Wednesday May 29, 2013 www.saobserver.net $1.25 GST Included
Medevacs banned from field By Barb Brouwer obServer STAFF
life or death or not, emergency helicopters are no longer permitted to land in the Jackson campus field adjacent to Shuswap lake General Hospital. “The helicopter has always landed in the corner of the Jackson campus nearest the hospital and they have a total protocol,” says Salmon Arm coun. debbie cannon, who heard complaints from a couple of nurses who thought the city was responsible for shutting the flights down, adding as much as 20 minutes to the transport of a critically ill or If the hospital injured patient. needed to evacuate Paul bouchard, susomeone, they’d call perintendent of the aviation branch of the bc police who cleared the field, open the Ambulance Service, says Transport canada gate with a key that clamped down on the was kept in ER and use of the school field af- load the patient. Now ter receiving a complaint from a resident in 2011. the team lands at the “I believe Transport Salmon Arm airport and it just seems canada wasn’t making a fuss (before), but ridiculous. they had to respond to the complaint,” says bouchard, agreeing it’s unfortunate the hospital Debbie Cannon has lost a convenient and City time-saving landing site. “now it’s documented CounCillor and the only way they can respond is by following the regulations as they’re written.” According to Transport canada regulations, a helicopter may make an emergency, one-time landing in a built up area to save a life, as long as it can be done safely – for example moving a critically injured patient from the scene of a crash. “However, this caveat is not meant for routine planned medevac flights or patient transfers to other hospitals,” says an email from Transport canada who, after they became aware of the helicopters using the Jackson field, informed the bc Ambulance Service of the “appropriate aviation regulations.” See Certified on page A2
JameS murray/obServer
Say what?
Beverly Robertson tries to chat with Queen Alexandra, performed by actress-educator Christine Pilgrim, at the fourth annual High Tea held Sunday, May 26 at R. J. Haney Heritage Village.
City recoups some legal costs
Court: Salmon Arm seeks $442,000 repayment, judge awards less.
By martha Wickett obServer STAFF
A judge has ruled on costs to the city of Salmon Arm stemming from legal action over a marina in canoe – but that doesn’t signify the end of the legal wranglings. The bc court of Appeal is currently considering an appeal of the trial judgment that was rendered April 2 in bc Supreme court in Kamloops. In that judgment, Justice Geoff barrow ruled against clare’s cove Marina ltd., Willy’s Wharf Inc., Jiro Adventures ltd. and William MacIsaac, who were claiming more than
This week The SilverBacks confirm the sale of the team to an Albertan ownership group. See A4. The Junior Jewels soccer squad battled at the Valley Championships. See A18.
$2 million in damages from the city and brooke Jackson downs law firm. That lawsuit, explained Justice barrow in his reasons for judgment, and a counterclaim from the city against Willy’s Wharf Inc. and clare’s cove Marina ltd., arose from a failed attempt by MacIsaac and the companies he controls to purchase and redevelop the marina. Involved was city-owned land on 75th Avenue ne, which runs along the lake side of canoe beach drive and the railway tracks, as well as an aquatic lease. MacIsaac had envisioned expanding the 72 boat-slip limit at the site to 200. MacIsaac’s claims against the city in-
cluded breach of contract and negligent misrepresentation. When Justice barrow dismissed the claims of Willy’s Wharf Inc. and clare’s cove Marina ltd. on April 2, he did not rule on costs. on May 2, he did. He ruled that the city is entitled to $168,000 in costs, as well as specific ‘disbursements’ or payments in the range of $90,000 that were made by the city in connection with the lawsuit. The city had been seeking approximately $350,000 in fees, plus disburseSee appeal on page A2
Index Opinion ....................... A6 View Point .................. A7 Life & Times ............... A8 Time Out................... A15 Sports............... A17-A21 Arts & Events ... A22-A24 Vol. 106, No. 22, 44 pages