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Thurs., Aug. 1, 2013
• ISLAND AIR
Alert Bay opens its skatepark over a jampacked SeaFest weekend. Pages 12- 13
• SUMMER ON ICE
Annual Clayton Stoner hockey camp returns to Port McNeill. Page 14
Publications Mail Agreement No. 391275
www.northislandgazette.com NORTH ISLAND LIFE Pages 12-13
Newsstand $1.25 + HST CLASSIFIEDS Pages 20-22
SPORTS Page 15
Internet upgrade on the horizon A O’Toole Gazette staff P O RT H A R DY — Representatives from Telus and Network BC appeared before Port Hardy Council last week and assured those present that
the future was friendly for North Island telecommunications. As residents will attest, internet access has left something to be desired of late, with a waiting list for new customers and slow, intermittent service for those with
a connection. The issue lies with the infrastructure on the North Island. “The infrastructure in place is designed for voice,” explained Ray Lawson, Telus’ Vancouver Island General Manager.
While Port Hardy is connected to Port McNeill via fibre optic cable, the connection from Port McNeill to Sayward uses
See page 5 ‘High speed’
Lighting up the stage Lucia Alfred belts out Katy Perry’s Firework during the Kids Got Talent contest at SeaFest in Alert Bay last weekend. The youngster earned a berth as an opening act for MusicFest on Sunday for her performance.
• HOT STUFF
Blair Thorpe ousted as Port Hardy chili champ after Filomi cook-off. Page 18
47th Year No. 31 LETTERS Page 7
A O’Toole
U’mista blaze may have been arson A O’Toole Gazette staff ALERT BAY— The community of Alert Bay was given troubling news this week. An investigation into last week’s fire
at the U’mista Cultural Centre has officials now believing that the blaze was malicious in its origin. The fire broke out in the early hours of Tuesday,
July 23, and was initially suspected to be the result of an electrical fault in a dehumidifier due to the proximity of the melted device to the apparent origin of the blaze.
the community to help find those responsible. In a statement (printed in full on this week’s Letters,
See page 4 ‘Malicious’
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After examining the scene, the fire inspector has provided a report stating the blaze had an external source. Now ‘Namgis Chief Bill Cranmer is appealing to
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