Nanaimo Daily News, December 31, 2015

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WHAT’S INSIDE Today’s issue

THURSDAY, DECEMBER 31, 2015

Queen’s honours list a mix of stars and heroes

ICBC urges New Year’s Eve revellers to line up designated drivers in advance, as volunteers expect a heavy demand for rides. » News, 3

GREGORY KATZ THE ASSOCIATED PRESS

Cosby charged with sex assault The case sets the stage for another Hollywood celebrity trial and could send the actor to prison in the twilight of his life and barrier-breaking career. » Nation&World, 12

Comics ................. 23-26 Sudoku ................ 24, 26 Horoscope ........ 24, 26 Classified ..................... 27 Obituaries ................... 27 Driving .......................... 29

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Cops warn about impaired driving

Local news ............... 3-5 Editorials/letters ........ 6 B.C. news ........................ 8 Nation & World ........ 10 Sports ............................ 19 Scoreboard ................ 22 Crossword ......... 23, 25

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LONDON — Queen Elizabeth II’s New Year honours list makes knights and dames out of some of Britain’s best loved stage and screen stars even as it recognizes the sacrifices of doctors who treated Ebola victims and the everyday heroism of those who spent time helping others. Veteran actress Barbara Windsor — familiar for decades since her work on the Carry On films — Wednesday was given a damehood for her services, and celebrated Swan Lake choreographer Matthew Bourne was made a knight in recognition of his string of innovative successes. Other honours were given to revered actress Imelda Staunton, made a Commander of the British Empire for her stellar stage work, and Luther star Idris Elba — touted as a possible future James Bond — who was awarded the Officer of the Most Excellent Order of the British Empire, or OBE. Britain’s honours are bestowed twice a year by the monarch at New Year’s and on her official birthday in June. Recipients are selected by committees of civil servants from nominations made by the government and the public. The honours last a lifetime and convey serious prestige: knights are addressed as “sir” and dames are called “dame.” Recipients of the lesser honours have no title but can put the letters after their names.

Queen Elizabeth II at Buckingham Palace in London after recording her Christmas Day broadcast to the Commonwealth on Dec. 10. [AP PHOTO]

Veteran Welsh stage actress Sian Philips was also made a dame, and actors David Oyelowo — who recently played Martin Luther King Jr. in the film Selma — and James Nesbitt got OBEs. This year the queen’s list has recognized the work of injured Falklands war veteran Simon Weston, who has founded a charity to help others suffering grave disfigurement cope with the massive changes to their lives. Honours also go to Dr. Michael Jacobs, who received a knighthood for helping three Brit-

*All Numbers unofficial

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ish health care workers who contracted the Ebola virus while trying to prevent its spread in west Africa. Dr. Timothy Brooks received a CBE for leading the British laboratory response to the Ebola outbreak in Sierra Leone, and many other awards were made to Britons involved with the crisis response. On the political front, there was some controversy over the knighthood awarded to Lynton Crosby, a prominent architect of Prime Minister David Cameron’s general election strategy.

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THURSDAY, DECEMBER 31, 2015

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NEWS 3

POLICE

Revellers reminded to set up designated drivers SPENCER ANDERSON DAILY NEWS

ICBC is urging New Year’s Eve revellers to line up designated drivers in advance, as volunteers expect a heavy demand for rides home and in between parties. The provincial insurance corporation says that on New Year’s Eve, an average of two people are killed and 200 are injured in more than 600 crashes every year as a result of impaired driving. On Vancouver Island, an average of 30 people are injured in 90 car crashes each year. ICBC, in an effort to boost the appeal of playing designated driver, released a series of humorous quotes from drivers who have filled the role in the past. “I was driving someone home and he was giving me directions,” read one anecdote. “When we arrived, he got out and was met at the door by

a woman who refused to let him in. Turns out, they had been divorced for two months and in his drunken condition, he forgot he no longer lived there.” Those looking to get home from the bar or New Year’s party safely are increasingly turning to volunteer services to get the home safely. Operation Red Nose, a volunteer organization of that drives thousands of people home in their own vehicles each year, shuttled 278 partygoers home over Dec. 19 and 20 in Nanaimo alone. Red Nose Nanaimo co-ordinator Ursula Weiss said that figure topped last year’s New Year’s Eve amount. “Tomorrow night, we’re expecting that we’re going to go crazy,” she said Wednesday. Approximately 30 people have volunteered to drive people home after New Year’s Eve celebrations, “so we’re probably going to need another

12 (drivers),” she said. Weiss said the Nanaimo RCMP is also doing criminal record checks at police headquarters at 303 Prideaux St. until noon today to allow people to sign up to drive for Red Nose. Apart from the legal risks of driving while impaired, there are further financial risks if it results in a collision. ICBC spokeswoman Lindsay Olsen said that driving over the legal limit or under the influence of drugs could result in a breach of a driver’s basic autoplan policy. “That means you could be personally responsible for 100 per cent of the costs if you damage someone else’s property or injure them.” » We want to hear from you. Send comments on this story to yourletters@nanaimodailynews.com. Letters must include daytime phone number and hometown.

A ‘Comox Valley Record’ staffer demonstrates where drinking drivers could find themselves as the RCMP’s CounterAttack program takes aim at impaired driving. [TERRY FARRELL/COMOX VALLEY RECORD PHOTO ILLUSTRATION]

NANAIMO

City sees decline in 2015 bylaw tickets; second year in a row numbers down Year-end total marks a 42 per cent decrease from the year-end total in 2014 SPENCER ANDERSON DAILY NEWS

City of Nanaimo bylaw officers and police handed out 278 nuisance and disturbance tickets over 2015, as well as 6,583 parking-related tickets. The figures reveal an overall drastic decline in nuisance or disturbance-related tickets and is the second year in a row that the number has decreased. This year-end total marks a 42 per cent decrease from the year-end total in 2014, which resulted in 483 tickets. Some types of offences saw a decline from previous year-end totals, while others saw an uptick, according the city bylaw department.

Among the offences that saw a decline was public urination or defecation, which in the past has been something of a miniscourge in the downtown core of the city. Officials handed out 146 tickets for this category, compared with 257 the previous year. City council voted in 2013 to install an outdoor ‘public loo’ in Diana Krall plaza to deal with the issue of late-night downtown urinators. A total of 73 tickets were handed out for disturbance of the peace, also a significant decline from the 146 that were handed out in 2014. Just 56 tickets were handed out for public fighting, down from

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77 last year and 122 the year before that. One category of bylaw offences that saw an increase was drinking in parks, which rose to 81 tickets from 66 last year. Tickets for pet owners who allowed their dogs to run loose in the parks dropped to two, compared to 40 in 2013. The number of parking-related tickets issued by the city was slightly down from the 6,952 issued the previous year, although the 2015 total of 6,583 is still an increase from approximately 5,495 tickets in 2013. City officials have said the increase is due to the addition

of four downtown bylaw officers. However, the city also says the number of parking tickets issued each year has declined since the city assumed control of downtown parking from Robbins Parking, which had previously handled parking management on contract with the city until midway through 2013. Spencer.Anderson @nanaimodailynews.com 250-729-4255 » We want to hear from you. Send comments on this story to yourletters@nanaimodailynews. com. Letters must include daytime phone number and hometown

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Earthquake shakes Islanders Magnitude 4.3 shaker centred approximately eight kilometres east of Sidney

T

im Kelsey had just gone to bed Tuesday night when he heard a loud crack and felt a low rumble. Kelsey said he thought a car had struck his apartment building in downtown Nanaimo, so he jumped out of bed to see if anyone was hurt. But he was surprised there was no sign of an accident, and he only later learned that what he felt was a 4.3 magniRobert tude earthquake. Barron “I had a hard time getting back Reporting to sleep,” he said. Many other people in Nanaimo and all over southwestern B.C. were jolted awake at 11:39 p.m. on Tuesday night by the moderate earthquake. It was centred approximately eight kilometres east of Sidney, between Victoria and Vancouver. The last time there was a major earthquake close to Nanaimo was a 6.8 magnitude shaker in 2001, which was centred south of Seattle. Nanaimo’s emergency co-ordinator

The five-person, blue bag emergency kit contains five emergency food rations, 45 emergency water rations, 10 towelettes, five light sticks and one package of water tablets. The red bag is a common first aid kit. [AARON HINKS/DAILY NEWS]

Karen Lindsay said there were no reports of major damage in Nanaimo, or anywhere else where the earthquake was felt. She said earthquakes that cause damage typically register as 5.0 magnitude or higher. Lindsay said many believe that

major earthquakes in this area can only happen off the west coast of the Island. That’s where the Juan de Fuca plate slips underneath the North American plate and causes major earthquakes in the 8.5 to 9.5 magnitude range every few hundred years.

But Lindsay said it’s possible to have earthquakes in the 7.0 range and higher in the fault lines in the Strait of Georgia between Vancouver and Vancouver Island. “There’s always a potential for large earthquakes in the strait right off of Nanaimo, so a big one can occur anywhere, at any time, in the seismically active zone that we live in,” Lindsay said. Lindsay said in the event of a major earthquake, the City of Nanaimo, like most municipalities in B.C., has limited resources to help deal with such a disaster. She said the city would have access to provincial and federal resources through their emergency response programs, but those resources may take some time to tap into. In regard to the city’s residents, Lindsay said most are not adequately prepared for a catastrophe like a major earthquake. “It’s been said that residents should have enough supplies to survive without help for 72 hours, but we recommend seven days,” Lindsay said. “If people are prepared, our emergency personnel can then focus their energies on repairing infrastructure and getting things up and running.

“But when they have to deal with those who aren’t prepared, it will take a lot longer to recover.” Lindsay advised that residents have an emergency kit ready in their homes at all times. The kit should have sufficient supplies of dry food, water, tools, dry clothes, flashlights and other necessary equipment to last up to seven days. She said residents should also sign up for the city’s emergency phone service which alerts those who are registered with any important information in the event of major emergencies. “Of course that will only be useful if the phone system is still operating,” Lindsay said. “People shouldn’t call 911 to ask if there was an earthquake, as many did on Tuesday, because it ties up resources that need to be available for real emergencies.” Robert.Barron @nanaimodailynews.com 250-729-4234

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THURSDAY, DECEMBER 31, 2015

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NEWS 5

NEW YEAR’S EVE

People look for deeper meaning on Dec. 31 DARRELL BELLAART DAILY NEWS

W

hen Mia Goodall ushers in 2016 in Nanaimo, there won’t be any noisemakers, balloons or champaign flowing. Like many people today, the Nanaimo life coach plans don’t include parties, clubs or other nightlife this New Year’s Eve. She looks forward to welcoming the new year with nature. “I like to go out for a walk in the forest and reflect on the new year,” says Goodall. She acknowledges she never was one for the party scene to begin with, but says there is a trend away from dining out, dancing and popping corks on New Year’s Eve. Park of that reflects a changing taste that comes with the growing wave of aging baby boomers who no longer feel the need to ring in the new year in a loud, alcohol-fueled environment. The concept of cocooning — staying home with family — made popular in the 1990s, is arguably even more popular today, and it shows

“It’s not as busy as it used to be in the old days. We used to have lineups downtown for nightclubs on New Year’s Eve. People don’t come out as much as they used to.” Paul Manhas, nightclub owner

itself in smaller crowds at bars and nightclubs. And fewer New Years events. In recent years for various reasons and due to a number of different factors, Nanaimo has lost numerous well-known watering holes, from the Harewood Arms through the Patricia and Jolly Miner in the south. Various nightclubs once popular in the downtown area, such as Wichita North, the Grizzly B’ar and the Globe Hotel, have all disappeared. “I think people are looking for more meaning these days,” Goodall says.

“For that age group, a lot of them have families, so I think that’s definitely a factor.” She says part of it may be economic. And Goodall says that there is a growing awareness among people today that instant gratification “doesn’t work — we’re looking for something that has more meaning in life.” For many people that deeper meaning is found spending time with family. Palace Hotel owner Paul Manhas has been in the entertainment industry “on and off 40 years,” and he too has noticed the difference. “It’s not as busy as it used to be in the old days,” Manhas says. “We used to have lineups downtown for nightclubs on New Year’s Eve. “People don’t come out as much as they used to.” Manhas has a DJ working the Palace New Years, and Club 241, his other Skinner Street club, is closed for renovations, likely until spring. He is looking for a new tenant to take over the Arlington pub in Nanoose.

Ballroom gala Not everyone plans a quiet night at home on New Years’s Eve. Nanaimo Ballroom Dancing Society dancers will ring in the new year at the club’s annual New Year’s Eve Ballroom Gala, a black-and-white Great Gatsby style affair at Nanoose Place. John Maher, president of the Nanaimo Ballroom Dancing Society, says he looks forward to an evening with fellow dancers, but Maher says that he too has noticed the change in attitude toward New Years celebrations. “It might be I’m just getting older, but I think there was more of an attitude 40 or 50 years ago that New Year’s was a no-holds barred, letting go of steam,” Maher says. “Today, I think the majority of people would have a good time just staying home and having a quiet evening. “A lot of it is, because of the drinking and driving laws, people just don’t want to go out and have a drink anymore. At our average dances we sell less than one drink per person.”

The graduation rates for aboriginal students in the Nanaimo-Ladysmith school district have jumped in recent years. Three years ago, 49 per cent of aboriginal students in the district graduated within six years of entering Grade 8, but that rose to 64 per cent last year, due to initiatives within local schools. With 2,145 aboriginal pupils registered in the district this year, representing almost 10 per cent of the student population, Nanaimo-Ladysmith is employing more First Nations teachers and educational assistants.

acknowledged that more has to be done across the province and in Nanaimo-Ladysmith. “Real success will come as we continue to make aboriginal students in the district feel more welcome in our schools,” said school trustee Natasha Bob, who is a member of the Nanoose First Nation. “If students feel they belong and form an attachment to their schools, their academic success would be more assured. We want to see those graduation rates rise to 100 per cent.” Robert.Barron @nanaimodailynews.com 250-729-4234

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For partiers with a flair for something different, there is the Indies Masquerade Ball at Harbour City Theatre, on Victoria Road. “There’s three acts are going to perform that night,” says Jona Kristiansson, an organizer. They are: All-female top-40 pop band Femme Fatales, the Moonshine Mollys and Gabrielle MacQueen. Patrons can expect a red carpet gala, formal masquerade ball celebration. Darrell.Bellaart @nanaimodailynews.com 250-729-4235 » We want to hear from you. Send comments on this story to yourletters@nanaimodailynews.com. Letters must include daytime phone number and hometown.

CHIP UP

Graduation rates for aboriginal students on the rise in district As well, the district is increasingly developing and promoting more programs and classes that focus on aboriginal culture and history that are going a long way to make students feel more at home and accepted. Thanks largely to those efforts, the district has surpassed B.C.’s average for aboriginal graduation rates, which is at 63 per cent, the province announced this week. The Ministry of Education said in a press release that the number of graduating aboriginal students has increased steadily during the past six years. But with a 83 per cent graduation rate for the general student population in B.C., it’s

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EDUCATION

ROBERT BARRON DAILY NEWS

Less drinking means more dancing. The Ballroom Gala is at 2925 Northwest Bay Rd., Nanoose Bay. Tickets are $20 per person, in advance, contact: tickets@ballroomNanaimo.ca.

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THURSDAY, DECEMBER 31, 2015

EDITORIAL

Good government relies on good rules for bureaucrats T he relationship between the federal bureaucracy and the former Conservative government was so hostile and dysfunctional that the public service launched an unprecedented campaign to defeat Stephen Harper. If Mr. Harper had not been defeated, it would have been the beginning of open warfare. There has always been tension between bureaucrats and elected officials over the appropriate level of deference each group owes the other, but after nine years of Conservative meddling, it is time for a renewal of the public service and a recommitment to the principles that govern the relationship between policy-makers and policy managers.

The challenge has not escaped the eye of the new Liberal government, which has not been shy about jumping into every policy quagmire left behind by the previous administration. The Liberals have already issued an updated version of a guide for cabinet ministers and civil servants, outlining their respective duties and ethical obligations. Significantly, the guide on open and accountable government for the first time provides rules for the conduct of political aides, or, as embattled Sen. Mike Duffy famously called them, “the kids in short pants.” These were the political warriors who worked behind the scenes for ministers and in Harper’s Prime

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Nanaimo Daily News is published by Black Press Ltd., B1, 2575 McCullough Rd., Nanaimo, B.C. V9S 5W5. The Daily News and its predecessor the Daily Free Press have been serving Nanaimo and area since 1874.

Bit of a shake no reason to tear your hair out

Publisher/Subscriptions: Andrea Rosato-Taylor 250-729-4248 Managing Editor: Philip Wolf 250-729-4240

General enquiries: 250-729-4200 The Daily News is a member of the National NewsMedia Council.

Complaint resolution The Nanaimo Daily News is a member of the National Newsmedia Council, which is an independent organization established to deal with acceptable journalistic practices and ethical behaviour. If you have concerns about editorial content, please contact: Philip.Wolf@nanaimodailynews. com or 250-729-4240. If you are not satisfied with the response and wish to file a formal complaint, visit the website at mediacouncil.ca, or call toll-free 1-844-877-1163 for additional information.

Competent people should not be automatically excluded from civil service jobs, but nor should they be given preference, as is frequently the case. History has also shown problems arise when political staff are appointed to positions where they continue to deal with the ministers whom they previously served. The Public Service Commission, for example, noted with concern in 2005 35 former Liberal staffers had been given full-time jobs in the federal bureaucracy. About half were working in the same department where they once worked as ministerial aides, which undermines the perception of a neutral public service. And the Gomery commission into the sponsorship scandal, which

occurred under former prime minister Jean Chretien, concluded political partisanship inside the civil service was partly to blame for the wrongdoing. Former political operatives simply looked the other way, instead of standing up for public-sector principles. Mr. Trudeau has taken an important step, but he should go further and conduct a full review of the federal bureaucracy, including the murky world of political patronage.

My family house was two storeys with a basement. I have been woken up in the middle of the night and ushered to the basement. Family gathered in the corner, far from windows and huddled around the radio, just waiting for an all-clear. Here you’ll get a wind warning at 70 km/h winds. Back home I’ve experienced winds ranging from 180 km to 220km/h. Dresden’s got a population of about 2,500. The morning after a big wind the town really comes together, as you could expect. It was sort of free entertainment to drive around the community and see which neighbour got the most damage, and lend a hand when needed. Uprooted trees were common. Large trees on top of houses were rare. That’s because people have the fortitude to cut trees down that could fall on their home.

Now I don’t want to call everyone out here a bunch of softies, but damn. I was monitoring the fire department scanner earlier this year during a ‘windstorm,’ and a call came in for a tree that fell on top of a car. There was no injuries, but I was expecting big damage. The call came in as a tree, but I’d classify it as a branch. A crew of firefighters showed up and quickly helped the motorist get back on the road. I know I’m probably going to get some unsavoury feedback for my opinion but please, don’t bother writing if the Island is the only place you’ve called home. Everyone on this rock is so spoiled.

— THE CANADIAN PRESS (WINNIPEG FREE PRESS)

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Aaron Hinks Opinion

Editorial comment The editorials that appear as ‘Our View’ represent the stance of the Nanaimo Daily News. They are unsigned because they do not necessarily represent the personal views of the writers. If you have comment regarding our position, we invite you to submit a letter to the editor. To discuss the editorial policies of the newspaper, please contact Managing Editor Philip Wolf.

Minister’s Office. They were largely anonymous apparatchiks who spoke (or claimed to speak) for ministers when dealing with bureaucrats. As their numbers and roles expanded, they came to be known as the “political service.” Working in the shadows and largely unaccountable, except to their political overlords, they frequently wrought havoc with senior civil servants by interfering in how departments should be managed. The updated guide, however, severely curtails such roles as political fixers. The rules are silent on the question of appointing political staff to the civil service, which is common at all levels of government.

I

felt one for the first time Tuesday night. I was stretched out on the couch with some mundane crime documentary streaming on the tube. My eyes widened once the couch started rumbling and walls started wobbling. Well this must be an earthquake, I thought. I wondered if I should run for the door or take cover under the coffee table. Turns out I was too lazy and the quake ended before I could make up my mind. That was my first earthquake experience. Thrilling, I know. I wasn’t scared, nor did I have some instinctive reaction to fling myself under the table. That might be because I didn’t grow up in an earthquake zone. I grew up in a small town in Ontario called Dresden. It’s in Chatham-Kent and is close to the most southern point of Canada. If you’re a Canadian history buff, our claim to fame is Uncle Tom’s Cabin. Earthquakes are almost non-existent. We don’t have a ShakeOut Day or, from my recollection, any sort of educational program to prepare us for earthquakes.

We’re more concerned about tornadoes. And unlike the overhyped B.C. earthquake fear, damage causing tornadoes are an actual thing and happen every year in my home community. You guys are so cute when there’s a ‘windstorm,’ or ‘wind warning’ in effect. Hell, I lived in Grande Prairie for two years. In that northern Alberta city 70km/h wind is also known as spring. And don’t get me started on ‘the snow is wetter on the Island therefore making it more slippery’ argument. Every year in Chatham-Kent there’s some sort of tornado warning. The threat is real. In school we’re taught a pretty similar routine to the shake out. If you’re in class, or some sort of public building, the protocol is to distance yourself from any windows and take cover under a desk. Basements are ideal.

» Daily News reporter Aaron Hinks can be reached at 250-729-4242 or aaron.hinks@nanaimodailynews.com


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THURSDAY, DECEMBER 31, 2015

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NEWS 7

PARKSVILLE

Mayor says first full year all about water Looking back on his first full year in office, Parksville Mayor Marc Lefebvre said it was all about water. Which is what he campaigned on. Shortly after he was elected in late 2014, Lefebvre said his top priorities were the water treatment plant, downtown revitalization and making use of the city-owned land at Jensen Avenue and the Alberni Highway. “Water was my biggest preoccupation of the year,” he said. “Starting in the very early new year we got notice from the Build Canada Fund that the original amount of money, we weren’t going to get that. That wasn’t going to happen because of over-subscription. That was a big disappointment.”

After a series of open houses, town-hall style meetings and public outreach, he was elated to see a “yes” LEFEBVRE vote in the city referendum to borrow $5.6 million for the construction of a new water treatment plant. “The next big issue that hit us like a ton of bricks was the drought,” he said. “I’ve lived in Parksville for more than 18 years and I’ve never seen a summer like that.” With record-breaking temperatures and forest fires, the city raised water restrictions to an unprecedented Level 4 last summer. Lefebvre said that was misinter-

PARKSVILLE

VICTORIA

Polar Bear swim goes on Jan. 1

Working under water: Taking a look at a day in the life of a submariner

CANDACE WU PARKSVILLE QUALICUM BEACH NEWS

preted by some residents and he recalled getting a phone call from a woman saying she hadn’t showered in days due to the restrictions. Following his campaign promise to revitalize downtown Parksville, Lefebvre said he organized a meeting with city merchants but it was poorly attended, something he called “a little disappointing.” However, he said if the merchants won’t come to him, he’s going to go to them by setting up one-on-one meetings with individual merchants next year. But Lefebvre said the hardest blow came recently. “The biggest thing for me was losing (Parksville CAO) Fred Manson,” said Lefebvre, noting they’ve worked alongside each other for nearly his entire political career dating back to 2002 when he was first elected as a

city councillor. “We worked together for a long time. Fred was a great CAO. For me personally it’s a loss.” During the past 12 months, Lefebvre said he wouldn’t do anything differently. He said more than ten years on city council prepared him for the mayor’s office and noted he was proud of the many new faces on council this year. “Council has come a long way,” he said. “People ask good questions and everyone around the table cares about Parksville.” Looking into 2016, Lefebvre said he wants to see “some resolution” with regard to the city owned property near Jensen Street and the Alberni Highway though he remained tightlipped on details. Meanwhile, he said he’s hoping to figure out the future of the empty

Vancouver Island German Jujutsu Systems building along McVickers Street in Parksville. Earlier this month, council considered donating the building to the Oceanside Task Force on Homelessness, ultimately voting for a staff report on the state of the building. “One of the things I want to do is have a good look at the existing bylaws, especially nuisance bylaws,” Lefebvre said. “I want to make them more enforceable. If something is declared a nuisance there will be action.” Moreover, he’s said the city will be working with Island Health to develop smoking bylaws minimizing smoking in public areas like Parksville Beach, working on hiring new city staff and moving forward with Parksville’s water treatment plant.

PARKSVILLE QUALICUM BEACH NEWS

The New Year will come in with a splash for hundreds of area residents when the Regional District of Nanaimo hosts its 26th annual Polar Bear Splash into the waters at Parksville Beach at noon on Jan. 1. While many friends and supporters watch and cheer from the shore, bundled in coats, scarves and toques, participants will race — often accompanied by shrieks and squeals — into the frigid waters in swimsuits or colourful costumes to celebrate the turning of the calendar. “The crowds keep growing, which is nice,” said Mike Chestnut, RDN aquatics director. The event is supported by volunteers from Arrowsmith Search and Rescue’s water rescue team, who will be stationed in the water, and by Parksville Fire Department firefighters and first responders, who will be present to provide shoreside medical aid as needed. Hot chocolate, coffee and snacks will be available by donation. The Polar Bear Splash is open to participants of all ages. Registration begins at 11:30 a.m., with the actual plunge scheduled for noon. The splash began in 1990, and has experienced cyclical fluctuation in turnout throughout the years. But participation has been on the upswing this decade. “I thought last year we hit about 200 participants,” said Chestnut. “It’s had sort of a resurgence in the last couple of years.” RDN staff remind splashers and their supporters to bring along a few extra items like water shoes, an extra towel or two and a warm change of clothes. For reasons of safety, the RDN also asks participants to be aware of and moderate their consumption of alcohol the night before the splash.

PAMELA ROTH VICTORIA NEWS

T

he ladder leading down into the HMCS Chicoutimi submarine is surprisingly long. Taking the first step feels like entering a manhole, but the bottom is a world unlike any other. A maze of pipes and shiny valves line much of the dimly lit walls, making it look like a spaceship that’s preparing for take off. Aside from a periscope, there are no windows to see what’s going on outside as the submarine plunges into the darkness of the ocean for days on end. This is where Petty Officer First Class John Janssen and Lt. Phil Fordham come to work each day. The pair can’t imagine anything better than working on a submarine. “It’s definitely one of the coolest things you can do in the military,” said the 28-year-old Fordham, who began working on submarines when he got bored with surface fleet. “With subs, there’s always something different. You get to be a lot more involved with everything you’re doing for operations.” A member of the Canadian navy for 30 years, Janssen has spent 17 of those on surface fleet and the rest on a submarine. Like Fordham, he needed a change and jumped at the opportunity to work on a submarine when he heard they were getting placed on the West Coast, even though he had never been on one before. But when Janssen stepped onto a sub for the first time he was overwhelmed. Despite his training, he wondered what he had gotten himself into. So did Fordham. “I looked at all the pipe work, the valves — it’s the most technologically advanced thing besides a spaceship,” Fordham said.

Lt. Phil Fordham of the Royal Canadian Navy gives a tour of the HMCS ‘Chicoutimi’ submarine at CFB Esquimalt. [PAMELA ROTH/VICTORIA NEWS]

Canada’s fleet of submarines has had its share of ups and downs. In 1998, the Canadian navy purchased four used diesel-electric long subs from the British navy for nearly $900 million, and they’ve undergone a series of costly repairs and upgrades since then. A fire on board the HMCS Chicoutimi in 2004 killed Lt. Chris Saunders and injured eight others just hours into its maiden voyage, and in 2011, the HMCS Corner Brooke ran aground off Vancouver Island. The sub is now undergoing maintenance and upgrades that won’t be ready until 2017. Last February was cause for a celebration when the HMCS Victoria became operational, patrolling waters along the B.C. coast with the HMCS Chicoutimi. The HMCS Windsor operates out of Halifax. Officials say the vessels significantly extend the Navy’s tactical and strategic capabilities, and are ideal for surveillance and gathering intelligence.

Travelling at speeds of 12 knots at the surface and 20 knots when submerged, the submarines are capable of operating in the Arctic, Pacific and Atlantic approaches to Canada. At 72 metres long and 15.9 metres high, the subs can carry a crew of 48 people and typically have enough food for 28 days. Most of the crew are on watch 12 hours a day, conducting operations such as compiling sensor information through the sonars and periscope. Janssen has patrolled the waters of the Arctic and East Coast, and conducted drug interdictions in tropical waters. The subs use sonar to detect a contact that gets passed on to patrol, then edges closer to pop up the periscope and take pictures, depending on the mission. The information all gets sent back to shore to determine whether that’s the contact officials are looking for. “We feel sneaky. You can easily tell if a ship is doing something illegal because they don’t know that you’re there, but you know that they are

there,” said Janssen, whose longest mission was 29 days. After spending that much time submerged under the ocean, both Janssen and Fordham are anxious to see what they’ve been missing on land. “There’s very minimal news coming in (to the sub). You come back and movies have been advertised, been released and gone through theatres in the time it takes you to get back,” said Fordham. “There’s a whole new world of hit songs on the radio that you’ve never heard before. You are just really out of the loop, entirely isolated.” One of the biggest challenges of living and working in such a cramped environment is the lack of exercise and not being able to shower every day. Those on board take turns using the two tiny showers. The cook and doctor are the only ones that get to shower on a daily basis. Although Fordham and Janssen love what they do, working in a cramped environment cut off from the rest of the world and surrounded by nothing but ocean isn’t for everyone. According to Fordham, some sailors are fine until the sub dives and there’s a column of water above them. It always takes him a few days to get settled in whenever he departs on another mission. Despite the criticism of Canada’s submarines, Janssen maintains they are a valuable component of the navy and submariners are making a difference. “People want to know what is in Canadian air space, they want to know what is in Canadian territorial water on the surface, why would you not want to know what is actually underneath the water?” he said. “It’s the best thing I ever did. This is my cup of tea.”


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THURSDAY, DECEMBER 31, 2015

FORT ST. JOHN

Man and woman mauled by dogs Attack like a scene from a horror movie as RCMP officers called in; both canines eventually killed THE CANADIAN PRESS

It sounds like a horror movie — two dogs get into a home and attack the man and woman. But that’s what happened to a couple in Fort St. John on Christmas Day, say RCMP. RCMP Cpl. Dave Tyreman said a frantic woman called 911 around 8 p.m. Friday reporting that two dogs had killed her cat and were trying to kill her and her husband.

The call ended suddenly, and when officers arrived at the home, they found blood smeared on the outside of the door. Inside, the officers found a 51-yearold woman suffering from dog bites and a 66-year-old man sitting unresponsive in a chair, appearing to be in shock, while being attacked by the dogs, Tyreman said. “So at that time, you know, (the officers) tried everything that they

could to distract the dogs, to draw their attention away, but they still kept attacking this man,” said Tyreman. “At that point they felt they had no other alternative but to use lethal force.” He said an officer shot one dog, but the other managed to escape with serious injuries, although it was later tracked down and “humanely put down.”

The woman was taken to a local hospital for treatment and the man was airlifted outside the city for medical care, said Tyreman. Tyreman would not say what breed the animals were. Police are determining how many shots had been fired inside the home and at the dogs. “It’s almost like something out of a movie where you just don’t expect it,” he said.

“We believe we know who the owner is, it’s just a matter to find out how these dogs got loose and how they got into this residence,” said Tyreman. » We want to hear from you. Send comments on this story to yourletters@nanaimodailynews.com. Letters must include daytime phone number and hometown.

ENVIRONMENT

COURTS

Cause of death unknown after orca calf found dead off Vancouver Island

Fatal police shooting suit to be dropped THE CANADIAN PRESS

THE CANADIAN PRESS

VANCOUVER — A female orca calf has been found dead on the west coast of Vancouver Island. Paul Cottrell of Fisheries and Oceans Canada said a surfer spotted the dead whale washed up on Mussel Beach near Ucluelet on Dec. 23 and called the department’s marine mammal incident hotline. He said the 180-kilogram carcass was transferred to Abbotsford, where a necropsy was conducted on Christmas Day. Scientists are still awaiting results of tissue-sample testing and a cause of death is not yet known. “It was just a tremendous effort by everyone involved, at a time when normally you’re with your family,” said Cottrell. “Everybody came together and made sure we got this animal looked at as quickly as possible.” Cottrell said DNA tests are expected to show whether the whale was part of the endangered southern resident population, which had a baby boom of eight calves born this year. He said it’s possible the calf is part of the transient population, which is classified as threatened but not endangered. “All our populations of killer whales are at risk, so it’s a shame regardless of which population it’s from,” he said. “You hate to lose a calf out of these populations.” Scientists have requested a rush on the tissue testing but it could take up to six months for all the samples to return, he said. He said it’s believed the calf was about two months old. Killer whale calves have a 50-per-cent mortality rate in the first year of life, he added. Cottrell noted it was especially unfortunate that the calf was female because of their value in contributing to the population. He said wolf tracks nearby and

A dead orca calf is pictured on Dec. 24. The carcass was found on a beach near Ucluelet one day earlier. [THE CANADIAN PRESS/FISHERIES AND OCEANS CANADA]

damage to the carcass indicate that wolves foraged on the body after it washed up on the beach. “It didn’t take long for the local carnivores there to find this carcass,” he said. The southern resident baby boom

has been cheered by marine mammal researchers but some have cautioned that more calves mean more mouths to feed. The Washington state-based Center for Whale Research said earlier this month that there’s a continued need to focus on wild Chinook

salmon restoration in the area. In December 2014, an orca from the southern resident population was found dead near Comox carrying a full-term female calf. Necropsy results determined she died due to complications from the pregnancy.

VANCOUVER — A British Columbia woman has agreed to the dismissal of her lawsuit in the shooting death of her father by police during an armed standoff outside a Lower Mainland casino. Nousha Bayrami launched a civil action late last year against Delta police Const. Jordan MacWilliams and his employer, the Corporation of Delta, claiming she suffered financial loss and a deprivation of “love, guidance and support” as a result of her father’s death in November 2012. Bayrami accused MacWilliams of gross negligence and malicious misconduct, alleging in her suit the officer shot Mehrdad Bayrami, 48, outside the Starlight Casino in New Westminster, without warning or justification while he was backing away from police. In a B.C. Supreme Court document filed earlier this month, legal counsel for both sides agreed to dismiss the suit without costs. No additional settlement conditions were outlined in the consent order and lawyers for both sides declined to comment on the matter. Last fall the Crown made the rare move of charging MacWilliams with second-degree murder following an investigation by the province’s police watchdog. Those proceedings were dropped in July after the Criminal Justice Branch said the available evidence didn’t support a viable prosecution of MacWilliams. Bayrami’s father died in hospital 10 days after MacWilliams shot him in the abdomen during the confrontation, which began with an alleged hostage-taking. The officer’s response to Bayrami’s suit said police were called to the casino after employees witnessed live security footage of a man allegedly threatening a woman with a handgun.


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NEWS IN BRIEF News services ◆ VANCOUVER

One more hurdle removed for smokers The B.C. government is making it easier for smokers who want to kick the habit in 2016. Health Minister Terry Lake says starting Jan. 1, anyone who wants to quit no longer needs to call HealthLink BC at 8-1-1 to join the province’s smoking cessation program. Lake says smokers can sign up at any pharmacy and have access to free nicotine replacement therapy products. Options include nicotine lozenges, inhalers, gum, the nicotine skin patch, as well as specific prescription drugs. B.C. Pharmacy Association CEO Geraldine Vance says pharmacists are committed to helping patients lead healthier lives and want to assist smokers with making 2016 the year

they quit successfully. The smoking cessation program began in 2011 and the province says it has invested more than $38-million since then, helping more than 187,000 people try to kick the habit. — THE CANADIAN PRESS

◆ SICAMOUS

Police say man tried to escape using a kayak The RCMP have recommended more than two dozen charges against a man who tried to run from police using a kayak following a routine traffic stop near Sicamous. Mounties say 35-year-old Justin Daniels put a pick-up truck he was driving in reverse and rammed a police cruiser that had pulled him over before driving away early Monday morning. Officers from Salmon Arm located the vehicle abandoned along nearby

Mara Lake and followed footprints in the snow to the water’s edge, where the driver launched a kayak using his hands instead of a paddle. Police then found tracks in the snow on the far side of the lake and followed them to a nearby garage, where they found and arrested Daniels. They say he was suffering from hypothermia but was otherwise uninjured. Daniels faces multiple charges, including theft for stealing a kayak, assault, dangerous operation of a motor vehicle, break and enter and 19 counts of mail theft. — THE CANADIAN PRESS

◆ ABBOTSFORD

Man sentenced for murder dies in prison A man serving a life sentence for a gang-related murder died on

Boxing Day at Pacific Institution in Abbotsford. Gurwinder (Gogi) Mann, 39, was found unresponsive in the institution’s hospital, according to assistant warden Claude Demers. Staff members immediately began performing CPR, and emergency services were called, but Mann could not be resuscitated. His cause of death has not been released. Mann began serving his sentence on May 31, 2003 for the first-degree murder of Gurpreet Sohi, 20, who was gunned down in his Delta basement in 2000. Also serving a life sentence for Sohi’s murder was Ravinder (Robbie) Soomel, who was sentenced in 2010 in relation to another earlier murder — that of 20-year-old Jason Herle, who was gunned down by two men hiding in the bushes as he was leaving his parents’ King Road home with his girlfriend in November 1997.

◆ SURREY

Passerby frees horses during big barn blaze A passerby may have saved the lives of several horses after setting them free during a barn fire in Surrey. Surrey RCMP say firefighters and Mounties responded at around noon to a fully-engulfed blaze in the 16600-block of 16th Avenue). Sgt. Paul Hayes says the passerby noticed smoke coming out of the barn and let out several horses, which remain on the property. He says it’s not known whether all the horses got out but there have not been any reports of injured animals at this time. RCMP expect the road around the property to remain closed for several hours as crews ensure the fire has been fully extinguished. The cause of the fire remains unknown.

— ABBOTSFORD NEWS

— THE CANADIAN PRESS

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POLITICS

Liberals want to grill Tory appointees on credentials At issue are previous appointments that were due to expire after the federal election BRUCE CHEADLE THE CANADIAN PRESS

OTTAWA — The federal Liberal government says a “significant number” of Conservative appointees have offered to step down after being asked to quit, while others will be called before parliamentary committees to explain their credentials. But the Prime Minister’s Office is refusing to provide even a numerical breakdown, citing privacy concerns for the individuals involved. That’s a sharp reversal from earlier this month, when government House leader Dominic LeBlanc announced he’d sent letters to 33 people who had been given pre-election appointment renewals by the former Harper government, which the Liberals said amounted to an “abuse of process.” LeBlanc said he wanted their voluntary resignations and gave them until Dec. 18 to respond. “Generally speaking, a large majority of the 33 appointees answered, with a significant number of them offering to step down,” PMO spokeswoman Andree-Lyne Halle said Wednesday in an email. “It will now be up to ministers to pursue the process with individual appointees.” At issue are previous government appointments to boards and tribunals that were due to expire after the Oct. 19 federal election — some of them many months after the election — but were renewed in advance by the Conservatives before last summer’s election call. Among those appointed were members of the Immigration and Refugee

NEWS IN BRIEF The Canadian Press ◆ WINNIPEG

Ex-Manitoba premier Howard Pawley has died The Manitoba government says former NDP premier Howard Pawley has died. He was 81. Current Manitoba Premier Greg Selinger confirmed Pawley’s death on Twitter, saying Manitoba had lost a true champion for social justice. Pawley was born in Brampton, Ont., in 1934 and spent his youth steeped in politics as his father was an unsuccessful candidate for the Co-operative Commonwealth Federation, the forerunner to the NDP. After moving to Winnipeg, he tried his hand at teaching before going into law and then politics. He became Manitoba’s second NDP premier in 1981 when the party ousted the one-term administration of Progressive Conservative Sterling Lyon.

◆ CALGARY

Police charge man, 30, after violent sex assault

Prime Minister Justin Trudeau holds a news conference with his cabinet after they were sworn-in at Rideau Hall, in Ottawa, in November. [THE CANADIAN PRESS]

Board, the National Energy Board and Via Rail’s board of directors, as well as top executives at Canada Post and Telefilm Canada. Out of 33 appointees identified in news reports as having received letters from LeBlanc, 19 had been re-appointed under good behaviour provisions, meaning they can only be removed with cause. Others were appointed at pleasure, meaning their appointments can be terminated without reason. The Prime Minister’s Office says those who were appointed under

good behaviour, but who have refused to voluntarily resign, will be referred to parliamentary committees for hearings. “The committee may call the appointee to appear, however the committees do not have the power to overturn appointments,” PMO spokesman Oliver Duchesneau said in an email. Duchesneau added that for “those individuals who offered their resignation or were appointed at pleasure, their response will be referred to the responsible minister, who will be

communicating with them directly.” LeBlanc has said the letters are not a judgment on any of the individual appointees. Rather, he said the new government considers the way the appointments were made to be illegitimate, due to lack of transparency and parliamentary scrutiny. That’s not good enough, interim Conservative Leader Rona Ambrose said in an email. “The Liberal approach here has impugned the integrity of qualified people for no good reason,” said Ambrose.

POLITICS

Data shows Syria refugee settlement target off STEPHANIE LEVITZ THE CANADIAN PRESS

OTTAWA — The federal government appears likely to miss its target of resettling 10,000 Syrian refugees by the end of the year. An analysis of current statistics and flight schedules on the Immigration department’s website suggests approximately 6,300 Syrians will have arrived in Canada by Dec. 31, if all the listed government flights arrive and no further ones are added. That doesn’t include any Syrians arriving on commercial flights on Wednesday or Thursday. Immigration Minister John McCallum and Health Minister Jane Philpott are scheduled to hold a briefing in Toronto on Thursday to discuss

THURSDAY, DECEMBER 31, 2015

McCALLUM

the resettlement plan. As of Dec. 29, a total of 4,420 Syrians had arrived in Canada since Nov. 4, the department says, which includes those who’ve come on gov-

ernment and commercial flights. There were seven government flights expected to arrive in the final two days of the year, carrying around 1,900 people; the government does not provide details on refugees travelling commercially. Bureaucrats in Canada and abroad have been working nearly around the clock in recent weeks to get the Liberal government as close to its goal as possible but McCallum moved to lower expectations last week that the target would be met, saying a host of factors, including possible weather delays, meant it wasn’t a guarantee. Storms did delay at least two government flights this week. It was unclear from data available Wednesday whether the govern-

ment would meet another revised goal — how many refugees would be approved to come to Canada by year end. In November, they had said all 25,000 would be chosen by Dec. 31, but last week the government said they were now aiming to have at least the 10,000 applications approved by that date. As of Dec. 29, 8,593 Syrians in total have passed through the expedited screening programs set up in Jordan, Turkey and Lebanon in recent weeks that included interviews, security checks and medical exams. The Liberals are only counting those Syrians who arrived in Canada after they were sworn into power on Nov. 4 as part of their goal.

An arrest has been made in a violent sex assault in a downtown Calgary parkade. Calgary police got a call on Dec. 20 from security guards after finding a severely beaten woman in a parkade stairwell. Police allege the woman in her 40s met a man and agreed to go with him to meet a friend. It’s alleged after the friend left, the woman was beaten and sexually assaulted. Andy Dick Ntunaguza, who is 30, is charged with aggravated sexual assault, forcible confinement, and overcome resistance by choking. He is scheduled to appear in Calgary provincial court on Jan. 4.

◆ ST. GEORGE’S, GRENADA

Accused in N.B. woman’s murder to be in court A preliminary inquiry will begin Feb. 1 in Grenada for a man charged in the death of a New Brunswick woman, police on the small Caribbean island said Wednesday. Akim Frank, 26, is charged with non-capital murder, which carries a maximum penalty of life imprisonment. Frank turned himself in Dec. 11 after police said he was wanted in connection with the disappearance of Linnea Veinotte, a mother of two young boys who was last seen jogging with her dog. Const. Pauline Williams of the Royal Grenada Police Force in St. George’s said Frank was remanded to custody following a court appearance Wednesday. She said he is due back in court Jan. 19. The 36-year-old woman had recently moved to the island with her family and was working as a learning specialist at St. George’s University. A Facebook page says Veinotte was born in New Denmark, N.B., and has a home in Nova Scotia.


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MIDDLE EAST

‘Highly provocative’ rocket test done by Iran last week, says U.S. JON GAMBRELL THE ASSOCIATED PRESS

Passengers injured by flight turbulence THE CANADIAN PRESS

CALGARY — Passengers needed to be taken from a jet strapped to back boards after an overseas flight to Toronto encountered turbulence Wednesday and diverted to Calgary. Several stretchers were needed to transport people from the Air Canada Boeing 777 through the Calgary airport terminal to waiting ambulances. Some had their necks stabilized with towels and medical tape. Others were sitting upright. One person had a towel over their face. Air Canada spokeswoman Isabelle Arthur said flight AC088 hit turbulence en route to Toronto from Shanghai. A website that tracks air-traffic control data showed the plane changed course over northern British Columbia.

Church The U.S. aircraft carrier USS ‘Harry S. Truman’ in the Gulf of Oman on Christmas Day.

SERVICE DIRECTORY 100 CHAPEL ST.

[U.S. NAVY VIA AP]

named, confirmed the rocket fire took place Saturday. However, the official said the French military did not consider it to be a threatening event as the rocket fire clearly wasn’t directed toward the Western fleet. The French frigate is now escorting the French aircraft carrier Charles de Gaulle, which is launching airstrikes against the Islamic State group, the official said. NBC News first reported news of the Iranian rocket fire. Sen. John McCain, chairman of the Senate Armed Services Committee, responded to Saturday’s incident with renewed criticism of the nuclear deal with Iran. “A rush to sanctions relief threatens to embolden an increasingly aggressive Iranian regime that has no intention of normalizing relations with the West or of retreating from a malign policy intended to destabilize the Middle East,” McCain said in a statement

Bus driver rewarded for aid in snowstorm

released Wednesday. “We need to ensure that U.S. forces are postured to respond to Iranian aggression and finally adopt a comprehensive strategy to counter Iran’s malign influence in the Middle East.” The Wall Street Journal reported Wednesday that the U.S. Treasury Department was preparing sanctions against several individuals and companies in Iran, Hong Kong and the United Arab Emirates related to Iran’s ballistic missile program. Treasury and the White House declined to comment on the Journal report, which was attributed to anonymous U.S. officials. The Strait of Hormuz is only about 33 kilometres wide at its narrowest point. Ships traversing the chokepoint have even less room to manoeuvre. The shipping lane in either direction is only 3.22 kilometres wide, with a 3.22-kilometre buffer zone between them.

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DUBAI, United Arab Emirates — The U.S. on Wednesday accused Iran of launching a “highly provocative” rocket test last week near its warships and commercial traffic passing through the Strait of Hormuz, exposing how tensions between the two countries could escalate even after a landmark nuclear deal. The strategic Persian Gulf waterway, which sees nearly a third of all oil traded by sea pass through it, has been the scene of past confrontations between America and Iran, including a one-day naval battle in 1988. But Saturday’s incident brought no immediate response from Iranian officials or media, while French authorities downplayed its danger. Military vessels taking part in the war against the Islamic State group in Iraq and Syria also pass through the narrow waterway between Iran and Oman. On Saturday, the USS Harry S. Truman aircraft carrier, the USS Bulkeley destroyer and a French frigate, the FS Provence, were passing through it, said Cmdr. Kyle Raines, a U.S. Central Command spokesman. As they passed, Iranian Revolutionary Guard vessels, hailing other ships in the strait over maritime radio, announced they’d be carrying out a live fire exercise, Raines said in a statement. After 23 minutes, the Iranian boats fired “several unguided rockets” about 1,370 metres from the warships and commercial traffic, he said. While the rockets weren’t fired in the direction of any ships, Raines said Iran’s “actions were highly provocative.” “Firing weapons so close to passing coalition ships and commercial traffic within an internationally recognized maritime traffic lane is unsafe, unprofessional and inconsistent with international maritime law,” he said. A French military official, speaking to The Associated Press on condition of anonymity as he was not authorized to be publicly

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ST. ANDREW’S UNITED

THE CANADIAN PRESS

OTTAWA — An Ottawa bus driver who stood in a snowbank to help people board during this week’s snowstorm will be rewarded for his effort. OC Transpo says in a tweet the driver will be receiving an “official commendation” after his actions were captured on a video that has been viewed more than 589,000 times. The video posted on Facebook shows the driver, who is wearing a dress shirt and pants but no coat, getting out of the bus and reaching out to passengers at the stop. A voice heard on the video says the man “deserves an award.” Many of those who commented on the post seemed to echo that sentiment, praising the driver for his kindness and compassion. The post has also drawn some 14,650 likes as of early Wednesday afternoon. “Just goes to show there are still some kind people in this world. Hat off to this driver that’s amazing,” one person wrote. “It is so nice to see such a simple act of kindness that is most appreciated by all. Thank you bus driver whoever you are,” wrote another.

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12 NATION&WORLD

YEAR IN REVIEW

@NanaimoDaily

CELEBRITY

NEWS IN BRIEF The Associated Press

Premier of Alberta will push ahead on agenda

◆ ABUJA, NIGERIA

Government open to talks on abducted girls

DEAN BENNETT THE CANADIAN PRESS

EDMONTON — Rachel Notley is looking ahead to her first full year as Alberta premier following a tumultuous 2015. The year began with four NDP legislature members tilting at Tory windmills and ended with tinted-window SUVs, security guards and national attention after her historic majority victory in May’s election. “It was more difficult right after the election. Now I’ve sort of gotten into a routine,” Notley told The Canadian Press in a year-end interview. The political celebrity still only stretches so far, however, and ends when Notley nips out to the corner store or is spotted in a non-political setting. “Every now and then people (come up to me and) say, ‘Are you who I think you are?’ (or) ‘Has anybody ever told you (that) you really look like the premier?’ “I’m like, ‘No, I just look like her,”’ she laughs, but then hastens to add that if anyone asks, she always lets them know. In 2016 as Notley moves to put into play ambitious plans she outlined during the campaign that toppled almost 44 years of Progressive Conservative government. Those plans have been praised as grand and visionary or panned as rainbows-and-unicorns social engineering. Notley says resistance is nothing new. “I’m a New Democrat who grew up in Alberta. That’s the bottom line. This has never been a popularity contest for me. “It’s about being an advocate and promoting a certain view of the world and certain values. “Sometimes you win people over and that’s fabulous and it’s exciting. “Sometimes you grind out the change you need.” On May 5, Notley’s tiny caucus exploded into a 54-member majority government with a mandate to tackle climate change, overhaul taxes, give a hand-up to low-income families and deliver more cash to health, social care and hospitals. Notley said her tenure will be many things, but not a wasted opportunity. “Not change for change’s sake, to be clear, but change in areas I think warrant it,” she said. “There are a lot of people who have worked very hard for us to get here, and it should mean something. “And that’s not some kind of ego statement. That’s about giving life to people’s engagement in politics. It’s actually about renewing faith in the . . . democratic system.”

THURSDAY, DECEMBER 31, 2015

Bill Cosby arrives for a court appearance on Wednesday in Elkins Park, Pa. Cosby was arrested and charged with drugging and sexually assaulting a woman at his home in January 2004. [AP PHOTO]

Prison possible as Cosby charged with sex assault MARYCLAIRE DALE THE ASSOCIATED PRESS

NORRISTOWN, Pa. — Bill Cosby was charged Wednesday with drugging and sexually assaulting a woman at his home 12 years ago — the first criminal charges brought against the comedian out of the torrent of allegations that destroyed his good-guy image as America’s Dad. The case sets the stage for perhaps the biggest Hollywood celebrity trial of the mobile-all-the-time era and could send the 78-year-old Cosby to prison in the twilight of his life and barrier-breaking career. Cosby was charged with aggravated indecent assault and was to be arraigned in the afternoon. Prosecutors accused him of rendering former Temple University employee Andrea Constand unable to resist by plying her with pills and wine, then penetrating her digitally without her consent, when she was unconscious or unaware of what was happening. She was “frozen, paralyzed, unable to move,” Montgomery County District Attorney-elect Kevin Steele said in announcing the charges. Cosby acknowledged under oath a decade ago that he had sexual contact with Constand but said it was consensual. The charges came down just days before the 12-year statute of limitations for bringing charges was set to run out. The case represents an about-face by the district attorney’s office, which declined to charge Cosby in 2005 when Constand first told police that the comic violated her by putting his hands down her pants at his mansion in suburban Philadelphia. Prosecutors reopened the case over the summer as damaging testimony was unsealed in Constand’s related civil lawsuit against Cosby and as dozens of other women came forward with similar accusations that made

“His reputation has already been tarnished, so I doubt that jurors would be inclined to believe him just because of his prior image.” Laurie Levenson, criminal law professor

a mockery of his image as the wise and understanding Dr. Cliff Huxtable from TV’s The Cosby Show. At that point, “reopening this case was not a question. Rather, reopening this case was our duty as law enforcement officers,” Steel said. He urged any other alleged victims to come forward as well. Constand, who is now 42 and works as a massage therapist in her native Canada, is ready to face Cosby in court, her attorney, Dolores Troiani, said this fall. “She’s a very strong lady,” Troiani said. “She’ll do whatever they request of her.” The charges add to the towering list of legal problems facing the actor, including defamation and sex-abuse lawsuits filed in Boston, Los Angeles and Pennsylvania. But as for criminal chargers, many of the alleged assaults date back decades, and the statute of limitations has expired in nearly every case. Constand, who worked for the women’s basketball team at Temple, where Cosby was a trustee and proud alumnus, said she was assaulted after going to his home in January 2004 for some career advice. Then-District Attorney Bruce Castor declined to charge Cosby, saying at the time that both the TV star and his accuser could be portrayed in “a less than flattering light.” This year, Castor said the allegations in Constand’s lawsuit were

more serious than the account she gave police, and if that information had been known at the time, “we might have been able to make a case.” Castor tried to make a comeback as district attorney in the November election but lost. After the criminal case went nowhere, Constand settled her lawsuit against Cosby in 2006 on confidential terms. Her allegations and similar ones from other women in the years that followed did not receive wide attention but exploded into view in late 2014, first online, then in the wider media, after comedian Hannibal Buress mocked Cosby as a hypocrite and called him a rapist during a standup routine. That opened the floodgates on even more allegations. Women mostly from the world of modeling, acting or other entertainment fields came forward and described being offered a drink by Cosby and waking up to find they had apparently been sexually assaulted. Cosby, through his representatives, accused some of the women of trying to extract money from him or get ahead in show business. Earlier this year, The Associated Press persuaded a judge to unseal documents from the Constand lawsuit, and they showed the long-married Cosby acknowledging a string of affairs and sexual encounters. Laurie Levenson, a criminal law professor at Loyola Law School in Los Angeles, said Cosby no longer enjoys the celebrity appeal that might sway a jury. “His reputation has already been tarnished, so I doubt that jurors would be inclined to believe him just because of his prior image,” she said in September. She said the judge in the case will have to decide whether to allow other accusers to testify or whether that would be too prejudicial.

Nigeria’s government still is open to negotiating with Boko Haram extremists for the release of 209 schoolgirls kidnapped in April 2014, President Muhammadu Buhari said Wednesday. He said they are ready to negotiate without preconditions but only if they can identify a credible leadership. Other attempts under the previous administration failed because officials apparently were talking to the wrong people in the fragmented group. Hundreds of captives have been freed in recent months as Nigeria’s military has driven the Islamic extremists into a northeastern forest enclave. But none of the girls abducted from a school in Chibok town were among them.

◆ SAN JUAN, PUERTO RICO

Territory defaults on one payment, meets other Puerto Rico’s governor announced Wednesday that the U.S. territory will meet $594 million in bond payments due next week but will still default on $37 million in interest. Gov. Alejandro Garcia Padilla said the payment includes $329 million in general obligation bonds. However, he warned there is no money available for future payments, including $400 million due in May in bonds issued by the Government Development Bank. Garcia said Puerto Rico needs Congress to give the territory access to debt reorganization under federal bankruptcy laws. “I’m not asking for a bailout,” he said. “I’m asking for the tools to address the problem.” This is the second time that Puerto Rico has defaulted on Public Finance Corporation bonds. The government missed a $58 million bond payment in August.

◆ WARSAW, POLAND

Parliament OKs laws on control of state media Poland’s parliament has approved new legislation that gives the government control of state radio and television stations in a move that has raised EU concern. Following a heated debate Wednesday, the lower chamber voted 232-152 with 34 abstentions to adopt amendments to the media law that were proposed by the ruling conservative Law and Justice party. The legislation gives the government the authority to appoint heads of the state-run radio and TV, limits the number of supervisory board members and terminates the terms of the current management, appointed by the previous establishment. It needs approval from the Senate and the president, who are also controlled by the ruling party and are expected to grant their consent. A European Commission leader has written to express concern for Poland’s media freedom.


THURSDAY, DECEMBER 31, 2015

www.nanaimodailynews.com

@NanaimoDaily

NATION&WORLD 13

YEAR IN REVIEW

NO

Defence Minister Harjit Sajjan is expected in 2016 to put before cabinet a redrawn commitment to the war in Iraq and Syria. [THE CANADIAN PRESS]

Military emerges as policy challenge MURRAY BREWSTER THE CANADIAN PRESS

OTTAWA — Harjit Sajjan, Canada’s new defence minister, is uniquely qualified to know how Ottawa’s abstract policy decisions can be bent, twisted and mangled in the far-flung corners of the globe — sometimes to the detriment of those in uniform. He’ll need every ounce of that special understanding as he guides Justin Trudeau’s Liberal government through reshaping the country’s war against the Islamic State of Iraq and the Levant, and braces against a resurgent Russia. Sajjan’s experience was earned the hard way: one tour in Bosnia and three in Afghanistan as a special liaison officer who compiled the intelligence picture on the Taliban and Canada’s sometimes unseemly local allies in Kandahar. But Sajjan, a former colonel, also brings the rare perspective of a being a reservist — a part-time, citizen soldier — to a headquarters of full-time, professional military people. “I have a great sense of appreciation for somebody in uniform and what they go through, and how policy decisions on a high level can impact the boots on the ground,” Sajjan told The Canadian Press in a recent interview. “As I move forward and I get asked the questions, ’What are you going to do when it comes to the mission in Iraq,’ or other places, I’m cognizant of that fact (that) when we make these policy level decisions, it’s going to create the desired effect on the ground.” Sajjan lived the disconnect that was the Afghan war, where a relatively small Canadian contingent struggled to keep the Taliban at bay while trying to deliver aid and economic development to a population that grew indifferent, even hostile, as the years passed. It is that sort of visceral sense which Sajjan brings to the cabinet table. “I’ll always look at it — my recommendation to put our servicemen and women in uniform into harm’s way — that it’s the right decision; that it’s

going to have the desired impact and that they have the right equipment to do the job.” To that end, Sajjan is expected — early in the new year — to put before cabinet a redrawn commitment to the war in Iraq and Syria, one that withdraws CF-18 jetfighters but beefs up local military and possibly police training. Later, he is expected to tackle the politically thorny issue of replacing the CF-18s with something other than the controversial F-35. Gen. Jonathan Vance, the country’s top military commander, says allies in the Middle East have asked that Canada continue to provide intelligence and logistical support by leaving behind its CP-140 Aurora spy plane and its C-150 aerial tanker. The Opposition Conservatives say Canada is backing away from the fight against ISIL just as the U.S. calls for deeper military involvement. Sajjan said the government’s new approach, being crafted in consultation with allies, will be a “meaningful contribution” that takes in not only the military but other elements, including efforts to de-radicalize would-be ISIL converts. The full range of measures is still being developed and Vance wouldn’t speculate on what they might be, but said the military “options will mature over the next month.” NATO is putting together a so-called defence capacity-building program to train Iraqi officers at safe locations in Turkey and Jordan. “It does form one of the candidate areas we’re looking at,” said Vance, although the alliance is still in the planning stages and “there’s no absolute certainty as what the Canadian contribution might be in that.” The training is expected to include a wide series of measures, such as countering improvised explosive devices, bomb disposal, de-mining, civil-military planning, cyberdefence, military medicine and medical assistance.

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14 NATION&WORLD

www.nanaimodailynews.com

Kris Kringle Craft Market

@NanaimoDaily

THURSDAY, DECEMBER 31, 2015

TERRORISM

Ms. Veronica von Conruhds, Event Coordinator

Thank You

Hey everyone, it is Kris Kringle here and my wife Karole and I would like to express our very big thanks to Nanaimo MLA Leonard Krog, Mayor Bill McKay, Salvation Army-Dawne Anderson, Nanaimo Chamber of Commerce-Kimberly Plumley and Beban Park’s staff for hosting the Kris Kringle Family once more. Opening the Festival started with a grand ribbon cutting & decadent slices of Kringle cake by Quality Foods. They were served up to the waiting excited crowds by Helpful Happy Elves Frank & Rita plus our daughters Princess Kringle & Krystal Princess as “It Isn’t Christmas Until It Is Kringle!!” The Kringle Entertainers and Daily Kringle Grand prize giveaways, Inn On Long Lake, The Black Rock, Jamie’s Rainforest Inn, The Coast Bastion Hotel and Conference Centre and the $1,000 Kris Kringle Shopping Spree as well as the hourly door prizes were all made possible with the generous support from ALL the Kringle sponsors who bring JOY to the thousands Photo by Mike Thompson, 460 Communications Inc. of visitors each year! A special “Thank You” to Columbia Bakery who makes the kids at Kringland say, “ Yummy” when they munched on their Gingerbread cookies that they just decorated. Craftsman Collision provided the FREE Horse Drawn Carriage and riders not only enjoyed a wintry ride but their free Hot Cocoa too. Kringle’s Man Cave had constant stream of customers, as women knew if there was a place to hunt down that unique gift for the Cave Man on her list, this was the place to find it. Kringle Lane was another place where there were plenty of food choices, entertainment, Alpacas plus Steve Marshall Ford had their Dream Get Away Prize. Thank you Calico Cat Tea House and A & W for the extra entertainment support. It was heartwarming to have Mike Thompson of 460 Communications Inc. take photos of the children with me. He brought out their happiest smiles because face painter Cathy Corbett created many amazing magical faces for them. All this Merry making isn’t possible without giving an extra special Thank You to our Sponsors. We had the amazing staff support from: •Nanaimo Daily News ~ Andrea Rosato-Taylor •The Bulletin ~ Sean McCue •91.7 Coast FM ~ Chad Raill •CHEK TV-6’s ~ Doug Slack •Outdoor Coast Advertising ~ Darren Webb •Sign Age ~ Roger McKinnon & Rob Fuller •Geeks on the Beach ~ Jonathan Michaels •Nanaimo Magazine ~ Judy Stephan •What’s On Digest ~ Simon Rideout •Harbour Living ~ Kimberly Miller •Videographer ~ Derek Johnston •Shaw Interactive ~ Kait Burgan •Triple- T’s Party Rentals ~ Christine Moore •460 Communications Inc. ~ Mike Thompson •WestJet ~ Tammy Appleton •Quality Foods ~ John Briuolo Graham Helm, from Nanaimo who is a Faller in Port Alice, has never won anything in his life before, but now has his co-worker to thank for him winning the Grand Prize a Gift of Flight for 2 anywhere WestJet flies. “My buddy was 15 minutes late in picking me up for camp when the call from Krystal Princess came through on Sunday. Had we been driving another 15 minutes, we would have been out of cell range. I had to act fast and call my partner, Christine Winterburn, to get down to Kringland to pick up our winning flight tickets. Helm took their 3 children to Kris Kringle on Saturday with their 3 year old riding on his shoulders and their 8 year old in one hand, he had his admission ticket in the other while chasing after their 9 year old before she headed off into the fray of Kringland. “I almost didn’t put my ticket in the draw barrel because the area was so busy and my daughter was off and running because she was so excited to visit Kris Kringle in his castle where the Princesses live,” laughed Helm. “There was so much for the kids to do as we joined in singing carols on the Horse Drawn Carriage Rides, we did the face painting on stage and decorated Gingerbread cookies. Plus there was such a variety to choose from to do our gift shopping. We will definitely will be back as everything worked out so well in the end,” said a tired but extremely happy Father. With all the wet, cool weather on the Island, Graham & Christine have decided that Hawaii will be the warm destination of their dreams – their Gift of Flight from West Jet. We, the Kringle Family, would like to extend to your Family, A Very Merry Christmas by Honoring the Reason for the Season, Wishing You the Best of Health For ringing in a Happy, Prosperous New Year – and a Magical 2016!

Kris Kringle www.kriskringle.ca

Visit Brad & Ginger on facebook/kriskringlecanada

A file image from July 2014 purports to show the leader of the Islamic State group, Abu Bakr al-Baghdadi. [AP PHOTO]

Europe attacks said to be foiled Turkey, Belgium carry out raids, make arrests SUZAN FRASER AND JOHN-THOR DAHLBURG THE ASSOCIATED PRESS

ANKARA, Turkey — With less than 48 hours left in 2015, Turkey on Wednesday became the latest country to announce the foiling of a holiday attack plot, detaining two suspected Islamic State militants believed to be planning suicide bombings during New Year celebrations in the capital city’s heart. “They were caught before they had the opportunity to take action,” said the office of the chief prosecutor of Ankara, Turkey’s capital. The men were detained in a raid on a house in the low-income Mamak neighbourhood, where police seized a suicide vest armed with a bomb, a second explosive device that was fortified with ball bearings and metal sticks and concealed inside a back pack, as well as bomb-making equipment, according to the prosecutor’s office. The two men, Turkish nationals identified only by their initials M.C. and A.Y., were being questioned by anti-terrorism police. The prosecutor’s office said the men had staked out possible locations in Ankara where they could carry out the attacks. The state-run Anadolu Agency, quoting unnamed police and judiciary officials, said the would-be bombers had intended to blow themselves up during holiday festivities at bars and a shopping mall in the central Kizilay district. In Belgium, an investigation was continuing into what authorities characterized as a “serious threat” of holiday season attacks directed at police, soldiers and popular attractions in the capital city of Brussels. The arrest of two suspects was announced Tuesday by the Federal Prosecutor’s Office, along with the seizure of military-style training uniforms, computer equipment and propaganda materials from the Islamic State. No weapons or explosives were found.

Brussels officials, however, were sufficiently worried about the remaining risks that Mayor Yvane Mayeur announced Wednesday evening that a New Year’s Eve fireworks display and related festivities planned Thursday in the city centre are being cancelled. On Thursday, the arrested men, whose names have not been made public, are due to go before a magistrate, who will decide whether to hold them for another month. An official close to the investigation, speaking on condition of anonymity because the case is ongoing, told The Associated Press both suspects belong to a motorcycle club, the Kamikaze Riders, which is known for illegal stunts on public roads. Belgium has been one of Europe’s leading recruiting grounds for foreign jihadi fighters, and was home to four of the Nov. 13 attackers who killed 130 people in Paris, including suspected ringleader Abdelhamid Abaaoud and fugitive Salah Abdeslam. Nine other people have been arrested in Belgium in investigations linked to the Paris attacks, which were claimed by Islamic State. On Wednesday, another police search linked to the Paris attacks was carried out in the Molenbeek area of Brussels, and a person detained for questioning, said Thierry Werts, a spokesman for the Federal Prosecutor’s Office. In the U.S., officials in Las Vegas are urging New Year’s Eve revellers to leave bags, backpacks and strollers at home as officials ready for hundreds of thousands of partiers to flood the area around casinos. It’s not the first time such a request has been made but following the deadly attacks in Paris and San Bernadino, Calif., it’s getting extra emphasis. The arrest of two suspects believed to planning New Year’s attacks in Turkey, follows two suicide bombings in October outside Ankara’s main train station as people gathered for a peace rally.


www.nanaimodailynews.com

THURSDAY, DECEMBER 31, 2015

YEAR IN REVIEW

Debate continues on assisted suicide SHERYL UBELACKER THE CANADIAN PRESS

TORONTO — Canadian doctors face a new era in the practice of medicine — one that gives them the legal right to help patients with unbearable suffering to end their lives. But what will be the effect on participating physicians — who have long practised under Hippocrates’ admonition to “First, do no harm” — when assisted death becomes a cold, hard reality? Dr. Ellen Wiebe said she has watched a lot of deaths in her 40 years as a family practitioner and has seen much suffering as patients with terminal diseases like cancer approached the end of their lives. The Vancouver physician believes that patients should have a choice as to when and how they die — and insists she has no qualms about helping them fulfil their final wish. “I don’t consider giving someone a good death to be causing harm,” said Wiebe, one of several like-minded doctors who have formed the group Hemlock AID to provide B.C. patients with information about and access to assisted death. “That’s the main aim of helping somebody at the end of life, to help them have a good death . . . . If what they want is to die sooner rather than later and do it comfortably, then that’s a good death for them.” Dr. Jeff Blackmer said that level of comfort is not what he’s hearing from doctors in his role helping the Canadian Medical Association and its 81,000 members navigate the many pitfalls surrounding assisted dying. “In the thousands of physicians I’ve spoken with about this I haven’t heard anyone tell me they’re going to be fine,” said Blackmer, the CMA’s vice-president of medical professionalism. “I’ve had lots of discussions with physicians on all ends of the spectrum on this issue and even those who strongly support the right to assisted dying for compassionate reasons, and who have said they will participate, they’re very aware of the likely impact that this will have on them.” Some colleagues have told him they are already experiencing symptoms of post-traumatic stress disorder, “almost pre-emptively,” as they worry about the emotional and psychological fallout from terminating a patient’s life for the first time. “And I know doctors who are losing sleep about this and who have already started to talk to therapists about their feelings.” The reality of assisted death and euthanasia — and the dilemma many doctors find themselves in — hit home on Feb. 6 when the Supreme Court of Canada struck down the law prohibiting medical aid in dying, saying competent and consenting patients with intolerable suffering from a grievous and irremediable medical condition have the constitutional right to seek help to end their lives. The court gave Parliament a year to draft a legal framework to govern the provision of physician-assisted death.

“And I know doctors who are losing sleep about this and who have already started to talk to therapists about their feelings.” Dr. Jeff Blackmer, Canadian Medical Association

The new Liberal government has asked for a six-month extension on that moratorium, which would give legislators until August if the court grants its request. It’s expected that no doctors will be forced to help a patient die if they object to the practice on principle. In the meantime, the CMA is trying to prepare doctors with educational sessions on how to prescribe and/or administer the lethal medications — for those willing to participate. “Every physician in Canada who is currently practising medicine went into the profession not expecting to have to provide aid in dying,” said Blackmer. “This wasn’t part of the agreement . . . before the Supreme Court ruling, so that’s a pretty big sea change for an entire group of professionals. “And I think not just that, but for any individual, any human being to be asked to be responsible to take the life of another — even with their consent — it’s a very significant event and a very significant responsibility.” Compassion is the reason that Dr. Gerald Ashe, a 38-year family practitioner who provides palliative care in Brockville, Ont., is prepared to help terminally ill patients die, once appropriate legislation and guidelines are in place. “I’ve looked after hundreds and hundreds of patients who have died over the years,” said Ashe. “During that time, there were a few patients whose suffering — whether that be spiritual or emotional or physical — couldn’t be controlled by palliative care. “And in my career, I’ve probably had a handful of patients that I know of who have committed suicide,” he said. “So I will do it. But it will not be easy.” But what about the emotional fallout after he delivers his first few patients into the arms of Death — does he worry there will be a psychological price to pay? “I don’t think so. Honestly, I would be surprised, mainly because I have seen so much in my career and seen a lot of suffering and I really feel that I will be able to handle it.” Still, Blackmer of the CMA expects there will be emotional repercussions for most doctors. His organization hopes to develop a network of participating physicians who can offer support to each other. “We want to make sure we’ve got physicians communicating, whether by phone, electronically or in person, to say: ‘How did you deal with the stress’ or ‘How did you deal with the strain? What are your coping mechanisms and how do you get support?’”

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nanaimodailynews.com

THURSDAY, DECEMBER 31, 2015

COMEDY

‘Happy Hagrid’ at Port Theatre Toby Hargrave was previously voted funniest comedian at Vancouver International Comedy Festival DAILY NEWS

T

oby Hargrave, voted the funniest comedian at the Vancouver International Comedy Festival in 2005, will be performing at the Port Theatre on Jan. 9. Described as “a happy Hagrid” for his more than passing resemblance to the well-known character from the Harry Potter movie series, Hargrave is said to share Hagrid’s imposing physical presence as well as his colossal warmth. Audiences are drawn in, if never completely put at ease, by Hargrave’s humble charm and unwaveringly honest comedy. A gifted storyteller with an absurd ability to pinpoint the unseen hilarity of life, Hargrave has captivated audiences for over 20 years. His credits include appearances at the Just for Laughs Comedy Festival in Montreal, Atomic Comedy Festival in Washington State, Whistler & Edmonton Comedy Festivals and the Vancouver International Comedy Festival Ross Henderson, an entertainment writer with The Edmonton Journal, said Hargrave “stole the show” at the 2005 Vancouver festival. “He wowed the audience with his intelligent, self deprecating and

ruthlessly honest discussions of marriage, child rearing, honesty, and just getting by in the modern world,” Henderson said in a review. “Hargrave’s brutal and hilarious relationship with the audience grew during his performance as he appealed in his own, human and avuncular way to an audience that, at first, didn’t know what to make of him. The crowd became a part of his deeply personal and revealing performance.” Born in Edmonton in 1974, Henderson’s first steps into the world of comedy were in improv and sketch in 1992 when he began his 15-year stretch with the award-winning, Alberta-based comedy company Rapid Fire Theatre. Whether you’re seeing him in a club or a theatre, you’re in for a great evening of food, libations, and stories. A skilled storyteller, Henderson has a wonderful gift for making the audience feel right at home. Tickets for the Nanaimo show, which begins at 7:30 p.m., cost between $25 and $30, depending on your seat. To buy tickets or for more information, call the Port Theatre’s box office at 250-754-8550, go to www.porttheatre.com., or go in person to the box office.

FUNNY MAN

Standup comedian Toby Hargrave will perform at the Port Theatre on Jan. 9.

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THURSDAY, DECEMBER 31, 2015

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MUSIC

Former student performs at Dover Bay ROBERT BARRON DAILY NEWS

Patrick Ferguson was happy to perform at his old school, Dover Bay Secondary School, recently to get the message about saving the oceans out to its students. Ferguson is one of the founders of the Victoria-based rock/folk band Carmanah, which teamed up with the The Jellyfish Project last year because they believed in its cause. The Jellyfish Project is an educational and environmental initiative that uses the power of music and live performance to support generations of young, active, environmentally-responsible citizens. Dover Bay school is known for its environmental programs and decided to invited Carmanah and The Jellyfish Project to inspire the entire school community into pro-environmental action.

Ferguson, who also works at the Victoria Shipyard as an electrician, said Daniel Kingsbury, from the band Mindil Beach, asked Carmanah to join The Jellyfish Project last year. “The world’s oceans and climate are in trouble, and the bands involved with the project discuss with young people how they can contribute to climate solutions,” he said. “So far, this format has reached more than 58,000 students at 110 schools across the country. Carmanah has gone coast-to-coast as part of the project and we’ve personally connected with more than 5,000 students.” The format of the school-presentation program is simple. It consists of one school assembly, one rock music performance, and one message on the need to find solutions for the planet’s ailing oceans. Laura Mitic, Carmanah’s lead sing-

er, told the students that jellyfish are among the first species in the ocean to be impacted by changes in the environment. She said when jellyfish are thriving, like they are now in the planet’s oceans, it’s not a good sign as it indicates an increase in the oceans’ acidity and temperature, and the lack of predators that traditionally feed on them. “By 2050, if we continue to treat the oceans as we do now, there will be no fish left to support sustainable fisheries around the world,” Mitic said. “Our oceans are sick and we’re asking people to become knowledgeable about this issue and get creative in trying to find solutions.” Robert.Barron @nanaimodailynews.com 250-729-4234

The Victoria-based band Carmanah performed at Dover Bay Secondary School in support of the The Jellyfish Project. Pictured, centre, is lead singer Laura Mitic, surrounded by band members Steve Biggs, Patrick Ferguson and Marec Olsen.

MUSIC

Tower and Trees bring indie-rock stylings to Queens Hotel on Jan. 16

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The release of West Coast Man has been very rewarding, Chalifour said. The band played full and sometimes sold out venues. “Seeing people singing along to songs off our new album in particular that was really cool for me or hearing them cheer after a song,” he said.

The band will be playing at The Queen’s Hotel on Jan. 16. Tickets available at the door. Aaron.Hinks @nanaimodailynews.com 250-729-4242

David Cooper Photography

Victoria indie-rock musicians Tower and Trees.

Darren Burkett

Victoria indie-rock musicians Tower and Trees are bringing their West Coast vibe to Nanaimo. Frontman Adrian Chalifour says 2015 was best year yet in terms of intensity and scale. The first half of the year was spent finishing their second album, West Coast Man, and the second half was spent touring. “We did our first Canadian tour out to Quebec and Ontario and back, that was a big moment for us,” Chalifour said. “We played more festivals than we have before and released this record and made the videos for it, CD, the vinyl, the whole thing. Throughout all of that everything has been really well received. It’s really affirming and to the handful of us, the three of us who have been the core of this project from the beginning, it keeps that fire in out belly lit.” Towers and Trees is a collaboration of musicians. Over the years musicians have cycled in and out of the group but Chalifour, Jesse Boland, on drums, and Dave Zellinsky, on electric guitar remain the core members. “In a lot of ways this year, or chapter we’re in has a lot in common with the album we just put out. There’s some turbulence to it. As much of it is about optimism and hope, looking forward.”

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THURSDAY, DECEMBER 31, 2015

COMEDY

Snowed in Comedy Tour brings headline acts SPENCER ANDERSON DAILY NEWS

Paul Myrehaug has come a long way from being a six-foot-four teen standing at the back of the room watching comics perform in his hometown of Camrose, Alta. The now London-based comedian is one of four headliners for the renowned Snowed In Comedy Tour, which breezes into Nanaimo’s Port Theatre Jan. 16. Myrehaug will be joined on the tour by founder Dan Quinn, Vancouver-based comedian Pete Zedlacher and Craig Campbell, who is also based in the U.K.

The tour began eight years ago and has since racked up $1 million in ticket sales, usually selling out venues along the way. The travelling roster of award-winning comedians has cemented itself as part of the Canadian comedy landscape. For the comedians, it’s a chance to perform in a theatre setting, often cited as the ‘holy grail’ for comedy performance. Myrehaug, who grew up wanting to be a hockey player but discovered a fondness and aptitude for comedy instead, says he is looking forward to the gig.

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He had to endure a couple of rough moments leading up to this moment though. He recalled heading to his first professional gig as a budding funnyman. “There was this thing called ‘The Battle of Alberta,’ it was an amateur competition,” he said. “And the top four in the province got tours with Yuk Yuk’s. So at the time, it was a pretty big deal.” Myrehaug won a spot in the competition and was driving out to a gig in Prince Albert, Sask. with the headliner for the show, “one of the scariest humans in the world.” “He looks like a 350-pound biker,”

said Myrehaug. The comics were en route to their performance, when they were “T-boned” heading through an intersection. “There was a farmer who was cashing in a winning lottery ticket of $15 or something, and he was so excited he ran a stop sign and t-boned us.” There were no ambulances nearby and Myrehaug’s burly companion had suffered a dislocated shoulder in the accident. A first responder in an Oldsmobile had stopped to lend a hand, but she was not strong enough to push the man’s arm back into its socket. That task fell to Myrehaug. “We’d been in the car together for

sip. savour. Beefeater’s Chophouse & Grill B e e f e a t e r ’s Chophouse and Grill overlooks the scenic Newcastle Channel in one of Nanaimo’s most picturesque locations. Their idyllic backdrop boasts colourful West Coast scenes that vary from sailboats, kayakers, seaplanes and more! The ambiance inside the restaurant is just as warm and inviting. Their Mediterranean inspired menu creates the perfect balance of elegance and comfort. Beefeater’s motto is “Quality without Compromise”, so naturally their dishes are prepared with high quality ingredients that minimize animal fats and creams. Beefeater’s is known for their impeccable service. They are true examples of leaders in the service industry, and have a way of ensuring every patron feels special and welcome. Beefeater’s has an impressive lunch menu ranging from omelets, pasta, amazing salads, bistro sandwiches, and their signature dishes. Their dinner menu is superb and offers a great variety of delectable appetizers, mains and desserts. Beefeater’s fried calamari with lemon caper aioli is the best I have ever tried. Beefeater’s is famous for their Filet Oscar; the Filet Mignon is crowned with crab meat and shrimp, and topped with their amazing Béarnaise sauce. Beefeater’s Grand Marnier Cheesecake is one of their most popular desserts and is out of this world good! Beefeater’s prices

are affordable and the portions are very healthy. They have excellent daily lunch and dinner deals. On Monday their delicious Blue Cheese M u s h ro o m burger is featured for $12.00. Tuesday you can enjoy their Three Cheese Burger for $12.00. Wednesday features their Prime Rib Sandwich for $12.99. On Thursday you can get their two piece beer battered Cod and Chips for $12.99. Friday their Mushroom burgers are just $12.00 and Saturday features their Salmon burgers for $12.00. Sunday their Cod & Chips are on lunch special, enjoy two pieces of Ling Cod and house cut fries for just $12.99. Everyday you can get their signature Prime Rib dinner with salad and dessert for just $22.00. Beefeater’s ambiance, service and first class menu has always made them my top choice of places to enjoy great times with family and friends. Beefeater’s is fully licensed and has an extensive wine list. They are located at 1840 Stewart Ave. Their hours of operation are Monday - Saturday from 10:00am 10:00pm and Sunday from 10:00am -9:00pm. For reservations or take out please call 250-753-2333. “Life is Beautiful. Let’s celebrate with life’s most beautiful treasures, food & wine.” Advertising feature

four hours and he would still call me ‘opener.’ He said: ‘Opener, you put my shoulder back in!’” Myrehaug said, laughing. The pair made their gig anyway and a friendship developed between the two comedians. Fast forward a few years later, and Myrehaug is still on the road with fellow veteran comics, only this time with larger venues. “That’s where comedy’s meant to be seen, is in these beautiful venues and with these guys who have 25 to 30 years’ experience,” he said. Tickets for the show cost $35 a regular price and can be found online at www.porttheatre.com.

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THURSDAY, DECEMBER 31, 2015

WORLD JUNIORS

GAME DAY

Five things to watch as Canada takes on Sweden

HOME AWAY FROM HOME

JOHN CHIDLEY-HILL THE CANADIAN PRESS

Canada’s Jake Virtanen looks on, during the 2016 World Junior Hockey Championships tournament match between Switzerland and Canada in Helsinki, Finland, on Tuesday. [AP PHOTO]

Virtanen reconnects with his Finnish roots JOHN CHIDLEY-HILL THE CANADIAN PRESS

T

he announcer at Helsinki Ice Hall pauses before trying to pronounce the names of Canada’s players at the world junior hockey championships. All except Jake Virtanen, which he attacks with Nordic zeal: “YAKE VEER-tah-nen.” Virtanen hasn’t earned any points at the world junior hockey championship for Canada so far, but he’s been an impact player on the ice and a leader in the locker-room as one of four returnees from last year’s gold medal-winning team. He’s also been something of a tour guide for his teammates, as his father Rainer emigrated from Finland to Canada as a child. The Virtanens still have family about five hours away from Helsinki, the nation’s capital where the world juniors are being held. “Obviously, I’m fully Canadian but

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I have that dual citizenship with me and I’ve got that Finnish blood in me, too,” said Virtanen, who was born in New Westminster but was raised in nearby Langley and Abbotsford. As a result, he doesn’t quite wrap his tongue around his last name quite like the Finns do, instead going with a more Canadian “Jake

VIHR-tan-in.” Or just “Verts” to his teammates. Finnish hockey fans haven’t quite adopted him as one of their own, but they recognize the roots of his surname and he has a large cheering section of family at all of Canada’s games in the preliminary round of the international tournament. “It’s a little different,” said Virtanen on Tuesday of having a large cheering section despite being so far from Canada. “I did it before when I was here for the under-18s (in 2014) but being in Helsinki with a bigger town, the last time it was in Imatra, it’s a little different. “There’s a lot more fans, a lot more media. It’s pretty cool, I’m having a lot of fun with it.” Virtanen was a late edition to Canada’s world junior roster after the Vancouver Canucks gave him permission to join the team on Dec. 13. The NHL rookie has a goal and three assists in 19 games with Vancouver and has no points in two games with

the minor-league Utica Comets. He’s the only player on the world junior team that has regular-season NHL experience. Virtanen’s family — which mainly lives about five hours away from Helsinki — is pleased to have the impromptu reunion. “My dad hasn’t been here in a while, so he’s happy that the world juniors are here so he come back and have fun here,” said Virtanen. His heritage is never far from his mind, as Virtanen just has to roll up his sleeve to see a large tattoo of the Finnish coat of arms on his right forearm. The distinctive insignia has a crowned heraldic lion with its right foreleg replaced with an armoured hand wielding a sword, while its hindlegs stand on top of a sabre. “My grandpa loves it,” said Virtanen of the tattoo which he got last summer. “I told my grandma I was getting it and she was like ‘you don’t need any tattoos,’ that’s what any grandmother would say.

HELSINKI — Canada plays Sweden on Thursday in the final preliminary-round game for both teams at the world junior hockey championships. It’s a pivotal match in Group A, as Canada will earn a higher seeding in the tournament’s quarter-finals with a win against undefeated Sweden, which is 3-0. Here are five things to know ahead of the game. MARNER — Toronto Maple Leafs prospect Mitch Marner is one of the most skilled players on Canada’s junior team but he only has three points in three games. He and longtime friend Dylan Strome have been put on different lines to try and generate offence for the Canadians. Separated from each other, Strome peppered the net with pucks against Switzerland but Marner has not quite met coach Dave Lowry’s expectations. If Canada’s going to succeed against Sweden, Marner has to find his groove. BLACKWOOD — Goaltender Mackenzie Blackwood will get his first real test of the world junior championship against Sweden. He missed the first two games of the tournament as he completed an eight-game suspension from the Ontario Hockey League then faced Switzerland. Although he gave up two goals in the first period, both were on deflections from the offensively challenged Swiss. Blackwood is considered Canada’s best junior goalie and he’ll earn his stripes against Sweden’s high-powered offence. DEFENCE — Canada’s goaltending has been in flux because of Mackenzie Blackwood’s suspension. Canada’s forwards have yet to settle in to any steady lines. But Canada’s defence — led by Joe Hicketts — has been rock solid. Sweden is arguably the most offensively gifted team in the world juniors. NYLANDER — It’s highly unlikely that Toronto Maple Leafs prospect William Nylander will lace up his skates for Sweden against Canada, but he will be conspicuous by his absence. Nylander leads the American Hockey League in scoring and scored on his one shot in the world juniors. He’s been struggling with a suspected concussion after a hard hit by Switzerland’s Chris Egli in Sweden’s first game. Nylander will likely return to Sweden’s roster for the playoff rounds and, no matter what Thursday’s outcome. Nylander is a game-changer. NYLANDER 2.0 — William Nylander’s younger brother Alex, however, will definitely be on the ice. The draft-eligible forward who plays junior with the OHL’s Mississauga Steelheads leads Sweden with two goals and four assists and will continue to impress NHL scouts and general managers as he looks to climb up the list of potential draftees.


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NHL

Nothing but good memories for former Canuck Kevin Bieksa Unlike Ryan Kesler, the Canuck-turned-Duck is unlikely to be jeered when he returns BEN KUZMA THE PROVINCE

R

yan Kesler wanted to leave. Kevin Bieksa wanted to go down with the ship. It’s why Kesler received more jeers than cheers on Nov. 20, 2014, in his first Rogers Arena appearance after being granted his wish and traded to the Anaheim Ducks. The former Vancouver Canucks centre got the pre-game video tribute treatment for his 10 years of service and then promptly got out of town after the shootout win. But the rocky reception did hurt. He didn’t expect it. It will be different for Bieska on Friday in his first return since being dealt to the Ducks on June 30. “I’m sure it will be better — he deserves it,” said Kesler. “I told him playing your old team would be tough here (Anaheim), but back there it brings back a lot of emotional memories. It was probably one of the hardest games I ever played in my first game back. So many emotions going through your head.” In the first timeout Friday, there will be a tribute and Bieksa will probably receive a prolonged standing ovation because it’s always easier to remember the good than the bad. Bieksa played hard, he played hurt and in the end probably played more on will than skill as a third-pairing blue-liner who knew at age 34 — and with a contract calling for another season here at a $4.6-million-US cap hit — that he wasn’t going to be granted an extension and be part of the Canucks future. He waived his no-trade clause and quickly waved goodbye. Pride does that. You want to be wanted. At his best, Bieksa was a physical force on the ice, a voice of reason in the room, a mentor and a prankster. In the community, his charitable endeavours endeared the 2001 fifthround draft pick to the populace because he gave as much off the ice as he did on it. What does he expect Friday? “I don’t really know what to expect — it’s obviously unchartered waters for me,” Bieksa said Wednesday from Edmonton where the Ducks play the Oilers on Thursday. “All I know is that I’m going to enjoy it. We’re in and out and I’m not going to get a chance to see everybody, but I’ve got people coming to the game and I’ll try to get down in the morning Friday and see all the trainers and the staff. “I had a great time in Vancouver. My kids were both born there and I have great memories, and when it’s time to play, I’m going to help get us points.” Bieksa will probably be cheered more than jeered and it’s hard to imagine he would be booed. “Me? I don’t think so,” laughed

Former Vancouver Canucks defenceman makes his return to Rogers Arena on Friday night with the Anaheim Ducks. [AP PHOTO]

“I gave my heart and soul to that team and community and people were always great to me. “ Kevin Bieksa, Ducks defenceman

Bieksa. “Whatever happens, happens but most people know my story and how I was kind of asked to leave. I gave my heart and soul to that team and community and people were always great to me. Whatever they want to do to me, I’ll accept.” In 597 regular-season games between 2005 an 2015, the gritty 6-foot-1, 200-pound Grimsby, Ont., native managed 56 goals, 185 assists and 241 penalty minutes. His overtime goal that propelled the Canucks into the 2011 Stanley Cup final is remembered as fondly as many of his convincing 50 fights that were often one-sided. “That was a pretty exciting year from start to finish,” recalled Bieksa. “We had a President’s Cup team and that playoff run was a pretty special for sure, but there were so many good memories off the ice, too. You always hear players talking when they retire that they miss the camaraderie in the room — sitting around and chirping. I grew up with Kes and Burr and the twins and Edler.”

None of this surprises Alex Burrows, who joined Bieksa as an NHL newbie in 2005. They both beat the odds to carve out long careers. “He should be remembered as a great player and even a better person,” said Burrows. “People looked up to him. He was respected and he treated people the right way and was a role model. He wore his heart on his sleeve and gave it his all — he really wanted to win a Stanley Cup for this team. And he played the Canuck way, the way that Pat Quinn, Trevor Linden and Stan Smyl always talked about.” That would be playing with edge, respect and sacrifice. It must have resonated with the Ducks, who need to replace the departed Francois Beauchemin. They not only gave up a secondround 2016 draft pick, they signed Bieksa to a two-year, $8-million-US contact extension that kicks in next season. All this after it looked like Bieksa was heading to the San Jose Sharks at the 2015 draft. However, it hasn’t been all Disneyland for Bieksa, who has four assists and 54 penalty minutes in 22:04 of average ice time. It’s been a tough transition because the Ducks have been in a slump. They started the season by losing 10 of their first 11 games. A year ago, they were running away with a huge Pacific Division lead and

Ryan Getzlaf was fifth in scoring with a dozen goals. The captain has two goals this season, Kesler has just four and is a minus-13 and the Ducks are last in NHL scoring with just 66 goals in 35 games for a 1.89 average per outing. And the power play is creeping along at 17 per cent efficiency for a 23rd ranking. Corey Perry is the only player in double-digit scoring with 13 goals, and six of those have come on the power play. Yet, they’re eighth in team defence, which speaks of the ability to win 1-0 in Calgary on Tuesday to end the Flames’ record 11-game win streak on home ice. “We finally came to the realization that pucks aren’t going in this year, and to win, we have to be pretty stingy on defence and one of the best in the league,” said Bieksa. “We’ve been doing that lately and the buy-in has been there. The last game was a great example of that. They (Flames) only had 11 shots with five minutes left and we’ve accepted that we have to play that way until the goals come.” So, who are these guys? Paper tigers? Or lions waiting to pounce? Despite a modest two-game win streak and finally climbing out of the division basement, they have looked more like a team trying to get rid of offensive-minded coach Bruce Boudreau than the club that pushed the Chicago Blackhawks to Game 7 of the Western Conference final last spring. They miss losing the steady Beauchemin and left-winger Matt Beleskey to free agency and especially right-winger Kyle Palmieri in a trade. Beleskey has seven goals with Boston and Palmieri 16 with New Jersey. There’s never been a lack of commitment from Bieksa, but often the mind was more willing than his body. He hated any talk that he might be ailing and never leaned on that convenient excuse crutch. Canucks captain Henrik Sedin played 679 consecutive games — and many of those through pain — and has had a long-standing admiration for Bieksa. “He gave everything he had every night, he battled hard and stood up for guys when it needed to be done,” said the Canucks centre. “He was just one of those guys who took charge. He really helped me when I became captain with the way he was in the room. He was always a little more out-going. He didn’t say too much, but he was one of those guys that when he talked you knew it came from the right place.” Said Bieksa: “That’s a great compliment. We had great leadership and everybody knew what their responsibilities were and Hank was a great leader of that. I wish more people knew how great players and people they (Sedins) are. It doesn’t get highlighted enough.”

THURSDAY, DECEMBER 31, 2015

SPORTS BRIEFS The Canadian Press ◆ TRACK & FIELD

Canadian sprint star re-locates to Phoenix Andre De Grasse says the opportunity to train with professional athletes and to learn from some of the world’s top coaches lured him to Phoenix. The Canadian sprint sensation has a new home, moving to Arizona this week to train with ALTIS — formerly the World Athletics Center — under Canadian power and sprint coach Stuart McMillan. “I wanted to move on with my life a little bit and experience the professional side and be with professional athletes, professional coaches,” De Grasse said in an ALTIS podcast. “I came to ALTIS on a visit last week, it was amazing. I couldn’t believe the type of treatment they get here and I said, ‘I think this is the place for me.’

◆ HOCKEY

National Spengler Cup team reaches the finals Alexandre Giroux and Cory Conacher helped rally Canada into an improbable Spengler Cup final Wednesday. Giroux and Conacher scored just over a minute apart to lead Canada to an exciting 6-5 semifinal win over HC Davos and cap an impressive comeback from an early 4-1 deficit. Giroux’s goal at 15:26 tied the contest 5-5 before Conacher scored the game winner 65 seconds later. Perttu Lindgren had put HC Davos ahead 5-4 just before the midway point of the final period at Vaillant Arena.

◆ NHL

Bruins’ Brad Marchand suspended three games Boston Bruins forward Brad Marchand was suspended three games without pay, including the Winter Classic, by the NHL on Wednesday for clipping Ottawa defenceman Mark Borowiecki. Marchand upended Borowiecki away from the puck during the first period in Boston’s 7-3 home victory Tuesday night. The 5-foot-9 Bruins forward swooped down and took out the 6-foot-2 Borowiecki at his knees. Borowiecki wasn’t injured on the play Marchand was punished as a repeat offender.

◆ NBA

Warriors’ Curry listed as day-to-day with injury Golden State star Stephen Curry has a bruised lower left leg that sidelined him for Wednesday night’s game at Dallas, and could keep him out for the second day of a back-toback in Houston. As for whether interim coach Luke Walton is relieved that an MRI didn’t reveal something more serious, that’s not quite accurate. “A relief is if they said he was playing and that he was healthy,” Walton said with a smile before the matchup with the Mavericks.


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SPORTS 21

BCHL

CURLING

Rempal scores 40th in Clippers win

Van Osch is out looking for a B.C. title

Clippers roll into Duncan and skate away with a 5-3 victory in the last game of 2015 SCOTT MCKENZIE DAILY NEWS

DAILY NEWS

The rivarly between the Nanaimo Clippers and Cowichan Valley Capitals is becoming so hot, it’s overshadowing one of the best individual performances in a decade. BCHL scoring leader Sheldon Rempal scored his 39th and 40th goals of the season Wednesday night in the Clippers 5-3 win over the Caps in Duncan, but the win was never a sure thing. Rempal opened scoring with his 39th of the year on an individual effort, breaking in on Cowichan goalie Storm Phaneuf and putting the puck off the post and in. And soon after, early in a five-on three, Clippers captain Devin Brosseau picked up his 17th goal of the season on a rebound off a point shot from Yanni Kaldis. Rempal then got his 40th as the Clippers went two-for-two on that five-on-three with 5:20 left in the first period. He’s the first Clipper to score 40 goals in a season (and there are 20 games left this season) since Blair Riley scored 41 in 2005-06. The Caps first got on the board early in the second period on a powerplay when former Alberni Valley Bulldogs leading scorer Josh Adkins beat Evan Johnson to pull his new team to within two goals of the lead. But the Clippers regained that lead later in the second period as defenceman Yanni Kaldis had the puck deep in the Cowichan zone and beat Phaneuf to give the Clippers a 4-1 lead.

As the youngest of Nanaimo’s Van Osch sisters, Marika gets the advnatage of playing alternate with her two older sisters in women’s curling. But this week, Marika is back on the junior women’s circuit with the Royal City Curling Club’s Sarah Daniels rink at the Tim Horton’s B.C. Junior Women’s championship looking to improve on their secondplace finish a year ago. And they’re off to a good start. The Daniels rink began this year’s Kelowna-based event 3-0 with a 7-2 win over the Island-based Shawna Jensen rink, a 10-5 win over Vernon’s Winter Harvey rink, and a 7-3 win Prince George’s Alyssa Connel rink. On Wednesday night, in a bid to stay undefeated, they were up against Kimberley’s Alysha Buchy and went down 2-0 after two ends with both points stolen. Daniels, though, went on to score a single in the third end before stealing three in the fourth, four in the fifth and two more in the sixth before Buchy conceded the 10-2 loss. Next up for Marika Van Osch and the undefeated Daniels rink is a match today at 1 p.m. in a rematch of last years final with Brown. Round robin matches run through Friday before the knockout stage begins on Saturday. This year’s championship match is on Sunday at 9 a.m. and will be televised live on Sportsnet Pacific.

SPORTS BRIEF Daily News â—† BOWLING

Brechin Lanes joins in on fight against cancer Brechin Lanes is teaming up with bowling centres across the country as the Canadian bowling community renews its efforts in the fight against cancer. The fifth Annual KNOCKDOWN CANCER Campaign aims to bring awareness of cancer and cancer prevention to our communities and to encourage everyone to join the fight for life. In its first four years the campaign raised more than $350,000 for cancer research and cancer support. Throughout the month of January Brechin Lanes will be donating $0.25 from every pink bowling shoe rental, selling pink Knockdown Cancer gear, and selling donation slips to customers. Proceeds will stay in Nanaimo, as Brechin Lanes has chosen to support the Nanaimo and District Hospital Foundation. Brechin Lanes kicks off its campaign on Jan. 1, with all regular adult rental shoes being replaced with special pink rental shoes.

Nanaimo Clippers right winger Sheldon Rempal, right, fires a shot past Cowichan Valley Capitals goalie Storm Phaneuf on Wednesday night during a B.C. Hockey League game at Duncan’s Island Savings Centre. [GARY DORLAND/FOR THE DAILY NEWS]

The Caps, though, didn’t go away easily as after a five-on-three advantage was killed off by Nanaimo, Ryan Burton scored to shrink the Clippers’ lead to two goals. The goal came after Kaldis, the Clippers’ top defenceman, was in the penalty box serving a 10-minute misconduct he was given after a late second-period scrum. The Caps then went to another five-on-three midway through the third period — their third two-man advantage of the game.

They killed it off, but on their next powerplay the Capitals scored to make it a 4-3 game spending virtually the entirety of the third period with a one-man advantage. The Clippers were penalized 15 times in the game and had to kill off 10 Cowichan powerplays, while the Caps took nine penalties and were only down a player on four occasions. But with Phaneuf pulled for an extra attacker, Clippers centre Corey Renwick found the puck and

scored the insurance marker to put Nanaimo up 5-3. The Clippers won it — their third straight— and took a 10-point lead over the Caps for first place in the BCHL’s Island Division. The Clippers are on the road again Saturday for the first of a two-day, two-game double header with the Powell River Kings across the Georgia Strait. Scott.McKenzie @nanaimodailynews.com 250-729-4243

WHL

Mid-Island junior players grinding away their seasons

December 30, 2015 - January 3, 2016 Schedules are subject to change without notice.

VANCOUVER ISLAND - LOWER MAINLAND DAILY NEWS

For the small group of mid-Island players grinding out their seasons in the Western Hockey League, this part of the year can be rough. Back from Christmas and time from their families, it’s back to long, cold road trips — many of them into the Prairies. Of the five locals playing in the WHL, none have more on their shoulders than Chase Lang. The 19-year-old Nanaimo native had a slow start with the Calgary Hitmen in his third year with the team this season, posting two goals and five assists in his first 14 games. He was then traded closer to home, to a Vancouver Giants squad in the midst of a tumultuous season that has since seen a small player exodus, as well as general manager Scott Bonner announce his resignation.

But Lang, a 2014 sixth-round NHL draft pick of the Minnesota Wild, has improved his play since the trade. He’s playing a hair above a point-a-game rate with the Giants having scored 10 goals with 15 assists in 24 games in Vancouver. Lang, who could be playing his final season of junior hockey, also has a leadership role on the team mentoring young top prospects such as Tyler Benson and Ty Ronning — not to mention Owen Hardy. Hardy, a 16-year-old who starter the season with the Nanaimo Clippers, has one goal to his name in his 10 games with the Giants playing in a checking-line role. Salt Spring Island’s Jordan Topping, 18, is also having a big year after going undrafted in the summer. The Tri-City Americans left-wing was named an alternate captain this season and he’s delivered on heightened

expectations. Topping has scored 14 goals and 16 assists in 34 games so far this season, nearly doubling his point production from 2014-15. He’s also got a mid-Island teammate — draft-eligible defenceman Dylan Coghlan. At six-foot-three, Coghlan stands out on the ice and it’s easy to forget he’s only 17. The stay-at-home defenceman has added offence to his game this season with a goal and nine assists — double his production from a year ago. Nanaimo’s Patrick Bajkov, also draft eligible, is improving on his points-per-game pace he set last year, on pace for 48 this season after last year’s 45-point campaign. Both Coghlan and Bajkov are rated by NHL Central Scouting as ‘C’ prospects, indicating they will likely be selected in the fourth, fifth or sixth rounds of this summer’s draft.

NANAIMO (DEPARTURE BAY) - HORSESHOE BAY Leave Departure Bay

Leave Horseshoe Bay 3:00 pm 5:00 pm 7:00 pm 9:00 pm

6:30 am 8:30 am 10:30 am 12:30 pm

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NANAIMO (DUKE POINT) - TSAWWASSEN Leave Duke Point

Leave Tsawwassen 3:15 pm 5:45 pm 8:15 pm 10:45 pm

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Except Sat. ™ Except Sun, & Jan 1.

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SWARTZ BAY - TSAWWASSEN Leave Swartz Bay 7:00 am 9:00 am 11:00 am 712:00 pm 1:00 pm a2:00 pm

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22 SPORTS

NHL ($67(51 &21)(5(1&(

'(9,/6 6(1$7256

ATLANTIC DIVISION

)LUVW 3HULRG 1. New Jersey, Cammalleri 13, 9:11 (pp). 2. New Jersey, Cammalleri 14 (Zajac) 18:08. 3HQDOWLHV — Wideman Ott (tripping) 4:51; Turris Ott (holding) 7:19; Neil Ott (charging) 10:30; McCormick Ott, )DUQKDP 1- ÀJKWLQJ *UHHQH 1- (tripping) 18:45. 6HFRQG 3HULRG ³ No Scoring. 3HQDOWLHV — Severson NJ (hooking) 2:30; Farnham NJ (embellishment) 14:13. 7KLUG 3HULRG 3. New Jersey, Stempniak 9, 19:44 (en-sh). 3HQDOWLHV — Hammond Ott (tripping) 15:14; Moore NJ (holding) 18:48. 6KRWV RQ JRDO New Jersey 10 6 5—21 Ottawa 8 15 13—36 *RDO — New Jersey: Schneider (W, 16-10-5); Ottawa: Hammond (L, 2-3-2). 3RZHU SOD\V (goal-chances) — New Jersey: 1-4; Ottawa: 0-4. Attendance — 19,825 at Ottawa.

Florida Montreal Boston

*3 : / 37 21 12 39 21 15 36 20 12

2/ 3 2 3

6/ *) 1 101 1 111 1 115

*$ 84 98 97

3WV +RPH 46 11-6-2-0 45 11-6-2-0 44 9-9-2-0

$ZD\ 10-6-1-1 10-9-0-1 11-3-1-1

/DVW 6WUN 8-2-0-0 W-7 2-8-0-0 L-1 6-3-1-0 W-1

METROPOLITAN DIVISION Washington NY Rangers NY Islanders

*3 : / 36 28 6 38 21 13 37 20 12

2/ 2 2 3

6/ *) *$ 0 115 74 2 112 100 2 103 88

3WV +RPH 58 15-3-1-0 46 14-5-1-0 45 12-6-2-0

$ZD\ 13-3-1-0 7-8-1-2 8-6-1-2

/DVW 9-1-0-0 3-6-1-0 5-4-1-0

6WUN W-9 W-1 W-1

*3 : 37 18 38 19 38 18 38 18 36 17 35 15 36 14 37 15 37 15 39 14

2/ 5 1 2 1 1 4 3 4 1 2

6/ *) 2 94 4 90 4 111 3 97 3 81 3 76 4 95 1 87 3 87 1 98

*$ 98 92 115 93 89 96 102 106 99 123

3WV +RPH 43 11-7-3-1 43 8-8-1-2 42 10-5-1-3 40 9-8-0-2 38 9-7-0-3 37 8-5-2-2 35 6-6-3-2 35 7-8-2-1 34 8-10-1-1 31 6-8-2-1

$ZD\ 7-5-2-1 11-6-0-2 8-9-1-1 9-8-1-1 8-8-1-0 7-8-2-1 8-9-0-2 8-9-2-0 7-8-0-2 8-14-0-0

/DVW 3-4-1-2 5-4-0-1 3-6-0-1 5-4-0-1 3-5-0-2 5-3-0-2 6-2-2-0 5-4-1-0 4-5-0-1 3-6-1-0

6WUN L-2 W-2 L-2 L-2 L-2 L-1 W-1 L-1 L-2 W-1

WILD CARD Detroit New Jersey Ottawa Tampa Bay Pittsburgh Philadelphia Toronto Carolina Buffalo Columbus

/ 12 14 14 16 15 13 15 17 18 22

:(67(51 &21)(5(1&(

5$1*(56 /,*+71,1*

CENTRAL DIVISION Dallas St. Louis Chicago

*3 : / 38 27 8 39 23 12 38 21 13

2/ 1 3 4

6/ *) 2 132 1 99 0 104

*$ 97 93 94

3WV +RPH 57 15-4-0-0 50 13-6-2-0 46 14-5-1-0

$ZD\ 12-4-1-2 10-6-1-1 7-8-3-0

/DVW 6WUN 6-3-0-1 L-1 7-3-0-0 W-1 6-4-0-0 W-1

*3 : / 36 23 11 36 17 16 38 14 15

2/ 1 3 7

6/ *) *$ 1 98 81 0 100 116 2 93 109

3WV +RPH 48 11-6-0-0 37 9-6-2-0 37 6-7-3-0

$ZD\ 12-5-1-1 8-10-1-0 8-8-4-2

/DVW 6WUN 6-3-1-0 W-3 4-4-2-0 L-1 5-4-0-1 L-1

*3 : 35 19 37 18 37 18 35 17 36 17 36 17 35 14 38 15

2/ 6 6 2 2 1 1 5 3

6/ *) 0 95 1 100 0 106 0 96 1 97 1 96 1 67 0 97

3WV +RPH 44 14-5-1-0 43 12-5-2-1 38 6-8-2-0 36 4-10-0-0 36 11-5-1-0 36 12-6-0-0 34 9-5-3-1 33 10-6-1-0

$ZD\ 5-5-5-0 6-7-4-0 12-9-0-0 13-6-2-0 6-12-0-1 5-11-1-1 5-10-2-0 5-14-2-0

/DVW 5-3-2-0 4-4-2-0 7-2-1-0 3-5-2-0 5-5-0-0 7-3-0-0 5-4-1-0 4-5-1-0

PACIFIC DIVISION Los Angeles Arizona Vancouver

WILD CARD Minnesota Nashville Colorado San Jose Winnipeg Calgary Anaheim Edmonton

/ 10 12 17 16 17 17 15 20

*$ 84 96 102 100 105 117 87 118

6WUN W-1 L-1 W-1 L-1 W-2 L-1 W-2 L-3

Note: winning team is credited with 2 points and a victory in the W column; a team losing in overtime or shootout receives 1 point in the respective OTL or SOL column. :HGQHVGD\¡V UHVXOWV Toronto 3 Pittsburgh 2 (SO) New Jersey 3 Ottawa 0 NY Rangers 5 Tampa Bay 2 Washington 5 Buffalo 2 Philadelphia at San Jose 7XHVGD\¡V UHVXOWV NY Islanders 6 Toronto 3 Florida 3 Montreal 1 Winnipeg 4 Detroit 1 Los Angeles 5 Edmonton 2 Anaheim 1 Calgary 0 St. Louis 4 Nashville 3 (OT) Columbus 6 Dallas 3 New Jersey 3 Carolina 2 Chicago 7 Arizona 5 Boston 7 Ottawa 3 7KXUVGD\¡V JDPHV Pittsburgh at Detroit, 6 p.m. NY Islanders at Buffalo, 6 p.m. Washington at Carolina, 6 p.m. Chicago at Colorado, 8 p.m.

Minnesota at St. Louis, 8 p.m. Nashville at Dallas, 8:30 p.m. Winnipeg at Arizona, 9 p.m. Anaheim at Edmonton, 9 p.m. Los Angeles at Calgary, 9 p.m. )ULGD\¡V JDPHV Montreal at Boston, 1 p.m. Anaheim at Vancouver, 10 p.m. 6DWXUGD\¡V JDPHV Detroit at Buffalo, 1 p.m. Philadelphia at Los Angeles, 4 p.m. Arizona at Edmonton, 4 p.m. Dallas at New Jersey, 7 p.m. St. Louis at Toronto, 7 p.m. Nashville at Carolina, 7 p.m. Minnesota at Tampa Bay, 7 p.m. NY Rangers at Florida, 7 p.m. Washington at Columbus, 7 p.m. NY Islanders at Pittsburgh, 7 p.m. Winnipeg at San Jose, 10 p.m. Calgary at Colorado, 10 p.m.

/($)6 3(1*8,16 62

&$3,7$/6 6$%5(6

)LUVW 3HULRG 1. Toronto, Phaneuf 3 (Kadri, Komarov) 3:51. 2. Pittsburgh, Kunitz 5 (Crosby, Malkin) 5:25 (pp). 3HQDOWLHV — Holland Tor (hooking) 4:23; Malkin Pgh (hooking) 12:13; Komarov Tor (boarding), Letang Pgh, Gardiner Tor (roughing) 15:11; Crosby Pgh, Phaneuf Tor (roughing) 19:14. 6HFRQG 3HULRG 3. Toronto, Gardiner 3 (van Riemsdyk, Bozak) 1:13. 4. Pittsburgh, Crosby 8 (Dumoulin) 4:45. 3HQDOWLHV — Malkin Pgh (slashing), Phaneuf Tor (roughing) 4:06; Polak Tor (hooking) 9:00. 7KLUG 3HULRG ³ No Scoring. 3HQDOWLHV — Marincin Tor (holding) 9:43; Hornqvist Pgh (hooking) 12:29; Bozak Tor (tripping) 18:20. 2YHUWLPH ³ No Scoring. 3HQDOWLHV — None. 6KRRWRXW — Toronto wins 2-1 7RURQWR Holland goal, Parenteau goal. 3LWWVEXUJK Perron goal, Crosby miss, Letang miss. 6KRWV RQ JRDO Toronto 12 10 11 3 —36 Pittsburgh 7 20 10 4 —41 *RDO — Toronto: Bernier (W, 4-10-3); Pittsburgh: Murray (LO, 2-1-1). 3RZHU SOD\V (goal-chances) — Toronto: 0-2; Pittsburgh: 1-5. Attendance — 18,662 at Pittsburgh.

)LUVW 3HULRG 1. Buffalo, Gionta 4 (Eichel, Girgensons) 5:48. 3HQDOWLHV — Ovechkin Wash (roughing) 0:27; Ennis Buf (tripping) 12:10; Wilson Wash, Bogosian Buf (roughing) 17:30. 6HFRQG 3HULRG 2. Washington, Williams 11 (unassisted) 14:08. 3. Buffalo, Girgensons 3 (Eichel) 18:53. 3HQDOWLHV — Larsson Buf (hooking) 5:55. 7KLUG 3HULRG 4. Washington, Ovechkin 19 (Kuznetsov, Oshie) 1:24. 5. Washington, Johansson 8 (Kuznetsov, Niskanen) 8:32 (pp). 6. Washington, Burakovsky 3 (Johansson) 9:56. 7. Washington, Ovechkin 20 (unassisted) 18:47 (en). 3HQDOWLHV — Johansson Wash (boarding) 3:44; Kane Buf (tripping) 4:54; Ovechkin Wash (high-sticking) 5:15; Kane Buf (hooking) 7:26. 6KRWV RQ JRDO Buffalo 11 8 8—27 Washington 14 14 15—43 *RDO — Buffalo: Johnson (L, 10-10-2); Washington: Holtby (W, 24-4-1). 3RZHU SOD\V (goal-chances) — Buffalo: 0-3; Washington: 1-3. Attendance — 18,506 at Washington.

)LUVW 3HULRG 1. NYR, Boyle 5 (Yandle, Moore) 1:53. 2. Tampa Bay, Marchessault 6 (Stralman, Kucherov) 16:35 (pp). 3HQDOWLHV — Glass NYR (high-sticking) 6:27; TB Bench (too many men) 8:19; Kreider NYR (slashing) 10:18; Nash NYR (high-sticking) 15:57. 6HFRQG 3HULRG 3. NY Rangers, Zuccarello 16 (Miller, Boyle) :56. 4. Tampa Bay, Stralman 4 (Filppula, Kucherov) 19:51 (pp). 3HQDOWLHV — Carle TB (interference) 4:28; Hedman TB (tripping) 9:30; McDonagh NYR (tripping) 10:19; Glass NYR (interference) 18:37. 7KLUG 3HULRG 5. NY Rangers, Moore 4 (Stalberg) 3:16. 6. NY Rangers, Stalberg 4, 18:39 (en). 7. NYR, Nash 12 (Fast) 19:27 (en). 3HQDOWLHV — None. 6KRWV RQ JRDO NY Rangers 8 5 13—26 Tampa Bay 5 10 7—22 *RDO — NY Rangers: Lundqvist (W, 1710-3); Tampa Bay: Bishop (L, 15-12-3). 3RZHU SOD\V (goal-chances) — NY Rangers: 0-3; Tampa Bay: 2-5. Attendance — 19,092 at Tampa Bay.

6&25,1* /($'(56 * $ Kane, Chi 22 31 Benn, Dal 23 27 Seguin, Dal 21 27 Karlsson, Ott 9 32 Hall, Edm 15 25 Tarasenko, StL 22 17 Gaudreau, Cal 17 22 D. Sedin, Vcr 16 21 Wheeler, Win 10 27 Pavelski, SJ 18 18 Bergeron, Bos 14 21 Hoffman, Ott 18 16 Steen, StL 13 21 MacKinnon, Col 13 20 Eriksson, Bos 13 20 Cammalleri, NJ 12 21 Ryan, Ott 11 22 Krejci, Bos 11 22 H. Sedin, Vcr 9 24 Klingberg, Dal 5 28 Burns, SJ 14 18 Little, Win 14 18 5\DQ 2¡5HLOO\ %XI Panarin, Chi 11 21 Backstrom, Wash 10 22 Ovechkin, Wash 18 13 Sharp, Dal 14 17 Kuznetsov, Wash 11 20 Stone, Ott 10 21 Koivu, Minn 10 21 Draisaitl, Edm 9 22 Malkin, Pgh 17 13 Zuccarello, NYR 15 15 Faulk, Car 14 16 Toffoli, LA 18 11 Duchene, Col 17 12 Palmieri, NJ 16 13 Pacioretty, Mon 15 14 Boedker, Ariz 12 17 Josi, Nash 9 20 Stamkos, TBL 16 12 Hartnell, Clb 15 13 Turris, Ott 13 15 Brassard, NYR 13 15 Carter, LA 11 17 Giroux, Phi 11 17 Plekanec, Mon 8 20 Zetterberg, Det 6 22 Tavares, NYI 14 13 Saad, Clb 14 13 Kucherov, TBL 13 14 :HGQHVGD\ V JDPHV QRW LQFOXGHG

3W 53 50 48 41 40 39 39 37 37 36 35 34 34 33 33 33 33 33 33 33 32 32 32 32 31 31 31 31 31 31 30 30 30 29 29 29 29 29 29 28 28 28 28 28 28 28 28 27 27 27

@NanaimoDaily

THURSDAY, DECEMBER 31, 2015

HOCKEY

NFL

NBA

IIHF

WHL

$0(5,&$1 &21)(5(1&(

($67(51 &21)(5(1&(

EAST

:

/

3FW

*%

:25/' -5 &+$03,216+,3

($67(51 &21)(5(1&(

y-New England N.Y. Jets Buffalo Miami

Cleveland Atlanta Toronto Chicago Orlando Indiana Miami Boston Charlotte Detroit Washington New York Milwaukee Brooklyn Philadelphia

21 21 20 18 19 18 18 18 17 17 14 15 12 9 3

9 13 13 12 13 13 13 14 14 15 16 18 21 23 31

.700 .618 .606 .600 .594 .581 .581 .563 .548 .531 .467 .455 .364 .281 .088

— 2 21/2 3 3 31/2 31/2 4 41/2 5 7 1 7 /2 101/2 13 20

$W +HOVLQNL )LQODQG

EAST DIVISION

35(/,0,1$5< 5281' *URXS $ x-Sweden x-U.S. [ &DQDGD x-Denmark Switzerland

*3 3 3 3 4

: 2: 2/ 3 0 0 2 0 0 1 0 0 0 0 1

/ 0 1 2 3

*) *$ 14 3 14 4 3 12 7 23

3W 9 6 3 1

*URXS % *3 : 2: 2/ x-Russia 3 2 1 0 x-Czech Rep. 3 2 0 1 x-Finland 3 2 0 0 x-Slovakia 3 1 0 0 Belarus 4 0 0 0

/ *) *$ 3W 0 12 6 8 0 8 5 7 1 18 9 6 2 7 12 3 4 6 19 0

[ Âł FOLQFKHG TXDUWHU Ă€QDO EHUWK Note: 3 pts. for a regulation win, 2 for an overtime/shootout win, 1 for OT/SO loss. :HGQHVGD\¡V UHVXOWV Czech Republic 5 Belarus 3 Sweden 5 Denmark 0 Finland 8 Slovakia 3 United States 10 Switzerland 1 7XHVGD\¡V UHVXOWV &DQDGD Switzerland 2 (SO) Russia 4 Belarus 1 7KXUVGD\¡V JDPHV Slovakia vs. Russia, 7 a.m. United States vs. Denmark, 9 a.m. Czech Republic vs. Finland, 11 a.m. Sweden vs. Canada, 1 p.m.

(1' 2) 35(/,0,1$5< 5281' 6DWXUGD\ V JDPHV

48$57(5 ),1$/6 (Times 7, 9, 11 a.m. and 1 p.m.) 1st A vs. 4th B, TBA 2nd A vs. 3rd B, TBA 1st B vs. 4th A, TBA 2nd B vs. 3rd A, TBA 0RQGD\ V JDPHV

6(0,),1$/6 4XDUWHU ÀQDO ZLQQHUV D P DQG S P 7XHVGD\ -DQ

%521=( 0('$/ 6HPLĂ€QDO ORVHUV D P

*2/' 0('$/ 6HPLĂ€QDO ZLQQHUV S P

&$1$',$1 /($'(56 6&25,1* Dylan Strome Mathew Barzal Lawson Crouse Mitch Marner Joe Hicketts Thomas Chabot Rourke Chartier Travis Dermott Brayden Point Anthony Beauvillier John Quenneville Haydn Fleury Julien Gauthier Travis Konecny Brandon Hickey Roland McKeown Brendan Perlini Travis Sanheim Mitchell Stephens Jake Virtanen

* 3 2 1 1 1 0 0 0 0 1 1 0 0 0 0 0 0 0 0 0

$ 3WV 1 4 1 3 2 3 2 3 1 2 2 2 2 2 2 2 2 2 0 1 0 1 1 1 1 1 1 1 0 0 0 0 0 0 0 0 0 0 0 0

0LQ

$YJ

*$ 62

65 118 0

1.85 2.54 0.00

*2$/7(1',1*

M.Blackwood M.McDonald S.Montembeault

2 5 0

SPENGLER CUP 3/$<2))6 $W 'DYRV 6ZLW]HUODQG :HGQHVGD\¡V UHVXOWV

6(0,),1$/6 Canada 6 HC Davos 5 HC Lugano 3 Yekaterinberg 0 7XHVGD\¡V UHVXOWV

48$57(5 ),1$/6 HC Davos 5 Jokerit Helsinki 4 (OT) Yekaterinberg 3 Adler Mannheim 1 7KXUVGD\¡V JDPH

&+$03,216+,3 Canada vs. Lugano, 6 a.m.

LACROSSE NLL )ULGD\¡V JDPH Georgia at Colorado, 9:30 p.m. 6DWXUGD\¡V JDPH Saskatchewan at Calgary, 9 p.m. 6DWXUGD\ -DQ Toronto at Georgia, 7:05 p.m. Calgary at Buffalo, 7:30 p.m. Colorado at Rochester, 7:30 p.m. New England at Vancouver, 10 p.m.

0 0 0

Brandon Prince Albert Moose Jaw Regina Saskatoon Swift Current

*3 : / 2/ 6/ *) *$ 3W 37 23 11 1 2 143 107 49 37 22 11 3 1 122 112 48 36 18 13 4 1 126 113 41 38 16 16 3 3 118 134 38 36 13 20 3 0 109 153 29 37 12 21 3 1 87 119 28

CENTRAL DIVISION Lethbridge Calgary Red Deer Edmonton Medicine Hat Kootenay

y-Cincinnati Pittsburgh Baltimore Cleveland

:(67(51 &21)(5(1&( B.C. DIVISION *3 : / 2/ 6/ *) *$ 3W Kelowna 38 27 9 2 0 139 106 56 Victoria 38 23 12 1 2 128 92 49 Prince George 37 23 12 1 1 129 106 48 Kamloops 35 17 14 3 1 122 109 38 Vancouver 38 13 20 3 2 109 135 31

U.S. DIVISION Seattle Everett Spokane Portland Tri-City

*3 : / 2/ 6/ *) *$ 3W 35 20 12 3 0 115 103 43 34 20 12 0 2 93 75 42 36 18 14 3 1 118 119 40 35 17 17 1 0 119 117 35 36 15 19 2 0 114 136 32

1RWH Division leaders ranked in top 2 positions per conference regardless of points; a team winning in overtime or shootout gets 2 points & a victory in W column; team losing in overtime or shootout gets 1 pt. in OTL or SOL columns. :HGQHVGD\¡V UHVXOWV Prince Albert 6 Regina 5 (SO) Swift Current 6 Saskatoon 4 Calgary 6 Lethbridge 4 Victoria 3 Kamloops 2 Prince George 6 Vancouver 3 Everett 2 Kelowna 1 (OT) 7XHVGD\¡V UHVXOWV Brandon 6 Moose Jaw 5 Regina 3 Saskatoon 1 Swift Current 3 Prince Albert 2 (OT) Lethbridge 5 Medicine Hat 2 Seattle 2 Spokane 1 Tri-City 5 Portland 1 7KXUVGD\¡V JDPHV $OO WLPHV /RFDO Red Deer at Kootenay, 4 p.m. Medicine Hat at Moose Jaw, 6 p.m. Spokane at Tri-City, 8:05 p.m. Seattle at Portland, 8:30 p.m. )ULGD\¡V JDPHV Prince Albert at Saskatoon, 1 p.m. Brandon at Edmonton, 2 p.m. Victoria at Kamloops, 3 p.m. Kelowna at Everett, 3:05 p.m. Swift Current at Regina, 6 p.m.

BCHL INTERIOR DIVISION Penticton Salmon Arm West Kelowna Vernon Trail Merritt

*3 : / 36 31 4 34 21 9 36 20 14 39 16 20 36 17 19 37 12 23

7 2/ *) *$ 3W 1 0 150 76 63 2 2 142 97 46 0 2 137 128 42 0 3 161 131 35 0 0 111 143 34 0 2 126 161 26

ISLAND DIVISION *3 : / 1DQDLPR Cowichan Vally 37 18 14 Powell River 35 19 14 Victoria 38 14 20 Alberni Valley 36 13 19

7 2/ *) *$ 3W 2 3 129 159 41 0 2 121 99 40 0 4 102 112 32 2 2 99 138 30

MAINLAND DIVISION *3 : / Chilliwack 35 24 7 Wenatchee 36 21 10 Langley 36 21 14 Coquitlam 36 15 16 Prince George 37 9 26 Surrey 34 5 28

7 2/ *) *$ 3W 1 3 140 81 52 3 2 122 83 47 1 0 138 110 43 1 4 117 142 35 0 2 84 164 20 1 0 84 175 11

:HGQHVGD\¡V UHVXOWV 1DQDLPR Cowichan Valley 3 Chilliwack 2 Langley 1 Powell River 2 Alberni Valley 1 (OT) West Kelowna at Trail 7KXUVGD\¡V JDPHV Coquitlam at Merritt, 4 p.m. Alberni Valley at Powell River, 5 p.m. )ULGD\¡V JDPHV Surrey at Salmon Arm, 5 p.m. Penticton at Vernon, 7 p.m. 6DWXUGD\¡V JDPHV Salmon Arm at Penticton, 6 p.m. Prince George at Coquitlam, 7 p.m. Alberni Valley at Cowichan Valley, 7 p.m. Chilliwack at Wenatchee, 7:05 p.m. 1DQDLPR at Powell River, 7:15 p.m. West Kelowna at Merritt, 7:30 p.m. Surrey at Trail, 7:30 p.m.

7 0 0 0 0

3FW .800 .667 .467 .333

3) 3$ 455 295 370 292 357 342 290 379

: / 8 7 7 8 5 10 3 12

7 0 0 0 0

3FW .533 .467 .333 .200

3) 3$ 309 307 303 384 370 418 275 393

: / 11 4 9 6 5 10 3 12

7 0 0 0 0

3FW .733 .600 .333 .200

3) 3$ 395 263 395 307 312 377 266 404

: / 11 4 10 5 7 8 4 11

7 0 0 0 0

3FW .733 .667 .467 .267

3) 3$ 328 276 382 270 342 376 300 371

SOUTH Houston Indianapolis Jacksonville Tennessee

*3 : / 2/ 6/ *) *$ 3W 38 26 12 0 0 162 117 52 40 25 13 1 1 136 121 52 37 24 13 0 0 133 111 48 38 15 19 4 0 106 124 34 36 12 20 3 1 114 144 28 38 6 30 2 0 72 161 14

: / 12 3 10 5 7 8 5 10

NORTH

WEST x-Denver x-Kansas City Oakland San Diego

1$7,21$/ &21)(5(1&( EAST y-Washington Philadelphia N.Y. Giants Dallas

: / 8 7 6 9 6 9 4 11

7 0 0 0 0

3FW .533 .400 .400 .267

3) 3$ 354 356 342 400 390 407 252 340

14 8 6 6

1 7 9 9

0 0 0 0

.933 .533 .400 .400

462 322 332 388

: 10 10 6 6

/ 5 5 9 9

7 0 0 0 0

3FW .667 .667 .400 .400

3) 3$ 355 303 345 289 334 380 315 373

13 9 7 4

2 6 8 11

0 0 0 0

.867 .600 .467 .267

483 387 264 219

SOUTH y-Carolina Atlanta Tampa Bay New Orleans

298 325 379 459

NORTH x-Green Bay x-Minnesota Detroit Chicago

WEST y-Arizona x-Seattle St. Louis San Francisco

277 271 311 371

x-clinched playoff spot y-clinched division 6XQGD\ V JDPHV Jacksonville at Houston, 1 p.m. Washington at Dallas, 1 p.m. Detroit at Chicago, 1 p.m. N.Y. Jets at Buffalo, 1 p.m. New England at Miami, 1 p.m. New Orleans at Atlanta, 1 p.m. Baltimore at Cincinnati, 1 p.m. Pittsburgh at Cleveland, 1 p.m. Tennessee at Indianapolis, 1 p.m. Philadelphia at N.Y. Giants, 1 p.m. St. Louis at San Francisco, 4:25 p.m. San Diego at Denver, 4:25 p.m. Seattle at Arizona, 4:25 p.m. Oakland at Kansas City, 4:25 p.m. Tampa Bay at Carolina, 4:25 p.m. Minnesota at Green Bay, 8:30 p.m.

(1' 2) 5(*8/$5 6($621

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NHL

Ovechkin scores twice as Caps rally to beat Sabres 5-2 THE ASSOCIATED PRESS

WASHINGTON — Alex Ovechkin scored twice during a four-goal rally in the third period and the Washington Capitals beat the Buffalo Sabres 5-2 on Wednesday night to extend their winning streak to nine games and overtake the Dallas Stars for the NHL points lead. Marcus Johansson put Washington ahead 8:32 into the final period, and Andre Burakovsky scored 1:24 later.

Evgeny Kuznetsov had two assists during the third period. Justin Williams had the Capitals’ other goal, in the second. The Capitals improved to 28-6-2 and moved ahead of Dallas with 58 points. Kuznetsov set up Ovechkin’s tying goal 1:24 into the third with a perfect pass, then set up Johansson for a re-direct during a power play. Ovechkin’s last goal was an empty-netter. Braden Holtby finished with 25 saves and improved to 16-0-1

in his last 17 games. He has not lost in regulation since Nov. 10. Brian Gionta and Zemgus Girgensons scored for Buffalo. RANGERS 5, LIGHTNING 2 Dominic Moore put New York ahead early in the third period, Dan Boyle had a goal and an assist and the Rangers ended an eight-game road losing streak. Henrik Lundqvist made 20 saves and moved past Rogie Vachon for 17th place on the

NHL’s career wins list with 356. New York was 0-6-2 during the skid. Dan Boyle scored in the first period and Mats Zuccarello in the second. Viktor Stalberg and Rick Nash added empty-netters. Jonathan Marchessault and Anton Stralman scored for the Lightning. Ben Bishop lost for the first time to the Rangers after winning his first nine games against them. Tampa Bay is 2-2-1 during a six-game homestand.

MAPLE LEAFS 3, PENGUINS 2, SO P.A. Parenteau and Peter Holland scored in the shootout to help Toronto beat Pittsburgh. Parenteau won it by beating Matt Murray to the glove side with a wrist shot. David Perron scored for Pittsburgh in the shootout, but Jonathan Bernier stopped Sidney Crosby and Kris Letang. Bernier finished with 39 saves while playing for the second consecutive night.


www.nanaimodailynews.com

THURSDAY, DECEMBER 31, 2015 GARFIELD

@NanaimoDaily

DIVERSIONS 23

CROSSWORD GREETINGS ACROSS 1 Wear away, in a way 5 Sci-fi knight 9 “If only it could be” 14 Ben-Hur setting 15 Harbinger 16 Unequivocal refusal 17 Pedestal figure 18 Stringed star of ‘50s TV 20 Comment at length 22 Hugs, in a letter 23 Family guys 24 Had stock in 26 Arles appellation 28 In a neat manner 31 ‘80s Russian leader 36 Zips by 37 Ersatz swing support 38 Portrayal 39 First grandfather 40 Fraud 41 Dickens girl 42 Call from a nursery 43 Was deceitful 44 Indecisive 45 Twisty treats 47 Twilight time 48 Census datum 49 Nasal tone 51 CFO, often 54 Camcorder button 56 Art studio 60 Streisand musical film 63 “The Valley __” (Maui nickname) 64 Cropped up 65 Look narrowly 66 Lowest high tide 67 Ballet apparel 68 Bratty talk 69 Sushi supply

FOR BETTER OR WORSE

ANDY CAPP

ZITS

DOWN 1 Crisscross pattern 2 Junction point 3 “Famous” cookie guy 4 Underfoot accessories 5 Pirate Jack, in four films 6 Overplay it

PREVIOUS PUZZLE SOLVED

7 Lawn coating 8 __-European languages 9 Suitable for rainy days 10 Try to win over 11 Denny’s rival 12 Bar mixer 13 Limited-access rds. 19 Way over there 21 Saddler’s tools 25 Most murky 27 Early racing-form odds 28 Chaplin persona 29 Storm tracker

30 Start of Caesar’s boast 32 Requisite 33 Some epic works 34 Skateboarder’s jump 35 African grassland 37 Follow secretly 40 Bent 44 Musical number 46 Nonentities 47 Woodland deities 50 Part of the United Kingdom 51 Small talk 52 Alpaca’s habitat 53 Many times 55 Perp pursuers 57 “Gotcha” 58 Mideast airline 59 Sales force, for short 61 Pelican State sch. 62 Meadowland

HI AND LOIS

HAGAR

» EVENTS // EMAIL: EVENTS@NANAIMODAILYNEWS.COM THURSDAY, DEC. 31

FRIDAY, JAN. 1

5-8 p.m. Parksville free New Years Eve celebration. Oceanside Place, 830 West Island Highway, Parksville

Noon Parksville polar bear splash. A way to start the year, as a participant, spectator or volunteer. Register onsite at 11:30 am. Free event. Phone RDN, Recreation and Parks 250752-5014. Parksville Community Park, 141 East Island Highway.

5-10 p.m. Finale 2015: Nanaimo’s biggest family New Year’s Eve event $32 family, $10 or free two and under. Beban Park, 2300 Bowen Rd., Nanaimo

Christmas tree chipping. Country Club Centre Dairy Queen Parking Lot. MONDAY, JAN. 4 4 p.m. Halbe Hall Monday Market, 8369 North Island Highway, Black Creek. Wide variety of vendors of fresh produce and baked goods, arts and crafts. Free event.

SATURDAY, JAN. 2 TUESDAY, JAN. 5

8 p.m.-midnight New Years Eve Party, includies a five-course dinner and champagne toast. Tickets $89, Smoke ’n’Water Restaurant, 1-1600 Stroulger Rd., Parksville.

7 p.m. Ladysmith Comedy Night. Music Hall Food Co., 18 Roberts St., Ladysmith. Tickets $15 at the door. SUNDAY, JAN. 3 Noon-4 p.m. Nanaimo Search and Rescue

6:30-9 p.m. VectorVest User Group was formed by active stock market investors who use the VectorVest system to identify opportunities in the stock market. Cost is $10. 741 third St., Nanaimo.

7-9 p.m. Country Idol at the Queen’s. The annual talent search runs Tuesdays through January, with a final show Feb.10. Singers 15 and up complete for $500 and a vocal appearance with George Canyon Feb. 10.

8:30-11:30 p.m. Nico Rhodes Trio at Vault Coffee House 499 Wallace St. Tickets $15, students $10. 7 p.m. Myc Sharratt, Ali Prince Live At Longwood Brew Pub, 5775 Turner Rd., Nanaimo.

WEDNESDAY, JAN. 6 FRIDAY, JAN. 8 7 p.m. Open Mic Acoustic night with Dave Marco, every Wednesday at Smoke‘n’Water Restaurant, Pacific Shores Resort, 1-1600 Stroulger Rd., Parksville

8-11 p.m. Elvis Birthday Tribute Show. Cover $10. Royal Canadian Legion, Branch #10, 129 Harewood Rd., Nanaimo.

THURSDAY, JAN. 7

SATURDAY, JAN. 9

6:30 p.m. Parksville Newcomers’monthly meeting in the Parksville Community Centre, 132 Jensen St., Parksville

7 p.m. Nanaimo Clippers vs Powell River Kings. Tickets $5-20, at Clippers office, 1-2290 Bowen Rd., Nanaimo. Game is at Frank Crane Arena.


www.nanaimodailynews.com

24 DIVERSIONS BLONDIE

@NanaimoDaily

HOROSCOPE by Jacqueline Bigar ARIES (March 21-April 19) You will try hard to be mellow as the new year approaches. You have spent a lot of energy on touching base with key people and getting together more often. Be careful not to overshare some plans, even though they already might be public knowledge. Tonight: Your efforts pay off. TAURUS (April 20-May 20) Reach out to others at a distance before you allow New Year’s excitement to grab hold. You also might decide to do a different type of happening this year. Whatever you choose to do, put yourself in a position where you can just let go. Tonight: Greet 2016 as only you can. GEMINI (May 21-June 20) You could be at your wits’ end, as you have so much ground to cover. Whether you decide to stay close to home for New Year’s or you have many friends popping in, you will be busy. Plans can change if you are not comfortable with what is happening. Tonight: All smiles. CANCER (June 21-July 22) You might need to ask for more information before making a decision. A partner will be unusually open and caring. This person tends to have very different ideas from yours. Listen to what is being shared by those around you. Tonight: Get into the New Year’s celebrations early. LEO (July 23-Aug. 22) Curb a need to spend too much, whether it’s to please you or a friend, or for any other reason. This New Year’s Eve has the makings of a wonderful

BABY BLUES

BC

WORD FIND

THURSDAY, DECEMBER 31, 2015

beginning. Recognize how much a key person gives of him- or herself. Tonight: All smiles ... and it only gets better. VIRGO (Aug. 23-Sept. 22) You smile all day long, no matter what goes on or where you are coming from. You have an innate radiance that attracts many people. If you are single and wanting to make plans, you’ll be happiest roving around. You could meet someone quite special as a result. Tonight: Out late. LIBRA (Sept. 23-Oct. 22) How you feel on this final day of the year will have nothing to do with how you feel in 24 hours. You might be somewhat reflective and thoughtful about 2016, yet you could be questioning yourself about recent actions you have taken. Tonight: Relax with the moment. SCORPIO (Oct. 23-Nov. 21) Zero in on what you want. You could be overly tired and withdrawn. You also might wonder what would be the best way to proceed. Someone you care about could be unusually touchy. Remember, this day is not easy on some people. Tonight: Hang out with loved ones. SAGITTARIUS (Nov. 22-Dec. 21) Pressure builds to join in and be part of the crowd. Don’t be surprised to find yourself at a spontaneous happening that sets the mood for New Year’s. Resist saying “no,” and enjoy the moment. An unexpected opportunity is likely to present itself. Tonight: Make it your pleasure. CAPRICORN (Dec. 22-Jan. 19) Reach out to someone at a distance whom you care about. You

might be ready for a long-overdue talk. Starting the new year with a clean slate and a different viewpoint could make all the difference in how you feel. Communication flourishes. Tonight: Wait until the midnight hour. AQUARIUS (Jan. 20-Feb. 18) Reach out to several loved ones at a distance. You might want to hear about what is happening with them. Catching up on news will prove to be very rewarding, as it will make you happy. Realize what is happening between you and someone else. Tonight: Surprises lie ahead. PISCES (Feb. 19-March 20) Defer to someone else, and let him or her do whatever he or she wants. Your heightened sense of emotional well-being seems to permeate your interactions. Calls and inquiries come in from every direction. Tonight: Love the one you are with. YOUR BIRTHDAY(Dec. 31) This year you’ll learn to take an overview when you feel uptight or stressed. Travel and vacations will play an important role in your year. You are likely to meet someone who might be so unusual that interacting with him or her could be a real learning experience. If you are single, you could become involved with a foreigner. Before committing to this person, make sure you can accept his or her uniqueness. If you are attached, your in-laws might play a greater role in your life. You and your sweetie will pursue a longterm desire to experience a new adventure together. VIRGO is lucky for you.

SUDOKU CRYPTOQUOTE

PREVIOUS SUDOKO SOLVED

Barrel of oil

Dow Jones

$36.60 -$1.27

17,603.87 -117.11

www.harbourviewvw.com

Harbourview Volkswagen Canadian Dollar

NASDAQ

5,065.85, -42.09

The Canadian dollar traded Wednesday afternoon at 72.02 cents US, down 0.32 of a cent from the Tuesday’s close. The Pound Sterling was worth $2.0575, up 0.83 of a cent, while the Euro was worth $1.5185, up 0.70 of a cent.

S&P/TSX

13,142.29 -103.46

SOLUTION: INTERESTING HOLIDAY


THURSDAY, DECEMBER 31, 2015

www.nanaimodailynews.com

GARFIELD

@NanaimoDaily

DIVERSIONS 25

CROSSWORD VOWEL SHORTENING ACROSS 1 Pellet propeller 6 Smelting by-product 10 Job order notation 14 Don’t do the rite thing 15 Home of Galileo Airport 16 Nothing at all 17 1/1 or 7/4 20 Investment acronym 21 Elizabethan, for instance 22 Likeness 23 Office machine 28 Insurance groups 29 Unsuccessful attempt 30 Picasso’s birthplace 33 Month, for short 34 Bed threads 37 Caviling 42 Go Set a Watchman novelist 43 Comics cry 44 How bar snacks are made 45 Render unusable 47 Editorial shortening 49 Qualified negative 56 Bill of Wrongs author 57 Poe perpetrator 58 “That’s so relaxing!” 59 Music much heard in December 64 Pre-college yrs. 65 Rude look 66 Put forward 67 Bamboo, for instance 68 Fruits of legumes 69 Pursuit group

FOR BETTER OR WORSE

ANDY CAPP

ZITS DOWN 1 West African nation 2 Raucous sound 3 Stated indirectly 4 Cronkite’s WWII employer 5 Revival movement prefix 6 Sends forth flashes 7 Soap scent 8 Light gray 9 Federal auditing agcy. 10 Strong dislike

PREVIOUS PUZZLE SOLVED

11 1978 Peace Prize sharer 12 Words of wisdom 13 Account settler 18 First-century despot 19 Mr. Potato Head piece 24 Prepare potatoes, perhaps 25 Prefix like pan26 Persian Gulf nation 27 Artistic Chinese dynasty 30 NBC fixture since ‘75 31 Comedic missile 32 Eroded

33 Spread made by Smucker’s 34 Legislator, in headlines 35 Extend outward 36 Sloppy place 38 Beehive, e.g. 39 Coffee from Mauna Loa 40 Province near Turin 41 Savor the sunshine 45 Bad, as butter 46 Stalin’s domain 47 Pasta salad seasoning 48 Library patron 49 Pilot’s number 50 Rudimentary seed 51 Ongoing donation 52 Smoothed, as a sand trap 53 Unsuspecting ones 54 Novelist teaching at Princeton 55 Invitation subheading 60 Edelweiss setting 61 Elon Musk, at Tesla 62 Usual methodology: Abbr. 63 Paranormal sighting

HI AND LOIS

HAGAR

We can all do our part to make 2016 special Kathy Mitchell & Marcy Sugar Annie’s Mailbox Dear Readers: Welcome to 2016! We wish every one of you excellent health and extreme happiness. We hope this year is better than the last and not as good as the next.

Do your best to make this year special. Be kinder. Be more patient. Be more tolerant. Help someone in need. The world could use these things more than ever. Vow to look after your health, exercise, eat less junk, give up smoking and eat more fruits and vegetables. Smile more. You never know how much that small kindness might mean to someone who is having a bad day. Turn over that elusive new leaf. Put more effort into your relationships, and tell the people you love how much they mean to you. You don’t know

what tomorrow will bring. Let’s start this year off right. Last year, we promised to reprint two pieces that readers enjoyed and thought appropriate for the new year. Here they are: Just for Today (author unknown) Just for today I will live through the next 12 hours and not tackle my whole life’s problems at once. Just for today I will improve my mind. I will learn something useful. I will read something that requires effort, thought and concentration. Just for today I will be agreeable. I will look my best, speak in a

well-modulated voice, be courteous and considerate. Just for today I will not find fault with friend, relative or colleague. I will not try to change or improve anyone but myself. Just for today I will have a program. I might not follow it exactly, but I will have it. I will save myself from two enemies -- hurry and indecision. Just for today I will exercise my character in three ways. I will do a good turn and keep it a secret. If anyone finds out, it won’t count. Just for today I will do two things I don’t want to do, just for exercise.

Just for today I will be unafraid. Especially will I be unafraid to enjoy what is beautiful and believe that as I give to the world, the world will give to me. Annie’s Mailbox is written by Kathy Mitchell and Marcy Sugar, longtime editors of the Ann Landers column. Please email your questions to anniesmailbox@creators.com, or write to: Annie’s Mailbox, c/o Creators Syndicate, 737 3rd Street, Hermosa Beach, CA 90254. You can also find Annie on Facebook at Facebook. com/AskAnnies.


www.nanaimodailynews.com

26 DIVERSIONS BLONDIE

@NanaimoDaily

HOROSCOPE by Jacqueline Bigar ARIES (March 21-April 19) You have gone out of your way to help others enjoy New Year’s Eve, and finally your time to relax has come. You will hear from a lot of friends, but being with a loved one is all you really seem to want. Share your resolutions! Tonight: Say “yes” to an invitation. TAURUS (April 20-May 20) Your lack of energy could define the day. You have put so much effort into everything you have done, including being there for several special people in your life. You might just want to be one with your armchair today and not leave your house. Tonight: Return a call you missed. GEMINI (May 21-June 20) You might be more interested in what is happening with a loved one than you realize. Shift your focus away from this person for now. You might hear a comment or two later, but do you really care? Pressure builds to do what a friend wants you to do. Tonight: Let down your hair. CANCER (June 21-July 22) You could be in a position where you need to stay home because of a commitment or an obligation. Make it your pleasure to get it done. Get into the moment with your pet or enjoy a roommate or visitor as you rarely would. Tonight: Stay close to home if you can. LEO (July 23-Aug. 22) You always have a smile and a nice word for others, and today is no exception. Someone might not have your same style, but will do

BABY BLUES

BC

WORD FIND

THURSDAY, DECEMBER 31, 2015

his or her best to let you know how welcomed you are. This person is always a little cool or distant. Tonight: Say “yes” to a new possibility. VIRGO (Aug. 23-Sept. 22) Be aware of a tendency to be possessive. This trait could emerge today, mainly because you are so tired and worn out from recent events. A loved one makes a point of visiting or calling. Get a head start on organizing a cleanup project for tomorrow. Tonight: Avoid complications. LIBRA (Sept. 23-Oct. 22) Reach out to a friend or loved one. You have a very flirtatious style that often could be misread as meaning more. Sometimes this behavior is the source of confusion. Be more sensitive to others and to how they take your gestures and words. Tonight: Mosey on home. SCORPIO (Oct. 23-Nov. 21) Know when to pull back. You have gone along with all the seasonal traditions, but you are not traditional. You might need to honor who you are in some way. A conversation with a younger person could prove to be rather insightful. Tonight: Behind the scenes. SAGITTARIUS (Nov. 22-Dec. 21) Relax and get into the moment. Wherever you are, make sure you are surrounded by friends who care about you, and vice versa. You have a newfound warmth that draws others toward you. Tonight: A conversation might be meaningful, but it also could be gibberish. CAPRICORN (Dec. 22-Jan. 19) You have created stronger foundations than you originally thought pos-

sible. You have a tendency to hold in your feelings, perhaps too much for your own good. Why not open up a little more, especially with a respected friend? Tonight: Rethink how you handle your funds. AQUARIUS (Jan. 20-Feb. 18) You will want to take off most of the day. Where you decide to go could be unusual, but suitable. A dear friend might decide to join you in this adventure. How you view this situation might be quite different from how he or she views it. Tonight: Put on some great music. PISCES (Feb. 19-March 20) Your sense of direction often proves to be somewhat limiting. You tend to fall into patterns, as do the majority of people. How you handle a touchy matter will reflect your willingness to identify with others. Tonight: Spend more time with your sweetie. YOUR BIRTHDAY(Jan. 1) This year you often feel pressured by conflicting desires. On one hand, you want to be slightly more gracious and easygoing; on the other hand, you want to be more businesslike and efficient. Which voice you choose will depend on various situations in your life. If you are single, you often attract the attention of people who might not be the people they project themselves to be. Take your time getting to know someone well before committing. If you are attached, the two of you need a lot of downtime together to keep your bond strong. Make a point of establishing these special times together. LIBRA is always gracious.

SUDOKU CRYPTOQUOTE

PREVIOUS SUDOKO SOLVED

◆ ASDFASDFA

Oprah gives boost to Weight Watchers Weight Watchers is getting another boost from Oprah Winfrey. The weight loss company’s shares soared Wednesday as a TV commercial starring Winfrey began to air. The commercial shows past videos of Winfrey working out and referencing her struggle with weight, a fre-

Harbourview Volkswagen www.harbourviewvw.com

quent topic of her former talk show. The ad ends with Winfrey asking viewers if they’re ready to join her. “Let’s do this together,” she says. She tweeted the ad to her more than 30 million followers on Tuesday. Weight Watchers brought in Winfrey at a precarious

time for the company. It has been hurt by the popularity of fitness trackers and free food-tracking apps. Despite recent gains in the stock, it is still down about eight per cent from a year ago. — THE ASSOCIATED PRESS

SOLUTION: LIFE. BE IN IT


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THURSDAY, DECEMBER 31, 2015

@NanaimoDaily

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DEATHS

DEATHS

Burton, Elda Mayard

Born Feb. 23, 1928 ~ Passed away Dec. 10. 2015 Elda passed away with her family around her and with no regrets. She leaves behind Sam her loving canine companion, her daughter; Barb Krause, grandchildren Verdall Ouellette, Kevin Krause and Matthew Burton. Also great-grandchildren Maigen Krause, Jennifer Sully and Chantel Gorden, 3 brothers and 1 sister. No Service by request. In lieu of flowers donations can be made in Elda’s memory to the Veterans Association or your local SPCA.

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OSU QB enters draft MARLA RIDENOUR AKRON BEACON JOURNAL

SCOTTSDALE, Ariz. — After Ohio State’s Cardale Jones tweeted after a Nov. 21 loss to Michigan State that he’d played his last game at Ohio Stadium, there seemed little doubt he was entering the 2016 NFL Draft. But the backup quarterback confirmed that remains the plan during Wednesday’s media day for Friday’s BattleFrog Fiesta Bowl against Notre Dame. “I don’t want to be a 24-year-old college student,� Jones said at the JW Marriott Camelback Inn. “I have one more semester of school left — that was my whole focus of coming back. Two classes is not going to affect my decision of coming back to college.� Jones said he is on track to graduate in June. The draft is April 28-30. Leaving with an 11-0 record as a starter, the Glenville High School product shot to stardom in the final three games last season. Entering fall camp No. 3, Jones directed victories over Wisconsin in the Big Ten Championship game and over No. 1 Alabama and No. 2 Oregon.

THURSDAY, DECEMBER 31, 2015

Richard Sherman amps up the fans against the San Francisco 49ers in the second half of an NFL football game in 2012 in Seattle. [AP PHOTO]

Star Seahawks cornerback quiet, but having a good year TIM BOOTH THE ASSOCIATED PRESS

F

or a change, Richard Sherman has found himself out of the spotlight for most of this season. Both on the field and when the Seattle Seahawks cornerback is standing behind the podium. “I don’t feel like I’ve done any less. It’s just, you guys are so used to it,� Sherman said. “I guess you might be numb to it, or immune. I don’t think I do any less. I’ve always spoken confidently.� Despite seemingly less attention, Sherman has put together another solid season heading into Sunday’s regular-season finale at Arizona. But because of the lack of fanfare surrounding him and the focus placed on other players — namely quarterback Russell Wilson and wide receiver Doug Baldwin — Sherman may not be in line for the individual recognition he’s received in previous seasons. One of the few individual honours Sherman has held with high regard is being voted to the AP All-Pro first team for each of the past three seasons. But for the first time during that stretch, whether Sherman is honoured for a fourth straight season is in question heading into Sunday’s game. His interceptions are at a career low with just two as

quarterbacks have remained leery of throwing in his direction. His team will win its least number of games since 2011 no matter the outcome on Sunday’s game. And Sherman has seemed to take a backseat to the attention given to Josh Norman, Chris Harris Jr., Darrelle Revis and other top cornerbacks around the league. “I would think I’m on the list. I would think I’m on there,� Sherman said. “It might be a closer vote than the past, but I would think so . . . Everybody has been kind of up and down.� Defining Sherman’s performance is difficult because quarterbacks have become careful when throwing in his direction and because of the type of defence the Seahawks often play. According to STATS, Sherman has been targeted 62 times this season, tied for 57th among all cornerbacks. He’s allowed 30 receptions and four touchdowns — including getting caught flat-footed and beat by Kenny Britt for a TD last week against St. Louis — and had 12 passes defenced, which is more than last season. Last season, Sherman had four interceptions but was targeted 71 times. In 2013 when Seattle won the Super Bowl, Sherman had a career-high eight interceptions and was only thrown at 59 times. What Sherman added to his game this year was versatility. After almost exclusively

playing on the left side of the defence in previous seasons, Sherman has been more willing to float around and take on individual matchups. He played in the slot as the nickel cornerback in Week 1 against St. Louis as Seattle tried to match him up against Tavon Austin. He quickly shifted in Week 5 against Cincinnati and followed A.J. Green after Green had a big first quarter. San Francisco’s Torrey Smith had one catch in two games against Seattle with Sherman defending him. Sherman’s already been voted to the Pro Bowl this season, but news about All-Pro will have to wait a little while longer. His coach believes there’s been no step back in Sherman’s play this season. “I think he’s had another terrific season. He’s been there for the challenges. They’re going to catch some balls, at times. For the most part, they do stay away from him. He doesn’t get the activity that he had three or four years ago,� coach Pete Carroll said. “I know he was close to making two or three picks that he had during the year that he would love to have back. He doesn’t get very many chances. “When he’s been matched up with the challenging matchups, he’s done a fantastic job and has been rock solid for us.�

Lynch won’t play on Sunday vs. Arizona TIM BOOTH THE ASSOCIATED PRESS

RENTON, Wash. — Marshawn Lynch’s return for the Seattle Seahawks won’t come until the NFC wild card playoffs at the earliest. Coach Pete Carroll said Wednesday that Lynch had not rejoined the team and remains

“day-to-day� in his recovery from abdominal surgery in late November. Carroll had indicated earlier that there was a chance that Lynch could rejoin the team this week and possibly play in the regular-season finale against Arizona, but he will instead be sidelined for the seventh straight week.

The hope now for Seattle is that Lynch will be available next week for the opening round of the playoffs when Seattle will play at Washington, Minnesota or Green Bay, depending on what happens on the final day. Carroll said Lynch is still experiencing discomfort in his rehabilitation.

PHILADELPHIA — In the end, Chip Kelly created a poor culture and a beatable scheme. A day after firing Chip Kelly, CEO Jeffrey Lurie made it clear he wants a coach who can relate to his players and everyone else in the building. “You’ve got to open your heart to players and everybody you want to achieve peak performance,� Lurie said Wednesday. “I would call it a style of leadership that values information and all of the resources that are provided and at the same time values emotional intelligence. I think in today’s world, a combination of all those factors creates the best chance to succeed.� Kelly didn’t have close relationships with many of his players, and former Eagles running back LeSean McCoy and cornerback Brandon Boykin were critical of his personality after he traded them. Lurie said he wants “someone who interacts and communicates very clearly with everyone he works with.� Eagles right tackle Lane Johnson, who was Kelly’s first draft pick, said his former coach was considered “unapproachable� by many players. “I want to see a guy who really cares about his players and isn’t so set in his ways so we can all go in the same direction,� Johnson said. “I think Chip had good intentions. I just think that he didn’t have a good way to go about it, and sometimes it came off a little bit standoffish toward y’all. That’s just his way. I don’t know if he had anybody to confide in but I think all in all, I know he cared about the players.� Kelly was fired after missing the playoffs for the second straight season and failing in his first year in charge of personnel. The Eagles entered the season with Super Bowl expectations, but are 6-9. Players prepared for the season finale at the New York Giants on Sunday with offensive co-ordinator Pat Shurmur serving as interim coach, largely going about business as usual. “I had a good relationship with Chip. We communicated well together and maybe that was just me,� linebacker Connor Barwin said. “Obviously you want a great leader, you want somebody that knows the game obviously very well, someone that can relate to the players, somebody the players can trust.� Quarterback Sam Bradford, who could be a free agent after the season, said he still wants to return next year despite all the uncertainty. “Chip was great to me. It’s tough to lose him,� Bradford said. Lurie said he decided to fire Kelly before the end of the season to get a jump start on a coaching search and meet with players to talk to them about the decision. He said he met with players as a group on Wednesday and had smaller meetings planned with them later in the day. “It was a clear and important decision that had to be made,� he said.


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THURSDAY, DECEMBER 31, 2015

nanaimotoyota.com t nanaimotoyota.com

Alan McPhee Auto Insider

‘BEST NEW CARS’

Honours go to VW Golf models

I

n its recently published list of “Best New Cars for 2016,” the Automobile Journalists Association of Canada includes two winners from Volkswagen. The Golf R takes the prize in the Best New Sports/Performance (under $50,000) category while the Golf Sportwagon 1.8 TSI takes the laurels as Best New Family car. Both vehicles add new lustre to the Golf stable with improvements and innovations that are already winning new fans. Until today, the Golf GTI was the sportiest performer in the popular three- and five-door Golf family.

[ALAN MCPHEE FOR THE DAILY NEWS]

See GOLF, Page 30

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*Limited time lease offer available through Volkswagen Finance, on approved credit, based on a new and unregistered 2016 Jetta 1.4T Trendline (#163VF1) / Tiguan FWD Trendline (#5N21V4) / Golf 1.8T Trendline (AU12N1) base model with 5/6/5-speed manual transmission. $1,605/$1,760/$1,605 freight and PDI included in monthly payment. 48-month term at 1.99% APR. $0/$100/$100 air-conditioning levy, $0 down payment, $0 security deposit and first monthly payment in excess of payment credits (if applicable) due at lease inception. Total lease obligation: $10,008/$14,040/$11,172. 64,000-kilometre allowance; charge of $0.15/km for excess kilometres. PPSA fee, license, insurance, registration, any dealer or other charges, options and applicable taxes are extra. ‡Limited time lease credits (on approved credit, through Volkswagen Finance) on select 2016 models available to be applied to first two monthly payments up to a maximum amount of $500/$700/$500 per month for the Jetta 1.4T Trendline / Tiguan FWD Trendline / Golf 1.8T Trendline. **Limited time finance purchase offer available through Volkswagen Finance, on approved credit, on select new and unregistered 2015 models. Ex.: 2015 Jetta 2.0L Trendline base model with 5-speed manual transmission with base MSRP of $16,595, including $1,605 freight and PDI, financed at 0% APR for 84 months equals 182 bi-weekly payments starting from $87 (after application of $750 bonus cash). $0 down payment due at signing. Cost of borrowing is $0 for a total obligation of $15,845. PPSA fee, license, insurance, registration, any dealer or other charges, options and applicable taxes are extra. †Up to $7,000/$4,250 discount on MSRP available on cash purchase only of new and unregistered 2015 CC / Jetta 1.8T Highline and Tiguan 4MOTION Highline models. Discount varies by model. Dealer may sell or lease for less. Dealer order/trade may be necessary. Offers end 'HFHPEHU , 2015 and are subject to change or cancellation without notice. Models shown: 2016 Jetta 1.8T Highline, $29,700 / 2016 Tiguan 2.0T Highline R-Line, $41,853 / 2016 Golf 5-Door 1.8T Highline, $31,200. Vehicles shown for illustration purposes only and may include optional equipment. Visit vw.ca or your Volkswagen dealer for details. “Volkswagen”, the Volkswagen logo, “Das Auto & Design”, “Jetta”, “Tiguan”, “Golf”, “CC”, “TSI”, “Highline”, “Trendline” and “4MOTION” are registered trademarks of Volkswagen AG. © 2015 Volkswagen Canada.


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30 DRIVING

@NanaimoDaily

THURSDAY, DECEMBER 31, 2015

Start 2016 with high performance VW Golf GOLF, from Page 29 Don’t worry; it’s still here, with a pulse raising 210 horsepower and 258 ft-lb. of torque from its two-litre turbo engine. But it was never quite hot enough for the large segment of enthusiast drivers. Say wilkommen to the Golf R. This is the hot hatch you’ve been waiting for. The wizards in VW’s racing department have managed to boost horsepower — from the same turbocharged four-cylinder engine — from 210 to a whopping 292 while torque is now a stump-pulling 280 ft-lb. And there’s more. Unlike the other Golf models, the R comes with VW’s 4Motion AWD system that automatically transfers traction from side to side and from front to rear when slippage is detected. Other dynamic assists include DCC (Dynamic Chassis Control) that lets you choose from three driving styles: Comfort, Normal or Sporty. The system adjusts the suspension and steering characteristics according to your taste. With 292 horses under the hood and a barrow load of torque — plus the optional Launch

There can be no argument about the quality of materials and the superb ‘fit and finish’ throughout the Golf R and Sportwagon. [ALAN MCPHEE FOR THE DAILY NEWS]

system that holds the revs to 4,000 rpm before clutch engagement and then gives the power to all four wheels — you will see 100 km/h in a Porsche-like five seconds from a standing start. And unlike the Subaru WRX STI, you get there with less shift shock or engine noise thanks to the six-speed dual-clutch automatic transmission and a more refined - and isolated – suspension system (there’s six-speed manual option but it’s slower than the automatic).

Inside you get power adjustable bucket seats with leather trim and the ‘R’ insignia, Kessy (keyless entry and push button start) plus all the usual connections to the digital world including Bluetooth and standard Nav system. With a starting price of just $39,995, the Golf R is the most excitement you can get under $40,000. Add the Technology Package and your R comes with 19-inch wheels, Adaptive Cruise Control, Blind Spot Detection with Cross Traffic Alert, Discover Pro eight-inch

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colour touch screen, Front Assist, Lane Assist and Park Distance Control. Best of all this turbo stormer doesn’t require premium fuel. City and highway figures are just 10.7 and 7.8 L/100km. To understand the 2016 VW Sportwagon, just think of your basic Golf from the grille to the hatch and add another 12 inches (305 millimetres) to the body to get the advantages of a station wagon. Although the market seems to have been overwhelmed by a tsunami of ‘crossovers,’ SUVs and compact minivans, there are still buyers out there who want the roominess that only a wagon can offer along with the comfort and ‘fun to drive’ feeling that only a car can provide. The VW Sportwagon delivers on both counts. Built on the Modular Transverse Matrix platform, the Sportwagon is longer, wider and sits lower to the ground than the previous Golf Wagon. The result is improved handling, stability and a cabin that is roomier and provides an additional 370 litres (13.0 cu-ft.) of cargo volume. Power is provided by the 170 horsepower, four-cylinder TSI (turbocharged) engine driving the front wheels through a five-speed manual transmission or a six-speed, dual-clutch, DSG automatic with Tiptronic manual mode. Despite being turbocharged, the engine uses regular fuel and delivers excellent economy of just 9.3/6.4 city/highway, L/100 km. (with manual transmission). Three models are offered — Trendline, Comfortline and Highline, with prices starting at $22,795.

VW design is German Design and that means ‘functional’ rather than ‘funky’. The classic instrument panel places the clear and elegant whiteon-black analog gauges with red sweep hands for Speedometer and Tachometer squarely in the driver’s line of sight. A secondary multi-function, programmable Driver Information screen sits between them. All the other secondary gauges and switchgear are placed intuitively in the centre stack. A 5.8-inch Discover Media touch screen in the centre stack takes care of your digital connectivity and Sat Nav. While I would personally like to see a bit more colour in the cabin, there can be no argument about the quality of materials and the superb ‘fit and finish’ throughout. Even the base Trendline has a luxury feel that is rare at this price. Available features include Kessy keyless entry with push button Start/Stop, power adjustable, heated front bucket seats with ‘Vienna’ leather trim, Climatronic dual-zone climate control, rear view camera, LED ambient lighting, automatic headlights with ‘coming home’ feature, fog lights, Fender premium, eight-speaker Audio system with integrated Sirius XM radio and a power, tilt-sliding panorama sunroof. With the high performance Golf R and the Sportwagon 1.8 TSI, Volkswagen can start off 2016 on a very positive note. » Alan McPhee is a Canadian automotive journalist and is former editor of Carguide Magazine. His articles appear each week in this space.

Toyota Highlander offers lots of choices ANN M. JOB THE ASSOCIATED PRESS

DISCOVER MORE AT THE NEW BALANCE® STORE At your local New Balance Store in Nanaimo, you’ll find a lot more than just footwear. We have a wide range of hard-to-find widths and sizes, the latest in shoe design and oneon-one consultations with Fit Specialists-all adding up to a more comfortable fit. Stop by today and discover the expertise you’ve been looking for.

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Toyota’s mid-size Highlander sport utility vehicle strikes a fine balance of value, fuel economy, function and convenience. Available with seven or eight seats, the Highlander is competitively priced — starting at $30,890 with a four-cylinder engine and $34,795 with V-6. Both gasoline engines sip fuel, so the 2016 Highlander ranks near the top among non-hybrid, gasoline-powered, mid-size SUVs in federal government fuel economy ratings. There’s also a 2016 Highlander Hybrid — albeit with a $48,770 starting retail price — that has the most impressive government mileage ratings for a Highlander of 27 miles per gallon in city driving and 28 mpg on highways. The gasoline-electric hybrid is fully loaded, while lesser Highlanders offer buyers opportunities to select features they want without busting the family budget. All Highlanders come standard with a backup camera and eight air bags. The wide range of Highlander prices, plus the Highlander’s fiveout-of-five stars in U.S. government

crash tests and the Highlander’s “recommend buy” ranking at Consumer Reports magazine, explain the vehicle’s popularity. Consumer Reports also says the Highlander’s reliability is much better than average. It’s the No. 2 mid-size SUV in the country with sales up more than 10 per cent this calendar year from a year ago. The test Highlander XLE with allwheel drive exemplified how convenient the vehicle is. Need to pick up your kids and their friends after hockey? Not a problem. Even with all seats occupied, the Highlander still has 13.8 cubic feet of space behind the third row for storing cargo. Each seat has a place for storing juice boxes and other drinks. Heading out for an adult-only dinner and a movie? The Highlander is good looking and all but the base LE come with leather-covered seats or Toyota’s Sof-Tex realistic leather-looking seat material. Buyers can opt for individual “captain’s chairs” in the second row rather than a bench seat, so the Highlander can accommodate a second couple. See HIGHLANDER, Page 31


Toyota SUV strikes a fine balance

These captain’s chairs provide good comfort and a side table with integrated cup holders. The test XLE included power moonroof, power front seats and voice controls, easy-to-operate navigation system and a large, modern display screen atop the middle of the dashboard. With all-wheel drive added in, price topped out at $39,450. The Highlander is especially good in bad weather, thanks to allwheel drive and traction control. Road bumps came through mostly as mild vibrations, and the test Highlander, despite its beefy structure and more than 4,300-pound weight, maintained its poise surprisingly well in sweeping curves and turns. Moving the second-row captain’s chairs out of the way for access to the third row required two hands — one to lift the lever to activate the seat movement and the other to push the seat forward. But the resulting space to climb into the vehicle was appreciated. As is typical, seat cushions on the third row were short and legroom back there is less than 28 inches, so the space is best for young ones. A highlight: There’s no reason to shout to talk to third-row passengers. The Highlander has a Driver Easy Speak microphone system that transmits the driver’s voice clearly to the third row. Seats fold down in a number of configurations, so the Highlander has a utilitarian design. On the test Highlander, fit and finish, inside and out, was excellent. So was fuel mileage: The vehicle was rated at a combined 20 mpg for city/highway travel. The tester, with some aggressive driving and lots of stop-and-go traffic, still averaged 20.1 mpg.

2015 NISSAN ALTIMA

www.nanaimodailynews.com

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Pep Boys to be bought for $1B after bidding war Carl Icahn is acquiring Pep Boys for $1 billion, ending his weekslong bidding war with the Japanese tire company Bridgestone. The deal announced Wednesday is

expected to close in the first quarter of next year. Icahn Enterprises offered $18.50 in cash for each share of Pep Boys, $1.50 more per share than the most-recent offer from Bridgestone. With the contest becoming too rich, Bridgestone bowed out Tuesday. — THE ASSOCIATED PRESS

2015 NISSAN SENTRA

@NanaimoDaily DRIVING 31

◆ NEW YORK 185 vehicles have a low-pressure fuel line that may not connect properly to the fuel pump’s feed pipe. That bad connection increases the risk of a fuel leak in the engine compartment, in turn increasing the risk of a fire. The model year 2016 vehicles were manufactured from Sept. 8 to Nov. 11.

Ferrari recalls some 2016 California T vehicles Ferrari is recalling some California T vehicles because of the risk of fire from a fuel leak. The U.S. National Highway Traffic Safety Administration says up to

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ALREADY DRIVING A NISSAN? OUR LOYALTY PROGRAM HAS GREAT OFFERS!

2015 NISSAN MICRA®

Offers available from December 1, 2015 – January 4, 2016. †Representative finance offer based on any new 2015 Altima 2.5 SL (T4TG15 AA00). Selling price is $29,898 financed at 0% APR equals 84 monthly payments of $356 for a 84 month term. $0 down payment required. Total finance obligation is $29,898. $1,500 Holiday Cash included in advertised offers. Dealer trade may be nessessary. *Altima 2.5 SL and Pathfinder S 4x4 can be financed at 0% for 84/72 month and receive $1,500 Holiday Cash. The $1,500 discount is available on any 2015 Altima/2015 Pathfinder when leased or financed with NCF. See your dealer or visit Nissan.ca/Loyalty. Holiday Cash consist of $500/$1,000/$1,000/$1,500/$1,500 on 2015 Micra/2015 Sentra/2016 Rogue/2015 Altima/2015 Pathfinder models. The Nissan Loyalty Offer (“Offer”) is available only to eligible customers who (as of September 1, 2015) lease/leased, finance/financed or own/owned a 2007 or newer Nissan brand vehicle (an “Existing Vehicle”). Eligibility for the Offer will be determined by Nissan Canada Inc. (“NCI”) in its sole discretion. Proof of current or previous ownership/lease/finance contract will be required. Offer is not transferrable or assignable, except to a co-owner/co-lessee of the Existing Vehicle who resides within the same household as the intended recipient of the Offer. If the eligible customer elects to lease or finance a new and previously unregistered model year 2015 and 2016 Nissan brand vehicle (excluding NV, Fleet and daily rentals) (an “Eligible New Vehicle”) through NCI and Nissan Canada Financial Services Inc. (collectively “NCF”), then he/she will receive a specified amount of stackable loyalty dollars (“Loyalty Dollars”), as follows: (i) Micra/Versa/Sentra ($500); (ii) Juke/Rogue ($600); (iii) Altima/Frontier/Xterra/Leaf/Murano/Pathfinder ($800); and (iv) Maxima/Z/Titan, Armada/GT-R ($1000). Loyalty Dollars will be applied after taxes, which means that Loyalty Dollars are inclusive of all applicable taxes. Alternatively, if the eligible customer elects to purchase or lease/finance an Eligible New Vehicle (excluding GT-R and LEAF™ ) other than through NCF, then he/she will receive a three-year/48,000 kilometer (whichever comes first) Oil Change and Tire Rotation Plan which consists of a maximum of 6 service visits, each consisting of 1 oil change (using conventional 5W30 motor oil) and 1 tire rotation. For complete details on the Oil Change and Tire Rotation Plan, ask your dealer. Offer has no cash redemption value and can be combined with other offers. Offer valid on Eligible New Vehicles purchased/leased/financed and delivered between December 1, 2015 and January 4, 2016. Conditions apply. Model(s) shown for illustration purposes only. Offer subject to change or cancellation without notice. While quantities last. Ask your dealer or visit www. nissan.ca for complete details. Nissan names, logos and slogans are trademarks owned by or licensed to Nissan Motor Co. Ltd. and/or its North American subsidiaries. ©2015 Nissan Canada Inc. Conditions apply. Model(s) shown for illustration purposes only. Offer subject to change or cancellation without notice. While quantities last. Nissan names, logos and slogans are trademarks owned by or licensed to Nissan Motor Co. Ltd. and/or its North American subsidiaries. See your participating Nissan retailer for complete details. ©2015 Nissan Canada Inc. and Nissan Canada Financial Services Inc. a division of Nissan Canada Inc.

THURSDAY, DECEMBER 31, 2015

— THE ASSOCIATED PRESS


32

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See kia.ca for more

Harris Kia 2575 Bowen Road, Nanaimo, BC (250) 751-1168

No purchase required. Open to Canadian residents age of majority, 18 years of age or older, who purchase any new 2015/2016 Kia vehicle at a Canadian Kia dealership from December 26 to 31, 2015. Certain dealerships will be closed on December 27. For a chance to win a prize of a $3,000 itravel2000 voucher each day (6 prizes in total) from December 26 to 31. Go to kia.ca for complete details (including no purchase entry). Offer(s) available on select new 2015/2016 models through participating dealers to qualified retail customers who take delivery from December 26 to 31, 2015. Dealers may sell or lease for less. Some conditions apply. See dealer for complete details. Vehicles shown may include optional accessories and upgrades available at extra cost. All offers are subject to change without notice. All pricing includes delivery and destination fees up to $1,715, $22 AMVIC, $100 A/C charge (where applicable). Excludes taxes, licensing, PPSA, registration, insurance, variable dealer administration fees, fuel-fill charges up to $100, and down payment (if applicable and unless otherwise specified). Other lease and financing options also available. ĭ0% financing for up to 84 months or up to $7,000 discount available on other select 2015 models. Discount is deducted from the negotiated purchase/lease price before taxes. Maximum $7,000 discount ($6,000 cash discount and $1,000 ECO-Credit) is offered on 2015 Optima Hybrid LX (OP74AF) only. Certain conditions apply. See your dealer for complete details. Representative Financing Example: Financing offer available on approved credit (OAC), on a new 2016 Sportage LX MT FWD (SP551G) with a selling price of $24,832 is based on monthly payments of $284 for 84 months at 0% with a $0 down payment and first monthly payment due at finance inception. Offer also includes $1,000 cash discount. Other taxes, registration, insurance and licensing fees are excluded. Cash Purchase Price for the new 2015 Optima Hybrid LX (OP74AF) is $24,752 and includes a cash discount of $7,000 including $6,000 cash discount and $1,000 ECO-Credit. Dealer may sell for less. Other taxes, registration, insurance and licensing fees are excluded. Cash discounts vary by model and trim and are deducted from the negotiated selling price before taxes. † “Don’t Pay For 90 Days” on all models (90-day payment deferral) applies to purchase financing offers on all new 2015/2016 models on approved credit. No interest will accrue during the first 60 days of the finance contract. After this period, interest starts to accrue and the purchaser will repay the principal interest monthly over the term of the contract. Offer ends January 4, 2016. &Representative Leasing Example: Lease offer available on approved credit (OAC), on 2016 Forte Sedan LX MT (FO541G)/2015 Optima LX AT (OP742F) with a selling price of $17,552/$26,452 is based on a total number of 130/78 bi-weekly payments of $69/$119 for 60/36 months at 0% with $0 security deposit, $1,300/$2,000 discount (lease credit), $600/$1,950 down payment and first monthly payment due at lease inception. Total lease obligation $8,991/$9,287 with the option to purchase at the end of the term for $6,661/$13,215. Lease has 16,000 km/yr allowance (other packages available and $0.12/km for excess kilometres). ° No charge AWD applicable on cash purchase of 2016 Sportage LX AT AWD (SP753G)/2016 Sportage EX AT AWD (SP755G)/2016 Sorento LX 2.4L AWD (SR75BG)/2016 Sorento LX + Turbo AWD (SR75DG) with an approx. value of $2,300/$2,400/$3,000 ($2,000 AWD credit and $1,000 in discounts)/$2,000 respectively. Some conditions apply. See dealer for details. ** $500/$750 Boxing Week Bonus amounts are offered on 2016 Forte (Sedan, Koup and 5-door), 2015 Soul, 2016 Soul/2015 Optima, 2016 Sportage models and are deducted from the negotiated cash purchase, finance or lease price before taxes. Offer available from December 26 to 31, 2015 only while supplies last. Certain conditions apply. ‡Model shown Manufacturer Suggested Retail Price for Optima SX AT Turbo (OP748F)/2016 Forte SX AT (FO748G)/2016 Sportage SX Luxury (SP759F) is $34,895/$26,695/$38,495. The 2015 Optima was awarded the 2015 Top Safety Pick by the Insurance Institute for Highway Safety (IIHS) for model year 2015. U.S. models tested. Visit www.iihs.org for full details. Government 5-Star Safety Ratings are part of the National Highway Traffic Safety Administration's (NHTSA's) New Car Assessment Program (www.SaferCar.gov). Information in this advertisement is believed to be accurate at the time of printing. For more information on our 5-year warranty coverage, visit kia.ca or call us at 1-877-542-2886. Kia is a trademark of Kia Motors Corporation.


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