TUESDAY APRIL 5, 2016
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DEEP BAY DERELICT BOATS SINK
Shellfish in jeopardy Business that employs 40 may close if big tug sinks JOHN HARDING editor@pqbnews.com
Two derelict boats have sunk in 80 feet of water in Deep Bay, raising concerns about how the fuel they had aboard could affect nearby shellfish operations. The Canadian Coast Guard responded quickly Friday by placing a boom around the cluster of boats, sending officers from French Creek aboard the Cape Cockburn. The coast guard was back at the scene Saturday — only 100 metres offshore from Vancouver Island University’s Marine Field Station. Bill Veenhof, the chair of the Regional District of Nanaimo’s board of directors and the area rep for Deep Bay, has been at the marina both days. He said the 70-foot wooden tug Lorna Foss sunk to the bottom, dragging a 30-foot sailing vessel with it. It was originally thought the vessels were tied to the 100-foot tug Silver King, which was listing Friday but the coast guard’s efforts the last few days have kept it above water. Stellar Bay Seafoods and Odyssey Seafoods have a hatchery, nursery and farms within 200 metres of the sunken vessels and the cluster of derelict boats. There are other, smaller oyster farms in the same proximity to Deep Bay and the derelicts. “There’s a lot riding on this,” the owner of Stellar Bay and Odyssey, Keith Reid, told The NEWS on Monday morning. “We were told by Environment Canada that if that big vessel (the 100-foot tug Silver King) was to go down they would have no option but to close the Deep Bay area for shellfish for a year, which would essentially put us out of business.” Reid said 40 people are employed full time by his companies. He also said 50 million oysters a year go through his Deep Bay facilities. See WASHINGTON PLAN TOUTED, page A7
AUREN RUVINSKY PHOTO
Joan LeMoine, right, receives the Medal of Good Citizenship from provincial government cabinet minister and Parksville-Qualicum MLA Michelle Stilwell during a ceremony on Thursday at city hall.
B.C.’S MEDAL OF GOOD CITIZENSHIP
Parksville volunteer honoured AUREN RUVINSKY
writer@pqbnews.com
“If Parksville had a few more of you it would be an even greater city,” said Parksville Mayor Marc Lefebvre at a Medal of Good Citizenship ceremony for Joan LeMoine last Thursday. LeMoine, well known for her tireless volunteer efforts in and around Parksville, was only the second person presented with the new provincial honour. “Joan LeMoine is a real unsung hero, having selflessly given her time and talents to causes that have made
Parksville a better place,” said Premier Christy Clark in a news release. “I can’t think of a more deserving recipient of the Medal of Good Citizenship.” “Everybody knows Joan,” Minister of Social Development and Social Innovation Michelle Stilwell said, pinning the medal on her on behalf of the premier in a ceremony attended by about 50 people in the sun in front of city hall. “Joan LeMoine has enriched and touched many lives in Parksville by her devotion and love for the community,” Stilwell said, adding that among
other things she’s worked the drivethrough with LeMoine during Tim Hortons Camp Day. “She’s an example of how one person can truly make a difference. We are extremely lucky to have her. It is an absolute pleasure to honour Joan with the Medal of Good Citizenship.” Among many contributions, LeMoine was instrumental in re-establishing the Parksville Beach Festival Society and was the volunteer coordinator for 15 years of the event that now attracts more than 100,000 people a year. See ONLY THE SECOND, page A6
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