PENINSULA
NEWS
Established 1912
A secret society of Santas
Robots hard at work in Sidney
Rob McMillan is working hard on his second annual toy drive for local children, page 5
Sidney’s Straightline Precision uses technology to stay competitive, page 3
Wednesday, November 14, 2012
Watch for breaking news at www.peninsulanewsreview.com
Jessika returns home North Saanich family brings home a threeyear-old from the U.S. Devon MacKenzie News staff
A year-and-a-half after going on a prearranged visit to her biological father’s home in the United States, a young Saanich Peninsula girl has finally been returned home. Three-year-old Jessika Angel GnirkThompson was brought home earlier this month by her grandparents who travelled to the U.S. to get her. The child is in the middle of a cross-border custody dispute. “The courts gave us temporary custody of Jessika before we went to the U.S. so we were able to just pick her up and head back right away before her “We’re just father could get so thrilled she’s into court the next morning,” home.” explained Jessi– Paulette Schiller ka’s grandmother, Collette Thompson, who credits her daughter Jessica for being strong through the hardship. “Our daughter Jessica has just been so amazing through this all and Jessika is just pleased as punch to be home with her family.” Jessica Thompson, a Parkland Secondary graduate, lives in North Saanich with her parents, her infant daughter Aurora and now once again, her daughter Jessika. PLEASE SEE: Family credits MP, page 6
Steven Heywood/News staff
Gilbert Labelle comes into Sidney from Victoria a couple of times per month to trap crab off the Bevan Fishing Pier. He said it’s a great way to spend a little time on a sunny day in the fall.
North Saanich watching appeal District could be affected by decision to reduce value of Horseshoe Bay terminal Steven Heywood News staff
A recent decision by the B.C. Property Assessment Appeal Board to reduce the current value of the Horseshoe Bay ferry terminal in West Vancouver from $47.9 million to just 20 bucks, has coastal communities with B.C. Ferries docks — including the District of North Saanich — worried over possible lost tax revenue. In its Oct. 29, 2012 decision, the Appeal Board agreed with B.C. Ferries’ argument —
made in July — that “the properties have no market value because they have no other purpose other than as a ferry terminal and there is no potential for profit under this use.” The District of West Vancouver, as well as the B.C. Assessment Authority itself, is appealing the decision, citing a potential loss of close to $1 million in past and anticipated tax revenue. B.C. Ferries had appealed their Horseshoe Bay assessment for 2010, 2011 and 2012. “We will do everything we can to reduce
the impact of this decision on our taxpayers,” stated West Vancouver Mayor Michael Smith in a media release. “This is another example of costs being downloaded to a municipality, and this decision sets a precedent for assessment reviews for ferry terminals in the entire province. Every city and town in B.C. that has a ferry terminal should be worried about this outrageous decision.” PLEASE SEE: Taxes at risk, page 7