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Ceremony offers opportunity for closure
By Kathy O’Reilly-Taylor Editor With shouts of “Close that door!� piercing the air, a bulldozer ripped through the entryway of St. Michael’s Indian Residential School bringing a symbolic end to a dark period in Canadian history. The destruction, followed by the opportunity to release pain and anger by throwing stones and pieces of brick through the glass windows of the school, was part of an I’tustolagalis – Rising up, Together pre-demolition ceremony held at Alert Bay Wednesday, Feb. 18. St. Michael’s school, which opened in 1929, held aboriginal children from northern Vancouver Island, Bella Bella, Bella Coola, the Nisga’a territories and Haida Gwaii. It closed in 1975. “St. Michael’s is a symbol and stark reminder of a dark chapter in our history,� said John Rustad, B.C. Minister of Aboriginal Relations and Reconciliation, in a release. “More than 150,000 Aboriginal chilchil dren in Canada were removed from their homes and placed in government-funded, church-run schools like St. Michael’s. We recognize the deep scars inflicted on children who attended these schools. And we acknowledge and honour the courage of survivors, their families and all those who suffered. As we look to the future, we share a great hope and optimism for healing and reconciliation,� said Rustad. The ceremony included drumming, prayers and the lighting of candles as well as a moment of silence for children who never returned from the school. The day was filled with pain and many tears, but also hope for the future. “We want to turn our own page. We are the only ones who can turn our own page,� said Alex Nelson. “It is my great honour to stand here today, to welcome you to the ancestral lands of the ‘Namgis people, to celebrate our resilience and to support one another on our healing journeys,� said ‘Namgis Chief Debra Hanuse. “It’s a real honour to be a survivor’s voice today,� to speak “for all the little children from across this land who had to come to schools like this,� said Chief Dr. Robert Joseph, Reconciliation Canada ambassador.
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• FILM INDUSTRY...
North Island Film Commissioner makes presentation. Page 5
• THE WINNER IS...
Port Hardy Minor Hockey hosts AGM, awards event. Page 11 LETTERS Page 3
OPINION Page 4
SPORTS Page 10-12
CLASSIFIEDS Page 13-15
• STREET...
Bev Parnham street naming given three readings. Page 5
• FRIENDLY GIANT...
Encounter with Giant Octupus makes the news. Page 9
• CHAMPS...
Eagles off to provincials after Sooke victtory. Page 13 OPINION Page 4
A LOOK BACK Page 12 SPORTS Page 13-16
Kathy O’Reilly-Taylor photo
By Jeff Peters Reporter Residents of Port McNeill will have the opportunity to travel about the North Island easier now that the town has seen the addition of a Greyhound bus terminal. Owner, Paige Quansah, who also operates the Waivin’ Flags taxi company says that the response she received has vindicated her efforts to put Port McNeill back on the route list for Greyhound service. “I posted an ad on Facebook just to let the community know that we are up and running and I got over 100 likes. “There has been very positive feedback, and everybody is elated to have the depot open,� said Quansah. Residents of Port McNeill will now be able to receive packages as well through the terminal allowing them not to have to make the trek to Port Hardy. “Getting up and down the North Island people are very limited. Having to go to Port Hardy just to pick up their packages (for) the last couple of years, has been an issue and inconvenience for locals. I feel that parcel pick up and drop off will be a very good thing for the community,� said Quansah. Quansah and her husband Sa’id, recently transplanted their lives, immigrating to Port McNeill from their home in Bouira, Algeria. Quansah says they are excited by the opportunity to become ingrained in the community, and provide these much-needed services.
CLASSIFIEDS Page 16-18
See page 2 A bulldozer tears down the front door of St. Michael’s Residential School dur‘A blight ...’ ing an emotional ceremony Feb. 18.
See page 2 ‘Greyhound reopens�
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• OCEANS...
Society presents the five reasons we need healthy oceans. Page 6
What can you do to prepar for the unexpected
• EMERGENCY...
How to be prepared for an emergency situation. Page 10-11
• DRAGONS...
The Island Sisters travelled to Nanaimo for a race. Page 17 OPINION Page 4 MOTHERS DAY Page 8-9 SPORTS Page 12-13
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Volunteerism recognized
May 7, 2015
Gazette staff Two North Islanders were among 35 British Columbians honoured at the 12th annual British Columbia Community Achievement Awards ceremony held at Government House in Victoria. Village of Port Alice’s Wayne Beckett and Village of Sointula’s Wanda Laughlin both received awards for a lifetime spent helping to make their communities a better place. Wayne Beckett has been dedicated to the Port Alice Volunteer Fire Department. For over 40 years, Mr. Beckett has been on duty 24-7, 365 days a year. As well, he served the Port Alice Marine Search and Rescue Society for 18 years and has been a devoted member of the Royal Canadian Legion Port Alice Branch. Whether it is a parade, Remembrance Day activities, Scouts, special events, community Christmas parties, Mr. Beckett is always there. On behalf of the 580 residents of Sointula, on Malcolm Island, Laughlin was recognized for her many contributions to her community’s cultural, social and economic well-being. A founder of the Sointula Recreation Association, she served as its president for over four decades, overseeing the acquisition of its seven community buildings and its programs. Ms. Laughlin has served on many committees including the Sointula Co-op Store Board and the Malcolm Island Local Services Management Committee. The message is clear “in Sointula‚ you go to Wanda to get things done.� Honourable Judith Guichon, OBC, Lieutenant Governor of British Columbia and Honourable Coralee Oakes, Minister of Community, Sport and Cultural Development presented each recipient with a BC Community Achievement Award medallion and certificate. Keith Mitchell, QC represented the British Columbia Achievement Foundation, the award’s presenting organization. “Each and every recipient honoured today represents the best of British Columbia,� said Oakes. “They are every-day citizens from throughout the province whose contributions, leadership and inspiration have helped shape BC. It is a privilege to recognize their achievements.� “Today’s honourees exemplify what it is to go above and beyond; to do what needs to be done and to give without question their time and energy for the betterment of their communities,� said Mitchell.
CLASSIFIEDS Page 14-15
Submitted photos Above, Wayne Beckett receives his 2015 BC Community Achievement Award from the Hon. Judith Guichon, OBC, Lieutenant Governor of British Columbia, right, and Hon. Coralee Oakes, Minister of Community, Sport and Cultural Development. Below, Wanda Laughlin is presented with her award.
See page 3 “Volunteers recognized�
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ALL INTERIOR AND EXTERIOR CLOVERDALE PAINT
Kathy O’Reilly-Taylor Photo Members of the Canadian Rangers were in Port Alice last week as part of Exercise Western Spirit. From left to right, Rgr. Irti Gehlen, from Powell River; Rgr. Peter Galitzine, from Port McNeill; Rgr. Paddy Hinton from Port McNeill; and Rgr. Clifford Roper, from Port Hardy outside their command tent which was set up behind the Royal Canadian Legion Branch #180 in Port Alice.
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• FOOD BANK..
A food bank has opened in the Village of Port Alice. Page 3
Super Valu is closing its doors in Port McNeill Nov. 5. Page 7
Rangers show their Western Spirit
• FITNESS...
CLASSIFIEDS Page 18-19
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• WHALES...
LETTERS Page 5
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An economic development open house was held Sept. 27. Page 3
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OPINION Page 4
October 7, 2015
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• FALL FAIR...
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By Hannah Griffin Reporter The Canadian Rangers had their camp set up in Port Alice last week. Warrant Officer Brad Williamson from Victoria explained that the Rangers are participating in Exercise Western Spirit. The exercise sees a baton with GPS beacons being transported by the Rangers all over the North Island. The baton arrived in the North Island after spending time in Haida Gwaii on a sailboat.
“The purpose of the exercise is just to move that thing around and so the head honchos can watch it moving on the computer screen and see what we are doing.� The baton will be travelling in an orange hard and waterproof case around the area in different phases, including through the Quatsino Narrows and to Port Alice by kayak, on foot on the North Coast Trail and by mountain bike on logging roads. “It’s kind of a trains, plans and automobiles sort of thing,� Williamson continues. “We can demonstrate our capability to
move through these difficult bits of terrain.� Port Alice was chosen for the Ranger base camp as it is centrally located in relation to where they will be operating different phases of the exercise. The Canadian Rangers are part of Canada’s reserve army forces, and they provide a military presence in Canada’s more remote and sparsely-settled northern and coastal areas. About 50 individuals from the North Island will be involved in the exercise at some point.
McNeill named in lawsuit
• CONCERT...
By Kathy O’Reilly-Taylor Editor Chris Walker, the former Chief of the Port McNeill Volunteer Fire Department, who was dismissed in June, has filed a lawsuit. According to Walker’s lawyer Chris Siver, a defamation suit has been filed against Mayor Shirley Ackland, Town Administrator Sue Harvey and the Town. As reported in the Gazette, on June 29 Walker received a termination letter. The
OPINION Page 4
FIRE PREVENTION Page B1-B8 SPORTS Page 16-17
CLASSIFIEDS Page 18-19
dards of personal integrity and ethical business conduct, be honest and straightforward in dealings with others, and avoid conflicts of interest; #3 Not compromise the integrity or reputation of the Association; and #4 Not condone unethical actions or the appearance of unethical actions by other members of the Association. A July 3 statement from the Town of Port McNeill acknowledged Walker’s dedication over the last 17 years, and went on
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letter, signed by Mayor Ackland, cites the reason for dismissal as “a personal relationship with a female member of the volunteer fire department,� which was in violation of the Port McNeill Volunteer Fire Department’s Code of Ethics, items #2, 3 and 4, which Siver maintains “was adopted post-dismissal�. There is a Fire Chiefs’ Association of British Columbia Code of Ethics, said Siven, which states a chief must: #2 Maintain the highest stan-
• RUNNING..
The annual District Cross Country Meet was held Oct. 21. Page 20
to say that he was removed from his position because he “breached their trust.� It also says the town insists all firefighters act in a respectful and positive manner, and that the Fire Chief’s conduct must “be ethical and beyond reproach.� The claims against Mayor Ackland involve “her attempt to use her office to interfere in Walker’s employment,� said Siver.
OPINION Page 4
REMEMBRANCE DAY Page 11 SPORTS Page 19-21
See page 2 ‘McNeill lawsuit...�
CLASSIFIEDS Page 22-23
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Port McNeill renamed the asphalt leading to the Town Office Furney Place, in recognition of former Mayor Gerry Furney (pictured in red, surrounded by his family), who served in local government for nearly 50 years - more than 12,000 working days or more than 72 000 hours, by the count of Mayor Shirley Ackland, who presented Furney with a copy of the street sign and the bylaw passing the name change. “Gerry has never been a photo op kind of guy and try as we might to host a celebration, a dinner, a party - to show our appreciation, it has been difficult to pin down what tribute might be fitting our beloved Mayor Gerry Furney. In the many years that Gerry served as our mayor, he could be found here at the Town Office burning the lights late into the eveni evening, reading everything that crossed his desk. So it seems quite fitting that the street - Grenville Place - that our former mayor s spent a good portion of his life tending to the needs of our community (on) should bear his name,� said Ackland. “I’d like to thank the council for the honour they’ve bestowed on me today,� Furney said. “It was a labour of love.�
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The North Island Concert Series begins Oct. 24. Page 13
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Locals bring home Brazilian gold
By Kathy O’Reilly-Taylor Editor Four local soccer stars brought home gold medals from the World Indigenous Games in Brazil. Athletes from 30 countries, competed in the Games from Oct. 23 to Nov. 1 in the remote city of Palmas. Athletes competed in traditional sports such as spear throwing, tug of war and racing with heavy logs - along with better-known sports. The North Island’s four athletes were triumphant in soccer - Margaret Badger, (Quatsino), and Jasmine Hunt, (Quatsino), Kiara Peterson (Alert Bay) and Danni Dawson, (mom is from Kingcome and her dad is from Quatsino). The girls who travelled to the Games to play on Canada’s soccer team came from across the country. Each of the 23 players, between the ages of 18 and 28, earned their spot after being scouted at a series of tournaments and then going to tryouts last year in Vancouver, said Jasmine’s mom Tammy Hunt. Jasmine has been playing soccer since she was about five or six although she did take a one-year break when she was 11. Hunt admits she was not initially thrilled by the idea of her 17-year-old daughter travelling to Brazil, however, she was soon happy that she had gone and was having such an amazing experience, and she was delighted that her daughter was chosen to represent Team Canada. Hunt said she is incredibly proud of the four women’s gold medal performance. In their first game, they beat Brazil Submitted Photo 1-0, said Hunt. In their second outing against From left to right, Jasmine Hunt, Kiara Peterson, Bill Wasden one of the coaches, Danni Dawson Camela, they broke a record for most and Margaret Badger, sport the gold medals they won at the World Indigenous Games in Brazil. This sent the team to the gold medal match the Cowichan First Nation, has taken aborigigoals scored in a game when they won 16-0. In that game, “Jasmine stepped up and she against Tocantins. whom they beat in overtime nal women and girls to play soccer in Europe, Australia, and the U.S, but the 2015 Indigenous played goalie, because a goalie was sick� and got with a penalty shot. Badger, 26, has been playing with the Native Games were NIFA’s first large-scale global event. the shut out. Last Tuesday morning, they won Indian Football Association (NIFA) for nine The four world-class soccer stars were back in 13-0 against Azzurini. In a much-tighter match, Team Canada took on years. NIFA is a B.C.-based organization devoted Canada today (Nov. 4) and a potluck welcome home dinner will be held Saturday, Nov. 7 at the Xambioa Karaja in the quarter final Wednesday to developing indigenous soccer players. Over the years, their Coach Dano Thorne, of hall in Quatsino at 5 p.m. and won 4-2.
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• TOURISM...
• VAN ISLE 360...
The Van Isle 360 event will take place June 6-20. Page 14
• CHAMBER...
The Port Hardy Chamber of Commerce best of the best awards. Page 20 OPINION Page 4 HOT SPOTS Page 13 SPORTS Page14-16
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50th Year No. 50
Gazette Staff The K’awat’si Economic Development General Partner Corporation (KEDC), a company founded to grow opportunities for the Gwa’sala-’Nakwaxda’xw Nations (GNN), has announced two major projects, and the investment of millions of dollars, in Port Hardy. GNN has purchased the Port Hardy Inn and plans to transform it into the region’s premier First Nations-owned, operated and themed four-star destination hotel, offering high-end amenities and services for North Island visitors and residents. GNN will also be opening a new cold storage facility for fish and seafood will be constructed this Spring to serve the growing need on the North Island, led by the K’awat’si Economic Development General Partner Corporation (KEDC), a company founded to grow opportunities for the Gwa’sala-’Nakwaxda’xw Nations (GNN). The 2.2 million pound capacity facility, to be located at Port Hardy’s old mall site, will be built by the k’awat’si Construction Company and is set to begin operations in time for the summer sport fishing season. The new facility will meet the North Island’s growing demand for cold storage, which is currently 10 million pounds short of meeting capacity needs.
Addison Mason, 2, participated in the annual Lions Club Easter Egg Hunt in Port Alice Sunday.
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A tourism meeting in Port McNeill was well attended. Page 6
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Ashley Hunt was one of dozens of Tri-Port area women who took part in a night of dancing, dinner, and for one lucky woman the winning of a diamond ring, at the annual Diamond Ladies’ Night held at the Seven Hills Golf Course Feb. 28. The event was organized by Masonic Lodge members with a Roaring 20s theme. Charter helicopter flights and spa day-trip packages were among the prizes up for grabs to the women in attendance.
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• SHOP LOCAL..
Time is running out. Visit these local businesses for gift ideas ideas. Page 12&13
• AWARD WINNER... Our Voices, Our Stories screens in Alert Bay. Page 10
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Bring on Christmas • PARK PROPOSED...
Proponents propose new skatepark for Port Hardy. Page 18 OPINION Page 4 SHOP LOCAL Page 12&13 SPORTS Page 18-20 CLASSIFIEDS Page 21-23
Dressed for the occasion, Janel Rydalch, centre, enjoys hot chocolate and cookies with daughters Morgan, left, and Olivia, right, at the Port Alice Christmas Tree Light Up Nov. 29th.
Food bank usage up 60 per cent By Tyson Whitney Reporter Food bank usage is up 60 per cent in the Tri-Port area. According to Andy Cornell, manager of the Port Hardy Harvest Food Bank, “the first half of the year, from January to May, was slightly higher, around five per cent, but the second half of the year, from June to November, we
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saw a 60 per cent increase, and this month we’re breaking records.� Cornell attributes the increase to the “longterm shutdown of the (Neucel Pulp) Mill in Port Alice, 350 people in the community are out of work and that is having an effect on the surrounding businesses and the economy.� The Tri-Port area isn’t the only place where
food bank usage has risen. The province of British Columbia as a whole is using food banks more. According to Food Banks Canada’s justreleased annual report ‘Hunger Count 2015’, more than 100,000 people in British Columbia alone used food banks in March 2015.
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Cranmer Recognized ‘Namgis Hereditary Chief Bill Cranmer joined a select group of local citizens when he was awarded with the Village of Alert Bay’s Freedom of Municipality Award. Earthquake A 5.4 magnitude earthquake struck 211 kilometres west of the North Island. No damage was reported or expected. New Year’s Baby Laura and Jason Evans of Port McNeill pose with their son Linkon Stryker Evans who was born 11 weeks prematurely on Jan. 6 and was the North Island’s first baby of the year. Nimmo Named Nimmo Bay resort was named one of only 24 sustainable destinations worldwide by National Geographic. St. Michael’s After casting a shadow over Alert Bay figuratively and liter-
ally - for the better part of a century, the St. Michael’s Residential School building is coming down. The demolition of the building will include a healing/cleansing ceremony expected to draw hundreds on Feb. 18. B&E Sporty Bar & Grill in Port Hardy was hit with a break-and-enter a year after a similar event occurred. Street Named The late Bev Parnham, who took a leading role in battling for health care services in the district, will be recognized for those efforts when her name is attached to the street leading to the hospital and new health care centre.
Care Centre Opens With a flurry of eagle down, a blessing song and the snip of scissors on ribbon, the new Port Hardy Primary Health Care Centre opened its doors to the public Thursday morning. Under a large canopy in a cool, biting breeze, dignitaries from Island Health, local government and area First Nations extolled the promise the centre offers in increased access to and expanded options for health care. “This is really indicative of where we’re going, as far as partnerships with the health authority,” said Dean Wilson of the Gwa’sala’Nakwaxda’xw Health Clinic. “We’re in a different place than we
a tribute to former Mayor Gerry Furney. The money will go towards a community clock which will serve as an ongoing tribute.
Renewable Revenue The Regional District of Mount Waddington budget will see an uptick of 2.41 per cent in 2015 over 2014 levels, but residential ratepayers are more likely to see a reduction than an increase in their individual tax bills. The RDMW board of directors approved first reading of the five-year financial plan bylaw for 2015 during their regular meeting Jan. 20. The modest increase in the $4.5 million budget is more than offset by tax revenue from two major renewable energy proj-
ects constructed in the past two years. High Speed Internet Like groundhog Wiarton Willie, the topic of Internet service on the North Island reared its head at the Town of Port McNeill council meeting Feb. 2. Mayor Shirley Ackland told her fellow councillors that she had spoken to Ray Lawson from Telus earlier in the day and was told they have completed all the fibre optic installation to Port McNeill and within the next two weeks will be sending live signals. Neucel Curtails The Neucel Specialty Cellulose pulp mill in Port Alice is ceasing production for six months this week putting about 400 people out of work, but the village will soldier on. “All shutdowns are hard on the people that live here. It’s hard on everybody in Port Alice,” said Mayor Jan Allen. St. Michael’s School With shouts of “Close that door!” piercing the air, a bulldozer ripped through the entryway of St. Michael’s Indian Residential School bringing a symbolic end to a dark period in Canadian history.
Year in Review - February
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Year in Review - March
Internet The information super highway is in place on the North Island and should be available at your doorstep in April. “To use a road analogy, all of the physical highway and major offramps have been completed, we are now preparing the connection to individual houses,” said Telus Vancouver Island General Manager Ray Lawson. Closure Felt by Region The closure of the Neucel Specialty Cellulose pulp mill in the Village of Port Alice is being felt across the Tri-port region. At the Regional District of Mount Waddington council meeting March 17, Port Alice Mayor Jan Allen said 400 employees will be impacted by the six-month shutdown.
DISTRICT OF PORT HARDY 2016 REGULAR COUNCIL
MEETING SCHEDULE
Notice is hereby given with respect to the scheduling of regular meetings of District of Port Hardy Council as per section 127 of the Community Charter. District of Port Hardy Council Procedure Bylaw No. 03-2009 regulates scheduling, procedures and other matters pertaining to Council meetings. Regular Council meetings are held at 7:00 pm on the 2nd and 4th Tuesdays of every month in the Council Chambers of the Municipal Hall building located at 7360 Columbia Street. To allow for holiday periods, the Union of BC Municipalities convention and other events or matters, Council may change the regularly scheduled meeting dates or conduct additional or special meetings. The following are the regular meeting dates for the year 2016 as approved by Council on November 24, 2015: January 12 January 26 February 9 February 23 March 8 March 22 April 12 April 26 May 10 May 24 June 14 June 28
July 12 July 26 - cancelled for summer beak August 9 August 23 - cancelled for summer break September 13 September 27 - cancelled for UBCM Convention October 11 October 25 November 8 November 22 December 13 December 27 - cancelled for Christmas break
Members of the public are welcome to attend open meetings of Council and if desired, may address Council if arrangements to do so have been made in advance. For more information, please contact: Heather Nelson-Smith, Director of Corporate Services District of Port Hardy 7360 Columbia Street, PO Box 68, Port Hardy, BC V0N 2P0 Ph: 250-949-6665 Fax 250-949-7433 hnelson.smith@porthardy.ca
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New Greyhound Residents of Port McNeill will have the opportunity to travel about the North Island easier now that the town has seen the addition of a Greyhound bus terminal. Stolen Sisters An annual event since 2007, the Stolen Sisters Awareness Walk took place in Alert Bay on Monday, Feb. 16. The walk began at the ferry terminal and proceeded along Front Street to the front of St. Michael’s Residential School. Approximately 60 women, men and children carried placards and photos of missing women while drumming and singing. Mock Disaster Port Hardy’s airport became the scene of a mock air disaster, March 3, 2015. Search and Rescue Technicians from 442 Squadron based out of CFB Comox, B.C. partnered with local emergency responders to rehearse a scenario in which a Cessna crash landed with unknown injuries to the occupants. Eight-year Sentence An eight-year sentence for the death of a mother of seven has the victim’s family reeling. Sentencing of Dakota Johnny for the death of Cindy Scow which took place on the Gwa’sala’Nakwaxda’xw reserve Sept. 10, 2012, came to a close Tuesday, Feb. 26.
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COMMENTARY
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Comments? Box 458, Port Hardy, B.C. V0N 2P0 250-949-6225 Fax 250-949-7655 or email us at editor@northislandgazette.com www.northislandgazette.com Wednesday, December 30, 2015
A look back at 2015
Well well, well, my first Year in Review at the North Island Gazette. As I put together this issue, I was reminded of all the remarkable events and people the Gazette covered in the last 12 months. It has been a busy year, with lots of ups and downs. For a while this July, we thought we had come to work for a big city daily with the Tsulquate River fire threatening homes in by the District of Port Hardy, the Kathy tragic officer-involved shooting O’Reilly-Taylor death of James Reginald Butters (also know as James Hayward) and the suspension of Conservation Officer Bryce Casavant over his decision to not kill two harmless, helpless baby bear cubs, with a fire ban and water restrictions thrown in for good measure. The story about cubs Jordan and Athena, who were given sanctuary at the North Island Wildlife Recovery Centre in Errington, reached hundreds of thousands of people worldwide and definitely put Port Hardy and the North Island on the map. It even received attention and comments from actor/comedian Ricky Gervais. Yet the subsequent petition and calls for Casavant’s reinstatement, at the end of the day, fell on deaf ears. It was a hard year for the Village of Port Alice. The curtailment of Neucel Specialty Cellulose had a huge economic impact on this beautiful little community as 400 people were put out of work. The effects have been felt across the North Island. With the mill still shuttered, there will be a lot of uncertainty heading into to 2016. However an economic strategy for the community is almost complete and hopefully some positive things will come out of the recommendations in the new year. There have already been some new businesses that have started up in Port Alice in the last few months. Hopefully there will be more to come and the addition of one big employer to get the community back up to speed. Neucel also asked the Village of Port Alice for a lower tax rate. The company is responsible for about half the Village’s annual tax revenue. A moving healing ceremony was held in February prior to the demolition of St. Michael’s Residential School in Alert Bay. The building was torn down, closing, at least physically, an inexcusable chapter in Canadian history. Two prominent North Island mayors, one post-humously, were recognized for their years of dedication to their respective communities, with streets named in their honour - District of Port Hardy Mayor Bev Parnham and Town of Port McNeill Mayor Gerry Furney. The North Island had some prominent visitors this year. Dr. David Suzuki toured the North Island. A new TV series ‘Alone’ was filmed in and around Quatsino and was such a huge ratings hit the History Channel is working on season two. The K’awat’si Economic Development General Partner Corporation (KEDC), a company founded to grow opportunities for the Gwa’sala-’Nakwaxda’xw Nations has been a source of great economic development news for the North Island this year. They announced a cold storage facility, not one but two hotel purchases and $5 million in renovations for the former Port Hardy Inn. KEDC ended the year for the North Island on a high note with the announcement of another new business venture, an aquaculture pilot project focusing on scallops and oysters production. Hopefully, the North Island sees many more of these economic development stories in 2016. Happy New Year everyone!
Shore Lines
Passages of 2015: Stephen Harper I first met Stephen Harper when he was running for the Canadian Alliance leadership in 2002. Speaking to a group of Fraser Valley members concerned that the party had split over the leadership of Stockwell Day, Harper didn’t mince words because a local reporter had showed up on a Saturday morning. He explained his prediction that no matter who leads the conservative movement started by Preston Manning, the national media would work against it. “The press is owned by big-L liberals and staffed by smallL liberals,” Harper said. “Preston was too cerebral; Stock was not cerebral enough. I’m not sure where I will be, but the media will always be on the other side.” Harper’s cold war with national media is a theme that runs through his decade as prime minister, peaking in 2015 with the most slanted election coverage I’ve ever witnessed. The celebration continues over Justin Trudeau’s victory, with the supposedly non-partisan federal bureaucracy cheering along with much of the national media. Harper’s assessment of major newspaper ownership is no longer accurate, except for the Toronto Star. But the dying tradition of owners looking up from their accounting ledgers to endorse a political party continued, with the Postmedia chain and the Globe and Mail pointing out that Trudeau’s rash promises didn’t add up. Endorsements were a brief interruption in the media assault on Harper’s record. His government’s plan to welcome 10,000 refugees, unveiled way back in January 2015, was portrayed as heartless and feeble, while Trudeau’s 25,000 by Christmas represented the generous character of the true Canada. As it turns out, the Liberals have been hard pressed to reach even the 10,000 mark. But they’ve put out a rash new promise to make it 50,000 at some point in the future, so the media’s new-found message of sunshine, hope and change continues. Those modest $10 billion annual deficits that The North Island Gazette is published Thursdays at 7305 Market Street in Port Hardy, B.C. by Black Press Ltd. Canadian Publications Mail Agreement #391275. We acknowledge the financial support of the Government of Canada through the Canada Periodical Fund of the Department of Canadian Heritage.
Trudeau promised, and Harper warned against? Borrowing and spending will far exceed that, but we’re assured that’s because they were based on inflated Conservative financial forecasts. In fact, independent private sector forecasts are now the key reference for government budgets at the federal and provincial level. None of them predicted the further slump in energy prices that continued through 2015. And cooking the books before an election isn’t really possible any more, thanks to the establishment of the Parliamentary Budget Office. That was a Harper innovation, along with scheduled elections. And that Trudeau pledge to raise taxes on the wealthiest Canadians and use the proceeds to finance a tax cut for the middle class? That one didn’t add up either. For one thing, wealthy people have a variety of legal ways to reduce their taxable income. Here’s an actual front-page headline from the Globe and Mail, reporting this unfortunate fact, well after the election: “The way Liberals gauged response to new tax rate explains gap.” So it was just an understandable oversight, you see. Trudeau’s star turn in Paris, where he pronounced that “Canada is back” in the battle to control the world’s weather? The official submission from his bloated delegation to the UN climate meetings was actually the existing Conservative plan, which includes phasing out coal-fired electricity generation. Harper generally represented a preference for the individual over the state, a concept that at one time was known as “liberalism.” This was illustrated by his preference for parents rather than a nanny state to administer child care. He advocated free trade, small government and low taxes. We’ll see how that legacy survives the new government and its media cheering section. Tom Fletcher is legislature reporter and columnist for Black Press. Email: tfletcher@blackpress.ca Twitter: @ tomfletcherbc A member of
This North Island Gazette is a member of the British Columbia Press Council, a self-regulatory body governing the province's newspaper industry. The council considers complaints from the public about the conduct of member newspapers. Directors oversee the mediation of complaints, with input from both the newspaper and the complaint holder. If talking with the editor or publisher does not resolve your complaint about coverage or story treatment, you may contact the B.C. Press Council. Your written concern, with documentation, should be sent to B.C. Press Council, 201 Selby St., Nanaimo, B.C. V9R 2R2. For information, phone 888-687-2213 or go to www.bcpresscouncil.org
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Wednesday, December 30, 2015
Year in Review - April draw upon local expertise from related business and industry to expose students to the many facets of the sector,” said District No. 85 Superintendent of Schools Scott Benwell GNN Projects The K’awat’si Economic Development General Partner Corporation (KEDC), a company founded to grow opportunities for the Gwa’sala’Nakwaxda’xw Nations (GNN), has announced two major projects, and the investment of mil-
lions of dollars, in Port Hardy. GNN has purchased the Port Hardy Inn and plans to transform it into the region’s premier First Nations-owned, operated and themed four-star destination hotel, offering high-end amenities and services for North Island visitors and residents. Erratic Driver On the afternoon of April 8, 2015, the Port Hardy RCMP responded to several calls from the public about a vehicle being driven in
an erratic manner, and at high rates of speed. RCMP located the suspect vehicle, but the driver refused to stop, and sped off. Cougar Destroyed A cougar that has been hanging out in Port Hardy has been destroyed. Officers were called in Friday morning to Eagle View Elementary School. Neucel Tax Break Tai Cheng, Neucel vice president, community and government affairs, appeared before Village of
Year in Review - May meeting May 12, District of Port Hardy council approved a request from Valerie McPherson for a letter supporting her family’s bid to get a service dog. M c P h e r s o n explained in a letter to council, that her two-year-old son Ben was diagnosed with Autism a few months ago and the family is applying to receive a dog through National Service Dogs (NSD) based in Cambridge, Ontario. Alone Series A survivalist show filmed around the Quatsino First Nation will be debuting on the History Channel on June 18 at 10 a.m. Eastern. ‘Alone’ involves 10 survivalists who were left in the Vancouver Island wilderness near Quatsino and
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had to survive using what they’ve been able to stuff into a backpack. The series, is similar to Discovery Channel’s Naked and Afraid, and CBS’s Survivor, except these survivalists had no team, no partner, no producers, no camera crew, and no celebrity host.
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STARTING 1st JANUARY 2016 Wheels for Wellness will be operating a second van starting 1st of January 2016. This is to provide improved service to Alert Bay and Sointula, eliminating the need to overnight in Port McNeill. This service is a trial project that will operate until 1st April 2016 and if successful will be implemented in collaboration with the Mount Waddington Regional District.
Medical Transportation in excess of 60 km one way from your home can be booked between 9:00AM to 5:00PM Monday thru Friday. Call 250-338-0196
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Locals Honoured Two North Islanders were among 35 British Columbians honoured at the 12th annual British Columbia Community Achievement Awards ceremony held at Government House in Victoria. Village of Port Alice’s Wayne Beckett and Village of Sointula’s Wanda Laughlin both received awards for a lifetime spent helping to make their communities a better place. Suzuki to Visit David Suzuki is coming to the North Island. Suzuki will be visiting 12 communities along B.C.’s coast in June to celebrate our shared respect and admiration for ocean ecosystems. Service Dog At their regular
Port Alice council Wednesday night to open up a dialogue about lowering its taxes. According to Mayor Jan Allen, Neucel’s taxes this year are about $950,000. “That’s about half our tax revenue,” Allen said.
Take notice that Da’Naxda’xw Forestry Services Ltd. of Alert Bay, BC, intends to make application to the Ministry of Forests, Lands and Natural Resource Operations (FLNR), North Island Central Coast District Office for a Temporary License – Industrial Log Handling and Storage with Camp/Dock, File Number #1414401, situated on Provincial Crown land located in the vicinity Wahkash Pt., Knight Inlet. For more information or to make written comments, please contact: Graham Wells, 1761 Redwood St., Campbell River, BC, V9W 3K7, Email: grahamwells@capfor.ca OR Jennifer Barolet, Email: Jennifer.Barolet@gov.bc.ca. The review and comment period will last 30 days from Dec. 23, 2015. Comments will be received until Jan 23, 2016. FLNR office may not be able to consider comments received after this date. Comments can also be posted at: http://www.arfd.gov.bc.ca/ApplicationPosting/index. jsp?PrimaryStatus=pending. Please be sure to cite the Applicant’s name and the location of the proposed activity and File Number for reference. Be advised that any response to this advertisement will be considered part of the public record. For information, contact the Freedom of Information Advisor at FLNR office.
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Forestry Academy A new Forestry Academy will be taking root in the North Island this fall. According to North Island Secondary School Principal Jay Dixon, School District No. 85 is introducing a Forestry Academy that will involve between 10 and 15 students from both NISS and Port Hardy Secondary School spending two weeks each semester working in the forestry industry. “The Academy will
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Year in Review - June
OrcaFest After the Port McNeill Chamber of Commerce announced it was unable to organize OrcaFest 2015, a
Port McNeill resident has stepped up to ensure the event takes place. Chamber of Commerce President David Mitchell explained that
due to funding cuts, the Chamber is directing attention and resources on reorganizing and restructuring. Suzuki Visits
Smile 7323825
of the week. Nathan Child (Right), 7, and Jace Korhonen (Left), 6, smile before heading into the Kids Christmas Story & Craft event at the Port Hardy Public Library, Saturday, Dec. 19.
Dr. David Suzuki received a standing ovation after his speech at the U’Gwamalis Hall in Fort Rupert June 5. The stop in Port Hardy was one of 12 Suzuki made along B.C.’s coast this month to hear from coastal residents about the challenges facing their community and B.C.’s coastal waters, along with their hopes for the future. Conservation Officer Conservation Officer Bryce Casavant introduced himself to District of Port Hardy council June 9. Casavant has an interesting background. He told council he is a former military policeman who served in Afghanistan. He also dove commercially. Casavant, who is embedded with the Port McNeill RCMP detachment, has been in the area for a year and a
Wednesday, December 30, 2015
half. Lotto Winners “I couldn’t sleep all night,” Bob Roulston says of the night of June 10. That evening Bob was checking his BC/49 lottery numbers online as he always does when he saw the numbers he and Louise have been playing for years were on the screen in front of him “I thought it was $2-3,000, but he turned around and said, ‘we won $2 million!’”, recalls Louise. Greyhound An application has been made for a bus service reduction that could directly affect the travel needs of North Island residents. Greyhound Canada Transportation has applied to the B.C. Passenger Board to eliminate two routes that service this part of Vancouver Island.
KNOW THE ADVERTISING RULES 2016 ZEBALLOS BY-ELECTION THIRD PARTY ADVERTISING
Third party advertising is any election advertising not sponsored by a candidate or elector organization.
Year in Review - July
Water Shortage Brown is the new green in the District of Port Hardy. That is the slogan the district is adopting as dry conditions have prompted them to limit residential water consumption. State of Emergency Port Hardy declared a state of emergency on July 4 after a wildfire discovered a day earlier burned through the weekend, causing evacuations of about 100 homes and an influx of helicopters, ground crews and other resources into the area. The fire, believed to be caused by human activity, was discovered July 3. Fire Ban An unusually dry summer has brought an early season fire ban. On July 2 at noon, a fire ban was announced by the Ministry of Forests, Lands and Natural Resource Operation’s B.C. Wildfire Service. Smith Celebrates 99 Floyd Smith drives a vehicle, likes to garden, ride his lawnmower, split his own wood, and until about five years ago was a working man. Floyd Smith was also born in 1916. Casavant Suspended Conservation Officer Bryce Casavant has been suspended without pay pending a performance investigation after he refused to put down two bear cubs this weekend. Officer-involved Shooting A July 8 shooting in Port Hardy by an RCMP officer has left a 24-year-old man dead. Port Hardy RCMP responded on Wednesday morning just after 11 a.m. to a complaint of a man making threats towards security staff at a staging area for the Tsulquate River wildfire. Severe Water Shortage Despite recent rainfall, the District of Port Hardy is still suffering from a severe water shortage. “We’re in worse shape than we were,” said Mayor Hank Bood July 14. Marijuana Could Cape Scott soon be home to an industrial scale medicinal marijuana plant? Real estate developer Simon Harvey has broached the idea to the Regional District of Mount Waddington, said Economic Development Manager Pat English at a board meeting July 21.
If you advertise as a third party from January 5, 2016 to February 20, 2016 in the 2016 Zeballos By-election, you have rules to follow under the Local Elections Campaign Financing Act:
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You must register with Elections BC as a third party sponsor before conducting any advertising.
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You must include your name and contact information on all advertising.
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You must not sponsor advertising on behalf of, or together with, a candidate or elector organization.
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You must file a disclosure statement with Elections BC by Friday, May 20, 2016.
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Year in Review - August especially when it comes to sensitive issues. Drought Impacts Salmon A summer drought in B.C. has affected water usage, agriculture and businesses that rely on the use of water. It has also caused low levels in rivers and streams, prompting the B.C. government to suspend fishing in most streams and rivers on Vancouver Island in an effort to protect vulnerable fish stocks. McNeill Cougar Killed Port McNeill RCMP shot and killed a cougar last Wednesday. According to Sgt. Craig Blanchard, the RCMP received a number of calls about a cougar on Cardena Crescent. One person told RCMP they heard the cougar on their deck
going after their dog, Blanchard said. Because the cougar was posing a threat not only to pets, but to small children on the street, “we decided to help out and we managed to find it.”
Year in Review - September Cubs Approved In the most ironic of twists, the Gazette learned that baby bear cubs Jordan and Athena, who were ordered destroyed by a senior member of the Conservation Officer Service, were approved as candidates for the orphaned bear cub rearing and release program by the Ministry of Forests, Lands and Natural Resource Operations in August. Rangers set up Camp The Canadian Rangers had their camp set up in Port Alice last week. Warrant Officer Brad Williamson from Victoria explained that the Rangers are participating in Exercise Western Spirit. The exercise sees a baton with GPS beacons being transported by the Rangers all over the North Island. Boy Raises Awareness A remarkable Port Hardy boy has turned his illness into an opportunity to help others and raise awareness about childhood cancer. Myles Janse has a rare and difficult to treat
HOT
January 16 North Island Concert Society presents Locarno, Saturday, Jan. 16 at 7:30 p.m. at the Port Hardy Civic Centre. January 17 Port Hardy Baptist Church’s next Dinner and a Movie presentation will be “The Peanuts Movie” on January 17th! January 30 Come out and celebrate Robbie Burns night at the Port McNeill Legion. Highland dancing at 6 p.m., followed by roast beef dinner with HAGGIS served by the Ladies Auxiliary.
brain cancer, said his mom Vicki Janse. “The pediatrician diagnosed a tumour on July 16. Myles had surgery July 17. We were told of the cancer diagnosis July 30 and treatment started Aug. 6,” she said. NHLer in Court An NHL player from Port McNeill will appear in provincial court in Vancouver Oct. 9 on five charges related to hunting and killing a grizzly bear three years ago. Riders Flagged Down Members of the Canadian Cancer Society Tour de Rock 2015 escort riders, were flagged down by several people who reported a single vehicle collision on the Salmon River Main Line near Sayward shortly after 5:30 p.m. Sept. 21.
February 2 to March 31 Port Hardy Museum presents “Textiles, Part 2: Smocking.” Feb. 2 to March 31. Museum closed Dec. 24 to Feb. 2 for maintenance.
SPOTS
February 13 North Island Concert Society presents Dockside Drive, Saturday, Feb. 13, 2016. Doors open at 5:30 p.m. and Dinner starts at 6 p.m. at the Port Hardy Civic Centre.
Tickets are available from Debbie Anderson at 250-956-3682, or leave a message at the Legion 250-956-4551.
March 6 North Island Concert Society presents Bergmann Duo, Sunday, March 6, 2016 at 7:30 p.m. at the Port Hardy Civic Centre.
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Campfire Ban Lifted Campfires are once again allowed in the Tri-port area. Effective at noon on Tuesday, July 28, 2015, campfires are once again permitted in the North Island-Central Coast Natural Resource District within the Coastal Fire Centre’s jurisdiction. Campfires will be permitted on Vancouver Island North of Robson Bight, in the Nimpkish Valley and North of Nordstrom Creek on the Brooks Peninsula, on the outer coast of Vancouver Island. Doctor Retention Access to high quality health care and doctors is a critically important need. For many people living in rural B.C. towns, however, including some on northern Vancouver Island, the difficulty for their communities to retain doctors can mean a lack of consistency in care and in some serious cases, doctor shortages. While doctors can certainly provide good health care to patients they are new to, it can be comforting for some to see a doctor who knows their history and has a professional relationship with them,
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Wednesday, December 30, 2015
SPORTS & RECREATION Submit results to 250-949-6225 Fax 250-949-7655 or email us at sports@northislandgazette.com • Deadline 10 am Monday
January
Sports & Recreation Year in Review - 2015
Hockey Tournaments Begin Coming out of their holiday break, the North Island’s minor hockey programs will waste no time getting back into the swing of the tournament season. Bulls Beat Warriors The Port Hardy Bulls finally discovered the secret to ending the rival Warriors’ mastery of the annual Gilbert Walkus Memorial Men’s Hockey Game. Keep them off the scoreboard. Around the World The ladies of Broughton Curling Club embarked on a world tour last weekend, and they never had to leave the club. With a theme of Curling Around the World, the annual Ladies Open Bonspiel encouraged rinkmates to dress in costumes representing different countries, and also to bring food and drink items from those countries to the popular dinner and social that preceded Saturday’s finals. Bantam Tournament A raffle to support the Bantam Tier 3 BC Hockey Championships taking place in Port Hardy during March spring break has an amazing prize up for grabs - a one of kind hockey stick carved by Aubrey Johnson of Alert Bay.
February District Supports Bantam Tourney The District of Port Hardy has agreed to help the Tri Port Minor Hockey Association host the March 2015 BC Hockey Bantam Tier 3 Tournament. Carol Texmo and Julie Nielsen of the hockey association appeared as a delegation before council Jan. 18. The volunteers told council the tournament is a large undertaking that will bring about 1,000 people into the community for six days from Mar. 14 to March 20. Riptide Success The Upper Island Soccer Association‚ Riptide enjoyed a huge weekend on the final weekend of regular-season play in the Vancouver Island Premier League soccer season, claiming four division titles of the eight contested. The Riptide claimed the U14, U15 and U16 girls titles and claimed top spot in the U15 boys. NISS Climbing Wall Do you sometimes feel like you are climbing the walls? You will soon be able to physically do so in the Town of Port McNeill. At their regular meeting Feb. 2, Councillor Jay Dixon revealed that plans are underway to build a climbing wall at North Island Secondary School. Peewee Eagles Two Wins From Provincials “We’re two wins away from provincials,” said an elated North Island Eagles Peewee Coach Marty Gage. In a do-or-die game Saturday, the Eagles beat the Kerry Park Islanders 9-4 earning the right to advance to a best of three series against Sooke. The winner of that series will advance to the provincial championships. Local Closest to Button The Campbell River Curling Club hosted its biggest event of the Feb. 7-8 the 51st Ralph Boyd Men’s Open. All 128 players had a chance for a ‘draw to the button’ to win
an $800 Tire Package donated by Kal Tire. Shaun Zealand from Port Hardy, was the closest to the button and declared the winner. Peewee Streak Continues The North Island Eagles Peewee hockey team’s winning streak continued Saturday. The Eagles beat the Sooke Thunderbirds 8-5 in the first of a three-game series to determine who goes to the provincial championships.
March Eagles Bring Home the Banner The North Island Eagles brought home the banner after beating the Sooke Thunderbirds 7-6 on the road Saturday. “After playing one of, if not their best game of the year last weekend in (Port) Alice to take a one to nothing lead in the best-of-three Island finals; we kind of forgot to show up to start game two in Sooke,” said Coach Marty Gage. Hugh Fraser Memorial Eyes glued to the ice pad and boisterous conversation abounding, it’s no wonder why folks say it’s the best way to spend a drizzly North Island weekend. With a record 26 teams in attendance, including one bearing the name of Port Hardy’s mayor Hank Bood, the annual Hugh Fraser Memorial Men’s Open Bonspiel brings men to compete and celebrate a true Canadian pastime. McNeill Makes Final Some of the best minor hockey was on display March 5 - 7 at the Don Cruickshank Memorial Ice Arena in Port Hardy. With teams from Nanaimo, Triport, Port McNeill, and Port Hardy, the tournament allowed the best and brightest to don their skates and show some real grit in the rink. The final match, for first, and second place, came down to Nanaimo and Port McNeill. Diamond Upgrades Approved The District of Port Hardy will be addressing a diamond in the rough. At their regular meeting Feb. 24, council approved spending $20,000 to upgrade the Beaver Harbour Park diamond number two and three outfields. NISS Gymnastics Club Soars Port McNeill’s North Island Secondary School gymnastics team soared to great heights at provincials. The team travelled to the Provincial Championships held at Sutherland High School in North Vancouver, with the boys competing on March 5 and the girls on March 6. NISS placed sixth overall out of 50 schools. Bantam Provincial Success Joe McDonald, co-chair on the championship organizing committee with Anne Dumonceaux, said that the outpouring of support from the community is what made the British Columbia Tier 3 Bantam hockey championships a success.
April The North Island Secondary School girls soccer club kicked off its season with a third-place finish and Port Hardy Secondary placed sixth in the 11th Annual Carihi Secondary Invitational Tournament March 26 in Campbell River. Scoreboard Gets Facelift
An aging scoreboard at the Port McNeill Chilton Regional Arena will be getting a facelift. At their regular meeting March 16, town council agreed to provide financial support to upgrade the scoreboard. Jets Success The 2002 Pacific Jets have taken off. The team, featuring players born in 2002, travelled to Vancouver for the Mainland Cup April 11-12 and left with the hardware. Mud Bowl Under Sunny Skies Beautiful weather Saturday got the Port McNeill Mud Bowl tournament off to a spectacular start. Sunday, on the other, hand was more in keeping with what the North Islanders expects during soccer season - cold, windy with a bit of rain (but not enough to dampen spirits). In total, there were 50 teams, 102 games played this weekend, kids as young as three and all the way up to 18 participated, approximately 615 players.
May Aquatic Centre Assessed The District of Port Hardy Council has agreed to have Stantec Consulting Ltd. assess the condition of the Aquatic Centre at a cost of $30,320.52 The pool is now over 40 years old. The normal life expectancy of a municipal pool is 30 to 40 years, so it has approached the end of its life cycle. Econauts Hold Event A local club is diving into a May Long weekend event. May 15, 16 and 17, the The Top Island Econauts Dive Club will be hosting its annual Weekend Dive Extravaganza at Telegraph Cove. According to President Jackie Hildering, the Econauts have hosted the event at Telegraph Cove for more than 30 years. Marathon Man “I hated it my whole life. I literally got detentions in high school for refusing to run.” These days, Steve Holm is hooked on running, and the chatty, energetic Port Hardy resident needs little motivation to pound the pavement. After beginning to run in 2009 with his Golden Doodle, Dickens, Holm just completed the Island Runner Elk/Beaver Ultras in Victoria, running 100 kilometres in 10 hours and nine minutes. Weeks shy of his 50th birthday, the Canon field technician shows no sign of slowing his pace and displays an excitement for running long distances that many could never imagine. Motocross Event On May 16 and May 17 the Tri-Port Motorcycle and ATV Club hosted a double header weekend motocross event. The event brought out motocross enthusiasts from as far away as Victoria as well as many local riders.
June Trampoline Athletes It is 9 a.m. on a Saturday morning, and while many teenagers still have hours of sleep ahead of them, Eileah Cotter, Cassidy Mose, Ashley Cadwallader and Macy Hurley are awake and sitting close together outside of a building near Storey’s Beach. The teens stand when their coach Heidi Falconer-Mathieson arrives and unlocks the door to Funtastic
Gymnastics and Trampoline Centre. These girls are the Funtastic Acronauts, a dedicated and closely-knit team of trampoline gymnasts. The Funtastic Acronauts recently competed at provincials in Port Moody from May 15-17. Aftershock Event Over May 29-31 youth North Island soccer players and their families converged on the playing fields at Port Hardy Secondary School for the Port Hardy Aftershock 2015 Tournament. The all weekend soccer showdown had a large turnout, and the enthusiasm lasted until early Sunday evening. Games began Friday night and continued until the finals Sunday afternoon. Speedway Season Starts The Tri-Port Speedway Association kicked off the 2015 season with a race event on June 7. Selects Bring Home Platinum The North Island Selects went 5-0 at the CCT0 Canlan Classic Tournaments held in Burnaby May 30-31 bringing home the “platinum” award. The Selects are a group of kids “selected” from across the island for the competitive spring hockey league. Race the River In a race decided by just three-tenths of a second, the Dragon Riders of Comox edged top-seeded Namax’sala of Port Hardy to win the fifth annual Race the River dragon boat regatta in the Campbell River estuary June 27.
July Logger Sports Port McNeill Logger Sports took place June 28, and a large crowd came to view activities not widely known outside this woodcutting subculture. The overall winner in the Open Category was Nick Russell from Port McNeill. The Ladies’ Overall Winner was Anita Jezowski from Nanaimo, and the Mike Murphy Memorial and Novice Champion was Leo Coudrau from Combloux, France. Spring Series Kale Hunt, Mason Northey and Maxtin Northey of Port Hardy swept the top three spots in the 65cc B division to highlight the Tri-Port Motocross & ATV Club showing in the Vancouver Island Motocross spring series race at Campbell River track June 28. Continued on next Page
Wednesday, December 30, 2015
www.northislandgazette.com 9
Sports & Recreation Year in Review - 2015
August Donny MacLeod On Aug. 2, golfers traversed the hilly links of the Port Alice Golf and Country Club. The rolling hills beside the pulp mill looked out over the Neroutsos Inlet, where small whitecaps were forming. The Donny MacLeod Memorial Golf Tournament has been held each year since 2008 to honour the late sports-loving Port Alice resident. Alert Bay 360 A total of 105 paddlers raced their way around Cormorant Island Aug. 2 as part of the annual Alert Bay 360 kayak race. According to organizer Luke Lessard, this is the ninth year the race has been held. The Alert Bay 360 is
an eco-tourism based event which encourages a healthy lifestyle and covers seven nautical miles. Any paddle-powered vessel with one or more people is allowed to race. Logging Sports Port McNeill loggers carved their way into top spots at the annual Salmon Festival Logger Sports competition at Nunns Creek Park in Campbell River Aug. 9. Stock Car Success A Port Hardy resident had a successful weekend of stock car racing in the US. Lawrence O’Connor, a former motorcycle racer, currently races dirt modifieds - a class of car racing and one of the most popular types of racing in the US. Dust Bowl The Tri-Port Speedway’s Dust Bowl Weekend on Aug. 22 and 23 certainly lived up to its name.
Girls Rep. Returns For the first time, the North Island will be fielding a girls rep hockey team this season. According to Head Coach Andrew Laming this will be a competitive bantam/midget girls team. Mt. Cain AGM The Mount Cain Alpine Park Society is in “relatively good” financial health, despite opening for just six days last winter, and 19 the year before that. But revenues may be down for the coming winter, because the Society will honour season passes from last year, $34,000 worth, former-treasurer Jennifer Lash explained at the annual general meeting Saturday, Sept.
their first two games, beating Port Moody 5-2, and the North Shore Winter Club 5-2 and then tied West Kelowna 2-2. After nine games, the Bantams suffered their first loss of the season. Summer Cain Usage The Regional District of Mount Waddington’s Manager of Economic Development is working with the Mount Cain Alpine Park Society on attracting some summer users to the ski hill. At the RCMW meeting Oct. 20, Pat English told the board that if the ski hill has another bad winter “they will probably be in some financial difficulties.” Soccer Player The season with the
19. Swimming success Things went swimmingly at the Town of Port McNeill pool this summer. In a report submitted to council at their meeting Sept. 16, Supervisor Brittani Lasota said the total revenue for the pool this year was $38,791.75 an increase of $2,979.20 over last year.
Upper Island Riptide U15 soccer team has ended for goalkeeper Freyja Reed. Trouble began when Marine Harvest, one of the biggest fish farming companies in the world, became the title sponsor for the Upper Island Riptide soccer program. Reed played for the U15 girls team, which the Riptide temporarily suspended after a dispute with Reed over Marine Harvest’s sponsorship of her team. Cross Country A. J. Elliott Elementary School in Sointula hosted another successful District #85 Cross Country Meet Oct. 21. The school and the Malcolm Island communities came together and as a result everything went smoothly and efficiently. There was representation from schools including the TriPort area, Zeballos and Gold River. Fort Rupert The District of Port Hardy will be sprucing up the grounds of the Fort Rupert Curling Club. At their regular meeting Oct. 27, coun-
September AAA Champion A Port Hardy native, Ethan Fox, helped his team bring home the Western Canada AAA Midget baseball championship. The Parksville Royals midget baseball team (16-18 year olds) composed of players from various Island towns, spent the past six days in Yorkton, Sask., where they represented BC in the Western Canada AAA Midget baseball championships. Glacier Kings Expectations are high as the Comox Valley Glacier Kings open their 2015-16 Vancouver Island Junior Hockey League season this past weekend. The team’s only 20-year-old is D-man Thor Rosback from Port McNeill. Eagles Begin The North Island Eagles organization has taken flight for another season. The Eagles hosted four days of conditioning camps at the Don Cruickshank Memorial Ice Arena in Port Hardy starting Sept. 5, followed by tryouts in the Atom Development, Peewee, Bantam and Midget divisions.
October 71-year-old Ken Richardson, now 71, has been running competitively since he took up the hobby 10 years ago. The Courtenay resident who works as a paramedic in Port McNeill - is ranked in the top 10 nationally. Holiday Hockey The North Island Peewee Eagles flew down to Port Alberni for a Thanksgiving weekend tournament and came away with bronze. Port Moody The Bantam Eagles spent their Thanksgiving in Port Moody at a hockey tournament. The Bantams won
cil agreed to remove the fencing and fill the curling pond located beside the building. Pool Plans The District of Port Hardy is researching possible sources of funding to rebuild the pool, expand the recreation complex, and use biofuel for energy efficiency. Eagles win Gold The Bantam Eagles came away with gold from the eight team, tier 2 and 3 Victoria Remembrance Day tournament. The Eagles tied Coquitlam 5-5, beat Saanich 7-3 and Kerry Park 6-2.
December Movement Sea View School in Port Alice launched Movement to Learn, a half-hour in-school exercise program each morning to help improve student learning, focus, and mood. The program is part of an official staff inquiry project supported by the school board, to conduct research, implement a plan, and take measurements at the beginning and end of the year to determine whether there was an influence there or not. Skatepark The Kyle Scow Memorial (KSM) Skatepark in Port Hardy is in need of renovation. According to the proposal, the park ultimately lacks in design and doesn’t have the aesthetically-pleasing atmosphere found in other parks on the North Island, such as Alert Bay’s skatepark built by Spectrum Skateparks and opened in August of 2015.
As a result, a proposal was recently submitted to the District of Port Hardy’s Parks & Recreation Committee to investigate updating the skatepark’s out-ofdate facilities. Volleyball Port Hardy may soon have an official girls volleyball club. Justin and Tianna Reusch appeared as a delegation before District of Port Hardy council Dec. 8 to discuss their plans and ask for a little help. The girls have expressed a desire to continue playing when school resumes in January so that they can compete in games and tournaments down
island. They have also selected the name Port Hardy Reigns. Opening Week Mount Cain Alpine Park opened Dec. 12 with a flurry (flurries, in fact), reporting the best opening weekend in years. Mount Cain, just southeast of Woss, opened with 21 of 21 runs, and a couple of bonus runs, operating. Neil Borecky, president of the Mount Cain Alpine Park Society, says they had great crowds, with many skiers and snowboarders purchasing day passes and season passes, and everything ran very smoothly for opening weekend.
ATHLETE of the
Week
GEORGIA WALKUS
Georgia Walkus is a member of the Marine Harvest U15 Girls Riptide team. Georgia has helped her team to top place in the Vancouver Island Premier Soccer League.
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July Continued Black Belts Three Port Hardy residents with Bushido Shotokan Karate-do have qualified as thirddegree black belts. Bettina Knopp, Robert Wright and Ken Knopp travelled to Vancouver to participate in a karate seminar from July 2-5. Cops for Cancer The 5th annual North Island Cops for Cancer Golf Tournament brought 70 golfers to Seven Hills Golf Course on Sunday, July 12. The 18-hole tournament was followed by a dinner, prizes, a 50/50 draw and a silent auction. At the end of the night $5200 had been raised. Short of Gold The Upper Island U-15 boys soccer team came up one game short of repeating as provincial champions, but found a silver lining, and silver medals, in a 1-0 loss to the Delta Selects in the final of the Provincial A Cup Championships July 12 in Surrey. Beach Volleyball Three local women are spearheading a campaign to bring a beach volleyball court to the District of Port Hardy. Krista Minar, Kristina Fedorak and Emily Heavoner, from Cove Apparel Company, appeared as a delegation before council July 14 to discuss their idea.
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NORTH ISLAND CATHOLIC CHURCHES Sunday Masses St. Mary’s 430 Chapel St., Port McNeill: 9:00am St. Bonaventure 4750 Byng Rd., Port Hardy: 11:00am St. Theresa’s corner of Nigei St. and Marine Dr., Port Alice: Saturdays 5:00pm Alert Bay: 65 Hemlock St., 2nd & 4th: Saturdays 10:00am 11/14
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FULL GOSPEL CHURCH 2540 Catala Place Port McNeill (across from Firehall) Sunday 10:30am - Morning Worship Church Office 250-956-4741 Pastor Stan Rukin Cell: 250-527-0144 Visitors always welcome www.ptmcfullgospel.org
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SEVENTH-DAY ADVENTIST CHURCH 4680 Byng Rd. Port Hardy Pastor George Hilton 250-949-8925 or 250-949-8826 “Everyone Welcome� Saturday Services 9:30am - Bible Study groups 10:45am - Worship/Praise service Wednesday @ 7:00pm - Prayer meeting Avalon Adventist Jr. Academy Offering Christian Education 250-949-8243 11/14
PORT MCNEILL BAPTIST CHURCH 2501 Mine Road Sunday 9:45am (Sept-June) - Sunday School 11:00am - Worship Service 7:00pm - Evening Fellowship Youth Group Wed - 7:00pm Children’s Programs & Adult Bible Studies are scheduled throughout the year. For information contact Pastor Dave Purdy • 250-956-4737
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HADDINGTON COURT APARTMENTS PORT MCNEILL Newly renovated apartments for rent. Clean & quiet building. Free satellite. Furnished suites available. Call Ron & Linda 250-956-3365
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PORT HARDY CHRISTIAN FELLOWSHIP at Providence Place, 7050 Rupert St. Sunday Worship 10:30am & 7:00pm Tuesday Prayer 7:30pm Midweek Biblestudies Call the church for time and place 250-949-6466 Pastor George & Karen Ewald (home) 250-949-9674 E-Mail: pastorgeorge@providenceplace.ca
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NEWLY RENOVATED Bach, 1 or 2 bedrooms. Newly furnished available. Free sat tv, over 300 channels. Phone Ron and Linda 250-956-3365 NEW HORIZON APTS
7275 Highland Drive, Port Hardy. New manager. Bright & clean newly renovated suites, new appliances. $450-$600/month. 250-949-6194
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OFFICIAL NOTICE Notice of Court Proceedings to Dillon Brown: Dillon Brown, born Aug.14, 1992, this is your ofďŹ cial notice that at 9:30 a.m. on Jan. 27 and 28, 2016, in Nanaimo Family Court, 35 Front Street, Nanaimo, B.C., the Director of Child, Family and Community Service will apply to the court for a Continuing Custody Order, pursuant to Section 49 of the Child, Family and Community Service Act in connection with your child, D.B., born Feb. 4, 2013. You have the right to be present and to be represented by legal counsel. Dillon Brown, or anyone knowing his present whereabouts, please contact Leah Brunet at the Ministry of Children and Family Development, 301 -190 Wallace Street, Nanaimo, B.C. V9R 5B1. Toll Free: 1-866-722-2235.
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ST. JOHN GUALBERT UNITED ANGLICAN CHURCH 250-956-3533 Email: gualbert@uniserve.com Please call for worship times All Welcome 175 Cedar Street Port McNeill 11/14
GWA’SALA-’NAKWAXDA’XW SEVENTH-DAY ADVENTIST CHURCH at entrance to Tsulquate Village (8898 Park Dr) Saturday/Sabbath 10:00am-Sabbath School 11:15am-Worship Service Pastor Randy Elliott 250-230-1885 cell 11/14 7312516
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Visitor Services & Marketing Manager This is a full time contract position responsible for marketing Port Hardy as a destination, and managing the Visitor Services at the Port Hardy Visitor Information Centre. This position is a diverse role requiring a high degree of flexibility and the ability to multi-task. Renumeration based on experience.
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AUTOMOTIVE SALES CONSULTANT Dave Landon Motors has an opening for an Automotive Sales Consultant. This position will provide compensation by way of commissioned sales with a base salary guarantee. The successful candidate will be required to demonstrate the following skills r Have excellent communication skills both oral and written r Enjoy working with the public r Be willing to work extended hours as required r Have great organizational skills r Have the ability to work under pressure and prioritize work loads r Be enthusiastic, ambitious and self motivated r Participate in all skills training to maintain certification r Understand and utilize current computer technologies r Be able to grow a client base through exceptional service and professional standards
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Year in Review - October Lawsuit Filed Chris Walker, the former Chief of the Port McNeill Volunteer Fire Department, who was dismissed in June, has filed a lawsuit. According to Walker’s lawyer Chris Siver, a defamation suit has been filed against Mayor Shirley Ackland, Town Administrator Sue Harvey and the Town. $5 million Hotel Reno unveiled Dozens of people converged on the Port Hardy Inn Oct. 5 for the grand unveiling of the new Kwa’lilas Hotel. Renovations to the hotel are expected to cost $3.5 million, excluding renovations to the pool, said Conrad Browne, chief executive officer of the K’awatsi Economic Development Corporation (KEDC), the organization responsible for the hotel’s makeover. Browne estimates the
renovation “all in” will be about $5 million. Rachel Blaney Elected The majority of voters in North Island-Powell River swam against the Liberal tide flooding the rest of the country and elected NDP candidate Rachel Blaney as their Member of Parliament Monday night. WFP Announces Shifting Western Forest Products has announced it is switching to continuous shifting in Woss - a decision local politicians fear will return the North Island to logging camp status. The move without a word to the Regional District of Mount Waddington “is totally disrespectful and inconsiderate of the North Island as a whole,” said Town of Port McNeill Mayor Shirley Ackland.
Year in Review - November
Gold Medal Girls Four local soccer stars brought home gold medals from the World Indigenous Games in Brazil. The North Island’s four athletes were triumphant in soccer - Margaret Badger, (Quatsino), and Jasmine Hunt, (Quatsino), Kiara Peterson (Alert Bay) and Danni Dawson, (mom is from Kingcome and her dad is from Quatsino). FP Foods Closes Sundays Port Alice’s only grocery store, F.P. Foods, announced in October that as of Nov. 1, it is closed Sundays “due to extreme conditions”. Store manager Bill Feader Jr. said sales have dropped about 20 per cent since the summer, and necessary investments in new freezers, meat cases, related piping and accessories have left a large debt. Set For Life Ray Bono doesn’t normally play Scratch & Win games, but thanks to his last-minute decision to pur-
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chase a Set For Life ticket, he and his wife, Tammy are $675,000 richer. Neucel Uncertainty It looks like the employment uncertainty in Port Alice will continue. On Friday the 13th of November, Neucel Specialty Cellulose informed its employees via letter that conditions are not what they need to be in order for the pulp mill to reopen early in 2016.
Year in Review - December
Derelict Buildings The District of Port Hardy will be moving ahead with ‘Broken Window’ theory recommendations. “We’ve got a number of properties, and property owners, that make it easier for people to leave garbage around and party in different places, We’re going to solve at least part of the problem if we follow through and do some of the things that the Broken Window theory recommends,” said Mayor Hank Bood, in an interview. Food Bank Usage Up Food bank usage is up 60 per cent in the Tri-Port area. According to Andy Cornell, manager of the Port Hardy Harvest Food Bank, “the first half of the year, from January to May, was slightly higher, around five per cent, but the second half of the year, from June to November, we saw a 60 per cent increase, and this month we’re breaking records.” Gazette Hampers Soar Applications to the Gazette Christmas Hamper Fund are at a record high this year, unfortunately, to date, donations are down. Prices for food will also be higher this year. There appears to be a shortage across the board in cash, toys, and individual food items which are used to supplement the hampers each year, said Hamper fund
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President Sandy Grenier. Scallops and Oysters K’awat’si Economic Development General Partner Corporation (KEDC) has another new business venture, an aquaculture pilot project focusing on scallops and oysters that is currently underway offshore in the Gwa’sala‘Nakwaxda’xw traditional territory. The goal of this pilot project is to explore the feasibility of growing Pacific scallops and oysters to market size in a condensed period of time of two summer seasons, relying on rich and pristine waters offshore to supplement and promote optimal growth rates of the species.