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• IT’S A WRAP
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• ONE FOR GIL
Warriors, Bulls lock horns in memorial hockey classic. Page 11 OPINION Page 6 LETTERS Page 7 SPORTS Page 11
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Port Alice fights to keep RCMP
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January 30, 2014
The Gwa’sala-’Nakwaxda’xw First Nations have completed installation of a new emergency warning system, and plan to run the first test of the system either Tuesday or Wednesday, Feb. 4 or 5, local emergency coordinator
Bob Swain said. The system, a response to the evacuation following an earthquake and tsunami alert in October 2012, involves a loudspeaker atop a pole. It was installed by K&K Electric of Port Hardy last week.
• LADY ON A TRAMP
Above: Cassidy Mose, Emma Jensen and Zoe GarlinskiGonsky joined hands to take the plunge at the annual Polar Bear Jump in Port Hardy, Jan. 1. At left, Jane Dutcyvich and Brynn Egeley react to the chilly water of Port McNeill Harbour as they ring in the New Year by participating in the traditional Polar Bear Swim in Port McNeill.
• ‘PLAINS’ GREAT
Folk duo sparkles in Gate House Theatre concert. Page 20 LETTERS Page 7 NORTH ISLAND LIFE Page 11
See page 4 Staff would move to Hardy
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Kelly Jones of Port McNeill can’t contain his TNT bra while performing in the third annual Victor’s Secret Fashion Show at Port McNeill Community Hall Saturday. A sold-out crowd helped raise more than $10,000 in the fundraiser for North Island J.R. Rardon cancer victims. See more on page 11.
year agreement approved by Council last week. In its regular January meeting, Council approved a five-year draft agreement with the Regional District of Mount Waddington,
effective retroactively to Jan. 1, 2014. As part of the agreement, Port McNeill will receive a one-time transfer of 45.2 tonnes of carbon credits for the 2012 calendar year.
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• HOCKEY ROCKS
Minor hockey players enjoy outing to Fort Rupert Curling club. Page 15
RD shares carbon credits
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The carbon credits have been generated through a bio-cover installed by the Regional District at Seven Mile Landfill beginning in 2010 and which has since served to substan-
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• BACK TO SCHOOL
Kwakiutl carver takes up artist in residency at Fort Rupert School. Page 22
tially reduce the emissions of methane, a greenhouse gas. The cover, made up of a composted mix of
See page 4 ‘Port McNeill signs’
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Gazette staff PORT HARDY—The longawaited integrated health clinic promised for Port Hardy moved a step closer to reality last week when Island Health announced a Request for Proposals to construct a new, 4,700-square foot facility adjacent to Port Hardy hospital. Meanwhile, Island Health is
consulting with Port Hardy-area First Nations, community leaders, physicians and other health care providers to review the preliminary design for a new medical clinic to be built adjacent to Port Hardy Hospital. “The new Port Hardy medical clinic will help support the delivery of integrated health care to
residents of the Mount Waddington region and is a much-anticipated addition to the range of services available to the community,” said Health Minister Terry Lake. The building, with a projected cost of $1.6 million, will include 14 patient/clinic rooms and provide space for physicians, nurse practitioners, allied and support
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Guilty plea in dog abuse case Gazette staff Rupert James Wilson, the man accused of the mistreatment of Molly, entered a guilty plea to charges in Port Hardy courtroom Tuesday.
staff and visiting specialists to offer a range of services. “This facility will provide a wellequipped clinic, help us attract and retain high-quality health care providers and reduce pressure on
Kwakiutl ramp up protest
J.R. Rardon Gazette editor PORT HARDY—The Kwakiutl First Nation successfully used a one-day protest to interrupt a logging operation off Byng Road two weeks ago. But when logging resumed on the disputed territory between Port Hardy and the Kwakiutl village of Tsaxis (Fort Rupert), the band stepped up its action. Last week, the Kwakiutl set up a round-the-clock protest at one entrance to the worksite off Byng Road, demanding a meeting with officials from the province and from Island Timberlands, which has contracted the logging operation on what it sees as private land. The Kwakiutl disagree, saying the land was never ceded and that the band retains title through the Douglas Treaty of 1851. “The people decided on this action, and the chiefs and council supported their request,” band manager Norman Champagne said Monday, as the protest entered its seventh day.
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New Port Hardy clinic taking bids • AQUA CULTURE
The Secret’s out
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49th Year No. 06
The loudspeaker will not broadcast a traditional siren sound; rather, the system is made up of a series of pre-recorded messages, including a test alert, an emergency stand-by notification, an evacuation order and an all-clear.
‘Namgis chief to speak at international conference. Page 3
Gazette staff PORT McNEILL—Port McNeill will earn a share of the carbon credits earned by a greenhouse gas-reduction program at Seven Mile Landfill, thanks to a five-
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• HOT ROCKS
Port Hardy gymnasts prepare for off-Island competitions. Page 15
PHAS
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Local rinks square off in Fort Rupert mixed A final. Page 13
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Tsulquate to test emergency system Gazette staff PORT HARDY—If you live on Tsulquate Reserve or certain parts of Port Hardy, you may be startled by a series of loud warning announcements early next week. Not to worry — it’s just a test.
Gazette staff PORT ALICE—Once again, the Village of Port Alice is facing the loss of its RCMP detachment. And once again, it is objecting to the proposed relocation of its officers to the Port Hardy detachment. Municipal Council has asked Assistant Deputy Minister and Director of Police Services Clayton Pecknold to intervene in a plan to remove RCMP from Port Alice in 2014. “Despite repeated requests to keep our RCMP officers residing in Port Alice, we have been informed that our current officers will be relocated and not replaced,” says Port Alice Mayor Jan Allen. “We have not had adequate response from senior levels of Island District RCMP management and feel that the concerns of our community are not being heard.” Beginning in 2009, the previous mayor made it clear in a letter to Chief Superintendent Randy Wilson, that Port Alice is opposed to removing its RCMP detachment. Similar letters followed in 2011 with support from MLA Clair Trevena, and Minister of Public Safety and Solicitor General Shirley Bond. Mayor Jan Allen and Councillor Jan MacLeod met with Staff Sgt. Andrew Isles and Port Hardy’s Sgt. Gord Brownridge on Nov. 21, 2013. At this meeting Sgt. Isles informed the mayor that Port Alice’s two police postings and a part-time
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IS
ING Day Pink T-Shirt 26th is awareness L.CA ing ay February AT PINKWAL of anti-bully Wednesd MORE in support LEARN PINK & WEAR JOIN VIIC,
BULLY
Molly, a Shepard-cross, made headlines across the province last year after being rescued from what the BC SPCA described as one of the most horrific animal cruelty cases it had seen.
RCMP officers discovered the then-18 month Molly tied up and emaciated on a residence in Fort Rupert with a chain embedded in her neck. Photos of the animal were quickly shared across social
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49th Year No. 48
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November 27, 2014
See page 2 ‘Date to be fixed’
• STUMPING
• SONG ON MENU
Tenor Ken Lavigne headlines annual NICS dinner show. Page 5
Ae
Bay backs O ymp an
B.C. Conservative leadership candidate visits North Island. Page 3
Lights, camera, action!
Hoop hoop hoo a
Nex
• TASTY TUNES
Concert society hosts talented tenor in its annual dinner show. Page 9
• PLAYOFF REACH
Eagles midgets, bantams move on to Island semifinals. Page 13
Clockwise from left: Whitney Murgatroyd leaps during her solo performance in the Port McNeill Figure Skating Club’s ice carnival, Hooray for Hollywood, at Chilton Regional Arena last weekend; Chelsey Russell circles with a smile during a Level 3 group number; a trio of little stars represent the Walk of Fame. See more in North Island Life, page J.R. Rardon 10.
• MODEL EFFORT
Port Hardy midgets unveil new uniforms in home tournament. Page 11
• ARTS SCHOOL
Members of the Kwakiutl First Nation wave to a passing school bus while blocking a side road in protest of a logging operation off Byng Road Thursday. The round-the-clock protest entered its second week Tuesday. J.R. Rardon
“It’s not a blockade, but it could move to that stage.” Rotating groups of band members have taken shifts at the access road, at a site that includes a fire pit, folding camp chairs and
banners strung between nearby trees. Other banners adorn vehicles that block access to the road. “It takes the citizens of Fort Rupert to stand up and come out,” said Lucille
Brotchie, and elder who was joined by Kodie Wilson, Patrick Johnny and Ernie Price at the site Thursday afternoon. The quartet waved as passing motorists honked
Coal Harbour sensei opens new Aikido d
OPINION Page 6
and returned waves of support, and vowed to maintain their occupation of the
LETTERS Page 7 SPORTS Page 11
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fication of the ministry’s winter road maintenance on the North Island during Port McNeill council’s regular meeting. A letter from the Ministry announcing the second phase of rehabilitation of the Nimpkish River Bridge
deck beginning this spring, was introduced to council Feb. 17. “I think we should send in a letter, Gerry,” coun. Shirley Ackland told Mayor Gerry Furney. “I think that it’s time. I drove up from Victoria today and
the roads were clear. But there’s a section between the Tsitika (River) and just north of Schoen Lake that doesn’t seem to get any attention. There’s no sand, no brine, no anything.” Ackland added a similar situation existed at the “T”
intersection of Highway 19 and Campbell Way leading into Port McNeill. “As soon as you come into the T, you have no con-
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See our Minor Hockey B Section inside and Comeback Campaign, p. 16
• Parting gift
RDMW pays tribute to Gerry Furney’s 46 years in office. Page 4
• StoP & go
Eagles peewees roll to big win, but fall in weekend rematch. Page 13
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J.R. Rardon Gazette editor PORT McNEILL—Major capital projects involving an integrated health care facility in Port Hardy and a heat-recovery system at the local arena were approved by the Regional District of Mount
• classical gas
Snow business
the festive season but an essential piece of equipment has been placed on back-order by the manufacturer, causing a delay on the project’s completion. Vancouver Island General Manager Ray Lawson said that the equipment was required to complete connections within the Port
The Telus representative plans to visit the North Island early in the new year to address the Regional District and councils. The Regional District’s Pat English, Manager of
route was expected to be completed by the second week in February. The project’s completion should bring an immediate boost for customers able to take advantage of the new system. Lawson said did not yet have a date for the lifting of the stop-sell order currently in place.
McNeill central office. The delay places the project into a blackout window wherein the company cannot make changes to the network. Lawson projected a January 26 date for initial activation, followed by testing and account migration to the new fibre system. He said the move to the new
• on tHe mend
Molly the dog settling in to new home after rescue, treatment. Page 10 opiNioN Page 6 lEttErS Page 7 SportS Page 11
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is critical in sharing information which aids the community of Port Hardy in making an informed decision about who should represent us on council over the next Comprehensive four years.” of your large Given the coverage exceptionally
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Tsunami forum hears plans to update emergency plans. Page 2
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• Tall Tales
Clockwise from left: Ninja turtles Katie Karpoff, Brian Karpoff, Sharon Magee and Rilee Karpoff take a break from pizza to join in the costume crawl in Port Hardy last week. See more Halloween hijinks in North Island Life, back page. A O’Toole
lively and sometimes humorous all-candidates meeting hosted by the Chamber of Commerce at the Community Hall last week. Current councillors Shirley Ackland and Gaby
lEttErS Page 4 SportS Page 8 claSSifiEdS Page 9-11
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standard. Meeting dates from April to June, with the exception of Apr. 22, will shift from the regular Tuesday night to the prior Monday in order to accommodate Parnham’s medical schedule.
Parnham double-checked with councillors, asking, “Will this create any hardships?” The councillors voted
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therapy. “This (change) is to accommodate me,” the mayor said ahead of the vote. “I really appreciate it.” A clarification from staff confirmed no conflict with committee meetings but
Over Christmas, the mayor was struck with necrotising fasciitis, a rapidly progressing infection that resulted in the amputation of her left leg. For the next several months she will require regular trips down-Island for physio-
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Gazette staff PORT HARDY—Mayor Bev Parnham was warmly welcomed back to Council Chambers last week for the regular town council meeting, and a motion passed will ensure that her presence can return to being the
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Georgia Berry, left, colours rocks with fish designs along with other students in the Eco-art day camp held in Port Hardy J.R. Rardon during the recent spring break. See more inside, Page 7.
• In The house
Dominion curling playoffs go down to the wire. Page 8
trying to retain the relaxed, close-knit atmosphere that provides appeal to current residents. The evening began
Alannah Nicols before a nearly full house in the Oct. 29 event. The evening quickly identified Port McNeill as a small town seeking an infusion of business, industry and resources while also
Wickstrom, squaring off for the mayor’s job, were joined on stage by moderator Jon Lok and council hopefuls Jason Clarke, Shelley Downey, Jay Dixon, Aaron Frost, Graham MacDonald and
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NIC workshop produces an evening of poetry, storytelling. Page 6
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McNeill candidates face off
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she received on the night of Sept. 9, 2012. She was found partial-
charged with second degree murder of Cindy Scow who also lived on the Tsulquate First Nations Reserve. The 28-year-old mother of seven died following a severe beating
Maisonville who’s expected to make her ruling May 6 in Campbell River. Justice Maisonville is presiding over the case against 20-year-old Dakota Johnny of Port Hardy. He’s
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J.R. Rardon Gazette editor PORT McNEILL— Candidates for Port McNeill mayor and councillor position faced the public — and, in some cases, the music — in a
Ente r our baby contest!
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• shake up
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Paul Rudan Campbell River Mirror CAMPBELL RIVER—Second degree murder or manslaughter? That’s the decision left to B.C. Supreme Court Justice Miriam
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Comprehensive coverage of your 2014 municipal election: field in this year’s election, and See more online to minimize redundant answers, the candidates were broken into three panels of five for the question period.
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• AUCTION ACTION
North Island Rotarians host annual Radio Auction. Page 17
Elementary students compete in annual cross country meet. Page 22
See page 4 ‘Surplus will pay’
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Port Hardy hears candidates ’14 More than 150 members of the public came out to hear the candidates lay out their platforms before fielding a variety of questions from the both the audience and the Chamber. Chamber Director Angela Smith welcomed the candidates and the public to the event, saying, “Thank
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• IVORY POWER
shows total revenue of $3,135,000 and expenditures of $2,756,000. The
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Comprehensive coverage of your 2014 municipal election:
Comprehensive coverage of your 2014 municipal election:
Jazz pianist draws crowd in N.I. Concert Society opener. Page 10
we just have a quiet year without a lot of aggressive spending, then no tax increases will be needed.” The proposed budget in Five-Year Financial Plan Bylaw No. 649, 2014
Officer Dan Rodin told council in his report during the Mar. 24 special meeting. “If council is happy with that budget, there’s enough money to pay for all expenditures … if
Let us take care of your claim.
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Gazette staff PORT HARDY—Both of Port Hardy’s mayoral candidates and all thirteen prospective councillors had a chance to put their case for election to the public last week as the Chamber of Commerce hosted an all-candidates meeting at the Civic Centre.
line on taxes and expenditures while devoting more than $300,000 toward paying down existing debt. “The budget I designed is basically a status quo budget,” new Chief Financial
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J.R. Rardon Gazette editor PORT McNEILL— Council gave first and second readings Monday to a 2014 draft budget bylaw that will largely hold the
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49th Year No. 45
‘Status quo’ budget for Port McNeill Have a cracked windsheild?
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Alli Milne looks toward the obstacle course finish line as she emerges from the pole crawl during the annual Kidsfest at J.R. Rardon Mount Cain Ski Area Saturday. See more on page 11 and online at www.northislandgazette.com.
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Small audience wowed by Wolak-Donnelly duo in NICS event. Page 8
‘tis the Season
Telus fibre-optic delivery delayed Gazette staff The North Island will not see the hoped-for boost in internet connectivity in time for Christmas, Telus representatives announced last week. The company had hoped to finalize the move to fibre connectivity for much of the North Island ahead of
School through a cooperative agreement with School District 85. “We want to have the new system in place by July,” RDMW
Hardy, which is scheduled to be built this year on land near Port Hardy Hospital. It also approved a $368,150 heat-recovery system for Chilton Regional Arena in Port McNeill, which will eventually provide heat to nearby North Island Secondary
Waddington Board of Directors as it approved its 2014 budget during its regular meeting Mar. 18. The board acceded to a request by Island Health to contribute 40 per cent — or $790,000 — of the cost of a proposed $1.9 million integrated health care clinic in Port
• Head of class
NIC educator to be presented Award of Excellence. Page 5
Jamie Hunt, accompanied by firefighters Luke Wiggins and Lionel Gunson, gets his first picture with Santa (Kevin Ogren) during last Saturday’s Christmas Kick-off event at Thunderbird Mall in Port Hardy. The event included the Myster-O magic show (also Ogren), the annual mall craft fair, music by the North Island Community Band (including Ogren) and the annual tree lighting in the mall parking lot.
Elena Rardon
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• String Strong
The grass is bluer as Tishomingo String Band comes to call. Page 16
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Hardy and Port McNeill are down to two physicians each, who are faced with juggling their regular clinical hours with a 24-hour oncall schedule at emergency rooms in both communities’ hospitals.
closure, whether in Port Hardy or Port McNeill.” The Mount Waddington region, where Island Health maintains acute care facilities in Alert Bay, Port Hardy and Port McNeill, has been beset with physician and nursing shortages dating back for several years. Mitchell noted Port
Island Health memo. “I can tell you that is not going to happen,” said Alison Mitchell, senior manager of Rural Health Services for Island Health in the Mount Waddington region. “That was discussed, but that’s not the direction we’ve decided to go. There won’t be a permanent (ER)
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port Hardy Er to stay open J.R. Rardon Gazette editor PORT HARDY—Fears of a long-term closure of the emergency room at Port Hardy Hospital in the New Year are unfounded, Island Health announced this week in response to concerns that arose from comments in an internal
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was found shortly before 9:30 p.m. on Oct. 17. Two off-duty RCMP officers, from the Port Hardy and Port Alice Detachments, came upon the scene of a single vehicle crash, which appeared to have happened a short time earlier. The officers requested assistance from
the Port McNeill RCMP, and immediately went to the crash site to render assistance. The officers located Menzies on the ground a short distance away from his 2003 GMC pickup truck. He was found deceased on site. Preliminary information suggests that the vehicle
49th Year No. 16
J.R. Rardon Gazette editor S O I N T U L A — Threatened with the loss of their banking services by the board of Coastal Community Credit Union,
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Mariah Walkus performs alongside K’ak’ot’lats’i students as the school hosted a Gusgi’mukw 14welcome for visitors last A O’Toole week in coal Harbour.
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SD85, NIC connect election!
J.R. Rardon Gazette editor PORT McNEILL—With School District 85 Board trustees, staff, and teachers looking on Monday, board chair Leightan Wishart and North Island College administrator Tony Bellavia signed an historic Memorandum of Understanding that will lead to dual-credit courses for North Island secondary school students. “It’s a pleasure to be at this point
tonight,” SD85 Superintendent Scott Benwell announced during the board’s monthly meeting Oct. 20 at North Island Secondary School. “This represents a significant amount of work that’s gone on over a number of years, with significant consultation between North Island College and our schools.” The dual credit course agreement dates back to discussions that began prior to the establishment
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in 2012 of SD85’s Connections program. That program, in partnership with the Regional District of Mount Waddington, provides for student visits to worksites and business across the North Island. Connections led to the creation last year of Field Studies 12, an actual course curriculum in which
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COMMUNITY APPRECIATION DAY Wednesday, October 15th • 1:00pm
49th Year No. 41
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October 9, 2014
furney sits out election J.R. Rardon Gazette editor PORT McNEILL—Over the past 46 years, a variety of challengers have tried to unseat Gerry Furney from his position in municipal office in a town he literally helped create.
• Pretty in Pink
CIBC raises more than $3,500 in annual Run for the Cure. Page 7
• Fin-Prov
Lieutenant Gavin Texmo feels the heat as the Port Hardy Volunteer Fire Department demonstrates a five-man evolution response to a simulated house fire at its annual open house Saturday. The Port McNeill Fire Department hosts its open house tonight at 6:30. See more in North Island Life, back page.
This year, he’s chosen to step aside voluntarily. “At 81 years of age, I don’t think I’m ready for four more years,” said Furney, referencing the change from three-year terms for municipal elections instituted earlier this year. “I
of
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should have been retired already.” The municipal election season kicked off this week, with the signs of
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Gerry Furney
Playing with fire
Masala Youth Theatre group brings workshop to Sointula. Page 9
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Kwagis cuts ribbon at power plant • Head to Head
NISS, PHSS boys soccer clubs play to 1-1 draw. Page 15
Gazette staff BEAVER COVE—The Kokish River Hydroelectric Facility opened its doors to the public last Tuesday with a ceremonial ribbon cutting. The facility, which was commissioned earlier this year, is owned and managed by Kwagis
Power LP—a partnership between the ‘Namgis First Nation and Brookfield Renewable Power Corp. The ceremony reflected this partnership. It opened with a blessing from hereditary ‘Namgis Chief Bill Cramner, and then featured speeches from Richard Legault, President and CEO of
Brookfield Renewable Energy Partners, and Debra Hanuse, the elected Chief of ‘Namgis First Nation.
See page 3 ‘‘Namgis, Broofield launch’
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• Masked dance
Sea Wolf Adventures hosts a performance at Telegraph Cove. Page 8
debate during Port McNeill’s most recent Town Council meeting. Roger Paquette, owner of Nanaimo-based Hub City Fisheries, wrote council to request the use of a portion of the smallcraft harbour’s drive-on dock to store equipment used to offload the
catch in the DFO test fishery. Councillors Gaby Wickstrom and Shirley Ackland voiced their reservations, about the precedent it could set for other dock users, and about the storage area requested — a 12-foot strip spanning the entire 50-foot width at the seaward end
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Centre in Victoria announced. The man, who is more than 70 years old, was attempting a solo journey from Prince Rupert to Port Hardy in a small rowboat. He was last seen departing
Aristazabal Island, approximately 140 miles north of Port Hardy, on July 11. The man has not checked in with his family, and searchers found no sign of the rower or his vessel in
Jail-n-Bail raises funds for local Tour de Rock rider. Page 7
• safe hands
• touChing base
Blue Sox outlast Port Alice for slo-pitch tourney title. Page 11
• high notes
•going long
lucia alfred takes the stage to assist the purple pirate during the treasure island-themed Seafest celebrations in alert bay. See more from Seafest in North island life, page 10, and a Musicfest roundup page 16. A O’Toole
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Woman to start 12 marathons in 17 days in Port Hardy. Page 15
Elizabeth Maundrell waves while pedaling her boat float in the annual filomi days parade in port Hardy Saturday. See more filomi days images in North island life, page 10, and online at www.northislandgazette.com. A O’Toole
Get rid of those foggy window panes. We can replace the glass without replacing the frames!
Gazette staff PORT HARDY—Six more school districts and more than 2,600 support staff workers, including members of Vancouver Island North CUPE Local 401, have recently ratified new collective bargaining agreements, the provincial government announced last week. The agreement covering 199 support staff workers with School District 85 was announced in June, shortly before the end of the school year. The SD85-CUPE 401 agreement was ratified early in July and approved by the B.C. Public School Employers’ Association July 16. “We’re happy,” said Joanne Welch of Port Hardy, unit chair for the SD85 support staff workers. “We ratified it quite fast. Our membership came out in the summer to make sure it was done.” The term of the new agreement for each district is from July 1, 2014, to June 30, 2019. It provides for a 5.5 per cent wage increase over the five years of the term, with potential for additional increases if
See page 4 ‘Grant to cover lost wages’
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cccu slams door on islands J.R. Rardon Gazette editor Coastal Community Credit Union branches in three small island communities closed their doors for the final time last week, rolling trucks
See page5 ‘RCMP takes over’
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the four days of searching. “That (search) area’s been saturated heavily,” said Cpt. Ray
CUPE contract ratified
• Celling out
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Search for rower called off Gazette staff PORT HARDY—The search for a missing boater in the waters north of Port Hardy was called off late Tuesday afternoon after four days, the Joint Rescue Coordination
of the dock. “It would be in the way of anyone loading or unloading in that area,” Mayor Gerry Furney
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Hillbillies sweep in championship doubleheader. Page 12
Alert Bay hosts topclass entertainment at MusicFest. Page 16
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McNeill approves dock request J.R. Rardon Gazette editor PORT McNEILL—A contractor facilitating a test fishery for Fisheries and Oceans Canada will be allowed to store equipment on a trial basis on the town’s year-old concrete dock, following a spirited
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rescind the planned branch closures. “The question remains why it was done,” said
See page 4 ‘Investigation’
of money and ATM machines out of branches in Sointula, Alert Bay and Cortes Island. The July 5 closures came even as the Financial Institutions Commission (FICOM) reviews an
appeal brought by Sointula members, whose resolution for a vote of the full membership was rejected in early May by the CCCU Board of Directors. And residents of Alert Bay have
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Teachers vote on full strike J.R. Rardon Gazette editor North Vancouver Island’s public school teachers will walk out Friday in the third round of rotating strikes called by the B.C. Teachers’ Federation. This time, they may not come
See page 4 ‘Alert Bay seeks reply’
Grad KEEpSaKES: pulloutS iNSidE
back. The union held a vote this week to authorize a full strike beginning next Monday, June 16, the latest salvo in an escalating series of moves and counter-moves by government and BCTF leaders. The results of the vote, held
Monday and Tuesday, were not released when the Gazette went to print. For updates, visit www. northislandgazette.com. Should the teachers go on strike, they would do so just as the school year is winding down, final grades are being reported and provincial
P nh m m mo
See page 4 ‘Teachers appeal’
• Something fiShy
w
Port Hardy celebrates Oceans Day with Rotary Park event. Page 9
• Happy BirTHday
Dragon boat society hosts clinic for new helms. Page 10
Port McNeill deficit questioned
lEttErS Page 5
J.R. Rardon Gazette editor PORT McNEILL—Residential tax rates are set to tick slightly upward this year, but the Town’s taxpayers seem to be taking the news well. Council hosted a statutory public consultation meeting Monday on
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d
Rodin described it as a “status quo” budget, largely holding the line on spending. In response to a question from Coun. Gaby Wickstrom, Rodin
comments at all.” Asked by Furney whether that suggested the public supported the proposed budget, Rodin admitted, “That would probably be a reasonable assumption to make.” In last month’s rollout of the 2014 budget, part of the Town’s proposed five-year budget bylaw,
its draft 2014 budget bylaw, originally released last month, and sat before an otherwise empty chambers. “I have not received any written responses, nor has anyone seen fit to phone me,” treasurer Dan Rodin informed Mayor Gerry Furney and council. “So, I haven’t heard any
See page 3 ‘Audit slated
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exams scheduled to be written. In a release sent out Sunday, the Ministry of Education released an information bulletin listing the impacts that will result if the strike
Sweet seat Haley Charlie, Xainya George and Shekinah Munn shout to friends as they whip past on the Scrambler during last weekend’s A O’Toole West Coast Amusements visit to Port Hardy.
• Steerage
2014
already begun seeking other solutions to the loss of their only
Tour de Rock golf tourney raises more than $7,000. Page 10
• Biz Show
Port McNeill Chamber recognizes excellence in business. Page 7
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rcMp seize guns at NiSS
May 1, 2014
Gazette staff PORT McNEILL— RCMP seized a pair of firearms allegedly stored by youth in a locked storage area at North
Island Secondary School Saturday, but said there is no evidence indicating they were going to be used on school grounds. Officers were led to the
the youth responsible for placing these firearms in the caged area were doing so in an attempt to conceal them from discovery. Following this initial sei-
storage area Apr. 26 following an investigation into reports that a group of local youth were illegally in possession of several firearms. It is believed that
zure, additional firearms were located in a wooded area near Sointula. “Based
See page 5 ‘School searched’
• Medal Mettle
Mayor presented first challenge coin from 101 Squadron. Page 3
• Plan shakeuP
Port McNeill economic plan workshop interrupted by quake. Page 4
Kwakiutl hereditary chief Calvin Hunt spreads eagle down while dancing during a ground-breaking blessing at the site of J.R. Rardon the proposed new health clinic in Port Hardy Friday. See more page 3 and at www.northislandgazette.com.
Lt. Governor visits
• Mud (Bowl) Pie
Soccer tourney title highlights birthday surprise celebration. Page 10 Hot SpotS Page 4 opiNioN Page 6 SportS Page 10 claSSifiEdS Page 12-14
port Hardy councillor Jessie Hemphill shakes hands with the Hon. Judith Guichon, lieutenant Governor of b.c., upon her arrival A O’Toole to the North island last week.
Gazette staff PORT HARDY–The Lieutenant Governor of B.C. got quite the welcome to Port Hardy last Wednesday on her tour of rural coastal communities. The Hon. Judith Guichon was greeted shoreside by dignitaries before being whisked off in a classic car to be treated to dinner and a dessert reception. But the reception proved more exciting than anyone
had bargained for when it was interrupted by an earthquake. “We proved to her that we were movers and shakers,” quipped Mayor Bev Parnham. The mayor recalled that the group had just finished dinner and introductions were being made at the meet-andgreet event when the 6.7 magnitude earthquake struck 40 kms southwest of Port Alice.
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Islanders traveled yesterday to Nanaimo for CCCU’s annual general meeting. There, they presented a resolution calling for a vote of the credit union’s full membership to
icin
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weeks ago the closure of its branches in Alert Bay, Sointula and Cortes Island, effective July 5, claiming they were no longer financially viable. A caravan of North
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three small island communities are seeking assistance from an unlikely but potentially powerful ally — the credit union’s 100,000-plus members. CCCU announced two
John Wort Hannam and band close out NICS season. Page 6
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islanders strike back at cccu
April 17, 2014
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Eagles atoms fall one goal short in see-saw tilt with Nanaimo Page 18
Local youth create original composition in three-day music camp. Page 20
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the cause of this crash, with assistance from the RCMP Traffic Analyst/ Re-constructionist Unit. As is routine in such cases, a mechanical inspection of the vehicle will be conducted as
was traveling southbound on Hwy. 19, when it failed to navigate a turn in the road, entering the ditch on the left side of the roadway, ultimately colliding with a tree. Menzies appears to have been ejected from the vehicle during impact. Port McNeill RCMP continue to investigate
B
Gazette staff A 34-year-old Port McNeill man was killed in a single-vehicle accident on Highway 19 near Woss Friday, the RCMP announced. Tavis Menzies, a former competitive skier who had recently transitioned into the forest industry,
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• All shook up
North Island students take part in Great Shakeout BC. Page 10
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“We were just making introductions, I think it was to a representative of the Senior Society, when someone said ‘earthquake’,” recalled the mayor. “That was the first I felt it.” It seems Hon. Guichon was relatively undaunted by the shake-up, as she jokingly commended the local repre-
See page 2 ‘Library dedicated
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North Islanders mark Canada Day with mix of celebrations. Page 10
St. Columba’s Church opens the door to a Wholeness Centre. Page 10
A Kwakiutl canoe approaches Fort Rupert on its journey from Alert Bay Monday afternoon as part of the Tribal Journey paddle from Washington State to Bella Bella and the Qatuwas Festival, set for July 13-19. See more on page 3. A O’Toole
Kwakiutl applaud Tsilhqot’in ruling •Blades of Glory
Loggers turn timber into sawdust, wood chips in annual show. Page 16
Gazette staff PORT HARDY—Kwakiutl First Nation Chief Coreen Child says the Tsilhqot’in court victory on Thursday, June 26, 2014, proves that Vancouver Island First Nations with Douglas Treaties
eat.
already demonstrated Aboriginal Title over 160 years ago. “We are deeply moved by the resolve of the Tsilhqot’in people,” said Chief Child. “The ruling will have far reaching impacts on First Nations and the Crown govern-
drink.
ments. For Kwakiutl, the Supreme Court of Canada’s declaration reaffirms that the 1851 Douglas Treaty proves Aboriginal title— and that the Government has not lived up to its promises.” Kwakiutl First Nation inter-
vened on the Tsilhqot’in case to address two fundamental issues— the proper test of Aboriginal title
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Hyde Creek Hillbillys take on the Port McNeill Rangers. Page 11
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Left: Savannah Hahn, left, gets a lift from walking partner Kelsey Nelson during the North Island Secondary School commencement ceremony at Chilton Regional Arena Saturday night. Right: Port Hardy Secondary grads Hannah Ankemann and Ezra Tanaka pause for photos on the bridge during Saturday’s walking ceremony. See page 16 pullouts inside and www.northislandgazette.com for more grad coverage. J.R. Rardon, A O’Toole
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