FRIDAY AUGUST 10, 2012
www.pqbnews.com
DUCK! IT’S THE FALL FAIR
OCEAN MILE SWIM
99th Coombs Agricultural Fair this weekend
Swimmers to take to the water in Qualicum Beach
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A31
‘Oceanside’ won’t vanish Regional term should survive tourism marketing review
AUREN RUVINSKY writer@pqbnews.com
The Oceanside Tourism Association is halfway through a review of the region’s tourism strategy and branding efforts. Executive director Blain Sepos gave Parksville council an update at their Wednesday regular meeting on their work promoting tourism in the mid-Island region between Nanoose Bay and Deep Bay. In June Stormy Lake Consulting began surveying visitors to local tourist attractions on the reason for their visit and their perspective on the area and marketing efforts. They will also followup with the visitors for their perspective after they return home. “We’re trying to come up with a brand that visitors can relate to, but it’s also important that the local stake holders will use it,” Sepos told THE NEWS. With mayor Chris Burger’s prompting, he said the use of the term “Oceanside” is part of this review, but Stormy Lake have told him they rarely throw everything away and start again. See TOURIST SPENDING, page A4
Local crime drops
Frustrating jump in thefts from vehicles here AUREN RUVINSKY writer@pqbnews.com
Oceanside RCMP Staff Sgt. Brian Hunter presented a semi-annual report to Parksville council on Wednesday, showing a continuing trend of declining crime. Comparing numbers of incidents reported to the RCMP for the first half of the year, he said the biggest drops over the same period last year were theft of motor vehicles, down from 15 to eight, mischief to business and other, dropped from 70 to 52 and motor vehicle accidents were down 10 to 71. See POLICE NOT OUT FOR BLOOD, page A7
LISSA ALEXANDER PHOTO
AN UPRIGHT GUY: Former Qualicum Beach resident and local high school grad, Ben Dwyer, had a successful first year at McGill University in Montreal and rubbed shoulders with some of the greats of jazz. For the story, see page A15.
The Bubbles Experience
STARTING AT
! 2 + 3 6 ) , , % s 6! . # / 5 6 % 2 ) 3 , ! . $ 0!
$
BUBBLES ON THE BEACH 00* B
99
CAD per person plus taxes
* Event only ticket - Ask for accommodation packages
www.VisitParksvilleQualicumBeach.ca Toll Free 1.888.799.3222
$O YOU LOVE SEAFOOD SAND AND THE SOUND OF TOPS POPPING OFF BOTTLES Well then our annual Bubbles on the Beach event is the place to be! 3ATURDAY 3EPTEMBER 3TARTS AT PM
1-888-760-2008
www.beachclubbc.com
www.facebook.com/beachclubresort
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