Playoff ready Nanaimo Clippers set to face off against BCHL opponents. PAGE 26
www.nanaimobulletin.com
TUESDAY, MARCH 3, 2015
VOL. 26, NO. 85
New deadline given to fix Colliery dam I
Society votes to end Empire Days events BY CHRIS BUSH THE NEWS BULLETIN
Despite efforts between the city, Snuneymuxw First Nation and Empire Days Celebrations Society representatives, society members voted to cancel Empire Days festivities for 2015. In two votes, taken at the society’s meeting Wednesday night, members cancelled the Empire Days Parade and also rejected a proposal to take part in a joint venture celebration by the city, Snuneymuxw and the Empire Days Celebration Society that would create an interim working group under a new name for the 2015 celebrations and potentially become the foundation for new celebration society that would run future Victoria Day weekend celebrations. Bob Sears, society secretary, said the voting results were a disappointing outcome after the positive meeting earlier in the week when the society’s executive board met with Nanaimo Mayor Bill McKay, Snuneymuxw First Nation Chief John Wesley and other Snuneymuxw and city representatives for about 90 minutes. “By the end of it we were looking at a joint venture to run this year’s weekend celebrations,” Sears said. The plan essentially called for volunteers from the society to provide the organizational skills, Snuneymuxw First Nation to supply coordinating skills and volunteers, and the city to help with finding local sponsors to help cover costs. “A small majority did not want to do the joint venture part,” Sears said. “So there’s a few of us kind of on the really disappointed side and one person, who’s been a chaperone for years for the kids on the float, she was having a really rough time after the meeting was over last night because she’s been doing it for 20 years or more.” See ‘NEW’ /4
PROVINCIAL AUTHORITY cites fines, water licence cancellation as possible consequences. BY TAMARA CUNNINGHAM THE NEWS BULLETIN
CHRIS BUSH/THE NEWS BULLETIN
Airborne debris
Bryan MacDonald, city parks employee, clears a path of dirt and debris left behind from grass edging work in Maffeo Sutton Park in February. Warm weather that’s continuing into March is helping to make landscaping chores a bit more enjoyable.
Nanaimo has 24 days to hand in a plan for the Colliery dams or risk penalties from the provincial government, a letter from the Water Management Branch shows. The City of Nanaimo has a one-month extension and orders from the province to get on with decision making for the Colliery dams. The letter warns that failure to meet the new deadline could put the city in breach of the Water Act, which can include compliance and enforcement action that ranges from charges, to an order to drain the reservoir, and suspension or cancellation of the city’s water licences. “We have to stand up and pay attention now,” said Mayor Bill McKay. “We’ve awoken the bear, so to speak.” A letter from the B.C. Water Management Branch last week comes after a request by the city for an extension of the province’s Feb. 27 deadline and a political decision four days later to change the schedule to fix the concrete structure to allow for more time to investigate and prepare a revised plan. Politicians also opted to revisit the city’s safety management program, including flood warning signage. At the time, McKay said it didn’t look like a resolution for the dams would be found by the end of February and that the ball was in the province’s court. The province has now outlined its position in a five-page letter, which orders a revised plan no later than 4 p.m. March 27. See ‘COUNCIL’ /5
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