Alberni Valley Bulldogs add goalie coach Sports, Page 5
15C ``C
Cloudy, light rain Serving the Alberni Valley
www.avtimes.net
ENVIRONMENT
Tuesday, June 2, 2015 INFRASTRUCTURE
David Suzuki visits for talk on oceans A file photo of a Navion Rangemaster aircraft ready to land at the Alberni Valley Regional Airport. The ACRD submitted a bylaw to borrow $6 million to expand the airport’s runway and install a global positioning system to the B.C. government.
Airport bylaw to borrow $6M up for B.C. approval MARTIN WISSMATH ALBERNI VALLEY TIMES
David Suzuki will be speaking tonight at Maht Mahs gymnasium on issues surrounding climate change and coastal waters. [DAVID SUZUKI FOUNDATION PHOTO]
Coastal community eco-tour stops in Port Alberni tonight KRISTI DOBSON ALBERNI VALLEY TIMES
R
enowned environmental activist David Suzuki will be speaking to the public tonight as part of his Celebrating Coastal Connections tour. The tour is a chance for Suzuki and representatives from his foundation to meet with residents along the coast of B.C. and discuss regional climate change issues. “It is also a chance to celebrate the years of work and leadership shown by the First Nations on the protection and planning through the recent signing of the Marine Planning Partnership,” said Panos Grames, communications specialist for the David Suzuki Foundation. The agreement between the Government of B.C. and
» Use your smartphone to jump to our Facebook page for updates on these stories or the latest
“Climate change is happening around us each and every day. We talked to people about the ways it affects their lives living on the coast.” Ian Mauro, filmmaker
18 coastal First Nations was signed in April and is intended to lead the way for ocean conservation. Tonight’s event will feature a 30-minute preview of an upcoming film on the impacts of climate change close to home. Shot last summer along the coast and interior of the province by award-winning filmmaker, Ian Mauro, the film is
told through the perspective of local people. “Climate change is happening around us each and every day,” Mauro said. “We talked to people about the ways it affects their lives living on the coast.” Following the film, Suzuki will speak of his personal experiences and spark discussion among the audience. Suzuki is hoping to engage residents and hear their concerns and solutions facing the community, as well as discuss visions for a healthy future. The tour includes 12 B.C. communities from Smithers to Nanaimo from June 1 to 13. Tonight’s special presentation takes place at Maht Mahs gymnasium from 7 p.m. to 9:30 p.m. Kristi.Dobson@avtimes.net
Two bylaws for the Alberni-Clayoquot Regional District to borrow $6 million in funding for improvements to the regional airport have been submitted to the provincial government for approval. The 30-year loan would cost Alberni home owners about $23 on their yearly tax bill for an assessed property value of $200,000. If the bylaws are approved by the provincial Inspector of Municipalities, then a month-long public approval process will begin, giving Alberni Valley residents the opportunity to sign a petition opposing the loan. One bylaw is for authorization to borrow $6 million for expanding the Alberni Valley Regional Airport, a second bylaw is required to finance the debt annually through the Municipal Finance Authority. While the bylaws would provide the required financial room for expansion and improvement of the regional airport, the ACRD hopes to fund the entire $7.5 million cost with government grants through the Gas Tax Strategic Priorities Fund. The bylaws passed through three readings last week at the ACRD board meeting. “The [Inspector of Municipalities] has to sign off on each bylaw, then provide it back to the board for them to then adopt,” said Russell Dyson, chief administrative officer of the ACRD. The bylaws would then be advertised in a local newspaper at least twice in two consecutive weeks. At that point, what’s called an “alternate approval process” must take place for 32 days. If at least 10 per cent of residents in
Music program a priority for schools
JPII school preps for Around the World fair
All students in kindergarten to Grade 7 will participate in music education classes as the district transitions to a K–7 model, says the superintendent. » Alberni Region, 3
A giant fun fair will be taking over the entire grounds of John Paul II Catholic School this Friday evening.
DYSON
the Alberni Valley indicate their disapproval by signing a petition, then the bylaw can only proceed with a referendum, Dyson said. Petition forms would be made available on the acrd website (acrd.bc.ca). “The Alberni Valley [residents] are the only ones that pay for the airport,” he said. Residents in Port Alberni, Beaver Creek, Cherry Creek, Sproat Lake and Beaufort can take part in the public approval process. The airport improvement would require $6 million to extend the runway by 300 metres and install a global positioning system. A further $1.5 million would pay to improve the runway lighting. These improvements would enable corporate airlines to provide regular passenger service to the regional airport, but whether or not that actually happens is up to the major carriers, Dyson noted. “The better the facility that we provide, securing a GPS, creates a better opportunity for them to make that investment,” he said. A decision on how much, if any, funding the ACRD will receive from the government is anticipated in the fall, said Dyson. Martin.Wissmath@avtimes.net
» Alberni Region, 3
Inside today Weather 2 What’s On 2
Alberni Region 3 Opinion 4
ALBERNI VALLEY TIMES VOLUME 66, NUMBER 104
Sports 5 Scoreboard 6
Comics 7 Puzzles 7
Classifieds 8 Taste 9
$1.25 newsstand (sales tax incl.)