December 16, 2015 Wednesday
News updates: westerlynews.ca
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Ukee mulls festival site
INSIDE
THIS WEEK:
ANDREW BAILEY
Westerly news
ucluelet officials will take a walk to find clarity on a controversial move. the district is stepping towards a final decision on whether to move the annual ukee days festivities from its traditional Seaplane Base Field fairgrounds to a new location at tugwell Fields. goers to this year’s festival in July were surprised to see a sign posted at the event that stated next year’s event would be held at tugwell Fields and this surprise quickly evolved into outcry. a Facebook page sprung up titled ‘Save ukee days at Seaplane Base Rd.’ and locals have spoken at recent council meetings clamouring for the decision to be reversed. Key concerns include tugwell’s lack of parking, the impact festival noise will have on tugwell’s neighboring residents and the idea of nixing tradition. Public outcry has hit a high enough volume for the district to reassess the move and council plans to walk through tugwell this week to reexamine the decision. “the purpose of the tour is to actually be on the ground and look at what people are talking about and are concerned about; the things that they’ve put forward such as parking,” ucluelet
“We want to make a decision as soon as possible...The outside deadline would be the end of January.”
DEAR SANTA: tofino mayor Josie Osborne shares her letter to Santa with the Westerly.
Dianne St. Jacques mayor dianne St. Jacques told the Westerly news. “and then have a look at the [Seaplane Base] site, do some comparisons and come up with a decision that has good reasoning behind it.” She said the walk would help councillors make an informed decision. “it’s always easier, i think, when you walk around and are actually on-site looking at these things,” she said. “it is in the Parks and Rec. plan that this move would be seriously looked at and considered so we’re doing that and looking at what the opportunities are and what the downsides might be.” She said there is no timeline for a final decision to be made but she hopes to see council reach a consensus in short order. “We want to make a decision as soon as possible,” she said. “the outside deadline would be the end of January.” andrew.bailey@westerlynews.ca
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END OF AN ERA: Signy cohen is shutting down her Reflecting Spirit gallery in tofino. SUBMITTED PHOTO
Tofino wants to put warning labels on gas nozzles to caution drivers about climate change.
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Tuff eyes warning labels at the pump ANDREW BAILEY
Westerly news
tofino is working on an amendment to its business bylaw that would force gas stations to put climate change warning labels on every gas pump nozzle. tofino’s municipal council directed staff to work on the
draft amendment in a motion brought forward by coun. greg Blanchette during nov. 24’s regular meeting. “it’s always the senior governments and major corporations that are listed as kind of the players in climate change but i think there’s a lot that we can do about it here at the
municipal level and one of the things is by changing our individual behaviours,” Blanchette told the Westerly news. “We don’t really think about that a lot so a gas pump label is kind of an interesting reminder that, ‘Yes,’ there is in fact stuff we can do.”
See WARNINGS pg. 6
CANDIED FUN: Black Rock hosted its annual gingerbread Extravaganza last week. check out the Westerly’s photo feature to see the celebration. PAGE 14