TUESDAY FEBRUARY 10, 2015
Black Press C O M M U N I T Y
N E W S
M E D I A
www.pqbnews.com
BCYCNA
Silver 2013 General Excellence
NEW STORE OPENS FEB. 14
IT’S ABOUT MORE THAN CHOCOLATES
Our Business Profile takes a look inside new Save-On-Foods
Options abound in this region for things to do with your sweetie on Valentines’s Day
A28
A26
PARKSVILLE’S BUDGET
A taxing debate It’s early days, but one councillor wants a freeze JOHN HARDING editor@pqbnews.com
If this week’s initial meeting to debate the City of Parksville’s 2015 budget is any indication, colourful and detailed discussions are ahead. Four of the seven councillors haven’t been through this process for years or never. And one of the veterans has already drawn his line in the sand. As he promised on election night in November, Coun. Al Greir has put council on notice that he will put forward a motion calling for a property tax freeze. The provisional budget in front of council now, which doesn’t have to be sent to to Victoria for approval until May, calls for a 2.5 per cent increase. Each percentage point of taxation equals about $110,000 in revenue in the city’s $17 million budget and about $30/year for an average home in Parksville. “I would hope council would see the benefits of giving taxpayers a break,” Greir said Wednesday night at the end of a 2.5-hour budget session, adding that 30-plus stores and offices in the city sit empty. “You don’t have growth with higher taxes.” Mayor Marc Lefebvre didn’t seem to agree with Greir’s plan. The mayor said experience shows tax freezes “always ended in higher costs down the road.” “One thing I will say about you councillor Greir is you are consistent,” quipped Lefebvre. Much of the proposed tax increase would go to increasing staff in two areas: the hiring of a health and safety officer and a bylaw enforcement officer. See BYLAW OFFICERS, page A9
JOHN HARDING PHOTO
FREE FUN: Families flocked to Ravensong Pool in Qualicum Beach on Monday to enjoy a free Family Day swim, thanks to the sponsorship of Quality Foods.
NATIONAL POLL SUGGESTS . . .
Parksville is one sexy city CANDACE WU
news@pqbnews.com
Parksville is one of the sexiest cities in Canada. According to an annual poll conducted by PinkCherry, Parksville is the 22nd ranking city in the entire country, measured by the sales of sex toys, adult novelties and lingerie. Our quaint, little city is ninth in B.C. and second on Vancouver Island next to Victoria. The study measures sales per capita for the 2014 year. The results come as no surprise for
Sexessories owner Sheila Abbott, who is expanding her store this summer due to an increasingly high demand for sex toys. “We’re thriving,” she said about business, noting the expansion plans will double the store’s size. Sexessories is the only sex shop in Parksville Qualicum Beach, often deemed the oldest community in Canada. But the elderly population might have a direct correlation with our high volume of sex-related paraphernalia sales. “There’s a new kind of retirement
here,” said Abbott. “And these retirees aren’t looking to play bingo or the accordion … these people are a generation from the 60s — peace, sex and love.” Abbott said her clientele ranges in age from 18 to 90 years old. In the decade Abbott has owned the store, she said she’s noticed a major shift in society’s acceptance of sex. “In the past some physicians attitude (towards getting older and sex) used to be ‘well, you’ve had a good run,’” she explains. See SHADES OF GREY, page A7
See Noni & Colleen to help support your
20% Off Provascin and Omega 7 20% Off Blood Pressure Machines for home monitoring
OPEN 7 DAYS A WEEK Locally Owned for over 30 Years, Proudly Canadian! WE DELIVER • MON-FRI 8-6, SAT 9-5:30, SUN 10-5
720 MEMORIAL AVE. QUALICUM BEACH 250-752-3011
PQNN150210_A.indd 1
Healthy Hearts Happy Hearts
are
2015-02-09 12:31 PM