FRIDAY OCTOBER 19, 2012
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Official newspaper of the Save-On-Foods Oceanside Generals
SOMETHING MAGICAL
GOLDEN GIRLS
Collaboration produces bluesy, ‘60s-style sound
Female minor hockey teams win two golds and a silver in Victoria event
A36
B1
SD 69 INTERNATIONAL PROGRAM
Safety of students questioned ‘A four-bedroom home isn’t designed for 22 people’ – fire chief The fact that 22 people are living in a four-bedroom house in his community was news to Nanoose Bay fire chief Doug Penny, and he has some concerns. Penny first learned about the house, part of School District 69’s international students’ program, Tuesday night at the Nanoose Bay Fire Protection Society’s annual general meeting when a concerned resident brought the situation to the attention of the 40 people in attendance. Penny admitted his focus in the past year has been mostly directed on the progress of the community’s soon-to-be-opened $3.2 million new fire hall, but he seemed perplexed he wasn’t notified by staff of the school district or the Regional District of Nanaimo about the Madrona Drive home that houses 18 Korean students and four adults. “Even a daycare with 10 kids in it has to have a fire safety plan,” said the chief. Penny, like most volunteer fire-
fighters in communities such as Nanoose Bay, has a primary career or business. Penny does excavation work. “I do septic fields and the septic (at this house on half an acre) couldn’t handle it,” he said. “It wouldn’t be designed to handle that load.” “A four-bedroom home isn’t designed for 22 people.” Sheila Bates, a neighbour of the house in question on Madrona, was the resident who raised the issue at the meeting Tuesday. She said the behaviour of the residents is not an issue for her, but she wondered how the Korean students — at least one of which is attending Nanoose elementary — are getting a Canadian-type experience in that kind of living situation. She also expressed concerns about the safety of the children living in the house. “We have rules and building codes for good reason,” she said. “How is that safe? I don’t think it is.” See RD SAYS, page A6 ALSO, See EDITORIAL, page A10
LISSA ALEXANDER PHOTO
SOON TO BE FREE AGAIN: North Island Wildlife Recovery Association assistant manager Julie Mackey prepares to release an owl back into the wild at Milner Gardens on Tuesday. See story on Page A3.
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