E E R F DRY
Scoring milestone Sheldon Rempal first
Nanaimo Clipper with 50 goals since 1998-99 season. PAGE 23
C&S TRANSMISSION
RIBS
SPECIALTIES LTD.
with COUPON
“EXPERT SERVICE SERVED RIGHT”
y other ined with an it one Lim nnot be comb e required. Cainclude tax & gratuity. o location. as rch pu not naim Minimum fer valid at Na n only. Does offer. Dine-i r table. No cash value. Of certificate pe
. e you happy Here to mak 0-741-0090 25 o m ai Road Nan 5779 Turner ®
6852 Mart Rd. LANTZVILLE
www.nanaimobulletin.com
THURSDAY, JANUARY 21, 2016
250.390.1871
VOL. 27, NO. 73
Snaw-Naw-As files suit for return of E&N land BY KARL YU Dr. Paul Trepanier, radiologist, left, and Jeff Stevens, CT supervisor, consult a ‘patient’ chart on how to best proceed with care of Nanaimo Regional General Hospital’s medical imaging department. Tickets are on sale for Nanaimo and District Hospital Foundation’s 23rd annual Lotto for Life, from which a portion of proceeds raised will support maintenance and equipment purchases for the hospital’s CT scanners.
facilities. Portions of this year’s lottery sale proceeds will help purchase CT scanner equipment and supplies for the NRGH medical imaging department. Tickets are available at RBC and Coastal Community Credit Union branches from Chemainus to Qualicum Beach, Woodgrove Centre, Nanaimo North Town Centre, Nanaimo Hospital Auxiliary Thrift Store, Chocolaterie Bernard Callebaut and the NRGH lobby. For information and ticket purchases, please visit http://bit.ly/1JYzlxu.
Snaw-Naw-As First Nation has initiated a civil lawsuit in B.C. Supreme Court against the Island Corridor Foundation and the Attorney General of Canada over the E&N rail line. The lawsuit asks for the return of Snaw-NawAs land that was taken in the last century to build the railway, which runs through the reserve north of Nanaimo. “The corridor, that was taken out of the reserve for the railway, was expropriated back in the early part of the 20th century and one of the conditions that goes with any expropriation like that for railways is that once it’s no longer needed or used for railway purposes, it goes back to the original owner,” said Robert Janes, Snaw-Naw-As legal counsel. “We are just bringing a claim to ask the court to determine that fundamentally, given where things are with the E&N Railway, that the time has come to return the land to Snaw-Naw-As.” The foundation, a non-profit organization formed in 2003 to manage the railway, is awaiting $7.5 million in federal government funding to restore passenger train service to Vancouver Island. Passenger service was discontinued in 2011 due to unsafe track conditions. Conditions for funding from the federal government include the completion of a federal project review, signing of a contribution agreement and confirmation no more federal money will be needed. “If the E&N can actually prove that they are planning to genuinely run a railway, and have the ability to run a railway, and have the money to run a railway, then that obviously would impact the basic underlying part of our claim,” said Janes. A phone message to the Island Corridor Foundation was not returned. Bill McKay, Nanaimo mayor and chairman of the foundation’s board, said he had no comment as the board hasn’t been briefed on the situation yet. A response to the civil suit has not been filed at Victoria court services. Janes said the attorney general was named because technically the land is owned by the Crown.
photos@nanaimobulletin.com
reporter@nanaimobulletin.com
CHRIS BUSH THE NEWS BULLETIN
Annual lottery supports patient care
I
25 PER CENT of tickets already sold to buyers. BY CHRIS BUSH THE NEWS BULLETIN
Tickets are on sale again for B.C.’s longest-running hospital lottery. Nanaimo and District Hopsital Foundation’s 23rd annual Lotto for Life, which supports Nanaimo Regional General Hospital’s patient, diagnostic equipment and construction programs, has been tallying up tickets sales since early Janu-
ary, offering purchasers chances to win 80 prizes, including a $100,000 grand prize, a new car, a Mexico vacation package and more. “All of the prizes are supplied by local, central Island businesses,” said Brenda Rositano, foundation director of corporate relations. Those local businesses give serious discounts to help the foundation purchase their products for prizes. Lotto for Life tickets, $100 each, are on sale until March 4 and just 5,000 tickets are available so chances
Quality & Service at Budget Prices Quote Of The Week
There are three things that tell the truth. Small children, drunks and leggings.
of winning a prize are good, but Rositano advises people not wait too long to purchase. “Last year we sold out and we’re nearly 25 per cent sold already and we’re only three weeks into January,” Rositano said. “Don’t wait until the last day because we had people who missed out last year.” The main prize draw event happens March 18 at Nanaimo North Town Centre. Since 1991, Nanaimo and District Hospital Foundation has raised more than $45 million for NRGH and its affiliated health-care
THE NEWS BULLETIN
CALL TODAY FOR A FREE ESTIMATE FOR NEW VINYL WINDOWS 3900 ISLAND HWY. N.
| 250.758.3374
No need to go to ICBC, come directly to us!
| www.budgetglass.com