THURSDAY February 19, 2015 Vol. 30 • No. 15 ••• $1.25 inc. G.S.T.
COMOX VALLEY
ARTS
SPORTS
Lunar New Year celebrations page 17
Canada Games 'Golden Girl' has Valley connections page 14
RECORD
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‘Productive’ Maple Pool meeting Campground lawyer 'cautiously optimistic' Scott Stanfield Record Staff
Spend spring break at an S&R Academy .... Page 3
Wounded Warrior Run BC passes through ... Page 14 East end fire hall goes to design stage ... Page 6
Convertibles have been seen with their tops down in the Comox Valley this week.
Comox Valley Glacier Kings dropped their playoff opener Tuesday night.
Birds of all sizes – like Horus, the red-tail hawk (main) and Sawyer, the northern saw-whet owl – came out to check out their new home Monday afternoon. A 10.4-acre piece of property was recently purchased by the Mountainaire Avian Rescue Society off the Old Island Highway in Merville. The purchase was made possible through a $300,000 bequest from long-time MARS supporter Michele Woodrew. PHOTOS BY ERIN HALUSCHAK
MARS finds new home in Merville Erin Haluschak Record Staff
A future for the Mountainaire Avian Rescue Society is taking flight, as the organization officially took possession of a 10.4 acre piece of property Monday. Manager Maj Birch explained the land purchase comes thanks to a good friend of MARS, Michele Woodrew, who bequeathed $300,000 to the organization. "If it weren't for Michelle, we wouldn't be standing here today," noted Birch, who added Woodrew also left a legacy for the Kitty Cat P.A.L. Society
Major donation by longtime friend of society paves way for purchase and the Comox Valley Hospice Society. "We're so excited. I've been dreaming about this for at least 10 years. The board kind of started thinking about it about five years ago, but we just didn't have anything. "Although my property has served us well, we have outgrown it tremendously. It's inad-
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equate because we don't have enough water, it's ALR so we're restricted by having public access. More of the public is coming to see what it is we do." The property is located on the Old Island Highway in Merville, on the corner of Williams Beach Road and the highway. Birch explained while the move to the new location is at least three years away, MARS's plan includes more community outreach, education, and hopefully incorporating walking trails where people can learn about wildlife.
... see MARS ■ 6
Representatives from both sides of the legal battle between the City of Courtenay and Maple Pool Campground owners Dali and Jin Lin met Friday on a “without prejudice basis” in an effort to resolve the City's claim and the couple’s counterclaim regarding the campground at Headquarters Road adjacent to the Tsolum River. “The meeting was productive and the parties continue to work hard toward a resolution that will see an end to the legal proceedings on both sides on a mutually agreeable basis,” says a joint statement from the City and the legal office of Ansley & Company. Courtenay council met in camera during its Monday meeting before releasing the statement. “We can't say anything more at this time,” Mayor Larry Jangula said. “But myself and council and staff feel very positive about this, and that this is progress.” Maple Pool — which provides low-rent housing for approximately 50 at-risk individuals — flooded in 2009 and 2010. The following year, the City initiated legal action against the Lins. The City says zoning prohibits the couple from housing people on the property. However, a citizens’ group called The Friends of Maple Pool says zoning is irrelevant because the campsite’s legally non-conforming status means a zoning bylaw cannot be applied retroactively.
... see LAWSUIT ■ 7