Proud soldiers
Raven program unique for military, First Nations Page A3
Come Join Us September 6th
BUSINESS: Restaurants go carbon neutral /A4 SENIORS: Learning a lifelong process /A10 COMMUNITY: Sculptors make a splash /A13
~ 2014 ~
At The Victoria Conference Centre as we Celebrate
VICTORIANEWS Wednesday, August 27, 2014
Kevin Laird News staff
Mike Reed proudly places his hands on the barrel of a freshly painted German field gun. He glances to his right and a frown overtakes his broad smile. For the past eight months, Reed, a public works manager, has carefully curated the refurbishment of Esquimalt’s two 77-millimetre field guns, captured by Canadian soldiers during the First World War. As he lay his hands on the first gun, much like a proud father, Reed out of the corner “You could go on sees of his eye the other for hours touching up gun where a piece of metal has fallen out of here and there.” place. The gun needs – Mike Reed more work before the two artillery pieces are unveiled at a public ceremony at Memorial Park on Sept. 4. “We want the guns to be as accurate as possible,” Reed says from his shop in the public works yard on Canteen Street. “You could go on for hours touching up here and there. Everything we work on, something else pops up that needs working on.” The two guns have been a part of the Memorial Park landscape for years. But time and weather took their toll on the weapons. So when it was decided to refurbish them to mark the 100th anniversary of the First World War, Reed volunteered to take on the job. It was quite the undertaking. Last February, public works staff removed the guns to begin glass-beaded blasting. From there, Reed and a team of volunteers, mostly from Esquimalt, began the work to bring the guns back to their former glory. Soon after the work began, the team discovered many items missing from the guns. Its answer in many cases was to either rebuild or refurbish the items, which included everything from ammunition boxes to seat holders, even hatches and hinges. The one thing Reed wouldn’t allow was to have any moving parts, since the guns would return to Memorial Park and the public would have access to them.
Proudly serving Esquimalt & Victoria
1212 Broad St., Victoria BC 250.386.1212 ~1.888.386.1211 www.CanadianVitaminShop.com
www.vicnews.com
Big Guns coming out party
Victoria MLA sued for defamation Daniel Palmer News staff
Kevin Laird/News staff
PlEASE SEE: Guns captured, Page A9
th y r 30 a s r Annive OUR
Mike Reed stands behind one of Esquimalt’s First World War trophy guns. The weapons will be unveiled at a special commemoration ceremony on Sept. 4 at Memorial Park.
Victoria-Swan Lake MLA Rob Fleming is facing a defamation lawsuit from a B.C. deputy minister after the NDP published statements that suggested the civil servant’s position and pay increase was politically motivated. In the suit filed Aug. 15 at Vancouver civil courts, jobs, tourism and skills deputy minister Athana Mentzelopoulos claims Fleming damaged her reputation by naming her in an online petition related to the ongoing teacher’s strike. That petition, still available as of Thursday on the B.C. NDP’s website, features an image Rob Fleming with a mock credit card labelled “Christy Clark’s Friend Rewards Program,” with the name “Liberal Insider” attached. Below, Mentzelopoulos is directly named as benefitting from a $30,000 pay increase in 2013 and called Clark’s friend. The defamation claim also references an email sent to NDP supporters. Mentzelopoulos was a bridesmaid at Clark’s wedding in the mid-1990s, something Mentzelopoulos’ lawyer said is irrelevant in her professional life. “Athana’s been a career civil servant, she’s worked for the federal government, she was recruited by the Campbell government,” said lawyer David Wotherspoon. “The fact she [Mentzelopoulos] was someone’s bridesmaid 20 years ago shouldn’t be used for political fodder.” PlEASE SEE: Fleming intends to fight, Page A2
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
FREE
★
Avoid disappointment ★
REGISTER NOW!
Family Admission
Expiration Date: September 3, 2014
Valid for any general drop in admission (ex. swimming, skating, drop in fitness classes) with Esquimalt Recreation. Ask Reception for details.
★
✁
★
★