Army needed Nanaimo Sally Ann kicks off annual kettle campaign. PAGE 10 Job prospects Demand for health-care assistants on the rise in B.C. PAGE 27 Running race Athletes compete no matter the weather conditions. PAGE 3
Barsby wins PAGE 25
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SATURDAY, NOVEMBER 17, 2012
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VOL. 24, NO. 87
NANAIMO
From left, Terri Parker, Adrian Parker, Courtney Wylie and Jeff Solomon are some of the Harewood residents who want further discussion with the city on its plans to remove two dams at Colliery Dam Park. The group has organized a public meeting Tuesday (Nov. 20) at 7 p.m. at John Barsby Secondary School to try to get city officials to consider alternatives. TOBY GORMAN/THE NEWS BULLETIN
Residents rally Citizens trying to persuade city council to back down from plan to remove two dams at a Harewood park BY TOBY GORMAN THE NEWS BULLETIN
C
itizens are rallying to try to persuade Nanaimo city council to reverse its decision to remove two dams in Colliery Dam Park that have provided residents with recreational opportunities for decades. In late October, the city revealed that studies performed by the provincial Dam Safety Branch over the past two years suggested that, in the event of an earthquake or extreme rainfall, the dams could fail, causing water from two lakes to rush into parts of Harewood. Both dams are 100 years old and, according to city officials, at the end of
their useful life. They were installed by the Western Fuel Company for the purpose of storing water for washing coal at Nanaimo’s waterfront in 1910. But removing the dams will result in the popular lakes being drained, taking away swimming and fishing opportunities enjoyed by thousands of people annually. Jeff Solomon, organizer of a public meeting taking place Nov. 20 in the gymnasium at John Barsby Secondary School at 7 p.m., said the safety factor is understood, but isn’t convinced all options were explored to keep Colliery Dam Park in its present state. ◆ See ‘PUBLIC’ /4
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