Winning entry Nanaimo student picked for national charity’s award. Page 5 Minor injuries Nanaimo man ignites oxygen with cigarette. Page 12 Training key St. John Ambulance helps in emergency situations. Page 3
athletes on right track Page 18
OPTOMETRIST
(Independent Doctor of Optometry)
Celebrating
BOOK YOUR APPOINTMENT TODAY!
1988
2013
I S ION S ONE HOUR OPTICAL
250-390-2444
Years
www.visionsoptical.com
www.nanaimobulletin.com
SATURDAY, JUNE 22, 2013
Jack de Jong, Lantzville mayor, holds an invitation to an open house at the district office where early arrivals could receive a coffee cup printed with Lantzville’s logo to commemorate the district’s 10th anniversary.
CHRIS BUSH/THe NewS BUlleTIN
VOL. 25, NO. 23
NANAIMO
Lantzville celebrates 10 years
I
district formed to tackle sewer, water issues in area. By Jenn M c garrigle ThE NEwS BULLETiN
The District of Lantzville is 10 years old and the milestone will be celebrated with an open house on Tuesday (June 25). Traditionally a coal mining area, Lantzville was part of the Regional District of Nanaimo, with its own director on the RDN board, until 2003, when the community decided to incorporate, with six councillors and a mayor as the governing body. Mayor Jack de Jong, who has lived in the community for 20 years, said residents felt at the time that there were some issues that could be addressed better as an incorporated community, such as access to sewer
systems and water. The district is not completely autonomous; due to the community’s small size, the RDN still handles bylaw enforcement and building inspections and permits, he added. The population of Lantzville is about 3,650 and includes about 1,550 homes. De Jong describes the district as a bedroom community for Nanaimo, with a large number of working professionals living there and 98 per cent of the tax base coming from residential. He said over the past decade, the population has remained relatively stable, with the population actually decreasing about two per cent between 2005 and 2010. Some key accomplishments from de Jong’s perspective over the past decade include adding a sewer system about five years ago for 550 residences in lower Lantzville – prior to that, everybody
in that high-density area was on septic systems – and adding trails, the most significant of which is the trail along the E&N railway track, completed in 2011. “Our biggest challenge was to find water,” he said. Nanaimo city council decided Monday to proceed with finalizing a water supply agreement with the district. “It allows us to provide some relief, we have some hardship cases,” said de Jong. “This allows us to move forward.” Of the city’s 1,500 homes, 900 are on the community’s water system, which is at capacity, while the remaining homes are on private wells. Other accomplishments include the establishment of a farmers’ market in the community last year – de Jong joked that if it grows much more, the district will have to find a bigger venue. u See ‘LANTZVILLE’ /4
Delegation hopes economic opportunities take flight with WestJet service to Calgary By ToBy gorMan ThE NEwS BULLETiN
New economic opportunities for Nanaimo will officially take flight Monday (June 24) as WestJet begins regional direct flight service to Calgary from Nanaimo Airport. On board the inaugural flight – after a brief ceremony at Nanaimo Airport – will be Nanaimo Mayor John Ruttan and a delegation of mid-Island dignitaries, travelling to Calgary to use the occasion as an opportunity to pitch Nanaimo to the Alberta business community and enhance interprovincial economic development. Ruttan will be accompanied by several
Island representatives, though the number was reduced from the original 30 delegates due to severe flooding in Calgary’s downtown core, which has closed many of the areas the group intended to visit. Southern Alberta was struck with heavy flooding due to torrential rains late this week. At least 12 communities have declared a state of emergency as rivers flood their banks. The mission is expected to continue in a reduced capacity in a bid to support WestJet and forge new economic opportunities. “We feel, with reason, that there is a fairly strong interest in Alberta but specifically in Calgary for the business community there in looking at Nanaimo,”
said Ruttan. “There are already a number of investments that are Calgarybased in the Nanaimo area but there are also more and more people who want to live on central Vancouver Island and commute to the oil sands ... all in all it’s a great opportunity.” The cost to send each delegate for the two-day trip – Team Nanaimo is expected back on June 26 – is about $1,200, which includes $440 for the return flight and $438 for two nights at Calgary’s Delta Bow Valley Hotel. Sasha Angus, CEO of NEDC, said despite the challenges posed by the flooding, there remains a great interest on both sides to pursue business interests.
“A lot of our meetings were with Calgary Stampede, Calgary Tourism. Stampede is the week after so a lot of those guys are going to have their hands full,” said Angus. “Despite that, since this service has been announced I can’t even count the number of local companies that have approached us and mentioned how much business they do in Calgary and how much this will benefit them.” WestJet announced its new NanaimoCalgary service in February. Initially, the air carrier will operate one flight a day from each city, leaving Calgary at 11 a.m. (MST) and arriving in Nanaimo at 11:43 a.m. (PST) before departing again for Calgary at 12:30 p.m. (PST). u See ‘YCD’ /4
FAST FRIENDLY SERVICE!
Come give us a try! We are a locally owned family run business ... you’ll love our service! Just drive up to the doors and our friendly staff will take care of you. A complete oil change only takes about 15 minutes and you’ll be done and on your way!
WE ACCEPT COMPETITOR COUPONS!
Country Club Centre 250-729-3666
Hours: Mon-Sat. 8-6 Sun 10-5
aiq
FLEET CARDS ACCEPTED Call for details!