Celebrating arts and culture PAGE A3
ed coleman pro multi-centre PAGE A11
movies, magic and music PAGE A14
OBSERVER QUESNEL - CARIBOO
SINCE 1908
Wednesday, May 1, 2013
VOL. 99 NO. 69
www.quesnelobserver.com
PM 40005365
1
$ 30
includes GST
Derby on! Women from all over the province converged on Quesnel Twin Arenas Saturday night for an evening of rockem’ sockem’ Roller Derby. They scrimmaged in front of a enthusastic audience for the first event of the season. Annie Gallant photo
Johnston Subdivision residents seeking legal council AUTUMN MacDONALD Observer Reporter After council passed a secondary suite bylaw, some residents of Johnston Subdivision are seeking legal council. Ron Campbell, chair of the Johnston Neighbourhood Association, outlined the neighbourhood’s concerns in a letter emailed and delivered by hand to city manager Byron Johnson. “The April 11 meeting of the Johnston Neighbour-
hood Association attracted a record 50 residents as we discussed the secondary suite issue that is threatening our neighbourhood,” the letter reads. “It was duly moved, seconded and unanimously endorsed that a letter be written to the city, asking that decision on this matter be postponed to allow the Johnston Neighborhood Association sufficient time to conduct a formal and thorough survey to ascertain whether or not our residents wish to have secondary suites in
12th Annual Quesnel & District Hospice Palliative Care Association
Hike for Hospice Sunday May 5, 2013
Registration: 12:00 p.m. Hike: 1:00 p.m. LeBourdais Park REGISTRATION - ADULTS $15 STUDENTS & SENIORS $5 CHILDREN UNDER 6 FREE
our neighbourhood. “Failing your approval of our request, our association members have, by resolution, directed that we retain legal counsel to challenge the validity of Bylaw No.1716 in view of the absence of an accompanying Official Community Plan amendment bylaw. “We request that we be given 60 days to raise the necessary retainer fee requested by our lawyer. If the bylaw proceeds to final adoption contrary to our request for postpone-
ment, we intend to initiate the quashing provisions as set out in the Community Charter. Please accept this letter as your formal notice of our intent to pursue this matter to the fullest extent of the laws at our disposal.” The bylaw was passed at last week’s council meeting. Campbell’s letter was not distributed to members of council prior to the final vote as it was received during the period between the public hearing and the final adoption of the bylaw.
Good day, Quesnel. Thanks for reading — and that includes loyal subscriber N. Strand! To join the Observer family, please call 250-992-2121 and ask for circulation.
“During that period council is not supposed to receive new input into the decision,” Johnson said. Mayor Mary Sjostrom said passing the bylaw is in line with council’s priorities. “Affordable housing has been a priority for this council as well as former councils and there has been numerous opportunities for input,” she said. “Secondary suites are one component of council’s larger vision for the entire city as we move forward.”
But for Campbell it’s about being heard. “Yes, the council and mayor may have a vision, but is it a vision that is shared by the residents of the city? Once again it appears take it or leave it,” he said. “Why they ask for public input is beyond me. All they do is pretend they want to hear from us. If you agree with everything and don’t question, you’re one of the good guys – heaven forbid you have an opinion different from those anointed.”
Make your vote count on May 14th, 2013 VOTING TIMES 8am - 8pm Advance Polls - May 8, 9, 10, 11 8 am - 8 pm at Quesnel Seniors’ Centre