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Military mission on to cost $406 million illion
Lunney defends decision to leave Conservatives Nanaimo-Alberni MP James Lunney was again taken to task on social media on Wednesday, after speaking on his personal beliefs in the House of Commons.. A8
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Jason Kenney, Minister of Defence, reveals figures for battle in Iraq and Syria
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The newspaper of record for Nanaimo and region since 1874 || Thursday, April 2, 2015
» City
POLICE
Woman scammed in online ‘romance’
Plenty of tax cash needed to replace aging buildings
DARRELL BELLAART DAILY NEWS
The facility would cost between $6 million and $8 million to replace, staff said. On Monday, some city councillors questioned whether it made sense to simply proceed with the full replacement instead of spending additional repairs on a building that needs replacing. Toby Seward, director of social and protective services, said that was “the dilemma we have with so many buildings.” Hickey said the Departure Bay Activity Centre is also a likely candidate for replacement at the future, at an estimated cost of $2 million. “The facility is in poor condition right now and it is just not worth the money to do the repairs,” he said.
A local woman is out $4,500 after what she thought was a budding romance on an online dating site. The 74-year-old believed it was genuine when a person approached her calling himself Michael Vidmar, of New York. Soon the pair exchanged cellphone numbers. Nanaimo RCMP say the woman is embarrassed, and have not released her name, but agreed to help her warn others about a scammer who hides under the guise of a blossoming romance. He told her he was 54 and from Slovakia. He had an antique business, and provided a website link as proof. Vidmar said he was about to close a $750,000 deal, but there was a problem with storage fees that he couldn’t pay. He sent her a copy of a certificate to confirm the value of the antiques. She was asked to pay the fees, which came to $4,500. Through a series of wire transfers the money was delivered to a bank in Nairobi, Kenya. Then, he said more money was needed. She sensed a scam when he asked her for $17,000. She then broke off communication. Over a five-month period he’d sent her vases of flowers and numerous affectionate messages. She reported the incident to the company that operates the dating website, and contacted RCMP. She is “extremely embarrassed by the ordeal and wants others to learn from her experience,” said Const. Gary O’Brien of the RCMP, in a press release. Through police, the woman urged others not to do the same. “When they ask you for money, it’s a fraud. Don’t give them a penny,” she said. “If you are asked for money by a person you have never met in person, stop all communication and end the relationship, immediately,” O’Brien said.
SAnderson@nanaimodailynews.com 250-729-4255
DBellaart@nanaimodailynews.com 250-729-4235
Mike Louie puts away fire equipment at Nanaimo Fire Rescue Station 1 on Wednesday afternoon. [AARON HINKS/DAILY NEWS]
No. 1 firehall, public works building on the list SPENCER ANDERSON DAILY NEWS
T
he City of Nanaimo owns more than 150 buildings and structures, but a few of the larger ones are nearing the end of their useful lives, the city says. And while they are not yet in the five-year capital plan, costs to replace or upgrade the buildings are looming. One such structure is the main public works building on Labieux Road, which came up during a special budget session Monday. The building is a series of separate, portable-like compartments that stemmed from the public works site being relocated there from Prideaux Street in the 1960s, said community services general manager Tom Hickey. Additional components of the
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“The facility is in poor condition right now and it is just not worth the money to do the repairs.” Tom Hickey, Community Services general manager
building were added after various improvement districts amalgamated into the city in 1975. Further sections were added in the 1980s and 1990s. Hickey said some parts of the building are in good shape, but added that other sections are deteriorating. “Probably some of the sections are at the end of their life,” Hickey said. The city prepared a report to council in 2008 on the cost of a new facility that could also
accommodate parks operations, which produced an estimate of $11 million. Plans to proceed with the project were shelved in 2009, when the council decided it was not an urgent priority,” Hickey said. Hickey said staff now believe the real cost is closer to $8 million, since additional room for the engineering section is no longer needed. But he said the upgrades will eventually need to be made. Another building that will likely need replacement is the city’s Fire Station No. 1, the city’s main fire hall on Fitzwilliam Street. Approximately $500,000 is in the current financial plan this year alone for roofing upgrades and other repairs. More repairs would be needed in future years to extend the life of the building beyond 10 years.
SPCA warns against bunnies for Easter
Son of Canadian envoy in Miami fatally shot
SPCA would also like to see the city take a tougher stance by adopting a bylaw that would fine people for illegally dumping tame rabbits into the wild. » Nanaimo Region, A3
Top diplomat in Florida has lost her elder teenage son; her younger one was arrested in connection with a reported Miami drug deal that turned violent. » Nation & World, A10
Local news .................... A3-5 Markets ................................A2 B.C. news ............................. A8
Editorials and letters ..... A4 Sports .................................... C1 Scoreboard ........................ C7
Classified ............................ C5 Obituaries ........................... C5 Comics ................................. D6
Crossword .......................... D6 Sudoku ................................. A2 Horoscope .......................... B5
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