Grad prank Year-end stunt results in a lockdown at secondary school. PAGE 7 National leader Nanaimo woman elected to lead women’s federation. PAGE 12 Film footage City archives downloads aerial shots of 1970s Nanaimo. PAGE 3
Athletes dive in PAGE B1
Art form www.nanaimobulletin.com
THURSDAY, JUNE 28, 2012
Blue Community taps turned on again by council
I
CITY CANNOT recognize water as a human right. BY TOBY GORMAN THE NEWS BULLETIN
First we weren’t, then we were. Then we weren’t again, and now we are. Sort of. That’s the path city council took over recent weeks to designate Nanaimo a Blue Community which resolves to: recognize water as a human right; promote publicly financed, owned and operated water and wastewater services; and ban the sale of bottled water in public facilities and at municipal events. Through legal guidance from city solicitors, council learned it does not have the political power to recognize water as a human right; only senior levels of government do. It agreed unanimously, however, that water should be publicly financed and owned, but was divided on whether to ban bottled water from city facilities. In the end it did with a 5-4 vote, which means bottled water will no longer be available for sale at city facilities beginning in October. The city recently signed an
updated beverage contract with Pepsi, though that contract does allow for a renegotiation of product selection. Juice and pop will still remain available to consumers. Bottled water sales generate about $8,500 annually in revenue for the city. The idea, said Coun. George Anderson, is to encourage residents to use municipal water, which is provided at one-tenth of a cent per litre, instead of bottled water which can sell for $1.25 for half a litre from a vending machine. But he doesn’t think the choice should be taken away from residents. “I think it’s important that we do give people a choice as to what’s in the facilities that they own and use,” he said. “I would much rather see us promote tap water in our facilities so that people are aware that it is accessible rather than outright banning bottled water because I know there are people who won’t drink from fountains. In elementary schools, they’re told that fountains are one of the leading causes of illness.” Anderson added that banning bottled water leaves the unhealthy options of pop or juice, which contradicts the city’s healthy choices policy passed in 2008. ◆ See ‘CITY’ /4
Quality & Service at Budget Prices
night. They sent me a wakeup letter.
VOL. 24, NO. 26
PAGE P AGE 1 14 4
One-year deal doesn’t solve main issues
SEASIDE STRING SECTION
BY JENN McGARRIGLE THE NEWS BULLETIN
CHRIS BUSH/THE NEWS BULLETIN
Katriona McColl, 13, left, Ianna Folkes, 14, and Emma Rainboth, 14, fill the morning air with folk fiddle tunes and the beat of spoons on the Waterfront Promenade Wednesday. The girls, who are members of the Van Isle Fiddlers, thought they’d take a turn at busking on the waterfront.
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Nanaimo educators say a tentative deal between teachers and the employers’ association leaves important issues unresolved. The proposed settlement between the B.C. Teachers’ Federation and B.C. Public School Employers’ Association was reached late Tuesday, just days before the June 30 deadline for mediator Charles Jago to either help the two parties achieve a negotiated settlement or issue a report with non-binding recommendations. It expires June 30, 2013, and the BCTF executive committee is recommending ratification. Justin Green, first vice-president of the Nanaimo District Teachers’ Association, said the agreement includes slight improvements to benefits and leave provisions, but does not address the main issues the union brought forward – most importantly, negotiated limits on classroom size and the number of special needs students in each class. “It didn’t accomplish our objectives,” he said. “I think at this point, it’s probably the best we can get. “It’s almost kind of a status quo. I get the feeling it’s more of a stop gap and let’s see what happens next spring. Eight months from now, we’re going to start again.” Teachers vote this week on the deal, with results reported Friday evening. ◆ See ‘TALKS’ /3
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