Extreme science University profs prepare entertaining annual show. PAGE 20 Active life City’s recreation programs for youth provide skills for life. PAGE 29 T-men winless ‘Mellow’ jr. lacrosse team struggles to find momentum. PAGE 11
Fishing field trip PAGE 3
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Ferries float forward with cash infusion BY TOBY GORMAN THE NEWS BULLETIN
CHRIS BUSH/THE NEWS BULLETIN
Artist Jason Gress puts the finishing touches on the assembly of his sculpture, titled “Frame”, as his daughter, Ruby, poses for her mother’s camera at Maffeo Sutton Park. The city and Nanaimo Art Gallery installed seven public art pieces at locations on the waterfront and at Beban Park Social Centre Tuesday. The works, created by local artists, will be on display until next spring when they will be put up for auction.
Commuter challenge kicks off Bike to Work Week BY TOBY GORMAN THE NEWS BULLETIN
Ralph Nilson hopes to teach Nanaimo Mayor John Ruttan a lesson when it comes to the benefits of commuting by bicycle instead of a motor vehicle. To help kick off Bike to Work Week, May 28-June 3, Nilson, Vancouver Island University president, and Rut-
tan will participate in the annual Commuter Challenge, a good-natured competition between cyclist (Nilson) and driver (Ruttan), staged to demonstrate the comparability of travel times throughout the city. Both will start at the VIU campus at noon on Tuesday (May 15) and, obeying all traffic laws along the five-kilometre pre-planned route, will end up
at Diana Krall Plaza 10 to 15 minutes later. Ruttan said he is confident his mode of transportation will prevail. “The rumours of me using a Lamborghini are simply untrue,” quipped Ruttan. “But I do know a guy with a red convertible Ferrari. Maybe I’ll ask if I can use it.” ◆ See ‘ANNUAL’ ‘ /6
B.C Ferries, the provincial government and coastal communities will have to work together if the ferry service is to stay afloat and meet the needs of users. Blair Lekstrom, transportation and infrastructure minister, introduced key amendments to the Coastal Ferry Act Wednesday. The changes are in response to a report filed in January by B.C. Ferries Commissioner Gord Macatee, who made 24 recommendations to improve the vision and financial viability of the struggling service, which has seen fares rise dramatically over the past eight years while ridership has dropped to its lowest level in two decades. Eighteen of Macatee’s recommendations were included in the amendments. Lekstrom also announced the province would inject $79.5 million over four years to B.C. Ferries to help take pressure off fare increases, on top of the annual $150-million provincial subsidy already received. “All of us have to come together for a sustainable system,” said Lekstrom. Taxpayers will provide B.C. Ferries with $49.6 million up front, followed by $10.5 million next year, $11 million in 2014, and $11.5 million in 2015. Along with the cash boost, B.C. Ferries is tasked with finding $15 million in operational efficiencies and an additional $30 million in service adjustments. That could include reducing underutilized routes, some of which operate at less than 30-per cent capacity. ◆ See ‘EVERYTHING’ /7
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All of us have to come together for a sustainable system.
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