NANAIMO REGION
NATION & WORLD
The future calls
BC Ferries looking to maximize tourist dollar
Arrests raise issue of jihadi indoctrination
Hugh Lawrie stars with George Clooney in ‘Tomorrowland’
A promotion dubbed Size up the Savings was popular with those travellers who used it last year. A3
RCMP have not provided details about the 10 arrests in Montreal, saying its investigation is ongoing. A8
Movies, B1
The newspaper of record for Nanaimo and region since 1874 || Thursday, May 21, 2015 HIGH SCHOOL BOMB THREAT
Police have ‘person of interest’ Second incident at Nanaimo’s Woodlands Secondary follows several others at Wellington school ROBERT BARRON DAILY NEWS
Nanaimo RCMP say they have a “person of interest” following the latest bomb threat at a Nanaimo high school. But Nanaimo RCMP spokesman Gary O’Brien said Wednesday that police are continuing their investigation and looking for more evidence following the second bomb threat in a week at Woodlands Secondary. O’Brien said the person is not the 15-year-old girl identified as being responsible for a previous threat on May 13. “We have a pretty good idea
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who is behind this incident, but that’s all I can say at this time,” O’Brien said. “In most of these cases, it’s typically somebody involved with the school and that’s very disturbing. It’s totally inappropriate and causes a lot of anxiety among the school’s students and their parents. Kids should realize that there are consequences to their actions and they could face sanctions from the school dis-
trict and even criminal charges.” O’Brien said a message indicating that a bomb would be set off at the school on May 20 was found written on a door in Woodlands on Friday. He said officials carried out a “risk assessment” of the situation after conducting a thorough search of the school during the weekend, which involved a police dog, and the decision was made to keep the school open Wednesday while increasing security measures for the day. The bomb threat was the sixth made against two local secondary schools in recent weeks, with
four more at Wellington Secondary School. No suspects have been identified in any of the Wellington incidents. Dale Burgos, a spokesman for the Nanaimo-Ladysmith school district, said the incidents are “disruptive” to the schools’ environments, particularly with final exams approaching, which is already a stressful time for many students. “This is a very serious matter and we will continue to treat it so,” Burgos said. “Woodlands had an assembly (Wednesday) in which the serious nature of these incidents
was stressed to the students.” Burgos said the district hired a private security company for the day at Woodlands to patrol outside the school looking for anything suspicious. “There will be a cost for the extra security, but the real costs will be to the time wasted at the schools,” he said. “But we’ll do this every time there is a similar threat at our schools. Safety in the schools is the bottom line for us.” Robert.Barron @nanaimodailynews.com 250-729-4234
» City Not all councillors up for pressuring the province Council voted to pursue a broad-based appeal and stay of the Colliery dams order at Tuesday’s meeting. However, that motion did not have the support of all councillors. » Nanaimo Region, A3
Nanaimo’s Racette to step back into the ring In a professional heavyweight boxing career which began in 1979, Gordy Racette (39-6-0) recorded 28 career knockouts. » Sports, B2
Efforts continue to get aid to Nepal after quakes Nepal-born Nanaimo dentist Dr. San Mahara and fellow Rotarians will hold a vigil will raise funds for the cause Sunday from 7-8:30 p.m. » Nanaimo Region, A3
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Chance of showers High 23, Low 15 Details A2
Thousands could splash down Nanaimo street after council endorses big waterslide proposal SPENCER ANDERSON DAILY NEWS
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anaimo is a step closer to hosting a 300-metre vinyl waterslide this summer after a council passed a motion Tuesday night endorsing the proposal. The motion would see the slide set up for Aug. 29, a report before council said. Another possible date is July 4. The city is seeking confirmation for a date. The massive slide is being brought to the city by Utah-based company Slide the City, which is also bringing the attraction to North Vancouver and Edmonton. The slide will be located on Victoria Road, starting at Finlayson Street at the top of a steep slope, and ending at the Esplanade Street intersection. It’s expected that 3,000 to 4,000 people would flock to the slide, which will cost between $25 and $65 to use. A city fire hydrant would be used to supply water to the slide, which would operate over the course of several hours. Approximately 80,000 gallons will be needed for the event, about the same amount of water needed to supply four days of operations for one of the city’s water parks, the council report said. Although the council endorsement includes the ‘flow-through method’ — meaning the water will run of the slide and be drained — it leaves open the possibility that a method can be used to recirculate the water to avoid waste. Island Health has already written a letter to the city saying it did not support a proposal from the company to recirculate and chlorinate the water.
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Nanaimo Mayor Bill McKay at the top of Victoria Road at Finlayson Street, where the city is slated to host a 300-metre water slide that will run all the way down the hill to Esplanade Street. [SPENCER ANDERSON/DAILY NEWS]
Tom Hickey, general manager of community services for the city, told council the company will pay for the use of the water, and will also cover security costs and, if necessary, additional police costs. Hickey said there are still a few details that need to be sorted out before the event goes ahead. The company needs to prepare a pool safety plan and
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emergency response plan to deal with potential injuries, as well as possible contamination from the water from bodily fluids. Mayor Bill McKay said he is not concerned about water use from the event, adding it amounts to a fraction of daily water use. He said he also wants to have a discussion with Slide the City about providing free passes so
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low-income people can enjoy the attraction. “Let’s get them here first and once it’s here let’s have a conversation with the promoter about providing some passes for some of our less-fortunate people.” Spencer.Anderson @nanaimodailynews.com 250-729-4255
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NANAIMO HORTICULTURAL SOCIETY ANNUAL
plant
Saturday : May 23 : 9:30am – 2:30pm
Come and “Ask the Experts”. Meet Master Gardeners at the event. Partial proceeds to benefit Vancouver Island University Horticultural Program. Enter for a Chance to Win a flowering shrub and while you are at the event pick up your FREE Easy Peasy Seed Package & Nanaimo North Town Centre Re-useable Bag!
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