TUESDAY JUNE 12, 2012
www.pqbnews.com
TYKES LACROSSE
BANDING TOGETHER
Box lacrosse tournament a big hit with teams
Local resorts planning a street party in the fall
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Tourism review Oceanside Tourism to start survey of visitors, stakeholders on Friday STEVEN HEYWOOD editor@pqbnews.com
The moniker ‘Oceanside’ could survive a review of the region’s tourism strategy, which starts this Friday. Or, it might not. That, said Blain Sepos, completely depends on the results of a multi-phase review of how tourists and local stakeholders see tourism in the mid-Island region between Nanoose Bay and Deep Bay, including the communities of Parksville, Qualicum Beach, Coombs, Errington and Whiskey Creek. The Oceanside Tourism Association (OTA), where Sepos is executive director, has hired BLAIN SEPOS Stormy Lake Consulting to conduct research with a goal of developing a new brand strategy to increase the appeal of the Parksville and Qualicum Beach area to visitors. Will that mean the word ‘Oceanside’ as a regional descriptor will be out? Sepos cannot say. “Most recently, the Parksville and Qualicum Beach names have been front and centre,” he said. “Oceanside has been the tagline, used after introducing people to the area. But not a lot of people identify the area as Oceanside.” Yet, the name of the tourism region here, is only a small part of the OTA’s project. See BRAND RECOGNITION, page A6
JAMES CLARKE PHOTO
GOING FOR A RIDE: An older, stronger, girls hockey player shows she’s a good sport and gives a gaggle of younger players a push during the weekend’s Try Girls Hockey clinic at Oceanside Place. For more, please see today’s sports section.
Another city engineer gone City of Parksville to review department after parting ways with Robert Harary STEVEN HEYWOOD editor@pqbnews.com
she could not say if the city terminated Harary, who was The City of Parksville has lost another director of engi- hired by the city in March of 2011, or if Harary resigned. neering, parting ways with Robert Harary as of June 7, and “The decision was made in a closed meeting,” she told now council is reviewing the entire enTHE NEWS Monday, adding she could not Add your COMMENTS at comment on that session. gineering and operations department. www.pqbnews.com Comis confirmed the city and counIn a media release today, the city cillors will now review the department stated: “Effective June 7, 2012, Mr. Robert Harary is no longer employed by the City of Parksville.” and make changes, if necessary. Director of administrative services Debbie Comis said See ENTIRE DEPARTMENT, page A4
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