TUESDAY MARCH 18, 2014
Black Press C O M M U N I T Y
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BCYCNA
Gold 2012 General Excellence
RETURN OF THE TASTE
WHEN IS IT TIME TO STOP DRIVING?
Popular event scheduled for March 29 in Parksville
Seniors, police and others debate the methods, merits of testing older drivers
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A5
NANOOSE BAY FIRE HALL
Wasted water
Facility consumed daily average of 118,000 litres CANDACE WU news@pqbnews.com
The Regional District of Nanaimo is “looking for answers” as to how a $45,000 geothermal heat pump system at the Nanoose Fire Hall discharged 4.7 million litres of well water in less than six weeks. From Nov. 7 to Dec. 17, 2012, the Nanoose Fire Hall consumed an average of 117,840 litres of water per day, confirmed Randy Alexander, the RDN’s general manager of regional and community utilities. According to the RDN’s 2013 Water Conservation Plan, an average Nanoose Bay household consumes 458 litres per day. “The original intent was to reduce greenhouse gas production and save energy,” said Alexander, who added the system was shut down in early 2013 shortly after the inefficiencies came to light and the building is now being heated by a backup gas boiler. “Certainly, this isn’t acceptable and we are looking for answers,” said Alexander, adding RDN staff is working with Johnstone Davidson Architecture (the company who designed Nanoose Fire Hall) as well as third-party engineers to find out what went wrong. RDN director George Holme, who represents Nanoose Bay, said he was “disappointed” to hear about the water inefficiencies, especially given that water is a “sensitive” issue in the area. “Somebody isn’t coming through,” said Holme, noting that he was only made aware of the issue a few weeks ago. “You hire engineers to best advise you on what to do — they’re supposed to be the experts.” Holme said the fire hall’s system is being looked into by staff at the RDN. See MORE ANSWERS, page A7
BRENDA GOUGH PHOTO
THE FEAST OF ST. PATRICK: Fairwinds resident Philip Carter was one of the many guests who chose to be Irish for a night at an Irish pub party held at the Fairwinds Golf Club in Nanoose Bay on Friday, March 14. Guests wearing their best green attire celebrated The Feast of St. Patrick with a buffet dinner, live music by Celtic Chaos and Irish jigs.
BUSY WEEK FOR RCMP
Hunter happy with his members CANDACE WU
news@pqbnews.com
Oceanside RCMP Staff Sgt. Brian Hunter didn’t hold back in his applause for his staff March 13 at a Parksville Chamber of Commerce dinner hosted by Tigh-Na-Mara Resort. “Words cannot describe how well our members have done in the last week,” said Hunter. “The community should be really
proud of our detachment.” Hunter said RCMP saw the busiest five-day period of the year “based on how labor intensive and serious the cases were.” Hunter went on to describe how police arrested a suspect in a daytime break-and-enter shortly after it was called in, located a missing Qualicum Beach woman suffering from dementia, responded to a severe
residential assault in rural Qualicum Beach resulting in attempted murder charges, attended an armed robbery in Errington and assisted the fire department in investigating an explosion in Dashwood which resulted from an illicit drug production operation. “The members at our detachment did an outstanding job,” said Hunter. See YOUTH, TRAFFIC, page A7
Spring Break Family Fun Day Visit us on Saturday March 22nd, 1-4pm Learn How to Make a Loom Bracelet OPEN 7 DAYS A WEEK Locally Owned for over 30 Years, Proudly Canadian! WE DELIVER •
8-6, SAT 9-5:30, SUN 10-5
720 MEMORIAL AVE. QUALICUM BEACH 250-752-3011
Play at the Tattoo & Hair Chalk Stations Kids Spin and Win Wheel. All by donation in support of the Variety Club