TUESDAY JULY 8, 2014
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BRIDESMAIDS A REAL LAUGH
LOCAL FOOD AND SOME FRESH IDEAS
Read our review of this Bard to Broadway production
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WHAT’S NEXT FOR CLOSED QBES?
Social hub is the plan SD 69, town, SOS reveal vision for closed school site JOHN HARDING editor@pqbnews.com
The school district has signed an agreement with the town and the Society of Organized Services to “explore re-purposing options” for Qualicum Beach Elementary School. The school, which sits in a high-profile location in the downtown village neighbourhood, is one of four that School District 69 closed in April due to a budget crunch caused by declining enrolment district-wide. The school district, town and SOS scheduled a news conference Monday afternoon to discuss the plan. The news release issued by the school district Monday morning was headlined: “Integrated Family Services Centre Coming to Qualicum Beach.” “Throughout the recent school district facility review process, it became very clear that if surplus school space became available there would be opportunities for partnership and innovation,” the district said in its news release. “The school district is pleased to announce the signing of an intent agreement to explore re-purposing options on the former Qualicum Elementary School site along with District 69 Society of Organized Services and the Town of Qualicum Beach.” “The parties will work together to promote the development of a community hub that is recognized and valued as a gathering place for people of all ages and an access point for a wide range of community activities, events, programs and services,” the release continued. Attempts by The NEWS to get comment from the leaders of the Save QBES group before deadline Monday were unsuccessful. See AGREEMENT APPLAUDED, page A7
LISSA ALEXANDER PHOTO
TEDDY BEAR PICNIC: Although it was the soggiest Teddy Bear Picnic in recent memory, many kids still hauled their stuffies and guardians to Nanoose Bay to enjoy the parade and festivities on Saturday. The long-running event, put on by Quality Foods, invites children to bring their teddy bears and register them for a passport when they arrive at the Jack Bagley Field. Above, twins Adelaide and Sydney Waldie cuddle up to Mr. Bear and Gem while waiting for the parade to begin. See story page A9 and for more photos, visit our Facebook page: www.facebook.com/PQBNews.
TEACHERS’ STRIKE EFFECT ON LOCAL SCHOOL RECONFIGURATION
Dispute is complicating transition AUREN RUVINSKY
writer@pqbnews.com
An impasse in the B.C. teacher’s strike could complicate District 69’s school reconfigurations over the summer. The school board voted April 29 to BUY A PHARMASAVE
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close four elementary schools (Parksville, Winchelsea, French Creek and Qualicum Beach), and reconfigure the middle schools as Kindergarten to Grade 7. “Once the school closure bylaw passed, we had to act in an expedient
nature to notify the ministry (of education),” said superintendent Rollie Koop, adding that a lot of work has already been done towards the transition, including legal work and changing names and catchment areas. See CUPE WON’T CROSS, page A9
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