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TUESDAY, MARCH 15, 2016
VOL. 27, NO. 88
Wellington library will move to mall I BRANCH HEADED to Country Club Centre by 2017. By KaRL yU THE NEwS bULLETiN
Relocation of the Wellington library branch to Country Club Centre by 2017 will bring a number of benefits to customers, according to the Vancouver Island Regional Library. Wellington library has been situated on Barons Road since 1979, requires maintenance and hasn’t received upgrades in nearly 20 years. It would be costly to renovate and additionally, a lease is expected to expire in December. “Really, it came down to, VIRL has 39 branches and over time all of them are expected to need repair eventually,” said Natasha Bartlett, Vancouver Island Regional Library spokeswoman. “The Wellington branch is a super popular branch and it’s one that’s been on the radar of the board on a priority list for improvement for some time now.” The regional library issued an expression of interest in 2015 to explore other options in the area and Bartlett said the mall submission was ideal for a number of reasons. “When we investigated some local options, we realized that there was actually a great space available less than 500 metres away that would meet our budget and
KARL YU/The News BULLeTiN
Angela Nguyen is a library assistant at Vancouver Island Regional Library’s Wellington branch on Barons Road. The library branch will be moving into Country Club Centre by early 2017.
would also ... give us a little bit more exposure to customers, new customers and better parking as well for existing customers,” said Bartlett. Steve Hurcombe, regional library divisional finance manager, said the branch will be situated between Dollar Tree Canada and the
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food court and the budget for the project is $375,000. Hurcombe said the new site is approximately 4,700 square feet. Along with the new location will come new pieces to the collection, said Bartlett. “Customers are going to start seeing newer books, newer DVDs, obviously
everything that goes with it, with the new furnishings and new desks and everything,” Bartlett said. “It’s going to be a nicer experience for sure.” An open house on concepts will be held on April 14 at 6:30 p.m. at the current branch, 3032 Barons Rd.
Snuneymuxw building strategies surrounding economic development By TaMaRa CUNNINgHaM THE NEwS bULLETiN
The forestry industry is anticipated to kindle economic activity and wealth in the “multiple millions of dollars a year” for Snuneymuxw First Nation. The first cut was made into 877 hectares of Snuneymuxw-owned forest on Mount Benson last year, representing an important economic driver, new revenue and future employment for more than 1,700 members of the Nanaimo First Nation. The forest lands are part of a reconciliation agreement with the B.C. government, meant to spur economic activity for a nation that’s struggled with economic development, largely because of a lack of land, according to Douglas White III, band councillor and chief negotiator for the Snuneymuxw. He now sees a community on the cusp of change, of being able to create employment opportunities and generate wealth for benefits and services and quality-oflife improvements for the Snuneymuxw people. With forestry lands and hopedfor achievements with land negotiations in the coming years, the nation has been brought from a place of poverty to one where it has “real financial and economic assets and economic activity for the first time.” The provincial transfer alone more than quadrupled the nation’s land base and managing it all is a revamped and armslength Snuneymuxw Economic Development Group of Companies, which is spurring economy activity by managing land holdings and forestry on behalf of the nation and outside the governance of Indigenous and Northern Affairs Canada. It’s currently seeking proposals for a second cut of the forest lands and the sale of logs, as it takes inventory of its skilled workforce with plans to train members and establish its own forestry company next season. See ‘BAND’ /7
reporter@nanaimobulletin.com
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