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Road work makes way for more bicycles
After 16 years and scads ads of awards, John Stewart’s wart’s last show is Thursday y Enjoy your B.C. Day long weekend, publication resumes on Tuesday
More bicycle lanes are being added around the city every year as a part of numerous infrastructure projects. A3
Weekend, B1
The newspaper of record for Nanaimo and region since 1874 || Saturday, August 1, 2015 CITY
Mounties on hand at council meeting DARRELL BELLAART DAILY NEWS
“It’s as normal as you could be,” MacDonald said. “But given our record dry May and June, it’s still drought conditions.” With an unusually high number of wildfires on the Island this summer, forestry officials urge care outdoors. “Think about cigarettes and where you park your cars,” MacPherson said. Two wildfires continue to burn on the southern Island, at Skutz Falls, near Lake Cowichan, which was about half contained on Friday, and the Sproat Lake fire, which continues to flare up occasionally, but is no longer considered a threat. Approximately $168 million has been spent battling B.C. wildfires so far this year, compared to a total of $112 million last year.
Threats of civil disobedience at Colliery Dams Park brought RCMP officers to the city council meeting this week. Council recently voted to agree with the provincial Comptroller of Water Rights’ order to remediate the dams to protect residents from flooding; and demonstrators vow to take action to prevent the work going ahead. Two uniformed Nanaimo RCMP officers were present at council at Shaw Auditorium Monday. Resident Ron Stead called it “intimidation,” and wrote city council with his concerns. “I don’t want to see this kind of stuff happening in Nanaimo,” Stead said. “There could be demonstrations and violence.” RCMP officers attended for reasons of public safety, and were intentionally uniformed so as not to “hide their presence,” said Supt. Mark Fisher, chief of the Nanaimo RCMP. “Given some of the discussion that has been floating in the community and online about the potential for civil disobedience and possible violence at Colliery dams, I have asked the two officers that were present at the meeting to learn more about the issue and the potential for civil disobedience,” Fisher stated in an email. City council recently voted to proceed with a spillway to meet the comptroller’s order. Dave Cutts, at anti-logging protests in Clayoquot Sound in the 1990s, said demonstrators are trained and ready for the bulldozers. Their concerns include costs to taxpayers, the environmental impact of a spillway and what they say is the province’s heavy-handed approach. Action could range from sealing off the park through making a presence on the worksite, “which means nothing can happen,” through civil disobedience if an injunction is granted, Cutts said. “At this point, I think it would be a good thing for them to do that,” said Coun. Gord Fuller. But he said it could be awhile.
Darrell.Bellaart@ nanaimodailynews.com 250-729-4235
Darrell.Bellaart@ nanaimodailynews.com 250-729-4235
Jordan Mattson, 7, Kegan-lyn Wallace, 7, Zoe Winder, 5, and Layla-mae Wallace, 9, cool off with ice cream on Friday. [AARON HINKS/DAILY NEWS]
Weekend heat hits Island DARRELL BELLAART DAILY NEWS
T
he hot weather has returned and with it more blue skies for a glorious B.C. Day long weekend, at least through Sunday. Last weekend’s rain gave some a welcome relief from the heat, but the sun is back with temperatures ideal for days on the beach, evening barbecues and pitchers of frosty beverages. Plus an increased risk of fire. “We’re asking people on the Island to be careful, so we don’t have any human-caused fires,” said Donna MacPherson, fire information officer with the Coastal Fire Service. The fire hazard is at extreme — the highest level — from Duncan to north of Qualicum Beach on eastern Vancouver Island. For campers the ban on campfires remains in place. “This is typically the hottest
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Sunny High 30, Low 17 Details A2
Fast weather facts Weather Stats: Record high: 36.1 C Today’s forecast: 28 C Sunday: 27 C Coastal B.C. Wildfires To July 31 10-year average Fires 140 128 Lightning- 32 35 Caused Human- 108 93 Caused SOURCE: COASTAL FIRE SERVICE
time of year,” said Matt MacDonald, Environment Canada meteorologist. The record for the period July 31 to Aug. 2 in Nanaimo is 36.1 C, reached in 1965. MacDonald said the short-term trend is for temperatures to moderate.
Friday was expected to be the hottest day of the long weekend, with a high of 30 C. Today a balmy 28 C is forecast. An “onshore flow,” carries cooler breezes and some relief from the searing temperatures. Sunday’s high is expected to reach 27 C, and Monday we may seem some clouds, MacDonald said. It’s expected to stay dry at least until then, when intermittent scattered showers are possible across the Island. “Our confidence isn’t very high. We may see precipitation, but it won’t be very much. Nevertheless, look for a cooling trend Monday, with increasing clouds.” Longer term, climatologists are calling for a return to the hot, dry conditions that have put much of the Island under watering restrictions. Last week’s rain brought Nanaimo’s total rainfall for July to 25.2 millimetres, compared to an average of 25.4 mm.
Police say woman now missing since Monday
Canada-made Ebola vaccine found effective
RCMP are asking for the public’s help to find Delores (Deedee) Brown. She was last seen leaving Penelakut Island to visit her grandmother, who lives in Chemainus. » Nanaimo Region, A5
A new study reported Friday that a vaccine designed by scientists at Canada’s National Microbiology lab in Winnipeg induces a quick and highly effective. » Nation & World, A6
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