NANAIMO REGION
Issue about signs at council still unresolved Civil liberties lawyer says there could be reasons to restrict signs, and the debate continues. A3
NATION & WORLD
Island in focus
Escapees were headed for Canadian border
George Hanson talks about State of the Island Economic Summit in the city in October
After their brazen escape the pair aimed for Mexico, but fled north when their accomplice didn’t show. A9
Nanaimo Region, A3
The newspaper of record for Nanaimo and region since 1874 || Tuesday, June 30, 2015
» Canada Day
CRIME
Plenty of celebrations on tap for nation’s birthday This historic pocketwatch went missing from the Nanaimo museum.
Missing watch has historic ties to city JULIE CHADWICK DAILY NEWS
TRAVELLING For travellers, BC Ferries has added extra sailings for summer, meaning extra sailings and additional service on many routes. The Horseshoe Bay-Departure Bay route has three ships for up to 22 sailings per day. The Tsawwassen-Duke Point route offers 16 sailings per day.
Employees at the Nanaimo Museum are reeling after the apparent theft of one of their most important artifacts. A pocket watch that once belonged to miner Robert McArthur, the artifact is poignant due to its historical context, said Aimee Greenaway, interpretation curator for the museum. “It’s from around 1910 and it was owned by a local coal miner who worked in the mine on Protection Island. In September of 1918 the cage or elevator that used to take miners from the surface down to the coal mine level, the cable snapped,” said Greenaway. “It plummeted to the bottom of the shaft. There were 16 coal miners in the cage and none of them survived.” McArthur had the watch in his pocket and when the watch was recovered it was found that the impact of the crash had caused it to stop at 7:10 a.m., the exact time of the accident. The watch has little value other than its historical significance, said Greenaway, and was last seen on June 1 in the coal mining exhibit. Greenaway noticed it was missing during a museum tour on Thursday morning. The edge of the case had apparently been pried open. Museum staff are desperate to see the return of the artifact and have offered a no-questions $500 reward for its return. Anyone with information is can call the museum at 250-753-1821 or Nanaimo RCMP at 250-754-2345 or Crime Stoppers at 1-800-222-8477.
Darrell.Bellaart @nanaimodailynews.com 250-729-4235
Julie.Chadwick @nanaimodailynews.com 250-729-4238
Wednesday marks Canada day across the nation, with exciting activities certain to keep almost everyone entertained in and around Nanaimo. Note that there is no ‘Daily News’ paper edition on Wednesday. For breaking news, visit www.nanaimodailynews.com. [DAILY NEWS]
Nanaimo residents urged to wear red and white DARRELL BELLAART DAILY NEWS
A
s Canada celebrates another birthday the party is downtown in Nanaimo and other Island communities. Maffeo Sutton Park is where Nanaimo residents mark 148 years of confederation, and 50 years of Canada’s flag Wednesday. On July 1, 1867 Canada became the Dominion of Canada. Canadians replaced the red ensign with the maple leaf Feb. 15, 1965. To mark the occasion, a flag celebration starts at 11 a.m. Participants are encouraged to wear red and white. Continuing the tradition to celebrate Canada’s diverse ethnic and cultural makeup on that day, a multicultural food fair with interactive booths from 11 a.m. to 3:30 p.m.
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Sun, cloudy periods High 27, Low 17 Details A2
There will be roving entertainment, and performances by the Clanns, Doctors of Rock ‘n Roll, the Big Mess and Myk Sharratt. The Bastion waterfront farmers market opens at Pioneer Plaza. There is no parking at Maffeo Sutton Wednesday. Free metered parking is available downtown. LADYSMITH In Ladysmith, people will don red and white at Transfer Beach Park. To celebrate a half century of the flag, summer day camp leaders will lead children with games and activities 1-5 p.m. PARKSVILLE-QUALICUM The Parksville-Qualicum Shrine Club #34 get an early start in Parksville, pancakes on the griddle in the Coastal Community Credit Union parking lot (Craig Street), at 7:30 a.m. At 10 a.m. the parade runs at
Martindale to the top of Craig. The opening ceremony is noon in Parksville Community Park, at Main Stage. Entertainment continues all day at Main Stage: Alex Wickett, 12:30 p.m.; Tora Leigh, 1:15 p.m.; Mike Tompkins, 2:15 p.m.; Bev Finch, 3:15 p.m.; Boot Hill Boys 4:15 p.m.; Counting Time, 5:30 p.m.; Turn it to 11, 6:45 p.m.; Tasman Jude band, 8 p.m. and The Odds, 9 p.m., followed by the grand finale: Fireworks at 10:15 p.m. In Qualicum Beach, activities start with a parade at 11:45 a.m. from Pharmasave, down Memorial Avenue to Royal Canadian Legion #76, (180 Ceterans Way), where an opening ceremony happens at 12 p.m. The Canada Day cake will be cut by Parksville-Qualicum MLA Michelle Stilwell at 1:30 p.m. Between 1-4 p.m., hear the sounds of Bent Rymn and
Qualicum Beach Pipes and Drums and witness the footwork of Sharon Lafferty’s Cloggers. Enjoy a barbecue and soft drinks. LANTZVILLE In Lantzville, it starts with a pancake breakfast at 8 a.m., a children’s parade and races at 10 a.m., a magician at 1 p.m. and horseshoes at 3 p.m., all at Legion, #257.
Financial ruin seems imminent for Greece
Nanaimo Pirates see return of top pitcher
The country is in the midst of one of the most acute financial crises seen anywhere in the world in years. It’s running out of time to stave off bankruptcy. » Nation & World, A7
With a year left before the prospect of college baseball Josh Burgmann now says he’s looking forward to getting back into the swing of things with the Pirates. » Sports, B2
Local news .................... A3-5 Markets ................................A2 B.C. news ............................. A8
Editorials and letters ..... A4 Sports .................................. B2 Scoreboard ........................ B3
Classified ............................ B6 Obituaries ........................... B6 Comics ........................ B4, B5
Crossword ................. B4, B5 Sudoku ................................. A2 Horoscope .......................... B7
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