THURSDAY JANUARY 30, 2014
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THURSDAY, JANUARY 30, 2014
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begun after trustees’ vote LISSA ALEXANDER reporter@pqbnews.com
Local school board trustees have passed a motion that could ultimately see four elementary schools closed this summer. Board Chair Lynette Kershaw told the large group of people at the meeting Tuesday night that the decision is not an easy one. “This is an excruciating, difficult position to be in, and none of us are taking this lightly,” she said, adding that closing schools or amalgamating or reconfiguring schools is only a portion of what trustees have to do to balance their budget. The schools slated for closure at this point are: Qualicum Beach Elementary, Parksville Elementary, Winchelsea Elementary in Parksville and French Creek Elementary in Coombs. FULL COVERAGE, page A5
Council wants some input JOHN HARDING editor@pqbnews.com
The Town of Qualicum Beach vows to continue its lobbying efforts to keep its elementary school open. Talk of the proposed closure of Qualicum Beach Elementary School dominated town council’s meeting Monday night. A delegation of parents and council members spoke passionately about the school’s downtown location and its place in the “heart” of the community. Council passed a motion Monday instructing staff to request a meeting with the school board to discuss the proposed closure. See QBES LAND PLAN, page A6
CANDACE WU PHOTO
VIU field marine station manager Brian Kingzett, left, and RDN director Bill Veenhof inspect vessels littering Deep Bay’s coastline this week.
Identifying Deep Bay derelicts CANDACE WU
news@pqbnews.com
Rotting wood, rusting metal and no sign of ownership characterize 15 derelict vessels littering the waters of Deep Bay Harbour in Baynes Sound. VIU Deep Bay Marine Field Station manager Brian Kingzett has been trying to address the “unsightly” vessels for years, with little luck and lots of strife. “It’s a problem that’s getting worse
and worse,” he said. However, Transport Canada is reaching out to municipalities asking volunteers to enumerate and catalogue all derelict vessels in their area. So the morning of Monday Jan. 27 Kingzett and RDN director Bill Veenhof took to the ocean to collect data. The duo surveyed existing derelict vessels around the Deep Bay Harbour — taking photos and recording their size,
GPS location and current condition. “It’s a positive step,” said Kingzett, noting the results will be sent to Transport Canada by March. 5. Kingzett hopes the information will provide fuel for the federal government to create some form of regulation to police derelict vessels — but he remains skeptical as progress has been painstakingly slow. See POTENTIAL OIL SPILLS, page A4
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Call 250-947-2109 or reservations@beachclubresort.ca Located at The Beach Club Resort in Parksville, BC.