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Tens of thousands of people visited the Inner Harbour last weekend for the annual Victoria Dragon Boat Festival. Money raised from the event goes toward those battling cancer and research. Page A3
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VICTORIANEWS Wednesday, August 20, 2014
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Few guns seized by CBsa in Victoria Drew McLachlan News staff
Drew McLachlan/News staff
Walk for ALS coordinators Adele Fraser and Rasool Rayani dump a tub of icy water on ALS Society of B.C.’s Victoria chapter president Ellen Mahoney to raise awareness for the upcoming walk.
One icy cool fundraiser for ALS Drew McLachlan News reporter
A cool viral trend promoting awareness for amyotrophic lateral sclerosis (ALS), called the “Ice Bucket Challenge,” has spread to Victoria. The challenge involves the participant dumping a tub of icy water over their own head, and started appearing online late last month. For those who take part, it’s customary to issue the challenge to others, which has
helped it spread across Hollywood, with many celebrities taking up the challenge on television and online. Ellen Mahoney, president of the ALS Society of B.C.’s Victoria chapter, and Rasool Rayani, co-coordinator of Victoria’s annual Walk for ALS took the plunge themselves Friday to bring attention to the walk. “It doesn’t matter how we do it, we just want to raise awareness for ALS,” Mahoney said. “We definitely want a cure for the 3,000 Canadians living with the disease.”
Mahoney and Rayani issued the challenge to 11 others, including Victoria Mayor Dean Fortin and Saanich Mayor Frank Leonard. The society managed to raise $55,000 through last year’s Walk for ALS, and are hoping the Ice Bucket Challenge will bring more people to the walk and help them raise even more. The Walk for ALS takes place Sept. 14, 11:30 a.m., starting at parking lot six of the University of Victoria.
While the Canadian Border Services Agency has seen a steep rise in firearm seizures across the region this year, the trend hasn’t reached Greater Victoria. CBSA reported 37 firearm seizures across the Pacific region, which includes B.C. and the Yukon, between April 1 and June 30 this year. Compared to 24 seizures made in the same period last year, this marks a 37 per cent increase. The 37 firearm seizures have so far resulted in 15 charges against 17 individuals, with more charges possible. Meanwhile in Greater Victoria, CBSA has seized only two firearms this year, as of Aug. 13, including one prohibited and one restricted firearm. The numbers fall in line with last year, which also saw two firearms being seized in the area by Aug. 13. That number increased to seven seizures by the end of the year. “Canadian firearm laws are clear: all persons must declare all firearms and weapons in their possession when they enter Canada. The CBSA takes its border protection responsibilities very seriously, including the interdiction of prohibited firearms and weapons,” Doug Mossey, chief of the Criminal Investigations Unit for the region, wrote in a CBSA release. Please see: Paperwork required, Page A8
reporter@vicnews.com
FALL PROGRAM & EVENT GUIDE is available Now! Copies can be picked up at the Esquimalt Recreation Centre, Archie Browning Sports Centre, Esquimalt Municipal Hall, Esquimalt Library or Country Grocer Esquimalt.
Pick up your copy today! PARKS + RECREATION
To register, call: 250.412.8500 the centre is open 5:30am-10:30pm
Or can be viewed online at www.esquimalt.ca
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Family Admission
Expiration Date: August 27,2014
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