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49th Year No. 38
September 18, 2014
• Coming to life
Fan’s attempted CD purchase turns into live concert. Page 8
• Pole party
Carvers commemorate pole at Cape Scott Wind Farm. Page 10
• PUCK DROPS
Midgets to kick off North Island Eagles season at home. Page 19 Opinion Page 6 Letters Page 7 Classifieds Page 13-18 Sports Page 19
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Teachers vote on deal today Gazette staff PORT HARDY—B.C.’s striking teachers are expected to vote today on a tentative settlement with the provincial government. Mediator Vince Ready announced the agreement early Tuesday morning, after five days of talks at a Richmond hotel. The
B.C. Teachers’ Federation and the province’s negotiators agreed to withhold details until they have a final document to present, he said. “It’s extremely positive,” Vancouver Island North Teachers’ Association president Shawn Gough said Tuesday morning. “It’s been what we’ve been waiting for.
It’s sad it took 18 months to get here; this could have been done a long time ago.” With a ratification vote of 40,000 union members expected to be held today, the province’s 60 school districts are attempting to return to regular classes next week after five weeks of full-scale strike action
that began last June. Education Minister Peter Fassbender has said a plan will be developed to make up missed instructional days, which could involve rescheduling Christmas
See page 4 ‘School boards applaud’
Drug bust Prince, charming snares 8 Gazette staff PORT HARDY—Eight North Islanders are facing multiple criminal charges after an intelligenceled RCMP operation targeting drug trafficking ended in four search warrants being executed and multiple drugs and weapons being seized last week. On Tuesday, Sept. 9, the RCMP Island District General Investigation Section (IDGIS) launched a targeted project aimed at illicit drug trafficking within the communities of Port Hardy and Port McNeill. IDGIS, in partnership with the Port Hardy and Port McNeill RCMP Detachments, identified multiple individuals believed to be actively involved in the street-level drug trade. As a result of evidence gathered during a five day period (Sept. 9-13), investigators obtained four search warrants which were executed at the following locations on Sept. 13: • 7300 block of Pine
Drive, Port Hardy; • 2500 block of Cassiar Place, Port McNeill; • 7300 block of Highland Drive, Port Hardy; and, • 7000 block of Highview Road, Port Hardy. The search warrant results are currently being processed, but preliminary information shows more than $35,000 in Canadian currency seized along with quantities of cocaine (crack cocaine), morphine, marijuana, pills believed to be Fentanyl, firearms, cell phones and other items commonly used in the trade of illegal drugs. “The efforts of our local and regional police officers have resulted in eight people facing criminal charges and four suspected drug houses being raided,” said S/Sgt. Gord Brownridge, Commander of the Port Hardy RCMP. “We will be keeping up our efforts towards
See page 5 ‘Multiple charges”
Prince Edward, Earl of Wessex, accepts a gift from Adrienne Cranmer while being feted at the Big House in Alert Bay Monday afternoon. See more on the royal visit on page 9. J.R. Rardon
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