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Friday, August 1, 2014
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Koury declares candidacy
Death of senior under investigation
For mayor: Two-term North Cowichan councillor first to challenge Jon Lefebure for top seat in Nov. 15 vote
Peter W. Rusland
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Cowichan District Hospital: Gordon Kriese’s July 10 death being probed after an altercation with another patient News Leader Pictorial
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Peter W. Rusland
News Leader Pictorial
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orth Cowichan’s outspoken councillor John Koury is officially seeking the mayor’s chair in the Nov. 15 election. Citing budgetary concerns, high taxes, missed development opportunities, and municipal management issues, Koury is the first hopeful to declare he’s running to replace current mayor, Jon Lefebure. “We need to raise the standard of governance that is currently lacking,” the two-term councillor says in Wednesday’s press release. “We need to end political activism at the council table and restore reasonable, common-sense decision making to North Cowichan. Voters are ready for a change.” Lefebure was mum this week when asked by the News Leader Pictorial if he’ll seek his fourth non-consecutive term in the mayor’s seat he’s held since being reelected in the 2011 election. (He was also elected in 2002 and 2005). “I’m going to make my (mayoral candidacy) decision in early September,” he said of discussing another term — now set at four years by Victoria — with his family, while mulling “if the community wants me back.” Obviously Koury doesn’t, and he’s willing to risk his seat to chal-
14-07-31 9:29 AM
Peter W. Rusland/file
John Koury is going to make a pitch for North Cowichan mayor in the November elections. lenge Lefebure. “There is a lot to do to put North Cowichan on the path back to prosperity. “We are punching way below our weight in economic development and I know we can achieve more,” his release claims. Lefebure said he wasn’t surprised about Koury’s mayoral aspirations that have basically been a poorly guarded secret. “He’s made it clear by his actions,” the mayor said of Koury’s blunt stances during budgetary and other debates. But Lefebure declined to comment about Koury’s fiscal-management claims in his release. “It really doesn’t make much sense to me,” he said of Koury’s statement that “we need to set the economic table for sustainable growth. Growth that will provide
job opportunities for working families.” Lefebure cited council’s taxrevitalization bylaw to spark smart growth and densification by working with developers in the University Village, Crofton, Chemainus and elsewhere. “We have set the table very well for controlled development in designated areas,” Lefebure said, pointing to commercial-condo projects in Crofton and near Duncan, plus Mural Town’s new shopping centre on Pine Street. Meanwhile, Koury — who formerly sought Cowichan riding’s federal seat and lost — claims “people are ready to hold them (some councillors) to account for the past three years, and I am looking forward to engaging with the public on my own track record.”
aura Chafe suspected something was tragically wrong about the July 10 death of her father at Cowichan District Hospital. A week after Gordon Herman Kriese, 82, died — following a July 3 altercation with another CDH patient — the police and Island Health began probing Chafe’s claims her dad’s death may have been hastened by the fracas acknowledged by Island Health brass. The B.C. Corner’s investigation into Kriese’s death began July 25. “An incident between two patients at Cowichan District Hospital occurred on July 3, witnessed by staff,” Island Health’s Sarah Plank says in an email. “It was quickly diffused by staff, and appropriate medical treatment was provided. Both families were contacted immediately.” Chafe’s claims the altercation may have quickened Kriese’s death weren’t initially voiced to Island Health, but to the News Leader Pictorial. The Leader called the B.C. Coroner’s office — where officials had no knowledge of Kriese’s death — and lsland Health. “The individual that you spoke with (Chafe) did not contact us to inform us of her concerns and allegations,” Island Health’s Val Wilson’s email to the Leader says. “We had no knowledge of her concerns and these very serious allegations until contacted by media (July 17.) “After learning of these allegations, we immediately contacted the family member, and encouraged her to call our patient-care quality office so we can ensure her concerns are reviewed and addressed, however, she declined,” Wilson says. Given the seriousness of her allegations, Island Health contacted police
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The death of Gordon Kriese is under investigation. in Duncan to report the claims, Wilson explains. Island Health requested police investigate the family’s assertions the incident at CDH was potentially criminal in nature, Plank states. “We had not seen the incident in that light and immediately sought the independent expertise of the police. “Island Health is currently conducting an internal review and cooperating with the RCMP in their investigation. We understand the coroner is also investigating.” But Mounties indicate they weren’t immediately notified by hospital staff of the altercation, nor of Kriese’s eventual demise, until eight days after he died and his family began asking questions about his death. “Our office did receive a report from CDH on July 18 stating they were in contact with a patient’s family member who believed there may be criminal behaviour involved in their father’s death, which occurred at CHD on July 10,” an email to the News Leader Pictorial from North Cowichan/Duncan RCMP Cpl. Krista Hobday says. more on page 5
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