Westerly News
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Tofino residence robbed ANDREW BAILEY
Westerly News
The owners of a Pacific Rim Highway residence went out for a hike on July 23 and returned home to find several of their electronic devices had been stolen. The stolen items included an iPhone, iPad, and iPod, according to Tofino RCMP detachment commander Sgt. Blaine Mumford. Mumford told the Westerly News there were no signs of forced entry at the scene and the thief, or thieves, ignored larger items of value while committing the crime. “It looks like either a door was left unlocked or a key that was hidden outside was used to enter,” he said. “Whoever did it, it looks like they were in and out quite quickly.” An investigation is ongoing and anyone with any information about the theft is encouraged to contact the detachment at 250-725-3242. Mumford is advising West Coasters to lock up and protect themselves from summer’s rise in crime. “It’s a reminder to everyone that it’s summertime and there’s lots of people around; it pays to double check that you’ve locked your doors and windows,” he said. “I know in Tofino, and Ucluelet, people sometimes hesitate to lock their doors and they feel like they shouldn’t have to but, unfortunately, we’re in the day in age where it’s better safe than sorry.” andrew.bailey@westerlynews.ca
Tuesdays at 8pm July & August Clayoquot Community The atre Free Admission
July 29, 2015
Serving Tofino and Ucluelet
N A I T LL E LU NS A C U W ND O CR AROU
Wednesday
$1.25 [INCLUDING TAX]
C L AYOQUOT SOUND OF FREEDOM
From left, Citizen of the Year Jeff Swann an nn and and his hiis four four fo sons celebrate with Kasia Kromka and nd Cody Naples of Business of the Year Solidarity Snacks and Volunteer of the Year Sandy Rantz. Photo Andrew Bailey.
INSIDE THIS WEEK:
BREAKFAST NAILS IT The Food Bank on the Edge celebrated tremendous success at this year’s Ukee Days’ Deluxe Breakfast. PAGE 2
Ukee names volunteer, business, and citizen of the year ANDREW BAILEY
Westerly News A healthy serving of community pride was infused into Sunday’s Ukee Days closing ceremonies as Jeff Swann, Sandy Rantz, and Solidarity Snacks were celebrated for their Ucluetian dedication. Coun. Randy Oliwa presented Rantz with Ucluelet’s Volunteer of the Year award and touted her efforts to earn it. “It is a great honour, pleasure and privilege to announce this year’s Volunteer of the Year award,” Oliwa said. “Chances are you’ve run into Ms. Rantz somewhere; she’s at all of these events. If something is happening in the community, this young lady is in the thick of it.” Rantz told the Westerly she was delighted to receive the
award. “It means the world to me. I’m really happy to be recognized by my community,” she said. “I’m just so appreciative of the award and I love living in Ucluelet.” She said her love of the community stems from the people she shares it with. “I volunteer because I like to get out there and do everything. I like to be a part of everything and I like to have a purpose...I started volunteering just to get to know people in my community and it certainly met that goal,” she said. “It’s a very supportive community and it makes it easier when you’re going through tough times because you’re really embraced by so many people and you’re so close to everybody in your community.”
Coun. Mayco Noel presented the Business of the Year award to Solidarity Snacks’ co-owners Kasia Kromka and Cody Naples. “You’ve been a solid part of the business community,” Noel said. Kromka told the Westerly she was both stoked and shocked to receive the award. “I did not expect it at all,” she said. “It’s an honour that people are thinking about us... and that they’re aware of all the things that we do around town. It’s really special.” Along with promoting good food, Solidarity Snacks is heavily involved in the Ucluelet Market Society as well as the Army, Navy, and Air Force Veterans Club. Kromka said the community’s support is vital to Solidarity’s success.
“Especially in a community of this size, in a small town, if the community doesn’t support you in what you’re doing, you won’t exist; you won’t be able to function as a business,” she said. “I’d like to thank everybody that voted for us and everybody in the community.” Coun. Sally Mole presented Ucluelet’s Citizen of the Year award to Jeff Swann. “It’s a huge privilege for me to announce the Citizen of the Year Jeff Swann who has been a big part of our community for a long time,” she said. Swann told the Westerly he was “taken aback” by the award. “This community is so full of wonderful citizens...It was a very nice honour to receive,” he said.
See AWARDS pg. 10
UKEE DAYS RECAP Check out this week’s Westerly Life to recapture the glory of Ukee Days. PAGES 7-10
$40,000 SCHOLARSHIP Chenoah Shine has been announced as 2015’s Pacific Rim Foundation Scholarship recipient. PAGE 11
BIRDS OF A FEATHER Local volunteers are needed for seabird research. PAGE 15