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Members of the public join police in being honoured at annual affair. News, Page A5
Interactive affair invites tinkerers, milliners and artisans back to the future. Arts, Page A16
Friday, April 13 , 2012
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Vancouver, chocolate good combo Navy, Rogers’ team up for fundraising chocolate bar The Royal Canadian Navy has a sweet side. During a ceremony held today (Friday) on the deck of HMCS Vancouver, Rogers’ Chocolates Ltd. CEO Larry Sullivan and Rear Admiral Nigel Greenwood, commander of the navy’s Maritime Forces Pacific, unveiled a chocolate bar wrapped in the image of a Halifaxclass naval frigate. It’s not the first time the chocolate company has teamed up with the navy. To mark the Royal Canadian Navy’s centennial in 2010, a commemorative tin, depicting HMCS Rainbow, was launched. Similar to the tin project, partial proceeds from sales of the uniquely wrapped chocolate bars will go to CFB Esquimalt’s personnel support program. Bars are available at Rogers’ Chocolates, 913 Government St. emccracken@vicnews.com
The truth is in the telling Today in Part 2 of our series on the Truth and Reconciliation Commission, noted Songhees Nation carver Butch Dick offers his opinion on the value of this weekend’s hearings and his experiences with residential school. Story Page 3; Our View, page 10.
David Sinclair, chair of the Legion Foundation for B.C. and the Yukon, stands outside the Trafalgar Pro Patricia 292 branch on Gorge Road. He’d like to see the Legion branches given the same property tax breaks as charitable organizations by the City of Victoria. Sharon Tiffin/News staff
Legions want in on tax relief City reviewing the way it handles property tax exemptions for groups Roszan Holmen News staff
To the uninitiated, the Royal Canadian Legion is often seen as a club for veterans offering a members-only pub. The categorization misses the bigger picture of the Legion’s social service mandate and the misperception could be costing the charity buckets, according to David Sinclair, chair of the Legion Foundation for B.C. and the Yukon. “There has been some argument from time
to time, ‘well you’re a bar,’ … but I think that’s an argument that’s ludicrous,” he said. “I don’t see any other bars in town giving money to charity or volunteer hours of work that we do.” Sinclair has been speaking to B.C. mayors, including in Victoria and Vancouver, to convince them that Legions deserve exemptions from property taxes like other non-profit organizations. In Greater Victoria, Legions receive a full property tax break in Esquimalt and Langford and a partial tax break in Sooke. Victoria is the only municipality that charges full property tax. Exemptions are “hit and miss,” Sinclair said. “It’s all depended upon the way the various municipalities and councils across the
province view us.” While some see Legion branches as private clubs, he argues otherwise. He is backed by a recent ruling by B.C. Assessment which deemed them to be legitimate charities. Legion membership is open to anyone, Sinclair said, and the aim is community service. In B.C., Legions operate 4,700 housing units for seniors. In a year, they donate $4 million to charities, $400,000 to medical research and contribute 800,000 hours of volunteer work, Sinclair said. Legions keep for themselves hall rental and bar revenue, which generate “barely enough to pay staff and taxes.” PLEASE SEE: Tough economic times, Page A6
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