TUESDAY JANUARY 7, 2014
Official newspaper of the Save-On-Foods Oceanside Generals
www.pqbnews.com
BCYCNA
Gold 2012 General Excellence
YET ANOTHER NEW COACH
BIG ROLE ON SMALL SCREEN
Qualicum Beach teen earns key spot on YTV series that broadcasts Mondays
Generals turn to Bill Bestwick as they make a run for playoffs
A21
A29
MEDICAL MARIJUANA
Grow-ops going rural
Regional district hosts hearing on Thursday at Oceanside Place AUREN RUVINSKY writer@pqbnews.com
The Regional District of Nanaimo is holding a public hearing on proposed bylaws that would accommodate new federal laws around growing medical marijuana. The hearing — at Oceanside Place on Thursday night — will provide details on the proposed changes and solicit feedback from any local residents who feel they may be affected. If adopted, two new bylaws will allow medical marihuana production facilities, licensed under the new Federal Marihuana for Medical Purposes Regulations on some specific types of land. In electoral areas A, C, E (Nanoose Bay), G (French Creek) and H (Bowser), facilities would be allowed on land zoned for agriculture and within the Agricultural Land Reserve (ALR). In area F (Coombs, Errington) they would be allowed on land zoned agriculture (A-1) and industrial (I-2). The bylaws would clarify that medical marijuana production is prohibited as a home based business, the facilities need to be federally licensed and 30 metre setbacks would be established. Written submissions provided in advance must be received by 4:30 p.m. Thursday to be in the public record. The proposed bylaws and additional information is available at the RDN office at 6300 Hammond Bay Road, Nanaimo and at www.rdn.bc.ca/. Call the planning department at 1-877-607-4111 or e-mail planning@rdn.bc.ca. The meeting is in the second floor multi-purpose room at Oceanside Place in Parksville’s Wembley Mall at 7 p.m. Thursday.
BRENDA GOUGH PHOTO
HAPPY NEW YEAR: Revellers at An Affair to Remember at the Quality Resort Bayside brought in the New Year in style with a casino, dancing, an oyster and sushi bar, party favours, a professional photographer and more. This shot was taken seconds after the clock struck midnight.
BODY FOUND NEAR MILNER GARDENS
Name likely won’t be released The woman, in her early 60s, was from Courtenay AUREN RUVINSKY writer@pqbnews.com
Although police have identified the person who was found dead on the beach near Milner Gardens on Dec. 31, they might not ever publicly identify her.
“Because we do not suspect foul play there is no criminal investigation,” said Oceanside RCMP’s Cpl. Jessie Foreman. He said the woman, in her early 60s, was from Courtenay and had not been missing when her body was found around noon by someone walking on the beach. Foreman couldn’t release any further details but said the woman had
not been there long. The woman’s family have been contacted, Foreman said. He said it would be up to them if they wanted to publicly release her name. The RCMP and B.C. Coroner’s Service attended the scene. The coroner’s office said that unless a name could be given they couldn’t provide any details.
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