Ferry dependence Vancouver Islanders’ lives affected by B.C. Ferries Page A10
NEWS: Change of command at Government House /A3 ARTS: Eclectic arts hub closing its doors /A16 SPORTS: Football playoff fever strikes region /A21
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Teen residential recovery centre finds new home Salvation Army facility moving from Vic West church to Saanich house
Diggin’ in the dirt
Roszan Holmen News staff
After a months-long search for a new home, Beacon of Hope House is on the move. “We’re seeing it as a new beginning,” said Keltie Manderville, co-ordinator of the Salvation Army’s residential recovery centre for teen boys struggling with a range of addictions. Since 2007, the centre had been quietly operating inside a church rectory in Vic West. Like many community organizations, it got an eviction notice earlier this year when the Anglican Diocese of B.C. began selling several of its properties to pay off debt. When St. Saviour’s church sold Beacon of Hope House in February, the Salvation Army funding: launched a search for a new six■ Annual budget – bedroom home, properly zoned $520,000 to allow for a recovery centre. ■ VIHA contribution – As the Oct. 31 eviction dead$140,000 line approached, Manderville ■ Salvation Army stopped accepting new clients, to donations – $380,000 avoid potentially disrupting their treatment. The last boy graduated from the 90-day program in mid-October. With one week left on its lease with the Diocese, the organization announced the purchase of a new house that met all its criteria, near the Uptown shopping centre in Saanich. The exact location is not public. “We’re waiting for a new sprinkler system, so that’s really a hold-up,” Manderville said. She hopes to open the doors for the next set of boys by the end of the month. In total, Vancouver Island has 21 supportive recovery beds for teens.
Helen Mahoney covers up the roots of an ocean spray plant during the City of Victoria’s seventh annual Tree Appreciation Day event on Sunday at Kings Playlot on Caledonia Street. City parks staff were also on hand to answer questions about tree care and disease.
By the numbers
PLEASE SEE: Hope shines, Page A7
Dirty Carpets?
Sharon Tiffin/News staff
Numbers vary widely in policing report Daniel Palmer News staff
Four months after Esquimalt was ordered to stick with VicPD for its policing services, a report compiled by its own advisory panel shows why the township was so upset. The May 2011 report, released last week under the Freedom of Information Act, scored the RCMP’s policing proposal at 84 out of 100; VicPD scored only 45. “The panel went through a very
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together is extremely challenging,” she said. “Mayor (Dean) Fortin’s been away for two weeks in China. I know we are just working as hard as possible to make sure things are moving forward.” Esquimalt spent $160,000 for the work of its policing advisory panel, a cost the province will not cover. No deadline has been set for the policing framework agreement, but Desjardins remains cautiously optimistic about its outcome. dpalmer@vicnews.com
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diligent process ... and the scoring came out such that the RCMP were the preferred proponent,” said Esquimalt Mayor Barb Desjardins. The report showed “significant cost differences” between the two policing proposals, she said. Desjardins is now focused on a provincially mandated negotiation with mediator Lee Doney to reach a framework agreement with the province, the City of Victoria and the Victoria police board. “Trying to get all of the parties
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