Chronicle The
Since 1908
$1
(plus GST)
Publications Mail Agreement No. 40010318
www.ladysmithchronicle.com
www.chemainuschronicle.com
Haunted House a Hive of Horrors
P. 10
Serving Ladysmith, Chemainus and area
Tuesday, October 27, 2015
Just Enough in Time : P. 9
Trend-lines for kids’ wellness raise concerns Craig Spence the chronicle
Community organizations and the Vancouver Island Health Authority are concerned about several indicators that point to children in Ladysmith and the Cowichan Valley being at higher risk then kids elsewhere on the Island and in BC. “I’ve spoken at several events with regards to some of these issues,” said Dr. Paul Hasselback, medical health officer with VIHA. “Clearly there’s a concern with overall health of children in Ladysmith.” He was responding to requests for information from the Chronicle about four measures, which have come into the newsroom in the last five months, that indicate children here may be facing greater health and social challenges A Westfalia camper van caught fire in the Shell gas station on the Esplanade in Ladysmith. The van was destroyed and serious damthan elsewhere: • An Early Development Index, which measures age was done to one pump and the gas station’s awning, but the driver and passenger of the vehicle were able to escape without five indicators of children’s readiness to enter injury and the pumps were shut down before the fire spread. The incident is under investigation. Story on Page 10, and more on Teresa McKinley elementary school, places Ladysmith children the Ladysmith/Chemainus Chronicle Facebook.com page. in the 40 per cent range, when it comes to the likelihood of them encountering problems as they move through the school system; • Child Poverty Rates, provided by the FirstCall BC Child and Youth Advocacy Coalition, point to the former Nanaimo-Cowichan federal ridthey are in contravention delivered to Ladysmith mu- “After that we will look at ing as having the highest percentage of chil- Craig Spence of Bylaw 1860, which limits nicipal hall Oct. 15. whatever options are open dren living in poverty in B.C. at 28.2 per cent. the chronicle stays to seven days. “Members of the group to us,” he said. (Hasselback questioned that figure – see far“In order to avoid further have had the benefits of Noting that several boats ther into the story); Live-aboard residents of • VIHA’s own monitoring indicates children in Dogpatch are asking the enforcement action you are safe moorage within this have been sunk in DL 651, Ladysmith are 62 per cent more likely to be Town of Ladysmith to sit requested to remove your Lot 651 for the past 25 years. including two that burned admitted to hospital due to respiratory ail- down and talk before fol- boat and any unauthorized The group wishes to ex- and sank in what the RCMP ments than children elsewhere in B.C.; for the lowing through with a noti- float, dock or mooring buoy press a common ground and consider suspicious circumCowichan Valley that figure jumps to 70 per fication that the town “may from this area by Nov. 15,” understanding of the issues stances, Stone said, “We had at hand and the interest in some dangerous incidents cent (Hasselback said the Ladysmith figures take further enforcement the notice says. But the ‘Ladysmith Har- addressing and correcting down there, and we cannot were skewed, and should be adjusted to a 50 action, including removal of do nothing.” per cent higher rate over the last 10 years); any unauthorized boat after bour Community’ has re- these problems.” sponded with a request for It isn’t clear what the muOf major concern is the • Immunization rates against various diseases November 15.” are significantly lower for children in the CenOn Oct. 8 Ladysmith’s by- a meeting. “The group is nicipality’s next move will be Viki Lyne II, a derelict fishing tral Island, including Ladysmith, compared to law enforcement officer promoting our current and if boat owners in Dogpatch trawler that has 13,000 litres other areas of Vancouver Island and most of distributed notifications to future use of the anchor- do not obey the notification. of heavy oil on board and BC. For example, 68 per cent of children in the boat owners moored in wa- age in a safe responsible, Ladysmith Mayor Aaron has been cited a serious enCentral Island are immunized against the Polio ter lot 651, between Slack respectful, environmentally Stone told the Chronicle vironmental risk and in imvirus – the provincial rate is 75 per cent; the Point and the Ladysmith friendly and equitable man- shortly after the notices were manent danger of sinking by South and North Island 77 per cent. Community Marina. The ner,” says LHC Chairperson delivered that the liveaboards the Canadian Coast Guard. See Dogpatch, Page 3 See Children, Page 3 warning advised them that Daniel Inkersell in a letter would have to move on.
Dogpatchers seek dialogue
370 Trans Canada Hwy 250.245.7933 www.gotorickys.com