NATION & WORLD
Suit aims at Tories over gun registry data Investigator files documents claiming the speedy effort to destroy records in 2012 was illegal. A8
NANAIMO REGION
Hawks win Cup
Graffiti investigated by police as hate crime
Chicago Blackhawks beat Tampa Bay Lightning to take hockey’s highest honour
On the weekend swastikas and offensive comments were spray-painted at bus stops in the north end. A3
Sports, B3
The newspaper of record for Nanaimo and region since 1874 || Tuesday, June 16, 2015 CITY
Hotel extension bid turned down The 5-4 vote Monday night came despite pleas from hotel developer’s lawyer for an additional year SPENCER ANDERSON DAILY NEWS
Nanaimo council has narrowly rejected an extension, giving the city the right to buy back the land where a proposed, 21-storey hotel would be located. The 5-4 vote Monday night came despite pleas from hotel developer SSS Manhao’s lawyer for an additional year’s assurance that the city would not exercise its right to buy back the parcel of land for the ori-
ginal purchase price of $565,000 between now and Nov. 30. The decision casts into doubt the future of the $50-million project and also highlighted skepticism from several council members about whether a hotel would actually be built. “Dark day,” Mayor Bill McKay uttered following the vote, which saw councillors Jerry Hong, Jim Kipp, Bill Yoachim, Gord Fuller and Bill Bestwick band together to defeat a motion from
Coun. Diane Brennan to give the developer a one-year extension. McKay, Brennan and councillors Wendy Pratt and Ian Thorpe voted in favour of the motion. Lawyer Perry Ehrlich, representing China-based SSS Manhao, told council that his client intends to follow through on its agreement with the city. Ehrlich also said his client has already invested close to $5 million in total costs for the project, including hundreds of thousands
in local costs to contractors. At one point, he held up a stack of invoices on the project. “Do you not value that my money has put into this property?” The project missed a May 30 deadline to build a foundation for the property, triggering the city’s option to buy back the land. Council unanimously supported a separate motion to get a staff report back on giving a shorter extension of six months,
as well as requiring the company to give away its right of first negotiation to operate the Vancouver Island Conference Centre. Spencer.Anderson @nanaimodailynews.com 250-729-4255 » We want to hear from you. Send comments on this story to letters@nanaimodailynews.com. Letters must include daytime phone number and hometown.
» Wildlife Ottawa plays host to U2’s frontman Bono Irish rocker sparked another round in the debate over the government’s development policy, which has focused on maternal and child health, while freezing overall development spending. » Nation & World, A7
Health problems high in overweight children
Experts warn sleep apnea, Type 2 diabetes, high cholesterol levels and a host of other problems are rising in children with unhealthy diets and growing waistlines. » Health, B1
Woman in race scandal resigns NAACP position
“In the eye of this current storm, I can see that a separation of family and organizational outcomes is in the best interest of the NAACP,” Rachel Dolezal of Spokane. » Nation & World, A9
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Sun, some cloud High 22, Low 12 Details A2
Nanaimo woman is injured after being attacked by aggressive crows DARRELL BELLAART DAILY NEWS
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Nanaimo woman is now nursing a sore arm after trying to escape aggressive crows on Newcastle Avenue. Eleanor Thompson was walking along Nanaimo’s seawall Sunday. Roughly three times a week, Thompson walks to the marina area on Newcastle Channel, along the seawall. Sometimes she walks back along Newcastle Avenue. On Sunday at about noon two adult crows and a smaller one started swooping at her repeatedly, in a highly aggressive manner. “It (was) pretty frightening, actually,” said Thompson. When she broke into a run she lost her footing and took a tumble on the pavement, skinning her elbow. The birds didn’t let up, and Thompson took shelter under a garage overhang near Dawes Street. Thompson suspects nesting triggered the unusually aggressive behaviour. Formerly of Seattle, Thompson recalls research done at the University of Washington that shows the sharp intelligence of the birds. Studies show they recognize human faces, and can hold grudges for years. In May, media reported cases of pedestrians cowering from attacking crows outside the Cloverdale shopping centre in Surrey. The birds, stated reports, used their beaks and talons against frightened mall customers and employees.
Local news .................... A3-5 Markets ................................A2 B.C. news ............................. A6
One victim reportedly said the birds “draw blood.” Some people labelled the dive-bombing birds “vicious,” and ornithologists and other experts responded with words to defend the birds, saying they are simply doing what comes naturally — trying to defend themselves in a hard world, and protect their young from what they consider the perceived threat of humans, along with other real threats such as raccoons, dogs and cats. A five-year study of crows found the birds are exceptionally skilled at identifying foes. Crows trapped by humans wearing masks quickly learned to recognize the facial features of the trappers’ masks, which was proven months later when people donned the same masks and the birds angrily “scolded” the threatening humans. Crows seem able to communicate the information to other birds. Fifteen months later, 30 per cent of crows, including those not trapped, scolded people wearing the masks. That figure rose to more than 60 per cent three years after the initial trapping. Thompson remembers the studies from when she lived in Seattle, and wonders why the birds treated her harshly. Neighbourhood residents noticed nothing unusual in the birds’ behaviour recently. Neighbour Margaret Daley said a family of crows lives on the power lines, and “stare in my condo all the time — they’re my friends.” Darrell.Bellaart @nanaimodailynews.com 250-729-4235
Editorials and letters ..... A4 Sports .................................. B2 Scoreboard ........................ B4
Eleanor Thompson shows her bandaged elbow, evidence of her fall after running from a group of aggressive crows (one battling a snake, inset) on Newcastle Avenue on Sunday. [DARRELL BELLAART/DAILY NEWS]
Classified ............................ B6 Obituaries ........................... B6 Comics ................................. B5
Crossword .......................... B5 Sudoku ................................. A2 Horoscope .......................... B7
Nanaimo Daily News and nanaimodailynews.com reach more than 60,000 readers each week in print and online. General inquiries: 250-729-4200 | Newsroom: 250-729-4224 | To subscribe: 250-729-4266 | Copyright 2015. All rights reserved
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