Tofino-Ucluelet Westerly News, January 20, 2016

tSunami DeBriS Stolen

Statue snatched from Vancouver Aquarium

2

Salute to Safety

loCal WreStlerS Shine

This week’s Westerly Life is focused on safety.

Warriors score at tourney

7-10

14

Westerly News

TOFINO-UCLUELET

Wednesday, January 20, 2016

WesterlyNews.ca

Ukee Days stays put

$1.25 (including tax)

Council calls off move to Tugwell this year.

Andrew bAiley

andrew.bailey@westerlynews.ca

7313226

Ukee Days won’t be moving this year.

Ucluelet’s municipal council has officially called off their decision to move the Ukee Days fairgrounds from Seaplane Base Field to Tugwell Fields until more information can be obtained.

Locals have been clamouring against the decision to move Ukee Days—parking, residential noise, and losing tradition were some of the many concerns raised— since seeing a sign posted at last year’s event that stated it would be the last one held at the Seaplane fairgrounds.

The outcry prompted council to look more closely diAnne St. JACQUeS at their decision and, during last week’s regular council meeting, Coun. Mayco Noel announced the move has been suspended.

Noel said Ucluelet’s revamped Recreation Commission will investigate whether moving the event would be beneficial in the future.

After the meeting, Ucluelet Mayor Dianne St. Jacques told the Westerly that a walk around Tugwell in December raised questions the district would not have answers for in time for this year’s event.

“It became clear as we were talking and whatnot that a few things need to happen up there for it to be considered properly,” she said.

“The other thing that came up, that we weren’t aware of, was the underground sprinkler system that’s in the field and so, before we go hammering tents and things like that into the ground there, there definitely needs to be an understanding of what that might look like.”

See SeAPlAne page 3

Andrew BAiley Photo

BASKetBAll on the edGe: Ahousaht’s Maaqtusiis School dominated the weekend’s Basketball on the Edge tournament.

Maaqtusiis’ Sr. Boys tipped off against Maaqtusiis’ Jr. team in the tournament’s finals on Saturday. See more photos on page 5.

Tofino debates new detachment Coun. Ray Thorogood “embarrassed” by motion Andrew bAiley

andrew.bailey@westerlynews.ca

Tofino’s proposed new police building is taking some heat from locals and council has requested a meeting with the RCMP to discuss it.

The current one-storey, 2,500 sq. ft., detachment at 400 Campbell Street is set to be replaced with a new two-storey detachment with a roughly 7,350 sq. ft. ground floor and a 5,550 sq. ft. second floor.

Council approved the new RCMP detachment in December but a surge of social media criticism, sparked by the new building’s

plans being posted online, motivated Coun. Dorothy Baert to re-raise the issue during last week’s regular council meeting.

Baert brought forward a motion, seconded by Coun. Cathy Thicke, which read: “Whereas the District of Tofino Council supports the redevelopment of the Tofino RCMP detachment; and whereas significant concerns have emerged from both Council members and the public with respect to various aspects of this proposal, since the regular Council meeting held December 8, 2015; Therefore the District of Tofino Council requests that the RCMP and other partners engage in dialogue regarding the location and design of the new Tofino detachment.”

See MeetinG page 11

Page 2 | The Westerly News

Wednesday, January 20, 2016

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JACKIE CARMICHAEL PHoto

Ucluelet’s former mayor Bill Irving posed for this photo in 2013 with a small wooden statue he found on Long Beach. The statue was recently stolen from the Vancouver Aquarium.

Donated statue stolen Andrew bAiley

andrew.bailey@westerlynews.ca

A puzzling theft has left local leaders perplexed and disappointed.

The Vancouver Aquarium has confirmed a small wooden statue that was found on Long Beach in 2014, and has ties to the 2011 Japanese Tsunami, was stolen last month.

The small statue measures about 20 centimetres high and depicts the Shinto God of Daikoku holding a magic hammer representing good fortune and a bag of treasure symbolizing wealth.

It was discovered in 2013 by Ucluelet’s then-Mayor Bill Irving and is believed to be connected with the tsunami debris that traveled to Ucluelet after Japan’s devastating 2011 disaster.

Irving donated the statue to the district to use as appropriate and the district loaned it to the Vancouver Aquarium to be displayed in the aquarium’s ‘Not Just Garbage’ marine debris exhibit.

The yearlong exhibit opened June 1, 2015.

During last week’s regular meeting, Ucluelet’s municipal council reviewed a letter from Vancouver Aquarium staffer Kate Le Souef advising the statue was stolen in early-December.

“The protective plastic bubble around the statue had been deliberately unscrewed and the statue removed from its position,” Le Souef wrote.

She added none of the aquarium’s security cameras were pointed at the statue when it was stolen and numerous groups were touring through the aquarium at the time.

“We cannot track who might have stolen the statue…Although theft is sometimes an issue with

iPads in our galleries, we were surprised by the effort that this thief took to unscrew the bubble and steal this item undetected,” she wrote.

“Our team was very upset to lose your beautiful item, which had no monetary value but was invaluable because it told the story of the tsunami, the tragic loss of life, and the connection between Japan and Canada.”

After reviewing Le Souef’s letter, council agreed to follow up with the aquarium through the district’s emergency and environmental services manager Karla Robison.

District CAO Andrew Yeates said the statue was one of many items the district loaned to the aquarium’s ‘Not Just Garbage’ exhibit.

“It’s interesting to note that they said the monetary value was pretty much nothing but that kind of makes one wonder why it was stolen, if indeed that’s the case,” said Mayor Dianne St. Jacques.

Irving told the Westerly News the statue’s symbolic significance far outweighed its monetary value.

“I think it was a very important link for us with the Japanese communities that came here and helped clean up the beaches and it’s really quite disappointing that somebody would steal that piece of memory and history of our relationship with the Japanese,” he said.

“Its cash value is probably very limited but the respect and the sentiment and the relationship that we built with the Japanese and the reflection of our Japanese heritage here and our empathy for the communities that suffered so greatly; It’s quite startling and disappointing that someone would take that.”

The Westerly News | Page 3

Wednesday, January 20, 2016

Jan. 20 Tofino Recycles Remember –

Reduce , Reuse , Recycle !

SonBird

Refuse & Recycling

250-726-4406

TiDeS & WeaTher ThuRsday 21 TIde

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andrew Bailey photo

Locals feared a move to Tugwell Fields would cost Ukee Days its popular Nail, Sail, Bail event that was won by Team Turbo Trouts, pictured above, last year.

Seaplane Base Field to host at least one more Ukee Days continued from page 1

St. Jacques echoed Noel’s sentiment about the revamped Rec. Commission.

“It was decided that, for now, until we get more information and more community thoughts on it, hopefully through the Rec. Commission, that we’ll leave it at the [Seaplane] Rec. Hall site,” she said.

“Definitely there needs to be more conversation around a possible move…I think we should always be open to new thoughts and ideas as well as certainly respecting the history of Ukee Days.”

Coun. Marilyn McEwen told the Westerly the Seaplane Base Rec. Hall is slated for demolition within the next few years and Tugwell’s larger space could allow for more Ukee Days festivities.

She noted council has only delayed the move by one year and an eventual move to Tugwell is still on the table.

“There is an underground sprinkler system there and we need to know what weight bearing it can tolerate, one of the four sides of the field is not fenced so we need to know what that cost would be, and sufficient power is not yet installed there,” she said.

“With the reinstitution of the Recreation Commission, it is our hope that that group, along with the Recreation Department, can research it more thoroughly to answer those questions and make an informed decision from there.”

Coun. Sally Mole told the Westerly that council initially favoured the move because Seaplane Base “is on its way out,” and, “There was a feeling from some councillors that there should be more activity directed towards the [Tugwell] ball fields.”

She added Ucluelet’s boat launch sees a lot of activity during the Ukee Days weekend and moving the event to Tugwell would free up Seaplane’s parking for boaters.

Mole agreed with St. Jacques that the walk around Tugwell played a key role in reversing the decision.

“I don’t know that we really thought through costs et cetera and logistics on relocating et cetera,” she said.

“We went and had a site visit and it was fairly obvious that to move the event would be fairly onerous for staff and for our budget and also the public was pretty clear on how they felt.”

Mole said she was surprised when the idea to move Ukee Days to Tugwell came up last year.

“It kind of came out of left field. Someone had an idea and floated it and I was like, ‘No, this cant be right,’ and my gut was telling me this but through discussion and looking to my peers who have been here for a very long time and have a long history with Ukee Days, if they thought it was a good idea then maybe it is a good idea,” she said.

“I kind of went with that but I did put the caveat on saying we need to roll this out with lots of public awareness prior to Ukee days starting and we didn’t do that, we failed on that…There’s wasn’t sufficient, or any, public input.”

Mole, who has been candidly skeptical of the move from the get-go, acknowledged a sign should not have broken the news to locals but noted that sign proved paramount in terms of generating discussion.

“Having that sign at Ukee Days was just like a catalyst for this huge conversation that we all faced as councillors right there at Ukee Days,” she said.

Mole was thrilled to see locals voice their opinions to council.

“I really love the fact that people spoke out. They came to meetings, they gave us letters, there were delegations and this council did take the time to consider it and say, ‘You know what?

We made a mistake,” she said.

“We all make mistakes and owning up to that is a really brave and responsible thing to do.”

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Page 4 | The Westerly News

Wednesday, January 20, 2016

Westerly Opinion

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Locals have saved Ukee Days ANDREW BAILEY

andrew.bailey@westerlynews.ca

Big ups to Ucluelet’s council for having the guts to admit they were wrong.

By calling off the moving trucks and keeping Ukee Days at Seaplane Base Field, council showed an ability to listen to the locals who elected them and the strength to own up to a mistake.

The announcement that Ukee Days would not in fact be leaving its longtime fairgrounds for the supposed greener pastures at Tugwell Fields was made in a surprisingly subdued manner at the tail end of last week’s regular council meeting.

Politicians traditionally push crowdpleasing political decisions like this one into the spotlight but it was quietly introduced as a late-agenda item with Coun. Mayco Noel suggesting a walk around Tugwell last month made council realize holding the event there would be unfeasible.

“It spoke volumes walking around Tugwell Fields that the site requires too much work to accommodate Ukee Days,” Noel said. No other councillor spoke to the issue at the meeting and the vote to suspend the move was unanimous.

When good news flows—and Ukee Days staying put is indeed good news— it’s best not to plug it up with minutiae, but if simply walking around the new site in December made it clear the move wouldn’t work then why was the move announced six months earlier?

Regardless, council should be commended for taking a step back and reassessing a poor decision in time to reverse course. Larger praise though is owed to the community members who stood up and spoke out, both formally and loudly.

Locals have clamoured against holding Ukee Days at Tugwell Fields ever since they learned about the move through a sign posted at last year’s festival.

Being told the decision had already been made, and being told this by an inanimate object, was a tough pill to swallow and with no concise reasoning in sight, frustration set in. The social media outcry was instant.

Thorough and well-thought-out discussions around a diverse variety of concerns quickly spread online but, more importantly, locals brought their voices to council meetings rather than assume their local

government would read and be swayed by Facebook posts.

Applause isn’t often heard in council chambers but Bill Morrison drew a lot of it after a particularly passionate Oct. 13 presentation on why Ukee Days should stay put. By making it clear the issue wouldn’t be quieted into obscurity, local voices like Morrison’s motivated council to reassess and, through this reassessment, new information was learned.

Council’s Tugwell walkabout was done to investigate the community’s concerns and thanks to this closer look the district learned of the underground sprinkler system’s potential kibosh-effect.

Had the community kept quiet and fallen in line, we may well have been headed for calamity as the event would have been planned for an area that couldn’t handle it.

Instead we find ourselves in an everybody-wins situation. Locals can celebrate their festival where they wanted to and council has a good news story to be celebrated for. The way this all played out is an important reminder that while it’s council that pulls the trigger, it’s the public that calls the shots.

QUESTION OF THE WEEK

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The Westerly News | Page 5

Wednesday, January 20, 2016

PHOTO FEATURE

On the edge Andrew bAiley PHOTOS

Ahousaht’s Maaqtusiis Sr. Boys basketball team was crowned champions of the West Coast’s first annual Basketball on the Edge Tournament on Saturday. Ahousaht dominated the weekend’s competition with both the Jr. and Sr. teams facing off in the finals, which the Sr.’s won 73-23.

The teams’ coach Travis Thomas was particularly impressed to watch his Jr. team fearlessly take on older competition.

“It’s good to show them no fear, that’s what we talked about in the meeting before we came. We wanted them to have no fear to play whoever they’re playing against, even if it’s our own guys they should have no fear,” he said. “I’m proud of both teams.” Warriors manager Jason Sam said the USS’ first Basketball on the Edge tournament flowed smoothly thanks to volunteer efforts and he was stoked on volunteer timekeepers Shaq, Amy, Kara and Latisha. Local businesses Cabins West, Creative Salmon, Crystal Cove also provided support. “We’d love to make it an annual event,” Sam said. “The teams enjoyed coming out here they enjoyed the beauty of our school and community,” While neither of USS’ teams reached the finals, Sam is confident good things are en route. “We’re going to put our two boys team back into one and that should make us considerably more competitive and we’re looking forward to a successful finish to the year.”

Warriors team manager Jason Sam said he was proud of the way his players performed during the tournmant.

Maaqtusiis’ Sr. and Jr. teams huddle up after placing first and second respectively in the weekend’s tournament.

The USS Sr. Boys teams bested the school’s Jr. team in a hardfought 45-37 win.

While neither USS Warrior team reached the finals, team manager Jason Sam is confident their play will pick up as the season progresses.

Maaqtusiis’ Sr. players celebrated a 73-23 win in the tournament’s finals.

Despite being outmatched by their Sr. opponents, the Maaqtusiis Jr. Boys played courageously throughout the finals.

Page 6 | The Westerly News

Wednesday, January 20, 2016

Cops defuse kerfuffle Andrew bAiley

andrew.bailey@westerlynews.ca

Ucluelet police responded to a disturbance at a local restaurant on Jan. 9 around 9:30 p.m.

Two men inside the restaurant were reportedly arguing with a third man and restaurant staff were unable to convince the three men to settle down or leave, according to Sgt. Jeff Swann of the Ucluelet RCMP. Swann said a person inside the restaurant called 911 and Const. Marcel JEFF SWANN Midlane and Auxiliary constable Paul Galloway arrived in time to stop a potential fight from breaking out.

No charges were filed and everyone involved cooperated with the police.

“Although alcohol was a factor, everybody was sober enough to take care of themselves and they were all given a ride to their individual homes,” Swann said.

He added that it was a solid move by the restaurant patron to call police before the situation escalated.

“We want people to call before it gets to a problem,” he said.

“An alert person in the restaurant said, ‘Hey, you know what? Before this gets out of hand let’s call the police,’ and that’s what we value; we want people to call ahead of time.”

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The Westerly News | Page 7

Wednesday, January 20, 2016

Westerly Life

Tuff locals are invited to submit an application to join the Tofino Volunteer Fire Department.

The West Coast’s News Source Nora O’Malley, Advertising Representative

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nora.omalley@westerlynews.ca

TOFINO VOLUNTEER FIRE DEPARTMENT PHOTO

Tuff Fire Dept. seeking six new recruits Nora o’malley

nora.omalley@westerlynews.ca

Starting Monday, Feb. 8, team oriented Tofitians are invited to submit applications to join the prestigious Tofino Volunteer Fire Department.

Currently boasting a squad of 24 dedicated volunteer firefighters, Tofino Fire Chief John Gilmour is hoping to max his crew out with 6 new recruits.

“You have to live in town and have been here for one year.

You have to be a good upstanding citizen, physically fit, and trades people are always great to have,” said Gilmour.

“The most physical enduring activity that we do and also one of the most important things that we do on the fire ground is rescue. Being able to pull somebody that’s 230300 lbs. with full gear on is the biggest test.”

As a group, Gilmour and five high ranking volunteer fire officers review applications before deciding who makes the final cut. He said they tend to go in on unique people that

really want to challenge themselves.

“There are some scenarios that we’d put you in that you’d definitely never be in if you didn’t join the fire service. It’s an exciting thing to do,” he said.

New recruits undergo 6 months of basic training that includes getting used to functioning with a Self Contained Breathing Apparatus (SCBA).

“We do a lot of training with breathing on air; building up and getting people comfortable. There’s a lot of panic that can happen when you can’t see anything in smoked filled rooms,” said Gilmour.

In addition to having access to a private gym and tax incentives, Gilmour said the main reason people join the Fire Department is the camaraderie.

Ucluelet Volunteer Fire Chief Ted Eeftink, who has been volunteering at the Ukee department for 22 years and counting – agrees wholeheartedly.

“People sign up because of the camaraderie in the department and we do a lot of fun things,” said Eeftink.

“You learn to be a level 2 firefighter, you learn your first responders, road rescue stuff... That’s kind of fun stuff because we get to cut cars up and just get to know all the equipment. It could lead on to a career for somebody if they wanted to keep pursuing that.”

Eeftink also points out that recognition needs to be given to the employers of volunteer firefighters.

“To become a member you have to first find out if your employer will let you take the time off if there is a call. Employers are a big part of this too. We have to give them a lot of credit for letting you as a volunteer take the time off,” he said.

The Ucluelet Volunteer Fire Department is currently at full capacity with 22 members, but Eeftink is working alongside Karla Robison at the District of Ucluelet to revamp one of the bays in the station in order to accommodate more people.

“We’re just trying to get caught up, but in the fall definitely,” said Eeftink of his plans to recruit new members into the Ucluelet Volunteer Fire Department.

Page 8 | The Westerly News

Wednesday, January 20, 2016

WESTERLY LIFE - Salute to safety

WESTERLY NEWS FILE PhoTo

Tofino has two tsunami sirens in place and is working on securing a third. Locals must be prepared to take care of themselves if these sirens start to wail.

Get prepared and be ready Andrew bAiley

andrew.bailey@westerlynews.ca

When disaster strikes, emergency responders will have their hands full so West Coasters must be prepared to look after themselves.

Tofino’s manager of community sustainability Aaron Rodgers, who handles the district’s emergency services, said district officials go through constant training to keep up to date on what to do when disaster strikes.

“The other thing we do, which is probably just as important if not more, is make the community aware of personal preparedness,” he said.

“Unless we want to as a community start caching large amounts of food and water and bedding and housing, which costs multiple millions of dollars, then you need to take care of yourself.”

In a disaster event, Tofino community hall will serve as a reception centre but locals shouldn’t necessarily head there and should instead focus on getting north of Industrial way.

“Your first thought should not be to go to the community hall.

It should be to get to high ground so get yourself north of Industrial Way but if you have someone else you can stay with in town, go there,” Rodgers said.

“There’s very little resources in terms of things like bedding or food, we may work towards providing a little bit next year but that’s still a ways off yet with part of the problem being how much food do you buy for how long for how many people? It’s not that it can’t be done, that’s something we’re working towards.”

He added if Tofino were to start putting a cache of resources together, it would need to find a place to store it all.

“We’re a small community, so there aren’t a lot of resources in terms of things like blankets or food or even shelter other than the Community Hall so what we try to do is get the message out there that people need to be prepared to take care of themselves for at least three days,” he said.

“Not doing that means you’re going to be leaning on your neighbours and your family members who have prepared. It’s a grim way to look at it but it’s the truth.”

He said it can be challenging to convince locals to be prepared and the district needs to send a clear message.

“If you’re a resident in town and we have a very large earthquake or tsunami there are no resources other than what’s existing in town to help you out so if you’re not prepared yourself, you’re going to be having to rely on your neighbours,” he said.

“There’s no cache of food for you, there’s no blankets available for you, there’s no extra housing available for you and that is the clear message we need to get across to people: you’re on your own and you may be on your own for a while.”

He added Tofino’s emergency procedures must be fluid as the landscape could change in an instant.

“Even if we had all the resources in the world here which, we don’t…the roads are going to be damaged, the trees are going to be down, there’s going to be no power, no water. We’re going to be struggling just to get the basics back working,” he said.

He added resorts should have processes in place for tourists.

Locals are encouraged to check out PreparedBC’s website at www.gov.bc.ca to learn about how to get prepared and be ready.

The Westerly News | Page 9

Wednesday, January 20, 2016

WESTERLY LIFE - Salute to safety

FRANCIS BRUHWILER PHoto

WISAR covers the West Coast and provide mutual aid to RCMP and National Parks staff whenever anyone goes missing.

WISAR training 20 new heroes Nora o’malley

nora.omalley@westerlynews.ca

For the last 17 years, Tofino local Tim Webb has been finding people that get lost.

He has a diverse collection of stories that include: absent minded mushroom pickers, tourists gone astray, and aiding the Leviathan II rescues.

Webb is the President and Search Manager of the Westcoast Inland Search and Rescue (WISAR) Society.

He leads a close-knit crew of 15 active members that all have extensive ground search and rescue training that involves rope rescue, swift water capabilities, and tracking.

WISAR jurisdiction covers the Clayoquot Sound Region and when someone goes missing in the bush, they provide mutual aid to RCMP and National Parks at the drop of a hat.

“Typically, if it’s a complicated or difficult search or rescue, the most experienced person would take over. If it’s a more routine one or maybe one where we are in contact with the subject, we would have one of the less experienced Search and Rescue members run it. And they’re being coached and managed at the same time,” Webb told the Westerly News.

“A lot of that initial searching is just crashing through the bush,” he said.

“We do try and locate people first so if we have cell phone contact with them we can make loud noises, we can set off sirens, we can send up flares that sort of thing and then ask them if they can see them. If they can see where we are, that can help us to where they are.”

Webb reinforces that classic line we’ve all heard time and time again when it comes to venturing into the woods: “Make sure someone knows where you’re going and when you’re overdue,” he said.

“That at least helps. That has halved our search time.”

He also encourages hikers to pack the basic gear needed to at least make it through one night.

“Maybe it’s only a quick hike, but it’s worth thinking about if I did have to spend the night out, at least take a jacket and some water. Just the basics. If you twisted your ankle and slipped and fell just have enough so you can get by.”

He noted chucking a flashlight into a daypack along with a cellphone is always a wise decision.

“People all use their phones as flashlights and it flattens the battery really quickly,” Webb said.

“By the time you’re ready to call for help you don’t have much left.”

He added that investing in a cheap whistle could pay dividends too.

“Voices often don’t carry very far,” he said. “You can be just 100-metres away from somebody and if you’re down by the shore where there is wave noise or a lot of bush in the way we won’t be able to hear you.”

WISAR is in the midst of training about 20 new recruits. Once their 80-hours of training is complete, they’ll be on the roster and ready to help with rescues as needed.

Unfortunately, due to the transient nature of the area, Webb foresees that he’ll probably lose about a third of his new trainees in the first year or two.

“There are a lot of outdoor oriented people here in Tofino and Ucluelet, but the downside is people come and go,” he said.

“They come out here with the best of intentions, wanting to move here permanently and then their job changes or their life changes some other way.”

Webb estimates the sweet spot for active members would be a team of 30. And he said, while the commitment isn’t quite as intense the Fire Department, commitment itself is still the single biggest thing they need from people.

“Ideally, we need people with skills in the bush, but the biggest thing is that people will show up,” he said. “They’ll show up for trainings and they’ll continue to do so for hopefully years.”

Page 10 | The Westerly News

Wednesday, January 20, 2016

WESTERLY LIFE - Salute to safety

ANDREW BAILEY Photo

Const. Jarrett Duncan goes up for the ball during a handball game at USS hosted by the Ucluelet RCMP.

Community key to community policing Ucluelet’s RCMP put a unique focus on their community policing efforts.

The idea of community policing, a concept created by Sir. Robert Peel in the early 1800’s, is centred around the importance of police officers being seen as locals in uniform.

The theory is a community that feels comfortable around its police would be more inclined to speak to, and cooperate with, them.

Ucluelet’s detachment commander Sgt. Jeff Swann believes making police familiar faces in Ucluelet helps create a population more inclined to say something when they see something and this helps his crew prevent crimes before they happen through early intervention.

“When you have officers like we do here that are visible at every event, whether they’re in red surge, regular uniform or off-duty, people know who we are, they know what we do for a living, they know where we live, they know our family, they know our children and when they see us they realize were not just cops were human beings too,” he said.

“I think that lends to more people feeling comfortable with

police to make the phone call…You can have a great investigator here that once a file happens can be like CSI on TV, investigate it and solve it and that’s great, but I would much rather stop the crime before it happens.”

Ukee RCMP attend community events and initiate their own to ensure familiarity, particularly among local youth.

The detachment hosted a paintball competition with Ucluelet First Nation youth on Dec. 22 and kicked up a pick up game of handball at USS last week.

Swann believes this consistent presence helps kids feel comfortable interacting with officers.

“We don’t get into this job for the accolades and the thanks but we get that when we see the youth in this town come up and interact with us and joke around with us,” he said. “We’re here to support them and guide and educate them and to me that’s what the role of a police officer should be and if we’re not doing that I think we’re failing the community. I’m so happy with the membership that we have here. Everybody is on the same page when it comes to pushing supporting and working towards that.”

Swann added that with just five officers working out of the Ucluelet detachment, locals are key players in keeping

the peace.

“The eyes and ears of the community are what drives our crime rates down…The community has a huge role to play; we can’t do it ourselves,” he said.

“If people are responsible and looking out for each other and when they see something suspicious they call it in… when we work together as a community that to me is community policing, we’re all working together.”

He said the Ucluelet detachment has seen a large uptick in community engagement over the past six years and attributes the start of the surge to a crackdown on crime in 2009.

“We did a really big push for drug enforcement right when I got here, we had some very keen officers who were on it and we made a dramatic difference,” he said.

“We took a lot of drugs off the street and cleaned the street up and I think that led to a lot of credibility being put towards the Ucluelet detachment as a whole.”

This increased credibility led to a revamped Restorative Justice program and greater participation in Ucluelet’s Auxiliary Constable program, according to Swann.

The Auxiliary program is currently training five new recruits.

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The Westerly News | Page 11

Wednesday, January 20, 2016

Meeting called to discuss new detachment continued from page 1

After a lengthy discussion, this motion was whittled down to: “The District of Tofino Council requests that the RCMP and other partners engage in dialogue regarding the new Tofino detachment.”

Prior to the discussion’s kickoff, Osborne asked council to constrain their comments to the specific motion.

“We’re not going to be rehashing the decision from December of course and we’re not going to be discussing anything except for what we’ve got before us today,” she said.

Baert suggested the building’s design is not suitable for its downtown location.

“Partly what strengthens that resolve for me is the downtown Campbell Street DPA (development permit area),” she said.

Baert began to explain that the DPA suggests buildings comply with a small-town, coastal-themed, character but was cut off

by Osborne.

“I’m sorry to interrupt but I really want to constrain the comments around the motion at hand, which is that we engage in dialogue regarding the location and design,” Osborne said. “I don’t want to rehash the design and why councilors feel for or against as it is. I just feel that that’s really not productive at this point.”

Baert responded that she was trying to explain why she’d brought the motion forward.

“We have been told that it conforms to our design and I’m bringing forward a case where I don’t think that that’s accurate,” she said.

“I think the community has spoken really clearly about what it wants in the downtown core through the DPA and that we should at least have that conversation.”

nora o’maLLeY pHoto

Tofino’s RCMP detachment is set to be replaced by a new, two-storey facility.

Baert also spoke against the suggestion that council had little influence in the matter due to the building being on federally-owned land and its cost being split between the provincial and federal governments.

“I have had experience where I’ve been told things very emphatically and found out that actually they’re not that emphatic when you start to peel back a few layers,” she said.

“I feel that we need to have more than a completed design presented to council, a nearly-complete design presented to staff, and just have that be the end of the story when it’s such a significant location and so impactful.”

Coun. Ray Thorogood slammed Baert’s

motion and was frustrated to see it on council’s desk.

“I’m just embarrassed that this proposal for a motion was put forward,” he said.

He noted council had voted to go ahead with the project in December.

“Since then several councillors have taken it upon themselves to run out to the public, go on social media, soliciting opinions, and everybody has an opinion, and the hundredand-so responses from the social media is a small portion of the 2,000 people that live here,” he said.

“We have already told the RCMP at our Dec. 8 meeting that we approved the project and now we’re being asked to go back and say,

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‘Well maybe we don’t approve it’…I would just be embarrassed if this motion goes forward and we have to sit down again with them.”

He also questioned the validity of online concerns.

“I like the design and there were comments from at least one builder I saw on the social media stuff that likes the design and he’s a builder. I didn’t see anybody else there that was from the building trade offering any written opinion,” he said.

Osborne supported meeting with the RCMP but wanted to leave the motion at that.

“I support the idea of meeting with them to seek clarification, to discuss things around process and mitigation of some of the concerns that we have moving forward,” she said.

“I can support a motion to meet with the RCMP but I would be much more comfortable seeing the whereas clauses removed.

I would even be more comfortable seeing ‘regarding the location and design’ removed.”

Baert said she was fine with those changes but assured she would bring up location and design at the meeting.

Council agreed to amend the motion to simply request a meeting with the RCMP but Thorogood remained unconvinced on the meeting’s merits.

“I don’t know what the big issue is,” he said.

“If it was a library or a museum I would guarantee there would be no objection.”

Coun. Greg Blanchette said the meeting could provide an opportunity to talk about public art on the building and suggested public art could boost the public’s support.

Council approved the amended motion with Thorogood the only vote in opposition.

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Page 12 | The Westerly News

GAMES & PUZZLES

Wednesday, January 20, 2016

NORA O’MALLEY PhOtO

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The Westerly News | Page 13

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Page 14 | The Westerly News

Wednesday, January 20, 2016

PHOTO FEATURE

USS Wrestles PHOTOS SUBMITTED BY USS

The USS Warriors wrestling team competed in the Campbell River Invitational tournament last weekend.

The senior girls took first place in their division based on a gold medal win from Heather Morrison and two silver medals earned by Murrin Bewick and Mayben Crabbe.

In the senior boys division Lukas Bewick earned a silver medal and Ottis Crabbe placed fourth. On the junior side, Leigha Auld dominated her weight class on her way to a gold medal finish and Owen Rhodes finished with a solid bronze medal performance. “All of the kids did great,” said Coach Mike Rhodes. “They all competed tough and the hard work they have been putting in at practice is paying off as they hit the stretch drive toward the Island and Provincial championships.”

Leigha Auld, top, sticks her opponent to the mat.

Lukas Bewick completes a double leg takedown of his opponent at the Campbell River Invitational wrestling tournament.

Ucluelet Secondary School wrestler Ottis Crabbe, top, goes for the pin.

USS Warriors senior girls hold up their well-earned Invitational wrestling tournament champions plaque.

The Westerly News | Page 15

Wednesday, January 20, 2016

community calendar

To submit your activities; e-mail: office@westerlynews.ca, fax:250-726-4248 or drop by: #102-1801 Bay St, Ucluelet

WED. Jan 20

Featured Event for the Week

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jAM nIgHT AT HOwLER’S 9 p.m.-12 midnight

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7-11 p.m. Tofino Legion

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2–6p.m. UCC.

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7 p.m. 110 2nd St.

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7-10 p.m. Tofino Legion.

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Page 16 | The Westerly News

Wednesday, January 20, 2016

Leviathan’s initial examination completed Whale watching vessel remains in TSB custody as investigation continues Andrew bAiley andrew.bailey@westerlynews.ca

Investigators are still sorting out the catastrophic circumstances that caused the Leviathan II to capsize on Oct 25.

The tragic whale-watching disaster took the lives of six of the 27 passengers onboard the vessel.

Quick and courageous actions taken by local boaters turned rescue crews, particularly Ahousaht fishermen, brought 21 survivors to shore.

The Leviathan II was owned by Jamie’s Whaling Station and had been in Jamie’s fleet for about 20 years.

The Transportation safety Board of Canada is investigating the tragedy and announced last week that its initial examination of the vessel is complete.

This examination included measuring the vessel’s void tanks, bulkheads and fuel tanks.

“The investigation team is also conducting a review of the vessel’s inspection history and shipyard work orders, and is reviewing information obtained from the Search and Rescue officials,” read a report the TSB published on Jan. 13.

“The first round of interviews with the company, survivors and relatives, has also been completed, though follow-up

Nora o’MaLLEY Photo

The West Coast placed flowers and messages on Tofino’s dock to express their support for everyone involved in the Oct. 25 tragedy. interviews may occur where necessary. Investigators are also collecting additional information on environmental and weather data, as well as existing lifesaving equipment requirements.”

The Leviathan II remains in TSB custody.

Navigation equipment and personal cameras are being combed through at the TSB Laboratory and a stability assessment will be conducted to determine the effects operating conditions, passenger location and environmental factors had on the vessel’s stability, according to the report.

“Investigators will also conduct a thorough survivability assessment,” the report states.

“This assessment will consider passenger locations, survivor statements, medical data, availability and use of survival equipment, and environmental conditions.”

The TSB believes most of the 27 passengers onboard the 20-metre Leviathan II were on the top deck of the vessel and that this compromised the vessel’s centre of gravity when a wave hit causing the vessel to capsize.

The Transportation Safety Board assured new information will be released as it comes in.

“Investigations are complex and we take the time we need to complete a thorough investigation,” the report states.

“However, should the investigation team uncover safety deficiencies that present an immediate risk, the Board will communicate them without delay so they may be addressed quickly.”

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