TUESDAY JUNE 17, 2014
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GOT A SPARE $5 MILLION?
FROM QUALICUM TO THE BIG SCREEN
Court-ordered sale of 13-acre waterfront Nanoose property
Local woman who has landed TV roles now trying to win make-a-movie money
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TEACHERS’ STRIKE
Holidays start early Local superintendent writes letter to parents AUREN RUVINSKY writer@pqbnews.com
While teachers and the government continue negotiating, a full scale, province-wide strike is set to start today (June 17). With two weeks left in the regular school year, the strike leaves a lot of questions. “As a precautionary measure in the event that a timely settlement is not reached by the parties, we would ask that students take all personal belongings with them at the end of the day today,” said District 69 superintendent Rollie Koop in a letter to parents Friday. After three weeks of rotating single day strikes and partial lockout, the B.C. Teachers’ Federation gave notice last week of the full strike starting Tuesday, with a “study session” Monday also cancelling classes. That left parents figuring out what to do with young students who might be starting summer holidays, but have to wait to see. “We do remain guardedly optimistic that the parties can get together at the provincial level and reach a settlement,” Koop told The NEWS before the weekend, during which the two sides where busy bargaining but didn’t have any news by Monday morning. “We just don’t want folks to be reliant on being able to access a building to get something in the interim, particularly study materials for our grade 10 to 12 students who will be writing provincial exams at the end of next week,” he said. For younger students there are a number of activities in the area, led by the Regional District of Nanaimo’s Big Adventure Camp this week during the strike. See ACTIVITIES PLANNED, page A26
BRIAN ARGYLE PHOTO
BEST OF SHOW . . . And three additional trophies went to Bernard and Shirley Lawson from Grindrod, B.C. for their 1940 Cadillac Series 62 Coupe at the Seaside Cruizers Father’s Day Show and Shine in Qualicum Beach on Sunday, which attracted an estimated 10,000 people to the downtown village. For more coverage from the show, see pages A3 and A5. To view more than 300 photos from the show and related events this past weekend, including more than 280 photos of the cars, visit our Facebook page, www.facebook.com/PQBNews.
PRESENTATION BY RCMP LAST NIGHT IN PARKSVILLE CITY COUNCIL CHAMBERS
Coombs boy awarded for heroism JOHN HARDING editor@pqbnews.com
An 11-year-old Coombs boy was honoured by the RCMP last night in Parksville city council chambers for helping save the life of his dad. Police said Monday that Isadore Bennett was only 10 years old on March 18 when called 911 to report his dad was having a seizure. “The dispatcher said he did an amazing job relaying information and staying calm,” said Oceanside RCMP Cpl. Jesse Foreman. The RCMP were scheduled to make a “Presentation for Heroism” to Isa-
dore at the beginning of city council’s committee-of-the-whole meeting Monday. Council had a public hearing, committee of the whole and regular meeting scheduled last night. Among the items scheduled to be discussed: • A public hearing related to zoning changes that will allow for the development of a four-storey mixed commercial/residential condo complex on Island Highway at the corner of Lombardy Street. • Kelland Foods (Quality Foods) was scheduled to give council an up-
date on development plans for their site at 371 Alberni Highway. • The Parksville and District Historical Society is asking council for a change in its lease to allow for a summer market. • Coun. Peter Morrison was expected to introduce a motion related to economic development in the city, likely a call for the city to once again employ an economic development officer. Read more about these stories, and the council decisions surrounding them, in Thursday’s edition of The NEWS.
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