Comox Valley Record, November 23, 2012

Page 1

FRIDAY November 23, 2012 Vol. 27•No. 94 ••• $1.25 inc. H.S.T.

COMOX VALLEY

ARTS

SPORTS

Light the Fire this Saturday is the biggest pottery show and sale of the year in the Comox Valley. page B2

Towhees take on Hornets at provincial football final. page B9

RECORD A division of

Your community. Your newspaper.

www.comoxvalleyrecord.com m

Cougar encounter ‘too close’

E&N supported by entire CVRD

Scott Stanfield

Record Staff

Scott Stanfield

Record Staff

A Fanny Bay man had a close encounter with a cougar outside his Stelling Road home Wednesday night. Around 10:30 p.m., Josh Bilodeau was putting up Christmas decorations on the porch when he noticed a cougar in the compost heap almost two metres away. “As he stood up and turned around, the cougar was ready to pounce him,” his wife Barbara said Thursday. The cat — which she estimates at about 200 pounds and two to three years old — ran away when Josh stood up. She has contacted the conservation service and is waiting to hear back. “We’re quite concerned,” said Barbara, who has a six-year-old daughter and a small dog. “That’s way too close to home. I walk my daughter to school every day.” The couple is new to the area. Their house is surrounded by forest, with resident deer on a daily basis. Barbara and her landlord figure the cougar has been roaming the area about two weeks. Earlier this month, Fanny Bay resident Aga Schultes was preparing to drive her children to school when she spotted a cougar in her driveway. The cat, ... see NOT FIRST ■ A2

Canada. We suffer from the tyranny of distance. We’ve lost them (other rail lines) “Don’t it always seem to at our peril.” Support is subject to go, That you don’t know what approval from the other districts, and to comments from you’ve got till it’s gone. They paved paradise, and elected officials in Courtenay, Comox and Cumberput up a parking lot.” — Joni Mitchell, Big Yel- land to whom a staff report will be forwarded. low Taxi. “We’re very pleased,” ICF Courtenay director Jon Ambler referred to the chief operating officer GraJoni Mitchell classic when ham Bruce said. “This is a big decision.” considering a Districts in plea from the The railway is the Cowichan Island CorValley, Alberridor Founda- part of what made ni Clayoquot tion to save the and Victoria E&N railway Canada. We suffer regions have line between from the tyranny approved Victoria and of distance. We’ve the request. Courtenay. lost them (other All but one Tuesday member of at regional rail lines) at our the Nanaimo district com- peril. Regional Dismittee of the Jon Ambler trict approved whole, Ambler a $945,000 and other directors gave preliminary request at the committee approval to a one-time level. Approval is contingent grant-in-aid of $392,000 to the ICF, which has asked on the foundation’s abilfor assistance from five ity to secure a commitment Island regional districts from VIA Rail to reinstate to repair the decayed line. passenger service along the Island rail corridor. The Support was unanimous. The ICF is asking for a board is to vote on the item combined $3.2 million to next week. Bruce credits all Island repair 48 bridge structures. According to Southern Rail- communities and First way — which would operate Nations for banding togeththe passenger service under er to save the railroad, contract with VIA Rail — a especially in Alberni-Claystudy shows the structures oquot where repairs are not are in better condition than necessary. “They recognize it will originally thought. “We’re at a crossroads benefit the entire Island,” here,” Ambler said. “The Bruce said. railway is part of what made ... see RAILWAY ■ A2

ON THE MEND Leanne Sami is recovering at Victoria General Hospital after she was hurt in a mishap at the McDonald’s drive-thru in Courtenay. Story, page A10.

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