NANAIMO REGION
Ladysmith looks to water conservation While no water shortage is anticipated right away, officials are ready to bring in restrictions if needed. A3
Nepal struggle continues
SPORTS
Timbermen optimistic about playoff berth
Residents and tourists report that much help is still needed
The team is poised to move into the post-season in the Western Lacrosse League after a long drought. B1
Nation & World, A8
The newspaper of record for Nanaimo and region since 1874 || Monday, May 4, 2015
CLEAN SWEEP Kody Laughlin acted fast after vandals tagged a nearby downtown business; he is part of a strong sense of pride in Nanaimo’s downtown core
Kody Laughlin took it upon himself to remove graffiti from a Wallace Street business. [AARON HINKS/DAILY NEWS]
Goodwill grows among businesses DARRELL BELLAART DAILY NEWS
K
ody Laughlin acted immediately when he learned vandals had tagged a Fitzwilliam Street hairdressing salon window pane. He grabbed some cleaning supplies and drove to the shop to remove the ugly mess. It was gone by the time the store owner arrived for the day. It’s not the first time the young man has taken time to clean graffiti off a window. Laughlin, 21, is a technician at Speedy Glass downtown. Employees there like being downtown, and they do what they can to stop graffiti. “I thought I might just rip up there and get it done,” said Laughlin. The tag was on the windowpane of Lou’s Salon & Barber Shop, one of several brightly painted businesses along the Gallery Row block in the Old City Quarter business district.
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Mainly cloud High 17, Low 6 Details A2
George Ewing, who owns restored the century-old Gallery the block, saw someone cleanRow in the 2000s, was impressed ing paint off Lou’s window as by the young man’s actions. arrived at GEM Fabrica“It generates a good tion, Gates and Gifts, his feeling downtown. It’s business. great,” Ewing said. He thought it was a “There’s so many contractor for the Downopportunities for negatown Nanaimo Business tivity and so forth, it’s Improvement District’s nice (to see) the other anti-graffiti program. side of the coin.” “I had just gone for a LaCouvee, who opened walk down to Wallace Lou’s last July, got a Street for a coffee and phone call at 7:30 a.m. back and there was this that day saying vanDarrell guy cleaning the window. Bellaart dals had gone around There was a major paint spraying paint on glass Reporting spray on the window,” windows on downtown Ewing said. businesses. He asked if salon “By the time I got to owner Lucinda LaCouvee had work, people were in the parking called him to do the cleanup. lot in the back, and George told He was surprised to learn the me, ‘You won’t believe this but a young man did it voluntarily. Good Samaritan cleaned it up.’” The glass specialist had the She later learned the young materials and knowledge to man was a schoolmate of her remove paint from glass, and son’s, at Dover Bay Secondary “just decided to do it.” School. Ewing, who’d rescued a herit“It turns out I used to drive him age building when he lovingly and my son to boxing when they
were in school together.” She remembers him as a “really well-rounded, great kid.” Growing up in Lantzville, Laughlin said he always steered clear of drugs and other negative influences in his youth. “I tried to stay away from that scene,” Laughlin said. “I’m not much of a party person.” He said he benefited from good role models, including his father, who supported him in everything he did. He recently returned the favour, when his father wanted to help a local baseball team find a coach. “They wouldn’t have a team if there wasn’t a coach, so I said: ‘I’m willing to help them out.’” He said his fellow staff members routinely help when they see vandalism downtown. Shannon Johnson, a Speedy customer service representative, spotted the graffiti that morning, while out to get coffee. She asked Laughlin if he’d mind cleaning
Canada blameless in death, top soldier hints
Speculation rises on name for royal baby
Gen. Tom Lawson indicates various investigations find Canadian troops blameless in the March 6 death of Sgt. Andrew Doiron during operations in Iraq. » Nation & World, A7
William and Kate introduced the baby princess Saturday evening, just 12 hours after Kate checked into London’s St. Mary’s Hospital to give birth. » Nation & World, A7
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up the mess, and he willingly obliged. “I just thought it was a good thing to do,” Johnson said. The DNBIA started its anti-graffiti program in 2013. Whenever a business is vandalized, they can just call the association and a contractor will soon arrive to clean up the mess. Each call costs the DNBIA $75, so when people do it voluntarily, it saves merchants. “We’re so grateful we have business owners and front-line staff that care so much,” said Corry Hostetter, DNBIA executive director. “We’re just so proud of folks down here that are like that.” Darrell.Bellaart @nanaimodailynews.com 250-729-4235 » We want to hear from you. Send comments on this story to letters@nanaimodailynews.com. Letters must include daytime phone number and hometown.
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