Comox Valley Record, November 30, 2012

Page 1

FRIDAY November 30, 2012 Vol. 27•No. 96 ••• $1.25 inc. H.S.T.

COMOX VALLEY

BUSINESS

ARTS

A Comox winery is continuing to evolve. page A23

Trent Freeman is really on a roll as he returns to the Comox Valley for a CD release party. page B1

RECORD A division of

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Judge to return with a sentence Erin Haluschak

years ago and attended Highland Secondary School in Comox. The accused cannot A Comox Valley teen will have to wait until the new be named because of the year to see how long he will Youth Criminal Justice Act remain in custody and the (YCJA). The hearing began Monseverity of his sentence for the second-degree murder day with family members reading emotional victim of James Denton. The three-day sentenc- impact statements, and ing hearing ended Wednes- explained the impact of day morning, with Justice James’ death on their dayto-day life. R.B.T. Goepel Baines noted noting he will Clearly, this the onus is on need more time to make is a difficult task. the Crown to prove why the his decision as I do need some accused should to whether the be sentenced teen will be time to reflect as an adult, sentenced as a and read further and presented youth or as an details. six aggravating adult. Justice R.B.T. Goepel facts to Goe“ C l e a r l y, pel including this is a difficult task,” he explained to that the accused brought a packed gallery. “I do need a weapon to a public event, some time to reflect and that he provoked the fight, and the attack with the read further details.” In August, Goepel found knife was done without the teen, who was 16 at the warning. He added that court time of the murder, guilty, and Crown prosecutor Gor- should place the most don Baines noted he is seek- weight on the seriousness and circumstances of the ing an adult sentence. Court heard throughout event, as well as consider the trial, which concluded in the accused’s age, maturiJune, that Denton, 19, was ty, character and previous stabbed twice — once in the background. Baines also took issue left armpit and once in the left lower back — near the with a psychological report entrance to G.P. Vanier Sec- prepared for the hearing. “The report is flawed,” he ondary School following the conclusion of a July 2011 stated. “Even though (the day-long music festival at author) had a copy of the the nearby Comox Valley reasons for judgment, it’s based on (the accused) selfExhibition Grounds. Denton was raised in report of the incident.” “The report should have Port Hardy, but moved to the Comox Valley several ... see LAWYERS ■ A2

Record Staff

HOMETOWN BOY HONOURED Olympic distance runner Cam Levins (right) of Black Creek received an award of recognition Tuesday from Edwin Grieve (left) and Manno Theos in the Comox Valley Regional District boardroom. Levins’ name has been added to the Walk of Achievement Olympians plaque at the Comox Valley Sports Centre. Story, B12. PHOTO BY SCOTT STANFIELD

College strike action could increase Renee Andor Record Staff

CUPE college workers want to reach a negotiated settlement soon, and job action will likely escalate at North Island College if that doesn’t happen. “If our talks don’t go well this weekend, there very well could be a large escalation of our job action throughout the province,” says CUPE Local 3479 (NIC) president Michelle Waite, adding, “which will affect students because they

are coming up to exams.” Talks are scheduled for Friday, Saturday and Sunday with the main item is expected to be wages. Classes were cancelled for two days last week as CUPE Local 3479 members picketed at all North Island College campuses to try to pressure government to move on wages in contract negotiations. NIC classes end next week (Dec. 7 is the last day) and exams start right after, meaning further disruption to classes due to job action

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would come at a critical time for students. North Island Students Union (NISU) chair Jacelyn Lobay says NISU supports CUPE college workers. “The student union supports CUPE’s rights to bargain for a contract,” she says. “And we really would like the government to resolve this quickly so that there is no disruption to students.” She adds students are “of course” concerned about the possibility of future class cancellations due to

job action. While CUPE locals at other colleges are in the midst of job actions that won’t affect student learning this week — like shutting down specific departments — Waite says it’s business as usual at NIC. Instead, workers will rally at noon today (Friday) in front of Comox Valley MLA and Education Minister Don McRae’s office. Although he is not the Minister of Advanced Education, which is the ... see RALLY ■ A2

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