THURSDAY May 23, 2013 Vol. 28 • No. 42 ••• $1.25 inc. G.S.T.
COMOX VALLEY
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The Strathcona Symphony Orchestra ends its season this weekend with a tribute to Gilbert and Sullivan. page B1
A stellar five-year stint with the Toronto Varsity Blues has earned Dylan Bams the chance to wear Maple Leaf red. page B8
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Raven coal application not adequate
Scott Stanfield
cial election, Stevenson reiterated that she hopes a rejection of the applicaIn an initial screening, tion is based on science, not the provincial Environmen- politics. “For me it isn’t what tal Assessment Office has rejected the application party you elect, rather it’s from the proponents of the that there’s bad science. Raven underground coal This is showing itself to mine proposal near Baynes truly be potentially not a good fit.” Sound. She notes a lack of In a letter to Compliance Coal Corp. CEO John aquifer studies and scientific research Tapics, the — and a EAO refers lack of social to “major Is this openlicence. i n f o r m a t i o n ended or not? I While the requirements” it consid- can’t really tell. But initial rejection is “great ers not to I can tell you four news,” Stehave been years into this, I venson cauadequately tions against a d d r e s s e d personally would complacency in the com- love it to be over until the mine pany’s sub- with already. proposal is mission. It Roberta Stevenson dead in the has listed the water. missing infor“This is not going away. mation in its screening comments in a 114-page Until we hear it’s done, we need to still pay attention.” summary document. Roberta Stevenson, Half of the province’s executive director of the shellfish aquaculture Comox-based BC Shell- industry is in Baynes fish Growers’ Association, Sound. The BCSGA and would like to know if Com- others have expressed conpliance has a time limit to cern about the damage a resubmit. mine overlooking the sound “Is this open-ended or could cause to the water in not? I can’t really tell,” she which shellfish are grown. said. “But I can tell you four The K’ómoks First years into this, I person- Nation had not taken a ally would love it to be over stand on the mine because, with already.” as a new council, it wantThroughout the provin... see K’ÓMOKS ■ A2
Record Staff
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BRIAN DL8379
McLEAN
MARKET DAY MONSTER “But, mom, I don’t want my face painted.” Actually, this boy was excited about being transformed into the Incredible Hulk during Market Day last Saturday in Cumberland. The day’s activities launched a full long weekend of fun and celebration during the annual Empire Days. More photos, page A3. PHOTO BY SCOTT STANFIELD
Many chickens die in blaze at farm No cause determined yet for fire at Paradise Meadows Farm Erin Haluschak Record Staff
A fire at a poultry farm Tuesday was the latest in a series of unfortunate incidents on or near a stretch of Highway 19A north of
Courtenay. As many as 1,000 chickens were killed in the earmorning blaze at Paradise Meadows Farm in Black Creek, an abattoir that was established in 2009. Oyster River Fire Department Chief Niels Holbek said a barn was fully involved by the time crews arrived. “Very close quarters to work around here. The power lines are in our way,
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but we got it out, but someone’s livelihood has been jeopardized, unfortunately. Some propane tanks, a few explosions when we got here,” he told media. Holbek added there are about five buildings on site, and firefighters were able to mostly contain the fire to one structure, but the fire did reach into an adjoining barn. “The first thing is firefighter safety; we’re watch-
ing those power lines,” Holbek continued. “We had some issues around collapse. We couldn’t put anybody in this building — it was fully involved anyways — and then of course we were trying to save the assets for the owner.” He noted the owner is trying to find another location for all of the birds. “We’ve got an excavator but we can’t put anybody ... see CHICKENS ■ A2
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