National finish Athletes compete in BMX championships in Nanaimo. PAGE 28
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Connecting climate & culture
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and work together as partners and replenish our rivers, all our resources,” Wesley said. “You know, if we’re working together it’s easier to replenish the beaches and rivers.” Suzuki also quoted pessimistic predictions from scientists warning the choices humans make in the next few years could determine whether the human species will survive beyond the end of the 21st century. “I cannot overemphasize the need indicated by these people for urgent action, but I tell them, ‘Don’t say it’s too late because we don’t know enough to say it’s too late. Stop acting as if that end has been determined,” Suzuki said. “We’ve got to act and we’ve always got to act in the sense of hope.” For more information, please visit www.davidsuzuki.org.
What do a Ferrari and Nanaimo’s city manager have in common? Their price tag. City manager Ted Swabey made more than $231,356 in his first full year as top bureaucrat – nearly the equivalent of a 2015 Ferrari. While still below the pay of former city manager Al Kenning, the salary makes Swabey the municipality’s highest earner of 2014. Nanaimo has released its Statement of Financial Information, detailing the earnings and expenses of 232 of the highest-paid employees. Nineteen new names moved onto the roster this year of employees with remuneration beyond $75,000. The bracket has been swelling every year since 2008, from 112 to 176 by 2011 and 213 in 2013. Thirty-eight per cent of the list is dominated by fire department employees, but the top salary-makers are department heads. Swabey made about 20 per cent more than the second-highest earner in his first full year after taking over from Kenning in September 2013. While statements of financial information haven’t yet been released by other similarsized cities, documents from 2013 show the pay isn’t all that uncommon. Kenning made $237,767 in 2013, while Kamloops CAO David Trawin pulled in $240,608 and Ron Mattiussi, Kelowna city manager, made $258,728. Tom Hickey, general manager of community services had the highest remuneration next to Swabey with $190,289, followed by Toby Seward, director of social and protective services, at $161,050. Kenning lingered on the payroll with $155,521 last year thanks to payouts for sick time and 8.8 months of banked vacation. Terry Hartley, the now-resigned director of human resources and organizational planning, rounded out the top five with $154,791. For more financial details and expenses, please visit www.nanaimobulletin.com.
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David Suzuki speaks to a full house at Beban Park Monday. Suzuki, his foundation and First Nations representatives are part of the Celebrating Coastal Connections speaking tour travelling to B.C. coastal communities to motivate First Nations and non-aboriginal people to join forces to fight climate change. CHRIS BUSH THE NEWS BULLETIN
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DAVID SUZUKI discussed climate change during a presentation in Nanaimo. BY CHRIS BUSH THE NEWS BULLETIN
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avid Suzuki and the David Suzuki Foundation are travelling to B.C. coastal communities to get people motivated to fight the forces driving climate change. Suzuki opened the Celebrating Coastal Connections tour to an audience of about 500 at Beban Park social centre Monday. Suzuki, his foundation and First Nations representatives talked about the consequences of climate change and discussed the need to mend a clash of cultures with nonaboriginal peoples who began arriving 500 years ago.
Suzuki said the fundamentals of the cultural clash lie in how First Nations and settlers viewed the land. Newcomers, including his grandparents, left their elders and elders’ values behind in their lands of origin and saw the land only as a resource to be exploited for monetary gain. That thinking was passed down to their children. First Nations, whose roots in B.C. “are 10,000 years deep,” view the Earth as a home and mother that provides food, shelter and everything needed to sustain life. “The partnership of First Nations, who provide that perspective, with environmentalists who describe the ecological impact of our species, I believe can become a powerful force for change,” Suzuki said. Snuneymuxw Chief John Wesley echoed that sentiment. “When we talk about connecting we’ve also got to communicate
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