Deal approved City council takes next step in securing downtown hotel. PAGE 7 Long career Top Nanaimo manager decides to retire after 35-year career. PAGE 18 Inside peek Art tour allows participants glimpse into artists’ world. WE PAGE 3
Roller derby serious sport PAGE B1
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THURSDAY, JULY 11, 2013
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VOL. 25, NO. 30
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Steve Alexander spends an afternoon fishing at Colliery Dam Park’s upper dam Wednesday. The dams in the park have been given a 30-day reprieve from demolition following a decision by Nanaimo city council Monday night. CHRIS BUSH THE NEWS BULLETIN
Colliery dams stay another 30 days
Nanaimo city council votes to delay deconstruction to allow time to consult with Snuneymuxw First Nation on project By JEnn M c GARRIGLE
T
THe NewS BULLeTiN
wo dams in Colliery Dam Park will remain intact for at least another month after Nanaimo city council decided to consult on the issue for another 30 days. City council was expected to pick a company to do the dam removal work at Monday’s meeting, but a presentation from Snuneymuxw First Nation Chief Douglas White III prompted Coun. Bill McKay to make a motion to conduct further discussions with the Snuneymuxw and exhaust all of the possible options and considerations before awarding a contract for removal of the dams. White told council the May 13 decision to tear down the dams, then rebuild them at some point with a hydroelectric component, went in a different direction than
what had been talked about up until then and could potentially be the riskiest path to take in terms of the health of the river. “Fisheries always matter to the Snuneymuxw,” he said. “We do believe that there’s time right now to be taken, that we have time in front of us to be able to repair and get ourselves back onto a path of partnership and mutuality and recognition and respect. I believe that we have time to look at this issue because of the critical nature of it and the importance of the outcomes of the decision.” White also told council he believed rebuilding the dams is extremely unlikely given the province has told them it is very rare that dams are approved to be built or rebuilt for recreational purposes. The motion passed 7-1, with only Coun. Ted Greves opposing. Coun. Bill Bestwick was absent. u See ‘SNUNEYMUXW’ /4
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