THURSDAYNOVEMBER 6, 2014
Black Press C O M M U N I T Y
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BUILDING ON A VICTORY
REMEMBRANCE DAY SECTION
Generals look to make it two wins in a row on Friday
Locals of all ages reflect on the past with respect and plan for Nov. 11 events
A37
INSIDE
PARKSVILLE ELECTION FORUM
Water, jobs dominate Packed house had pointed and pertinent questions CANDACE WU news@pqbnews.com
Candidates vying for a seat in civic office faced off for a third time Tuesday night in front of more than 600 people at the Parksville Community and Conference Centre. Eighteen candidates — four for mayor, 14 for council — gave their views on the issues. The crowd thinned out considerably by the end of the night. The all-candidates forum was sponsored by the Parksville and District Chamber of Commerce and The NEWS. Council candidate Heidi Abbott, who is currently working on a masters in community development, said she wants to create a “vibrant cultural community” in Parksville toting arts and culture as an “economic engine.” Abbott said “there are well paying jobs in the creative sector” and developing a stronger cultural base would attract more young professionals to Parksville. Mary Beil (council), former Parksville Elementary School principal, said she wants to “create a vibrant Parksville” and said she supports clean industries, promoting tourism and expanding educational opportunities. In terms of water, Dallas Collis (mayoral candidate) said if Parksville residents could cut their water intake by 50 per cent there would be no problem. “Growth isn’t the answer,” said Collis. “Conservation is the answer.” Michael Donegani (council) said he thinks council should operate like a “focussed band, such as Maroon 5 or Red Hot Chili Peppers.” Donegani said regardless of the cost of a new water treatment plant, “we must demand federal and provincial funding.” See MOST IMPORTANT ELECTION, page A5
JESSICA SKELTON PHOTO
It was standing-room-only at the Qualicum Beach Civic Centre on Tuesday night for an all-candidates meeting sponsored by the Qualicum Beach Residents’ Association. Another forum, this one sponsored by the Qualicum Beach Chamber of Commerce and The NEWS, is scheduled for the same location tonight starting at 7 p.m.
QUALICUM BEACH ELECTION FORUM
Is QB stagnant or going forward? JESSICA SKELTON reporter@pqbnews.com
To the surprise of no one, development and the Official Community Plan were the hot topics at Tuesday’s all-candidates forum in Qualicum Beach. Both mayoral candidates and all nine people vying for a seat on town council in the Nov. 15 municipal election were in attendance at the forum, sponsored by the Qualicum Beach Residents’ Association. After the candidates’ opening statements and a few technical issues with microphones,
the approximately 750 residents who filled the civic centre were given the opportunity to ask their questions. Topics ranged from community committees to council relations, but what people seemed most interested in knowing was how the incoming town council would tackle development and work with the OCP. The candidates will do it again tonight in a similar format at the civic centre starting at 7 p.m. in a forum sponsored by the Qualiucm Beach Chamber of Commerce and The NEWS.
“We have areas where we can develop, we have places where we can infill,” said mayoral candidate Teunis Westbroek. “We have had lots of opportunities. You see on Mill Road, where there are big houses being torn down and three new homes are being built and there is density for more. I think that’s the approach.” Mayoral candidate Denyse Widdifield countered this positivity by saying, “We have to look at the fact that Qualicum Beach has been pretty much stagnant for the last 15 years.” See OCP NEEDS TEETH, page A4
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