THURSDAYDECEMBER 5, 2013
Official newspaper of the Save-On-Foods Oceanside Generals
www.pqbnews.com
30,422
Copies per week Verified Circulation
TAKE A TOUR OF LIGHTS
CASINOS AND WEED
Buddist centre in Coombs organizes Christmas lights tour
Municipal councils like Parksville’s look for new revenue sources
A3
A5
FOOD SECURITY
Save 10¢ /Litre on Ho me Heating Oil from now until April CALL FOR DETAILS
Parksville 250.927.1271
Parksville not biting
• AFDFuels.ca
Council expresses concerns about costs AUREN RUVINSKY writer@pqbnews.com
A presentation to Parksville city council on community food security and strategies from an Island Health representative received a cool reception. Analisa Blake, Island Health project lead for food security and healthy lifestyles, gave a 20 minute Power Point presentation on helpful ways local governments can support healthy food and food security. Coun. Carrie Powell-Davidson, a big advocate of local food security who invited Blake after meeting her at a Union of B.C. Municipalities food event, said she intends to bring a food strategy motion to council. Blake spoke of the breadth and complexity of food issues and their impact on health, the environment, economy, social and cultural issues and security. She also had some complicated charts about how food issues fall under numerous jurisdictions from the city and regional district to the provincial level through the Agricultural Land Commission, health authorities and government. She highlighted the ways the city already addresses food issues through the official community plan (OCP), an urban garden zone and a new backyard hens bylaw. “I’m trying to wrap my head around what we’d actually end up with,” said Coun. Peter Morrison. “To have a strategy that covers everything from production to making sure people can open jars of food, I can’t wrap my head around the economics, the money required to create a strategy like this,” he said. “I can’t see the benefit that outweighs the cost of this.” See A PROVINCIAL, page A6
LISSA ALEXANDER PHOTO
FROSTY, AND PERHAPS SOME FLURRIES TODAY: It was a frosty morning on Arrowsmith Golf Course Wednesday. Thursday calls for scattered flurries in the area and the weekend will be mainly sunny with cloudy periods, dipping down to -5 C on Saturday.
QUALICUM BEACH MUSEUM
A $15K boost for its birthday
JOHN HARDING
editor@pqbnews.com
The Qualicum Beach Museum could get a $15,000 present from taxpayers when it celebrates its 30th anniversary next year. Town council passed a motion Monday night to match whatever amount the Qualicum Beach Historical and Museum Society raises in its fundraising efforts in 2014, up to $15,000. Council met with the society about a month ago and heard about plans for marketing, upgrades and anni-
versary celebrations. The $15,000 in matching funds for 2014 would be on top of what the society already gets every year from the town, $35,000. “I think they (the society) are going about it in the right way and I think it’s the right thing to do at this point,” said Coun. Dave Willie. When financial administrator John Marsh put the recommendation forward, he said the society has “an ambitious schedule” for improvements and other projects at the museum. He also said a plan needs
From October 7 to December 15, 2013
GET A MAIL-IN REBATE OF $50
1-800-723-5714 512 EAST ISLAND HWY, PARKSVILLE, BC V9P 2G7
HarrisOceansideGM.Service@harrisauto.ca
with the purchase of 4 BFGoodrich Passenger or Light Truck Tires Includes Free Nitrogen Installation and Free Winter Tire Storage!
Making a great deal better... every day!
to be worked out on how and when the town would disperse the additional funds, perhaps in pieces as the society adds to its coffers through fundraising. “There would have to be some aspect of trust involved (in the disbursal of funds),” said Marsh. Coun. Bill Luchtmeijer said he liked the matching-funds plan because it shows the society is prepared to “not just expect money, but put some effort into fundraising themselves.”