In solidarity
Victoria runners show support for Boston. Page A3
NEWS: Farm market opts out of coupon program A5 ARTS: Farm girl turned city woman writes a book A10 SPORTS: Playmaker comes home to Shamrocks A15
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Friday, April 19, 2013
www.vicnews.com
THE SCOOP
New group advocates for families
ON POOP
Two initiatives launched to help kids with cancer Christine van Reeuwyk News staff
Charla Huber/News staff
Leif Bjornsen plays with his black lab Nelson at Lookout Lake in Colwood. Chandra Bjornsen, Leif’s mom, as asked the city to install a dog bag dispenser to help curb the problem of dog poop left behind at the lake.
Colwood considers baggie dispensers Charla Huber News staff
Stepping in dog poo is not what Chandra Bjornsen and her son Leif, 8, like to do at Lookout Lake. They often bring their dog Nelson there because it’s a short walk from their Colwood home and she brings her own bags to collect her black lab’s deposits, but often wishes she had more to pick up feces of other dogs. When she doesn’t have extra bags, Bjorn-
sen relies on moving the poo with a stick. “I have been here in the past when I forgot bags, it happens,” Bjornsen said. “Sometimes dogs run ahead and go and you don’t notice.” One winter the mother and son were rolling snowballs into snowmen at the park only to find the not so nice treat in the snow. In the summer the feces “is camouflaged” in the wood chips and sandy sections of the park. With land mines in mind, Bjornsen sent a letter asking Colwood council for a bag dis-
penser in the park for dog owners to use. “We approved for it to be investigated further,” said Mayor Carol Hamilton. Colwood does have dispensers in some parks, Hamilton said, and at times will stock them only to have the bags run out quickly. “People will grab a whole handful and by day two they are all gone,” the mayor said. “Cost is a factor.” Hamilton suggested the city may be interested in finding volunteers to monitor and stock a dispenser at Lookout Lake. charla@goldstreamgazette.com
A double-barrelled charge of initiatives to help families dealing with childhood cancer aims to advocate for parents and keep kids comfortable. The idea simmered for four years and burst forth as the Communities Helping Families Initiative and the Comfy Kids Program were officially launched at Saunders Subaru in Colwood yesterday afternoon (April 18). The purpose of the Communities Helping Families Initiative is to lobby VIHA along with federal, provincial and municipal governments to get a pediatric oncology program funded and established for Island families. Currently, for original diagnosis and specialized care, families travel to BC Children’s Hospital in Vancouver. Treatments can last for days, weeks and years. “I saw first-hand what it was doing to parents,” said Dave Saunders, of Saunders Subaru, who watched family friends struggle through the ups and downs with their five year old. “They weren’t getting anywhere advocating, they were busy taking care of a child.” Please see: Kids travel in comfort, Page A2
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