TUESDAY February 17, 2015 Vol. 30 • No. 14 ••• $1.25 inc. G.S.T.
COMOX VALLEY
ARTS
SPORTS
Jilli crossing over to jazz page 19
Vanier rugby players help B.C. finish second in Vegas page 21
RECORD
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From one extreme to the other for BC Hydro Scott Stanfield Record Staff
From record dry to record wet. That’s the news over the past year from BC Hydro’s water supply records that date back about 50 years. A water supply year extends from October to September. The 2013/2014 season to February was the driest on record with-
BC Hydro stats show Comox Valley was driest last year; wettest this year out a significant storm. “This translated into water conservation efforts and a low snowpack that hugged near record lows,” BC Hydro communications officer Stephen Watson said. The opposite is true for 2014/15 — easily the wet-
test year to date. A handful of significant subtropical storms, including a recordbreaking December storm that pounded the Comox Valley and other parts of the West Coast, generated high flows in rivers and streams. However, mild temperatures and
rain have melted snow in upper elevations. The resulting snow pack is nearly identical to where it was this time last year, at about a third of normal. Mid-elevation snow may be non-existent, Watson said. “BC Hydro has been generating power at full capacity this year compared to last year with all the rain, and that’s
good news, though we have been hard-pressed on flood risk management operations,” Watson said. “Too much of something is not a good thing, and that applies to all this rain.” Since October, Watson notes the water BC Hydro has spilled downstream for flood risk management would fill the Comox Lake reservoir 4.5 times.
... see HYDRO ■ 5
MacKinnon says no to council pay increases
LIGHTING UP THE SKY
Racism towards FN people still prevalent ... Page 3
As part of a review of council remuneration for the year, Coun. Hugh MacKinnon put forth a motion to not increase remuneration for one year for both mayor and councillor positions. We’re askIn a r e p o r t ing other people to coun- to tighten their cil based upon the belts, and we C o n s u m - should do the er Price same. Index for Va n c o u Hugh MacKinnon ver, it was proposed a 0.88 per cent change in the mayoral remuneration from $31,251.75 to $31,529 and a 1.25 per cent increase for councillor from $16,734 to $16,945. “We should think about keeping costs in line. We’re asking other people to tighten their belts, and we should do the same,” added MacKinnon. The proposal will be forwarded to council next week for approval.
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Marina fees going up ..... Page 6
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While the rest of the country shovels out of yet another winter storm, golf courses were busy on the Island over the weekend. Comox Dam road is once again being used as a dumping spot for old appliances and household goods.
PHOTOS BY TERRY FARRELL
Cumberland LunarFest 2015 kicked off in spectacular fashion Friday night, with the release of the sky lanterns. Hundreds of people gathered behind the Cultural Centre to witness the spectacle, as dozens of lanterns were lit, then released into the night sky (inset).
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