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Wednesday, September 23, 2015
CITY
Condo development offers ‘vibrancy’ Despite some reservations, council is pushing ahead what could become the Uptown’s tallest building a second bathroom, he said. Saroya needed a variance permit from city council, who gave unanimous consent at their regular meeting on Sept. 14. The permit allows Saroya to add a fifth storey to the structure, raising it to a height of 17 metres. City planner Scott Smith said the new development would add “increased vibrancy” to Port Alberni’s Uptown area. If constructed it would be the highest building in the Uptown business district. Coun. Ron Paulson expressed some concern that some of the new units would have a poor view on the back alley. Project designer Mark Garrett said a lower price-point for those
MARTIN WISSMATH ALBERNI VALLEY TIMES
The owner of the Beaufort Convention Centre says an ambitious five-storey condominium development will be “totally different” from the other property he owns in the Uptown business district. The proposed residential complex received council’s preliminary approval to build a five-floors on Third Avenue last week. An empty lot at 3033 Third Avenue is planned for development by Paul Saroya, who took over ownership of the Beaufort in 2011. Saroya intends to construct 40 two-bedroom, two-bathroom residential units on the upper four floors, with eight larger commercial units on the ground floor.
PAULSON
The new development will different from the Beaufort, Saroya said, since the old hotel’s suites aren’t designed as residential units. The new building’s condos will include a kitchen, separate bedrooms and
units should make them marketable. While the condominium development is in its earliest stages, Saroya suggested attracting seniors to buy residences in the Uptown, where they could be close to shops. While he sees that there is potential for improving the area, he can’t do it on his own, he said. It’s difficult to find investors for Port Alberni, Saroya noted; he’ll first need to raise $250,000 in development fees. That contrasts with Nanaimo, where the city council there waives development fees for certain areas to encourage construction, Saroya said. As for the Beaufort, Saroya said he’s trying to improve security on site and has installed cameras. The relatively high crime in the
Uptown has caused problems in the past but the situation is improving, he said. A planned $9-million renovation of the old hotel structure fell through when Saroya couldn’t secure the financial backing for the project, he said. Construction on the $5-million condominiums project could start in 2017, said Saroya. It would join two other developments underway in the city’s Uptown, including a $6-million building for the Uchucklesaht First Nation at the corner of Argyle and Kingsway, and a plan for the Canada Post building on the corner of Argyle and Fourth. Martin.Wissmath@avtimes.net
LITERACY
Raise a Reader Day: Little Libraries with free books spread throughout Port Alberni KRISTI DOBSON ALBERNI VALLEY TIMES
‘Digital literacy’ teaches seniors computers skills You’re never too old to learn how to use a computer, says a volunteer teacher with Literacy Alberni. Bob Wagenvoort runs a course for the non-profit society. » Alberni Region, 3
Finding the right wines to match exotic food With some straightforward foods, wine pairings are simple to identify. But what to do when the food is a chaos of flavours and texture? » Taste, 10 » Use your smartphone to jump to our Facebook page for updates on these stories or the latest breaking news.
A number of little libraries are about to be popping up all over town. Staff and volunteers with Literacy Alberni have just completed the construction of 25 of the popular tiny book lending stands. That, along with the help of funding, made the project possible to share free books to the public. The idea was sparked three and half years ago when Literacy Alberni’s executive director Charmead Schella was first hired. Schella was able to get the ball rolling this spring when the organization received funding from the Alberni Valley Community Forest legacy fund. From there, her husband and father-in-law spent many hours in the summer constructing the shelved stands. In total, they completed 25, which were then painted by volunteer learners, summer students and the local Girl Guides. The community-wide project is a form of guerrilla literacy, Schella said. “It is a boots-on-the-ground type thing,” she said. “It is aggressive, but lovely.” Schella feels a bit of aggression is needed these days to combat the staggering illiteracy rates. “We have nearly a 42 per cent illiteracy rate in Port Alberni, which includes the surrounding areas,” Schella said. “Looking at those daunting statistics, we need to attack literacy on every level.” The momentum is growing for the little libraries and are seen all over the world in city parks, on beaches and in public buildings. Schella envisions the same for Port Alberni, where parents can pick up books for their young children while shopping or waiting in line-ups.
Literacy Alberni volunteer Janette Johnson stocks books in one of the little libraries that will be set up in a public place for users to give or take a book. [KRISTI DOBSON, TIMES]
“The idea of owning a book is often a spark of a young child,” Schella said. “But they can be expensive.” These libraries will initially be stocked with books for all ages with donations from First Book Canada, but the idea is to keep them full by replacing those taken with previously read books. A successful example is the one that was erected at Canal Beach and receives regular use from the public. Literacy Alberni’s first one was recently placed outside of Jax Compton Store on Compton Road and within the next two weeks, Schella expects to equip many more businesses and locations with their own.
“If someone is waiting somewhere and sees a book, they can take it home for their kids or entertain them while they sit in the shopping cart,” Schella said. “It is a cohesive way of embedding literacy into everyday.” Literacy Alberni depends completely on funding and fundraising to successfully deliver its programs, including free adult literacy classes, ESL support and newcomer assistance, Adult Basic Education classes and PALS, a system designed to help parents and children with literacy activities outside of school. The work of both staff and volunteers recently earned the organization a national award. Schella
attended the ceremony in Toronto, where she received an honorable mention for best practice in adult and family literacy from the ABC Life Literacy Canada. She also took home $5,000 to use towards the organization’s sustainability. September has been a busy month for Literacy Alberni with Raise-a-Reader fundraisers. Volunteers will wrap it up today by selling newspapers for donations at various locations and will be easy to spot in bright orange t-shirts. All donations will be accepted in a community-wide effort to help encourage literacy among all ages. Kristi.Dobson@avtimes.net
Inside today What’s On 2 Alberni Region 3
Opinion 4 Island & B.C. 5
Sports 6 Scoreboard 7
Comics 8 Classifieds 9
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