NEWS
www.nanaimobulletin.com
Tuesday, August 13, 2013
Geography whiz has world in his hands Dover Bay’s Jacob Burnley helps Canada secure silver in international contest The News BulleTiN
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Hydro bypass found during grow-op bust
Pedestrian remains in critical condition
News BulletiN file
Jacob Burnley, 15, helped Team Canada secure second place in the National Geographic World Championship, held in St. Petersburg, Russia. The Dover Bay Secondary School student said the nerve-wracking experience was totally worth it.
hunt of the Russian capital. Team Canada’s performance landed them a place in the finals, which was moderated by Jeopardy game-show host Alex Trebek. “The part for me that was most nerve wracking was just before we went on stage [in the finals] and were going over our last thoughts,” Burnley said. “[But] once we got the
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first question right, we all worked together so well .... [and] everything turned out.” Burnley is returning home with plans to pursue a career in geography or Canadian diplomacy. His advice to other young geographers keen on qualifying for the international contest – study hard. news@nanaimobulletin.com
A 19-year-old Nanaimo woman is in critical condition in a Victoria hospital after she was struck by a pickup truck early Thursday morning. The collision happened at about 12:30 a.m. on the Trans Canada Highway near Morden Road, according to a press release issued by Nanaimo RCMP. The woman and her boyfriend were walking southbound along the northbound shoulder when the woman suddenly crossed the highway, jumped over the divider and into the path of an approaching southbound Dodge Dakota, driven by a 59-year-old Duncan man. The woman was airlifted to Victoria General Hospital with life-threatening injuries. Police said visibility in the area was limited, with no streetlights. The woman was wearing dark clothing. Speed and alcohol are not contributing factors on the part of the driver, however investigators suspect the woman had been consuming alcohol. Nanaimo RCMP Traffic Services along with an RCMP traffic analyst/reconstructionist are investigating this collision. RCMP Victim Services is assisting the driver and witnesses of the traumatic event. Police are reminding pedestrians to ensure they are visible to passing motorists by wearing reflective or brightcoloured clothing, or carrying a flashlight.
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police
Nanaimo RCMP seized more than 400 plants and 20 kilograms of dried marijuana at two residences in Nanaimo and Nanoose last week. The RCMP made the bust Aug. 7, the result of a three month investigation. It required five search warrants for the two residences involved. The Nanaimo and Nanoose residences were licensed to grow medical marijuana; however, the number of plants being grown exceeded the licensed amount. Investigators said they believe that some of the marijuana was being sold contrary to restrictions. One property also had an illegal hydro bypass that could be used to steal electricity. The RCMP arrested 10 people during the investigation on charges relating to the production and possession of a controlled substance and theft, for the hydro bypass. They were released on the promise to appear in court Nov. 12.
By Tamara Cunningham
anaimo geography whiz Jacob Burnley is bringing home hardware from the National Geographic World Championship in Russia, after helping secure second place for Canada. The 15-year-old Dover Bay Secondary student pit his geography knowledge against teams from across the globe this summer, hoping to win top honours at the championship in St. Petersburg. Team U.S.A. took the victory in the final round last week, leaving Canada and India to battle for silver in a tense finisher. “It was the way a world championship should end – with some drama and a ... tense, close final,” said Burnley’s father, Chris. He watched from the audience as Team Canada broke the tie with the answer to a final question, earning the silver. It was a nerve-wracking experience but totally worth it, said Jacob Burnley, who is elated to be bringing home a win for his country with teammates Kyle Richardson, 16, of Kitchener, Ont., and Spencer Zhao, 15, from Toronto. “For four years I have wanted to be a part of this. To finally be there ... it was just an amazing experience,” he said. “To represent Canada itself was just awesome ... [and] it was great to meet people from different parts of the world.” The geography contest happens every second year with aims of inspiring youth to get excited about geography. Burnley, who won his spot earlier this year in the Great Canadian Geography Challenge qualifier, believes the competition is proof geography can “take you places you can’t imagine.” It was one of the reasons he became hooked on maps – the idea he could visit the places he saw in atlases. In St. Petersburg, teams were challenged to answer questions on physical, cultural and economic geography and go on a digital scavenger
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