Jumpstart for kids
Program creates recreation opportunities for families Page A16
NEWS: Police nab three impaired drivers /A2 ARTS: What’s on at local galleries /A6 SPORTS: Vikes see weekend soccer action /A19
OAK BAYNEWS Friday, September 11, 2015
www.oakbaynews.com
Break-in wakens residents
Fit for a Queen
Coun. Hazel Braithwaite offers sandwiches and sweets to Lt. Gov. Judith Guichon, left, George MacMinn, longtime parliamentary officer at the B.C. Legislature, and Oak Bay Mayor Nils Jensen as the trio talk over tea Sept. 9. The noonhour celebration at municipal hall marked the longest-serving monarch, Queen Elizabeth II, who surpassed Queen Victoria’s record on Wednesday.
Christine van Reeuwyk Oak Bay News
New community inspires new traditions C4C campaign kicks off on Day 1 at Oak Bay High Christine van Reeuwyk Oak Bay News
From newcomer to returnee students were impressed during a morning session Tuesday in the new Oak Bay High School building on Cadboro Bay Road. About 1,300 students flooded the new school Tuesday morning, filling the 190,540-square-foot, $54.3 million state-of-the-art structure. “It’s really nice. It’s big and really cool,” said Sofia Jeliazkov
during the afternoon of Sept. 8. Friend Paris Pelan added that the theatre where the opening assembly offered the two Grade 9 students a first glimpse into Oak Bay High life was particularly nice. The 420-seat theatre features adjacent dance, vocal, band, fine art and media studios. “A highlight though was meeting everyone,” Jeliazkov said. An avid volleyball and basketball layer, returning student Nick Mickelberry, Grade 12, is a fan of the athletics spaces, particularly the competitive gym that features sprung floors, high ceilings and top media equipment to support school and local sport programs.
“It’s pretty incredible,” Mickelberry said. “I’ve been in a lot of gyms across the province and this is the nicest I’ve seen. It’s pretty impressive.” The one large school replaces two old buildings and is built to LEED gold standards, minimizing environmental impact through construction and operation. Wireless technology connects students and teachers to each other and the world, while superb technical and trades shops enable wood, metal, mechanical and electrical instruction and a ‘clean’ lab provides for electronics, 3D printing and robotics education. The Neighbourhood Learning Centre
integrated into the school includes day and after school care, a teen centre and activity spaces. Common areas such as the large social staircase and adjacent cafeteria with garage-door-like opening to the open air are among top features so far for Grade 12 student Jessica Izard. “It’s pretty amazing. The spirit here is so incredible. It’s a pretty nice place,” she said, as the first half-day of school wrapped with a Tour de Rock fundraising barbecue under sunny skies behind the new building. PlEASE SEE: C4C campaign launches Page A3
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Christine van Reeuwyk/ Oak Bay News
In a rare case of break and enter while residents slept, a couple was awakened by the sound of breaking glass shortly after 1 a.m. on Sept. 3. The husband checked around the Thompson Avenue residence but couldn’t see anything unusual and went back to bed. About an hour later the couple were again awakened, this time by someone shining a flashlight into their bedroom. “In my career I know a couple dozen like that. We’ve had two or three [break and enters while residents are home] in Oak Bay and Victoria in the last couple years,” said Const. Rick Anthony, community liaison officer, adding those were primarily daytime crimes. “Bad guys are going to break into houses whether people are home or not. They prefer not … they don’t want hard, they want easy.” In this case the suspect fled while residents called 9-1-1 – the right thing to do says Anthony. “People should just be calm. People should have a phone in the bedroom and call 9-1-1 right away. Even if you’re wrong, we’d rather come and spend some time there making sure nothing is wrong. “Stay safe and call 9-1-1 and give us all the details you can give us.” In the Oak Bay incident, a Victoria Police Department dog followed a strong scent into the back alley but did not locate suspect. Officers discovered a broken window in the rear back door and Saanich PD Forensic Identification Section examined the scene as part of the ongoing investigation. reporter@oakbaynews.com