Ladysmith Chronicle, December 30, 2014 by Black Press Media Group

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Crowder will not run again in 2015 Ashley Degraaf

Grade 5 student Abbie Cobb is ready for her turkey feast Jan. 8 at St. Joseph’s School in Chemainus. The feast was part of the school’s Epiphany event. The school held an Epiphany Mass, and students and staff members dressed royally in their finest attire to honour the visit of the Magi. This event is meant to help students understand the significance that Christ came for all people, for all nations. Students were asked to write out what their spiritual gift for Jesus is, such as being kind, more helpful or compassionate and understanding. They celebrated with a feast provided by the school’s parent LINDSAY CHUNG auxiliary.

Eden Haythornthwaite places flowers at the grave of Joseph Mairs, a coal miner and trade unionist who died 100 years ago, just shy of his 22nd birthday. The Joseph Mairs Memorial Committee hosted the 12th annual Joseph Mairs Memorial Sunday, Jan. 19 in Ladysmith, and this year’s event included a panel discussion with young people about “The Next 100 Years.”

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good time for me to make that decision, but the riding being THE CHRONICLE divided in half wasn’t the driving Nanaimo-Cowichan MP Jean force in this,” she said. “It started Crowder said she was recently in the fall, when people started reminded there’s never a good asking where I was going to run. That’s never been a question time to leave. And that rang true for the 10-year before, I was always going to run. “When people started asking New Democratic Party Member of Parliament last Thursday morning me, I thought I need to make a (Jan. 23), as she announced she will conscious decision about this. not be putting her name forward And as I thought about it, and thought I’m actually going to be in the next federal election. Crowder told the media spending 63 in 2015 and I thought can I do more time with her family is the another four years? I would be 67 main reason she’s decided to step by 2019.” Crowder supporters say she will down when her term ends, 18 leave big shoes to fill. months from now. “She was very concerned about “I will not be retiring. I will be stepping away from the job as a things, sincerely, not for things Member of Parliament but I fully because it was the right thing to expect to continue to be active in say, but because she meant what my community, working hard for she said,” long-time NDP volunteer the things I believe in,” Crowder Trudy Thorgeirson said. Thorgeirson worked closely with said during a press conference held at her constituency office on Crowder even before she was Ingram Street in Duncan. “It’s hard first elected in 2004, and in many different organizations, not just in to walk away.” Crowder has been chewing on her position as MP. “I started working with her the decision since the fall, but it really hit home during the even before she got onto North Cowichan (council),” Thorgeirson Christmas holidays. “I have three adorable said. “We worked together when grandchildren who live on the I was president of the Volunteer other side of the continent, and Cowichan board, and I was able to with my travel schedule, I simply get her on the board. I think it was don’t see them enough and they’re Toastmasters where we met in the growing up before my eyes and first place. “She was really just a very friendly it’s time for me to make them a person and very easy to work with priority.” The decision didn’t stem from the and get along with. I never found federal decision last year to split her cross, just very pleasant.” Crowder said she couldn’t be her riding into the new NanaimoLadysmith and Cowichan-Malahat- more proud of the work the NDP team has done and she looks Langford ridings. “It was a factor in that it was a See Crowder Page 3

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Police urge caution around creeks after rescue Lindsay Chung

Sgt. Sheryl Armstrong said in a news release. “He was able to reach his cellTHE CHRONICLE phone and call 9-1-1.” Ladysmith RCMP, Nanaimo RCMP, Police are warning the public to be extra cautious around rivers and creeks af- Search and Rescue, the Cedar Fire Deter rescuing a 30-year-old Nanaimo man partment and the Cranberry Fire Department all assisted in the search for the from Haslam Creek Sunday. On Sunday, Jan. 12 at approximately male. “We had to go down the riverbanks to 3:25 p.m., a male called 9-1-1 to advise he had been swept into Haslam Creek search for him,” said Armstrong. The man was located in the creek after just north of Ladysmith after going four being swept downstream for about one by fouring in the area. “His Jeep took on water, and he was kilometre and brought to shore, accordswept out of the vehicle into the creek,” ing to Armstrong.

He was taken to the Ladysmith Community Health Centre, where he was treated for hypothermia and other nonlife threatening injuries. He was released later in the day. Armstrong says it is very important for people to remember that waterways are far more dangerous with all the rain we have been getting in the area. “With the recent rains, people are reminded the rivers and creek levels rise and there could be significant undercurrents,” she said. “This situation could have turned out

much worse and serves as a reminder to those who are around the water to use caution.” Armstrong urges drivers not to cross waterways. “Even if you’ve been across it before, you don’t know what conditions have changed,” she said, noting it could be much deeper, and you wouldn’t be able to notice that. “It’s really important you don’t go four by fouring across streams and creeks if possible.” Armstrong does not know if the driver was going across the creek in this case.

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Council begins the Alternative Approval Process for Couverdon boundary expansion Lindsay Chung

planning and zoning. Limshue told council that if the boundary expansion is approved and the lands are re-zoned, TimberWest would be looking to develop in phases, and the timetable for all four passes is 30 to 40 years. In terms of the land use concept, James Miner, a managing principal with Sasaki Associates Inc., which has been assisting with the project, says Couverdon is looking to set a new standard for development on the Island, as they are looking creatively at housing density, offering trails for walking and biking, and green infrastructure, with higher density closer to town and less density farther away. In his presentation, Smits urged council to slow down the process to provide more information and include more people in the process. “Keep in mind every decision you make will have an impact on every jurisdiction around Ladysmith,” he said. “We’d prefer they were done on a regional basis with everyone having some input and not just the Town of Ladysmith; perhaps a Cowichan Valley Regional District committee with representative from Ladysmith, Area G and Area H would be a good start. Given that Couverdon has said this is a long-term development plan, couldn’t we delay this matter to find out exactly what the financial impact, the sustainability cost of this development will be?” Protecting the watershed is a big piece of this process, as around 700 acres of forest land in the Holland Lake and Stocking Lake watershed would be turned over the community. Ladysmith Mayor Rob Hutchins says the Town has coveted the See Town Page 5

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Ladysmith council has accepted the boundary extension proposal submitted by Couverdon Real Estate, triggering an Alternative Approval Process and taking a step closer to bringing about 700 acres of TimberWest land into the town. At a special council meeting Jan. 28 at the Ladysmith Seniors Centre, council heard a presentation from Bob Smits of the North Oyster Diamond Ratepayers raising concerns about Couverdon’s boundary expansion proposal, and a presentation from Couverdon, the real estate company of TimberWest. Couverdon and the Town of Ladysmith are brokering a deal whereby Ladysmith would expand city limits to include a 700-acre parcel of land west of the Diamond — stretching from north of Grouhel Road to Malone road — in exchange for Ladysmith gaining title to about 500 acres of TimberWest land adjacent to Stocking and Holland lakes. If everything goes ahead, Couverdon would foot the bill to build roads, install services and subdivide lots in preparation for the sale of parcels beginning in early 2017. TimberWest’s proposal calls for a phased development that includes 1,500 housing units. Couverdon first introduced the notion of a boundary expansion in 2009, and the company held an open house in July 2011 to gauge public sentiment. Last summer, Couverdon effectively entered into a Memorandum of Understanding with the Town of Ladysmith, which outlines the expectations and process, explained Frank Limshue, Couverdon’s director of

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Davis Ro Road parents bemoan decision D dp n b mo n SD68 D d on Enhanced Facilities Plan.” Segreto will be one driving to North Oyster everyday come September in order to keep her kids in the French Immersion program — but she’s not happy about it. “I would like to accept this and move forward [as] school closures happen all the time, right? After our school’s community has fought for almost a year to keep École Davis Road open, I would like to admit defeat, find the positives in the school board’s

plan, and assure my children that moving them to North Oyster for French Immersion is the best thing to do. But I cannot accept defeat when the game was full of misrepresentation, played unfairly and with so much disrespect to the players. And I cannot accept a plan that is bad not only for our children but for the residents and Town of Ladysmith as well,” wrote Segreto. “Davis Road’s catchment area is the only one in all Ladysmith zone schools in which current enrolment

projections show sub- school year was full stantial growth in the with a waiting list of population. [It] has 11 children.” been operating at apSegreto now feels proximately 200 per the “hard work” put cent its capacity for in by prior Davis the past several years. Road parents in yearsMany families have gone-by, in order to moved to the south establish French Imside of Ladysmith mersion at the school, specifically for this has all gone down the popular, successful drain. school with its amaz- “In moving the proing group of staff gram out of a comand teachers and its munity, making it difstrong, supportive ficult to access, the parent community. school district is conEven with the risk tributing to the ‘elitof the school being ist’ stigma associated closed, enrolment for with French ImmerFrench Immersion sion. Over the past Kindergarten at Davis months, at public Road for the 2014/15 meetings and through

numerous letters and social media, Davis Road parents have indicated they would not opt to have their children attend French Immersion at North Oyster Elementary, mainly due to its remote location. Families chose to live in Ladysmith for its small-town feel, walkability and close-knit community. “For several years, Davis Road was among the top three priorities in the district’s capital plan to be renovated or replaced. See Page 4

School District 68 voted last Wednesday to provide busing from the south end of Ladysmith to North Oyster Elementary School come September. With École Davis Road Elementary closing this June, a motion was passed to put on buses for current French Immersion students there heading to North Oyster in order to continue in the program. The bus route will contain stops at Davis Road, Ladysmith Primary and Ladysmith Intermediate, enroute to North Oyster. “The transition work begins now,” said superintendent Dave Hutchinson at a special meeting held Feb. 19 at SD68’s headquarters in Nanaimo. “The transportation will be French Immersion students from Davis Road to North Oyster for a seven-year period. It’s transitional. We’re proposing for French Immersion students only, but courtesy riders will be permitted if there is space, with first priority being the siblings of French Immersion students.” Hutchinson indicated the busing service will cost the school district around $12,000 a year. School board chair Dot Neary, along with fellow trustees Jamie Brennan, Bill Bard, Kim Howland, Sharon

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Nine-year-old Maddex Neufeld gets her face painted by camp leader Morgan Hedin during Ladysmith Parks, Recreation and Culture’s Spring Break Superhero Daycamp, which took place March 17-21 at the LINDSAY CHUNG Frank Jameson Community Centre.

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water supply issues. Lindsay Chung “The Town has commissioned nuTHE CHRONICLE merous studies over the last two deThe preliminary results for the cades and invested millions of dolCouverdon boundary extension lars in water supply improvement. Alternative Approval Process in Today, the Town is using less water Ladysmith are in — a referendum annually than it did 25 years ago. All will need to be held for the proposal studies using historical climate data indicate we have adequate supply of to go any further. The Town of Ladysmith recently drinking water to support a populaconducted an Alternative Approval tion of 18,000 envisioned in our OfProcess (AAP) to determine if the ficial Community Plan.” The work on climate modelling public supports proceeding with a proposal submitted by Couverdon for water supply issues is underReal Estate/TimberWest to expand way, and council may decide that the Town boundaries to include ap- the work should be completed beproximately 700 hectares of land fore further considering next steps in the process, including a possiowned by Couverdon/TimberWest. The Town received 1,601 valid ble referendum on the matter of a Elector Response Forms stating boundary expansion, according to electors were against the proposal, Hutchins. Hutchins says council is looking and since more than 10 per cent of eligible Town of Ladysmith voters closely at the issues community responded to the AAP, the proposed members raised during the AAP, esboundary expansion can only pro- pecially watershed protection and ceed if the Town obtains the assent water supply. “These are matters that concern of electors through a referendum. The AAP is a way of gauging pub- council members as well, and the lic opinion on matters that are im- boundary expansion proposal inportant to the community, and this cluded protecting significant porprocess has been used in the past tions of our watersheds that are for issues such as borrowing for the now private managed forestland,” remake of First Avenue, the build- he said. “We believe that we can find ing of a new RCMP detachment ways to address citizens’ concerns, office, the building of a new water protect our watershed, ensure an supply pipeline, and the purchas- adequate water supply and encouring of a new fire truck, explained age sustainable economic growth. The concerns of our citizens that Ladysmith Mayor Rob Hutchins. The process for undertaking an led to the defeat of the AAP are AAP is established by the provincial heard and respected by council.” The boundary extension applicagovernment. “Public dialogue is vital in any com- tion was initiated by Couverdon, not munity, and the Couverdon bound- council. Couverdon first brought ary extension application has cre- the proposal forward to council and ated that dialogue,” Hutchins said in the community in 2008. Hutchins says the Town will conan e-mail to the Chronicle. “Council expected — and wanted — to hear sult with Couverdon prior to considfrom citizens who had questions ering whether to hold a referendum and concerns about the proposed and timing of such a referendum. Three-and-a-half-year-old Harrison Blatchford-Duncan of Ladysmith has a ball Sunday, March 30 at Ag- boundary extension. During the The AAP results will be officially gie Field during the Bring Back Play Funmobile tour’s visit. The tour is sponsored by ParticipACTION and AAP, it became clear that our citi- reported to council at the Monday, Healthy Families BC, and the campaign is meant to inspire parents and caregivers to motivate children to zens and neighbours have concerns April 7 regular council meeting at 7 move more through play. LINDSAY CHUNG and questions, particularly about p.m. at Ladysmith City Hall.

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Ladysmith man bringing gaming worlds together is there that he was first exposed A Ladysmith man is bringing the to the hobby gaming industry. He building blocks medium and table- says he used to make models in top gaming industry together for Ladysmith, but once he got to Edthe first time — and hoping to bring monton, he was exposed to Games Workshop, best known for its tablefamilies together in the process. Darrin Root has created Steel top war games, which, he explains, Wheels, a tabletop collectable game are “build and play” instead of just for the hobby gaming industry that “build and look.” Root says he played a lot of games he believes has many unique advanthat were more for adults because tages that set it apart. “It is the first game ever to use the the rules are intense, and they are building blocks medium to build its expensive. game pieces, rather than the tradi- “They’re a little hard to get into,” he tional metal or plastic models that said. “A friend said we should build require glue, paint and advanced on a game within the Games Workmodeling skills,” he said. “It’s the shop framework. We first included industry’s first turn-based racing ourselves within their umbrella, and it was a racing game because there combat strategy game.” Root says there are no dark themes, wasn’t one. We basically made it for and this is a game that brings the ourselves, but it caught on with difwhole family together and has been ferent gamers.” When they approached Games enjoyed by players aged six to 60. It is the first game to incorporate Workshop about developing the league and campaign play right in game, they didn’t get far at all. But the game design and the first hob- that didn’t discourage them, and by game with a co-operative game they kept trying. “I moved back here and thought it mode, according to Root. “We’re a big fan of ‘unplug and was still a niche that needed to be play,’” said Root. “We want to get filled,” said Root. Root says many hobby games are people off video games and into more family time. That’s why we expensive because you need glue made something appropriate for and paint and good models. It can be hard to get into and hard to teach the whole family.” The Steel Wheels journey started kids on such an expensive model. when Root and Alex Augello no- “I thought it’s too bad there isn’t ticed there was no racing combat a model that keeps together from game in the hobby gaming industry. friction, and Lego works like that,” Most games were army-based, mov- said Root. ing men and vehicles around. See Kickstarter Page 5

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French Immersion kids and it’s great for North Oyster and I really support that. But I hope we can then look at busing from Cedar again and find a way.” The busing system to North Oyster will last until June 2021. and every current French Immersion student at Davis Road is guaranteed a seat. Incoming French Immersion Kindergarten students as of September will be classed as “courtesy riders.” “Parents of new kids coming into the program need to know that the year their kids are in Grade 7, there won’t be any busing,” said SD68’s director of communications, Donna Reimer. Staff confirmed the calculations on seating were done based on the 138 students currently enrolled in French Immersion at Davis Road. Thus, with current Davis Road Grade 7s heading into Grade 8, courtesy space is available as none of those students will need transport to North Oyster from September. “The district is relocating a district program and students enrolled in it expect to complete it,” said Neary. “We’ve made a decision to ship that to another location so it’s only fair to provide transportation to bridge that gap.”

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John Marston carves a canoe during the Heritage Afloat event Feb. 22 at the Ladysmith Maritime Society Community Marina. The event was part of Heritage Week in Ladysmith and was put on by the Ladysmith Maritime Society and the Town of Ladysmith’s Heritage Revitalization Advisory Committee. STACEY CROSSLEY

The Cowichan Valley Regional District (CVRD) is on the verge of amending a bylaw that will allow for on-site homes to be built in a trailer park in Saltair. The move comes amidst an outcry from locals who are saying CVRD officials are sending affordable housing to the wall in the area. A public hearing has been scheduled for this Thursday (March 6) at the Mt. Brenton Centre in Saltair. “The CVRD is on the verge of changing affordable housing in the Cowichan Valley forever,” Saltair resident Lynne Smith, who is against amending the bylaws, wrote in an e-mail to the Chronicle. “[It] is on the verge of amending the Manufactured Home Park MP-1 zone bylaw in Area G — Saltair/ Gulf Islands. “What does this mean to affordable housing in the CVRD? It means that land speculators will be looking at properties zoned MP-1 as land grabs. The past tenants of Seaside Manufactured Home Park (Seaside Trailer Park) could tell you what it is like to be evicted to the curb.” Back in 2007, WCY Rentals bought Seaside Trailer Park, planned for re-development, and ended up evicting many residents who were living in manufactured homes in the park. Very little happened apart from a few fallen trees back in April 2008 that forced some resiSnow blanketed Ladysmith early last week, creating many great photo opportunities, not to mention dents out quicker than they would many chances to toboggan and make snowmen. It looks like the snow that still lingers will melt soon, as have liked, according to Smith. Environment Canada forecasts rain and warmer temperatures all week. TERESA MCKINLEY The park was home to many se-

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Two Ladysmith adults lost their lives in a tragic fire early Saturday morning. Ladysmith Fire/Rescue responded to a call on Pictou Road in the Diamond area Saturday, March 8 around 3:30 a.m. They were told two people were still in the building, and they encountered heavy flame and smoke when they arrived there, says fire chief Ray Delcourt. “We tried to do an interior attack to do a rescue, but our guys were turned away,” he said. Delcourt says about 22 firefighters responded to the early-morning call, and firefighters from North Oyster were on standby at the fire hall. The identities of the fire victims had not been released by the B.C. Coroners Service by press time, but Delcourt can confirm that “two middle-aged people” were in the home at the time, and their cat and dog also succumbed to the fire. The cause of the fire is still under investigation and has not yet been determined, but Delcourt says that, at this time, the fire is not considered suspicious. One thing Delcourt does know is that there were no working smoke detectors in the home at the time of the fire. It’s a sad incident that affects not only the family and neighbours, but firefighters as well, and Delcourt hopes the story might serve as a bit of a reminder about the value of installing working smoke detectors in your home. “It’s law to have them in there, and we’ve encountered very few people who actually have these,” he said. Ladysmith Fire/Rescue has been working hard to promote the importance of working smoke detectors for a while, and Delcourt says that they’ve been to many minor fire calls where there were no working smoke detectors, and they had to install detectors when they left the building. “I think we’ve installed over 70 smoke detectors in the last year,” he said. “It’s a pretty cheap investment that can and will save their lives.” Local residents can call Ladysmith Fire/Rescue at 250-245-6436 at Coleton Horsley of the U13 Boys Mid-Isle Diamondbacks gets away from a Nanaimo player during the gold any time, and Delcourt says firefighters will call back and can sched- medal game Sunday, March 9 during the House League wrap-up tournament at Forrest Field in Ladysmith. The Diamondbacks were ranked seventh going into the tournament, and they won a silver medal, losing ule a day and time to come and install smoke detectors for them. the final to Nanaimo in a penalty kick shootout. Please see page 13 for more information. LINDSAY CHUNG “There’s a need for it,” he said. “It definitely helps us out.”

About 30-40 people showed up at Ladysmith City Hall Friday, March 14 at 2 p.m. to deliver a box full of signed Elector Response Forms before the deadline in the Town’s Alternative Approval Process (AAP) for the Couverdon boundary expansion process. Mary Marcotte, the Cowichan Valley Regional District (CVRD) director for Area H (North Oyster/Diamond), addressed the crowd before going inside City Hall with Ladysmith resident Carol Henderson and a box with more than 1,300 signed forms, which indicate that the eligible elector is opposed to the boundary expansion. “It is my very great honour to be able present these petitions to the Town of Ladysmith on behalf of the concerned citizens who’ve gone out and campaigned and who have made the democratic process work,” Marcotte said, standing on the steps of City Hall. “It was a real grassroots community agenda here to ensure that we have a say in what happens to the future of Ladysmith. At first, it felt like a real David and Goliath kind of thing, a real midget trying to take on a giant, but I found pretty soon, I had a ton of giants, and they were all standing there beside me working together, and, in fact, they were standing in front of me. “It’s not something that was driven by anybody. There were concerns, very legitimate concerns, and I think that we’re ensuring that democracy takes its place.” Ladysmith council has accepted an application from TimberWest/Couverdon Real Estate — the real estate business of TimberWest — to extend the Town of Ladysmith boundary to take in 700 acres (283 hectares) of lands owned by TimberWest/Couverdon. The lands lie to the west of the Town boundary, stretching from north of Grouhel Road to Malone Road, and are undeveloped.

About 30-40 people gathered outside Ladysmith City Hall to deliver signed Elector Response Forms March 14. In front are CVRD Area H LINDSAY CHUNG Director Mary Marcotte (left) and Ladysmith resident Carol Henderson, who delivered the box of forms to Town staff. This idea was first introduced to the outside the Town’s boundaries in CVRD community in 2008. Electoral Area G (Saltair). Council has three key criteria for its • Viewscape protection of the forested consideration of the proposal: hills behind Ladysmith. These lands are • Acquisition of approximately 500 not part of the boundary extension area. acres of watershed lands (both Stock• The future development of the bounding Lake and Holland lake) to protect ary extension lands must be consistent the drinking water that supplies the with Provincial Smart Growth Practices Town, the Diamond and Saltair and the and supportive of the Town’s Sustainproposed service to Stz’uminus First Na- ability Vision. tion. These watershed lands are not part Couverdon’s application was accepted of the lands being considered for the by council Jan. 8, triggering the AAP. boundary extension area; they would be Through the AAP process, if less than owned by the Town, but would remain 10 per cent of municipal electors submit

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an Elector Response Form — in Ladysmith’s case, that would be 623 — the boundary extension request will be deemed to have the approval of the electors, and the proposal may proceed to the Minister of Community, Sport and Cultural Development for consideration. If the application does not get elector approval, council will then decide whether to take the question to the Town’s voters in a referendum. For the purpose of conducting the AAP, the number of electors was calculated as 6,226.

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Ladysmith is known for its community spirit, and that strong spirit is coming out once again, as the community rallies around a young family. Steven Knowles, a father of four young children, was diagnosed with testicular cancer at the beginning of March, and he and his family recently learned that it has spread to his stomach and lymph node glands. Necole Young, who was best friends with Knowles when they were growing up, describes Knowles as a fantastic father and amazing best friend. “He has the quickest wit and a rotten sense of humour, and there is never a dull moment,” she said. “Even when you think you’re safe with him, he finds some way to roast you. He always puts a smile on everyone’s face for sure. Steven has had his issues over the years, but he’s a really good guy. He’s really atten-

tive with his kids, and they are definitely his world. “As a friend, to me, he’s someone if I ever have a problem, I can count on him. He’s very protective of his friends.” A variety of fundraisers are being set up to help Knowles’s family. On Friday, April 18, singer-songwriters Ryan McMahon and David Bitonti are performing at In The Beantime Café, and they will be donating the proceeds from the show to the family. The show starts at 7 p.m., and tickets are available for $10 in advance by calling 250-245-2305. As well, The Short Close Song Shelter is accepting food donations during the Friday, April 25 Wooden Horseman concert. Young and Katerina Papadopoulos, another good friend of Knowles’s, have been busy working on a number of fundraisers. “He’s going to be in for a very tough, long road, and I just hope we can ease that bur-

den for him,” said Young. A garage sale is being planned for Saturday, April 26 in front of 420 Buller St. from 8 a.m. to 3 p.m. There will be a bake sale, raffles and possibly a hot dog sale. Looking ahead to early May, a fundraising event is planned for Saturday, May 10 at the Sportsman Pub. There will be live music by the Dead Byrds and by the Diamond Dawgz, a silent auction, a 50/50 draw and much more. Young says the night will have a carnivallike atmosphere. “We are really trying for a big fun atmosphere that night – no time for worries,” she said. The silent auction will run from 5-11 p.m. at the Sportsman, and Papadopoulos is making a very large basket to be raffled off. Tickets for the raffle will be on sale starting Wednesday, April 9, and the draw will take place at midnight on May 10. See Fundraiser for Knowles on Page 5

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niors who were able to live in waterfront properties at an affordable cost on low income. In July of last year, the company was given the go-ahead to re-develop the park, which they now want to turn into a “housing subdivision” with many homes being built on what used to be occupied by trailer rentals — but they need the bylaw to pass at the CVRD first. “The density in the park would change to nine on-site built homes per hectare,” wrote Smith. “A nineon-site-built-homes subdivision is a high-density residential subdivision and does not belong in a manufactured home park MP-1 zone.” If the amendment goes through, Smith fears a similar approach will be taken by developers across the Cowichan Valley and beyond. “If the CVRD approves theses amendments, [it] will change the face of affordable housing and possibly changed the density allowed in rural and semi-rural areas in the Cowichan Valley forever,” she said. “What happens in one CVRD electoral area zoning bylaw is like a virus and spreads to other electoral areas. It can even set a precedent.” According to the CVRD, the purpose of Official Community Plan and Zoning Bylaw amendments under discussion at the public hearing is to amend the MP-1 zone to permit “site built” dwellings as an alternative to the mobile homes and modular homes that are presently permitted in the MP-1 zone. Thursday’s public hearing will start at 7 p.m. at the Mt. Brenton Centre at 3850 South Oyster School Rd. in Saltair.

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Davis Road in June 2014 but would also have closed North Oyster in June 2015, taking French Immersion to Ladysmith Intermediate. But only Neary, Allen and trustee Jamie Brennan voted for that option with trustees Bill Bard, Nancy Curley, Kim Howland, Bill Robinson, TerryLynn Saunders and Sharon Welch voting against. The motion that passed came about after Howland made an amendment to the senior staff option, turning it into one very similar to Option A provided by the Ladysmith Working Group. As a result, French Immersion will now be taken out of the Town of Ladysmith completely. “Sustainability in Ladysmith is See North Oyster Page 3

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director of communications, in “In the last five or six years I’ve an e-mail to the Chronicle. been on the board, we’ve been With Davis Road closing, its working to get a new school in catchment area will merge Ladysmith,” said trustee Donna with Ladysmith Primary and Allen at the meeting. “Now this Intermediate so students staying recommendation enables us to in town will have transport fill all the seats to capacity and provided as per Board Procedure allows opportunity, through 4400. the B.C. Liberal government’s SD68 “will explore policies, for an attempt at a new transportation options, for a school. Some argue that there’s specific transitional period, no money available to fund a including a user pay system,” for new school, but I think that’s a Davis Road students moving to defeatist attitude.” North Oyster. Ironically, there was a moment “The time for decisive action of hope for distraught Davis has come,” said board chair Road parents at the meeting as Dot Neary at the meeting, after the original recommendation on a similar meeting on school the agenda, entitled the Senior reconfiguration in December saw Staff Option, put forward to the key decisions stalled. “Taking no board actually failed. action is not an option.” That option would have closed

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track at either Ladysmith Primary or Ladysmith Intermediate. Kindergarten to Grade 3 students in English track at Davis Road will now head to either North Oyster or Ladysmith Primary, with Grade 4 to 6 English students at Davis Road having the choice of Ladysmith Intermediate or North Oyster. The move comes after the school board also decided to send Grade 7 English-track students to Ladysmith Secondary, leaving North Oyster as the only K-7 school in the Ladysmith area. Grade 7s-to-be from Davis Road can choose either. “The district will do a feasibility study about the possibility of Grade 8 French Immersion at LSS,” said Donna Reimer, SD68’s

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The doors of École Davis Road Elementary will be slammed shut this June, as School District 68 voted Thursday, Feb. 6 to close the school. Following a special meeting held at Ladysmith Secondary, the school board will now send Davis Road’s French Immersion program to North Oyster Elementary, as of September. North Oyster will now become a dual-track school and remain open. French Immersion students currently enrolled at Davis Road will either have the choice of following the program to North Oyster, or changing to English

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Three-year-old Nicky Williams of Saltair enjoys the snow Monday morning behind Aggie Hall. Environment Canada’s forecast for the Nanaimo Airport shows sunny skies and highs of minus-one to plus-one until LINDSAY CHUNG Sunday, with a 60-per-cent chance of flurries for Sunday, Feb. 9.

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The Ladysmith Arts Council was one of many vendors taking part in the Ladysmith Home, Garden and Business Show March 28 and 29 at Aggie Hall. LINDSAY CHUNG

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Royal Canadian Marine Search and Rescue Unit 29 Ladysmith’s new boat takes to the water for the first time in the Ladysmith Harbour Feb. 6. It took three years of fundraising and the assistance of the local communities, marine organizations, mariners and BC Gaming grants for Unit 29 — the second-busiest station on B.C.’s West Coast — to get the new rescue vessel, which was built in Sidney. Find out more about the new boat in next week’s Chronicle. ROSS ARMOUR

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Welch and Bill Robinson all voted in favour of the motion. Only trustee TerryLynn Saunders was against, with Donna Allen and Nancy Curley absent. “I believe we should do this,” said Welch. “We are in danger of losing students to a different district if we don’t provide busing, and I think it would be a sad day if students leave because their own district can’t provide them with the transport they need to get to their school. Saunders’ argument was that because Cedar Secondary students choosing to attend Ladysmith Secondary from September were not provided with buses, neither should Davis Road children going to North Oyster. “It disturbs me that we’re giving a particular group so much more than we’ve given any of the students in Cedar,” said Saunders. “It’s as if Cedar doesn’t want the buses and there’s a whole bunch of them who want to come to Ladysmith. What’s upsetting me the most is that here we are, we’ve been told over and over again we have absolutely no money whatsoever to provide any kind of busing, and yet we’re just going to pull out the money from I don’t know where, even if it’s only $12,000 a year. “I’m disgusted. I think it’s great for the

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“There could Ross Armour not have been a worse outcome for schools With School District Ladysmith 68 choosing to close at [the] school board École Davis Road El- meeting (Feb. 6),” ementary this June, said Carrie Segreto the pain and reality from Davis Road’s Advisory is just settling in for Parent EDR parents and ad- Council in an email. “To say we’re upset is vocates. understatement. Students current- an ly enrolled at the The appalling actions school will now need of the School District to choose between 68 trustees and staff Ladysmith Primary, in the past year can Ladysmith Interme- only be described as diate, or North Oys- bullying. They have ter Elementary, with acted in an unacFrench Immersion ceptable, disrespectonly being offered at ful, and just simply the latter beginning- scandalous manner in enforcing their September 2014.

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Twelve-year-old Jason Fisher of Crofton helps gather strings of lights during the Festival of Lights take down work party Sunday, Jan. 26 in Ladysmith. This was Fisher’s first time volunteering for a Festival of Lights work party, and he was volunteering with the Royal Canadian Air Cadets Squadron 257 Parallel. For LINDSAY CHUNG more photos from the work party, please turn to page 10.

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board meeting is scheduled for With Cedar Community Sec- put on for the students there we respond to them and we Ross Armour later this month on Wednesday, ondary set to close this June, to now attend Chase River El- have just completed that proTHE CHRONICLE Jan. 29, Ladysmith school re- more than half of the soon-to- ementary. cess …” said Reimer. “I believe The report perceives that four they have an opportunity to reThe Nanaimo Ladysmith Pub- configuration will not be on the be disarrayed students there have chosen to attend LSS new bus routes would need to spond to what we have filed.” lic Schools Board of Education agenda. Steve Rae, spokesman for (School District 68) has an- “Our January meeting will be rather than John Barsby Com- be created for busing to John Barsby and LSS and would cost Save Cedar Schools, said the nounced it will hold a special held in Nanaimo [at the school munity School in Nanaimo. The school board originally over $850,000 initially. closure process didn’t include meeting in Ladysmith in early board headquarters],” said ReIn other Cedar-related proper consultation. February solely relating to the imer. “It’s a regular meeting so stated that buses from Cedar we will have other business would not be put on but then school news, Cedar Second- “The whole thing is a rush,” future of Ladysmith schools. The meeting will take place on the agenda that night. The requested a report following ary School’s fate could be de- he said. “All we’ve ever asked, Thursday, Feb. 6 at Ladysmith Ladysmith schools topic will the popularity of a move to cided in the courtroom, not the all the Snuneymuxw has ever be spoken to at the February Ladysmith. boardroom. asked, is to take a step back, Secondary School at 6 p.m. That report came at the Jan. The high school’s impend- sit down, go through all the “The board has particularly meeting.” Despite the Ladysmith schools 8 regular meeting from trustee ing closure will go before the different options, see what the scheduled that meeting in February for Ladysmith so that debate set to be all-quiet at the TerryLynn Saunders, who is set courts, as SD68 submitted its costing is on each of them and people in Ladysmith will be January meeting, one thing that to put forward a motion regard- response on Wednesday, Jan. involve the community.” 15 after the Snuneymuxw First A hearing is expected in early able to attend,” said SD68 di- will be discussed that night is ing busing Jan. 29. Saunders outlined that when Nation filed for a judicial re- March. rector of communications Don- the prospect of busing from — with files from Karl Cedar to Ladysmith Secondary South Wellington Elementary view. na Reimer. closed last year, buses were “They file theirs first and then Yu and Greg Sakaki Although a regular school School (LSS).

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