VICTORIANEWS VICTORIA Foster fantastic
Oh heavens, oh Hesjedal
Hometown son David Foster spearheads a major weekend fundraising effort. Community, Page A3; Our View, Page A8
West Shore’s Ryder Hesjedal wins Giro d’Italia, Canada’s greatest cycling achievement. Sports, Page A22
Wednesday, May 30, 2012
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Immigration flow may be impacted by office closure
Pedal power Magnus McElroy, a team member with A Broughton Cycling Coalition, rides along the Selkirk trestle Monday morning before stopping at the Bike To Work Week celebration station on the Vic West side of the crossing. Cyclists riding into town were picking up treats and entering their names in prize draws as part of the annual event. More than 600 teams are registered, representing thousands of commuters who are choosing to cycle to work instead of drive.
Federal government cuts extend to Victoria immigration department Erin McCracken News staff
The closure of the Victoria office of Citizenship and Immigration Canada to the public on Friday (June 1) may discourage future immigrants from settling in the Capital Region. Immigrants won’t have the convenience of applying in person for temporary and permanent residency or changing their visa status, for example, said James Fultanum, who manages a program at the Victoria Immigrant and Refugee Centre Society that helps skilled newcomers ■ Citizenship and gain employment. Immigration Canada As well, he said, having positions terminated in fewer immigrants would Victoria: 9 take an economic toll on ■ Permanent residency the region, employers applications processed would have fewer employee in Victoria last year: choices and there would be 2,011 less cultural diversity in the ■ CIC positions region. terminated across “(Greater Victoria is) not Canada: 283 becoming as friendly to newcomers as we’d love it to be,” Fultanum said. “I think the closure of CIC will be one extra stress, one extra negative factor. If you don’t make Victoria attractive on different levels, people will not come to Victoria.” After Friday, the nine affected Victoria employees will no longer meet with people applying for temporary and permanent residency, landed immigrant status and permanent residency cards. The office will be staffed until June 29. Regional offices in Victoria, Nanaimo, Prince George and Kelowna are among 19 offices being closed across Canada.
By the numbers
PLEASE SEE: Immigrant services, Page A7
BIG
JUNE EVENT
Newly Renovated
Sharon Tiffin/News staff
Reduction in park traffic sought New plan sees scaled-down changes to Beacon Hill roadways Roszan Holmen News staff
After initial public outcry over proposed plans to close some roads to vehicles in Beacon Hill Park, more modest changes are in the works. People were fearful of the unknown, said Coun. Charlayne Thornton Joe. After reading the original plans, people thought ‘I can’t go here now,’ she said Thursday at a city environment and infrastructure committee meeting.
“We’re saying ‘yes you can.’” Last year, staff recommended permanent closures of some sections of roads that run through the park. Those closures have now been scaled back and instead, cheaper, temporary measures such as bollards and signage are now being proposed. The main changes now proposed entail removing parallel parking along Arbutus Road – starting at the foot of Quadra Street – except for evenings and weekends; closing Bridge Way at
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the washrooms, but adding 15-minute parking stalls for seniors and young families; and closing Heywood Way between the cricket field and Circle Drive. The road closures are mainly intended to prevent drivers from cutting through the park. “This is meeting the concerns halfway,” said Doug DeMarzo, manager of parks planning and design. PLEASE SEE: Beacon Hill traffic, Page A7
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