens. Cost: $5 In recent years many sea lions have been observed
in distress in local waters, entangled in various types of marine debris. Haulena and Szaniszlo will present on the Vancouver Aquarium’s Sea Lion Disentanglement Project. The illustrated talk will provide an overview of sea lion entanglements observed on the west coast, and describe the development of an anesthetic protocol for disentangling sea lions as well as the issues involved with disentanglement operations.
The Westerly News | Page 11
Wednesday, January 14, 2015
REAL ESTATE
WEEKLY CROSSWORD
Wyndansea finds new buyer, fractional help for creditors Westerly News Better times ahead for Wyndansea – but not too much help for its creditors. The beleaguered luxury golfand-residential development in Ucluelet on the West Coast of Vancouver Island has attracted a new developer willing to pick it up for a song. The deal for the Onni Group to take over the bankrupt 360acre development for $7.95 million contains a bitter pill for the 178 creditors owed over $100 million in unsecured credit, according to paperwork filed with the Supreme Court of British Columbia. Onni Group’s acquisition of the partially-finished Wyndansea project is contingent on at least 50 per cent of the development’s 178 creditors voting in favour of the deal. This approval must include at least two-thirds of the nearly $110 million owed. As part of the development’s pending restructuring plan, many creditors can expect to receive 2% of the amount owed. Those owed less than $1,500 could get up to 99% of what’s due, while larger outstanding bills could get up to
$25,000 under a percentage payment formula tied to the amounts owing. But there’s paperwork involved. Thomas Petrowitz of Ucluelet Sand & Gravel was owed about $2,500 by the development. “According to the settlement agreement, if we don’t apply, if we just sit here, they will give me 2% of what we’re owed – about $58. If we apply we could probably get $1,400, but it’s going to cost you $200 to apply,” he said. What Petrowitz wants to know is how the District of Ucluelet could be on the hook for $1.3 million the taxpayers are owed. In exchange for work done to put in roads and utilities, Ucluelet was supposed to get fees to help fund the Ucluelet Community Centre. As a contractor, Petrowitz said the District is adamant.
HOROSCOPE ARIES - Mar 21/Apr 20 Take a leadership role on a work assignment, Aries. If your interest in work has been waning of late, a more active role may help you change your perspective. TAURUS - Apr 21/May 21 Taurus, there is nothing you cannot accomplish this week. The sky is the limit in terms of your potential. All you need to do is focus your energy on a particular task. GEMINI - May 22/Jun 21 Let something that’s been bugging you cool off for the time being, Gemini. There’s plenty of time to revisit the situation later, and you will be glad you took some time away. CANCER - Jun 22/Jul 22 You’re willing to give a loved one the benefit of the doubt when that person makes a proposal that seems to come out of nowhere. Your patience will be appreciated. LEO - Jul 23/Aug 23 Expect to be surprised by good news, Leo. Share your good fortune with others this week, and you will realize the good news will prove even more enjoyable. VIRGO - Aug 24/Sept 22 You may benefit from a change of scenery, Virgo. If you have the time, book a getaway to an exotic locale and make the most of this time to rest, relax and recharge. LIBRA - Sept 23/Oct 23 Libra, rest assured that a broken heart or bruised ego will not last too long. There are big changes ahead in your personal or professional life, so keep eyes open. SCORPIO - Oct 24/Nov 22 Taking charge comes naturally to you, Scorpio. In fact, you thrive in this role. But this week you may have to play second fiddle for the good of the team. SAGITTARIUS - Nov 23/Dec 21 You seem to be operating on auto-pilot this week, Sagittarius. Your routine has become so ingrained that things are automatic. Make a few minor changes to liven things up. CAPRICORN - Dec 22/Jan 20 Spend the week in as much quiet contemplation as you can manage, Capricorn. You have a few big questions to work out and can only think when you have private time. AQUARIUS - Jan 21/Feb 18 Aquarius, dissatisfaction at work has you wondering if things would be different elsewhere. Sometimes a change of attitude can give you an entirely new perspective. PISCES - Feb 19/Mar 20 Pisces, a loved one comes to you seeking guidance this week, but don’t be bummed if they ultimately do not heed your advice.
“When we come and hook up to sewage and water, they say on the application to build ‘you owe us this much money to hook up to our services, and you will pay that forthwith,’” Petrowitz said. “You come down with your check before you put one shovel in the ground,” he said. So what happened that Ukee got stuck? Petrowitz said promises were made, not unlike the promises made to contractors now stuck for a collective amount in the millions. “We lept into this with all good intentions, but most things that sound to good to be true most often are … When somebody stands up and says something that is black and white in public, they should be able to back it up with fact,” Petrowitz said. See WYNDANSEA Page 15
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person 12. For instance 1. Mandela’s party 13. Members of U.S. Navy 4. Gives up territory 17. Crown 9. Yellow edible Indian fruit 19. Old English 11. Storefront coverings 20. Libyan dinar 14. King of Huns 21. Goddess of the rainbow 15. Atomic #18 22. Catch 16. Jive talk for ignored 26. Fern spore mass clusters 18. D. Tartt’s third novel 28. Music disc 23. Three-toed sloth 30. All without specification 24. Gained through effort 31. -__, denotes past 25. Macaw’s genus 32. A young canine 26. Helps little firms 33. Biblical Sumerian city 27. A large group of pheasants 34. __ Hitler 28. Baby bed 35. Marched in a procession 29. English dictionary (abbr.) 36. Patchy in color 30. Yellow-fever mosquitos 37. Trauma center 32. Liquify 38. Time after midday 34. Add a supplement 40. The expanse of a surface 38. Insistence on traditional 41. Develops into correctness 42. Equally 39. Milk, butter & cheese 44. 4th month (abbr.) 40. = to 10 amperes 45. Nervous & taut 43. Mined mineral 46. Emits blood 44. Greek god of war 47. Assert without proof 45. Don’t know when yet 49. Saturates in liquid 48. Fellow 49. Detailed criteria for a piece of work 50. No. Italian river 51. Article 50. Special Spanish dish 52. Mayflower cooper John 53. Atomic #46 54. Filippo __, Saint 54. CBS This Morning hostess 55. Begetter 56. Rubber tree genus 57. Old Dominion state 58. Pa’s partner 61. Raised railroad track 59. A tiny bubble in glass 62. Point midway between N and E 60. Lost light
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Page 12 | The Westerly News
Wednesday, January 14, 2015
COMMUNITY
Winter Arts series event set for Jan. 17 in Tofino Submitted It’s time for another Winter Music concert. Silk Road and Wen Wei Dance will appear at the Clayoquot Sound Theatre on Sat., Jan 17 at 7:30 p.m. Tickets are $20 at Mermaid Tales and at the door. Wen Wei Dance creates startling and provocative performance works of a distinctive trans-cultural sensibility. With an original and highly individual style, Artistic Director Wen Wei Wang fuses precise and subtle choreography with stunning visual design and music, turning each work into a rich and unique world. Weaving together the legacies of traditional and contemporary musical ideas with searing spontaneity and superb craftsmanship, The Silk Road Ensemble offers an East-meetsWest multicultural feast for the senses. With a totally unique and energetic flare, this collective of musicians, drawn from a group of 60 distinguished performers and composers from over 20 countries, performs with the central purpose to share and celebrate the music of the world.
Above, the founding duo of Silk Road.
POLICING
Domestic abuse reports spike in Tuff ANDREW BAILEY
Above, a performer with Wen Wei Dance.
Westerly News Holiday related stress is being blamed for a rise in domestic disputes in Tofino. Sgt. Blaine Mumford of the Tofino RCMP told the Westerly on Friday that police had responded to about 10 domestic disputes since Christmas. “We did have a little bit of a spike in domestic related files post-Christmas,” he said. “While everyone wants to have fun at Christmas and New Years it certainly
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Providing you with the business solution you need when you need them.
Box 9, 121 3rd Street Tofino BC V0R 2Z0
The District of Tofino is seeking a qualified individual to fill the full-time position of Office Assistant. Reporting to the Manager of Corporate Services, the Office Assistant provides specialized administrative and organizational support services related to Council and committee meetings, corporate communications and records management, elections, and various legislative processes.
can be a stressful time too...We would encourage anyone in situations where they’re feeling uncomfortable or having issues to talk to someone.” Mumford encourages locals in domestic dispute situation to contact the Tofino RCMP at 250-725-3242. There are a variety of services available through local organizations like The Westcoast Community Resources Society at 250-7262343, he said.
1566 Peninsula Rd. Ucluelet
726-7445
Vaccine and Appointment Clinic
for Dogs & Cats
Wednesday, January 14th, 2015 Ucluelet’s UAC Hall
(located beside the firehall on Peninsula Rd)
9:30 am – noon &
Tofino’s Royal Canadian Legion Jane Armstrong Manager of Corporate Services (T) 250-725-3229 ext 57 (F) 250-725-3775 (E) jarmstrong@tofino.ca
Alberni Vet Clinic ph 250-723-7341
www.albernivet.com
1:30 – 4 pm Visit our website
The Tofino RCMP responded to a report of shots fired near Industrial Way on Jan. 7. “We investigated and didn’t find anything to suggest that it wasn’t more than fireworks or something like that but we always encourage people to call if they have any concerns,” Sgt. Mumford said.
Tofino locals asked to keep alarms in check Frequent false alarms are putting an unnecessary strain on Tofino’s police. The Tofino RCMP responded to a false alarm on Jan. 6 and have responded to about 65 false alarms in the past six months, according to Sgt.
Mumford. “It’s not a ton but each one of those takes up time for the detachment personnel,” he said. “It’s a season where Tofino residents may be away for extended periods on holidays to warmer places...We would encourage people to make sure that anyone who’s looking after their property while they may be away is fully briefed on how the alarm works.” Mumford said the number of false alarms police respond to “far outweighs” the number of actual break-ins but police must respond to every alarm with the same diligence. “It’s not false until we actually get there and find out everything is OK,” he said. “We obviously want to attend and make sure that everything is OK but it does take up a lot of resources.”
Drivers urged to watch for back-to-schoolers School is back in session, which means local kids are back on the streets. The Tofino RCMP is reminding drivers to obey road signs after a driver blew past a stop sign on Jan 8, according to Sgt. Mumford. “It’s not very common but it is just a reminder that, even though it’s the slower season, please still be aware of stopping at stop signs and all that kind of stuff,” he said. “School is back in session after having been off for a two week break so remember the kids.”
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The Westerly News | Page 13
Wednesday, January 14, 2015
ISLAND NOTES
Saanich mayor admits to lying about affair, believes he’s being unfairly targeted, spied on KATIE DeROSA, CINDY E. HARNETT & BILL CLEVERLEY
Times Colonist Saanich Mayor Richard Atwell has admitted that he lied about having an extramarital affair and says he is asking B.C.’s Office of the Police Complaint Commissioner to investigate how details of a domestic dispute between him and the woman’s boyfriend were leaked to the media. Atwell also said that Saanich information technology staff installed spyware on computers in his municipal office and that regional traffic police are unfairly targeting him. He made his remarks at a hastily called news conference Monday at a meeting room in the Data Tech Business Centre on McKenzie Avenue, instead of at Saanich Municipal Hall. “I was not totally truthful when I denied allegations that I had an extramarital affair. I wanted to protect the people who are close to me, and still do,” Atwell said. Atwell, who is married, repeatedly told reporters last week that he was not having an affair with a female election-campaign worker,
Saanich Mayor Richard Atwell leaves a press conference after reading a statement to the media in the Data Tech Centre Boardroom today. PHOTOGRAPH BY DARREN STONE, TIMES COLONIST
with whom he had discussions about a high-level Saanich municipal staff job. Saanich police were called to a home on the evening of Dec. 11
after Atwell called 911, alleging he had been assaulted by the woman’s fiancé as Atwell was leaving the home. No charges were laid and Saanich police refused to
comment. Atwell said he is asking B.C.’s police complaint commissioner to look into how details of the call were leaked to media.
“I do have concerns about the way the investigation was handled and how details of the incident became public,” he said. The Office of the Police Complaint Commissioner did not return calls for comment on whether it has received a complaint. Also on Dec. 11, Atwell said, he discovered that a member of Saanich’s information technology staff was instructed to install spyware on his and other computers at the municipal hall. As a result, he will be not be working at the municipal hall. “I was told the spying program, called Spector 360, was to capture information typed and accessed on my computer, and report any usage back to a server controlled by another user or users. I am told that server is called ‘Langley’ and is based at Saanich Municipal Hall,” Atwell said. “I was never informed of this action and it was done without my consent. Without my knowledge, someone was planning to spy on everything I did on my computer.,” he said.
See AFFAIR, page 16
PA Maritime Heritage Society hosts event Jan. 22 KRISTI DOBSON
Alberni Valley Times The Port Alberni Maritime Heritage Society is kicking off its winter season with the first of three presentations. Known for its summer programs for children and families at the Lighthouse, Society members are bringing things indoors for the months of January through March. The first Maritime Heritage Evening will include a collaboration of West Coast visual art and storytelling with artist Doug Harrison, as well as the presentation of two documentaries. David Whitworth, vicepresident of programming for the PAMHS, helped bring the event together. “I attended the presentation last year in Cowichan Bay and was impressed, so I suggested we bring it here,” Whitworth said. Doug Harrison, an acrylic and water colour-based painter, was born in Port Alberni and focuses his themes on the maritime and contemporary. Well-known in the Valley, most of his pieces are accompanied by stories, and the
audience can expect to hear his craft of storytelling during the event. Harrison’s artwork includes the history of Alberni, including the inlet and surrounding industries of forestry and fishing. Whitworth was impressed with Harrison’s reputation when he saw him last year. “He has a story behind each piece and they are fascinating,” Whitworth said. “He shares the reasons why he has painted each scene.” The other half of the evening will feature the showing of two short National Film Board documentaries. Presented by Cecil Ashton, “The Silver Horde” are two Canadian promotional films made in the 1950s. Ashton, too, has many stories to share that go along with the videos. “They are black and white films about salmon fishing and fish processing on the West Coast,” Whitworth said. “They are interesting styles of films because they are the Canadian government’s promotion of Canadian industries.” Of interest to many in the Valley will be the differences in the fishing industry then and now. The
numbers themselves demonstrate the change over the years. “What I find fascinating are the sheer number of fish that are seen and the vast number of people processing them,” Whitworth said. “There are far fewer fish and way fewer people involved now.” Both Harrison and Ashton
encourage audience participation by asking questions and triggering memories to spark discussion. “We have a good representation of interested people here who would enjoy it and be able to jump right in,” Whitworth said. The presentation takes place on Thursday, Jan. 22 at 7 p.m. at
Alberni-Clayoquot Health Network
DISTRICT OF TOFINO
ST
rd
Box 9, 121 3 Street Tofino, BC V0R 2Z0
EXPRESSIONS OF INTEREST Alberni-Clayoquot Health Network Coordinator (1 year contract with option for renewal) Expressions of interest are invited from qualified individuals (the “Proponent”) to provide leadership capacity and coordination services for the Alberni-Clayoquot Health Network (ACHN) for a one year contract, with option for renewal. The Alberni-Clayoquot Health Network (ACHN) is a group committed to improving the quality of health care decisions, health services and well being in the Alberni-Clayoquot communities. Established in the spring of 2011, the ACHN serves as an open forum for discussion on the determinants of health, the identification of health service priorities, community and health services planning and development, and other issues related to the health status of Alberni-Clayoquot citizens and communities. Reporting the Co-Chair of the Alberni-Clayoquot Health Network (ACHN) the ACHN Coordinator will be responsible to incorporate the vision, mission, purpose, values, guiding principles, goals and objectives of the ACHN into action. The coordinator will be the conduit that builds and fosters healthy and connected people and places with a collective voice on regional and local health issues. This will be achieved by the Coordinator leading a culture of cooperation, collaboration, innovation and partnering while facilitating dialogue and an understanding amongst citizens and stakeholders. The Proponent must understand the determinants of health and population health in order to inform the strategic and policy direction of the ACHN. The Proponent will have working knowledge of local government and First Nations culture and communities. As the ACHN intends to engage the Proponent under a contract for services, the Proponent must be capable of meeting legal requirements of being an independent contractor. Submission: Written submissions are to be a maximum of 10 pages, and should outline relevant experience and qualifications in the fields of community development or health sciences. The budget for this engagement is a maximum $80,000, which includes all fees and expenses. To express your interest in this contract position please access the website for the Expression of Interest Package. Any requests for clarification or for a detailed description of the position contact: Wendy Thomson Manager of Administrative Services. Deadline for submissions is 4:00 pm, February 6, 2015 ALBERNI-CLAYOQUOT REGIONAL DISTRICT 3008 Fifth Avenue, Port Alberni, BC V9Y 2E3 (250) 720-2700 Fax (250) 723-1327 Email: mailbox@acrd.bc.ca Website: www.acrd.bc.ca
Trinity Church. Admission is by donation. Prior to that, a delegation representing the PAMHS will attend next Monday’s city council meeting to give an overview of the event and invite council members to attend.
SCHEDULE OF 2015 COUNCIL MEETINGS In accordance with sections 94 and 127 of the Community Charter, notice is hereby given of the 2015 regular Council and Committee of the Whole meeting schedules. Council and Committee of the Whole meetings are held in the Council Chamber, District of Tofino Municipal Office, 380 Campbell Street, Tofino BC. 2015 REGULAR COUNCIL meeting schedule: Regular meetings of Council are held at 10:00 AM in the Council Chamber as follows: January 13 January 27 February 10 February 24 March 10
March 24 April 14 April 28 May 12 May 26
June 9 June 23 July 21 August 18 September 8
October 13 October 27 November 10 November 24 December 8
2015 COMMITTEE OF THE WHOLE meeting schedule: Committee of the Whole meetings are held at 6:00 PM in the Council Chamber as follows: January 26 February 23 March 23
April 27 May 25 June 22
August 17 October 26 November 23
The regular Council and Committee of the Whole meeting schedules are subject to change with notice. This schedule is also available on the District’s website at www.tofino.ca. For more information about Council meetings or to request to be delegation please contact: Jane Armstrong Manager of Corporate Services (T): 250-725-3229 (F): 250-725-3775 (E): jarmstrong@tofino.ca
Page 14 | The Westerly News
Wednesday, January 14, 2015
The Westerly News | Page 15
Wednesday, January 14, 2015
Secret donor gives $200K to help former foster kids at UVIC TIMES COLONIST Former foster children hardpressed to afford tuition to the University of Victoria are getting a first-class boost from an anonymous donor. A Greater Victoria benefactor has committed $200,000 to pay for up to four years of tuition for 10 students, said Lori Nolt, UVic’s director of student awards. The donor first contacted UVic in 2013 after reading how the school had committed $100,000 to
a bursary for former foster youth in response to a challenge by Mary Ellen Turpel-Lafond, B.C.’s representative for children and youth. Five applicants out of 17 were awarded tuition money last September, based chiefly on financial need. The expansion has been in the works for a long time, but the money just came in last week, Nolt said. Letting the students know is “a wonderful way to start 2015.” The new recipients will receive
funding to complete the degrees they are working toward or four full years of university tuition. Turpel-Lafond said the donation will be important “in changing the life course for some extremely deserving citizens.” Their lives have been characterized by having doors slam shut, and the donation offers an opening to a better future, she said. “I am so, so grateful to the donor.” There are about 5,900 children and teens in foster care in B.C.,
according to the Ministry of Children and Family Development. Each year, about 400 turn 19 and age out of care. Until the challenge got underway, as few as one per cent of youth in care managed to get to postsecondary education. “Nobody tracks it — the numbers have been so low,” Turpel-Lafond said. Now she estimates there are 175 such students across B.C. Still, there is not a single child in foster care who is taking Grade 12 math, curtailing their options
for post-secondary education, she said. “We’re still not making enough progress in education to get the kids university- and college-ready.” As the mother of a child in university, Turpel-Lafond knows how family support can make the difference between success and failure when it comes to youth pursuing an education. UVic’s donation officers continue to work with other members of the community interested in helping former foster kids, Nolt said.
WYNDANSEA, continued from 11
CORRECTIONS:
The Vancouver-based Onni Group has offices in major cities across North America, and has built over 6,000 homes in the last decade, according to Ernst & Young. “The Onni Group is a large development company with a proven record of delivering large-scale property developments,” stated Ernst & Young’s report. “The Onni Group has the skill set and financial wherewithal to restore confidence and provide much needed stability to the Wyndansea development.” Back in 2006 Wyndansea was pitched as an “eco-luxury global hotel,” with designs for two hotels, 410 single family homes and160 other residential units – plus an 18-hole golf course designed by sports legend Jack Nicklaus. The resort’s developer Elke LoofKoehler brought experience launching the Rainforest Estates and the 100-acre Beach Estates in Ucluelet, as well as bringing the Tauca Lea condominiums to the West Coast community with a restaurant and spa. But since Vancouver Island real estate values dropped during the economic downturn of 2008 the Wyndansea has struggled to progress. In 2009 the development was put onthe market for $37 million; by April last year this price had dropped to $7.95 million.
EDITOR’S NOTE: The SurfCam Christmas Classic was sponsored by Tourism Ucluelet. The chief judge for the event, Shannon Brown, is male. The Westerly regrets the errors. The Westerly News values accuracy in reporting. Readers can contact us at editor@westerlynews.ca, or at 250-534-9213.
Thornton Creek Enhancement Society The entrance to the Wyndansea development is cordoned off for now, but a new buyer could be good news. ANDREW BAILEY PHOTO
Plummer. Although he expects a check that will barely buy a nice dinner, Thomas Petrowjcarmichael@westerlynews.ca itz said he will welcome Onni Group’s ambition for the Wyndansea, a lovely piece of real estate with roads, utilities and signature lots carved into West Coast rainforest with a pristine beach within view of spyhopping whales. is a full service cleaning company “(This way) something Specializing in Residential Commercial might happen down the and Vacation Rental Cleaning road. It’s not going to sit BONDED AND INSURED there and fester and be an eyesore for the district,” Call 250-730-1264 Petrowitz said. or 250-918-0034 With files from Eric
PARTNERS IN GRIME CLEANING SERVICE
Annual General Meeting Thursday, January 22nd 7:30PM At Thornton Creek Hatchery
Everyone Welcome
Page 16 | The Westerly News
Wednesday, January 14, 2015
SUCCESS, continued from Page 1 reviously seen in The Hub Network’s ‘R.L. Stine’s The Haunting Hour’ and had a guest starring role in the Hallmark Channel’s 2013 ‘Signed, Sealed, Delivered.’ “It’s a really great show and I’m excited for everyone to be able to see it,” she said. The daughter of Garth and Holly Cameron was homeschooled and started acting four years ago. “It was kind of a fluke think – I saw a commercial, and said ‘This is what I want to do.’ I found an agent on a website, my agent found me and said ‘Hey, let’s have a meeting.’ I kind of fell into it,” she said.
“I’ve always just been drawn to acting – I like making people laugh, I like telling stories,” she said.
Cameron lives to Tofino and commutes to Vancouver for auditions. A fresh newcomer to the industry, Karis’ acting credits include a role in Signed, Sealed, and Delivered (Hallmark Channel) and R.L. Stine’s The Haunting Hour (The Hub Network). The new series of half-hour episodes is kicked off with a doubledose one-hour premier. Cameron, 19, plays Dylan Blake, 16, the gutsy and headstrong heroine who is determined to unravel the mystery that plagues the halls of Open Heart Memorial. It has been compared to a Russian nesting doll, with layers of
mystery underneath each other. “We’re excited about the Open Heart app. When Karis’s character solves a mystery, clues will appear on the fan’s phone in real time so they can follow along with the character as the mystery’s unfolding,” said Iain Christiansen, talent relations director for Epitome. YTV is a good fit for the show. With 25 years in television, it’s a leading cross platform entertainment brand for kids and families. Anyone looking for clues to get a jump on the show can consider this from press material about the new series. “Dylan is a gutsy, headstrong
heroine and, thanks to a run-in with the law, Open Heart Memorial’s newest volunteer. Despite her rebellious streak, break-ins and vandalism were never Dylan’s kick – she just needed something to distract her from the pain of her dad’s recent disappearance. Honest, brave and loyal to a fault, Dylan is comfortable butting heads with authority if it means defending her friends or seeking the truth. And while she is a little misguided in her romantic pursuits, she remains laser-focused on finding out what happened to her dad. And a determined Dylan Blake is not to be messed with.”
Road Safety Unit, said he was not aware of any such request until he saw news stories late Monday afternoon. Downie, the Saanich police chief, responded to the allegations in a statement: “To date, Mayor Atwell has not informed me as to his concerns regarding harassment or information being leaked to the media regarding (a Dec. 11 incident.) He did advise me of concerns that he had regarding software installed on his work computer at the Saanich Municipal Hall. That matter has been reviewed and council will
be advised of the outcome this evening.” The results of that review were not revealed during the public portion of Saanich’s council meeting Monday. Asked about the review Monday evening, Atwell said: “Nothing has been presented to council. It is still under investigation as far as I’m concerned.” Downie said if the mayor has concerns about the conduct of any police officer, he should bring the complaint forward for an investigation, or report concerns to the Office of the Police Complaint Commissioner.
AFFAIR, continued from Page 13 Atwell said the actions may amount to criminal interception of private communications under the Criminal Code. He said his lawyer wrote to Saanich Police Chief Bob Downie asking him to “request an external police entity to investigate the allegations as we believe the oversight of the investigation places Saanich in a clear conflict of interest. We also provided police with three sworn affidavits from individuals with knowledge of the installation of the software.” The mayor said he’s concerned about monitoring of not only
his private communications but emails from citizens trying to contact him. “It is also why I have not felt secure and comfortable working from the mayor’s office,” he said. Atwell said he has established an email account outside the district’s domain. Since he was sworn in on Dec. 1, Atwell has not kept regular office hours and municipal staff often don’t know his schedule or where he is. Atwell also said he was pulled over by police on four occasions — twice as a mayoral candidate, once as mayor-elect and once as mayor.
In two cases, he said, the officer asked him to blow into a roadside breathalyzer device, which “I believe was done without reasonable suspicion.” Atwell said he had a zero bloodalcohol level on both tests. He did not make it clear which police department pulled him over, but said he has asked the head of the Integrated Road Safety Unit to look into the road stops. Atwell left without answering questions after making his 10-minute statement. RCMP Staff Sgt. James Anderson, who heads the Integrated
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