TUESDAY SEPTEMBER 15, 2015
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SEASON UNDERWAY
NEW VET IN QUALICUM
Generals get a win and a tie to open the new VIJHL season
Today’s business profile highlights the arrival of Dr. Ashley Bernauer
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A27
DOWNTOWN PARKSVILLE
Sidewalks dangerous Reports on the experience of pedestrians not good JOHN HARDING editor@pqbnews.com
They are dangerous. They lead wheelchair users into the middle of intersections. They are in disrepair. Parksville city council heard a lot of talk about sidewalks in the city from two separate delegations at its regular meeting last week. First up were the Parksville Downtown Business Association’s youth ambassadors Austin Smith and Aomi Jokoji, two teens now in their Grade 12 year at Ballenas Secondary School. They spent a couple of months employed by the PDBA this summer talking to residents, business owners and tourists in the downtown of Parksville and delivered a report to council on Wednesday night. The teens fielded questions from, and provided info for, about 300 people in the downtown core of the city between June 22- August 28. Both of them said it was a positive experience and the PDBA was pleased with the amount of data it received. “(Smith and Jokoji) proved to be above and beyond our expectations,” said PDBA executive director Pam Bottomley. “The project turned into so much more.” The teens provided council with statistics on what people asked about and what people both enjoyed and were frustrated by in downtown Parksville. Smith said people said Parksville Community Park is “always a fantastic experience.” The teens said many people asked about activities available in the downtown core. According to the teens, there were quite a few negative comments about the downtown, and they did not soften the language in their report to council last week. See CURB CUTS, page A7
JOHN HARDING PHOTO
PAWS FOR A CAUSE: Hundreds of people and their four-legged, furry family friends came to Parksville Community Park on Sunday morning for the annual BCSPCA Paws for a Cause event. The weather was fantastic and along with the walk was an agility course for dogs and their owners to try. There were almost as many breeds as their were dogs. Above, Adina Finnessey of Club Pawz Pet Sitting poses with her eight-year-old chihuahua Tucker. For more photos from the event, visit our Facebook page: www.facebook.com/PQBNews.
LOCALS TOSS AWAY $3,000
Scammers ramp up CRA scheme CANDACE WU news@pqbnews.com
Police received more than 50 phone calls last week reporting attempted Canada Revenue Agency fraud — and two people have fallen victim to the scam. Oceanside RCMP Cpl. Jesse Foreman said the victims each wired $1,500 away. “Fifty calls is very high,” said Foreman. “Normally a current scam may get reported by 10 people in a week.” In a news release, police explain
the Canada Revenue Agency fraud will typically look like this: residents receive a notification by phone that they owe back taxes as the result of an audit. The fraudster claims that the payment must be made immediately or the RCMP will attend their home and arrest them. The victim is further told that they must phone a certain telephone number without delay, asked for personal information and then told to wire money. Foreman warned Parksville Qualicum Beach residents to be aware
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of the fraud noting the CRA will not call and ask for personal information or threaten you with arrest. “This is happening all across B.C.,” said Foreman. “It couldn’t possibly be the same source, must be a team of people.” The RCMP, in consultation with the Canadian Anti-Fraud Centre are investigating these incidents. If you have been victimized and have sent money to these scam artists please call the Oceanside RCMP at 250-2486111 to report the incident.
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