THURSDAYJANUARY 22, 2015
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TINY HOUSE MOVEMENT HERE
What exactly is in that Robbie Burns night delicacy anyway?
Couple creates housing affordability with 200 square-foot home in Nanoose Bay
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STABBING OF CARE AIDE
Changing policies
Island Health to ramp up training, communications JOHN HARDING editor@pqbnews.com
Island Health now says it was aware of an incident three months ago at the Craig Bay home where last week a community health worker was stabbed by a client with dementia. Meanwhile, the daughter of the victim says her mother was scratched and threatened at the same house in the past and reported those incidents to her Island Health bosses. Firearms, one not properly secured and in the same room where the stabbing occurred, were also found at the residence last week and police say an 88-year-old man has been arrested for assault with a deadly weapon in connection to the stabbing. Island Health has made some changes to the answers it provided to questions from The NEWS after the incident last week. After the story broke, a recently-retired community health worker disputed some of Island Health’s responses. Island Health originally said “we have not received any reports from staff who are a part of the client’s care team of any potential personal safety risks within this client’s residence.” Lynda Williams, a former community health worker (CHW), disputed that assertion. “About six months ago, the RCMP were called by a CHW and they attended this residence and a report was communicated to the Oceanside Health Centre,” said Williams. “There were actually two complaints that came in from this residence regarding violence, at least one attendance from RCMP.” The daughter of the stabbing victim provided even more details about past incidents at this house.
BRENDA GOUGH PHOTO
DINNER MUSIC: From left to right, Tom Taylor, Barney Bentall and Shari Ulrich wandered into the crowd Jan. 15 so people in the lounge at Thalassa Restaurant could get up close and personal with the Canadian musicians. The trio performed over two nights to sold out crowds in Qualicum Beach.
Questions about consultant raised
See ‘MORE ROBUST’, page A8
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JOHN HARDING
editor@pqbnews.com
Some people are trying to further their own agendas by pointing to allegations about the consultant hired by the Englishman River Water Service, says Parksville’s chief administrative officer. CH2M Hill Canada Ltd. was hired by the ERWS to design a water treatment and storage system. The ERWS settled on an option that will cost the
city $27.3 million. Senior government funding is expected, but it has yet to be announced. The treatment and storage system was the hot topic during the November civic elections, with residents and candidates calling for more consultation. On Monday night, city council passed a motion to hold a town-hallstyle meeting about the water treatment plans before April 15.
In the past few weeks, e-mails have been flying around town, some finding their way to The NEWS, pointing to the conduct of CH2M Hill in Portland, Ore. “I am aware of the allegations that people are throwing around here, there and everywhere to get their agendas advanced,” Fred Manson, the city’s CAO, said Tuesday, adding that the allegations are “attacking the credibility of the consultant.”
See PRA PLEASED, page A9
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