ARE S E R O T S ALL QF G!
IN T A R B E L E C TIL
EN UN ES ARE OP R O T S F Q ALL SUNRSDAY R E T S A E 6PMAND REGULAR HOUMONDAY & EASTER Y A ID R F D GOO
for you!
New Zealand
Fresh SemiBoneless Leg of Lamb 19.58 per kg
FREE
8
Per
100 gr
88
1/4 pound
and a coupon will print on your till receipt
9 1.4lt
an Island Original.
Copyright © 2016 Quality Foods and its licensors. All Rights Reserved. Photos for Presentation Purposes Only • All QF Stores Email: customerservice@qualityfoods.com
99
5
55
Over $
9
VALUE
FOR ONLY 5.55
ONLY AT www.qualityfoods.com
erin.haluschak @comoxvalleyrecord.com
Sara's
LB
Crush, Mug Root Beer, Dr. Pepper, or Lipton Brisk Iced Tea 12 Pack Cans
■ Erin Haluschak
Old Fashioned Ice Cream Cake
Per
when you purchase any
EACH
Plus applicable fees
Prices in effect March 18-20, 2016
A Comox Valley family is homeless following a fire that ripped through their house in the early hours of Saturday morning. Just before 1 a.m., the Cumberland Fire Department responded to a call on Fraser Road. Due to lack of hydrants in the area, the Courtenay Fire Department was called in to assist with water shuttles, said Cumberland Fire Chief Mike Williamson. “There is a lot of damage to the house … it started in the basement - possibly by the pellet stove. The main floor suffered smoke damage.” Firefighters were on scene for more than four hours fighting the blaze, mostly due to firefighters working to contain hot spots in the roof. Williamson said everyone got out safely, and although the house was equipped with smoke detectors, one resident was woken by the smell of smoke. Currently the home is being Flames shoot through the roof of a home on Fraser Road Saturday morning, as fire crews battle the blaze. evaluated by insurance adjusters, he added, to determine if it PHOTO BY CUMBERLAND FIRE DEPARTMENT will be repaired or rebuilt.
l
1
99
mentary school to Lake Trail Middle School. Trustee Peter Coleman, the lone no vote, felt the school board faced two choices: either close Puntledge or lose another eight or 10 teaching positions.
“I see no alternative,” he said. “I’m not willing to vote for more teacher cuts.” Trustee Sheila McDonnell — who recognizes the assets of both schools — feels there is a choice. “We have a magic thing. It (Puntledge) really is priceless,” McDonnell said to a round of applause from the standing-room-only crowd that spilled into the hallway at the SD71 office. See Puntledge, Page 7
Fire guts home
349 B 5th Street, Courtenay (250) 334-2043
German Butter Cheese
Flown in
FRESH
77
École Puntledge Park Elementary is staying open. In a 6-1 vote Tuesday, Comox Valley school trustees defeated a recommendation to close and relocate the ele-
Find us on page 5
for
School board bows to public pressure - votes to keep Puntledge
scott.stanfield @comoxvalleyrecord.com
Get 2 Frames FREE
5
2$ 1.5lb
$1.25
Power to the pupils ■ Scott Stanfield
Average 800-950gr
Blushing Belle or Baby Boomer Potatoes
THURSDAY, MARCH 17, 2016
to Choose From
7
Cornish Game Hen
The Little Potato Company
Rec rd
See stores for details.
A Y O R
O F O D N E WEEK
COMOX VALLEY
VOLUME 31 | NO. 22
W ! E s I l V a i L c A e N I p F s E IT'S TH L UR
THE
G N I N E P O GRAND
349 B 5th Street, Courtenay (250) 334-2043
36 ■ Thursday, March 17, 2016 ■ COMOXVALLEYRECORD.com
Coffee with ... John Bannerman ■ P5
NEWS Jesus rocks A Comox Valley couple claims the image of Jesus Christ appears in a crystal rock lamp received as a gift. ■ P3
Bridge to nowhere Courtenay council voted to drop the idea of an 11th Street crossing Monday. ■ P4
Ferry troubles cause concern It hasn’t been all smooth sailing for the new Baynes Sound Connector cable ferry from Buckley Bay to Denman Island. During a 20-day stretch in February, the Quinitsa - the ferry the Connector has replaced - was called into service 16 times. The Quinitsa is slated to be removed from standby service at the end of the month, which is worrisome to some passengers. ■ P12
ARTS
Blues and the Underground Railroad Toronto veterans Diana Braithwaite and Chris Whiteley, and friends, present an evening of blues music, along with stories and songs of the Underground Railroad, at Fanny Bay Hall. ■ P17
SPORTS
Mayor’s Cup runneth over
The sixth annual Mayor’s Cup hockey game, to raise funds for the Comox Valley chapter of KidSport, will take place Friday at the Comox Valley Sports Centre. Mayor Paul Ives will once again captain the Comox squad, who have successfully won the coveted cup four out of five times. ■ P25
Provincials bound
The Marine Harvest Riptide U14 Boys soccer team blanked the Saanich Fusion 5-0 on March 6 to advance to the Coastal A Cup and then to the Provincials in July. ■ P25
FEATURES Business Classifieds
■ P29 ■ P32