SOOKE COUNTRY CROONER
NEWS MIRROR
Editorial
Sooke’s B.K. Morrison has a gig at the Legion. Page 11
Wednesday, April 10, 2013
MEDAL WINNERS
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Entertainment
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Sooke Girls’ soccer players win silver and gold.
Sports/stats
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Page 26, 27
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T’Sou-ke seek oyster Lessons learned in fender bender farm approval in basin Britt Santowski
Sooke News Mirror
There was a major fender-bender (or a minor accident, depending on your perspective) on Friday on Sooke Road, in front of Edward Milne community school. According to Fire Chief Steve Sorensen, a pedestrian pressed the cross-walk button and then proceeded to cross. Except that the lights did not light up. The driver of the vehicle approaching the intersection was startled when the pedestrian appeared in the crosswalk and quickly braked to stop. The vehicle behind that first vehicle was not lucky enough to stop on time and rammed into the first. The message here is threefold. First, if you’re a pedestrian at a cross walk, make sure the vehicles have noticed your intention to cross.
Second, if you are driving a vehicle approaching and see a pedestrian at a cross-walk, prepare to come to a stop. And if you are following any other vehicle, ever, don’t tailgate and don’t speed. And third, this is a massive reminder that when you are in a school zone follow the speed zones! Here on Sooke road, you are requested to reduce your speed when there are students on the road during school hours. The fine for speeding in a school zone ranges from $196-$253 and three points on your licence. Failure to yield to a pedestrian results in a $167 fine and two points. Disobey a traffic device earns you a $121 fine and two points. Just by the looks of the damage, the hit must have had some travelling momentum in it. This time, everyone got lucky in that no one was hurt.
Pirjo Raits photo
Looking out into Sooke Basin and the area where the T’Sou-Ke First Nation want to have an oyster farm.
Pirjo Raits
Sooke News Mirror
Getting out from under the Indian Act and becoming self sufficient and self sustaining is the goal of T’Sou-ke First Nation Chief Gordon Planes. The T’Sou-ke have filed a notice of intention to Apply for Disposition of Crown Land to begin an oyster farm in Sooke Basin. “This is just the beginning,” said Planes as he talked about the initiatives being brought forward by the band. He said the oyster farming
scenario is just in its infancy right now and they were seeking approval from the Ministry of Forests, Lands and Natural Resource Operations (MFLNRO) before moving any further forward. He said they have “expertise” in the field and they do have partners, and they are looking at their options. Two of the reasons the band decided to apply for Licence of Occupation in the basin was because of the pollution. “The basin is polluted and if we harvest our traditional clams and food we can’t eat them,” said Planes.
He feels that developing an industry oyster harvest operation will help them bring some of their staple food back into their diets. The other reason is jobs. Planes said the dollars earned will ensure the health of the community and their traditional territory. Written comments on the application can be directed to the Manager, Aquaculture, MFLNRO, 2500 Cliffe Avenue, Courtney, B.C. V9N 5M6 or email to: AuthorizingAgency.Nanaimo@gov. bc.ca. Comments will be received until May 9.
Britt Santowski photo
Fire Chief Steve Sorensen and a colleague gather up the cones after Friday’s accident on Sooke Road, just in front of EMCS.
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