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NORTH ISLAND
49th Year No. 49
December 4, 2014
• Bluegrass Blast
Tishomingo String Band wins over NI Concert Society audience. Page 7
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McNeill council sworn in J.R. Rardon Gazette staff PORT McNEILL—In what was as much a celebration of the retirement of longtime mayor Gerry Furney, Port McNeill’s new mayor and council were sworn in Monday night before a standingroom only crowd in coun-
cil chambers. Incoming Mayor Shirley Ackland was joined by councillors Jay Dixon, Shelley Downey, Aaron Frost and Graham MacDonald in the brief ceremony, which was both opened and closed by Furney — who served on the Town’s first council
and who spent 39 years as mayor before choosing not to run for office again this fall. “This is a day in history,” Ackland said in a room bedecked with photos of past councils, nearly all of them bearing Furney’s likeness. “We’ve been very fortunate to have a
mayor as long as we have leading our town and putting us on such a good foundation. As he’s said many times, it’s a job he’s enjoyed, serving this community, because he really cares about all of us who live here.” Then, turning to Furney, Ackland added, “We hope
we do you proud.” Ackland is the lone returning member from the most recent municipal government, having served the past six years on council. Both Downey and Frost, though, return
See page 4 ‘Standing-room’
• Clean sweep
Port Hardy rinks snare A, B, C finals in Broughton men’s bonspiel. Page 13
• Busy season
Santa drops in on annual Eagle View Elementary craft bazaar. Page 15
Roudi and Piper Staats, accompanied by mom Kelly Chadwick, join Santa (Chris Stewart) for a photo taken by Cathy Griffith during the annual Christmas Showcase of Arts and Crafts at the Scout Hall in Port McNeill Saturday. See more from Port McNeill’s Christmas kick-off day in North Island Life, back page. Elena Rardon
OPINION Page 6
New clam species identified
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Gazette staff A clam discovered in the waters of Quatsino Sound 10 years ago has been recognized as a new species, and its home waters were honoured in the name given to the unique bivalve. Thanks to the sharp eye of Royal BC Museum Curator of Invertebrates Melissa Frey the specimen was found within the Royal BC Museum’s collection,
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where had lain undisturbed since 2004. “When I first saw the specimen, I suspected it was special – turned out there appeared to be no similar species from this coast in the existing taxonomic literature, suggesting that indeed this species was new to science,” Frey said. The clam, collected by Fisheries and Oceans Canada at about 1,000 metres depth off of Quatsino subscriptions: 250-949-6225
Sound in 2004, is now a one-ofa-kind find. The discovery “goes to show how little we know about the ocean environment that sustains us,” said Jackie Hildering, the local marine researcher who blogs as the Marine Detective. “The relevance of the discovery is that, when one considers 95 per cent of the ocean has yet to be seen by human eyes, it’s not surprising to
see this kind of discovery — it forces us into a proper humility.” Hildering pointed out that the unique conditions around North Vancouver Island are conducive to the evolution of separate species, but discovering these unknown species requires an expert eye.
See page 3 ‘Museum notes’
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