Island sweep Clipprs win all three of
their games last week.
Page 28
www.nanaimobulletin.com
TUESDAY, DECEMBER 2, 2014
VOL. 26, NO. 58
Boy dies in hospital from injuries suffered in apartment fire
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RCMP offiCeRs spotted fire driving by building early Saturday morning. By ChrIs Bush ThE NEwS BULLETiN
Bill Yoachim was voted to Nanaimo city council and Natasha Bob to a seat on the board of school trustees in November’s municipal election. CHRIS BUSH/THe NewS BUlleTIN
Municipal election deemed historic By Tamara CunnIngham ThE NEwS BULLETiN
When former Snuneymuxw councillor Bill Yoachim saw Nanaimo’s civic election results, he knew history had been made. “I was like, speechless, emotional... and not to be that guy, but we made history,” said Yoachim, who is considered the first candidate of Snuneymuxw descent to claim a city council seat. “My reaction went right to the old people who fought and were resilient to make this happen.” Yoachim, who resigned as a Snuneymuxw councillor to take take his position at the city council table Monday, emerged as the second-highest vote getter in the civic election in a time
when he says it’s becoming more of a norm for First Nations people to enter mainstream politics. This year, Geraldine Manson, a Snuneymuxw elder, ran for a city council seat, and Nanoose First Nation councillor Natasha Bob ran and won a school trustee position after an unsuccessful bid to represent the New Democrats in the 2015 federal election. For a story on Bob, please see page 5. It’s an “exciting, interesting time,” said Yoachim, who considers the movement of First Nations people into mainstream politics as a part of healing, reconciliation and ‘being one’ and hopes to see more of it. As the son of a German-Canadian father and Snuneymuxw mother, city
resident and politician of the Snuneymuxw First Nation, Yoachim, 44, sees himself connected to both worlds and aims to bridge relationships between the First Nation and city. As one, he believes the communities can become stronger with the ability to work on projects like Newcastle Island and the Nanaimo waterfront for the betterment of everyone – but he admits, there will be challenges. A divide has existed between the First Nation and City of Nanaimo for generations. In recent years, there has been political friction over treaty rights, like in 2012 when the Snuneymuxw threatened legal action against the City of Nanaimo for a potential water licence deal with Harmac. See ‘YOACHIM’ /4
A seven-year-old boy has died of injuries he sustained in an apartment fire on the weekend. The fire, which broke out in a commercial building with upstairs apartments in the 300 block of Albert Street, was spotted by RCMP members driving by shortly after 3 a.m. Saturday. The officers tried to get into the building when they were made aware there was a child still inside, but with the upstairs fully engulfed in flame, were unable to enter. Two Nanaimo Fire Rescue firefighters went in and retrieved the boy from the premises. He was treated at the scene by paramedics before being rushed to Nanaimo Regional General Hospital, but later died of his injuries. Crews battled the blaze for more than an hour to bring it under control. The two adults and six children who lived in a second-storey apartment of the building were accounted for and were not injured. They are being assisted by the City of Nanaimo Community Assistance Program and RCMP Victim Services. Alan Millbank, Nanaimo Fire Rescue fire prevention officer, said the fire is still under investigation and has been turned over to the B.C. Coroners Office. “The coroner is essentially the lead agency on this and our fire investigators are continuing with their own investigation in assistance with the coroner and when we have any information those results will be released to the coroner,” said Craig Richardson, Nanaimo fire chief. “Our thoughts are with the family at this time. That’s all we know and we’re still investigating.” photos@nanaimobulletin.com
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