TUESDAY DECEMBER 15, 2015
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WORKING WITH PIES
DOLLS ON EXHIBIT AT THE MAC
Our business profile has a look at a new, unique venture
‘They were my little family, living in the closet,’ says Parksville dollmaker
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SCHOOL DISTRICT 69 SCHOOLS
Closed but not for sale Saanich officials accept offer for one of theirs; not happening here J.R. RARDON reporter@pqbnews.com
The shuttered Parksville Elementary School will remain available to community groups as a rental, but there are no plans to sell the facility or convert it to a homeless shelter, School District 69 officials said last week. The school is one of four elementary schools closed by the district in a restructuring in 2014, following years of declining enrolment districtwide. There are currently daycare operations using some of Parksville Elementary’s former classrooms, and the gym is rented on a per-use basis by the Regional District of Nanaimo and other area service providers, SD69 superintendent Rollie Koop said. “We’re entertaining expressions of interest from folks who may be looking at renting space in the building, but at this point we have nothing on the go,” said Koop. Renate Sutherland, executive director of the Society of Organized Services (SOS) and co-chair of the Oceanside Task Force on Homelessness, said those groups have not approached the district about using the building for a homeless shelter. “The task force has been actively looking for a suitable space for some time, a couple of years, at least,” said Sutherland. “As we said at the homeless forum, it’s about more than four walls and a roof. We think we could find something a bit more suitable. Time will tell if we run out of other options, but it’s not on our radar at this point.” See PROPERTIES, page A6
Not the brightest light CANDACE WU
news@pqbnews.com
A 43-year-old Errington man, who is prohibited from driving, allegedly drove to the police detachment — intoxicated — the morning of Dec. 5. Oceanside RCMP issued a news release saying the man drove to the detachment “to check on his intoxicated friend” who had been lodged in police cells the night before. See ‘WELL OVER’ LEGAL LIMIT, page A6
J.R. RARDON PHOTO
FESTIVE SPANIEL: Anna the springer spaniel sports a festive pair of reindeer antlers while helping Rick and Gail Berry with the Salvation Army kettle drive Saturday at Qualicum Foods.
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