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Wednesday, September 2, 2015
MUNICIPALITY
City buys old Tidebrook Hotel land Acquisition for $195,000 announced with possibility for a walking, cycling trail from Victoria Quay to Rogers Creek Park ERIC PLUMMER ALBERNI VALLEY TIMES
After fires, a forced demolition and nearly $50,000 in outstanding municipal taxes, the city has acquired the former Tidebrook Hotel property with hopes of making it a link between Victoria Quay and Rogers Creek Park. On Tuesday council announced the purchase of 4356 Gertrude St. for $195,000 after the deal was completed Monday. With the acquisition the city now owns a long expanse of land along Rogers Creek, extending from the Rogers Creek Park to the Victoria Quay by the Somass River. In a release on Tuesday, the
RUTTAN
city stated that the purchase of the old Tidebrook land will help move forward plans to enhance Port Alberni’s waterfront with
a cycling and walking trail from Victoria Quay to Rogers Creek Park. “It’s potentially something we can add to the Rogers Creek parkland,” said Mayor Mike Ruttan of the recently acquired property. “It’s a very important piece to connect the Victoria Quay to Gertrude Street along the north side of Rogers Creek.” The land is currently zoned for commercial use, and while the city mentioned a waterfront trail in the release Ruttan noted that council has not determined if a change in the property’s designation will be necessary. “It’s an option to see what we can do in terms of the commer-
cial opportunities at that property,” he said. The Gertrude Street land brings a long history, including years of housing the Tidebrook Hotel. After sitting vacant for years a fire destroyed much of the building in 2012, followed by another blaze in June 2013 – an incident that police and the fire department suspect was caused by a person. What remained of the structure was deemed a public hazard, leading the city to force its demolition in September 2013, charging a tear-down bill of over $20,000 to former owner Jack Purdy. This fee went unpaid, and including back taxes owed to
ATTRACTION
the city the property’s municipal dues amounted to $44,529 last September. The property’s owner finally cleared up the balance in February with interest, said Ruttan. “There’s some safety issues that we’re going to take care of in terms of some of the cement structures on that property,” he added. “There’s not a lot of work necessary.” One element of the property Ruttan has pledged not to remove is a large tree. “It’s certainly one of biggest sequoias in the Valley, so we definitely want to make sure that is preserved,” he said. Eric.Plummer@avtimes.net
COMMUNITY
Carving exhibit hopes to lure crowds Storm cuts of land lovers during Salmon Festival out power in Alberni residences
KRISTI DOBSON ALBENRI VALLEY TIMES
Organizers are hoping the sound of chainsaws will attract more visitors to the Salmon Festival this year. In an effort to offer something new on the grounds for the 44th annual event, the committee is launching the inaugural log carving exhibition. Rob Cole, a committee director, said the idea came about when the group felt the need to grow the ‘festival’ part of the Salmon Festival. “We know we can’t change the derby itself, so we wanted to come up with a way to create more of a festival atmosphere on the grounds and in the community,” Cole said. Working in the past with carver, Jesse Toso, Carolyn Jasken of the Ultimate Fishing Town thought it would be a good local attraction. “Carving suits Port Alberni,” Jasken said. “So we came up with a way to make it happen.” Originally the two were hoping to work with Art Rave and tie it in with the Salmon Festival, but the timing was off this year. Instead, they developed the plan and got the ball rolling. “It snowballed from there,” Jasken said. Along with funds from the city’s Ultimate Fishing Town win in 2010, West Coast Aquatic and local businesses have signed on as sponsors. In turn, the business sponsors will be the recipients of the final products at the end of the weekend. Among the five confirmed professional carvers will be Toso, who has already made his mark with his artwork in the Valley. Toso’s first piece was a jumping salmon for the Chamber of
MARTIN WISSMATH ALBERNI VALLEY TIMES
how they will use it. Over the weekend, the public can add to the people’s choice tally with a donation going towards salmon enhancement projects at the West Coast Aquatic booth on the festival grounds. The goal is to grow the exhibition and competition next year to include amateur carvers.
While over half a million customers went without power on the Lower Mainland last weekend, a smaller outage struck the Alberni Valley. Over 2,000 customers were without power when a rain and windstorm swept through Port Alberni, knocking trees onto power lines. “The Island escaped the wrath of the storm,” said Ted Olynyk, community relations manager for BC Hydro. Nevertheless some residents’ electricity was cut off for about an hour and a half on Saturday afternoon as a result of wind toppling trees and branches. “Around one o’clock on Saturday, we had almost 2,200 customers out [of power] in the Alberni area,” said Olynyk. “Everyone seemed to be back on essentially by five o’clock.” Across the North Island, including Nanaimo, there were about 10,000 customers out of power, said Olynyk. Minor outages continued in the Alberni Valley on Sunday. On Monday afternoon a tree knocked down a power line in Cherry Creek. The Cherry Creek volunteer fire department responded to the incident. Olynyk said BC Hydro on the Island sent 60 staff to the mainland to help relieve workers there during the unprecedented storm. “Only one house got affected,” said Fire Chief Mike Sparrow, adding that people stay away from downed power lines. “One telephone pole away, minimum.”
Kristi.Dobson@avtimes.net
Martin.Wissmath@avtimes.net
Jesse Toso takes his first cut during a chainsaw carving competition in Ontario. He will return to Port Alberni for the inaugurual wood-carving exhibition at this weekend’s Salmon Festival. [PHOTO SUBMITTED]
Commerce Visitor’s Centre last year. He recently completed a bench that has been a feature of many photo opportunities at Harbour Quay. Also taking part are Dan Richey, from Nanaimo, Junior Henderson and Jerry Strelioff, both from Campbell River, and Adam Youngblut from Ladysmith. The carvers will be onsite at Stirling Field across from the marina all day Saturday and
Sunday. Spectators will be able to watch live as they transform pieces of logs into works of art. The only restriction for the artists is to keep within the Alberni Valley-inspired theme of marine and wildlife or industrial heritage. Brad Berry assisted with securing reclaimed wood, which will be revealed to the carvers on Friday night. They have until the next morning to determine
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