Community: Students make colourful statement about bullying On stage: Brentwood Fiddles while the Bunch Theatre burns
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Friday, February 21, 2014
Cowichan makes a statement of local pride
Local RCMP headquarters headed out to Ford Road
Russian anti-gay law: Duncan flying the flag for gay rights in the wake of Sochi-related lobby
Unanimous decision: North Cowichan picks option near Cowichan Commons
John McKinley
News Leader Pictorial
Don Bodger
News Leader Pictorial
N
orth Cowichan council is proceeding with steps to make a location near the Cowichan Commons the new site for a North Cowichan/Duncan RCMP detachment building. Council voted unanimously to move forward with the open field property on Ford Road. A public hearing will be required to change the zoning on a three-acre portion of the land to Public Use for the building, with the remaining two acres going to R1 Residential. “It’s not solving everyone’s issues,’’ said Councillor Jen Woike of the site selection. “But I think this is a good fit for our alternatives.’’ Two properties on Beverly Street were initially considered the frontrunners — one parcel created by the diking project at the edge of the Somenos Marsh and the other the existing School Board administration office area that will be relocating to another site. Environmental issues that created an outcry in the community and further exploration that determined the Beverly Street sites required many additional costs not known initially steered council toward Ford Road as the best choice, Woike indicated. “Once all the information’s out there, I think we all make good decisions,’’ she said. “A long process , but I believe a very positive outcome,’’ noted Councillor Andrew Leong Ruth Hartmann. more on page 24 Jim VanDeventer helped get the pride flag flying at Duncan City Hall for the duration of the Sochi Olympics and Paralympics.
T
he Sochi Olympics have created a global platform for the discussion of gay rights and at least two local government bodies wanted to add their voices. The City of Duncan has agreed to raise a pride flag at city hall for the duration of Sochi’s Olympic and Paralympic Games. The decision came following a request from city residents Roger Chin and Jim VanDeventer. “The terms equity and equality are sometimes used interchangeably, which can lead to confusion because while these concepts are related, there are also important distinctions between them,” they wrote. “Equity involves trying to understand and give people what they need to enjoy full, healthy lives. Equality, in contrast, aims to ensure that everyone gets the same things in order to enjoy full, healthy lives. Like equity, equality aims to promote fairness and justice, but it can only work if everyone starts from the same place and needs the same things. “Our neighbour provides therapy for children. One day last year a mother of a boy noticed us working in our garden. After learning that we are a gay couple, the mother withdrew her boy after many years of service. “Our neighbour was quite shocked by all of this but holds no grudge against us. On the contrary, she has a greater understanding of the hate we have to endure. “There will be concern that this will set a precedent for other groups. But we suggest that if there’s another group for which a country beats them up, imprisons them and executes them, or they’re bullied so much that they want to commit suicide, or they are outcast by their own parents, then that would set a very strict and rare criteria. “One quote from Elie Wiesel in his 1986 Nobel acceptance speech: ‘I swore never to be silent whenever and wherever human beings endure suffering and humiliation. more on page 24
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