THANKSGIVING
Riders arrive: Tour de Rock activities welcomed riders Tuesday
2X1.5 Turkey Dinner 2X1.5 Buffet Sunday, October 7th 5:00pm - 9:00pm
21 COAST DI DI COAST
earlug COLOR earlug 99 $ COLOR
~ Reservations Required ~
See campbellrivermirrror.com
250-287-7155 975 Shoppers Row
Newstand 75¢
WEDNESDAY, SEPTEMBER 26, 2012
www.campbellrivermirror.com
Council revokes non-profit groups’ tax exempt status KRISTEN DOUGLAS CAMPBELL RIVER MIRROR
Morgan Stewart-Webb’s father Noah performed life-saving CPR after the early baby failed to breathe when he was delivered at their Quadra Island home.
A hero from the moment of birth BRIAN KIERAN CAMPBELL RIVER MIRROR
As little Morgan Stewart-Webb grows up on Quadra Island he won’t have to look far for a hero. That hero will be his dad, Noah Webb, 25, the volunteer fire fighter who saved Morgan’s life at the moment of birth. In mid-August Morgan’s mom, Amanda, 28, went into labour three days early and gave birth in the couple’s backyard wading pool. “We thought we had lots of time,” Noah says. They didn’t. Often babies take a few seconds to breath, but baby Morgan did not and when the midwife could
Up To
15
$
not find a pulse the 911 call was made. That’s when two and a half years of constant fire department training kicked in. “I’ve done quite a bit of training to do CPR, but I never thought I’d have to use it. I inserted an airway and I continued to bag him,” Noah says. With the baby not showing signs of life Noah says he “kind of fell apart and lost it because I knew at that point there was a slim chance he would be resuscitated.” Noah’s fellow first responders arrived quickly and the baby, still not breathing, was rushed to the ferry. Mid-channel on the ferry trip to Campbell River General Hospital the infant started
in
REWARD CARDS
with every Valvoline Oil Change
breathing. Noah said Morgan took a breath, then another and continued breathing sporadically on the way to hospital. The infant was flown to Victoria General Hospital and is now back at home with no residual ill effects from his perilous start in life. Noah says he is very thankful for the training he has received with the volunteer fire department. “I am grateful to be part of the organization and it was very comforting to know the crew who arrived to help.” While it may not mean much to Morgan just yet, BC Ferries has honoured the baby with a free ferry pass for life.
7
A handful of local charities and non-profit groups are about to take a big financial hit. City tax exemptions for six non-profits are on the verge of being revoked in order to adhere to rules laid out in the provincial Community Charter. “This has been in the Community Charter for awhile,” said Natalie Aalderink, the city’s finance manager, at a council meeting Sept. 18. “We went and got the interpretation of it (and) we got clarification from the province.” What that means is property tax exemptions can only be granted if a charitable, philanthropic, or other not-for-profit owns the land it operates on. Six local groups, which have in the past been given the tax exemption, do not fit the above criteria. As a consequence, council gave first three readings last week to an amendment to the per missive tax exemption bylaw that will deny tax breaks to Habitat for Humanity’s ReStore, Total Change Ministries’ 88.7 Spirit FM Christian Music radio, Campbell River Family Services, Canadian Red Cross, Campbell River Seniors
00
GREAT CANADIAN GREAT CANADIAN OIL OIL
$
OFF
Society, and River City Players. Council also denied issuing new tax exemptions to the Campbell River Dragon Boat Society, Opportunities Career Services Society, and the Strathcona Regional District. Aalderink explained that because those organizations don’t own their own buildings, the tax break truly goes to the property owner. Coun. Ryan Mennie argued that the non-profit does benefit. “Would it also not be fair to say that without the exemption...the owner has to recover those costs?” Mennie asked. “I’m assuming the owner would raise the rent to try and recover the costs of the tax exemption they’re not getting.” Coun. Claire Moglove was concerned the city was pulling the rug out from under the societies involved, which had not been notified prior to the council meeting. “It’s going to be a significant hit to those particular groups,” Moglove said. “Is there...a grantin-aid or something like that, where these groups would be able to apply for a grant similar in amount, so that they won’t be so negatively impacted?” Aalderink replied that the groups could indeed apply for Continued on A3
OUR VALVOLINE OIL CHANGE PACKAGE No Appointment Necessary. 100% Warra
nty Approved. Quality Service.
Plus tax & enviro fee. Up to 5L of Valvolin e oil and warranty approved oil filter. Some restrictions apply. Coupon expires Sept. 30, 2012. Limit one coupon per customer. Must Present Coupon. See store for more ore informatio tion. on. Campbell River location only.
1691 Dogwood Street, Campbell River • 250-286-4288 Mon - Fri, 8:30–5:30, Sat 8:30–5, Sun: CLOSED