Good sports
Junior Bays rugby team scores Island title Page A2
NeWs: The class came back /A6 COMMUNITY: Rotary raises moola with madness /A7 seNIORs: Foot care is a big part of a healthy life /A8
OAK BAYNEWS Wednesday, May 28, 2014
BOORMAN’S
SINCE 1933
Real Estate Insurance Property Management 2045 Cadboro Bay Rd, Victoria
250-595-1535
www.boorman.com vicnews.com
Councillor seeks paid staff to walk kids to school Arnold Lim News staff
Arnold Lim/News staff
Grade 10 student Robert Lee with classmates who also participated in the Michael Smith Science Challenge 2014. Lee won first place overall in the country out of more than 1,700 students who participated in the exam.
sMARTesT KIDs IN CANADA
Oak Bay High students top national science challenge Arnold Lim News staff
The list of standout students at Oak Bay High school grows by the day. You can add Grade 10 student Robert Lee to the list after the 15-yearold Oak Bay high student scored the highest grade on the Michael Smith Science Challenge, a competition where
Lee took top prize not only across the province – but across the entire country. “He is an amazing young man and we know it and he has that recognition across Canada now,” said science teacher Stephanie Mann. “Our school is producing fine young people, very accomplished young people and we are helping support them to be all they can be.” Mann discovered the University of British Columbia-sponsored challenge online and when she brought the proposal to the nine honours students in her science class including Lee, they
accepted the challenge with one caveat: if the winner came from their class, the $50 prize going to the teacher of the winner, would be put towards an in-class pizza party. The results from the Feb. 25 exam arrived at the end of April and on May 13, they celebrated with a pizza party for the entire class. “I was feeling pretty happy. … It feels good,” the soft spoken Lee said. “I was hoping to do well but I didn’t know. It wasn’t black and white, it wasn’t crystal clear so I wasn’t too sure.” PleAse see: Science students shine, Page A12
Coun. Michelle Kirby is talking the talk, hoping future students walk the walk. With traffic and parking issues coming to a head in several school-side neighbourhoods, Kirby is seeking solutions before they end up as neighbourhood disputes. The answer in part, she said, is a model of active transportation, a global programming infrastructure implemented by partnership between the municipality, schools and the public. “I think we have to work together, it’s too big an issue for just a school principal to handle. I think without collaboration and some kind of cohesive plan we work on together, we won’t see improvement,” Kirby said. “My hope is that we see the five municipalities in school Michelle Kirby district 61 collaborating.” Kirby points to building lifestyle infrastructure for walking school busses, bike trains to and from schools with rides and walks customized to individual communities, including Oak Bay, as investments that concurrently promote healthy and active living for tomorrow and help the environment by reducing carbon emissions from vehicles. She hopes, in essence, to turn bike to school week, into bike to school year. “Why can’t we have paid train leaders and walking school bus leaders so there is a consistent leader there Monday to Friday always available?” Kirby asked. “(Then) parents can count on someone ensuring their child safely goes to school using the bike train or walking school bus.” PleAse see: Program pays off in other districts, Page A3
Custom built for the current owners to a very high standard. You will be impressed by the attention to detail and the wonderful open plan. This home is extremely bright and comfortable, modern yet oozing tremendous character. There are 3 bedrooms plus a wonderful one bedroom, ground level, 580 sq.ft. suite, perfect for the inlaws. The location is amazing, located on a sun drenched west facing lot on a situated on a very rare to find no through new street with just six homes. The yard is level and landscaped for easy care, plus a garden area for your fresh vegetables and flowers that is sure to please. Offered at $1,119,000 tomf@vreb.bc.ca 250-360-4821 Royal Le Page Coast Capital Realty Buying or selling in Oak Bay? Give me a call. Area specialization does make a difference! INDEPENDENTLY OWNED AND OPERATED
OAK BAY