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Wednesday, May 9, 2018
Westerly News
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Foundations receive $1.4M Dick Close estate assists community NORA O’MALLEY nora.omalley@westerlynews.ca
Nearly $1.4 million in bequests from the Dick Close estate have been given to the Pacific Rim Foundation and the Tofino General Hospital Foundation. On Saturday, Pacific Rim Foundation, a scholarship fund for Ucluelet Secondary School students, received more than $1 million and the Tofino General Hospital Foundation (TGHF) received more than $375,000. “What it means is we are able to continue the Dick Close Scholarship for a number of years,” said Gary Marks, president of Pacific Rim Foundation. “And hopefully our investment strategy will make that go even longer.” Chair of the TGHF, Arlene McGinnis, said the generous contribution will help the Tofino hospital in numerous ways. “We need to move very carefully. We don’t want to spend this money foolishly. We will be moving cautiously,” said McGinnis. Richard (Dick) Close passed away on Feb. 24, 2016 at his home on Cox Bay in Tofino. He developed Weigh West Marina (now Tofino Resort and Marina), was instrumental in developing the Long Beach Golf Course, and was was active in creating the Tofino Salmon Enhancement Society. McGinnis recalls working alongside Close to get a care facility built beside the hospital. “It fell through which was quite a shame. Dick really cared deeply about the lack of support in our community for the sick and the elderly in need of extended care. Our whole group worked really hard to get something going. It was a long struggle but it didn’t pan out,” she said. “From there on, Dick more or less let go. It was hard for him to sit back and see nothing happening. In his own quiet way, because he never wanted anyone to know what he was doing, he left the Foundation in his will and left us a wonderful amount of money.” Continued on Page A3
NORA O’MALLEY PHOTO
EIGHT IS GREAT: Local legend Peter Devries celebrates his eighth national championship win on Saturday at Wickaninnish Beach. Hosted by Surf Canada and the Pacific Rim National Park Reserve, the three-day surf event took more than three years to orchestrate, and showcased Canada’s best surfers and SUP surfers. Full story and photos on Page 11.
Tofino mayor says plastic bag ban is inevitable ANDREW BAILEY andrew.bailey@westerlynews.ca
Mayor Josie Osborne is confident that an eventual ban on plastic bags is inevitable in Tofino, but believes education must come before enforcement. Tofino’s council received a presen-
tation from Surfrider Pacific Rim members Michelle Hall and Laura Griffith-Cochrane on April 23 that spoke about the dangers plastic bags are posing to local ecosystems and wildlife and called for a community-wide ban. Hall said she and Griffith-Co-
chrane brought roughly 6,642 pieces of litter collected during April 22’s Earth Day cleanup of Tofino’s Multi-Use Path, including 202 plastic bags and 264 soft plastics. “The presentation was very well received,” said Osborne. Continued on Page A3
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