Record
THE
COMOX VALLEY
THURSDAY, OCTOBER 22, 2015
VOLUME 30 | NO. 85
349 B 5th Street, Courtenay (250) 334-2043
44 ■ Thursday, October 22, 2015 ■ COMOXVALLEYRECORD.com
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NEWS Council votes to pursue GMO policies
After a lengthy debate at Monday’s meeting, Courtenay council voted in favour of staff investigating options to pursue GMO-free (genetically modified organism) preferential and social procurement policies. ■ P4
More bears put down
City wants input into downtown
The City of Courtenay is asking for your ideas as they develop a vision for the future of the downtown core. Two separate events on Tuesday, Oct. 27 are planned to gather public input as part of a downtown revitalization planning process. ■ P13
ARTS NDP candidate Gord Johns and his supporters were all smiles as victory in the riding of Courtenay-Alberni became apparent Monday night. The local NDP was headquartered at the Quality Inn Bayside in Parskville.
PHOTO BY CANDACE WU/PARKSVILLE QUALICUM BEACH NEWS
Johns wins new riding for NDP 349 B 5th Street, Courtenay (250) 334-2043
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The winds of change blew through the north half of Vancouver Island on Monday night, as the New Democrat Party claimed both Comox Valley ridings. In the Courtenay-Alberni riding, Gord Johns was a convincing winner, taking 38.1 per cent of the votes (26,595). Conservative candidate John Duncan was a distant second, at 28.2 per cent (19,631). Liberal Carrie Powell-Davidson finished with 21.8 per cent (15,166), and Green candidate
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Conservation officers destroyed another four bears this week, as the wild animals continue to penetrate municipal boundaries. Officials say they have no choice. ■ P6
John Duncan era comes to an end in the Valley Glenn Sollitt had 11.7 per cent of the vote (8,190). “We fought hard and got our message out,” Johns said to a happy crowd at the Quality Inn Bayside in Parksville. “We had more than 300 volunteers, people from across political lines. I want to thank my family for supporting me.” Johns said it was not an easy campaign and acknowledged his opponents.
“It was a hard campaign. John Duncan served Vancouver Island for two decades. Glenn Sollitt ran a hard campaign and Carrie Powell-Davidson came a long way. We won this race because we had an incredible campaign team — there were a lot of people who didn’t sleep. Tonight let’s enjoy our victory, tomorrow let’s get to work.” Duncan, who was a sitting MP in the old Vancouver Island North riding, was surprised by the results. Continued on Page 12
Blaney wins North Island ■ P3
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Celebrated harpist in Cumberland
Roger Helfrick, baritone and Celtic harp player, is offering a concert on Saturday, Oct. 24 at the Cumberland United Church, in Cumberland. ■ P27
SPORTS Running the Goodlife
A large contingent of Comox Valley Road Runners, as well as a number of other local athletes, competed at the 36th annual Goodlife Fitness Victoria Race Weekend. ■ P33
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