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2015 The most memorable ‘Daily News’ stories Page 3-5 DAILY NEWS PHOTO ILLUSTRATION

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TOP STORY

First Island baby of 2016 at NRGH Donald Joe and Roseline Frank, both of Nanaimo, welcomed Ellie Joe into the world at 12:22 a.m. on New Year’s Day in Nanaimo Regional General Hospital. » News, 7

‘Degrassi’ is back for a new class ‘Degrassi: Next Class’ premieres on Family Channel on Monday, during a teen block of programming called F2N, and on Netflix in the U.S., it will debut on Jan. 15 » Entertainment, 31

Local news ............... 3-9 Editorials/letters ........ 6 B.C. news ..................... 10 Nation & World ........ 11 Sports ............................ 19 Scoreboard ................ 22 Crossword .. 23, 24 25

Comics ................. 25-26 Sudoku ......................... 26 Horoscope ................. 26 Classified ..................... 27 Obituaries ................... 27 Fashion ......................... 29

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An Air Canada passenger jet is shown landing at Halifax Stanfield International Airport in Halifax in January 2013. [THE CANADIAN PRESS]

Safety board warns fliers to always wear seatbelts

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CALGARY — Canada’s Transportation Safety Board is reminding air passengers to wear their seatbelts after 21 people on an Air Canada flight that was diverted to Calgary were injured by turbulence. The board is investigating Wednesday’s mishap that sent three children and 18 adults to hospitals with various injuries, which ranged from minor sprains to serious chest and neck trauma. Air Canada said three passengers remain in hospital in Calgary after they were injured on the flight from Shanghai to Toronto. The airline said flight AC088 continued on to Toronto last night and all but a few remaining passengers were to fly out of Calgary Thursday.

The safety board posted the seatbelt warning Thursday on Twitter and followed it up with another tweet that linked to a report about 16 passengers and crew being injured on an Air Canada flight in 2011. In that case, a Boeing 767 flying over the North Atlantic pitched up and down for 46 seconds as it dodged another aircraft. The report notes that some passengers were not buckled up despite being briefed to wear their seatbelts, and that the seatbelt sign was on at the time. Airline safety expert John Pottinger said people should always wear a seatbelt, just like they would in a car. “At any time slight little bumps can be huge,” said Pottinger. “So of course it’s important because just the slightest thing can cause damage.”

He said many passengers are lulled into a feeling of safety by an industry that doesn’t want to scare people, as well as an aircraft that isolates the senses. “You’re travelling at a speed that our mind is not absorbing,” said Pottinger. “Because in this tube it all feels so nice and calm and we even get up and walk around. But we’re still doing 450, 500 miles an hour.” Elaine Parker, an aviation expert at Beyond Risk Management, said the safety records of the airlines makes it hard to get passengers to wear their seatbelts. “It’s because we’ve made it such an incredibly safe mode of transportation that people’s awareness and their concern for their own safety is actually quite low,” said Parker. “We’re, as an industry, almost hindered by our success.”

She said some frequent flyers have also become desensitized to seatbelt instructions after turbulence warnings don’t lead to major bumps, but added passengers should still listen to the attendants. “The only time the crew is going to tell you to put your seatbelt on is when they are unsure that it will remain calm and so they are trying to protect you,” said Parker. Transport Canada issued a statement Thursday clarifying the rules around seatbelt use on planes. Turbulence injuries are a risk on airlines, however small. In the United States about 58 people are injured every year by turbulence while not wearing their seatbelts and between 1980 and 2008 at least two people died after not wearing their seatbelts in turbulence.

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Toronto-area police say a 34-year-old Alberta man is facing multiple charges following a disturbance on an Air Canada flight from Calgary to Toronto. Air Canada says the flight — AC1312 — was carrying 199 passengers from Calgary to Toronto

when a customer became disruptive. Peel Regional Police say officers met the plane at Toronto’s Pearson International Airport on Thursday morning after the flight crew reported that a man was exhibiting disruptive and belligerent behaviour towards the crew and passengers.

Ahmed Kochi Hissein-Warimi of Calgary is charged with one count each of mischief and endangering the safety of an aircraft, and six counts of breach of probation. It’s the second time in two days that trouble on board a commercial flight has led to an arrest by Peel police.

On Wednesday, a 47-year-old Alberta man was charged with assault causing bodily harm, endangering the safety of an aircraft and two counts of mischief after an Air Canada flight en route to India turned back to Toronto after a man allegedly assaulted a flight attendant.

SATURDAY, JANUARY 2, 2016

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Top 10 news stories for 2015 Federal election, medical marijuana and unhappy councillors atop the list

hat a year it was for Nanaimo. As Islanders welcome 2016 and all the promise it holds, Nanaimoites say goodbye to a year of sweeping changes and unusual events. The year produced its share of colourful news stories to entertain readers, and the one with the greatest impact was the federal election, which featured a surprising victory for the Liberals, Darrell ousting the Bellaart long-ruling ConReporting servative Party. Vancouver Island, however, remained an NDP stronghold when it was all over. Other big stories included the sudden, rapid expansion of medical cannabis as an industry; a tale of two municipal councils divided; a summer drought some thought would never end, school closures and parental anger; more Colliery dams protests; the birth of Heritage

come was also surprising, given the high expectations around Green Party candidate Paul Manly. With high hopes of capturing a second seat in Nanaimo, Green Party Leader Elizabeth May made numerous appearances in the Harbour City. However, Manly finished fourth, behind Conservative candidate Mark MacDonald, and Liberal Tim Tessier, who surprised many by finishing second to Sheila Malcolmson. Malcolmson’s victory was part of a solid NDP orange crush that left the Island lacking a single Liberal representative in the House of Commons. The NDP also ruled in the new Courtenay-Alberni riding, with Gord Johns ousting Tory incumbent John Duncan.

Sheila Malcolmson speaks to her supporters after winning the NanaimoLadysmith riding seat in October. [AARON HINKS/DAILY NEWS]

Day; deaths by fentanyl and a spate of school bomb threats.

1. Federal election The election was epic in more ways than one. Not only was it the longest election campaign since 1872, it attracted the highest voter turnout in decades, with the majority of voters resolved to make a change in government.

When the votes were counted, that’s exactly what happened – Justin Trudeau’s Liberals replaced Stephen Harper’s Conservatives with a healthy majority government. The New Democrats, who were favoured earlier in the race, gave up 59 seats. That meant less power for the Island, where the push for change resulted in a NDP sweep. In Nanaimo-Ladysmith, the out-

2. Medical marijuana The appearance of medical marijuana outlets in Nanaimo wasn’t entirely new in 2015, but the sheer number of outlets was. By fall, nearly a dozen cannabis storefronts were operating in the city, some of which reported serving 1,200 clients. Early in November, operators braced for enforcement action, after all operations were handed

cease-and-desist orders from RCMP officers. The letters included a warning of police action if the operations remained open more than seven days. Less than two weeks later, police followed up, raiding three pot dispensaries and arresting everyone, including clients. Charges were recommended against all but one employee. Clients were released without charge. Given the current political climate, in which the Liberals were elected on a promise to legalize cannabis, it isn’t known whether the Crown will follow up with charges. Since then city council asked city staff for a report with recommendations on the controversial issue of regulating dispensaries. Police have not acted against, or charged anyone involved in cannabis dispensaries in Vancouver, Victoria or Port Alberni, since each of those cities took steps to regulate them. See TOP 10, Page 4

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SATURDAY, JANUARY 2, 2016

TOP 10 NEWS STORIES

School closure issues dominated again in 2015 TOP 10, From Page 4

Honourable mentions

6. School district woes

* It was another stellar year for Nanaimo Airport. On Dec. 15 scheduled direct daily service to Edmonton started, adding one more mediumranged destination to the Harbour City. Work on a terminal expansion originally slated to begin in the next five years will go ahead next year due to higher than projected traveller numbers through the Nanaimo Airport terminal. * Nanaimo resident Sanjivan Mahara was in his homeland of Nepal in April, when a devastating earthquake hit. The quake prevented him from returning home immediately, and he was so affected by the damage and loss of life he witnessed, he launched a fundraising campaign upon his return. * Tracy Janvier, owner of Jack, a pit bull, was shocked to learn the dog had been shot. The dog was missing five days before it turned up with wounds to its neck area and lower back from a .22-calibre bullet. Janvier said the dog wander off and got lost after her grandson had let the 18-month-old pit bull out of their Chase River home. * Money for Island railway track repairs promised by the federal government never materialized in 2015. The $7.5 million was promised two federal elections ago, and the promise of its release came in July, after the province announced it would release $7 million of its own funds to support the project. The B.C. Ministry of Transportation and Infrastructure said it would release the funds for a review of the proposal from the Island Corridor Foundation, the track owner, to invest $20.4 million to repair the track and restore passenger service to the rail line. No further action was announced. *One of the biggest deals in the history of hit reality TV show Dragons’ Den died on the table, when Real Estate Webmasters president and Nanaimo entrepreneur Morgan Carey confirmed turned down the $2 million offer. He told the Daily News he intended to go through with the Dragons’ deal, but “there just wasn’t enough value there.” * Cat licensing was shelved in July. City council had expressed an interest in making cat neutering, spaying and licensing mandatory, but city staff warned the policy change would come with higher costs. With a core review in the works, the idea was put on hold. The core review happens early in 2016. * Gas prices dropped a bit, then inched up again. Drivers across Canada reacted angrily when the price of gasoline failed to track the value of crude oil, which has been below $40 a barrel in recent weeks. But experts say a low Canadian dollar accounts for some of the higher price, since most North American oil is refined in the U.S.

The battle over which schools to keep open and which ones to close continued through 2015. Early this year, the ramifications began to settle from a decision made early after a new Nanaimo-Ladysmith school district board was elected late in 2014. The new board quickly reversed the decision of the previous board to close Cedar Secondary, then convert it to an elementary school. The impact became known in November, following an acrimonious period of parental engagement. The board decided to close the aging Woodlands Secondary School and Woodbank Primary School in June. Rutherford Elementary School will close in 2017, if the Ministry of Education funds a new wing at Frank J. Ney Elementary School to take displaced Rutherford students. Students from Woodlands Secondary will go to neighbouring schools, including Nanaimo District and Wellington secondary schools, next fall. While this goes one, district projections indicate enrolment at John Barsby Secondary drop to half the school’s capacity next year. Woodland’s sports academies would go to NDSS and its students will go to North Cedar Intermediate School, which would be renamed Cedar Elementary School. Board chairman Steve Rae told the Daily News he “understands the disappointment” of parents and students, but the district is in a “difficult spot.” Rae ended the year on medical leave, after a photograph of him making a crude hand gesture appeared in social media.

7. Colliery dams Nanaimo city council made progress to address safety issues around Colliery dams, but not without strife and controversy. After years of struggle and at times acrimonious debate, the city finally awarded a contract to build an auxiliary spillway on the lower Colliery dam. Construction started in the fall. An independent investigation into the city’s handling of the Colliery dams issue will not proceed, after no one responded to a call for tenders on the contract for the investigation. The city had posted a request for proposals on its website between Oct. 28 and Nov. 19. It was controversial because some said alterations to the lower Colliery dam in Nanaimo’s Harewood neighbourhood were unnecessary and costly, but modifications were ordered by the B.C. Water comptroller to prevent disaster from flooding. Council voted unanimously to abandon an investigation. Councillors Ian Thorpe, Diane Brennan and Wendy Pratt spoke against the proposal in October, saying it would be divisive and a waste of money. Coun. Bill Yoachim, who rolled the call for an investigation into a

Nanaimo Mayor Bill McKay lights the cannon downtown during Heritage Days festivities. [DAILY NEWS]

motion to start work on the lower dam, said the report was needed to look into “flawed reports” that “contradicted each other.” But he later said it was never meant as a “witch hunt” and it was important that “healing” take place on the issue. The work isn’t over. An evaluation of the middle Colliery dam will be needed in future. Nanaimo social and protective services director Toby Seward said staff will seek direction on that from councillors in the new year.

8. Heritage Days Nanaimo’s May long weekend was finally re-branded to something less offensive, in the process retiring Empire Days to a place in history. The beginning of the end for Empire Days was in January, when city council voted 7-2 not to fund a request for $5,250 toward the annual event, which dates back to 1863. Coun. Bill Yoachim, who previously served as a Snuneymuxw First Nation councillor was clear on why he opposed the event. “For numerous years, I always pondered, ‘Why are we celebrating colonialism and conquering when we have so much to celebrate together in Nanaimo?” Yoachim said. Coun. Diane Brennan, who tabled the motion, said the term empire “isn’t just offensive to aboriginal people, it’s offensive to all people affected by empire,” adding that the name is not in line with the city’s strategic plan to build a strong relationships with the Snuneymuxw First Nation. Councillors Jim Kipp and Gord Fuller cast the only votes opposed. But without the funding, it left the future of the event in question. That changed, when Nanaimo entrepreneur Morgan Carey came through with a $50,000 donation to keep the celebrations alive. The CEO of downtown Nanaimo firm Real Estate Webmasters, put up the money in response to a request from Coun. Jerry Hong. At the same time, it was revealed the event had a new name: Nanaimo Heritage Days. Hong said the intention was to start

a sponsorship and fundraising campaign to fund a parade, fireworks and other attractions, and that Carey’s $50,000 was to make up for whatever costs organizers are unable to cover during the newly renamed event’s first year. It was also intended to set up a society to oversee future planning of the event. “We want to hold a relationship with others that (can) continue through the years,” Hong said. The Downtown Nanaimo Business Improvement Association then mounted a search for a full-time organizer to oversee the event, which was a huge success.

9. Fentanyl overdoses Few heeded the warning in January, from Vernon RCMP in January, of a powerful drug blamed in the deaths of a handful of addicts in that city. In March, it emerged fentanyl had already taken a deadly toll in Nanaimo. That’s when the public first learned the extend of a spike in deaths from the extremely potent narcotic. It was linked to 18 deaths in B.C. in 2014, with Nanaimo second only to Vancouver in the number of people killed. “Certainly we have been more affected locally than in other places on (Vancouver) Island,” said Paul Hasselback, Central Island medical health officer with Island Health. “Why we’re seeing such an increase to overdoses associated to fentanyl in Nanaimo is unknown at this time.” The drug was linked to 29 deaths in Vancouver and 15 in Surrey in 2014, with other deaths reported in Prince George, Langley and Fort St. John. A synthetic narcotic with many times the analgesic properties of heroin, it is usually prescribed in a patch to help control pain. But illicit fentanyl, often manufactured overseas, has been turning up in liquid, powder and pill form. It is sometimes used to increase the potency of such street drugs as cocaine and heroin, without users’ knowledge. Police and health authorities sounded the alarm this year, after the

BC Coroners Service noted fentanyl was involved in 25 per cent of the more than 300 illicit drug overdose deaths in 2014. In August, 10 overdose deaths in a two-month period were linked to the drug in Nanaimo, underscoring the danger to Harbour City opioid users. Police work paid off in October, when five people were arrested with an assortment of drugs, including 87 grams of fentanyl — enough for more than 900 doses. The threat remains at year-end. Police made the unusual move to warn drug users to protect themselves from the drug over Christmas, and Island Health recently started distributing drug overdose kits to families of drug users at Nanaimo Regional General Hospital. NRGH was chose first because of the higher number of deaths from the drug.

10. School bomb threats A lockdown and evacuation over a bomb threat marked the start of a new school semester at Nanaimo’s Wellington Secondary School in February. It wasn’t known at the time, but this would be the first of a number of these frightening events to mar the school year. A phoned-in bomb threat, later determined to be a prank, left authorities no choice but to take it seriously. Students who got to school on time were left with several hours to fill while waiting for classes to resume for the afternoon period. “That’s pretty creepy,” said Grade 8 student Matt Boehmlein. The next one, in early March, provided fresh evidence for Nanaimo RCMP to investigate: A message scrawled on a washroom stall at Wellington Secondary. Wellington was again targeted in May. That same month, a 15-year-old girl was identified as a suspect in a bomb threat made at Woodlands Secondary School. A second threat was made at the same school just days later, but no further incidents were reported.

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SATURDAY, JANUARY 2, 2016

OUR VIEW

Canada enters 2016 with oil glut still dragging along F or many Canadians, 2015 has been the year of oil’s fall. Other stories have affected us more powerfully in the sphere of hearts and minds. The image of a Syrian child refugee lying lifeless on a Turkish beach was the most wrenching of those. It shocked us into getting serious about providing shelter, safety and hope for some of the millions of people displaced by the Syrian civil war and the gangster-like seizure of parts of Syria and Iraq by Islamic State terrorists. But in the material aspects of our lives — in the world of interest rates, jobs, the value of money, heating a home and filling a tank, what we and our governments can spend —

nothing dominated 2015 like oil’s slide, from more than $60 US a barrel last January to barely above $35 today. Cheap oil — the result of weak growth in China, a gusher of fracked supply and OPEC efforts to take market share — has produced some benefits for Canada. Non-energy exports were boosted by lower costs and a devalued loonie. But overall, the Canadian economy has taken a hard fall from oil’s collapse. Driven by an energy-sector recession, the economy shrank in the first half of the year and looks likely to end 2015 with no growth over 12 months. For some provinces, it has been a devastating reversal.

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Amazing predictions for 2016

Newfoundland has a brutal budget deficit of $1.2 billion, and forecasts one twice as large next year — three times the size of the worst deficit Nova Scotia, with nearly twice the population, has ever had (when Sysco was wound up in 2000). Alberta (with its oil trading at about $20 US a barrel) has lost 40,000 energy jobs, watched unemployment rise from 4.4 per cent to seven per cent, and expects more layoffs in 2016 as major producers cut spending by 11 per cent on top of a 32-percent cut this year. The province has a $6.1 billion deficit and one rating agency has chopped an A from its triple-A credit rating. Some of those lost jobs were filled

by Nova Scotians on the long commute. There were big impacts for their families and this province as they returned and looked for work: disruptions in incomes, spending, tax revenues, but also more skilled workers for projects like the federal shipbuilding contract. Yet, so far the energy slump out west and in our own offshore has hurt provincial growth and government revenues, as this month’s doubling of the budget deficit to $241 million attests. The first oil alert came last January from Bank of Canada Governor Stephen Poloz, who took sensible action. Correctly diagnosing a fast, hard shock (and seeing more instability in people losing their jobs than

in borrowing too much), he applied the bank’s epi-pen, a rate cut, to assist adjustment and recovery. Unfortunately, the Harper government didn’t join in with a fiscal stimulus, one reason it was defeated by the Liberals, who did offer one. The glut continues and no one will have will have an easy time with oil in 2016. But it will help to have the Bank of Canada and the federal budget pulling in one direction.

Premier Christy Clark promises to ban the practice as per recommendations of an independent inquiry.

the team. The team folds. Council demands an investigation.

— THE CANADIAN PRESS (HALIFAX CHRONICLE HERALD)

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Opinion

admit to being reliably wrong when it comes to making predictions, which is why I tend to keep most of them private. From sports, to the next cultural hit to politics, I am usually off the mark. So this year, with tongue planted firmly in cheek, I am going to embrace my predilection for faulty predictions and go big. Here is my list of dubious, fantastical, highly unlikely predictions for Nanaimo and beyond in 2016.

Prediction No. 1: Mayor Bill McKay decides to resign to take up a career as a professional white-water rafter. A scrambling council holds a series of meetings on how to replace him. After 20 deadlocked votes, council hires a mediator to help them sort through their differences. The mediator quits after a day. Council votes to investigate the incident and meanwhile appoints a piece of toast from the city hall break room to assume mayoral duties as a compromise measure. The provincial government voices concern and threatens to suspend council’s authority. Council seeks confidential legal advice on its next steps at an open meeting. Prediction No. 2: Attempts to establish a new passenger ferry service falter. But media and industry buzz leads to a new proposal from tech entrepreneur and inventor Elon Musk,

who proposes a supersonic jet service between Nanaimo and Vancouver. The jet would shave the commute time to just four minutes, but tickets will cost $50,000 apiece. The service folds in a year. Prediction No. 3: U.S. presidential contender Donald Trump fares poorly in the early Republican primary contests and drops his bid for the Republican nomination. However, the billionaire real estate magnate notices a local media report on the vacant mayoral office in Nanaimo and decides to seek the office. He runs on the campaign slogan ‘Make Nanaimo great again,’ pledging to crowds: “We’re going to respect taxpayer dollars so much it will make your head spin. You’ll be begging us to stop respecting taxpayer dollars.” Trump wins and tries to deport the rest of council. Prediction No. 4: Another scathing report reveals that some provincial government employees have begun ‘quadruple-deleting’ emails in a further apparent bid to frustrate the public’s access to information.

Prediction No. 5: Public backlash against the Nanaimo-Ladysmith school district’s decision to close down some schools escalates. In response, the school board decides to shutter all remaining schools to avoid accusation of favouritism. Mayor Donald Trump senses an opportunity and proposes a massive real estate deal to turn the empty schools into casinos. However, Nanaimo council refuses to rezone the properties, leading Trump to resign the mayor’s office. Prediction No. 6: Marijuana dispensaries that were closed during RCMP raids re-open and expand, becoming the largest employers in the region. Prediction No. 7: Nanaimo gets its own major junior hockey franchise. Much celebration ensues until it is learned that the owner is a U.S. restaurant chain that has voiced opposition to same-sex marriage. Protests ensue, leading city council to vote to boycott

Prediction No. 8: Faced with rising administrative costs, Qualicum Beach, Parksville and Nanaimo decide to amalgamate into one large municipality, Nanarksicum. Trump decides to seek leadership of the new city, pronouncing “It’s going to be huge.” Prediction No. 9: The Loch Ness Monster in fact exists and is discovered under Westwood Lake. Prediction No. 10: Following months of turmoil, Nanarksicum implodes following a referendum to dissolve back into the three original municipalities. All returns to normal, except for a debate over what should be done about the ill-fated highway entrance sign for the ex-city. In the end, the sign is acquired for a new golf resort by . . . oh, nevermind. » Daily News reporter Spencer Anderson can be reached at 250-729-4255 or spencer.anderson@nanaimodailynews.com

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SATURDAY, JANUARY 2, 2016

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NEWS 7

HEALTH

University professor a living kidney donor SPENCER ANDERSON DAILY NEWS

“‘You’re thirsty and I’ve got two glasses of water.’ That’s it.” This is how Maureen O’Connor sums up her decision to undergo surgery this summer to donate a kidney to a man she barely knew. O’Connor, a professor of nursing at Vancouver Island University, had surgery on July 13 to allow Murray Polisky, a 41-year-old man with chronic kidney disease, to receive the life-changing organ transplant and avoid dialysis. O’Connor is one of the few dozen living donors in the province who go through the process to donate a kidney each year. The kidneys are vital organs that filter waste from the blood and turning that waste into urine. They also help control blood pressure and play a role in red blood cell production. People are naturally born with two kidneys, but healthy people can function with just one. O’Connor, a former associate dean of VIU’s Health and Human Services faculty and a married mother of three, began exploring the option last March after reading a story of a man in the U.S. need of a transplant. She couldn’t help the person in the U.S., but the thought germinated. “I had this idea in my head that this could be a significant way to alleviate suffering,” she said. The procedure involves a six to eight-week recovery for a donor, but O’Connor said there have been major advances the surgery. Her good health made her a strong candidate. “I really can’t come up with a good answer,” she replied when asked why she decided to pursue the organ donation. “The only answer I can come up with is why not.” O’Connor initially investigated becoming an anonymous donor and began reaching out to friends for their thoughts. One, a fellow nurse,

Maureen O’Connor, a professor of nursing at Vancouver Island University, donated a kidney to a man in need in the summer of 2015. She is pictured in her office at VIU. [SPENCER ANDERSON/DAILY NEWS]

told O’Connor that her friend’s husband — Polisky — was looking for a compatible donor. O’Connor got in touch with Polisky’s wife and discovered that she and Polisky had the same blood type. She decided to list Polisky as a recipient on her donor form. Next began a series of thorough medical tests to determine O’Connor’s eligibility as a donor. The 52-year-old passed with flying colours, but each test was a potential

hurdle that could have barred her from donating a kidney. By June, all lights were green for the surgery to go ahead, and O’Connor drove out to Surrey to meet Polisky in person. O’Connor recalls jokingly asking Polisky if he was worried her donated kidney would make him feel like a middle-aged woman. “He said, ‘I’m not tough enough to be a middle-aged woman,’” she said, smiling.

O’Connor said she “probably talked to (Polisky) like a patient” when they first talked over the phone. Post-surgery, “He feels like a brother to me,” she added. Both donor and recipient have recovered well. O’Connor had to check in to Nanaimo Regional Hospital for minor complications following the surgery, where she said she received the “best care ever” from hospital staff, some of whom are her former students.

She said other potential donors need to take important factors into account before taking the final step. “I would say it needs to work with your time of life,” she said. “Financially, you need to be prepared,” O’Connor added. Although the cost of the surgery is covered under MSP and some financial assistance is available, there are additional costs where health benefits can help. The other piece is the social aspect. O’Connor said it is important that donors have people they can rely on for help for everyday things after the surgery, as well as someone to talk to. “You want to have a good support system,” she said. O’Connor shuns the ‘hero’ title. “I am not a hero,” she said. “This was not hard for me.” But for Polisky, “It’s such a burden lifted.” Polisky was diagnosed with kidney disease in the mid-’90s and had recently been told he would have to go on dialysis. He still has to take medication, but the surgery had given him a new lease on life. “I feel like I’m starting over and I basically have this whole new timeline where I’m not worrying about anything to do with kidney disease for a while. “You’re just kind of overwhelmed by the generosity of it,” he said. “What can you say other than thanks.” A total of 101 kidney transplants were performed in the province in 2014, according to the provincial agency BC Transplant. Four hundred and twenty-five people are on the waiting list to receive one. Spencer.Anderson @nanaimodailynews.com 250-729-4255

NEW YEAR

Island’s first baby of 2016 born to Nanaimo couple AARON HINKS DAILY NEWS

t’s a girl. Donald Joe and Roseline Frank, both of Nanaimo, welcomed Ellie Joe into the world at 12:22 a.m. on New Year’s Day in Nanaimo Regional General Hospital. Ellie was the first baby born on Vancouver Island. The second was born in Victoria at 12:25 a.m. The first baby in British Columbia was born at 12:15 a.m. in Surrey. Frank’s due date was Jan. 4. “We weren’t expecting this, we’re really excited for her, our only thought was ‘hey, you know what? It’s Jan. 1 and the whole world is celebrating her birth,’” Joe said. “It’s definitely our best New Year’s by far. “ Ellie has three stepbrothers and one stepsister. “They’re jealous already,” Frank said. Ellie weighs eight pounds three ounces and Frank was in labour for approximately 12 hours.

“She came out pretty quiet and it seemed like she came out fast,” Frank said. Mother, father and baby spent New Year’s Day relaxing in NRGH. “She’s got a good set of lungs on her and a good grip. She’s strong and healthy and that’s the main thing,” Joe said. Ellie shares her Jan. 1 birthday with her grandfather, Raymond Frank, who was also born in Nanaimo, in 1953. “We haven’t heard anything about the other families yet but we do congratulate them on their babies,” Joe said. Aaron.Hinks @nanaimodailynews.com 250-729-4242 » We want to hear from you. Send comments on this story to yourletters@nanaimodailynews.com. Letters must include daytime phone number and hometown.

Donald Joe, Roseline Frank and their daughter, Ellie. Ellie was born on Jan. 1 at 12:22 a.m. at Nanaimo Regional General Hospital. [AARON HINKS/DAILY NEWS]

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8 NEWS

NEWS IN BRIEF Compiled by Daily News ◆ NANAIMO

Woman dies after being struck down by vehicle A 58-year-old Nanaimo woman is dead after being struck by a car on Thursday afternoon. Nanaimo RCMP responded to an incident at approximately 1:50 p.m., of a collision involving a pedestrian and a car at the intersection of Estevan Road and Larch Street. Police say the woman was crossing Estevan Road at the intersection, using a marked pedestrian crosswalk, when she was struck by a car travelling south in the slow lane. The 67-year-old Nanaimo man driving the car was not injured. The woman was taken to Nanaimo Regional General Hospital in critical condition and later died as a result of her injuries. The driver remained at the scene. Nanaimo RCMP Traffic Services, a collision reconstructionist, as well as the BC Coroners Service are investigating. Police are asking any witnesses to contact Const. Ben Lanthier at the Nanaimo RCMP detachment at 250-754-2345.

◆ NANAIMO

Thief pushes woman down, snatches purse A Nanaimo woman was pushed to the ground after a man snatched her purse Wednesday night. The 59-year-old woman was walking on Fitzwilliam St., between Selby and Wesley Streets, when a man wearing a black brimmed baseball cap grabbed her purse and her grocery bag then fled. The woman was pushed to the ground and her glasses were broken. “As this is a fairly high traffic location, we are hoping witnesses will come forward that may have seen the event, or are able to add to the sequence of events,” Nanaimo RCMP Cpl. Jon Stuard said in a release. Witnesses or anyone with information is asked to contact the Nanaimo RCMP at 250-754-2345.

◆ NANAIMO

Alert neighbour helps to bust burglary ring A sharp-eyed neighbour in Nanaimo has helped shatter a burglary ring that police believe has been operating in that Vancouver Island city for a month. An early morning call from the neighbour on Dec. 29 alerted RCMP that two people were loading furniture into a van outside a home, but by the time officers arrived, the van was gone. Investigators confirmed tools, paintings and other items were missing from the home, and a search of the area located the van with three people inside, along with most of the stolen property. The trio was arrested and searches at a local hotel room and another Nanaimo home turned up items worth thousands of dollars. Cpl. Jon Stuart says the goods are linked to the original break in, as well as several other heists reported around Nanaimo during December.

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SATURDAY, JANUARY 2, 2016

COWICHAN

Cowichan Tribes honoured the ‘Great Chief’ Harry Truman in 1945 TOM PATERSON COWICHAN VALLEY CITIZEN

id you know that our iconic Cowichan sweater made international acclaim 70 years ago? That was the occasion of a presentation of an “Indian” sweater, the work of Mrs. Patrick Charlie (sic), to U.S. President Harry S. Truman in December 1945. It’s quite a story, one that was described as the uniting gesture of friendship of “an ancient society and a modern civilization” when Chief Fred Thorne conferred upon Truman the title, “Thaightethe Sleye” — Chief of Peace — and an honorary tribal membership, the first time such an honour was bestowed. To put this in context, the Second World War had ended just four months before, with Japan’s surrender, a surrender hastened by the atomic bombs dropped on Hiroshima and Nagasaki — atomic bombs authorized by Truman who’d succeeded the late Franklin D. Roosevelt in the White House. Hence, if you will, Truman’s being recognized as a “peacemaker”. About 1,000 citizens attended the colourful ceremony, which opened in the Cowichan Agricultural Hall with the playing of the American national anthem. U.S. Consul Troy L. Perkins accepted the sweater and honour on Truman’s behalf. “We ask the president to accept this Cowichan sweater so that when he comes back to the west coast he may wear his own. May we ask you to tell him that Cowichan is the paradise of hunters and anglers,” said Thorne who was dressed for the occasion in a single feather and “a striking costume hung with coloured wooden ornaments”. “The privilege of this visit will remain always amongst the Cowichan Indians’ traditions, as a mark of sincere kindness towards us on the part of the president. “Therefore, our admiration, our respect, and our love for the Great Chief stands as strong and as high as the tallest fir on the banks of our

The Cowichan sweater has a long, prestigious history. This sweater was made by Mrs. Patrick Charlie at Koksilah in 1956. [COWICHAN VALLEY CITIZEN FILE PHOTO]

river. Please convey to Chief Thaightethe Sleye our very best wishes. Tell him that the white people and the Indians of Cowichan hope and pray that through his untiring efforts, the calumet of war may be buried forever.” With pioneer W.M. Dwyer serving as interpreter in Chinook, Consul Perkins replied, “It is with the deepest appreciation that I accept this honour, and the gift of this beautiful sweater, on behalf of President Truman. I will report to him on the colourful ceremonies I have seen this

afternoon, and the effort which has been shown by this community in arranging it, which has been most gratifying to see. “It is probable that the president, who travels a great deal and is very interested in meeting people, will visit this coast again. In that case, it is quite possible that he will come to Duncan to express his pleasure in person. A great deal more of this will be heard in the United States. It is a great gesture.” Mayor G.H. Savage welcomed Perkins to Duncan and extended an

invitation to Truman to visit the city when on the west coast: “Our best wishes are with him in his efforts to maintain the peace for all mankind, and the bond between our two countries must become even more closely knit. I hope the ceremony today will remain as a happy memory for the visitors, residents and guests.” Rounding out the historic occasion were songs and dances by the Cowichans which hadn’t been performed before the general public for many years. Lead singer Johnny George was said to be one of the very few who remembered the words of what was said to be “a haunting refrain”. The highlights were the Thunder Dance which describes the adventures of a whale hunt as portrayed with simulated harpoons, and the Owl Dance, borrowed from the Yakima tribe in Washington and performed by six local girls. The large audience packing the hall were said to have been thrilled by it all, particularly by the demonstrations of sweater-making. It took four days to prepare the wool and five days to knit a sweater, it was explained to them, and 13 knitters were introduced to the audience. The ceremony concluded with F.G. Aldersley, president of the Duncan Chamber of Commerce, explaining that the idea of presenting a Cowichan sweater to Truman originated at a C-of-C meeting after the American president was shown in the news while fishing on the west coast and wearing a Cowichan sweater loaned to him by Washington State Gov. M.C. Walgren: “Some of the members thought it would be very nice if he could bring along his own Cowichan sweater the next time he came to the coast,” Aldersley said. Chief Thorne and tribal councillors were equally enthused and Mrs. Charlie was commissioned to knit a special sweater, size 42, with an eagle design on the back and two peacocks on the zippered front. www.twpaterson.com

CAMPBELL RIVER

Process of reconciliation begins a ‘new era’ LINDSAY CHUNG CAMPBELL RIVER MIRROR

When the Truth and Reconciliation Commission released its final 3,231-page report Dec. 15 in Ottawa, We Wai Kai Elder James Quatell welcomed the announcement — not as the end of a six-year process, but as the beginning of a new era of action. Quatell has the “truth” part of the Truth and Reconciliation down — he knows his truth, and he shares it with people who ask. He is a product of the residential school system, having been taken away from his family in Campbell River when he was 10.

He spent four years at St. Michael’s Indian Residential School in Alert Bay and returned at the age of 14, feeling like a stranger in his community and feeling ashamed of his First Nations culture. Now Quatell is eager to work on the “reconciliation” aspect and he feels that this can be done by continuing to share his story and his truth. Quatell left St. Michael’s in 1962, but it took him until 1994 to start sharing his story. He remembers that this came as a result of his community. The We Wai Kai nation built its own canoe here and paddled to Bella

Bella. After leaving Campbell River, their first stop heading north was Alert Bay, and although Quatell had been there many times since 1962, this was the first time he visited the community in the band’s traditional canoe. As they pulled in, they were invited onto the beach, and Quatell remembers this as one of his proudest moments. That pride quickly faded when he saw the St. Michael’s building right behind the beach where the ceremony took place. This moment ended up being the beginning of Quatell dealing with his past.

“I was sitting in our canoe, there was like a surge that started from the bottom of my feet and worked all the way up my body, I could feel it, and it pushed my spirit up to that building again,” he said. “My inner voice was pointing at that building: ‘I’m going to deal with you; you’re not going to have that power over me no more.’” The next day, when they continued their journey, Quatell remembers sitting in the galley of a big seiner and one of the men asked him what he was thinking about. See QUATELL, Page 9

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SATURDAY, JANUARY 2, 2016

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NEWS 9

CAMPBELL RIVER

Quatell creates chances to let his voice be heard QUATELL, From Page 8 Quatell said he was thinking about where he would be if he was at home, which would be at a meeting. When the man asked Quatell what he did at the meetings, he said they sit around a table and talk. “He said ‘well, what’s wrong with here?’ so we had a meeting on our boat and talked,” recalled Quatell. “That was the first time I ever told my story and started talking about the residential school. And sitting across from me in the galley was this other person, and as I continued to talk about my story, I could see

tears rolling down his cheeks. After I finished telling my story, he said ‘you just told my story.’ And I thought ‘wow.’ If you can add that to any kind of reconciliation, that would be it, to have somebody else see and feel the way you felt and know that you helped him move from where he was.” The telling of — and listening to — stories is key for Quatell, who gets invited to a lot of treatment centres as an Elder these days and spends a lot of time talking to people there and listening to their stories. The TRC, an element of the Indian Residential Schools Settlement

Agreement, offered individuals directly or indirectly affected by the legacy of the residential school system a chance to share their stories. This past June, the commission released an executive summary in Ottawa that presented 94 calls to action to try to repair the legacy of residential schools and advance the process of reconciliation. Quatell, who was in Ottawa for the June event, doesn’t want the voice of residential school survivors to be spoken once but be silent now that the TRC final report has been released. “That’s why I say today ‘it’s not over; it’s only begun,’” he said.

“Now it’s up to us to really work diligently towards reconciliation. What is reconciliation? If you don’t know what it’s about and you think you have no part in it, that’s why I say listen to people who are telling their stories.” He says many people make comments like “well, it was a long time ago,” “when are you guys going to get over it?” or “what more do you want?” and his reconciliation is dealing with his past but also with how statements and questions like this affect him. To take action on reconciliation, Quatell is creating opportunities

to let his voice and his thoughts be heard. Although he now feels that getting a chance to share his story helped him feel free, he remembers being angry at the commission for coming to his community and for wanting him to be involved. “It was kind of like them saying directly to me ‘it’s time for you to reconcile’ and I would say ‘why should I reconcile something I had no part in?’” he said. “I had to really look at it wholeheartedly and think ‘it did happen, I didn’t want to be part of it; it was a part of when the government implemented that structure to happen to us.’”

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RICHMOND

Second violent dog attack in B.C. Woman bitten more than 100 times and critically injured while trying to protect her young nephew THE CANADIAN PRESS

VANCOUVER — A woman bitten more than 100 times while protecting her three-year-old nephew from a vicious dog is in critical condition following the second such canine attack to take place in British Columbia within a week. Officers in Richmond responded Wednesday afternoon to multiple reports of a 21-year-old woman covered in blood, fending off a large Rottweiler cross on an outdoor field. Police had previously identified the animal as a Rottweiler-pit bull cross.

NEWS IN BRIEF The Canadian Press ◆ GRAND FORKS

Police recover body of man who fell through ice Police have recovered the body of a man who fell through the ice on a river in southeastern British Columbia. RCMP responded to reports Wednesday afternoon of a man partly submerged in the Kettle River, just east of Grand Forks. Officers spotted the man with binoculars but couldn’t reach him before he lost his grip on the ice and was swept under. Mounties say search-and-rescue personnel spotted the body after breaking away the ice where the man was last seen. An RCMP diver entered the water and recovered the body from a depth of 5.6 metres by midday Thursday. Mounties say the BC Coroners Service is now in charge of the investigation and officials are notifying the man’s family.

◆ PENTICTON

Charges laid following B.C. highway crash Charges have been laid against a 47-year-old California man arising out of an accident on a British Columbia highway that injured several passengers. The Mounties say four of nine passengers were ejected from the black Ford SUV around noon on Monday when it spun and entered a ditch on Highway 97C east of Merritt. RCMP say an 11-year-old girl was later flown to a Vancouver-area hospital but is in stable condition, and the driver and his 14-year-old son were taken to a medical facility in Kamloops. Six other occupants were taken to Merritt, and three of them were transferred to Kelowna for care. Police say the man is charged with driving without due care and attention, allowing passengers under 16 to be seated without seatbelts, and carrying too many passengers.

“Our officers commented that it was a horrifying sight to bear witness to,” said RCMP spokesman Const. Dennis Hwang in a statement. “We see and love dogs as faithful companions and now they were witnessing a scene from their worst nightmare.” The toddler was unharmed but the boy’s mother and a passerby were injured while trying to help out. Both were taken to hospital with laceration injuries but have been released. “Their drive to protect the boy was incredibly heroic,” said Hwang.

The boy’s aunt is undergoing surgery after suffering dozens of bites, a broken arm and a detached bicep. Mounties said the dog belongs to her boyfriend. The canine ran off after being shot at by police but was eventually captured and is being held, uninjured, at a Richmond animal shelter. Whether the dog will be destroyed is a decision for the shelter and the City of Richmond, said Hwang. The attack followed a separate Christmas Day mauling in northern B.C. Two dogs tore into a couple’s home

in Fort St. John while chasing a cat and turned on Robin Elgie, 66, and his girlfriend, Wendy Lee Baker, 51. A frantic 911 call drew officers to the home where they found Baker suffering from severe bite wounds and Elgie unresponsive in a chair while the dogs mangled his arms. “(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.”

Officers shot and killed one dog but the other escaped with serious injuries before it was tracked and “humanely put down,” Tyreman added. Elgie is in intensive care at an Edmonton hospital and may lose his left arm as a result of his injuries, but family friend Kim Babcock said he remains in good spirits. “He’s not angry. He just says: ’We’re so lucky, we’re so lucky. If (Wendy) Lee had been by herself, they could have killed her,”’ said Babcock, who owns the Fort St. John contracting company where Elgie is employed.

SURREY

Saskatchewan family looking for fresh start has all possessions stolen ALEX BROWNE PEACE ARCH NEWS

A father and daughter moving from Saskatoon to Victoria to start a new life on the West Coast are reeling from a serious setback. A U-Haul truck and trailer containing virtually all their possessions was stolen sometime Tuesday night off the street near where they were staying near 34 Avenue and Rosemary Heights Drive in South Surrey. Michael Suiker said he parked the 34-foot U-Haul truck and 18-foot trailer “about half a block away in front of a strip mall” at about 12:15 a.m. after completing a long leg of the journey from Calgary. The vehicles were gone the next morning, when he and his daughter, Meghan, were going to head for the ferry to Swartz Bay, Suiker said.

This truck and trailer, with a Saskatchewan family’s possessions, was stolen from South Surrey Tuesday night.

Gone with them were furniture, mementos and items belonging to him and Meghan, who is due to graduate Grade 12 in the spring. “It’s her whole life and my whole life, too,” he said, adding that among the missing items are his green ATV.

The retired Saskatoon transit worker, long divorced from Meghan’s mother, said he and his daughter had planned to set up house in Victoria, but everything is on hold while they wait to see if there is news of the stolen vehicles.

Plans are for Meghan to return to Saskatoon to finish Grade 12 and then move permanently to Victoria once she has graduated, he said. “I grew up on the North Shore and I have friends and family in the Lower Mainland and on the Island,” he said. “Meghan has spent her whole life in Saskatoon.” An RCMP spokesman said police are searching for the vehicles but have been hampered by the fact that they were parked out of range of the strip mall’s security cameras when taken. The U-Haul truck has an Arizona licence plate, AD56641, and the trailer’s plate number is 975-ITN. Anyone with information on the vehicles’ whereabouts is asked to call Surrey RCMP at 604-599-0502.

B.C.

Olivia tops list of most popular baby names JEFF NAGEL BC LOCAL NEWS

Olivia is the most popular name for baby girls born in B.C. for the third straight year. The province issued its annual list of top baby names chosen in 2014. Ethan was the top name for boys, edging out Liam, the previous year’s top choice. It’s been a long run of popularity for Ethan, which has been number one or two every year since 2002. Emma, Sophia, Emily and Chloe rounded out the top five names for girls in 2014, while the other top

boys’ names were Liam, Lucas, Oliver and Mason. “Not surprisingly Terry was not the most popular boys’ name in British Columbia in 2014,” Health Minister Terry Lake said. Final statistics for 2015’s names won’t be available until later in 2016, but so far Olivia appears to be extending her streak, while Oliver was edging ahead of Liam and Ethan for top choice on the boys’ side as of Dec. 1. The Vital Statistics Agency reported 44,500 babies born in B.C. in 2014 — 22,957 boys and 21,543 girls.

There were 22,957 boys and 21,543 girls born in B.C. in 2014. [WIKIMEDIA COMMONS PHOTO]

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SATURDAY, JANUARY 2, 2016

NEWS IN BRIEF The Canadian Press

@NanaimoDaily

TERRORISM

POLITICS

Wildrose in Alberta still want to unite with PCs

◆ FORT QU’APPELLE, SASK.

Girl drops into net after dangling off ski chair lift A mishap on a chair lift at a Saskatchewan ski hill left a seven-yearold dangling from the restraining bar by her helmet. Don Williams of Mission Ridge Winter Park in Fort Qu’Appelle says it happened on Thursday afternoon when the little girl slipped between the restraining bar and the front edge of her seat. He says she “didn’t load quite right” and ended up hanging by her helmet about six metres in the air. Ladders wouldn’t reach her so Williams says staff had to catch her in a net. Williams says the girl was taken to hospital and was released a short time after. He says crews at the park train for such situations.

◆ OLD CROW, YUKON

First Nation chief charged with sex assault Mounties say a First Nation chief in Yukon has been charged with sexual assault. RCMP say charges were sworn against Roger Kyikavichik in Yukon territorial court on Wednesday and he was released on strict conditions. Kyikavichik is the chief of the Vuntut Gwitchin First Nation, located in Old Crow, about 800 kilometres north of Whitehorse. Mounties say police received a complaint in August about an alleged sexual assault in the fall of 2014. Kyikavichik is set to next appear in territorial court in Old Crow on Feb. 2. He was elected chief in 2014.

◆ MONTREAL

New Year’s Eve house fire claims two lives Two people are dead following a New Year’s Eve house fire in east-end Montreal. Neighbours who spotted flames called 911 at about 9 p.m. Police spokesman Jean-Pierre Brabant says an elderly man and woman were found in the home. Both were pronounced dead at the scene. Brabant says the fire is under investigation, but it appears to have been accidental. No names have been released.

◆ MONTREAL

Bulk carrier is the first ship to reach city in 2016 A bulk carrier called the Vigorous is the first ocean-going vessel to reach the Port of Montreal without a stopover in 2016. The Vigorous left from Sohar, Oman, on Nov. 30 and crossed the Montreal port’s downstream limits at 5:21 Friday morning. The ship’s captain will receive the gold-headed cane award, which has been presented since 1840 to the captain of the first vessel to arrive each year.

NATION&WORLD 11

DEAN BENNETT THE CANADIAN PRESS

German special police in front of the Munich, southern Germany, main train station Thursday after police warned of ‘imminent threat’ of terror attack and ordered two train stations to be cleared. [AP PHOTO]

Munich threat still in place, but train stations reopened KIRSTEN GRIESHABER THE ASSOCIATED PRESS

BERLIN — A terror warning in Munich on New Year’s Eve that led to the evacuation of two train stations was not a false alert, security officials said Friday. The evacuation of Munich’s main train station and the Pasing neighbourhood station shortly before midnight reportedly followed a warning from a “friendly” foreign intelligence service that five to seven Islamic State militants from Syria and Iraq were planning co-ordinated attacks on different locations in Munich including the two train stations. Although it wasn’t even yet clear if any would-be attackers actually existed, Munich police president Hubertus Andrae told reporters that the terror warning and consequent evacuation of the train stations had not been “a false alert.” Bavarian Interior Minister Joachim Herrmann told reporters that as of Friday morning the train stations were open again and “we no longer have concrete indications for a terror threat today or tomorrow at a specific location.”

“The situation in Europe and Germany continues to be serious in the new year.” Thomas de Maiziere, German Interior Minister

However, Herrmann warned that the overall threat across Europe remained high after the attacks in Paris in November that killed 130 people. Later in November, a warning of a possible imminent attack in Belgium plunged Brussels into a lockdown for a time. Ten people suspected of involvement in the Paris attacks have been arrested in Belgium. Shortly before Munich rang in the new year, police evacuated the main train station and the Pasing station. Partygoers were asked to avoid crowds. Despite those warnings, thousands of people were on the streets of Munich at midnight to welcome the new year with fireworks.

Authorities were investigating intensively on Friday, Herrmann said, but so far had not found any solid evidence for a planned attack. He said they had received personal data for some of the alleged attackers and were in the process of investigating and verifying the information. Herrmann called on residents to be cautious, but also not to let threats interfere with their normal lives. More than 500 police and special unit officers from all over the southern Bavaria region were called to Munich Thursday night to help evacuate and secure the stations. By Friday noon, some 100 extra officers were still present in the city. German Interior Minister Thomas de Maiziere commended all the authorities involved for their “thoughtful, considerate and decisive” action in Munich. “The situation in Europe and Germany continues to be serious in the new year,” de Maiziere said in a written statement. “Indeed we did get indications (for a planned attack) yesterday, which were evaluated by the Bavarian intelligence authorities and federal police.”

S. Korea gives OK to Canadian beef exports THE CANADIAN PRESS

CALGARY — South Korea has reopened its borders to Canadian beef after imposing a temporary ban over concerns about mad cow disease. Agriculture Minister Lawrence MacAulay and Trade Minister Chrystia Freeland made the announcement Thursday. The country imposed the ban in February after a beef cow was discovered near Edmonton with bovine spongiform encephalopathy.

Soon after Peru, Belarus and Taiwan also imposed temporary restrictions on beef imports, but Agriculture Canada says Peru has since lifted its ban. The Canadian Food Inspection Agency said in November that contaminated feed was the most likely cause of the case of mad cow disease. It said no part of the Black Angus cow entered human food or animal feed systems. A case of BSE in 2003 at an Alberta farm devastated Canada’s beef industry as 40 countries closed their

borders to Canadian cattle and beef products, although most of those markets have since reopened. The lifting of the ban is good news for beef producers, said Dave Solverson, president of the Canadian Cattlemen’s Association. “South Korea holds huge potential for beef and especially cuts and offals that are underutilized here at home,” Solverson said Thursday. “Korea is a market that will pay more for those select items and that helps to increase the overall value of the animal for producers.”

EDMONTON — Alberta Wildrose Leader Brian Jean says he’ll renew efforts in 2016 to hook up with the very Progressive Conservatives who tied a cement block to his party and tossed it off a bridge. It’s a job Jean says he is surprised to be leading. “I don’t believe I was elected to unite the PCs and the Wildrose. I believe I was there to fight (them),” Jean told The Canadian Press in a year-end interview. But the majority of Wildrosers are alarmed by the direction the NDP is taking Alberta’s fragile economy with soaring debt and new taxes, so the rank-and-file have given him new marching orders, he said. “Over the last seven, eight months I’ve . . . travelled the province on a continuous basis and I get a lot of emails and a lot of phone calls.” “It’s clear to me that 80 per cent of the people in my membership believe that we should be open-minded to all conservative-principled people whether it be under one banner that’s Wildrose or one banner that’s something else.” A Wildrose-Tory union would not be a merger as much as a reunification. The Wildrose began as a fledgling movement of disaffected PCs when Ed Stelmach was premier. The dissidents could no longer countenance what they considered to be reckless government spending, a disregard for property rights and top-down decision-making. New premier Jim Prentice took over in September 2014, a former federal Conservative cabinet minister with leadership, oil and business credentials. That December, he enticed leader Danielle Smith and eight other legislature members to cross the floor. Albertans who had voted for a party to oppose the PCs woke up to a wedding-style front-page photo of a smiling Prentice and Smith. It proved to be a grave political miscalculation. In Alberta’s conservative world fortunes are now reversed. Wildrose coffers are strong, while the PCs have eight legislature members and are looking to pay off debt. But PC party president Terri Beaupre has made it clear the Tories aren’t ready to throw in the towel. “We are not hearing a call to merge with any political party from our members,” Beaupre said in an open letter to party faithful on Dec. 10. “We cannot take a shortcut back to the government benches.” Jean said his overtures will continue.

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SATURDAY, JANUARY 2, 2016

SYRIA CRISIS

Liberals do new math for refugees The work will continue in 2016 for the government, as well as for the Syrians who have come to Canada STEPHANIE LEVITZ THE CANADIAN PRESS

hen the Conservative government promised, in January 2015, to resettle 10,000 Syrian refugees over three years, Liberal MP John McCallum didn’t buy it. The Conservatives were under pressure to address the ongoing refugee crisis created by the Syrian civil war — millions of people were on the move and refugee settlements were bursting at the seams. But pleas had fallen on deaf ears inside then-prime minister’s Stephen Harper’s office, including pitches from cabinet ministers about how the government could and should do more than the 1,300 people it already committed to bringing over. Harper would only agree with a condition — the focus had to be on persecuted religious minorities from the country. Given it was that or nothing, cabinet signed off, and on Jan. 7, a plan was announced — 10,000 people would be brought to Canada by 2018, most by private sponsors. Then serving as immigration critic for his party, McCallum chided the government for relying on private sponsors, saying they needed to lift more of the load themselves. He was skeptical — given the Conservatives’ track record — that they’d meet the deadline. “We could be waiting forever before 10,000 Syrian refugees arrive in Canada,” he told one news outlet.

Tima Kurdi, third left, stands with her brother Mohammad Kurdi, back right, and his family, who escaped the war in Syria, upon arrival at Vancouver International Airport on Monday. From left to right are Shergo Kurdi, 14, Haveen Kurdi, 16, Sherwan Kurdi, five-months, being held by Tima, Rezan Kurdi, 8, their mom Ghousun Kurdi and Ranim Kurdi, front right, 10. [THE CANADIAN PRESS]

ation for Migration and settlement agencies in Canada all told the Liberals moving that many people by the end of the year just wasn’t feasible. Among the problems — finding them. As of mid-October, there were only about 8,400 cases in the immigration department’s inventory, 6,540 of then privately-sponsored, 1,761 government-assisted and the remainder from a blended program.

t isn’t going to be forever. Before the Liberals were sworn in on Nov. 4, about 1,263 Syrians had arrived in Canada under the Conservatives’ commitment to 10,000. Since Nov. 4, a further 6,064 have arrived under a Liberal campaign commitment — a promise they partially expect to meet in the first two weeks of 2016 with the arrivals of nearly 4,000 more for a full 10,000. But like the Conservatives before them, the Liberals are relying on private sponsors to hit that target. Many of the refugees who arrived in 2015 were cases opened under the Conservatives, and some were already being fast-tracked — the Conservatives sped up their timelines when they began getting blow back during the election. A photograph of Alan Kurdi dead on a Turkish beach was the catalyst — the Syrian child and his family were trying to reach Europe. It emerged their family in B.C. had been trying to get some of them to Canada, but the paperwork was rejected. The sudden attention to the issue saw the Liberals attach a timeline to their own Syrian refugee promise — they’d resettle 25,000 Syrians themselves by the end of the year and work with private sponsors to do more.

T Immigration Minister John McCallum after briefing journalists at the Welcome Centre in Toronto’s Pearson Airport on Thursday. [THE CANADIAN PRESS]

The number dated back months, part of the Liberal proposal advanced in March for how Canada could contribute to the war against ISIL. When asked in an interview with The Canadian Press how the Liberals arrived at the number, McCallum — now the immigration minister — said it was a similar level to previous large-scale refugee commitments. “I don’t think there’s anything scientific in it,” he said. “I think, relative to our contributions in the past, relative to what we thought would be a good solid contribution, affordable, we thought that was about the right number.” When asked during the election how’d they achieve such an ambitious target, the answer was succinct — political will. As soon as they were elected, the Liberals faced questions as to whether the promise, and its deadline, were still in effect. It was, everyone from McCallum to

Prime Minister Justin Trudeau himself kept saying. Until it wasn’t.

n the immediate aftermath of terrorist attacks in Paris in November, initially but erroneously linked to men believed to have arrived as refugees, Trudeau said nothing was going to change for Canada’s program. A week later, he said otherwise: pressure from the public to slow down the process had forced a change. “We realized that the most important thing is to be able to reassure Canadians that absolutely everything is being done to keep Canadians safe, and therefore ensure that these refugees are welcomed as new Canadians and not a cause for anxiety or division within the population,” Trudeau told reporters. But it wasn’t just those attacks. Even before, officials from the United Nations, the International Organiz-

o meet their promise then, the Liberals need to find over 23,000 people able to come to Canada in a matter of weeks. So, the first iteration of the plan saw the promise broken down — rather than 25,000 government-assisted Syrian refugees to arrive by Dec. 31, it would be 10,000 privately-sponsored refugees, and a further 15,000 government-assisted ones by the end of February. Then, by the end of 2016, the full promise of 25,000 government-assisted refugees would be met. Refugee assistance agencies — which had raised concerns about even meeting the previous Conservative commitments — breathed a little easier. Given they are responsible for the needs and requirements of all government-assisted refugees, some extra time to prepare was exceptionally welcome. They also needed money. The Liberal platform said the program would cost $250 million but didn’t explain how they’d arrived at that number. The budget the Liberal government later released estimates the cost at as much as $678 million over six years, with $377 million earmarked for resettlement. But that’s not the full cost.

Earlier in December, McCallum launched an appeal to the corporate community to find a further $50 million for housing. When asked whether the appeal was made in part to save the government money, McCallum paused. “You could say it is, but I think the corporate sector should be there. It’s not primarily to save us money, it’s to fill a gap,” he said, explaining that housing isn’t something the federal government normally funds but that refugees need. Also, McCallum said, getting both private business and citizens involved in the project is important. “We think there is an appropriate role for other Canadians, big companies, small companies, individuals with thick wallets and big hearts to come forward and in large measure they are,” he said.

“I

t’s a sign that it’s implicating all Canadians, it’s not just government putting up the money.” While bureaucrats worked around the clock on the program, the endof-year target was missed. A host of factors were cited: weather, diplomatic issues, airport capacity, Syrians not being willing to leave as quickly as the government would like, medical screenings and so on. The work will continue in 2016 for government, but for also Syrians who have come to Canada and the families that are welcoming them as they adjust to a new life here. They include Alan Kurdi’s uncle and his family, who arrived in Canada earlier this week, sponsored by Tima Kurdi, Alan’s aunt. “This is not the end. This is just the end of 2015,” she told reporters. “This is just the beginning.

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JUSTICE

Calgary woman kills self, adult daughter with Down syndrome THE CANADIAN PRESS

A Calgary woman who gave a fatal dose of drugs to her 19-year-old daughter with Down syndrome can’t be charged with a crime because she has since died. Police say Jessica Hagan was killed when she was given an intentional overdose by an older woman in the family’s home in September. They say that woman was also found in medical distress and taken to hospital. Christine Hagan, who was 51, died on Nov. 21 of pancreatic cancer. Daniel Hagan wrote on his Tumblr social media account a week later about the deaths. He says his mother felt that she was the only one who could take care of his sister. “So she took her life and attempted to take her own,” he wrote on Nov. 30.

“You just have a normal family and then this series of tragic events takes place and it’s just surreal.” Brian Van Vliet, brother

“She then spent her final days in a hospital bed with security outside her room until she became too weak and suffered from what I would assume is complete organ failure due to not eating or drinking the entire time.” The body builder and personal trainer said he wanted to publicly write about what happened so he could move on with his life. “Losing my sister, my biggest fan, supporter, and greatest inspiration is a loss I know I will never truly recover from,” he wrote.

He did not respond to a request for comment. Brian van Vliet said his sister, Christine Hagan, was diagnosed in May with Stage 4 cancer and was extremely sick. “She was a wonderful person, very happy, family-oriented, very lively.” He wouldn’t say why he believes she killed her daughter. He said Christine Hagan had a husband at home and their son had also lived with them up until a few months before the killing. “You just have a normal family and then this series of tragic events takes place and it’s just surreal,” said van Vliet. He said Jessica was home-schooled and described her as a loving child. “Jessica was sunshine. She always brightened up the room,” he said. “Everybody around her was always inspired by her.”

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Ex-prosecutor to look at Oland investigation death of his father, whose body was found in his Saint John office in July 2011. The way Saint John police conducted their investigation was a central issue during the second-degree murder trial, which began in September. Justice John Walsh reminded jurors during his charge there was evidence that police failed to prevent too many people from entering Richard Oland’s office after his body was found and officers allowed a second-floor washroom to be used before it could be forensically tested.

THE CANADIAN PRESS

FREDERICTON — A former Crown prosecutor has been tasked with examining the Saint John Police Force’s handling of the Richard Oland murder investigation. Kathleen Lordon has been appointed by the New Brunswick Police Commission to lead the review, which was launched in December at the request of the Saint John Board of Police Commissioners. The review was announced days after a jury found Dennis Oland guilty in the

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Canadians across the country are participating in a frosty New Year’s Day tradition — the polar bear dip. Ten people braved freezing temperatures to leap off a snow-covered wharf into the frigid Atlantic in Portugal Cove, N.L. Organizers estimate 250 swimmers — one wearing a lab coat and riding a boogie board — entered the water during a polar bear dip at Britannia Beach in Ottawa, as cross-country skiers made their way through a nearby park. Snow flurries didn’t deter several hundred people from turning out at a Toronto beach to run en masse into Lake Ontario. The oldest Polar Bear Club in the country was founded in 1920 in Vancouver, and since then the tradition has spread.

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SECOND SUNDAY AFTER CHRISTMAS 8:00 am 10:30 am

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Weekdays 8:30 am Wednesday 11:00 am

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Calvary Fellowship Welcomes You to Come Visit Us! Sunday Morning 10:30 am at: 1951 Estevan Road (École Oceane School) (Children’s Church held at the same time)

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Rev. Sally Bullas Sunday, Jan. 3RD – Service 10:30 am

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Minister: Rev. Debbie Marshall 10:30 AM: Worship Service, Sunday School Sermon: “Seeking Christ in Unlikely Places” EPIPHANY SUNDAY NORTH

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POLITICS

Mining magnate admits donations to Tories that exceeded legal limit STEPHANIE LEVITZ THE CANADIAN PRESS

OTTAWA — Mining magnate and philanthropist Peter Munk has admitted he donated more than the legal limit to the Conservative party three different times. Munk, the founder of mining giant Barrick Gold Corp., signed a compliance agreement with Elections Canada earlier this month, acknowledging that in 2008, 2010 and 2012 his donations exceeded the maximum allowable contributions in those years. In total, he donated $2,950 more than the law allowed to riding associations in Ontario and Quebec represented by Conservative cabinet ministers as well as to a Conservative candidate’s campaign in Toronto.

MUNK

While breaking election donation limits could lead to criminal charges, Munk will not be charged because he voluntarily signed the compliance agreement. “The over-contributions were unintentional and Mr. Munk has

acknowledged the oversight,” said Andy Lloyd, a spokesperson for Munk, in an email to The Canadian Press. In 2015, the company hired former foreign affairs minister John Baird as an international adviser. According to the compliance agreement, in 2008, he contributed a total of $2,100 when the limit for individual donations that year was $1,100. Among the donations was $1,000 to the electoral district association in Whitby-Oshawa, which at the time was a riding held by former Conservative finance minister Jim Flaherty. Another $550 donation went to the Conservative association in Eglinton-Lawrence, where that year Joe Oliver tried and failed to win the riding for the Conservatives.

A third donation of $550 went to the campaign of Heather Jewell, who was running for the Conservatives in the longtime Liberal stronghold of St. Paul’s. She lost. In 2010, Munk contributed a total of $1,850, exceeding donation limits by $750. He gave $1,100 to the Conservative association in Beauce, a Quebec riding held by Conservative Maxime Bernier, and another $750 to the riding association in Eglinton-Lawrence. In 2012, Munk contributed a total of $2,400, exceeding that year’s individual limit by $1,200. Half the money went to Beauce, where Bernier was still the MP and at that point a cabinet minister, and half to the St. Paul’s riding association.

SATURDAY, JANUARY 2, 2016

NEWS IN BRIEF The Associated Press ◆ ANCHORAGE, ALASKA

Plane crash that killed pilot called a suicide A spokeswoman for the family of a man who died when his plane struck two buildings in downtown Anchorage says the crash was a suicide. Jahna Lindemuth says there’s no reason to think that Doug Demarest was trying to harm anyone but himself. Lindemuth is a managing partner at the law firm where Demarest’s wife works. She declined to say how the family knew it was a suicide and asked that the family’s privacy be respected. Demarest was flying a plane owned by the Civil Air Patrol Tuesday when he clipped the building that houses the law firm and crashed into an unoccupied commercial building. He died at the scene. No one else was hurt. Authorities have said that Demarest was not authorized to fly the aircraft.

◆ ANKARA, TURKEY

President denies looking to Hitler-style regime

CLIMATE

Residents start cleanup after fatal flooding in Missouri and Illinois Searchers were still looking for five missing people; 22 known dead; 11 levee failures JIM SALTER THE ASSOCIATED PRESS

ST. LOUIS — The worst of the dangerous, deadly winter flood is over in the St. Louis area, leaving residents of several water-logged communities to spend the first day of 2016 assessing damage, cleaning up and figuring out how to bounce back — or in some cases, where to live. Farther south, things were getting worse: Record and near-record crest predictions of the Mississippi River and levee breaks threatened homes in rural southern Missouri and Illinois. Two more levees succumbed Friday, bringing to at least 11 the number of levee failures. The flood, fueled by more than 25 centimetres of rain over a threeday period that began last weekend, is blamed for 22 deaths. Searchers were still looking for five missing people — two teenagers in Illinois, two men in Missouri and a country music singer in Oklahoma. On Friday, water from the Mississippi, Meremec and Missouri rivers was largely receding in the St. Louis area. Two major highways — Interstate 44 and Interstate 55 — reopened south of St. Louis, meaning commuters who return to work next week won’t have hours-long detours. Some evacuees were allowed to return home. But in the far southwestern tip of Illinois, the 500 or so people living behind the Len Small levee, which protects the hamlets of Olive Branch, Hodges Park, Unity and rural homes, were urged to move to higher ground

Hart Vernont, living in Arnold, Mo., with all utilities turned off, adds a piece of wood to a fire as residents begin to clean up after flooding on Friday. [ST. LOUIS POST-DISPATCH VIA AP]

after the Mississippi began pouring over the levee. Alexander County Board Chairman Chalen Tatum said sandbagging efforts were cut off because it was simply too dangerous for the volunteers. Far more water is to come before the Sunday crest. “It’s going to get ugly,” he said. In St. Mary, Missouri, a town of about 360 residents 50 miles south of St. Louis, neighbours and volunteers placed sandbags around homes after a small agricultural levee broke. The

Mississippi River was expected to crest there Saturday at about a metre below the 1993 record. The main culprit in the St. Louis region was the Meramac River, a relatively small Mississippi tributary. It had bombarded communities in the far southwestern reaches of the St. Louis suburbs during the week. By Friday, it was relenting, but not before some points topped the 1993 record by 1.2 metres. Two wastewater treatment plants were so damaged by the floodwaters

that raw sewage spewed into the river. A water plant closed at High Ridge. Hundreds of people were evacuated in Pacific, Eureka, Valley Park and Arnold, and many of their homes took in water. Among those were displaced were Damon Thorne, 44, and his 60-yearold mother, Linda, who live together in an Arnold mobile home park that washed away after a small private levee proved no match for the surging Meramec. For now, the Thornes are staying in a Red Cross shelter at a Baptist church. “We’re just basically homeless,” Damon Thorne said. “We have nowhere to go.” In southeast Missouri, the fast-rising Mississippi damaged about two-dozen homes in Cape Girardeau and threatened a power substation, though the community of nearly 40,000 residents is mostly protected by a flood wall. The crest prediction at Cape Girardeau, Missouri, expected Sunday, was upgraded to a half-metre above the 1993 record. In nearby Allenville, access into the often-flooded town was cut off by high water. Most of the four dozen residents stayed anyway, using boats to get around. “They are used to being isolated and cut off, but with this record height, we’re confident some homes will get wet,” Cape Girardeau County emergency management director Richard Knaup said. “We’re just not sure how many.”

The Turkish president’s office said Friday that Recep Tayyip Erdogan was not advocating a Hitler-style government when he called for a state system with a strong executive. A statement from Erdogan’s office said the Turkish president has declared the Holocaust, anti-Semitism and Islamophobia as crimes against humanity and that it was out of the question for him to cite Hitler’s Germany as a good example. Speaking to reporters on Thursday, Erdogan was asked whether a presidential system which he has long advocated could exist within a “unitary state.” Erdogan cited Hitler’s Germany as one example in history. However, Erdogan’s office said the president had cited the era as a negative example to explain that bad rule can emerge in all political systems.

◆ SANAA, YEMEN

Senior al-Qaida leader in south killed: Officials Pro-government fighters in Yemen attacked and killed a senior al-Qaida leader and three people travelling in his convoy near a security checkpoint in the southern Abyan province on Friday, Yemeni officials said. Ali Abed al-Rab bin Talab, better known as Abu Anwar, was the extremist group’s chief judge in Yemen’s largest province, Hadramawt, which al-Qaida largely controls. He survived a suspected U.S. drone attack in 2014. Before the attack, Abu Anwar’s convoy was heading to the southern port city of Aden, the officials said. Al-Qaida and Islamic State-linked militants have exploited the chaos of Yemen’s civil war to make incursions into the strategic port city, where militant attacks targeting pro-government officials have escalated in recent months. Al-Qaida’s Yemen branch is considered by Washington to be the most dangerous offshoot of the terror network.

SATURDAY, JANUARY 2, 2016

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POLITICS

SECURITY

Tory bill that makes gun registry law retroactive to be challenged

Terror plot suspect said to be aggressive panhandler

Case is one of the messier legal issues new Liberal government will have to mop up BRUCE CHEADLE THE CANADIAN PRESS

OTTAWA — A retroactive Conservative law buried in last spring’s omnibus budget bill fundamentally undermines the rule of law and government access-to-information systems across Canada, according to court submissions in a paused constitutional challenge. Twelve of Canada’s 13 provincial and territorial information commissioners, as well as the Criminal Lawyers’ Association, are seeking intervener status in the case, which challenges the former government’s unprecedented rewrite of an old law to get the RCMP and any other government official off the hook for illegally destroying long gun registry records. The case, brought by federal information commissioner Suzanne Legault on behalf of individual Bill Clennett, is one of the messier legal challenges the new Liberal government will have to mop up in 2016. The retrospective Conservative changes, backdated all the way to October 2011, served to short-circuit an active investigation by the Ontario Provincial Police into the government-backed actions of the RCMP. Repealing the changes, which became law last June, would presumably put the Mounties back under investigation. “Should this legislation withstand this challenge, it would have far-reaching implications for criminal law principles,” the Criminal Lawyers’ Association says in its submission to the Ontario Superior Court of

THE ASSOCIATED PRESS

A rifle owner checks the sight of his rifle in rural Ontario in 2010. A retroactive Conservative law undermines the rule of law and government access-to-information systems across Canada, according to court submissions in a paused constitutional challenge. [THE CANADIAN PRESS]

Justice, calling the retroactive legal rewrite ground-breaking. “State actors obtained the benefit of a retrospective immunization that ordinary citizens have never obtained.” The new Liberal government asked for, and received, a three-month delay in the start of the trial last month as it mulls over its options. It’s been a long legal road. The federal information commissioner had begun an investigation into a complaint about access to firearms registry records before

the government passed the Ending the Long-gun Registry Act in April 2012. The government subsequently assured Legault that it would preserve the records until her investigation was complete, but then pushed the Mounties to quickly destroy the data, in breach of the law. Legault completed her investigation last spring and informed the government of an alleged offence — at which point the Conservatives retroactively rewrote the law, stripped Legault of her jurisdiction over the gun registry records, retrospectively absolved any-

one of wrongdoing, and closed down any further investigation. The former government called the retroactive law a “technical amendment” designed to correct a “bureaucratic loophole” in the original 2012 act. The intervener submissions paint a very different picture. Provincial and territorial information commissioners say they share “profound concern” over questions of “fundamental importance,” including “immunizing public officials from liability and prosecution.”

SOCIAL WELFARE

Proposed Quebec welfare rules will further penalize the poor, say anti-poverty advocates SIDHARTHA BANERJEE THE CANADIAN PRESS

MONTREAL — A Quebec government plan to introduce new welfare rules to get people back into the workforce has anti-poverty advocates warning the measures could leave many even more destitute. The recently tabled bill aims to get first-time welfare recipients into a job program quickly, offering an extra few hundred dollars every month if they’re employed for a year. But those who don’t participate would see their benefits cut in half to $308 per month. Labour Minister Sam Hamad says the goal is to break a “cycle of poverty” for those people, while saving some $50 million yearly for the government. Other incentive programs, he says,

“We’re trying to create a solution to a problem that doesn’t exist.” Serge Petitclerc, poverty advocate

haven’t worked and the time is ripe for measures that are more coercive in nature. The province says some 17,000 Quebecers apply for welfare each year — many under the age of 29 and many of those from families already receiving social assistance. The new rules would not apply to those already in the system. Quebec believes 10 per cent of new welfare recipients may take the penalty, while welfare activists say

forcing people back to work under penalty of seeing their cheque cut is cruel. One anti-poverty advocate says there’s a political obsession with getting people off welfare when it has been demonstrated that those who can do it end up doing so on their own. “We’re trying to create a solution to a problem that doesn’t exist,” said Serge Petitclerc. “And we’re creating a real problem for those who don’t participate because people who already don’t have a lot of money will be removed further from the job market.” Petitclerc says people on welfare present an easy target, particularly during a period when austerity measures are in full swing. In Quebec, welfare recipients cur-

rently receive $616 a month plus a credit that increases the amount to $747. New rules would have the recipient required to deal with an agent hired by the government to oversee job training and finding employment. They would have to hold the position for a fixed period of time. “Our concern is through that plan, the agent will have ammunition to cut people’s benefits if that person is not able to fulfil that plan,” said Yann Tremblay-Marcotte, a spokesman for a 31-group common front that represents Quebec social-assistance recipients. “Not only will that person have to accept any job, but they would need to maintain that job for the duration of the program, up to one to two years.”

ROCHESTER, N.Y. — A western New York bar owner who says his restaurant was the one identified by authorities as the target of a would-be terrorist says the man arrested in the plot is an aggressive panhandler. The Democrat and Chronicle of Rochester reports that Merchants Grill co-owner John Page described Emanuel Lutchman, of Rochester, as a panhandler who “caused more trouble than positive.” Federal authorities say the 25-yearold Lutchman sought to prove he was worthy of joining the Islamic State group by carrying out a New Year’s Eve attack at a bar using a machete and knives provided by an FBI informant. He was arrested Wednesday. Lutchman’s lawyer, Steven Slawinski, declined to comment on the charges. Authorities did not identify the bar, but Page said his restaurant was the supposed target. The U.S. attorney’s office for western New York did not return a phone call Friday seeking confirmation of Lutchman’s intended target. Authorities said in court papers that Lutchman, 25, is a convert to Islam who said he received direction from an overseas Islamic State member and planned to carry out the attack on Thursday. He was described in court papers as having long criminal history including a 2006 robbery conviction that led to a five-year prison sentence. Lutchman’s former stepmother, Charma Lutchman, told the Democrat and Chronicle that Lutchman spent part of his childhood living with his grandparents in New York City. She said that while young, he was struck by a car, an accident that transformed him from a happygo-lucky boy to a more withdrawn child. “He wasn’t the same boy I knew after he got hit by a car,” she said. “He was different, more quiet.” The newspaper reports Lutchman spent four months in a Rochester jail in 2015 on misdemeanour charges of petit larceny and menacing his girlfriend. Lutchman was scheduled to appear in state court on Jan. 11 on the domestic violence charges. It’s likely that date will be postponed. » 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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16 NATION&WORLD

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POLITICS

SATURDAY, JANUARY 2, 2016

FRANCE

Man rams car into soldiers on guard at mosque ELAINE GANLEY THE ASSOCIATED PRESS

A sign welcomes visitors to the Diamond Valley, part of the Harney Basin in southeast Oregon, in December. The prosecution of Dwight and Steven Hammond for burning public lands has brought fresh focus to the debate over how federal land is managed. [THE OREGONIAN VIA AP]

Anti-government sentiment in U.S. fed by standoff over ranch Jail sentences touched a nerve with far right groups who repudiate federal authority GOSIA WOZNIACKA THE ASSOCIATED PRESS

PORTLAND, Ore. — The father and son of a prominent Oregon ranching family plan to surrender at a prison next week after a judge ruled they served too little time for setting fires that spread to government lands they leased to graze cattle. Dwight Hammond, 73, and Steven Hammond, 46, said they lit the fires in 2001 and 2006 to reduce the growth of invasive plants and protect their property from wildfires. The two were convicted of the arsons three years ago and served time — the father three months, the son one year. But a judge ruled their terms were too short under federal law and ordered them back to prison for about four years each. The decision has generated controversy in a remote part of their West Coast state where the Hammonds are well-known for their generosity and community contributions. It’s also playing into a long-simmering conflict between ranchers and the U.S. government over the use of federal land for cattle grazing. In particular, the Hammonds’ new sentences touched a nerve with far right groups who repudiate federal authority. The son of Nevada rancher Cliven Bundy, who was involved in a standoff with the government over grazing rights, is organizing opposition. In 2014, after the federal Bureau of Land Management sought to remove Bundy’s cattle from public rangeland, armed militiamen confronted federal officials. Bundy stopped paying graz-

“Any criminal behaviour contemplated by those who may object to the court’s mandate . . . will not be tolerated.” Bill Williams, Oregon’s U.S. attorney

ing fees over 20 years ago and owes more than $1 million. This month, his son Ammon Bundy and a handful of militiamen from other states arrived in Burns, some 100 kilometres from the Hammond ranch. In an email to supporters, Ammon Bundy criticized the U.S. government for a failed legal process. Federal lawyers prosecuted the Hammonds under an anti-terrorism law that required a five-year minimum sentence, though they have declined to say why. Ammon Bundy wrote that the Hammonds are not terrorists and didn’t commit any crimes. He also shamed the Harney County sheriff for not protecting the Hammonds. The sheriff didn’t respond to calls from The Associated Press. Ammon Bundy and other rightwing leaders have called on armed militia around the country to come support the Hammonds. The groups will hold a rally and protest in town Saturday. “If what is happening to the Hammonds is allowed, it will set a stan-

dard of what these powerful people will do to all of us,” Ammon Bundy wrote in an email, referring to the federal government. The Hammonds have not welcomed the Bundys’ help. “Neither Ammon Bundy nor anyone within his group/organization speak for the Hammond Family,” the Hammonds’ lawyer W. Alan Schroeder wrote to Sheriff David Ward. Dwight Hammond said he and his son plan to peacefully report to prison Jan. 4 as ordered by the judge. “We gave our word that’s what we would do, and we intend to act on it,” he told the AP. Prosecutors said the Hammonds’ grazing leases didn’t give them exclusive use of the land or permission to burn public property. The fire charred just under 56 hectares. Though the family doesn’t want confrontation, Dwight Hammond maintained their case isn’t about fires: It’s the climax of the government’s efforts to take their land at a time when saving endangered species has gained in importance. Dwight Hammond said he and his own father bought the ranch in 1964; the purchase price included several federal grazing allotments — the rights to lease public land for cattle grazing. But as the Malheur National Wildlife Refuge came to surround the Hammonds’ property, the rancher said, the family had to stave off pressure from the federal government to sell the ranch.

Over the years, the government chipped away at their grazing allotments, taking some and increasing fees on others, Dwight Hammond said. New federal rules made it harder to renew permits. After father and son were convicted of the arsons, the government declined to renew their grazing permit. The family is appealing that decision. “We paid hard dollars over fifty years ago for the right to graze. It isn’t right for them to take it away from us,” Dwight Hammond said, adding they’ve had to rent pastures from other ranchers to keep their cows fed. An attorney for the ranchers, Kendra Mathews, declined to discuss the case. The U.S. attorney’s office also wouldn’t comment. But in an opinion piece published this month in the Burns Times Herald, Oregon’s U.S. attorney, Bill Williams, said the Hammonds received a fair trial and lawful sentences. Williams said the government has never called the ranchers terrorists, and prosecutors acknowledged they were good people who contributed to their community. Referring to the militia, Williams said: “Any criminal behaviour contemplated by those who may object to the court’s mandate . . . will not be tolerated.” As for the Hammonds, they hope to keep the family business going with help from relatives. Maybe, Dwight Hammond said, when his son gets out of prison, “he can still have a family and a ranch to go back to.”

PARIS — A man rammed his car into four soldiers guarding a mosque on Friday in the southeast French city of Valence, but was stopped when a soldier fired and wounded him, authorities said. His motives were unclear, but with France on high alert after the co-ordinated attacks in Paris on Nov. 13, determining what, or who, was behind the attack carried a sense of urgency. One soldier was slightly injured in the leg, and a passerby was hit in the leg by a stray bullet, the interior and defence ministers said in a joint statement. The man, who was alone in the red car and not immediately identified, was arrested and hospitalized, according to the statement by Interior Minister Bernard Cazeneuve and Defence Minister Jean-Yves L Drian. The attacker twice rammed his car into the soldiers guarding the main mosque in Valence, the mayor and a spokesman for the prosecutor’s office said, charging once then putting his car into reverse to try to ram the soldiers again. The soldiers, some thrown to the ground, fired warning shots and one then fired to disable the driver, who was hit in the arm and leg, Mayor Nicolas Daragon told iTele TV. The man’s motives were being investigated. France is on high alert after the Nov. 13 Paris attacks, claimed by the Islamic State group, that killed 130 people and injured hundreds more. The soldiers are part of the reinforced security guarding places of worship and other sensitive sites around France. The secretary-general of the prosecutor’s office, Frederic Ouiseau, told iTele that authorities must be “extremely prudent about the motive” for the attack. France was jarred days before Christmas in 2014 by random attacks that followed threats by the Islamic State group. A driver barrelled into a crowd in Nantes, near the Atlantic coast, striking 10 people, just days after a man used his vehicle to ram into small groups of people in Dijon, east of Paris. Both suspects had histories of mental illness. In a third incident, a man attacked police with his knife at a police station and was killed. The case hasn’t been resolved. During his New Year’s Eve address to the nation, President Francois Hollande spoke frankly. “The threat is still there . . . It remains in fact at its highest level, and we are regularly disrupting planned attacks,” the president said.

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SATURDAY, JANUARY 2, 2016

NEWS IN BRIEF The Associated Press

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MIDDLE EAST

ENVIRONMENT

Pollution plan stalls cars in capital of India

◆ EL SALVADOR

Early hours of 2016 sees 15 people shot dead El Salvador, suffering an epidemic of violence, opened the early new year with 15 more people gunned down, including an 11-year-old killed by men dressed as police, officials said Friday. Two men, two women and an 11-year-old child were slain in the early hours by men dressed like police, who stormed into two humble dwellings and sprayed them with gunfire. The killings occurred in the Los Cerritos community about 160 kilometres east of the capital, San Salvador. The gangs, which control territory in districts and neighbourhoods across the country, are involved in the majority of homicides, drug trafficking and organized crime. They charge extortions to businesses and transport companies and kill those who refuse to pay.

◆ STOCKHOLM

Estonia gay partnership law in force as of Friday A law allowing gay partnerships took effect in Estonia on Friday, but same-sex couples are being advised to hold off on getting hitched until a series of legal issues have been worked out. Estonia in 2014 became the first former Soviet republic to approve gay civil unions, but Parliament has not yet adopted laws required to implement that decision. While couples can enter into unions, the Estonian Chamber of Notaries says there are legal uncertainties related to divorce, inheritance and other practical matters. For that reason, the chamber has advised same-sex couples to consider waiting until the rules become clearer. Estonia, which like Baltic neighbours Latvia and Lithuania was occupied by the Soviet Union for almost five decades, is considered the most Western-oriented of the former Soviet republics.

◆ NEW YORK

Man crushed to death by falling elevator in NYC A 25-year-old man has been crushed to death on New Year’s Eve by a falling elevator in New York City. Police say the accident happened around midnight Thursday in an apartment building on Broome Street on Manhattan’s Lower East Side. The victim was identified as Stephen Hewett-Brown, of the Bronx. Witnesses tell the Daily News that the victim died after heroically shoving a woman out of harm’s way. Manuel Coronado tells the newspaper that Hewett-Brown “said ‘Happy New Year’ and pushed her out.” A police spokesman says he has no information on the exact circumstances of Hewett-Brown’s death. Police say no criminality is suspected. The city Buildings Department is investigating the accident.

NATION&WORLD 17

TIM SULLIVAN THE ASSOCIATED PRESS

Israeli police officers search for a gunman near the scene of a shooting attack in Tel Aviv, Israel, on Friday. A gunman opened fire at a popular bar in the central Israeli city, killing two and wounding at least three others before fleeing the scene, police said. [AP PHOTO]

Gunman in Tel Aviv opens fire at bar, kills two people IAN DEITCH THE ASSOCIATED PRESS

JERUSALEM — A gunman opened fire outside a popular bar in the coastal Israeli city of Tel Aviv on Friday afternoon, killing two people and wounding at least three others before fleeing the scene, police said. The motive for the shooting spree, which took place on a busy main street, was not immediately clear, police said. Media reported the assailant was a member of Israel’s Arab minority and called it a nationalistically motivated attack but police refused to comment, saying it was still investigating. Israeli Channel 10 TV showed CCTV footage of the incident, obtained from a health food shop next to the bar. It shows a man with short hair, glasses and a black bag over his shoulder scooping up some nuts, putting them in a plastic bag, then emptying them back. The footage then shows the man walking toward the entrance of the store, placing his backpack on a shopping cart and taking a gun out of it. He then steps outside and starts shooting, after which he runs away.

The TV station’s defence analyst Alon Ben-David said the gunman was an Israeli Arab and that the attacker’s father had seen his son on television and notified authorities. He said the shooter’s calm demeanour and the way he was holding and shooting the gun show he was well trained. A Qur’an, the Muslim holy book, was found later in the attacker’s bag, he said. The Associated Press could not independently confirm those details. Channel 10 also later spoke to a man it identified only as Ahmed who it said was a relative of the shooter. The man described the shooter as “traumatized” after a cousin was killed by police in 2006, and who had served time in Israeli prison after allegedly grabbing an officer’s gun. Residents of the village of Arara in northern Israel told media they recognized the shooter and said he was from their village. They condemned the attack and called on him to turn himself in. Police spokeswoman Luba Samri said five people were wounded in the attack, two of whom died in hospital. She said a massive manhunt

was underway for the shooter. Large police forces were deployed at the scene. The attack comes amid more than three months of almost daily Palestinian attacks against Israeli civilians and soldiers. On the Israeli side, 21 people have died, mostly in stabbings, shootings and car-ramming attacks. That’s without counting the victims in Friday’s attack. At least 131 Palestinians have been killed by Israeli fire, 90 of them identified by Israel as assailants. The rest died in clashes with security forces. Tel Aviv Mayor Ron Huldai visited the wounded in hospital and later said he spoke with those who were able to talk. He said that inside the bar, “friends were celebrating a birthday and a man opened fire at them from the outside.” Later, police said an Arab Israeli man was found near the shooting scene with a gunshot wound and later died of his wounds in hospital. The police said an investigation is underway and that it is not clear whether that man is in any way connected to the bar shooting.

Texas grants more execution stays in 2015 THE ASSOCIATED PRESS

AUSTIN, Texas — Texas’ highest criminal court halted more executions in 2015 than in any of the last nine years, which some legal experts say is a sign of a legal shift in America’s most active death penalty state. The Texas Court of Criminal Appeals gave stays to eight condemned inmates last year, its highest number since at least 2007, the Dallas Morning News reported. That belies its reputation as a

tough, conservative court generally unsympathetic to death-row appeals. Executions in the U.S. fell to 28, the lowest number in 24 years, according to the newspaper. Thirteen of those executions occurred in Texas. Some experts point to the state’s Court of Criminal Appeals gaining three new members as the reason for the shift, but others say changing national attitudes toward the death penalty are making an impact in Texas. “I think the drift of the court is certainly toward a little bit more

caution in allowing executions to go forward,” said Lee Kovarsky, a University of Maryland law professor. Shannon Edmonds, staff attorney for the Texas District and County Attorneys Association, which lobbies for prosecutors, says he thinks exonerations have softened the ground for death-row appeals. “For lack of a better term, (the judges) might not be as jaded as they might be in the future after they see these kinds of claims brought up time after time after time,” Edmonds said.

NEW DELHI — India’s capital on Friday kicked off a sweeping plan to reduce its record-high air pollution by limiting the numbers of cars on the streets for two weeks. New Delhi is testing a formula where private cars will be allowed on the roads only on alternate days from Jan. 1-15, depending on whether their license plates end in an even or an odd number. On Friday, most cars appeared to be following the rules and traffic was a trickle compared to the usual rush-hour chaos. But with schools and colleges shut, and many offices closed for the New Year’s holiday, it was not clear how much of the reduced traffic was the result of the new regulations. Monday, the first regular workday since the plan began, will be a clearer test of whether New Delhi’s notoriously rule-averse drivers will comply, and how much the city’s already-overburdened public transit system can help. The city government last week announced a number of exemptions to the new rules, including top politicians, judges, police officials, women, sick people and motorcycles. Still, the plan represented the most dramatic effort the city has undertaken to combat pollution since a court order in 1998 mandated that all public transport use compressed natural gas. Police appeared to be purposefully keeping a low profile Friday. Except for a handful of major intersections, where police and civil defence volunteers set up checkpoints to watch for wrong-numbered license plates, there was little official presence on the roads at all. When cars were pulled over, the result was almost always a warning, not the $30 fine that has been announced. “Today we are just educating drivers,” Assistant Sub Inspector Krishan Singh told the driver of an Associated Press vehicle — with the wrong license plate number — when it was eventually pulled over. Police officials said they do not have enough staff to properly enforce the rule. Arvind Kejriwal, the city’s top elected official and the architect of the plan, told reporters that he was “overwhelmed” by the response to the new rules. The World Health Organization last year named New Delhi the world’s most polluted city. The pollution is at its worst in the winter, when winds die down and dense smog often engulfs the city in the morning.

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18 YEAR IN REVIEW

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SATURDAY, JANUARY 2, 2016

2015 IN REVIEW

Collection of memorable quotes Some of the more notable statements in Canadian news in 2015, as listed in chronological order “The Canada-U.S. relationship is much bigger than any one project and I look forward to a fresh start with President Obama to strengthen our remarkable ties in a spirit of friendship and co-operation.” — Trudeau in expressing his disappointment to U.S. President Barack Obama’s Nov. 6 decision to reject TransCanada’s controversial Keystone XL Pipeline.

THE CANADIAN PRESS

“C

anadian consumers walked in expecting the American store experience and got this watered-down version . . . . We didn’t need Target to be Canadian. We needed them to be the company they’ve been in the U.S.” — Brynn Winegard, a marketing analyst at Winegard and Company, after Target announced in January it was leaving Canada due to dismal sales and a failure to connect with Canadian shoppers. “The prohibition on physician-assisted dying infringes on the right to life, liberty and security of the person in a manner that is not in accordance with the principles of fundamental justice.” — Text from the unanimous Supreme Court ruling handed down in February legalizing physician-assisted suicide in some cases. “Military planners will tell us that for a mission to succeed, it must have two things. It must have a well-defined objective and a well-defined exit strategy. This mission has neither. The Conservatives simply have no plan. They have no strategy, other than the obvious political one, and that is putting our troops in danger.” — NDP Leader Tom Mulcair voicing opposition to the Conservative government’s plan to launch a military mission against ISIL.

“Your grief is our grief. We can only hope that, in time, we will find common purpose towards diminishing the causes of such violent crimes. For now, we just want to be there for Marc, our incredibly caring son who loved his brother very much, and to say goodbye, ever so tenderly and quietly to Jean, our love.” — Canadian diplomat Roxanne Dube issuing a statement after the March death of her eldest son Jean Wabafiyebazu. Her younger son Marc is accused in the death of his brother in a drug deal gone wrong. “I just want anyone who’s ever done it or is thinking of doing it or thinks it’s funny, just think of the consequences. It’s degrading, it’s disrespectful. You really put these reporters in a very uncomfortable position, and it’s not just me — we’re all sick of it.” — Toronto television reporter Shauna Hunt, speaking in April after confronting men heckling her with vulgar insults while she was filming a live report. Hunt and other female journalists said the trend has been plaguing them for months. “Whether you are a business leader, a union leader, a municipal leader, someone who leads in our civil society or whether you are a plain-old just great, wonderful Albertan, let me say this to you: Our legislature belongs to you.”

TRUDEAU

GRETZKY

ISHAQ

— Alberta Premier Rachel Notley addressing NDP supporters after her May 5 election win, which put an end to more than four decades of Conservative rule in the province.

to cover some of his questionable expenses.

“(The public) is not informed. They are being misguided by the government on this particular issue. They were of the view that Muslim women who are wearing the niqab objected to show their identity for security purposes, but that’s not the case .... The image of Muslim women, and as a whole the Muslim community, has been damaged by this.” — Zunera Ishaq, the woman whose fight to wear her niqab while swearing an oath of Canadian citizenship sparked a lengthy court battle and became a hot-button issue on the campaign trail. The quote above came during an Oct. 8 interview with The Canadian Press.

“I have met, seen, heard and listened to men and women who believe, more than ever, that Quebec must become a country. And that is great, because I think the same thing.” — Former media mogul PierreKarl Peladeau after being elected leader of the Parti Quebecois in May. “I think I knew his sister. My condolences to the family, who I think were dealing with their grief by strewing my garbage through my yard last night — totally get that.” — Facebook jokester in July following the death of a Toronto raccoon on a downtown street and the makeshift shrine that was constructed around the corpse. “The residential school experience is clearly one of the darkest, most troubling chapters in our collective history. The survivors showed great courage, great conviction and trust to us in sharing their stories. These were heartbreaking, tragic and shocking accounts of discrimination, deprivation and all manner of physical, sexual, emotional and mental abuse.” — Justice Murray Sinclair speaking at the June release of the Truth and Reconciliation Commission Report, which documented the devastating impact that Canada’s residential school system had on its First Nations population. “Rid yourself of those racial stereotypes of Indians and indigenous people being dumb and lazy and drunk on welfare. Rid yourself of those things, so new things can come in.” — Assembly of First Nations Chief Perry Bellegarde reacting to the Truth and Reconciliation Commission’s report and exhorting Canadians to take its findings to heart. “This is sort of Matthew:6, right? You should do those things quietly, and not let your left hand know what your right hand is doing.” — Nigel Wright, former chief of staff to Stephen Harper, testifying on Aug. 13 at the fraud trial for former senator Mike Duffy. Wright was citing scripture to explain his decision to cut Duffy a cheque for $90,000

“This ain’t fun and games any more, this is reality, this is affecting all of us. The social impact behind this leak, we’re talking about families, we’re talking about children, we’re talking about wives, their male partners. It’s going to have impacts on their lives.” — Toronto Police Acting Staff Supt. Bryce Evans speaking one month after affair-promoting dating site Ashley Madison was hacked. “This is pretty special. I think my dad still has the newspaper clippings from the back-to-back championships (in ’92 and ’93). I was two and three years old when that happened, so not a lot of memories for me, but just being here in the summer, feeling the buzz in the city, it’s crazy.” — NHL star Steven Stamkos reflecting on the Toronto Blue Jays, whose performance through the month of August put them in playoff contention and re-energized a city in the throes of the longest playoff drought in professional sports. “The first thing that crossed our mind was remembering our own son, Ben, at that age running around. It brings tears to your eye.” — Then-Prime Minister Stephen Harper in Surrey, on Sept. 3, recalling his and Laureen Harper’s thoughts upon seeing the photo of a dead Syrian boy on a beach after his overcrowded boat capsized and sparked global outrage at the plight of Syrian refugees. “I am the one who should be at blame. I blame myself because my brother does not have money. I sent him the money to pay the smuggler. If I didn’t send him the money, those people still (would be) alive.” — Tima Kurdi, speaking on Sept. 5 in B.C. and taking the blame for the death of her three-year-old nephew, Alan. “We do not offer them a better health plan than the ordinary Canadian can receive. That’s something that most new and existing and oldstock Canadians agree with.” — Harper, speaking at an election debate on Sept. 17 about a plan to strip some health-care benefits from refugees. The remark drew criticism that Harper and the Conservatives believed in two classes of Canadian citizens.

“He’s all swung out and his arm is tired from high-fiving people.” — Benn Wood, the father of a nineyear-old boy who dressed up as Jays slugger Jose Bautista, and mimicked his moves, becoming a North America media darling during the team’s post-season play. “Sunny ways, my friends, sunny ways.” — Justin Trudeau to a jubilant crowd on Oct. 19 in his Montreal riding of Papineau, invoking the philosophy of former prime minister Wilfrid Laurier, after he led the federal Liberals to a majority win. “When the prime minister of Canada calls you, you say: ’OK, I’ll do the favour for you.’ So whoever is going to be the next prime minister, if they call me for the favour, I’d reach out again.” — Hockey icon Wayne Gretzky, 54, explaining on Oct. 22 why he appeared at a campaign event with former prime minister Stephen Harper. “Young man can dance and he’s got some groove in his system. It’s all about vibe and groove for him. It’s not about choreography, so people need to stop trippin’.” — Renowned choreographer Tre Armstrong, who was a judge on “So You Think You Can Dance Canada,” on Drake’s much-ridiculed dance moves in the video for his mega-hit “Hotline Bling.” “Because it’s 2015.” — Trudeau, speaking on Nov. 4, responding to a question as to why he made gender parity a priority when naming his cabinet. Trudeau’s handpicked group of 30 ministers features 15 men and 15 women.

“America is now a global leader when it comes to taking serious action to fight climate change. And frankly, approving this project would have undercut that global leadership. And that’s the biggest risk we face — not acting.” — Obama in explaining why he rejected the pipeline. “Regardless what the attackers were shouting at the time of attacks and whatever their names may be, we Muslims do not consider them Muslims. The attacks in Paris are in fact attacks on Islam and Muslims too.” — Statement from the Islamic Supreme Council of Canada and Muslims Against Terrorism reacting to the deadly terrorist attack in Paris on Nov. 13. “As soon as the boat went over, as soon as people started flying into the water, I knew we were in a bad situation. I knew it was very possible lives were going to be lost that day.” — Dwayne Mazereeuw, speaking nearly a month after the Oct. 25 sinking of whale-watching vessel Leviathan II. Mazereeuw and his wife were on board the boat as it sank near Tofino. “They have to sort it out. In the wild, a lot of times it’s to the death.” — Maria Franke, curator of mammals at the Toronto Zoo, on a vicious battle that’s erupted among female baboons for dominance that came to light in November. “It’s very uneasy. There are probably going to be more job cuts. People are still kind of living scared.” — Stephen Scott, 45, who lost his engineering job at Cenovus Energy in Calgary amid the oil price plunge during a December interview. “This is a defining moment for Canada, a defining moment for all of us. And it’s even more than that — it’s an opportunity. An opportunity to mobilize our communities . . . to reimagine how we take care of the most marginalized and vulnerable among us.” — Gov. Gen. David Johnston on Canada’s decision to accept 25,000 Syrian refugees into the country in the coming months. “I was pleading with them to show some kind of decency; all of these born-again Christians were throwing me to the lions.” — Sen. Mike Duffy in testimony at his Senate expenses trial on Dec. 15, describing his alleged treatment by the Prime Minister’s Office under Stephen Harper.

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NHL

SATURDAY, JANUARY 2, 2016

WORLD JUNIORS

Canada ready to take on Finns in quarterfinals JOHN CHIDLEY-HILL THE CANADIAN PRESS

Vancouver Canucks left wing Alex Burrows, left, looks to deflect a shot past Anaheim Ducks defenceman Kevin Bieksa during a game in Vancouver on Friday. [THE CANADIAN PRESS]

Canucks spoil Kevin Bieksa’s homecoming BRAD ZIEMER VANCOUVER SUN

hey desperately needed his defence. Chris Tanev returned to deliver that and a big goal for the Vancouver Canucks on Friday

night. Back after missing two games with a foot injury, Tanev tied the game midway through the third period and the Canucks got a shootout goal from Alex Burrows as they came from behind to beat the Anaheim Ducks 2-1 at Rogers Arena. Goalie Jacob Markstrom stopped all three Anaheim shooters — Ryan Kesler, Jakob Silfverberg and Corey Perry — in the shootout as the Canucks improved to 15-15-9 and moved back above the Pacific Division playoff bar. Burrows beat Anaheim goalie Frederik Andersen blocker side to score the only goal of the shootout. “I asked Jannik (Hansen) and he said go blocker, so I asked Verbie (Rdim Vrbata) and he said, go glove,” Burrows said. “I didn’t really know what i was going to do but I saw the opening and it went pretty good. “I am glad Markie (Markstrom) made some big saves. That was the story tonight.” Tanev tied the game at 10:24 of the third period when his wrist shot

SPORTS INSIDE Today’s issue

Nanaimo Year in Review Local Sports, NFL Scoreboard, NBA Tennis Lookahead to 2016

20 21 22 27 28

from the right point beat Andersen short side. Burrows did some nice work along the boards to set up Tanev’s second goal of the season. The Canucks had trouble all night generating much offensive pressure against a Ducks team that had shut out its last two opponents. “It wasn’t pretty today, that’s for sure,” Hansen said. “I don’t think we createsd anything, really, not even the goal. “But we stuck with it and scored the one goal to give ourselves a chance and then won the coin flip in the shootout.” Kesler, the former Canuck, opened scoring at 7:24 of the second period with just his fifth goal of the sea-

son. Kesler got behind Vancouver defenceman Matt Bartkowski to chip a Chris Stewart feed past Markstrom. Kesler, who once again had boos raining down on him all night, raised both arms in the air for what seemed like an eternity after the goal. The Canucks’ win followed an ugly 5-0 defeat at the hands of the Los Angeles Kings on Monday night. Vancouver has collected four points in the first three games of this seven-game homestand despite only scoring two goals in regulation. The highlight of a scoreless first period came when the Canucks presented a video tribute to former Vancouver defenceman Kevin Bieksa during a timeout. Bieksa got a nice ovation, raised his stick to salute the fans and tapped his heart with his hand. The Ducks had a 9-6 edge in shots in the first. Their best chance came when former Canuck Mike Santorelli rattled a shot off the post at the 15-minute mark. John Gibson had two straight shutouts in a pair of 1-0 Anaheim wins in Calgary and Edmonton earlier this week. But Andersen started in goal for the Ducks. “Freddie has been out No. 1 for a year and a half,” Ducks coach Bruce Boudreau said before the game.

“He deserves another chance to get back in net.” The Canucks did not give Andersen many difficult shots to handle in the first two periods Rookie Jared McCann was a healthy scratch Friday night as Adam Cracknell drew back into the lineup. Coach Willie Desjardins has been frustrated by McCann’s inability to win faceoffs. In his past two games, McCann has won only one of 15 faceoffs. Vancouver still struggled in the faceoff circle, where they went 19-32 Friday night. The Ducks entered the game as the NHL’s lowest-scoring team and it’s not even close. In their first 36 games, the Ducks scored just 67 goals. That’s 10 fewer than anyone else in the NHL. The Canucks, who are hardly an offensive juggernaut, entered the game with 91 goals in 38 games. ICE CHIPS: Daniel Sedin played in his 1,100th NHL game Friday night. . .The Canucks hold their annual skills competition at noon Saturday. They play host to the Arizona Coyotes on Monday night . . . Goalie Ryan Miller skated for the first time Friday morning since suffering a groin injury in a Dec. 20 game in Florida. BZiemer@vancouversun.com Twitter.com/bradziemer

HELSINKI — This has been the most trying experience of Jake Virtanen’s career and he couldn’t be happier. Virtanen is one of four players returning from Canada’s gold medal-winning junior team that won the world championship in Toronto last year. This year’s team has struggled in the preliminary round of the tournament and on Saturday will face the heavily favoured host Finland in the quarter-finals. “I think this is the most adversity I’ve ever had,” said Virtanen who hasn’t earned a point in four games. “It’s pretty exciting, when you’re the first time getting into a big adversity moment for yourself. As a team, it’s pretty special.” Finland poses a particularly steep challenge. Forwards Jesse Puljujarvi, Sebastian Aho and Patrik Laine are the tournament’s top three scorers, leading Finland to a 3-1 record to finish second in Group B. “They’ve got a really good team over there, we know that,” said Canadian forward Mitch Marner after practice on Friday. “That first line of theirs is dangerous on offence so we’ve got to shut them down but not focus on them too much because then you lose track of the middle lines. “They’ve got a great four lines over there and we’ve got to be ready to play all of them.” Canada won in regulation, in the shootout and sustained two losses in the preliminary round at Helsinki Ice Hall, the smaller of the two venues hosting the world juniors. Although that 8,200-seat arena was near capacity with boisterous Canadian fans for all four games, it will be a different story on Saturday. The quarter-final matchup will be in Hartwall Arena, home of the Kontinental Hockey League’s Jokerit, which seats 13,349 fans, giving Finland strong home-ice advantage. “It can’t not be exciting,” said Virtanen, when asked why he thought the daunting task was exciting. “I think it’s a learning experience. When you’re down as a team it’s a learning experience. “You build off of (adversity) as a team. Nothing bad can happen from that. “Through the round robin I know it was tough losing a couple of games but now we’re ready and it’s going to count from here on out.” The biggest chink in Finland’s armour is its goaltending. Its team save percentage was second worst in the preliminary round of the tournament at .867. Finland’s goals-against average was fifth worse at 3.27. Those struggles largely fall at the feet of Veini Vehvilainen, who has started three of Finland’s games. He has a 3.36 GAA and .857 save percentage.

20 SPORTS

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@NanaimoDaily

YEAR IN REVIEW 2015

Top 10 Nanaimo sports stories of the year Announcement of potential new sports and entertainment multiplex was the most talked-about story SCOTT MCKENZIE DAILY NEWS

fames — the Nanaimo Sports Hall of Fame, the B.C. Sports Hall of Fame, the Canadian Sports Hall of Fame and the Canadian Soccer Hall of Fame — as a pioneer.

Championships? Yup. International performances? You got it. Major developments? Coaching sagas? Heartbreak? Yes, Nanaimo had it all in 2015. Here are the top 10 stories we followed in the past year.

Time for a multiplex? It was an unexpected announcement made in June that could potentially change the landscape of Nanaimo — that the owners of the Howard Johnson hotel on the corner of Comox and Terminal want to tear it down and build a 5,000 seat sports and entertainment multiplex, along with a hotel and commercial space. The plan for the proposed $80-million privately funded project is to bring a Western Hockey League team to Nanaimo to play in it, and it’s an idea that would not only inject life into a junior hockey market that’s gone stale, but also provide the city, and region, ample opportunities to host larger sporting events, tournaments and concerts. The downtown location is perfect. The population of Nanaimo is growing, and many small-market WHL teams are failing. It could be the perfect storm for this to finally happen.

The Raiders’ coaching saga A return to near-championship status from the Vancouver Island Raiders junior football club was preceded by a long period of uncertainty at the top, specifically with club’s head coach and defensive co-ordinator jobs. After 2014 head coach Brian Ridgeway was fired, the Raiders hired longtime Ballenas Whalers head coach Jeremy Conn to take over, and then former national championship-winning defensive co-ordinator Doug Hocking to run the D. But both stepped down — first Hocking, who ended up with the Westshore Rebels, and then Conn, for health reasons. Jerome Erdman, a former CFL linebacker and university assistant coach, took over for Hocking and then grabbed the head coach job when Conn left. Erdman took the Raiders back to the B.C. Football Conference championship game where they finished as runners up.

The Clippers’ playoff run After a six-year hiatus from the Fred Page Cup, the Nanaimo Clippers were an elite team again in the B.C. Hockey League. Captained by local product and two-year team scoring leader Brendan Taylor, the Clippers were dominant again. They rolled through the 58-game season, with never a doubt in their mind they would finish atop the Island Division. But there were doubts in the playoffs. Tons of them. A 3-0 first-round series lead over the Alberni Valley Bulldogs turned into a Game 7 thriller with the Clippers coming out on top.

A conceptual photo illustration for the proposed Millstone Gateway Project in downtown Nanaimo, which includes a new hotel, an arena, residences and opportunities for tourism development.

Another seven-game series with the Powell River Kings saw both teams win each of their home games, proving the importance of winning the division and gaining home ice advantage. A three-team round-robin tournament to decide the Fred Page finalists with the Clippers, Chilliwack Chiefs and Penticton Vees put three of the league’s historical heavyweights in an odd situation, but Nanaimo came through. They even return to Frank Crane Arena with a 2-0 series lead over the Vees. But it all came crumbling down in four straight losses, with the Game 6 overtime loss ripping the hearts out of the Clipper faithful.

VIU’s dominant year If there’s a more successful Tier 2 collegiate athletic department in the country, we’d like to see it. Because on a sport-tosport basis, few can compete with Nanaimo’s Vancouver Island University Mariners. The year began with an improbable upset by the women’s volleyball team when they went into Camosun College to beat the host team in the PacWest championship game in a comefrom-behind thriller. The men’s volleyball team also won bronze at the conference championships. In basketball, the VIU men rolled through their competition to finish 20-1 led by the PacWest’s top scorer, Justin King. They went on to win the conference championship and a national silver medal. Head coach Matt Kuzminski ended the season as the Canadian Collegiate Athletic Association’s coach of the year. The women’s hoops team, led by senior Jenna Carver, finished second in conference play and seventh at nationals, which they hosted at VIU. That, among championships in other sports, led to VIU winning its seventh straight PacWest aggregate championship.

Pan-Am representation Somewhat unexpectedly, Toronto’s 2015 Pan-Am Games became a major focal point in Canada’s collective attention, two Nanaimo athletes earned the chance to compete. Rower Martin Barakso, a Nanaimo resident who attended Brentwood College and now Yale University, was part of the eight-man Canadian crew that finished three seconds in front of second-place Argentina in July for his first international medal in senior competition. We had a really good start,” Barakso said after the race. “We led from start to finish. Halfway, we were leading by five seconds and were definitely in full control of the race.” Also competing was former Nanaimo District Secondary School student Katelynn Ramage, who set a personal best in the women’s 20-kilometre race-walking event. A relatively youthful athlete in her sport at 22, Ramage finished 12th in a field of 16. “I can’t be disappointed with a personal best at an international event,” she said. “When you can walk away with that in less desirable conditions than you would have liked, that’s an amazing feat in itself, and moving up four places in the ranking is also pretty phenomenal.”

A Timbermen Title While Nanaimo’s Junior and Senior A lacrosse clubs struggled for much of their seasons, the Senior B Timbermen were the best team in the West Coast Senior Lacrosse Association, ending a long run of dominance from the Coquitlam area’s Tri-City Bandits. Led by all-stars Jon Diplock, Steve Higgs, Travis Mickelson, Josh Fagan and Nick Patterson, the Timbermen went 16-2 with the most goals scored in the league and the fewest allowed as the top seed heading into the play-

offs. In one game, they even fired 105 shots on goal. In the playoffs, the Timbermen didn’t lose a game. They swept aside the upstart Langley Warriors before again winning three straight games against the Ladner Pioneers. “I feel like we really bonded as a team,” Diplock said. “Everyone knew what we wanted, so when everyone’s on the same page, it’s so much easier.”

Manson gets his glory Once forgotten, the early 1900s story of Snuneymuxw soccer star Harry Manson breaking racial barriers now lives on forever in Canada’s Sports Hall of Fame. Manson, a star First Nations soccer player, has a story that dates back to the late 1890s and early 1900s. Known by the name “Xulsimalt,” he was the captain of the indigenous Nanaimo Wanderers soccer team, a dominant club that posted numerous wins from 1897-1904, including a city championship. In 1898, he and James Wilks became the first indigenous athletes to compete in a provincial championship soccer match alongside men of European decent. Manson and Wilks did so that year on April 2 with the Nanaimo Thistles of the B.C. Intermediate Football Association as they took on the Victoria YMCA in a bid to continue their run toward the Challenge Cup. Manson was recruited to the Nanaimo all-star team in 1903, however he met his death in 1912, run over by a train on a trip to get medicine for his infant son. The coroner’s report dismissed Manson as only a “drunken indian.” But his story was found by Vancouver’s Robert Janning, a recovering alcoholic who was researching early B.C. soccer history. Once brought to the public, Manson was inducted into four hall of

Clippers for sale When the Clippers went on that playoff run, people began to come back to Frank Crane for Junior A Hockey. Some nights, more than 2,000 were showing up again. But it still wasn’t enough. The Clippers were put up for sale by their Alberta-based ownership group of Ken Wagner, Bill Gallacher, Paul Colborne, Kelly Hrudey and David Moir — officially announced on May 4. “It’s just time for someone else to own the club,” said Wagner. “We’re all busy, we live in Alberta, it’s run its course. We also don’t want to send the message that (we’re) abandoning the club. That’s not what we’re doing.” Wagner added his goal was to find a local buyer, someone who could run the team from Nanaimo. He also said the decision was not a financial one, and that he would not consider moving the team to a new city. In a later interview, however, Wagner said a WHL team coming to Nanaimo would likely be the end of the BCHL club in Nanaimo.

Track stars go global National champion pole vaulter Jason Clare and provincial 800-metre champion Alyssa Mousseau were part of Team Canada at the 2015 International Association of Athletics Federation’s World Youth Championships in Cali, Colombia. Both Nanaimo Grade 11 students said it was the biggest event they had ever competed in. “It was one of those things that I had as a goal for a while, so it was pretty exciting when I got to see the official list,” Clare said. “It was big.”

Barsby’s Grade 11 ‘backs The John Barsby Bulldogs missed out on their chance at a third straight Varsity AA provincial high school football championship, falling victim to the Abbotsford Panthers and their star Notre Damebound receiver Chase Claypool. (It’s important to note the Bulldogs beat the eventual champion Carson Graham Eagles 37-7 in the regular season). But promise still remains from next year, as a pair of Grade 11 runningbacks — Justis MacKay-Topley and Matt Cooley — took the league by storm. In a season that saw multiple teams forfeit to the Bulldogs, the pair piled up 1,333 rushing yards, and that includes their 77-0 playoff win over the Moscrop Panthers in which neither of them carried the ball. With those two returning next year, along with four of five starting offensive linemen, a pre-season No. 1 ranking is imminent. Because if there’s one thing we’ve learned about this team, it’s that they don’t stay down long.

SATURDAY, JANUARY 2, 2016

SPORTS BRIEFS Compiled by Daily News â&#x2014;&#x2020; BCHL

Clippers begin 2016 today in Powell River Winners of three straight games, and 13 of their last 15, the Nanaimo Clippers play their first of two straight home games today on the road against the Powell River Kings. Game times are 7:15 p.m. tonight and 2 p.m. Sunday. Led by BCHL top scorer Sheldon Rempal, the Clippers (25-12-1-0) have a nine-point cushion over the second-place Kings for first in the Island Division, however Powell River has played two fewer games. The Kings feature Nanaimo product Carter Turnbull, who is back from helping Canada West win gold at the World Junior A Challenge last month. The former Nanaimo Buccaneers star has 11 goals and 10 assists in 28 games this season. The Clippers next play at home on Wednesday when they host the Alberni Valley Bulldogs at Frank Crane Arena at 7 p.m.

â&#x2014;&#x2020; JUNIOR B

Bucs face stiff test Sunday vs. Cougars The Nanaimo Buccaneers wonâ&#x20AC;&#x2122;t have any time to shake off their holiday rust. The Bucs make their return from the Christmas break with a rare Sunday-night home game this week when they play host to the Victoria Cougars â&#x20AC;&#x201D; the top team in the Vancouver Island Junior Hockey League. The Cougars, at 27-4-10, lead the VIJHL South Division by 20 points with 55, six points better than the North-leading Campbell River Storm. The Bucs are in second in the North with a record of 17-12-1-2. Leading the way for Victoria is Nathan Looysen, the top scorer in the VIJHL with 81 points in 32 games. The Cougars boast three of the four top scorers in the league. Bucs all-time scoring leader Jordan Levesque is fifth in the league with 50 points. Puck drop is at 7:15 p.m.

â&#x2014;&#x2020; CURLING

Daniels, Van Osch look to reach junior B.C. final The Sarah Daniels rink, featuring Nanaimoâ&#x20AC;&#x2122;s Marika Van Osch at third, has a chance to earn a bye today to the championship match of the 2016 Tim Hortonâ&#x20AC;&#x2122;s B.C. Junior Womenâ&#x20AC;&#x2122;s Curling Championship. The Daniels rink went 6-1 through round robin play, falling only to the defending champion Corry Brown rink of Kamloops. Those two teams meet today in the page playoffs of the event, with the winner scoring a bye to the final and the loser heading to the semifinal at 7 p.m. The championship match is scheduled for 9 a.m. Sunday and will be televised live on Sportsnet Pacific. Van Osch has been up against Brown the previous three yearsâ&#x20AC;&#x2122; championship matches, with two gold medals. She also won in 2011-12 with her sisters, Kalia and Kesa.

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SPORTS 21

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NFL

Cal QB will skip final year to enter draft

Battered Seahawks wonâ&#x20AC;&#x2122;t rest starters; Lynch return nearing

JOSH DUBOW THE ASSOCIATED PRESS

BERKELEY, Calif. â&#x20AC;&#x201D; As the season progressed and records kept falling, Jared Goff became more convinced he was ready to leave California early to enter the NFL draft. Goff made the decision official Thursday that he would skip his senior season to become one of the top quarterbacks entering the draft. â&#x20AC;&#x153;The game really started to slow down for me,â&#x20AC;? he said. â&#x20AC;&#x153;I was able to take things in quicker and learn a lot of stuff this year. I felt like at the college level I had done a lot and it was time to take the next step mentally and physically. You just kind of know when youâ&#x20AC;&#x2122;re ready.â&#x20AC;? While the decision was expected and a long time coming, it still was emotional for Goff, who had been a Golden Bear since birth. His parents both went to school at Cal â&#x20AC;&#x201D; dad Jerry starred at baseball and went on to a major league career â&#x20AC;&#x201D; and Jared grew up going to games at Memorial Stadium. Goff said he would miss the camaraderie with his teammates, the relationships with his coaches and the experience of being part of the Cal community. But he is pleased that he helped turn the Bears around from a team that won one game his freshman year to one coming off an eight-win season and bowl victory this season. â&#x20AC;&#x153;Thatâ&#x20AC;&#x2122;s kind of what I wanted to accomplish when I came here to get Cal back to where it was,â&#x20AC;? he said. â&#x20AC;&#x153;Hopefully in the right direction. I think weâ&#x20AC;&#x2122;ve done that.â&#x20AC;?

TIM BOOTH THE ASSOCIATED PRESS

RENTON, Wash. â&#x20AC;&#x201D; The Seattle Seahawks could be down two starting offensive linemen and their starting tight end for Sundayâ&#x20AC;&#x2122;s regular-season finale in Arizona. Pete Carroll said nothing will change with the game plan or how they intend to use quarterback Russell Wilson. The Seahawks will be without starting tight end Luke Willson and starting right guard J.R. Sweezy and likely starting left tackle Russell Okung at Arizona. Willson and Sweezy are out with concussions, while Okung is listed as doubtful with a calf injury. But Carroll offered a bright spot headed into the playoffs, saying that Marshawn Lynch continued to make progress in his recovery from abdominal surgery. Carroll is â&#x20AC;&#x153;anticipatingâ&#x20AC;? that Lynch will rejoin the team Monday. Carroll said the reports from Lynchâ&#x20AC;&#x2122;s trainers in the Bay Area say there have been no setbacks. â&#x20AC;&#x153;Heâ&#x20AC;&#x2122;s really tried to get back as soon as possible,â&#x20AC;? Carroll said. â&#x20AC;&#x153;Heâ&#x20AC;&#x2122;s having the kind of success in the workouts that itâ&#x20AC;&#x2122;s not setting him back. Weâ&#x20AC;&#x2122;re hoping that means he has a chance to get back.â&#x20AC;? Willsonâ&#x20AC;&#x2122;s concussion was known after taking a hit to the head during last Sundayâ&#x20AC;&#x2122;s loss to St. Louis, but Sweezyâ&#x20AC;&#x2122;s concussion didnâ&#x20AC;&#x2122;t become known until he was listed on the injury report Wednesday. Carroll said it was at the teamâ&#x20AC;&#x2122;s morning walkthrough on Wednesday when it

This Nov. 15, 2015, file photo shsows Seattle Seahawks running back Marshawn Lynch rushing against the Arizona Cardinals. [AP PHOTO]

became apparent something was off with Sweezy. He had not reported any concussion symptoms after last Sundayâ&#x20AC;&#x2122;s game, but when he was examined Wednesday he was placed into the concussion protocol. â&#x20AC;&#x153;We missed it on Monday and Tuesday. We didnâ&#x20AC;&#x2122;t see it,â&#x20AC;? Carroll said of Sweezy. â&#x20AC;&#x153;As soon as we got out here and ran around with him, we could tell that something was up, and so we had to dump him right into the protocol and see what we could get done with him.â&#x20AC;? Okung was injured in Week 15 against Cleveland and was a limited participant in practice Wednesday. Carroll said Okungâ&#x20AC;&#x2122;s calf was sore

on Thursday and was why he did not practice. Alvin Bailey will make his second straight start in place of Okung, while rookie Mark Glowinski will likely get his first extended playing time of the season filling in for Sweezy. â&#x20AC;&#x153;You can only go with what youâ&#x20AC;&#x2122;ve got. We feel good about giving Mark a chance at this point,â&#x20AC;? Carroll said. While there are injury issues on offence for the Seahawks, their defence is getting closer to full health. Strong safety Kam Chancellor (pelvis/tailbone) was listed as questionable after being a full participant in practice on Friday, while Michael Bennett (toe) and Cliff Avril (back) were both probable.

NFL admits to poor officiating this season HOWARD FENDRICH THE ASSOCIATED PRESS

If it felt like there were lots of officiating gaffes during this NFL season, thatâ&#x20AC;&#x2122;s because there were. Enough to prompt Commissioner Roger Goodell to pledge that â&#x20AC;&#x153;no stone will be left unturnedâ&#x20AC;? to improve the way games are called. All of the accumulated mistakes reached a tipping point, so much so that referees will be able to consult with league VP of Officiating Dean Blandino during playoff games. Who knows what other changes could be in store moving forward? Everyone, it seems, has a theory about how the NFL can cut down on the one time, two or more per game that players, coaches and fans throw their hands in the air and wonder how an â&#x20AC;&#x153;obviousâ&#x20AC;? rule violation could be ignored. Or the game clock could keep running when it shouldnâ&#x20AC;&#x2122;t. Or a team could be penalized when it did nothing wrong. â&#x20AC;&#x153;Thereâ&#x20AC;&#x2122;s a lot of room for improvement,â&#x20AC;? Washington Redskins defensive lineman Ricky Jean Francois said. â&#x20AC;&#x153;The officials donâ&#x20AC;&#x2122;t seem to understand that the calls theyâ&#x20AC;&#x2122;re making are affecting games and can affect playoff spots.â&#x20AC;? He presented a couple of changes heâ&#x20AC;&#x2122;d like to see: â&#x20AC;˘ Give Goodell the power to fine or suspend officials who make glaring mistakes. â&#x20AC;˘ Switch around the crews, so theyâ&#x20AC;&#x2122;re different from week to week, something Goodell himself has spoken about. â&#x20AC;&#x153;I would love that. Most of these crews have been in the league longer than Iâ&#x20AC;&#x2122;ve been alive. Break these crews apart and start mixing or mingling them. For 17 weeks, change them.

In the playoffs? Change them. Donâ&#x20AC;&#x2122;t let them be together,â&#x20AC;? Jean Francois said. â&#x20AC;&#x153;Itâ&#x20AC;&#x2122;s human nature. If youâ&#x20AC;&#x2122;ve been together forever, and one of you misses something, they might cover for each other. But if they donâ&#x20AC;&#x2122;t know each other, theyâ&#x20AC;&#x2122;re not as comfortable with each other, and they wonâ&#x20AC;&#x2122;t cover for each other.â&#x20AC;? In an essay for Sports Illustratedâ&#x20AC;&#x2122;s Monday Morning Quarterback, Seattle Seahawks cornerback Richard Sherman offered four suggestions of his own: â&#x20AC;˘ Simplify the rulebook; â&#x20AC;˘ Add an eighth, full-time official; â&#x20AC;˘ Change the officialsâ&#x20AC;&#x2122; spots on the field; â&#x20AC;˘ Improve player-official communication. Ideas such as those were bandied about frequently over the past several months, in part because of the perception this was the worst-officiated season in memory. The quality of officiating can be in the eye of the beholder, of course. â&#x20AC;&#x153;What I think is a bad call is probably because the call is on us,â&#x20AC;? Redskins Pro Bowl left tackle Trent Williams said with a knowing laugh. â&#x20AC;&#x153;And what I think is a good call is probably because the call is on (an opponent). Itâ&#x20AC;&#x2122;s extremely tough on those guys. The game moves extremely fast.â&#x20AC;? Still, coaches and players alike have not been shy this season about expressing disbelief at certain calls â&#x20AC;&#x201D; or non-calls. Among the memorable was the failure to notice a Seattle player clearly illegally batting a football out of the end zone on purpose in a victory over Detroit. And the valuable seconds frittered away by the clock operator during a game between Pittsburgh and San Diego.

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

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3WV +RPH 50 11-6-0-0 39 10-6-2-0 39 7-7-3-0

$ZD\ 13-5-1-1 8-10-1-0 8-8-4-2

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

PACIFIC DIVISION Los Angeles Arizona Vancouver

*3 : / 37 24 11 37 18 16 39 15 15

6WUN W-4 W-1 W-1

WILD CARD Minnesota Nashville Colorado San Jose Anaheim Winnipeg Calgary Edmonton

*3 : 36 20 38 18 38 18 36 18 37 15 37 17 37 17 39 15

/ 10 13 17 16 15 18 18 21

2/ 6 6 3 2 5 1 1 3

6/ *) 0 98 1 101 0 109 0 100 2 69 1 99 1 97 0 97

*$ 85 101 106 102 89 109 121 119

3WV +RPH 46 14-5-1-0 43 12-5-2-1 39 6-8-3-0 38 5-10-0-0 37 9-5-3-1 36 11-5-1-0 36 12-7-0-0 33 10-7-1-0

$ZD\ 6-5-5-0 6-8-4-0 12-9-0-0 13-6-2-0 6-10-2-1 6-13-0-1 5-11-1-1 5-14-2-0

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

1RWH 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. )ULGD\ÂˇV UHVXOWV 9DQFRXYHU $QDKHLP 62

Montreal 5 Boston 1 7KXUVGD\ÂˇV UHVXOWV Pittsburgh 5 Detroit 2 NY Islanders 2 Buffalo 1 Carolina 4 Washington 2 Arizona 4 Winnipeg 2 Anaheim 1 Edmonton 0 Los Angeles 4 Calgary 1 Dallas 5 Nashville 1 Minnesota 3 St. Louis 1 &KLFDJR &RORUDGR 27

6DWXUGD\ÂˇV 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. 6XQGD\ÂˇV JDPHV Dallas at NY Islanders, 5 p.m. Minnesota at Florida, 6 p.m. Ottawa at Chicago, 7 p.m. Winnipeg at Anaheim, 9 p.m.

&$1$',(16 %58,16

THURSDAY

)LUVW 3HULRG 0WO 'HVKDUQDLV :HLVH (PHOLQ 3HQDOWLHV Âł 7DOERW %RV KLJK VWLFN 'HVKDUQDLV 0WO .UXJ %RV URXJKLQJ 0F4XDLG %RV GHOD\ RI JDPH 6HFRQG 3HULRG 0WO %\URQ )O\QQ %DUEHULR 3. Montreal, Gallagher 10 (Pacioretty, 3OHNDQHF 3HQDOWLHV Âł 0LOOHU %RV FURVV FKHFNLQJ (OOHU 0WO KRRNLQJ %HDXOLHX 0WO KROGLQJ 3OHNDQHF 0WO GHOD\ RI JDPH 7KLUG 3HULRG %RV %HOHVNH\ 0F4XDLG 6SRRQHU 5. Montreal, Pacioretty 16 (Gallagher, 3OHNDQHF 0WO %\URQ 6XEEDQ %HDXOLHX 3HQDOWLHV Âł 7DOERW %RV KROGLQJ +D\HV %RV (OOHU 0WO URXJKLQJ 6KRWV RQ JRDO Montreal 14 11 5â&#x20AC;&#x201D;30 Boston 3 14 11â&#x20AC;&#x201D;28 *RDO Âł 0RQWUHDO &RQGRQ : %RVWRQ 5DVN / 3RZHU SOD\V JRDO FKDQFHV Âł 0WO %RVWRQ Attendance â&#x20AC;&#x201D; 67,246 at Boston.

SCORING LEADERS Kane, Chi Benn, Dal Seguin, Dal Karlsson, Ott Hall, Edm Tarasenko, StL Gaudreau, Cal Pavelski, SJ D. Sedin, Vcr Wheeler, Win Cammalleri, NJ Bergeron, Bos

SPORTS 22

HOCKEY

NHL Montreal Florida Boston

@NanaimoDaily

G 23 24 23 9 15 22 17 20 16 10 14 14

)ULGD\ V JDPHV QRW LQFOXGHG

A 33 28 27 32 25 17 22 18 21 27 21 21

Pt 56 52 50 41 40 39 39 38 37 37 35 35

'8&.6 2,/(56 )LUVW 3HULRG $QDKHLP *HW]ODI 3HUU\ SS 3HQDOWLHV Âł +DOO (GP VODVKLQJ +RUFRII $QD ERDUGLQJ 9DWDQHQ $QD KRRNLQJ 6HFRQG 3HULRG Âł No Scoring. 3HQDOWLHV â&#x20AC;&#x201D; Bieksa Ana, Hendricks (GP Ă&#x20AC;JKWLQJ 0DURRQ $QD *D]GLF (GP URXJKLQJ 7KLUG 3HULRG Âł No Scoring. 3HQDOWLHV â&#x20AC;&#x201D; Nugent-Hopkins Edm (tripSLQJ +RUFRII $QD KRRNLQJ 6KRWV RQ JRDO Anaheim 11 14 10 â&#x20AC;&#x201D;35 Edmonton 9 5 7 â&#x20AC;&#x201D;21 *RDO Âł $QDKHLP *LEVRQ : (GPRQWRQ 7DOERW / 3RZHU SOD\V JRDO FKDQFHV Âł $QD (GP Attendance â&#x20AC;&#x201D; 16,839 at Edmonton.

67$56 35('$7256 )LUVW 3HULRG Âł No Scoring. 3HQDOW\Âł6FHYLRXU 'DO LQWHUIHUHQFH 6HFRQG 3HULRG 1DVKYLOOH 6PLWK 5LEHLUR 'DOODV -D %HQQ *ROLJRVNL 'DOODV -DQPDUN 6SH]]D 3HQDOWLHV â&#x20AC;&#x201D; None. 7KLUG 3HULRG 'DOODV (DYHV 6SH]]D 'DOODV 6HJXLQ 6KDUS 'DO 6HJXLQ -D %HQQ .OLQJEHUJ 3HQDOW\ Âł-DFNPDQ 1DVK HOERZ 6KRWV RQ JRDO Nashville 12 11 11â&#x20AC;&#x201D;34 Dallas 12 10 10â&#x20AC;&#x201D;32 *RDO Âł 1DVKYLOOH 5LQQH / 'DOODV 1LHPL : 3RZHU SOD\V JRDO FKDQFHV Âł 1DVK 'DOODV Attendance â&#x20AC;&#x201D; 18,532 at Dallas.

FOOTBALL

NBA EASTERN CONFERENCE

THURSDAY

IIHF

WHL

NFL

3(1*8,16 5(' :,1*6

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

EASTERN CONFERENCE

AMERICAN CONFERENCE

)LUVW 3HULRG 'HW $EGHONDGHU /DUNLQ .URQZDOO 'HW 6PLWK 1\TXLVW 0DUFKHQNR 3HQDOWLHV Âł *OHQGHQLQJ 'HW VODVKLQJ /HWDQJ 3JK FURVV FKHFNLQJ 6HFRQG 3HULRG 3LW +RUQTYLVW 0DONLQ /HWDQJ SS 3LW /HWDQJ 0DONLQ +RUQTYLVW SS 3HQDOWLHV Âł 'H.H\VHU 'HW KRRN /HWDQJ 3JK VODVKLQJ /HWDQJ 3JK FURVV FKHFNLQJ 'H.H\VHU 'HW LQWHUIHUHQFH 'HW %HQFK WRR PDQ\ PHQ *OHQGHQLQJ 'HW URXJKLQJ 3HUURQ 3JK FURVV FKHFNLQJ 7KLUG 3HULRG 3LWWVEXUJK &URVE\ 3HUURQ 3LW 0DONLQ .HVVHO +RUQTYLVW 3LWW /HWDQJ %RQLQR HQ 3HQDOWLHV Âł .HVVHO 3JK VODVKLQJ .XQLW] 3JK $EGHONDGHU 'HW URXJKLQJ 16:33. 6KRWV RQ JRDO Pittsburgh 11 17 9 â&#x20AC;&#x201D;37 Detroit 10 13 12 â&#x20AC;&#x201D;35 *RDO Âł 3LWWVEXUJK =DWNRII : 'HWURLW 0UD]HN / 3RZHU SOD\V JRDO FKDQFHV Âł 3LWW 'HWURLW Attendance â&#x20AC;&#x201D; 20,027 at Detroit.

$W +HOVLQNL )LQODQG

.,1*6 )/$0(6 )LUVW 3HULRG /$ *DERULN 3HDUVRQ 3HQDOWLHV Âł /XFLF /$ KRRNLQJ 1RODQ /$ KLJK VWLFNLQJ 6HFRQG 3HULRG /$ /XFLF .RSLWDU 7RIIROL /$ $QGUHRII 0HUVFK 1RODQ 3HQDOWLHV Âł %ROOLJ &J\ /XFLF /$ Ă&#x20AC;JKWLQJ 6KRUH /$ WULSSLQJ 7KLUG 3HULRG 4. Calgary, Giordano 10 (Ferland, &ROERUQH /RV $QJHOHV 3HDUVRQ *DERULN HQ SS 3HQDOWLHV â&#x20AC;&#x201D; Doughty LA (delay of JDPH %HQQHWW &J\ WULSSLQJ 17:21. 6KRWV RQ JRDO Los Angeles 10 11 3 â&#x20AC;&#x201D;24 Calgary 10 4 10 â&#x20AC;&#x201D;24 *RDO â&#x20AC;&#x201D; Los Angeles: Quick (W, &DOJDU\ 5DPR / 3RZHU SOD\V JRDO FKDQFHV Âł /$ Calgary: 0-4. Attendance â&#x20AC;&#x201D; 19,289 at Calgary.

+855,&$1(6 &$3,7$/6 )LUVW 3HULRG Âł No Scoring. 3HQDOW\ Âł .X]QHWVRY :DVK KRRNLQJ 15:31. 6HFRQG 3HULRG 1. Carolina, Di Giuseppe 3 (Nordstrom, -R 6WDDO 2. Washington, Backstrom 11 (Alzner, 1LVNDQHQ 3HQDOWLHV â&#x20AC;&#x201D; Orlov Wash (illegal check WR KHDG PLQRU :LOVRQ :DVK 1HVWUDVLO &DU URXJKLQJ :LOVRQ :DVK JRDOWHQGHU LQWHUIHUHQFH 7KLUG 3HULRG 3. Carolina, E.Staal 8 (Lindholm, 9HUVWHHJ &DURO 6NLQQHU 1DVK 5DVN :DVK 2YHFKNLQ /DLFK &DURO 1HVWUDVLO ( 6WDDO HQ 3HQDOWLHV â&#x20AC;&#x201D; None. 6KRWV RQ JRDO Washington 8 13 11 â&#x20AC;&#x201D;32 Carolina 11 15 11 â&#x20AC;&#x201D;37 *RDO Âł :DVK *UXEDXHU / &DUROLQD /DFN : 3RZHU SOD\V JRDO FKDQFHV Âł :DVK &DURO Attendance â&#x20AC;&#x201D; 14,134 at Carolina.

&2<27(6 -(76 )LUVW 3HULRG :SJ /RZU\ %XUPLVWURY %\IXJOLHQ $U] 'RDQ 'RPL *URVVPDQQ 3HQDOWLHV Âł 6FRWW $UL] LQWHUIHUHQFH &XQQLQJKDP $UL] KROGLQJ $UPLD :SJ WULSSLQJ 6HFRQG 3HULRG Âł No Scoring. 3HQDOWLHV Âł 7LNKRQRY $UL] WULSSLQJ 0\HUV :SJ KROGLQJ 3HUUHDXOW :SJ KRRNLQJ (KOHUV :SJ HPEHOOLVKPHQW 6WRQH $UL] KRRNLQJ /DGG :SJ FURVV FKHFNLQJ 7KLUG 3HULRG $U] 7LNKRQRY 6WRQH 0XUSK\ SS :LQQLSHJ /RZU\ XQDVVLVWHG 5. Arizona, Ekman-Larsson 10 (Boedker, 9HUPHWWH SS 6. Arizona, Doan 13 (Martinook, RichardVRQ HQ 3HQDOW\ Âł 0\HUV :SJ URXJKLQJ 6KRWV RQ JRDO Winnipeg 14 15 8 â&#x20AC;&#x201D;37 Arizona 6 5 10 â&#x20AC;&#x201D;21 *RDO Âł :LQQLSHJ +HOOHEX\FN / $UL] 'RPLQJXH : 3RZHU SOD\V JRDO FKDQFHV Âł :SJ $UL] Attendance â&#x20AC;&#x201D; 14,027 at Arizona.

EAST DIVISION

PRELIMINARY ROUND *URXS $ x-Sweden x-U.S. [ &DQDGD x-Denmark Switzerland

GP 4 4 4 4

W 4 3 1 0

OW 0 0 0 0

OL 0 0 0 1

L 0 1 3 3

GF GA 19 5 18 5 4 16 7 23

Pt 12 9 3 1

W 3 3 2 1 0

OW 1 0 0 0 0

OL 0 0 1 0 0

L 0 1 1 3 4

GF 14 23 12 8 6

GA Pt 7 11 13 9 10 7 14 3 19 0

[ Âł FOLQFKHG TXDUWHU Ă&#x20AC;QDO EHUWK 1RWH 3 pts. for regulation win, 2 for overtime/shootout win, 1 for OT/SO loss. 7KXUVGD\ÂˇV UHVXOWV Sweden 5 &DQDGD Russia 2 Slovakia 1 United States 4 Denmark 1 Finland 5 Czech Republic 4

END OF PRELIMINARY ROUND 6DWXUGD\ÂˇV JDPHV

48$57(5 ),1$/6 Russia vs. Denmark, 7 a.m. Sweden vs. Slovakia, 9 a.m. Finland vs. Canada, 11 a.m. United States vs. Czech Republic, 1 p.m. 0RQGD\ V JDPHV

SEMIFINALS 4XDUWHU Ă&#x20AC;QDO :LQQHUV D P DQG S P Tuesday's games

BRONZE MEDAL 6HPLĂ&#x20AC;QDO ORVHUV D P

GOLD MEDAL 6HPLĂ&#x20AC;QDO ZLQQHUV S P

6:('(1 &$1$'$ )LUVW 3HULRG 1. Sweden, A.Nylander 3 (Asplund, 7LPDVKRY SS 2. Sweden, Forsling 2 (A.Nylander, .HPSH SS 3. Canada, Stephens 1, 15:51 3HQDOWLHV â&#x20AC;&#x201D; Kempe Swe, McKeown &GD 9LUWDQHQ &GD URXJKLQJ &KDUWLHU &GD KLJK VWLFNLQJ %HDXYLOOLHU &GD GHOD\ RI JDPH /DJHVVRQ 6ZH VODVKLQJ &URXVH &GD LQWHUIHUHQFH 6HFRQG 3HULRG 4. Sweden, Kempe 2 (Holmstrom, )RUVOLQJ SS 3HQDOWLHV â&#x20AC;&#x201D; Englund Swe, John QuennHYLOOH &GD URXJKLQJ *UXQGVWURP Swe, Mattsson Swe, Stephens Cda URXJKLQJ 3HUOLQL VODVKLQJ 13:00. 7KLUG 3HULRG 5. Sweden, Karlsson 1 (Carlsson, /RRNH &DQDGD 0DUQHU +LFNHWWV 6WURPH pp, 14:10 6ZHGHQ $VSOXQG (QJOXQG HQ 19:49 3HQDOWLHV Âł 'HUPRWW &GD VODVKLQJ +LFNH\ &GD FURVV FKHFNLQJ *UXQGVWURP 6ZH LQWHUIHUHQFH &DUOVVRQ 6ZH FURVV FKHFNLQJ 6KRWV RQ JRDO Sweden 12 7 13 â&#x20AC;&#x201D;32 Canada 6 12 6 â&#x20AC;&#x201D;24 *RDO Âł 6ZHGHQ 6RGHUVWURP : 6DQGVWURP &DQDGD %ODFNZRRG / 3RZHU SOD\V JRDOV FKDQFHV â&#x20AC;&#x201D; Sweden: 3-7; Canada: 1-4. $WW â&#x20AC;&#x201D; 7,003 at Helsinki, Finland.

SCORING LEADERS Puljujarvi, Fin Aho, Fin Laine, Fin Matthews, U.S. Nylander, Swe Tkachuk, U.S. White, U.S. Juolevi, Fin 6WURPH &GD Timashov, Swe Spacek, Cze Lazarev, U.S. Werenski, U.S. Milano, U.S. Korshkov, Rus Saarela, Fin 0DUQHU &GD Asplund, Swe Kempe, Swe Smejkal, Cze Sukel, Svk Pastrnak, Cze Dvorak, U.S. Holmstrom, Swe Carlsson,Swe Karaban, Blr Provorov, US

GP W 38 23 38 22 37 18 39 17 37 14 38 12

EAST L OL 11 2 12 3 14 4 16 3 20 3 21 4

SL 2 1 1 3 0 1

GF GA 146 111 123 118 128 119 122 137 115 154 90 123

Pt 50 48 41 40 31 29

CENTRAL DIVISION

*URXS % GP x-Russia 4 x-Finland 4 x-Czech Rep. 4 x-Slovakia 4 Belarus 4

Brandon Prince Albert Moose Jaw Regina Saskatoon Swift Current

G 5 3 4 4 3 3 2 0 2 2 2 2 1 0 3 2 2 2 1 1 1 0 0 0 0

A Pts 7 12 6 9 4 8 4 8 4 7 4 7 4 6 6 6 3 5 3 5 3 5 3 5 4 5 5 5 1 4 2 4 2 4 2 4 3 4 3 4 3 4 4 4 4 4 4 4 4 4

GP W Lethbridge 38 26 Calgary 40 25 Red Deer 38 25 Edmonton 39 16 Medicine Hat 37 13 Kootenay 39 6

L OL 12 0 13 1 13 0 19 4 20 3 31 2

SL 0 1 0 0 1 0

GF GA 162 117 136 121 139 115 110 127 120 146 76 167

Pt 52 52 50 36 30 14

WESTERN CONFERENCE B.C. DIVISION Kelowna Victoria Prince George Kamloops Vancouver

GP W 39 27 39 23 37 23 36 18 38 13

L OL 10 2 13 1 12 1 14 3 20 3

SL 0 2 1 1 2

GF GA 140 109 129 96 129 106 126 110 109 135

Pt 56 49 48 40 31

L OL 12 0 13 3 14 3 17 1 20 2

SL 2 0 1 0 0

GF GA 96 76 116 107 123 121 123 118 116 141

Pt 44 43 42 37 32

GP W 35 21 36 20 37 19 36 18 37 15

1RWH Division leaders ranked in top 2 positions per conference regardless of points; a team winning in overtime or shootout gets 2 pts. & a victory in W column; team losing in overtime or shootout gets 1 point in OTL or SOL columns )ULGD\ÂˇV UHVXOWV Saskatoon 6 Prince Albert 1 (GPRQWRQ %UDQGRQ 27

Kamloops 4 Victoria 1 Everett 3 Kelowna 1 5HJLQD 6ZLIW &XUUHQW 27

7KXUVGD\ÂˇV UHVXOWV Red Deer 6 Kootenay 4 Medicine Hat 6 Moose Jaw 2 Spokane 5 Tri-City 2 Portland 4 Seattle 1 6DWXUGD\ÂˇV JDPHV $OO WLPHV /RFDO Kootenay at Moose Jaw, 6 p.m. Brandon at Red Deer, 7 p.m. Calgary at Lethbridge, 7 p.m. Edmonton at Medicine Hat, 7:30 p.m. Everett at Kamloops, 8 p.m. Vancouver at Prince George, 8 p.m. Spokane at Portland, 8 p.m. Victoria at Kelowna, 8:05 p.m. Tri-City at Seattle, 8:05 p.m.

BCHL INTERIOR DIVISION Penticton Salmon Arm West Kelowna Vernon Trail Merritt

GP W 37 32 35 22 37 21 40 16 37 17 38 13

L 4 9 14 21 20 23

T OL GF GA Pt 1 0 156 76 65 2 2 145 98 48 0 2 141 129 44 0 3 161 137 35 0 0 112 147 34 0 2 131 165 28

L 14 14 20 20

T OL GF GA Pt 0 2 126 99 42 2 3 129 159 41 0 4 102 112 32 2 2 99 143 30

ISLAND DIVISION GP W 1DQDLPR Powell River 36 20 Cowichan Vally 37 18 Victoria 38 14 Alberni Valley 37 13

T 0 0 0 0

Pct .800 .667 .467 .333

PF 455 370 357 290

PA 295 292 342 379

W L 8 7 7 8 5 10 3 12

T 0 0 0 0

Pct .533 .467 .333 .200

PF 309 303 370 275

PA 307 384 418 393

W L 11 4 9 6 5 10 3 12

T 0 0 0 0

Pct .733 .600 .333 .200

PF 395 395 312 266

PA 263 307 377 404

W 11 10 7 4

T 0 0 0 0

Pct .733 .667 .467 .267

PF 328 382 342 300

PA 276 270 376 371

SOUTH Houston Indianapolis Jacksonville Tennessee

WEST x-Denver x-Kansas City Oakland San Diego

L 4 5 8 11

L 7 10 14 17 26 29

EAST y-Washington Philadelphia N.Y. Giants Dallas

W 8 6 6 4

L 7 9 9 11

T 0 0 0 0

Pct .533 .400 .400 .267

PF 354 342 390 252

PA 356 400 407 340

W 14 8 6 6

L 1 7 9 9

T 0 0 0 0

Pct .933 .533 .400 .400

PF 462 322 332 388

PA 298 325 379 459

W 10 10 6 6

L 5 5 9 9

T 0 0 0 0

Pct .667 .667 .400 .400

PF 355 345 334 315

PA 303 289 380 373

W 13 9 7 4

L 2 6 8 11

T 0 0 0 0

Pct .867 .600 .467 .267

PF 483 387 264 219

PA 277 271 311 371

SOUTH y-Carolina Atlanta Tampa Bay New Orleans

NORTH x-Green Bay x-Minnesota Detroit Chicago

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

T OL GF GA Pt 1 3 140 81 52 3 2 122 83 47 1 0 138 110 43 1 4 121 147 35 0 2 84 164 20 1 0 85 178 11

)ULGD\ÂˇV UHVXOWV Salmon Arm 3 Surrey 1 Penticton 6 Vernon 0 7KXUVGD\ÂˇV UHVXOWV Merritt 5 Coquitlam 4 Powell River 5 Alberni Valley 0 6DWXUGD\ÂˇV JDPHV $OO WLPHV /RFDO 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. 6XQGD\ÂˇV JDPHV 1DQDLPR at Powell River, 2 p.m. Surrey at West Kelowna, 2:30 p.m. Prince George at Langley, 3 p.m. Chilliwack at Wenatchee, 7:05 p.m.

Pct

21 21 21 19 19 19 18 18 18 17 15 15 13 9 3

9 13 13 12 13 14 14 14 15 15 16 19 21 23 31

.700 .618 .618 .613 .594 .576 .563 .563 .545 .531 .484 .441 .382 .281 .088

â&#x20AC;&#x201D; 2 2 21/2 3 31/2 4 4 41/2 5 61/2 8 10 13 20

WESTERN CONFERENCE

NORTH y-Cincinnati Pittsburgh Baltimore Cleveland

x-clinched playoff spot; y-clinched division Sunday's games 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.

END OF REGULAR SEASON

NCAA BOWLS )ULGD\ÂˇV UHVXOWV

FIESTA BOWL $W *OHQGDOH $UL] Ohio State 44 Notre Dame 28

OUTBACK BOWL

MAINLAND DIVISION GP W Chilliwack 35 24 Wenatchee 36 21 Langley 36 21 Coquitlam 37 15 Prince George 37 9 Surrey 35 5

W L 12 3 10 5 7 8 5 10

NATIONAL CONFERENCE

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

y-New England N.Y. Jets Buffalo Miami

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

$W 7DPSD )OD Tennessee 45 Northwestern 6

ROSE BOWL $W 3DVDGHQD &DOLI Stanford 45 Iowa 16

SUGAR BOWL $W 1HZ 2UOHDQV Mississippi 48 Oklahoma State 20

CITRUS BOWL $W 2UODQGR )OD Michigan 41 Florida 7 7KXUVGD\ÂˇV UHVXOWV

Golden State San Antonio Oklahoma City L.A. Clippers Dallas Memphis Houston Utah Portland Sacramento Denver Minnesota Phoenix New Orleans L.A. Lakers

TAXSLAYER BOWL $W -DFNVRQYLOOH )OD 3HQQ 6WDWH YV *HRUJLD QRRQ

â&#x20AC;&#x201D; 3 71/2 10 111/2 13 15 151/2 171/2 18 181/2 181/2 191/2 20 241/2

)ULGD\ÂˇV UHVXOW Colorado 16 Georgia 15 6DWXUGD\ÂˇV 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.

MOVES FOOTBALL NFL PITTSBURGH STEELERS â&#x20AC;&#x201D; Signed S Ross Ventrone from the practice squad. Released WR Jacoby Jones. TAMPA BAY BUCCANEERS â&#x20AC;&#x201D; Placed S Chris Conte on injured reserve. Signed LB Darius Eubanks from practice squad. WASHINGTON REDSKINS â&#x20AC;&#x201D; Signed DL Kamal Johnson to the practice squad.

NHL

3OD\RII 6HPLĂ&#x20AC;QDO

$W $UOLQJWRQ 7H[DV Alabama 38 Michigan State 0 Saturday game

.938 .824 .697 .618 .576 .529 .471 .452 .400 .375 .364 .364 .343 .313 .182

NLL

HOCKEY

COTTON BOWL CLASSIC

Pct

2 6 10 13 14 16 18 17 21 20 21 21 23 22 27

LACROSSE

$W $WODQWD Houston 38 Florida State 24 3OD\RII 6HPLĂ&#x20AC;QDO

$W 0LDPL *DUGHQV )OD Clemson 37 Oklahoma 17

)ULGD\ÂˇV UHVXOWV Washington 103 Orlando 91 Miami 106 Dallas 82 Toronto 104 Charlotte 94 Chicago 108 New York 81 Philadelphia at L.A. Lakers 7KXUVGD\ÂˇV UHVXOWV Milwaukee 120 Indiana 116 Detroit 115 Minnesota 90 Golden State 114 Houston 110 L.A. Clippers 95 New Orleans 89 Oklahoma City 110 Phoenix 106 Utah 109 Portland 96 6DWXUGD\ÂˇV JDPHV Brooklyn at Boston, 3 p.m. Phoenix at Sacramento, 5 p.m. Detroit at Indiana, 7 p.m. Oklahoma City at Charlotte, 7 p.m. Orlando at Cleveland, 7:30 p.m. Milwaukee at Minnesota, 8 p.m. Houston at San Antonio, 8:30 p.m. New Orleans at Dallas, 8:30 p.m. Memphis at Utah, 9 p.m. Denver at Golden State, 10:30 p.m. Philadelphia at L.A. Clippers, 10:30 p.m. 6XQGD\ÂˇV JDPHV Chicago at Toronto, 3:30 p.m. Atlanta at New York, 3:30 p.m. Miami at Washington, 6 p.m. Portland at Denver, 9 p.m. Phoenix at L.A. Lakers, 9:30 p.m.

PEACH BOWL ORANGE BOWL

W 30 28 23 21 19 18 16 14 14 12 12 12 12 10 6

FLORIDA PANTHERS â&#x20AC;&#x201D; Signed executive vice-president & GM Dale Tallon to a contract extension. Named Tom Rowe associate general manager. Named 6FRWW $OOHQ FRDFK RI 3RUWODQG $+/ TAMPA BAY LIGHTNING â&#x20AC;&#x201D; Recalled G $QGUHL 9DVLOHYVNL\ IURP 6\UDFXVH $+/ Reassigned G Kristers Gudlevskis to Syracuse. WASHINGTON CAPITALS â&#x20AC;&#x201D; Recalled ' 5\DQ 6WDQWRQ IURP +HUVKH\ $+/ Re-assigned D Connor Carrick to Hershey.

NBA

DeRozan, Lowry key as Raptors open 2016 with a win DHIREN MAHIBAN THE CANADIAN PRESS

Toronto Raptors coach Dwane Casey credited his teamsâ&#x20AC;&#x2122; defensive play for their fourth-quarter turnaround on Friday night. The Raptors erased an eight-point deficit heading into the final 12 minutes to defeat the Charlotte Hornets 104-94. â&#x20AC;&#x153;First half, I didnâ&#x20AC;&#x2122;t recognize some of those straight-line drives they were making,â&#x20AC;? Casey said. â&#x20AC;&#x153;They

were going by us way too easy, but we shored it up down the stretch. I thought Patrick Patterson and Bismack Biyombo came in and changed the game defensively. They set the tone with their physicality in that third and fourth. â&#x20AC;&#x153;Somehow, some way weâ&#x20AC;&#x2122;ve got to get the offence clicking where our rhythm and timing is there and our passing, and cut down on the turnovers.â&#x20AC;? Patterson shot 4 for 6 from

three-point range and went 5-for-9 from the field for 14 points and six rebounds in the win. Biyombo, who was not tendered a qualifying offer by the Hornets in the off-season, added six points and 11 rebounds off the bench. Friday was Biyomboâ&#x20AC;&#x2122;s 14th game this season with 10 or more boards. â&#x20AC;&#x153;I think we all did a good job finding away to play better defence, protecting the paint, rebounding the ball,â&#x20AC;? said Biyombo, who spent four

seasons with the Hornetsâ&#x20AC;&#x2122; organization. â&#x20AC;&#x153;Of course I have to do my part, but each and every one of us in this locker-room has to do our job.â&#x20AC;? DeMar DeRozan led the Raptors with a game-high 23 points while shooting a perfect 7-for-7 from the line. â&#x20AC;&#x153;We finally got into a rhythm, got a couple stops and thatâ&#x20AC;&#x2122;s all we needed,â&#x20AC;? said DeRozan of the fourth quarter. â&#x20AC;&#x153;We just understood that if we got some stops and some big

buckets, we would be right back in the game.â&#x20AC;? Kyle Lowry shook off a slow first half to finish with 18 points and 11 assists. Lowry appeared to injure his ankle after landing awkwardly on Kemba Walker in the fourth but a team spokesman said post-game that Lowry was fine. Jonas Valanciunas, playing in just his third game since returning from a broken bone in his left hand, had 10 points and 12 rebounds.

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82 Fathers 84 Swiped 85 See red 88 From Dublin 90 Marking an event or person 93 Place to hold an event 94 Saucer in the sky 95 It may be guided 96 Baker’s appliance 97 Zealous 98 Prom wear 99 Peppy 100 Unpopular teen

Down 1 Wacko 2 Invisible emanation 3 Your piece of the ticket 4 Synonym of homophone 5 Game outcome 6 Swimming site 7 Ancient 8 Quebec drinking spot 9 Speak off the cuff (2 wds.) 10 Sword handle 11 Citrus drink 12 Vandalize 13 Come up 14 Programmer 15 Over again

16 Red planet 22 Attack wit teeth and claws 23 Large-screen cinema 29 Growth under the skin 30 Wolf’s call 31 Yours and mine 32 Hear in court 33 Vehicle 34 Bit of news 35 Written reminder 36 No-goodnik 37 She collected our folk songs: Edith ___ 39 Salami store 40 Take out 42 Bun 43 Mover’s aid

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46 Yarn 47 Formal dances 48 Piece of insulation 50 Quebec town with Western Festival: Saint-___ 51 “The Temptations of Big Bear” author 52 Mother (Fr.) 54 Unrefined 55 Sound of dog’s discontent 56 Father’s sister 57 Prov. with chinook winds 58 Band of delinquents 59 Being present (at an event) 62 Quebec-Labrador people 63 Cheese that’s loved or hated 65 GaspÈ mountains: the ___-Chocs 66 Superior or Great Bear 67 Select 69 Duet number 71 That woman 72 Places that sell local produce 73 Greedy eater 76 Weaving machine 77 Guilty or not guilty 79 Offspring 80 Vancouver Island town with air force base 81 It connects Nfld. to Nova Scotia 82 Go snorkelling 83 Length times width 84 Soy bean product 85 Like milk gone bad 86 Honey producer 87 “All I ___ wanted ...” 89 The other woman 90 Sliced 91 Floor cleaner 92 Finish

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1 Break down potatoes 5 Notice 9 Triumphant cry 12 Polite address for a woman 17 Vehicle 18 Soft drink 19 Performed 20 Where the action is 21 City E of Montreal 24 The Miramichi in N.B. 25 On the ship 26 Give out 27 Makes a seam 28 Naked (Fr.) 29 Seafood 30 Saskatoon’s Bessborough 33 LP material 36 Canadian forest feline 37 Number of provinces in Canada, 1867 38 Unusual 41 Filmmaker Egoyan 42 Flower of lovers 43 Money given by bride’s parents 44 Small vegetable 45 Fish catcher 46 Talk up 47 Cereal dishes 48 It goes through loops 49 Smelter output 51 Go on foot 52 Sault Ste. ___, Ont. 53 Revelstoke residents call it “the Illy” 57 Semi-precious gemstone of N.S. 60 Lean (on) 61 He created the first Canadian Encyclopedia 64 Running behind 65 Black suit 67 Yearn 68 Negative word 70 Explosive letters 71 Colour 72 Money maker 73 Chew 74 Epoch 75 Hit the trail 76 Camisole trim 77 Distant planet(oid) 78 Brother’s daughter 80 Wine bottle stopper 81 Winter ailment

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SATURDAY, JANUARY 2, 2016

BOX OFFICE

Social media, improved theatre experiences push profits LINDSEY BAHR THE ASSOCIATED PRESS

LOS ANGELES — It takes more than Star Wars to make an $11 billion year. Disney and J.J. Abrams pushed 2015 over the mark days before its conclusion, but many factors helped make the year the biggest of all time — including social media and better theatrical experiences — which helped draw audiences away from their home entertainment centres and into the multiplex. In 2014, The Interview was released in theatres and online at the same time, and this year saw streaming service Netflix enter theatrical feature territory. Yet attendance at the movies was up around four per cent for the year, according to Jeff Goldstein, Warner Bros.’ executive vice-president of domestic distribution. “It’s like kicking the winning field goal at the end of the game. That’s

what Star Wars did,” said Paul Dergarabedian, senior media analyst for box office tracker Rentrak. The overall slate didn’t look very different from years past, with 688 new releases. There were the near annual installments of franchises that continue to rake in the money. There were franchise starters that hit and some that were dead on arrival. There were ambitious original ideas that succeeded, while others crashed and burned. Live action fairy tales flew and floundered. And there were the smaller investments that paid off big. According to Nick Carpou, Universal’s president of domestic distribution, the studio found success in scattering its diverse offerings throughout the year, finding audiences that might be underserved in certain months and translating that into big returns. Social media also mattered more in the past year. Carpou, his industry

counterparts and various box office analysts agreed that social buzz could make or break a movie almost immediately. “I think that’s how Jurassic World started the weekend looking like a big success and ended the weekend breaking all records,” said Carpou. “That’s people telling people.” Disney, which ranked second, followed a different strategy, focusing on 15 new releases (to Universal’s 26) from their various brands, whether homegrown or acquired, like Lucasfilm, Marvel, Pixar and live-action reboots of their animated classics. In third place, despite successes like American Sniper, Warner Bros. struggled a bit more with some higher profile flops. “It’s all about content. We’ve always known that. If it’s something the public wants to see, they’re going to come out,” said Goldstein. Beyond the appeal of individual movies, exhibitors were also wis-

ing up to consumer demands. The days of sticky floored venues with small seats and smaller screens may never go away completely, but audiences have more options now in screen size, visual and audio quality, reserved luxury seating, and even gourmet food service, all of which usually means higher ticket prices. “We’re giving them choices and we’re giving them choices at every price point. It’s like when you buy an airline ticket,” said Goldstein. Erik Davis, managing editor of ticketing site Fandango.com, says this improved theatrical experience is becoming a big draw for people. “I definitely think the more comfortable theatres are making it, the more people are inclined to go to the movies,” Davis said. The boutique chain Cinepolis boasts a full bar, leather reclining seats and in-theatre dinning with wait staff. Cinepolis currently operates in Southern California and Flor-

ida, with plans to expand to Texas, Virginia, Connecticut and Ohio in 2017. Meanwhile, bigger chains are clamouring to compete with these so-called “diamond theatres.” Technology, too, is being upgraded across the country from Dolby Atmos sound systems to IMAX screens, giving audiences a specific reason to seek out big movies in theatres. Release dates in 2015 were particularly well-spaced, said Greg Foster, CEO of IMAX Entertainment. This allowed for multi-week runs of some of the year’s biggest movies on the pricier IMAX screens. “People who love movies love IMAX,” said Foster. “We’ve carved out a position as the place that avid moviegoers see big tent pole blockbuster films.” But the 2015 celebration just makes everyone more focused on the year ahead. “2015 is not the one-hit wonder of box office years,” said Dergarabedian.

24 DIVERSIONS

SUMMING UP THE NEW YEAR ACROSS 1 — law (computer industry rule) 7 WWII prez 10 Argus-eyed 15 Turn sharply 19 Haul in 20 Mendacity 21 Nerve 22 Caucus state 23 Luau libation 24 Hearth waste 25 Slight residue 26 Again 27 *Ad Council bloodhound 31 Et — (plus more) 32 Roly-poly 33 “I knew it!” 34 Good tidbit 38 Colleague of Trotsky 40 *They don’t have qwerty layouts 46 Pen’s tip 48 String after Q 49 Have — of hope 50 Gp. for fillers and drillers 51 *At a short distance 56 *Metro section manager 59 Deadeye’s skill 60 TCBY treats 61 Bloom holder 62 PC pictures 63 Fetus feeder 65 Kotter of TV 66 Juan’s “this” 68 Henry VIII’s third Catherine 69 *Tool whose teeth rotate 72 Costello and Holtz 76 Baseballer Slaughter 78 Brogan part 79 Sloping 81 Bacon piece 84 Gone 85 Antsy feeling 86 Color tone 87 *It may show acidity 90 *Divorcée in 1991 news 92 Min. segment 93 Segment 94 Suffix with 114-Down 95 Chargers linebacker Manti — 96 *Yale, e.g. 102 Tips, as a cap 106 Chilling

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SATURDAY, JANUARY 2, 2016

107 Golfer Trevino 108 Batter 110 Taxi readout 111 What the double-digit Roman numerals at the starts of the answers to the starred clues add up to 118 Mud in a cup 121 Haikus, e.g. 122 22nd letter 123 Gooey camp treats 124 All tied up 125 Shul scroll 126 Be off 127 Unseat 128 Like paraffin 129 Lacking pity 130 Negatives 131 First phases DOWN 1 Fox or ox 2 Prophesier 3 Derivation 4 Teaches new skills 5 Biblical twin 6 Rigidly formal 7 Thin-screen boob tube 8 Plate 9 Practice 10 Giant in train travel 11 Petty of film 12 Quiz’s kin 13 Paella base 14 Ticked (off) 15 Pfizer drug 16 Many eras 17 She bleats 18 Bitingly cold 28 In thing 29 Chin-wag 30 Native Nebraskan 35 Sister of Clio 36 Rider, e.g. 37 Old rulers 39 Jenna Bush, to Jeb 41 NBA and NRA, e.g. 42 Crusty roll 43 Big name in Art Deco 44 “We did it!” 45 “See you” 47 Wild horse 51 Cartoonist Al 52 Oscar winner Kedrova 53 Sharif of “Funny Girl” 54 No voters 55 On or about 56 Coup group 57 Morse “E” 58 “That’s what — service!” 61 One paid to park cars 64 Sweet filling

65 Event invitee 66 Sup at home 67 Try to hit, as a fly 70 Snow-pure 71 Epic story 73 Aloha Stadium site 74 “One,” on a U.S. coin 75 Process unit 77 Coll. in Lower Manhattan 80 Filled up 81 Cow of ads 82 Kitchen filter 83 Burlesque dancer Lili

84 Llama locale 85 2004 Chevy debut 88 Mudbath site 89 “It” game 90 Feeling bliss 91 Vane locales 94 Freezes 97 Church chant 98 “Icky!” 99 Full of melting snow 100 Fiats 101 Spanish plural article 103 — Islands (Danish chain)

104 Least limited 105 Has a feeling 109 Botch 112 Goes (for) 113 Blow a horn 114 Saving sort 115 Arab nation 116 Drusilla divorced him 117 Marvel mutants 118 Shul-goer 119 Gardner of “The Bribe” 120 Nettle

PREMIER CROSSWORD SOLUTION HOCUS-FOCUS

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SATURDAY, JANUARY 2, 2016 GARFIELD

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DIVERSIONS 25

CROSSWORD SATURDAY STUMPER ACROSS 1 Common dust-ruffle feature 9 Pal of Duchamp and Chagall 14 Without walls 15 Nibble on a toothpick 16 Tasmanian icebreaker 17 Certain living-room set 18 One with a van line 19 Frontier town 21 Super Tuesday no. 22 Off the table 24 Frequent quote source 25 Santa Maria shipwreck site, today 27 Maker of L’Or de Vie lotion 28 Taupe cousin 30 ‘30s champion of Ulysses 31 People skip its stones 33 Subject of a 1968 Tom Wolfe book 35 Whence some kits emerge 37 Profusion 38 Soviet dissidents’ self-publishing 42 Only city to host consecutive Super Bowls 45 Sit by 46 Hartford neighbor of Twain 48 Cast 50 Signal source-changing control 52 What an ace keeps low 53 Sports accelerator 54 Small wrapper, some say 55 Ancient power of the Mediterranean 58 Avenue __ Champs-Élysées 59 One of a storied English sextet 61 Close 63 White coat 64 Sci-fi hub 65 Perfunctory 66 Outfitted like Colonel Mustard

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DOWN 1 Caught 2 Unpopped kernel, to Redenbacher 3 Je ne sais quoi 4 Jimmy 5 Turkey 6 Genesis “man of the field” 7 When the Anvil Chorus is

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heard 8 Cutting edge in winter sports 9 Sagan’s “very small stage in a vast cosmic arena” 10 Yeast extract for scientific research 11 Pampers, in Liverpool 12 The 2016 Aston Martin DB10 is its official car 13 Word from the Latin for “witness” 15 Wares burned before use 20 Different 23 Educated

26 Cellulose compound in clothing 28 Gets well 29 It makes Speed Racer go 32 Its logo is made from 44 of its products 34 Goldfish alternative 36 Stuffs 38 Object of confidence 39 Otter prey 40 Semi add-on 41 Conservative sentiment 43 Err with hands 44 Vehement 47 Start liking 49 Took some of 51 Daisylike 53 Capital close to Memphis 56 TV series airing from what was once the world’s largest radio studio 57 Mogadishu-born model 60 Onetime owner of Abbey Road Studios 62 Onetime owner of the first audio trademark

HI AND LOIS

HAGAR

» EVENTS // EMAIL: EVENTS@NANAIMODAILYNEWS.COM SATURDAY, JAN. 2

TUESDAY, JAN. 5

7 p.m. Ladysmith Comedy Night. Music Hall Food Co., 18 Roberts St., Ladysmith. Tickets $15 at the door.

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.

SUNDAY, JAN. 3 Noon-4 p.m. Nanaimo Search and Rescue 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.

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. WEDNESDAY, JAN. 6 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 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. FRIDAY, JAN. 8

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. SUNDAY, JAN. 10 8 a.m. to noon Second Sunday Market, Our market - art, craft, new, vintage, collectible, and food, along with a pancake breakfast and live music. A fun family atmosphere.240 Lions Way, Qualicum Beach.

TUESDAY, JAN. 12 7 p.m. Nanaimo Newcomers Club for women. St. Andrews Church hall, 4235 Departure Bay Rd. 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. WEDNESDAY, JAN. 13 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.

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26 DIVERSIONS BLONDIE

@NanaimoDaily

HOROSCOPE by Jacqueline Bigar ARIES (March 21-April 19) You still might be in the holiday spirit, and you’ll try to make sure that everyone feels that life is copacetic. You could decide that you have had enough of the status quo and choose to head in a new direction. Avoid a difficult individual. Tonight: Spend time with a loved one. TAURUS (April 20-May 20) You have a lot of ground to cover and every intention to complete what you feel is necessary. Don’t forget a thank-you note that you still might have to write. A conversation with an older friend or relative could be very enjoyable. Tonight: Take care of yourself first. GEMINI (May 21-June 20) Containing your inner child will be close to impossible, so don’t even try. A message from someone at a distance could be more important than you realize. Don’t let this effort from the other party be ignored or unappreciated. Tonight: Relax. Choose a favorite pastime. CANCER (June 21-July 22) You continue to find that you enjoy yourself most at home. You might enjoy clearing away the holiday knickknacks and having a more orderly environment. A loved one will spend time chatting with you. It has been a while since you kicked back. Tonight: In the limelight. LEO (July 23-Aug. 22) Someone could be quite controlling in his or her present mood. You could feel as if this person is upsetting the applecart, perhaps because of a

BABY BLUES

WORD FIND

SATURDAY, JANUARY 2, 2016

last-minute change of plans. Try to back away from this situation, and avoid any uproar. Tonight: Catch up on a friend’s news. VIRGO (Aug. 23-Sept. 22) Understand the limitations caused by the recent holidays, and honor them. Otherwise, you might not like the results. Your imagination is so wild that a child delights in playing with you. Together you can create quite an adventure. Tonight: Flex with someone’s unpredictability. LIBRA (Sept. 23-Oct. 22) You are full of energy. A friend might not feel the same way you do. It simply might be an issue of low energy levels, or plans that he or she would prefer not to be involved with. Don’t allow his or her actions and/or words to upset you. Tonight: Ask for what you want. SCORPIO (Oct. 23-Nov. 21) Be more aware of your limitations in a money matter. Understand what needs to happen in order to make a situation work. A conversation with a neighbor or close relative could be rather disconcerting. Try not to take a comment personally. Tonight: Get some extra R and R. SAGITTARIUS (Nov. 22-Dec. 21) You might need to be a little more serious in order to slow down a loved one who has a lot of influence over you. A conversation is long overdue. A child or new friend lets you know how independent he or she is. Maintain a sense of humor. Tonight: Surround yourself with friends. CAPRICORN (Dec. 22-Jan. 19) Take charge. Some of you might choose to work for part of the day. You’ll want to start clearing

out some paperwork and emails before Monday. The unexpected occurs before you know it. Clearly, you have very little control here. Tonight: Others notice you wherever you are. AQUARIUS (Jan. 20-Feb. 18) You might find that a friend is difficult to listen to, and you could feel drained as a result. You’ll be overwhelmed by everything you hear, and even though you can distance yourself from a conversation, you still will have it in the back of your mind. Tonight: Surprises run amok! PISCES (Feb. 19-March 20) You will want to make a substantial change. You need to rethink a question revolving around a particular relationship. Your personal finances could swing in either direction. You might be dealing with some wildness and risk-taking. Tonight: Share with a favorite person. YOUR BIRTHDAY (Jan. 2) This year you often say one thing, but then do something different. Others could be confused or frustrated by your mixed messages. If you get feedback about this behavior, stop and listen. Ask yourself what is going on. If you are single, others find you to be very attractive and alluring. You could get involved with someone quite exotic and different. If you are attached, the two of you play into each other’s moods. A sudden move or an unanticipated change in your environment might trigger a new beginning that could be very exciting. Don’t hold in your feelings so much. LIBRA understands much more than you realize.

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◆ LOS ANGELES

Caitlyn Jenner settles over fatal accident A woman injured in a fatal crash involving Caitlyn Jenner has settled her lawsuit against the reality TV star. Los Angeles court records filed this month by Jenner’s lawyer show that Jessica Steindorff settled her case. The court papers do not indicate terms of the settlement. Attorneys for both

Harbourview Volkswagen www.harbourviewvw.com

sides did not immediately return calls and messages seeking comment. Steindorff had sought unspecified damages against the Jenner for the Feb. 7 crash on the Pacific Coast Highway in Malibu. One woman was killed and several other people were injured.

Sheriff’s investigators determined Jenner was travelling at an unsafe speed for traffic conditions. Prosecutors declined to file a vehicular manslaughter charge against Jenner, who won a 1976 Olympic gold medal. — THE ASSOCIATED PRESS

SOLUTION: A BEACH GETAWAY

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FAMILY ANNOUNCEMENTS

DEATHS

May 11, 1926 - December 24, 2015

DEATHS

McFadden, Joan Frances (nee Sharman)

March 5, 1922 â&#x20AC;&#x201C; December 27, 2015 It is with great sadness that we announce the passing of our beloved mother, Nana, great grandmother, and great, great grandmother in Nanaimo on December 27, 2015. A devoted wife, she was predeceased by her husband of 70 years, Douglas Stanley, in August 2014, and by brothers, Donald and Robert. Joan was a loving mother to Douglas (Dawne), Bob (Anne), and Janis (Bob) and proud grandmother to Debby (Shawn), Shelly (Paul), Tera (Neil), Glenn, Kate (Tommy), Bradley (Anna), Lauren (Lyhle), and Amanda (Aaron). She was also a dedicated great grandmother to six, and a great, great grandmother to one. Joan is survived by her sister Dorothy (Topsy) Nelson of West Vancouver, nieces and nephews, extended family, and lifelong friends. She was born at Lake Buntzen, B.C. during a late winter snow storm, the third of four children to Emily and Charles Sharman. She grew up in West Vancouver, married and moved with her husband and family to Nanaimo in 1959. There she enjoyed the years raising their children as well as working outside the home until retirement. Mom will be lovingly remembered for her unwavering strength and dedication to family. The family would like to give special thanks to Dr. Elizabeth Feick and also to the staff at the Nanaimo Seniors Village and Dufferin Place for their wonderful care and attention to our mother in her final years. Momâ&#x20AC;&#x2122;s wish was that there be no service. A family celebration of life will be Sands ~ Nanaimo held early in the New Year. 250-753-2032

Jim was born at Cutknife, Saskatchewan, eldest son of Robert and Grace Vance. He passed away in Victoria, in his 90th year. He was predeceased by his parents and daughter, Stephanie, and left his wife of 67 years, Meryl, two daughters, Valerie Gillespie( Don) and Shirley Sloan, son, Jim (Helen), seven grandchildren and thirty-three great-grandchildren, as well as his brothers, Donald (Lois) and Carroll. At 18, he enlisted and trained with Canada Airborne, then spent fifty years in ministry with the Pentecostal Assemblies of Canada. He served at Wiseton, Wadena, Selkirk, Kenora, Mission City, Nanaimo, Toronto, Vancouver and Burnaby. In the process, he oversaw the building of two churches, Sheppard Manor in Toronto and Broadway Lodge in False Creek, Vancouver. Jim loved people, his Lord, and his family. He had a lovely tenor voice and enjoyed music and singing. He was Irish and loved a good laugh or joke. In later years he was afflicted with Alzheimerâ&#x20AC;&#x2122;s Disease, which he bore with grace, and sometimes, patience. The family is so thankful for the care and comfort provided to him by the staff at Selkirk Place. There will be a Celebration of Life held at Glad Tidings Church, Victoria, on Tuesday, January 12, 2016 at 01:30 pm. Please, no flowers.

For those who love, time is not. Missing you today and always.

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TENNIS

Milos Raonic adds top-ranked coach THE CANADIAN PRESS

ABU DHABI, United Arab Emirates â&#x20AC;&#x201D; Canadian tennis star Milos Raonic has added former top-ranked Carlos Moya to his coaching staff. The 25-year-old from Thornhill, Ont., announced the news on Instagram on Friday shortly after defeating Stan Wawrinka 7-5, 7-5 in the semifinals of the Mubadala World Tennis Championship. â&#x20AC;&#x153;A great way to start off the New Year. With a win,â&#x20AC;? Raonic posted on Instagram. Raonic said the former world No. 1-ranked Moya will join him in Melbourne, adding â&#x20AC;&#x153;As a great champion, competitor and person I think he will be a great mentor/coach to me in achieving my dreams and complementing/joining the team.â&#x20AC;? The Canadianâ&#x20AC;&#x2122;s victory over Wawrinka set up a meeting with Rafael Nadal in Sundayâ&#x20AC;&#x2122;s final.

28 SPORTS

COLLEGE FOOTBALL

Stanford star sets Rose Bowl record in victory GREG BEACHAM THE ASSOCIATED PRESS

PASADENA, Calif. — The first time Christian McCaffrey touched the ball in the 102nd Rose Bowl, he took it 75 yards for a spectacular touchdown. A few hundred yards later, Stanford’s sophomore star had smashed the oldest bowl game’s record for all-purpose yards while leading the Cardinal to a blowout win over Iowa. Sure, McCaffrey didn’t win the Heisman Trophy, and Stanford barely missed out on the College Football Playoff. McCaffrey and the mighty Cardinal are still headed into the new year with the Pac-12 champions’ most coveted post-season trophy — and the brightest of futures. McCaffrey caught a touchdown pass on the opening snap and returned a punt 66 yards for another score while racking up 368 all-purpose yards, propelling No. 5 Stanford to a 45-16 victory over the sixth-ranked Hawkeyes on Friday. Three-time Rose Bowl starter Kevin Hogan passed for 223 yards and three TDs in his final game for the Cardinal (12-2) as this unlikely Bay Area football powerhouse won the Granddaddy of Them All for the second time in three trips over the past four years. “It’s so fun when a team can come together,” McCaffrey said. “We’ve got a bunch of fighters on this team that will never give up. Just love playing with these guys.” McCaffrey was sublime in his Rose Bowl debut, breaking the all-purpose yards record set by Wisconsin’s Jared Abbrederis in 2012. McCaffrey finished second behind Alabama’s Derrick Henry in the Heisman voting, but the speedy running back turned in one of the most dynamic performances in the Rose Bowl’s lengthy history. “I think he was the best player in America before this game, so I think it’s just the icing on the cake,” Stanford coach David Shaw said. “I do think it’s a shame that a lot of people didn’t get to see him during the course of the year. Apparently the games were too late.” The world was wide awake to see McCaffrey in Pasadena — and he scored 11 seconds in. Hogan’s throw to McCaffrey was the second-longest TD pass in Rose Bowl history and the longest play given up all season by the stingy Iowa defence. “I wouldn’t say I was in shock, (but) it was like, ‘Dang, already?”’ Stanford left tackle Kyle Murphy said. “I knew they haven’t seen a player of his calibre all year, someone with speed like that. With all the Heisman stuff, he felt really snubbed.”

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SATURDAY, JANUARY 2, 2016

LOOK AHEAD

Top stories to watch for in 2016 New Blue Jays president, CEO has tall task ahead of him in repeating last year’s run GREGORY STRONG THE CANADIAN PRESS

ow will Canada do at the Rio Olympics? Will the Toronto Blue Jays return to the playoffs? Will the World Cup of Hockey be a hit or a bust? Those are just some of the questions ahead of another busy year on the Canadian sports calendar. Here’s a look at 10 stories to watch in 2016: SHAPIRO STAMP There is a new president, new general manager and there will be some new players on the 2016 edition of the Toronto Blue Jays. Expectations are high for a team that is built to win now and is coming off its first post-season appearance in 22 years. President Mark Shapiro and general manager Ross Atkins will be under pressure to help guide the team back to the playoffs. Manager John Gibbons will be back and the team’s offence should be just as powerful as last season. If the new front office can effectively plug the holes on the pitching staff, the Blue Jays should be contenders once again. BOUNCING BACK Eugenie Bouchard would like nothing more than to forget about her dismal 2015 season. She couldn’t follow up on her stellar 2014 campaign, with a string of early losses sending her tumbling down the world rankings over the last year. Bouchard also suffered a head injury after falling in the locker-room at the U.S. Open and was sidelined for the rest of the season. The 21-year-old Canadian will have tougher draws on the WTA Tour until she shows signs of improvement. OLYMPIC YEAR These are interesting times for Canadian amateur sport. Carla Qualtrough is the new Minister of Sport and Tricia Smith is the new president of the Canadian Olympic Committee. The Canadian team won just one gold medal at the 2012 Summer Games and bigger things will be expected this summer in Rio. Canada is expected to send a deeper roster to the 2016 Olympics, anchored by a strong track and field team that’s coming off a breakout performance at the world championship. Trampolinist Rosie MacLennan won the lone gold in 2012. Canada added five silver and 12 bronze medals at the London Games. WORLD CUP The World Cup of Hockey makes its return in 2016 after a 12-year absence. In addition to the usual top countries, the tournament will feature a Team Europe (European players from countries outside Finland, Sweden, Russia and the Czech Republic) along with a Team

Toronto Blue Jays new president and chief executive officer Mark Shapiro answers questions at a press conference in Toronto on Nov. 2. [THE CANADIAN PRESS]

North America entry with players 23 and under. The latter change could create the unusual situation of young Canadian stars playing against their native country on home ice. Toronto’s Air Canada Centre will host the tournament from Sept. 17-Oct. 1. WHEELS IN MOTION Canadian driver James Hinchcliffe plans a return to full-time auto racing this season after suffering serious injuries in a crash during an Indianapolis 500 practice session last May. A piece of his car’s broken suspension pierced his left leg and caused significant blood loss. The IndyCar racer returned to the cockpit for test sessions last September. He’ll be entering his sixth season in the open-wheel series. BOATMEN AT BMO The Toronto Argonauts played only a handful of real home games last season. The Pan Am Games forced the Argos to play their first five games on the road, including a so-called home opener in Fort McMurray, Alta. The Blue Jays’ playoff run forced the CFL team out of Rogers Centre again later in the season, with the

Argos playing home dates in Hamilton and Ottawa. The football club moves down the road to the more intimate BMO Field in 2016. Toronto will also host the Grey Cup in the fall. QUEBEC CITY Quebec City has been without an NHL team since the Nordiques left in 1995 to become the Colorado Avalanche. The new Videotron Centre hosted a pre-season game last September and Quebecor has made its expansion pitch to the NHL’s executive committee. However, the timetable for the expansion process — if the league decides to add teams at all — is unclear. Las Vegas has also expressed an interest in an expansion club. RAONIC READY? Milos Raonic has seven career ATP Tour singles titles on his resume. He’s still looking to break through at a Grand Slam. The 25-year-old Canadian is entering his prime and will be looking to win that elusive major title this season. Raonic was hampered by back and foot injuries in 2015 but still managed to reach a career-high No. 4 in the world rankings. He’ll enter the 2016 campaign just

outside the top 10. If he can stay healthy this season, it could be the year he makes his move. DINO-MITE The Toronto Raptors have reached the second round of the NBA playoffs on just one occasion in their 20-year history. The reigning Atlantic Division champions will be looking to clear that first-round hurdle this spring for the first time since 2001. The Eastern Conference is stronger this season but the Raptors are still the favourites to win the division. In addition, Toronto’s Air Canada Centre will host the NBA all-star game for the first time in February. SURGING SKIPS Brad Gushue has emerged as the skip to beat this season on the Canadian men’s curling scene. The 2006 Olympic champion has a healthy lead on Kevin Koe in the Canadian Team Ranking System. Gushue won The National in November and reached the final at the recent Canadian Open. He’s hoping to continue his strong play in 2016 as he aims to win the Tim Hortons Brier for the first time. Rachel Homan is the top-ranked team on the women’s CTRS list. Reigning national champion Jennifer Jones is second.

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SATURDAY, JANUARY 2, 2016

FASHION WEEK IN PAKISTAN A model presents a creation of Pakistani fashion label Maazjee during the Fashion Week For Men 2015 on Dec. 26 in Karachi, Pakistan. [AP PHOTO]

Above and below, backstage at the Fashion Week For Men 2015 on Dec. 26

A model presents a creation by Pakistani designer Amir Adnan.

A model presents a creation by Royal Tag during the Fashion Week For Men 2015.

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30 ENTERTAINMENT

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SATURDAY, JANUARY 2, 2016

OBITUARY

Natalie Cole, daughter of Nat, dead at 65 Star had battled drug problems and hepatitis that forced her to undergo a kidney transplant in May 2009 THE ASSOCIATED PRESS

LOS ANGELES — Natalie Cole, the Grammy-winning daughter of Nat “King” Cole“ who carried on her late father’s musical legacy and, through technology, shared a duet with him on ”Unforgettable,“ has died. She was 65. Natalie died Thursday evening at Cedar Sinai Hospital in Los Angeles due to compilations from ongoing health issues, her family said in a statement. “Natalie fought a fierce, courageous battle, dying how she lived . . . with dignity, strength and honour. Our beloved Mother and sister will be greatly missed and remain UNFORGETTABLE in our hearts forever,” read the statement from her son Robert Yancy and sisters Timolin and Casey Cole. Cole had battled drug problems and hepatitis that forced her to undergo a kidney transplant in May 2009. Cole’s older sister, Carol “Cookie” Cole, died the day she received the transplant. Their brother, Nat Kelly Cole, died in 1995. Natalie Cole was inspired by her dad at an early age and auditioned to sing with him when she was just 11 years old. She was 15 when he died of lung cancer, in 1965. She began as an R&B singer but later gravitated toward the smooth pop and jazz standards that her father loved. Cole’s greatest success came with her 1991 album, Unforgettable . . . With Love, which paid tribute to her father with reworked versions of some of his best-known songs, including “That Sunday That Summer,” “Too Young“ and “Mona Lisa.“ Her voice was spliced with her dad’s in the title cut, offering a delicate duet a quarter-century after his death. The album sold some 14 million copies and won six Grammys, including album of the year as well record and song of the year for the title track duet.

Singer Natalie Cole performs at An Evening of SeriousFun Celebrating the Legacy of Paul Newman in New York in March. Cole, the daughter of jazz legend Nat ‘King’ Cole who carried on his musical legacy, died Thursday. She was 65. [AP PHOTO]

COLE

While making the album, Cole told The Associated Press in 1991, she had to “throw out every R&B lick that I had ever learned and every pop trick I had ever learned. With him, the music was in the background and the voice was in the front.” “I didn’t shed really any real tears until the album was over,” Cole said. “Then I cried a whole lot. When we started the project it was a way of

reconnecting with my dad. Then when we did the last song, I had to say goodbye again.” She was also nominated for an Emmy award in 1992 for a televised performance of her father’s songs. “That was really my thank you,” she told People magazine in 2006. “I owed that to him.” Another father-daughter duet, “When I Fall in Love,” won a 1996 Grammy for best pop collaboration with vocals, and a follow-up album, Still Unforgettable, won for best traditional pop vocal album of 2008. Cole made her recording debut in 1975 with “Inseparable.” The music industry welcomed her with two Grammy awards — one for best new artist and one for best female R&B vocal performance for her buoyant hit “This Will Be (An Everlasting Love).” She also worked as an actress, with appearances on TV’s Touched by an Angel and Grey’s Anatomy.

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But she was happiest touring and performing live. “I still love recording and still love the stage,” she said on her website in 2008, “but like my dad, I have the most fun when I am in front of that glorious orchestra or that kick-butt big band.” Cole was born in 1950 to Nat “King” Cole and his wife, Maria Ellington Cole, a onetime vocalist with Duke Ellington who was no relation to the great bandleader. Her father was already a recording star, and he rose to greater heights in the 1950s and early ’60s. He toured worldwide, and in 1956 he became the first black entertainer to host a national TV variety show, though poor ratings and lack of sponsors killed it off the following year. He also appeared in a few movies and spoke out in favour of civil rights. Natalie Cole grew up in Los Angeles’ posh Hancock Park neighbourhood, where her parents had settled

in 1948 despite animosity from some white residents about having the black singer as a neighbour. When told by residents didn’t want “undesirable people” in the area, the singer said, “Neither do I, and if I see (any), I’ll be the first to complain.” The family eventually included five children. Natalie Cole started singing seriously in college, performing in small clubs. But in her 2000 autobiography, Angel on My Shoulder, Cole discussed how she had battled heroin, crack cocaine and alcohol addiction for many years. She spent six months in rehab in 1983. When she announced in 2008 that she had been diagnosed with hepatitis C, a liver disease spread through contact with infected blood, she blamed her past intravenous drug use. She criticized the Recording Academy for giving five Grammys to drug user Amy Winehouse in 2008. “I’m an ex-drug addict and I don’t take that kind of stuff lightly,” Cole explained at the 2009 Grammy Awards. Hepatitis C “stayed in my body for 25 years and it could still happen to this young woman or other addicts who are fooling around with drugs, especially needles.” Cole received chemotherapy to treat the hepatitis and “within four months, I had kidney failure,” she told CNN’s Larry King in 2009. She needed dialysis three times a week until she received a donor kidney on May 18, 2009. The organ procurement agency One Legacy facilitated the donation from a family that had requested that their donor’s organ go to Cole if it was a match. Cole toured through much of her illness, often receiving dialysis at hospitals around the globe. “I think that I am a walking testimony to you can have scars,” she told People magazine. “You can go through turbulent times and still have victory in your life.”

George Lucas sorry for ‘white slavers’ remark THE ASSOCIATED PRESS

LOS ANGELES — George Lucas has apologized for criticizing Disney’s handling of Star Wars and saying he had sold his characters to “white slavers” in a recent interview with Charlie Rose. In a statement issued Thursday, Lucas says he misspoke and used a “very inappropriate analogy.” It was not clear what the Star Wars creator meant by the “white slavers” comment, and Rose did not ask a follow-up question. “I rarely go out with statements to clarify my feelings but I feel it is important to make it clear that I am thrilled that Disney has the franchise and is moving it in such exciting directions,” said Lucas in his statement. He sold his company, Lucasfilm, to the Walt Disney Co. in 2012 for $4.06 billion, and the studio charged ahead in developing Star Wars: The Force Awakens.

SATURDAY, JANUARY 2, 2016

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ENTERTAINMENT 31

CLASS IS IN — AGAIN

Actor Ana Golja on Thursday at the production company’s Toronto studios as she promotes ‘Degrassi: Next Class,’ which premieres on Monday on Family Channel’s F2N. [THE CANADIAN PRESS PHOTOS]

‘Degrassi’ graduates to Netflix as U.S. platform VICTORIA AHEARN THE CANADIAN PRESS

TORONTO — Class is set to resume on a new incarnation of “Degrassi,” this time on different platforms — Family Channel in Canada and Netflix in the U.S. While cast member Ana Golja says some of the content on Degrassi: Next Class is “a little more risqué,” the creators insist the show’s Netflix foray hasn’t affected the series in an extreme way. “I don’t want to make it feel like, ‘Oh, we’ve gone to Netflix and we’re going sensational,’ because that is so not true,” says series co-creator Linda Schuyler, who is also an executive producer. “I think if anything, we’re back to our real roots. We might have just shied away from them a little bit towards the end of ’Next Generation.”’ Degrassi: Next Class premieres on Family Channel on Monday, during a teen block of programming called F2N, and on Netflix in the U.S., it will debut on Jan. 15. The change comes after a 14-season run with Bell Media, ending in the summer with Degrassi: Next Generation on MTV Canada. “Being on Netflix and the teen block of Family Channel . . . I think that’s definitely given us some leeway in terms of our content and what subjects we can deal with and how

explicit we can be,” says Golja, 19, who was also in The Next Generation as former teen star Zoe Rivas. Schuyler says they wanted the show to feel like it had been rebooted, but also contain the “basic principles of Degrassi that you can find all through the 35 years of it.” “We wanted to make new fans feel like they could be welcome, that you didn’t have to have seen the old show, you can come in and start from the beginning, start from the bottom,” she says, playing on the “Started From the Bottom” song title of franchise alum Aubrey Graham, a.k.a. Drake. “Or, if you are a fan of the show already, it’ll still feel familiar to you as well as fresh.” Both Family and Netflix have given creators and writers much freedom, says Schuyler. “Their attitude to working with us is, ‘You are the people who are the experts, you’ve been doing this show long enough, we are not going to give you a lot of notes.’ And that, I would say, has been very, very refreshing for myself and the writers. “But I still feel tremendous responsibility, because I know I’m producing for a youth market and I know that our storytelling has to be responsible.” Next Class focuses on Generation Z and Schuyler says social media has provided “a pleth-

Ana Golja says that ‘Degrassi: Next Class’ is a ‘little more risqué.’

ora of great storylines” for the Emmy-nominated, Toronto-set series, from issues related to photo-sharing sites, to catfishing and cyber-bullying. Other returning cast members include Ricardo Hoyos, Eric Osborne, Sara Waisglass, and Stefan Brogren.

New faces include Amir Bageria, Chelsea Clark, and Dante Scott. Schuyler surmises the show has resonated for so long because they have a roster of veteran and new writers, as well as an age-appropriate cast who have some input. “We don’t publish a single script

here until the writers and the cast all sit down and read it together,” says Schuyler. “So by the writers being very diligent in keeping their ear and eye on the pulse of what’s out there and with the genuine input from our cast, we keep ourselves in check.”

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32 DIVERSIONS/ENTERTAINMENT

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SATURDAY, JANUARY 2, 2016

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Dear Annie: I realize that this is a common issue, but I could still use some advice. When my son first married, his wife was loving and involved with the family. When the babies were born, we continued a warm relationship. Now that their children are older, however, our daughter-in-law is cold and distant, and she is not interested in interacting with our extended family. She grew up in a troubled family and seemed very happy to join ours. But not anymore. We live nearby and other than chance meetings, occasional help with the children and family holidays, we seldom see my son. We were told early on that we were not to visit unannounced, and we never have. If we didn’t attend the grandchildren’s school functions, we would never see them. It seems that our daughter-in-law just doesn’t like us and wants minimal contact. Are we asking too much? Are we living in the past? Is there anything that can be done to improve the situation? You’ve advised parents in our situation to find other interests. I think that if the young couples would imagine our situation in their own future, they might realize the extent of their hurtful behaviour. — Crying Mother Dear Mother: You are right that this is, unfortunately, a problem that many parents have. We don’t know why your daughter-in-law is behaving differently. She may have her own emotional issues that prevent her from having a healthy relationship with you. She may have been putting on a show for the past several years and doesn’t want to do it

anymore. You may be behaving in a way that seems fine to you, but is annoying to her. You are not asking too much, but you might consider readjusting your expectations. Do not criticize or assign blame. That will only make the situation worse. You can ask your son whether there is something you can do to help smooth over the relationship, and then do it. You can see whether your son will bring the kids over without his wife so she can get a break and you can spend time with them. Or you can accept that this is how it is, being grateful that you get to see the family on holidays and at school events, and involving yourself in things that will bring you peace. Dear Annie: I read the letter from “Fed Up,” who objected to people with buckets asking for money to help send their kids’ ecology class to Honduras. As a teacher, I sponsored many clubs and teams. We did do outside fundraisers for charities where my students held buckets at the intersections in town and raised thousands of dollars. Although we didn’t bucket-beg for our own activities, I understand why they are so common now. With recent tax cuts, schools have less money for optional activities, such as band trips, choral productions and academic competitions. When you do a fundraiser through the school, like selling candy, the price of the item has to be inflated to allow a profit margin. With a bucket campaign, the group gets 100 percent of all donations. Your advice was good. If you don’t support the activity, keep your windows up and drive on by. —M 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.

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OBITUARY

Wayne Rogers, Trapper John on ‘M*A*S*H,’ dies at the age of 82 THE ASSOCIATED PRESS

LOS ANGELES — Wayne Rogers, whose Trapper John McIntyre alongside Alan Alda’s Hawkeye Pierce brought mischief, martinis and meatball surgery to the masses in the 1970s every week on M*A*S*H, has died. The actor was surrounded by family when he died Thursday in Los Angeles of complications from pneumonia at age 82, his publicist and longtime friend Rona Menashe told The Associated Press. Rogers’ army surgeon Trapper John was one of the most beloved characters — and half of one of the most beloved duos — in TV history, despite the actor’s appearing in only the first three of the show’s 11 seasons on CBS. “I loved Wayne. He was smart and

funny and curious and dedicated,” Alda said Friday. “On the day we met we promised each other to give MASH everything we had, and that promise bonded us. We were close friends and I’ll miss him very much.” The two skilled doctors, Hawkeye and Trapper, blew off steam between surgeries pulling pranks, romancing nurses and tormenting their tent-mate Frank Burns, with a seemingly endless supply of booze and one-liners at the ready. In one classic moment, Trapper reaches out as though he’s checking for rain and says, “Hmm, feels like it’s going to martini,” as Hawkeye promptly passes him a drink. Rogers is survived by his wife Amy, two children, Bill and Laura, and four grandchildren.