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VOL. 24, NO. 117
P: 250.585.1648 3392 Norwell Drive
Archeologists ask for park inventory
I
OLD CEMETERY located near Colliery Dam Park. BY TOBY GORMAN THE NEWS BULLETIN
A new angle has been unearthed that could muddy the waters for future work on two dams slated for removal at Colliery Dam Park. The Archeological Society of British Columbia–Nanaimo approached council Monday concerned that the proposed removal of the lower and middle dams at the park could disturb a cemetery protected under the Heritage Conservation Act. Brent Whitford, board member of ASBC-Nanaimo, said in 2010 the archeological branch learned of an historic cemetery called the Pest House Cemetery. Dating back to 1908, the facility was used as a quarantine to house men working on the E&N rail line who had contracted smallpox. Some men who did not survive the disease were buried in a small cemetery near the corner of Wakesiah Avenue and Nanaimo Lakes Road, now known as archeological site DhRx-126. The Nanaimo archeological society branch is asking that an archeological inventory be completed within the legal boundaries of Colliery Dam Park, followed by an archeological impact assessment in advance of any proposed changes to the park, including the removal or replacement of the dams, as well as archival research into the Pest House Cemetery. The society is also asking to be included as a stakeholder in decisions regarding the park and that the city pay for the archeological assessment and inventory. “It’s kind of a catch-22 with archeological remains,” said Whitford. “If you don’t know
they’re there then you don’t know you need to protect them. So what we’re asking for is an inventory be done of the entire park within the boundaries for any future work that might come up in the park.” On the same day, city council met with representatives from the provincial Dam Safety Branch and Save the Colliery Dams neighbourhood group, residents concerned with the fate of the dams. Last week, the city was advised by the province that both the lower and middle Colliery dams were assigned Level 1 risk, the highest risk level possible. According to the province, out of B.C.’s 1,649 regulated dams, 38 are rated as having an extreme consequence in the event of failure. A letter from the Dam Safety Branch to the city says of all the dams in the province, only the lower and middle dams at Colliery Dam Park employ the Level 1 risk level. “Our office is presently satisfied with the City of Nanaimo’s ongoing response and emergency preparedness to this high-level risk,” says the letter. “Please proceed with your planned removal of Middle Chase River Dam and Lower Chase River Dam as soon as possible.” The city is currently working on two parallel approaches to the dams. The first includes continuing with the pre-work required to remove the dams and drain the lakes to eliminate any danger to life in the event of a dam failure, likely from a catastrophic earthquake or extreme rain event. The other action being undertaken by the city is to explore alternatives to removing the dams, an option preferred by many local residents who want to see the park and existing lakes kept intact despite the possible consequences of a breach. ◆ See ‘DAMS’ ‘ /4
CHRIS BUSH/THE NEWS BULLETIN
No port in a storm Boaters are no longer able to tie up at ‘D’ Dock in the Nanaimo Boat Basin. The dock has been permanently closed by Nanaimo Port Authority due to safety concerns and a faulty electrical system. Bernie Dumas, Nanaimo Port Authority president and CEO, said the dock is the oldest in the Boat Basin and has been repaired numerous times, but has finally reached the end of its life span. It will remain closed until it is replaced by the new operators, Pacific Northwest Marina Group.
Logo designed to represent renewal BY JENN M C GARRIGLE THE NEWS BULLETIN
Nanaimo school district’s new graphic identity is complete. The new logo features a salmon, made from different-coloured shapes, leaping over the words Nanaimo Ladysmith Public Schools – trustees decided last fall that the name School District 68 on the old logos did not represent the district well. Some versions of the logo also feature the words “learning together”. “One of the big things it represents is diversity because many different shapes make up the fish,” said Donna Reimer, district spokeswoman. “We wanted to reflect what our district is and what we’re working towards. We are a diverse community that
PHOTO CONTRIBUTED
Nanaimo school district choses new logo.
comes together to create the best learning opportunities we can for students.” Local schools have lots of connections to salmon and the use of this fish also symbolizes renewal and the nurturing cycle of life, she added. In September, the district announced that it was working with Vancouver-based Ion Brand-
ing and Design on replacing the district logo, which was developed in 1980 and was only designed to represent Nanaimo because Ladysmith was not yet a part of the district’s name. The contract with Ion was worth about $24,000. The company consulted with several focus groups, including principals, trustees, senior management, parents and students and the company came back with several possible designs based on this input, from which the stakeholder groups selected their favourite design, said Reimer. “Over the long term, we believe it’s a strong symbol that will be recognized,” she said. “We wanted to have a fresh, bold look that is representative of our innovation. Everyone I’ve talked to likes it.” ◆ See ‘PARENT’ /4