Up front: Taxbusters take aim at North Cowichan spending page A3 Community: Victoria commuter bus ticket to ride going up page A5
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Run Date: Sept 12, 2014 Duncan Newsleader (3.0" x 3.0") Full Colour EOR#6691
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Friday, September 12, 2014
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Shawnigan Lake enters the ice age Open in January: Construction on arena underway
Don Bodger
News Leader Pictorial
A Don Bodger
North Cowichan’s Steve Finch was among firefighters from three departments attending a grass blaze threatening a chicken barn in Sahtlam at press time yesterday afternoon. North Cowichan’s south end department was called to “a growing grass fire” at a farm on 4081 Sahtlam Road at about 2 p.m. Lack of fire hydrants in the vicinity led to the Sahtlam and Duncan departments being called in for mutual aid. As the paper went to press, the fire had spread to forestry land near Mina Drive on Highway 18, threatening a house and the forestry service had been called in for air support.
Ditidaht nation getting a royal visit
n ambitious project to build an ice arena at Shawnigan Lake School that’s been in the works for many years is finally taking shape. It’s been one of the worstkept secrets around the community for several months but the project is now on a fast track toward completion, targeted for Jan. 15, 2015. “We probably started doing the groundwork back in June and been building from there, obviously,’’ said Shawnigan Lake School headmaster David Robertson. “You won’t really see much until about October.’’ A ground-breaking ceremony to bring dignitaries together and create more awareness for the project will take place on Saturday, Sept.
Prince Edward: Queen’s youngest son and his wife to open remote library Kathy Santini
News Leader Pictorial
I
t’s hard to think of a more remote place on southern Vancouver Island. Smack dab in the middle of nowhere, it’s an hour west of Youbou, give or take, on a rough, unpaved logging road. And yet, within a year, the Ditidaht Nation, at 200 people strong, will be getting a visit from royalty. There’s a good reason why. This Monday, their Royal Highnesses, Prince Edward, the Earl of Wessex and his wife, Countess Sophie, will join B.C. Lt.-Gov Judith
Guichon to officially open the band’s new library, as part of the lieutenant-governor’s Write to Read Project. “It’s a once in a lifetime thing,” chief Jack Thompson said. “It’s a great opportunity for our people, especially for the kids in school.” The Write to Read Project, started by former lieutenant-governor Stephen Point, was created to increase Aboriginal literacy levels in B.C., as well as to build co-operative relationships between urban groups and rural First Nations communities. The partners include: the Lt. Governor of British Columbia and the Government House Foundation, Rotary Clubs, B.C.’s First Nations, businesses and
courtesy Government House
Prince Edward, the Earl of Wessex, and Sophie, Countess of Wessex were last in B.C. together in 2006. They will visit the Dididaht First Nation Monday. non-profits with an interest in literacy. Eva Clarke, who’s been teaching on the Ditidaht reserve for six years, said the project, which focuses on remote places, is the ninth since its start.
20. The arena will add to Shawnigan Lake School’s expanding facilities and renovations currently being undertaken for the 2016 Centennial, not to mention the wonders it will do for a burgeoning hockey program. “For the school to stay valued and in the forefront, you’ve got to be developing all the time and how you’re strategically changing,’’ said Robertson. “The advent of the hockey program is about a move to the real Canadian school, not transplanted British school. I can say that as a transplanted Brit and a proud Canadian.’’ The arena will be constructed with an engineered, insulated and tensioned membrane structure. Bleacher seats on one side of the building will hold a capacity of 400 people. more on page 3
“Ten more are lined up,” she said. About a year ago, Clarke was trying to figure out how to create a community centre on Ditidaht land. “Since I’ve been there, I wanted to see more parents reading with their kids, and increase literacy. This needs to start before they come to school,” she said. “I’ve wanted to create an inviting place for people to gather, young and old. I wanted a place for the elders to share their knowledge.” Before you could say,Write to Read, that vision was taking hold. “I had the idea,” the kindergarten to Grade 2 teacher said modestly, “but it wouldn’t have come about without the help of Write to Read.” more on 12
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