First loss Nanaimo Timbermen sully undefeated record against New Westminster.
TUESDAY, JUNE 2, 2015
www.nanaimobulletin.com
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VOL. 27, NO. 7
Directors question support for railway BY KARL YU THE NEWS BULLETIN
“It was a busy time doing a heavy course load and soccer at that time and it definitely made me use my organizational skills. I still use that learning process now,” said Creba, with a laugh. “It was a lot of juggling. A lot of getting to be efficient, making sure you can do multiple things at the same time because I wanted to be good at all of them,” she said. According to the university, the early achievement award goes to people who have demonstrated outstanding achievement within 10 years of graduating, in areas such as career, community service, business, research, athletics or arts. Artist Arthur Vickers was also honoured at Monday’s convocation ceremony with an honorary doctorate of letters from VIU. For more on Vickers and the gift he donated to VIU, please visit www.nanaimobulletin.com.
Regional District of Nanaimo directors question if provincial and federal government money for E&N Railway repairs is adequate. At their May 26 board meeting, directors voted to request the Ministry of Transportation provide a copy of a report on whether proposed government money to the Island Corridor Foundation, the non-profit organization which manages the line, is effective. The project to return passenger train service to the Island is stalled, awaiting approval from provincial and federal governments. There are commitments of $20.9 million for work, including $7.5 million from the provincial government, but some directors wonder if that amount is enough, taking into account factors such as inflation. Bill McKay, Nanaimo mayor and regional district director, recently elected as foundation board chairman, said he believes it is enough. “The amount of money that’s being given to the ICF is going to do the work that it needs to do, no doubt about it, but they’ve not gone out to tender yet,” said McKay. He said the ministry is doing its due diligence with the consultant report. “The ministry’s brought a second party in to review the work of the first party, because the work of the first party appeared to be in some dispute ... they’re going to spend $7.5 million worth of taxpayers’ money and they don’t want to do it willy nilly. “They want to make sure they have a proper business plan in place,” said McKay. The board approved non-confidence-related motions against the foundation last year and McKay said he hopes to smooth relations, adding that directors have to stop relying on information from other sources. “We have to look at the facts with respect to this project,” said McKay. “I’ve had directors tell me that they talked to a guy, who talked to a guy, who’s in the railway business in Vancouver and he believes them over the competent operators that we have here.”
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Dr. Skye Creba, an emergency room physician at Nanaimo Regional General Hospital, will be presented with Vancouver Island University’s 2015 Distiguished Alumni Early Achievement Award at a convocation ceremony Wednesday (June 3). CHRIS BUSH THE NEWS BULLETIN
Doctor recognized with alumni award
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SKYE CREBA graduated from VIU after majoring in biology and chemistry. BY KARL YU THE NEWS BULLETIN
A Nanaimo emergency room doctor will receive recognition from the very university that planted the seeds of her medical career. Skye Creba, a doctor at Nanaimo Regional General Hospital, is slated to receive the 2015 Distinguished Alumni Early Achievement Award at a Vancouver Island University graduation ceremony on Wednesday (June 3). Creba saw two peer-reviewed papers published and earned the Natural Science and Engineering Research Council’s undergraduate student research award, as well as
the council’s prominent post-graduate scholarship during her time at VIU. She graduated in 2006, majoring in biology and chemistry. Creba said she was nominated for her current award by colleagues and teachers, unbeknownst to her. The university was an amazing starting point for her career, she said. “VIU is a foundation for a lot of where I am today, I would say. It’s a university that fosters that drive to ask questions and then go and find the answers to them and that I use every day in my career now and at home now and they really allow you to take risks and ask the questions and chase your dreams. “I use that in every aspect of my life, the things I learned at VIU,” said Creba. In addition to studying and researching, Creba played soccer for the VIU Mariners varsity soccer team. Out of that came more life skills.
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