NANAIMO REGION
NATION & WORLD
Council prepares for vote on grant criteria
Nanaimo council will vote tonight on a change to the grant criteria for local events and organizations. A3
Second major
Service resumes at church in Charleston
Jordan Spieth wins U.S. Open after Johnson three-putts on final hole
Songs and prayer return to Emanuel AME Church for the first time since nine people were killed there. A6
Page B1
The newspaper of record for Nanaimo and region since 1874 || Monday, June 22, 2015
of gas Talented tutor Price continues YOUR MONEY
Vancouver Island University student Elsie Hampshire has earned a national award for her exceptional efforts
to confound customers ROBERT BARRON DAILY NEWS
excited about the material.” The local chapter of SOS at VIU started in 2011 currently offers student support from approximately 12 to 15 tutors, said Ward. There are 30 SOS chapters all across Canada. The money raised through tutoring locally went towards the construction of a kindergarten class in Pueblo Viejo, Nicaragua. In May, a group of VIU students travelled to the community with SOS to meet the community and assist in the construction of the classroom. In March, Hamilton also won a second-place award at VIU’s CREATE conference in the Scholarship Slam category for her biology presentation on Intestinal Trematode Communities of the Belted Kingfisher in Coastal British Columbia.
Zane Gauthier doesn’t understand the high price of gas. Filling his tank at a Nanaimo gas station, Gauthier said the fact that gas prices are closing in on the same totals as this time last year makes no sense. In June of 2014, the price of gas was selling for up to $1.45.9 per litre in gas stations in Nanaimo when oil surged as high as $106 a barrel. However, oil is now selling for approximately $60 a barrel in international markets, $46 cheaper than a year ago, but gas in most local stations was selling for $1.27.9 in Nanaimo over the weekend, not too far off last year’s prices. And, as the busy summer driving season approaches, experts are predicting another bump in prices in the coming weeks. “Who can understand why the gas prices are the way they are these days?” Gauthier asked. “I usually check out the prices around Nanaimo before I gas up because there sometimes differences in the prices between stations.” Jason Parent, vice president of MJ Ervin & Associates which monitors gas prices, said the price of oil actually plays just a small part in gas prices. He said the fact the loonie is currently trading at just 82 cents as compared to the American dollar, the lowest it has been in years, is one of the reasons. That’s because a lot of the gasoline used in Canada is refined and processed in the U.S. where refineries price the base commodity in American dollars. Parent said another reason is that demand for gas is higher this year than last year, largely due to the fact that lower gas prices over the last year drove up vehicle use across North America. Phil Flynn, the senior market analyst at the energy research firm Price Futures Group, added that the demand for gas is also increasing because four large U.S. refineries have recently cut back production due to breakdowns and maintenance. Flynn said that as a result, there are currently only about 23 days’ worth of gasoline in storage across North America. Parent said motorists can expect to see the price of gas rise again in Nanaimo and other Canadian markets as the summer season kicks in, but not by much. “I expect it shouldn’t rise any more than six cents in the coming months,” he said.
Julie.Chadwick @nanaimodailynews.com 250-729-4238
Robert.Barron @nanaimodailynews.com 250-729-4234
Vancouver Island University student Elsie Hampshire was honoured as a standout tutor by the charitable organization Students Offering Support.
‘Phenomenal feedback’ led to SOS honour
V
ancouver Island University student Elsie Hampshire’s enthusiasm for learning has earned her a national award as a standout instructor through the charitable organization Students Offering Support. The concept behind the organization is that third- and fourth-year students who excel in their studies provide tutorial and exam support to help teach their peers in first- and secondyear courses. Students pay a fee of $20 for the Exam-AID tutorials, which is then goes towards sustainable educational projects in Latin America. This year, Hampshire was selected at SOS’s Exam-AID’s Instructor of the Year due to her standout level of feedback from students who participated in her tutorials. “We have just one award per year to recognize the tutors, to pick one tutor who kind of
» Use your smartphone to jump to our website for updates on these stories or the latest breaking news.
Variably cloudy High 22, Low 12 Details A2
stood out,” said Rachel Ward, struggling with are suddenly executive director of SOS. clear,” said Hampshire via “Last year it was a girl from email. “I really love teaching Windsor, and this year people, and explaining it was Elsie from VIU. things, and sharing my “So we looked at her enthusiasm for learnfeedback — they get a ing and especially for feedback form where biology, and tutoring they fill out and rate with SOS was such a her out of 10 — and wonderful opportunity then they also provide to do all that.” written feedback. And The courses Hamilshe just kind of blew it ton tutored in ranged out of the water. All of from first- and secondher feedback was just year biology courses to Julie phenomenal. People zoology, molecular and Chadwick were really excited cellular biology, and Reporting to go to her, she just genetics. really excelled as a “My favourite course teacher.” to tutor was probably A graduating student intro to zoology, largely of biology, Hamilton is current- because I really love ecology ly busy with a bird banding and natural history, so tutoring project at the Hakai Institute that class gave me a chance to Field Station on Calvert Island. share some of my enthusiasm,” “There’s nothing quite like said Hamilton. the look on someone’s face “A lot of students who take when you make them see some- that course also aren’t biology thing in a whole new way, and majors, so it was fun to have concepts that they had been the chance to really get them
Surrey program puts dealers on better paths
Canadians advance to World Cup quarter-final
The Surrey School District began the Wrap Project in 2009 and it has been able to turn around the lives of teenaged drug dealers at risk of jail time. » Nation & World, A7
Josee Belanger scored early in the second half to send Canada into the quarter-finals of the Women’s World Cup with a 1-0 victory over Switzerland in Vancouver. » Sports, B2
Local news .................... A3-5 Community Calendar .....A2 Nation & World ................. A6
Editorials and letters ..... A4 Sports ................................... B1 Scoreboard ........................ B4
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 inquires: 250-729-4200 | Newsroom: 250-729-4224 | To subscribe: 250-729-4266 | Copyright 2015. All rights reserved
EARTHBANK Invest in your soil FISH COMPOST $ 60/yd. & $7.00/U-bag 1424 Hodges Road Parksville, BC Mon-Sat 8-4 250-954-0118
OMRI Listed for use in certified organic food production, Earthbank Fish Compost is fully cured and contaminant free. A powerful & safe oil amender to beautify your garden & boost plant growth.
www.fishcompost.com
$1.25 TAX INCLUDED