Teachers rally Supporters gather at Maffeo Sutton Park. Page 11 Farmers’ markets Local food movement highlights sustainability. Page B1 army to artist Camille Miller still living life on the move. Page 3
Season extended Page 19
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THURSDAY, JUNE 26, 2014
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VOL. 26, NO. 14
McKay tops list of city spenders
I
STATeMeNT oF Financial information details remuneration expenses for politicians, staff. By Tamara CuNNiNgham THE NEwS bULLETiN
CHRIS BUSH/THe NewS BUlleTIN
National pastime pride
Nicole Sugiyama, left, Caden Sugiyama, 4, Anastasia Trenholm, 6, Brian Sugiyama, Canada Day emcee, Adelaide Trenholm, 3, and Kelton Sugiyama, 2, get in a pre-Canada Day practice game at Maffeo Sutton Park, site of Canada Day celebrations hosted by the city Tuesday (July 1) 11 a.m. to 3:30 p.m. The day’s events for all ages include the Celebration of Flags and opening ceremonies, a multicultural food fair, Nanaimo Downtown Farmers’ Market and roving entertainers.
Nanaimo police seek public’s help tracking down missing teen Police are still looking for 15-yearold Katrina Noelle Ladouceur, last seen in Nanaimo May 29. Since Ladouceur disappeared, there have been numerous sightings throughout Vancouver Island, the Lower Mainland and Fraser Valley. Each has been investigated, but have not added insight to her whereabouts, said Const. Gary O’Brien, Nanaimo RCMP spokesman, in a news release. The most recent information placed
Ladouceur in either Kamloops or Vancouver with a 27-year-old man named Kody Allen. They might be tenting or sleeping in shelters, O’Brien said, adding that Ladouceur sings and Allen often carries a guitar, so they might be busking to support themselves. Neither Ladouceur nor Allen have contacted their families. Ladouceur is 5-foot-7, 125 pounds. She has shoulder-length, reddish-brown hair and often wears
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When attacked by a mob of clowns, go for the juggler.
hiking boots and a blue tuque. Allen is 5-foot-11, 135 pounds with black hair and might have a black guitar case with him. “Our investigators have been working closely with B.C. Missing Persons, her family and friends but to date we are not any closer to bringing her home,” O’Brien said. Anyone with information about the location of Ladouceur or Allen, please call Nanaimo RCMP at 250754-2345 or contact Crime Stoppers at 1-800-222-8477 or online at www. nanaimocrimestoppers.com.
Elected official Bill McKay is the biggest spender on Nanaimo city council, financial reports reveal. The City of Nanaimo has released its 2013 Statement of Financial Information, which details remuneration and expenses for elected officials and top-salaried employees. It shows that more than $57,000 was spent by Nanaimo city council last year with McKay leading the pack with $14,972 in expenses. Since the 2011 election, expenses of the firstterm politician have climbed to $22,509, making him the highest-spending elected official on council. Mayor John Ruttan is the second-highest spender with $22,499 logged since late 2011 and $11,705 spent last year. Coun. Diana Johnstone followed the mayor for highest expenses in 2013 with $6,368, but first-term councillor George Anderson has spent $13,481 since the civic election, making him the third-highest spender overall. According to McKay, the majority of his expenses are tied to conferences. In 2013, he took 10 trips, including eight conferences that ranged in topics from housing to waste management. Political office is a steep learning curve, “so I wanted to do whatever I could to learn,” he said, adding his objective has been to figure out how to create a more efficient government. McKay, who often advocates for reduced city spending, does not see the expense as hypocritical. “Mine is 25 per cent of the entire council [expenses] this year, but I have been to more places, met more people and learned more things about other communities than anyone else on council,” he said. See ‘EXPENSES’ /4
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