Silly sailors Teams race homemade watercraft to support children. PAGE 17 Training camp V.I. Raiders show character in season’s first practices. PAGE B1 Driver’s seat Country music star Aaron Pritchett pens songs on album. PAGE 3
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TUESDAY, JULY 23, 2013
VOL. 25, NO. 33
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Snuneymuxw withdraws from consultation City of Nanaimo not revisiting decision to remove Colliery dams BY JENN M C GARRIGLE THE NEWS BULLETIN
Snuneymuxw First Nation has withdrawn from a 30-day consultation process with the city over the removal of two dams from Colliery Dam Park. City council was expected to pick a company to do the dam removal work at a July 8 council meeting, but a presentation from Snuneymuxw Chief Douglas White III prompted Coun. Bill McKay to make a motion to conduct further discussions with the First Nation and exhaust all of the possible options and considerations before awarding the dam removal contract. The motion was amended to include the 30-day window. But White said Thursday Snuneymuxw is concerned the city is not acting in the spirit of the motion. He said the motion implied the parties would spend the 30 days exhausting all possible options and considerations, but the city has made it clear no further work will be done to revisit, reassess or confirm information on other options, such as strengthening and repairing the existing dams, which have been deemed a potential threat to human life. “They made it clear they are not interested in doing any further work,” he said. White also alleged city staff have told the facilitator appointed to help with the consultation process that those who participate in the 30-day process may have significant liability by virtue of participating. “There’s no foundation to it as a matter of law,” he said. ◆ See ‘LIABILITY’ /4
CHRIS BUSH/THE NEWS BULLETIN
Brayden Pedersen, 16, prepares his tub for competition. Pedersen upgraded to a newer and faster tub and motor after his previous tub broke up in waves while rounding Entrance Island in last year’s race.
Tubbing spirit continues at Marine Fest BY CHRIS BUSH THE NEWS BULLETIN
N
anaimo has a tradition, one might say, of long-running traditions and the Nanaimo Marine Festival and the World Championship Bathtub Race is working its way up to being one of the longest. 2013 marks the 47th running of the Great International World Championship Bathtub Race, which started out back in 1967 as a way to draw tourists to Nanaimo and, as a side benefit, promote real estate sales on Protection Island. Young tubbers coming into the sport help maintain the sport’s
popularity and inject new ideas. Brayden Pedersen was 14 and the youngest tubber when he ran his first championship race in the 2012. Unfortunately, his tub’s hull broke apart as he rounded Entrance Island, knocking him out of the race. He’s back at the tiller for another crack at the course this year. “I have a faster tub and a faster engine,” Pedersen said. “My tub won’t crap out this year.” In June, Pedersen managed third spot in a circuit race in Departure Bay while racing with a fractured arm. One thing he doesn’t know is how well his craft will perform in rough
weather, since all his time in the new tub, so far, has been on calm water. With a new tub and renewed confidence he’s set to take on this year’s competition – if he can find a pilot boat. “I need a pilot boat really bad,” Pedersen said. Pedersen is hoping someone will hear pleas he has made for a pilot boat through the media, so he can take on rival Ashley Martin, 17, who will run her fourth championship race this year. “I beat her every time,” Pedersen said. “I lap her every time we get in the tubs.” ◆ See ‘RIVALRY’ /6
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