green light Lantzville council approves construction of new cenotaph. Page 11 empire Days Schedule of events for this weekend’s celebrations. Page B1 Still riding Bike trip continues to be source of inspiration for singer. Page 3
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Theatre group confident in Centre Stage
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NeW aLLiaNCe aims to take over contract to manage performing arts space on Victoria Road. By Tamara Cunningham The News BulleTiN
TAMARA CUNNINGHAM/THe News BUlleTIN
Mayor John Ruttan sits on a bench at Linley Valley Cottle Lake Park on Wednesday, two days after announcing the city plans to acquire another 89 hectares for the green space. The purchase and development of new parkland will cost taxpayers approximately $9 million.
City to acquire 89 hectares of parkland in Linley Valley By Tamara Cunningham The News BulleTiN
Nanaimo city officials made an 11th-hour save of Linley Valley West after all. The City of Nanaimo announced Monday it plans to spend $9 million to acquire and develop 89 hectares of parkland in Linley Valley. It entered into a series of option agreements for five separate properties that, if joined with existing green space, will create Nanai-
mo’s largest urban park. The move is applauded by Joanne Jonas-McRae, founder of Save Linley Valley West, who has been working for more than three years to preserve the area from development. But the recent action is also an about-face from the city’s previous stance not to purchase Linley Valley West for park. During an open meeting last October, Mayor John Ruttan told the gallery that if there was hope the municipal-
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ity would at the 11th hour find the opportunity to purchase the property, “we can’t and we won’t be.” According to Ruttan, circumstances have now changed, from the affordability and opportunity to buy land, to public pressure and the time frame to make a decision. “A lot of it was trying to diffuse what we were doing behind the scenes,” he said of his previous statement. “We just didn’t want to increase focus and opti-
mism among certainly the landowners. It was difficult for us to negotiate this candidly and quietly ... with all the public pressure that was being put on.” The question of purchasing parcels of land in Linley Valley has been making it onto council meeting agendas since 2011, when Save Linley Valley West advocates first became concerned about the effects of development on the ecology of the area. See ‘COUNCIL’ /4
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Nanaimo Centre Stage can be managed without being a huge draw on city coffers, according to the co-founder of a new theatre alliance. The newly created Harbour City Theatre Alliance Society – made up of a board of six arts supporters – plans to audition for management of Nanaimo Centre Stage. City officials have been on the search for a new theatre operator in the wake of a planned exit by the Centre for the Arts Nanaimo this June. The group announced in April that it would bow out of operation of the 100-seat venue, stating it could no longer oversee the building for the $11,350 annual subsidy the city offered to pay. It had asked for $40,000 in 2014. The new alliance, founded by Schmooze Productions’ artistic producer Dean Chadwick and Barbra French, artistic director of In Other Words Theatre, are confident they could work within the city’s framework. The building would be operated by a volunteer board, rather than staff. During days without bookings, French and Chadwick say they have the experience as producers to put on their own shows, festivals and workshops to generate revenue. “We want NCS to be a fantastic place for artists in the community ... we want to make it affordable and we can and I think we have the experience and the know-how in order to produce great events and offer this amazing space – without having to continually go back to that municipal well over and over again,” French said. See ‘THREE’ /7
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