VICTORIANEWS VICTORIA Deuces wild
Lending a hand
Al Clark’s drag racing history is pulling him into Victoria’s auto racing hall of fame. Sports, Page A20
Greater Victoria’s automotive community comes together to help a local family. In Motion, Page B1
Friday, April 27, 2012
Offer Expires May 11th, 2012
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Municipalities promise money for Juno bid Committee secures pledges at 11th hour, word on funding expected soon from province Erin McCracken News staff
Photos by Sharon Tiffin/News staff
Eco-friendly pest control City of Victoria parks department worker Thomas Munson gently places ladybugs on a cherry tree on Broughton Street on Tuesday. Each spring since 1994, the city has released approximately 100,000 ladybugs (inset) and other insects onto trees and gardens, as a natural way to protect them from aphids, beetle larvae and spider mites. Victoria passed a bylaw in 2008 to limit the use of pesticides on public and private property.
Councillors mull the city’s future Over the coming weeks, city council will craft a list of priorities that will guide what gets done and what gets left behind. These meetings will arguably have more impact on the future of the city than any oth-
ers that council will have in its three-year term. And for the first time, they’re open to the public. The News got a taste of what’s to come at the first session held Tuesday. Please see Page A3.
Organizers of the Greater Victoria Juno Awards bid say they have enough municipal funding pledges to entice the province to significantly contribute to help bring the musical showcase here. Directors with the Capital Region Music Awards Society have been making the rounds at council meetings across Greater Victoria in recent weeks, in hopes of securing $450,000 in municipal pledges. They have not yet reached that goal, though the deadline to submit the bid is Monday (April 30). “We think we’ve got what we need right now in terms of the commitments to go to the provincial government and say there’s municipal support,” said David Hurford, with the Capital Region Music Awards Society. He said he hoped to hear by today (Friday) whether the society’s request to the province for $1.5 million will be supported. Saanich promised $100,000 on Monday. Victoria council pledged $200,000 last week, while Colwood has earmarked $16,000. Requests made to the remaining councils are in the works. On Monday night, Esquimalt council agreed in principle to pledge a maximum of $17,000 to help fund the Juno Awards, if Greater Victoria is chosen as the 2014 host. Some councillors questioned whether the event would directly benefit Esquimalt, though organizers suggested the township’s Archie Browning Sports Centre could host one of several Juno events in the lead-up to the televised awards show. PLEASE SEE: Esquimalt residents, Page A6 OPEN HOUSE • SAT APRIL 28 • 2-4PM
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