Comox Valley Echo - August 22, 2014

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Volume 20, No. 67

New brewery company set to offer foamy pours downtown

By Michael Briones Echo Staff A new brewing company is foaming in Courtenay.

Gladstone Brewing Co. is gearing up to start offering a variety of craft beers this coming fall. The different brews will be produced at their establishment located at 244 Fourth Street.

The owners, husband and wife Daniel Sharratt and Alexandra Stephanson, are currently seeking support from Courtenay council for a proposed brewery lounge area endorsement, which they have applied for to the Liquor Control and Licensing Branch.

Once approved, patrons will be able to consume liquor in a designated interior lounge area at the manufacturing site. There will be seating areas where patrons can enjoy a pint and also food that will be provided by Mud Sharks Café next door.

Council directed staff to publish a notice, for two consecutive weeks, in a local newspaper and also to post it on the city’s website requesting input on the proposed lounge.

Once that is achieved, council will vote on it at the regular meeting scheduled for Sept. 8. Council also wants the Downtown Courtenay Business Association to provide comments regarding Gladstone’s application.

(Continued on page 3)

Recycling collection facility faces growing pains thanks to MMBC opportunity

By Drew A. Penner Echo Staff

Comox Valley Knockout Martial Arts School instructor Scott Judson gets doused with buckets of ice water after accepting the Ice Bucket Challenge, a deed that his helping raise awareness and funds for ALS research.

MARTIAL ARTIST BRAVES ICE-COLD CHALLENGE

By Michael Briones Echo Staff Scott Judson likes challenges. He’s not one to shy away from anyone who dares to lay down the gauntlet.

Bring it on, he would say.

However, Judson, a Muay Thai instructor who operates the Comox Valley Knockout Martial Arts School in Courtenay, received a different type of challenge, one that sent shivers down his spine.

Judson said he was surprised and felt cold at the prospect of performing this dare, called out by a friend from New Jersey, USA, Joe Noyes, a former teammate at the University of Oklahoma, someone he hasn’t heard of for a while.

The Courtenay martial artist was asked to do this deed that has become a viral sensation online called the “Ice Bucket Challenge.”

It’s a chilling feat that has been performed by a multitude of people from all walks of like that included sports stars, actors, actresses and politicians.

It’s a challenge that is geared towards raising awareness and funds for ALS, amyotrophic lateral sclerosis.

“I haven’t spoken with my friend for a few years so when he nominated me to do this, it was pretty funny,” said Judson. “I was

laughing. And yes, I was cursing him too.”

Judson had 24 hours to perform the deed and put it on YouTube the minute the challenge was issued. Declining would have resulted in a barrage of endless scorn and humiliation.

Judson’s students, alone with his wife Jennifer and children, prepared not just one bucket filled with ice water, but 14 buckets.

With gay abandon, they poured and splashed water on Judson, who stood bravely just outside his gym to accept, without hesitation what was being asked of him.

After the challenge, Judson commented, “It was way colder than I though it was going to be. It was freezing cold. But it feels good doing anything for charity.”

The club’s students donated to the cause and Judson matched the amount. They raised $276 while will be donated for ALS research.

“Whatever we raise goes towards a good cause,” said Judson.

“A dollar from every body goes a long way.”

Judson then went on to dare three of his friends to perform this chilling challenge that has helped spread the word about ALS, a progressive neurodegenerative disease that affects motor nerve cells in the brain and spinal cord. The motor neurons that conduct transmissions from the spinal cord to muscles eventually die, meaning the brain’s initiated movements become lost.

Emterra Group has successfully brought its Cumberland yard into compliance after the Village notified the recycling depot that the amount of garbage on site presented a fire hazard. The company, which had a blaze at the facility in recent years, put extra workers on clean-up duty and brought the property into compliance in about two weeks.

“We’re part of this community,” said Dave Ross, North Island operations manager at Emterra Group. “We’ve done everything we can to comply and cooperate with mayor and council.”

The excess volume of paper and packaging waste at the sorting and shipping facility came as a result of Emterra being contracted through Green By Nature to handle the recycling collected under the new Multi Materials BC program. Many communities in BC have signed up to the packaging producer-managed collection program, which included a hefty signing bonus for municipalities.

Because Emterra transports all the material collected under this system on the Island from Nanaimo north and separates it into various streams for sale to processors, an upgrade of equipment was needed.

“We actually break it into commodities,” Ross said. “All of that material funnels now through Emterra’s plant in Cumberland - hence the retrofit.”

The waste leaves the Cumberland facility once it is sold to middlemen who process the material before passing it on to an end user which could be in North America or could be anywhere else in the world.

A Glenda Gies & Associates report for MMBC noted newspaper, corrugated packaging and mixed paper tend to head to Washington, Oregon, China, South Korea and Vietnam, among other places.

Officials said about six extra workers were brought on at the time of the fire violation cleanup.

One of these workers described a long shift filled with nothing but chasing after garbage blowing around the site, in an interview.

The extra employees from staffing agency Labour Unlimited were already needed due to the retrofit, Ross said.

(Continued on page 2)

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A2 Comox Valley Echo Friday, August 22, 2014

News

Comox Valley Weather

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Friday, 22 August Sunny.

High 24°C.

Saturday, 23 August Sunny.

Low 14°C. High 25°C.

Sunday, 24 August Sunny.

Low 14°C. High 24°C.

Monday, 25 August Sunny.

Low 12°C. High 25°C.

Tuesday, 26 August Sunny.

Low 13°C. High 26°C.

For the latest Comox Valley Weather visit: www.comoxvalleyecho.com

Can you sign for that please?

UPS to create a dozen Comox Valley jobs WANTED

By Drew A. Penner Echo Staff The United Parcel Service of North America, Inc. says it will create at least 12 new jobs in the Comox Valley as it expands operations in BC. The company, which has pledged to complete 20 million hours of global volunteerism and community service by 2020, says it is committed to making its mark on quality of life in the region, too.

“The entire expansion, including Comox Valley, was fueled by customer demand and our realization of future growth opportunities in the province,” said UPS Canada president Michael D. Tierney, admitting the growth of big brown doesn’t come cheap. “The expansion and expenditure is an investment to grow our brand and support our customers.”

The company, which popped up in B.C. 28 years ago, is adding 80 jobs across the province as it tries to replicate a recent ballooning of its business in Atlantic Canada.

“Our goal is to open or expand operations in four cities by November 2014 and to grow our business in these areas,” Tierney said. “This is also part of a larger strategy to implement operating changes to support the evolving business and needs of our customers.”

UPS was founded by James E. Casey back in 1907 and has been in Canada for 40 years.

“Our organization was built on

If you have any information about the whereabouts of either of these two people, call the Comox Valley RCMP Detachment at 338-1321, or Comox Valley Crimestoppers at 1-800-222-TIPS (1-800-222-8477). You don’t have to give your name and you could be eligible for a cash reward.

UPS delivers its first package under a new BC expansion. (Submitted) the foundation of serving our customers and the communities where we live and work,” he said, noting 2013 was a big year for giving back in Canada for the company. “UPS employees, alongside their families and friends logged almost 50,000 volunteer hours that benefited local community development, youth education, social issues and the environment”.

The company is not expecting to raise prices in Canada any time soon.

UPS pickup and delivery services for its customers in Kamloops began today, the kick-off of a multi-million dollar investment that will see the firm add 36,000 square feet of space in the province. Kelowna and

Growing pains for recycler (Continued from page 1) “We are growing and we are expanding because of the new legislated recycling rules,” he said, noting there are many subcontractors and other moving parts under the MMBC system. “It’s quite a complicated process and you have to sit there and figure out how everyone fits in to it.”

But officials were notified of the vast amounts of material building up on the East Cumberland property.

“They just had too much volume on their site,” explained fire chief Mike Williamson. “It wasn’t stacked completely to the fire code.”

Cumberland council held a meeting in camera to discuss the issue and the property owner was given a warning.

“They were bringing stuff in but they couldn’t process it,” he said. “It was piling up and they were getting behind.”

But the situation was sorted out relatively quickly, he added.

“They did a good job actually,” he said. “They’re in compliance now.”

Coun. Kate Greening was particularly frustrated with Emterra.

“They’ve never been a great corporate citizen in the Village of

Cumberland,” she said. “You shouldn’t have to be hounded to do what you’re supposed to do.”

This is just the first in a line of headaches MMBC will usher in, she asserted.

“The whole thing to me is still a bunch of b.s.,” she said. “With recycling I think it was working fairly well all along.”

Coun. Roger Kishi said the relationship between the Village and Emterra is a healthy one, but notes staff has been keeping an eye on the property for awhile.

“It’s been going back several years,” he said, referring to a fire that caught on the property in the past. “They understand some concerns that the Village has.”

There are other communities that have been experiencing problems with MMBC, he added, noting he expects it to be a big topic of discussion at the Union of BC Municipalities conference this year.

—With a file from Postmedia

Nanaimo are the other two locations selected by the company.

With the rise of digital mail and e-commerce Canadians have increasingly been turning away from Canada Post and going with parcel delivery services such as FedEx and UPS more often.

Canada Post’s move to halt doorto-door mail delivery did not influence the recent UPS expansion plans in BC, Tierney noted.

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POLICE BLOTTER Comox Valley RCMP responded to the following incidents between August 12 and 18: On August 12th police responded to a report of a hit and run collision that had occurred in a parking lot on Grant Avenue in Courtenay. The owner reports leaving the vehicle in the morning and upon returning after work found that a vehicle had collided with hers causing about $3000.00 damage to the front quarter panel and fender. The vehicle is believed to be a large pickup truck. (2014-9996) On Agust 15th police responded to a report of a two vehicle head on collision at the intersection of Ryan road and Lerwick road in Courtenay. The investigation revealed that one vehicle had been south bound going on a Green light when a vehicle travelling north turned left into the lane of travel. The offending driver was charged under the Motor Vehicle Act for failing to yield right of way.(2014-10146) Police were responding to a report of an assault where the suspect had left the scene in a vehicle, on August 16th. The vehicle was located a short distance away and the driver was arrested for the assault but during the arrest the driver was exhibiting signs of impairment.

The man was found to be consuming alcohol and received a 90 Immediate Roadside Prohibition and had his vehicle was impounded. (2014-10218) On August 16th police took a report of a stolen 2006 Black Yamaha scooter bearing BC plate U68050. The scooter was taken from outside a residence on the 4600 block of Western road in Courtenay. (2014-10247) Police received a report of a stolen handmade, adult sized, three wheeled tricycle from a residence on the 4600 block of Western road in Courtenay. The trike has

BMX handlebars, a plastic three spoke front wheel, an Orange seat and the frame is green and silver (bare steel).

(2014-10248) On August 18th police took a report of a theft of two sea kayaks from a residence on the 8800 block of Driftwood road in Black Creek. One of the kayaks is a Blue colored 12 foot Manitoo and the other is an Orange 14 foot Lokshu. (2014-10299) On August 18th police received a report of a boat motor from a boat parked at a residence on the 700 block of 16th street in Courtenay. The motor is described as a 8 horse power Honda four stroke engine which is Grey in Color.

(2014-10310) Statistics for the period Aug 10 - 18, 2014 Thefts (All excluding Theft of Vehicles) 27 B&E (All types) 2 Cause a Disturbance 21 Impaired Driving Related 4 Total Files For Period 452

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Comox Valley Echo Friday, August 22, 2014 A3

News Work to fix EN rail line to start this winter The work to repair Island rails and bridges is expected to start this winter that will allow passenger trains to resume.

While Southern Rail of Vancouver Island, which operates the railway, has yet to issue tenders to find a contractor to do the work, Island Corridor Foundation, which owns the track, expects that to happen soon.

The poor state of track killed the service in spring, 2011. That led to negotiations with Via Rail, which funds passenger rail service in Canada, for a new Island rail service agreement.

The finalization of an agreement this summer will trigger the release of nearly $20 million in federal, provincial and local government funds for track and bridge restoration.

Each Island regional district served by the rail line will pay a share of the

costs, and now, with a Via agreement in place, regional boards are ratifying the agreement, which Mary Ashley, ICF co-chairwoman, said is really just a formality.

“I know (Southern Rail) intend to go to tender fairly soon,” Ashley said. “They hope to get the work done over winter.”

Ashley said the plan is to start repairs between Nanaimo and Victoria, where the track is in a better state of repair, then launch service on that stretch.

After that, work will move north, and passenger service will follow the repairs after they are completed.

“It’s going to happen. I know Southern Rail are planning to introduce services (that are) more tourist related.”

The new Via agreement gives them flexibility to do that, she said.

Don McGregor, Southern Rail Vancouver Island project manager, could not be reached.

City amends noise bylaw

By Michael Briones Echo Staff

- Nanaimo Daily News Daniel Sharratt is one of the owners of Gladstone Brewing Co. that is set to open in downtown Courtenay in the fall.

New craft brewery plans to open in downtown (Continued from page 1)

Courtenay has amended its noise bylaw to make it more effective.

Council were handed a staff report that looked at the city’s current policies on noise and also to determine whether it’s providing the best results possible.

Noise complaints are currently governed by Bylaw No. 1798 but director of legislative services John Ward told council it’s 20 years old and requires revision to keep it updated with current practices and standards. As well it has grey areas that need greater clarity.

Council requested the report because residents had questioned the adequacy of the current bylaw as some complaints have not led to enforcement proceedings.

Concerns were also raised about its effectiveness in reducing the sound level at noisy operations.

The city deals with an average of 10 noise-related complaints each month. Usually they’re addressed by verbally requesting compliance with a written letter follow-up. The city may issue of a fine of $500 for non-compliance and if it’s disputed, the city may proceed to Supreme Court.

Outside normal hours, city staff gets help from the Comox Valley RCMP to attend to complaints involving loud music and parties. The police are regarded as most effective partners, having dealt with numerous complaints and having issued MTI tickets with $500 fines.

Ward said some sections of the bylaw require only straight-forward amendments. But he also touched on the opportunity for council to determine the level of service it desires to see the city provide.

Staff had reviewed bylaws from other jurisdictions as well as procedures on decibel readings. Ward said that council has the option to choose to pursue similar policies to improve the city’s level of services. And if they do, a professional review would be required.

However, a full review and partial implementation of the city’s noise bylaws would cost around $50,000. A partial review would be around $22,000.

Some members of council were a bit alarmed by the amount attached to the review and were not in favour of it. Instead, council endorsed the amendments to the Public Nuisance Bylaw 1798.

The city has had two investigations from the office of the Ombudsman over the last two years relating to noise from commercial and industrial operations adjacent to residential areas. But after a considerable amount of time was spent providing documentation and discussing the files with the Ombudsman, both investigations were closed without any recommendations.

Staff suggested that it is crucial for the city to consider and address the mitigation of potential noise conflicts prior to the approval of new commercial or industrial development. The new Crown Isle Plaza shopping centre, where a new commercial development was built near an existing residential neighbourhood is one example. Proper noise mitigation studies were performed and implemented, resulting in no noise complaints from the neighbourhood.

The proprietors say they have already consulted the DCBIA. In a letter to council, they said the DCBA considers a local beer manufacturer to be a good way of boosting tourism as the Comox Valley is well represented in the areas of wineries, distilleries, and local food growers.

With the lounge endorsement, it could draw more people to the downtown core and have a favourable impact on all businesses in the area.

Mayor Larry Jangula shared the same sentiments. He also considers the brewery to be a “positive” venture.

Sharratt said they have also consulted future neighbours, the Courtenay Fire Department and the Chief Building Inspector regarding their site lounge area.

The noise, they said, would be minimal as the lounge area will be indoors.

As well, the site used to be a restaurant that had over 30 seats and there were no noise complaints that they are aware of during that time.

Sharratt said they chose to start a business here because they have a long history in the Comox Valley.

His grandfather was stationed at 19 Wing Comox in the 50s.

As well, their son, Quinten, was born at St. Joseph’s almost seven years ago.

“We love the culture, we love the outdoors, and feel that the valley is ready to support a small scale brewery in the area,” said Sharratt.

“Also, being in an area that supports and respects local products, and has a rich food and drink culture was also key in our move to start a brewery h e r e .

Downtown Courtenay

was our ideal location, but finding a suitable site took time.

“The 244 Fourth street location had a ‘for lease’ sign in the window back in March, and we called the number on the sign. The rest is history.”

Sharratt, who is the brewmaster, said they plan to open by mid-fall. They plan to brew a myriad of beers.

“We’ll always have a rotating experimental tap, experimenting with different flavours, techniques, and ideas,” he said.

“We are aiming for a Halloween soft opening, but more realistically it would be later in November,” he said. “We also plan on having our Grand Opening for New Year’s ... A Happy New Beer Party.”

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A4 Comox Valley Echo Friday, August 22, 2014

News

Airport terminal celebrates 10th anniversary The Comox Valley Airport’s terminal building is now a decade old.

Since opening its doors on April 16, 2004, it has evolved to become the full service, modern facility that now accommodates hundreds of thousands of passengers per year.

The airport celebrated the occasion last Wednesday attended by the original members of the airport commission, MLA Don McRae, MP John Duncan, chair of the Comox Valley Regional District Edwin Grieve, local politicians from the three municipalities in the valley, as well as volunteers and supporters.

With a lean staff of 10 operating the terminal, and the help of 53 dedicated volunteers, three airlines, two rental car agencies, a gift shop and coffee shop, the airport welcomed in a new era of air travel and economic development for the Comox Valley.

“Our grand opening marked the day when passengers would no longer have to stand in the rain waiting to check-in for their flights. That was the day we left our small, temporary structure behind to become the second largest terminal on Vancouver Island,” explained Comox Valley Airport CEO, Fred Bigelow.

“In the next decade, we saw continued growth in our passenger numbers and the direct benefit of economic spin-offs that come with a community supported airport expansion.”

The F/O Cyril Cottingham Terminal was officially opened by Lieutenant Governor Iona Campanola in 2004, followed by YQQ’s customs facility a few months later, which enabled the first charter flight to Mexico from the Comox Valley Airport in December of that year.

In the ten years that followed, annual traffic at the airport grew by 68 per cent with approximately 2.8 million passengers making YQQ part of their journey.

“We are grateful for the community support that made the construction of our terminal building possible and continues to keep our airport thriving to this day,” said Frank van Gisbergen, Chair of the Comox Valley Airport Commission. “Each time a plane lands at YQQ, it generates employment and revenue right here at the airport and for tourism and local businesses throughout the North Island.”

“The Comox Valley Airport terminal of today was constructed on-time and on-budget,” said Bob Mortimer, former Chair of the Comox Valley Airport Commission.

“This was an extremely complex project that succeeded because of contributions made by so many committed individuals, including our dedicated CVAC staff, the volunteers who served on the board of directors, 19 Wing Comox, local governments and especially the taxpayers of the Comox Valley.”

The original YQQ terminal building was constructed by the Department of National Defence and opened in 1956.

Transport Canada operated the terminal until 1995 when it withdrew financial and/or operational involvement in Canadian airports.

The Comox Valley Airport Commission (CVAC) was formed in 1996 and in May 1997, CVAC purchased the terminal from Transport Canada for one dollar.

In January 2001, WestJet announced it would begin offering flights at YQQ and CVAC added temporary portables to the original terminal building to accommodate increased traffic.

Lengthy negotiations with DND (through Public Works Canada) for lease of the land began, and at the same time, a business case was being developed for the terminal YQQ passengers use today.

In February 2003, an overwhelming 87.5 per cent of municipal taxpayers voted in favour of providing a $4 million capital grant to the Comox Valley Airport Commission, to help construct the new airport terminal.

The Commission was then able to leverage the grant, along with its own investment in the project, to obtain the additional funds from the provincial and federal governments that made construction of a new facility possible.

The building opened just over a year later and was named for Cyril Cottingham, a local pilot who enlisted in the Royal Air Force in 1942.

On November 22, 1943, during his 19th mission, he and his crew of six others were shot down over Hasephorst, Germany. He was 25 years old.

“Uncle Cyril grew up in the neighbourhood where the airport was built,” said Ron Webber, who nominated his uncle over a decade ago in a terminal building naming contest.

“He was an outstanding student born and raised in the Comox Valley and then gave his life in the fight for our freedom.

My family could not be more proud that his name and legacy live on at our airport.”

The Comox Valley Airport’s terminal building turned 10 years old and the occasion was recently celebrated during the annual public general meeting. Attending the event included (l to r) CVAC board chair Frank van Gisbergen, Comox Valley MLA Don McRae, Bob

The old airport terminal was too small, out-dated

Mortimer (former CVAC Board Chair), Vancouver Island North MP John Duncan, CVRD chair Edwin Grieve, Chuck Fast (Former CVAC CEO) and CVAC CEO Fred Bigelow.

The new airport terminal handles jet and international flights

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Comox Valley Echo Friday, August 22, 2014 A5

Cumberland Council commends hospital developer for addressing concerns approves pair of big projects

By Michael Briones Echo Staff

By Drew A. Penner Echo Staff Key pieces of Cumberland’s infrastructure puzzle will be fixed up now that the Village has given the go-ahead to hundreds of thousands of dollars of upgrades.

Wacor Holdings Ltd. was recently awarded a $320,000 contract to complete the Steven’s Lake Dam Stabilization project, while Upland Contracting Ltd. was approved for this year’s round of street and sewer upgrades with their $402,793.50 bid.

Cumberland had originally planned to build a brand new dam at Steven’s Lake. Since then the Village has not only opened a new well which has removed some of the burden placed on the Steven’s Lake dam for supplying the water system in the community, but also discovered it could get away with only fortifying the dam by putting a bunch of rocks up against it. The budget for the dam improvement, called buttressing, was set at $575,900, including engineering and construction, and the Village expected to borrow this through the Municipal Finance Authority. The actual buttressing portion was estimated at $365,000, as long as the Village could secure the rocks for free from a nearby landowner.

Watching the price tag keep dropping was a nice surprise, said Mayor Leslie Baird.

“It usually goes the other way,” she said. “It usually comes in higher. Usually when you do a project like this there’s something that comes up.”

While Coun. Kate Greening didn’t necessarily disagree with the action taken by the Village she took issue with the lack of public notification when council learned it wouldn’t need to build a new dam but just to improve the one it already maintains.

Meanwhile, the winning bidder for the roadwork and underground infrastructure projects on Maryport Avenue, Second Street and Allen, the lane north of Windermere Avenue and the lane north of Maryport Avenue was revealed as Upland Contracting Ltd. from Campbell River. They had come in substantially lower than other companies by bidding $402,793.50 plus GST. The budget for that work had been set at $469,600. Work is scheduled to begin August 25th.

Coun. Conner Copeman said he wished the Village would have spent more money to get more done on Maryport.

“We could have been a bit more ambitious,” he said. “It would have been better to allocate some of the developer money that’s accumulated over the ears to finishing an additional block of Maryport.”

He says he had asked for this at budget time but his suggestion wasn’t heeded.

Mayor Leslie Baird says there will be less disruption to local businesses than last year’s downtown Dunsmuir Avenue upgrades.

“I think they’ll be so happy to see the work done,” she said referring to residents along this year’s construction zone. “We’re sticking with our commitment.

We have a plan to upgrade road and sewer infrastructure.”

All other bids were above $524,000.

Courtenay council was pleased to learn that concerns residents fear might arise from the construction of the new Comox Valley Hospital are seriously being addressed.

They expressed this view following a Monday night presentation from Tom Sparrow, the chief project officer, who updated council on the $331.7 million project that will create a new 39,800-square-metre Comox Valley Hospital that will have 153 beds to replace the 120-bed St. Joseph’s General Hospital.

Tandem Health Partners is the proponent of this public private partnership venture that oversees the design, build, finance and maintainance of the new hospital.

Construction has already started at the site near the junction of Lerwick and Ryan roads. Mostly excavation and foundation work is being done right now and it won’t be long for the cranes to be installed.

Sparrow said with a fixed-price contract already signed, the project is now at the design and developing stage. They are still finalizing the conceptual designs.

The construction site now features buildings for the workers as well as temporary access roads and parking.

A wheel washing facility is also now in place where trucks driving off the work site can be cleaned to ensure no dust, dirt, gravel and mud are littered on the roads.

Sparrow said they’ve taken measures to prevent disruptions to the traffic as well as not causing any inconvenience and disturbance to the neighbourhood.

“We’ve taken a lot of safety precautions and I would say issues around noise and pollution pretty much into consideration,” said Sparrow. “We don’t want to make any mess on the road and we don’t want to create any issues on Lerwick.”

Councillor Jon Ambler commended the efforts put in by the developers and advised them to keep up the

good work. He said, “I think we are on the right path and it’s great working with you.”

Sparrow said they’ve been working very closely with city engineers and planning department staff to ensure they are meeting all the guidelines and requirements.

Although the schematic of the building has already been determined such as the location on the property and the size, the designs of the inside of the building are still being mapped out.

“They have provided us with a proposal but we will work with them with our clinical teams at actually better enhancing and designing the inside facilities over the next year and finalizing the drawings from there,” said Sparrow. “It’s very exciting.”

Sparrow said there’s a plan to form a community advisory committee that will have representation from patients, family members, and community members from across North Vancouver Island.

“They will help provide us with

some advice and guidance of our designs and our operations on the facility,” said Sparrow.

Sparrow said the plan is to keep Courtenay council abreast of the progress of the work that is being done in the next three to six months.

“This gives mayor and council the opportunity to understand what sort of construction is going to be underway over that period of time,” said Sparrow.

“I know that you’re going to get questions from your constituents and from the community and we want to make sure we help you to help us provide as much information as we can to the community. So we will be sharing that over the course of the project.”

The hospital will be completed by April 2017. It will be a state-of-the-art health facility that is also environmentally friendly.

The project will create around 1,900 direct jobs and over 1,400 indirect jobs over the construction period.

A6 Comox Valley Echo Friday, August 22, 2014

News

Mack Laing Society presents plans to save Baybrook night.

The goal is to renovate Baybrook and use it and the park for a nature preschool as well as an intrepretive centre, and a hub for conservation tourism.

The report addressed questions of economic and strategic feasibility. It showed the town that it would not be a tax burden but a contributor to the tax base and its economy.

The economic plan is to harness nature education and conservation tourism opportunities in the Comox Valley. The educational potential is modeled on the interpretive centre of the "Nature House" at Swan Lake and Christmas Hill on Vancouver Island.

The tourism component was derived from the success of the Strathcona Wilderness Institute Centre at Paradise Meadows.

Swan Lake is similar to Baybrook as it has parking problems. But the report indicates that it attracts 60,000 visitors annually. They come mainly by foot, bicycle and bus due to parking constraints. Its success is also tied to educational programs for children, youth, adults and seniors.

This could be developed at Baybrook because the North Island does not have a similar facility and programs.

One of Swan Lake's cornerstones is the nature pre-school. The society recently received a proposal for such a learning program, the Mack Laing Nature 'Tree'School, which the board supported as it would put Baybrook on par with Swan Lake Nature Centre. This link would

By Michael Briones Echo Staff The Mack Laing Heritage Society has come up with an economic feasibility strategy that is geared towards preserving "Baybrook," the original home of well-known naturalist, author and photographer Hamilton Mack Laing.

Loys Maingon, the president of the society that has taken the mantle of saving the historic home from demolition and turning it into a cost-effective heritage destination, presented their report to the Town of Comox in a delegation Wednesday

New outdoor school is forming roots in Comox

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By Michael Briones Echo Staff The seeds are being sown for a future pre-school outdoor educational program that aims to honour the legacy of Mack Laing.

It’s called the Mack Laing Nature ‘Tree’School.

Proponents of the project appeared before Comox council this week to pitch their proposal that aims to provide a unique learning experience for children ages 3 to 5 years.

The classroom will be the natural environment, said Jarrett Krentzel, the driving force behind the concept. The chairs would be logs, pencils are sticks, and many more.

The possibilities, he said, are endless.

It will be offered from Monday to Friday from 9 a.m. to 12 p.m.

Krentzel told council the school will be held at the Mack Laing Park and MacDonald Woods. And in doing so, they are requesting access to the Baybrook House to be used only during extreme weather conditions.

The unique learning approach, Krentzel said, is strong in North America and is currently spreading throughout Vancouver and Victoria.

“It’s just a matter of time until it reaches the Comox Valley, and I believe the time is now,” he told council.

The benefits of a nature-based school include healthier bodies as children will be exposed to physical exercise which helps develop motor skills and also exposure to open fresh air.

As well, it enhances the children’s social skills as well as gives them an opportunity to absorb the surroundings and problem-solve. It also helps children to relax and

Campfire ban still in effect on the Island For those wishing to have a campfire any time soon, you will just have to be patient as the prohibition, that was imposed on Aug. 1, remains for most of the areas of the Coastal Fire Centre.

According to the centre, it’s still not safe to completely lift the ban on Vancouver Island because the longterm weather forecast indicates a return to warm and dry conditions in the near future.

The only region where campfire ban has been lifted is within the Fraser Fire Zone. That was announced last Friday. It was rescinded due to recent precipitation and a forecast of cool and rainy weather for the Lower Mainland.

However, if conditions turn really dry and hot, a campfire ban may be reintroduced in the Fraser Fire Zone.

Small backyard burning piles (Category 2 fires) will remain prohibited in all areas of the Coastal Fire Centre except Haida Gwaii and the area known as the “fog zone,” a two-kilometre-wide strip along the outer coast of Vancouver Island, stretching from Owen Point (near Port Renfrew) north to the tip of Vancouver Island and around to the boundary of the District of Port Hardy. This strip extends inland two kilometres from the high-tide point.

Category 2 burning includes the burning of any material in piles larger than a half-metre high by a half-metre wide, up to two metres tall by three metres wide, the burning of stubble or grass over an area up to 0.2 hectares, and fireworks and burning barrels of any size and description.

Category 3 open fires continue to be prohibited throughout the Coastal Fire Centre’s jurisdiction.

Anyone found in violation of an open burning prohibition may be issued a ticket of up to $345 or, if convicted in court, may be fined up to $100,000 and sentenced to one year in jail.

enhance the opportunity for funding from the Ministry of Children and Family Development.

Visitor statistics at Swan Lake show that ecotourism and conservation volunteer tourism are the fastest growing types of tourism. The unfunded volunteer-driven SWI draws 100 visitors a day with 60 per cent from out of the valley. The heavily-funded Vancouver Island Visitors Centre attracts 75 visitors a day. The report stated that Baybrook as a tourism hub could easily grow this untapped market year-round out of a readily identifiable nature centre.

In consultation with an economist, Michael Mascall and Associates, they determined that if it pays taxes, a restored Baybrook would need an operational budget of $7,500 annually. It will be operated by volunteers and a paid part-time staff.

The society calculated that the minimal gross revenue possible, without grants, if Baybrook follows the Swan Lake model, should be around $124,746 annually. Doubling this figure would mean an added annual $600,000 to $1 million to the economy of the town.

There is also funding potential the society can access of up to $100,000 from BC Nature, BC Heritage, Ministry of Child Care, on top of the $73,000 left by Mack Laing's will.

Cascadianwoodtech, a Comox custom building firm has volunteered to restore Baybrook if it is to be developed as a nature-interpretive centre, similar to Swan Lake. It could cost between $120,000 and $140,000 depending on the extent of the renovation.

Dave Frinton co-founder / President CruisePlus

The original Baybrook, top; how it looks now, centre; and how it would look renovated explore interests.

It also teaches the children to understand and appreciate the natural environment, provide knowledge of how systems interlink and how we affect our surroundings.

Children also develop life skills as a result of spending time at a forest school. These will benefit the economy including developing determination to complete tasks, learning to work together as a team and communicating effectively.

The school will have two certified and experienced childhood educators that will teach a maximum of 16 children.

The emphasis of the program based on the BC Ministry of Education’s Early Learning Framework, will be on a nature and play-based curriculum and will encourage preschoolers to engage their environment through art, music, games, physical activities and group learning. The model of the school has two components - ecology and adventure education.

The school will have two stages - Seeds and Roots.

Seeds are 3 to 41/2 year olds (Tuesday and Thursdays) and will cost $169 per month. Roots are 41/2 to 5 year olds (Monday, Wednesday and Friday) and $244 per month. The sessions will run for 12 months.

Krentzel said with this financial projection in place, they have factored in the use of the Mack Laing Park and Baybrook House, which the Mack Laing Heritage Society is planning to renovate and use as a nature preschool, an interpretive centre and a hub for conservation tourism.

Mack Laing, Krentzel pointed out, left his house and land to the Town of Comox to be kept as a nature park for future generations.

“We request our permission to allow us to plant these seeds and watch the roots of our future generations

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Comox Valley Echo Friday, August 22, 2014 A7

News

Soldier who pled guilty to aggravated assault of infant daughter in military housing still working at 19 Wing Comox Ex-wife struggles for months to secure military benefits for daughter left with epilepsy and cerebral palsy

By Drew A. Penner Echo Staff A private who admitted to physically brutalizing his infant daughter in 19 Wing Comox military housing is still working at the base and continues to draw a paycheque, while his ex-wife has been struggling to secure emergency funding and health benefits available to families of service members for the girl.

Oleksiy Kasyanenko, 24, was shifted into an administrative role but has not faced a reduction in pay, 19 Wing officials confirm, which court documents reveal is around $50,000 a year. “She was barely three months old when everything happened,� said Katie, Kasyanenko’s former common-law partner who has been left to pick up the pieces. “This little child - this wonderful, happy, energetic child - her life is forever affected by what he did.�

In June Kasyanenko pleaded guilty to one count of aggravated assault related to an incident that left their daughter suffering with epilepsy, cerebral palsy, vision loss and eating challenges.

After spending a peaceful Sunday with her daughter, Katie woke early March 25 to a screaming and moaning baby. Before she knew it she was on an air ambulance to BC Children’s Hospital in Vancouver.

It was two days later when she saw the 3-D reconstruction of the X-rays before she understood the severity of the situation. “It looked like something you would only be able to see in the morgue,� she said. “It had to be someone who was dead - but this was a living person.�

When the military police separated her and her husband to ask tough questions she began to realize her marriage wasn’t going to turn out the way she had expected. “He was so quiet and I was the outgoing one,� Katie says, thinking back to the good days. “There was no one I thought was a better person than him to be my partner for the rest of my life.�

The traumatic brain injury caused by blunt force trauma forced the girl to deal with recurrent pneumonia, multiple seizures and problems hearing.

The child has made an incredible recovery through constant therapy but still uses a walker to get around, has special seating and relies on adaptive tools to help her process the world.

Kasyanenko had been serving as an avionics systems technician with 407 Long Range Patrol Squadron, maintaining electronic gear from the ground.

Cpt. Trevor Reid, the 19 Wing public affairs officer, confirmed the air force employee was moved into administrative duties following the assault. “Right now we are aware that Private Oleksiy Kasyanenko was charged with aggravated assault by British Columbia Crown counsel, pled guilty and is now awaiting sentencing,� he said. “The member is currently still a member of 19 Wing and is working in a non-sensitive area of the base on administrative duties.�

The Canadian Armed Forces holds its

In 2013 this couple was waiting for baby. Now Katie is waiting for support from the military for her daughter as a single mother. members to a high standard of conduct while both on and off military duty, he added, noting an administrative review of Kasyanenko has been initiated but is in its early stages. “When a special circumstance professional deficiency incident occurs that might call into question the member’s suitability for service in the Canadian Armed Forces, what will happen is an administrative review will be initiated to ensure the most appropriate career administrative action is taken,� he said. “This process is very thorough and it is ongoing.�

There is currently no timeline for when such a review might be wrapped up.

Kasyanenko faces a criminal sentencing hearing in the coming weeks.

PAPERWORK MARATHON BEGINS When the dust settled Katie found herself facing an endless track of bureaucratic hurdles. Her road to securing support from the military has taken a long and windy route.

She’s thankful for the help received from the family crisis team and input from the social worker and padre staff in the military.

She’s quick to point out she did receive emergency funds to cover some initial costs.

But Katie says too often she’s beset by mountains of paperwork and has faced multiple denials for funding requests, all the while trying to deal with her daughter’s multitude of health issues.

In order to escape the crime scene she and her young family used to call home, she submitted quotes to the Military Families Fund from national moving companies who estimated it would take $20,000 to transport her, the infant and all their belongings to a new life elsewhere. “They denied the application,� she explained. “They said it was too much money to give to one family.�

Katie says when this was turned down she handed in an estimate in the $15,000 range.

This too was rejected.

A $7-8,000 ask, which would already involve returning to the scene of the crime to pack up her possessions herself, was also given the thumbs down. “My mom and I were so perturbed,� she said. “It all felt very clerical.�

Katie says she was told at the time that the local base administration had actually

approved the larger sums of cash, but DND brass in Ottawa had rejected the applications. “Each request was approved by the Wing Commander,� she said. “We went through weeks of this.�

Having heard Military Families Fund requests of $5,000 or more can be approved at the local level, she settled on $2,500 to cover a flight plus one night in a hotel.

Marie-Helene Brisson, a National Defence spokesperson, said the Military Family Fund is meant to enhance and complement - but not replace - existing public and non-public programs. The Canadian Forces Morale & Welfare Services administers the fund on behalf of the Chief of the Defence Staff. “Typically, the Military Families Fund is a means for base and wing commanders to modestly help military families within hours of being advised of need. It helps with shortterm emergencies and also provides longterm support,� she said. “As a last resort, the fund fills some of the gaps by providing for the unforeseen and often immediate needs that families may have due to conditions of services.�

A former executive member of the Military Family Fund told the Echo it is very difficult to ensure money is released fairly and according to need. “It’s not black and white,� the source said, referring to cases where a similar request was turned down for one military family member and approved for another.

However, fund choices are not symptomatic of the military protecting its own, the official said, noting in some cases families manage to secure significant funding directly contrary to the wishes or interest of the military member in question.

ELUSIVE HEALTH INSURANCE In December 2012 Katie remembers trooping into the 19 Wing campus to sign official marriage paperwork. Several weeks later the family got around to filling out the paperwork required to add her and their brand new infant to the public health insurance plan, she says.

A year and a half later and Katie is still struggling to ensure her daughter’s costly health needs will be looked after by the government. “She is the child of an active military member,� she said. “We were told she would always be considered a military child.�

Katie receives public money for things like swim and music therapy, anti-seizure medication and some disability insurance from other agencies, but not everything is covered. A fire department in her new home pitched in to raise the $2,000 needed for a mobility aide, since her daughter can’t stand due to the trauma-induced cerebral palsy.

While only Canadian Armed Forces members themselves can take advantage of military health care, the Public Service Health Care Plan set up through Sun Life Financial covers dependents such as partners and children, provided they are properly added to the plan.

Because of a no-contact order Katie is unable to track down the documentation and she says she’s been frustrated by the military’s response to her efforts to seek assistance. “I just spend out so much time filling out forms and fighting to get things approved,� she said. “The military should be this big avenue of support that I don’t have to fight for - and they’re not.�

On advice from a military victims services worker she reached out to the Office of the Ombudsman for the Department of National Defence/Canadian Forces in December 2013, but says though they were sympathetic she didn’t get a satisfying response.

She decided to reach out to Official Opposition Defence Critic Jack Harris, who

Katie once thought her partner was the perfect person to help her raise her child. A serious assault of their three-month-old daughter changed that. contacted the Ombdusman’s office on her behalf. After six months of nothing, suddenly the department began to strike a more positive note. “I got a call within a week,� she said. “They very quickly changed their tune.�

A spokesperson for the office said the ombudsman’s role is limited to information and referral only and declined to comment on Katie’s story due to confidentiality rules. “The DND/CF Ombudsman is not empowered to act as an advocate for constituents,â€? said Michelle LalibertĂŠ, noting officials must remain impartial and neutral. “That said, we are advocates of fairness and will flag areas of unfairness to the department in the course of handling individual cases or systemic investigations.â€?

Sun Life declined to comment on the case for this story but a National Defence source confirmed to the Echo that the military has connected with the third party company specifically in regards to Katie’s case in order to try to resolve the issue.

While Katie makes phone calls, sends emails and fills out forms she’s bewildered at how someone who has admitted to the assault that set all this in motion could still be working on the base, collecting a paycheque. “I think it’s unbelievable,� she said. “He’s still working and earning a living, being paid by my tax dollars.�

For someone who once considered 19 Wing her home community it’s a tough pill to swallow. “There hasn’t been a strong response from the military,� she said. “How seriously are they even taking this?�

Plus, no one’s reached out to her recently to find out how the child is doing, she charges. “This is not something that ended at the base for us,� she said. “This was and continues to be a lifelong challenge.�

Four months after Katie sent a letter to the Minister of National Defence Rob Nicholson, a corporate secretary replied with condolences. “A directive which aims to prevent family violence through education and an understanding of the issues relating to family violence and to establish procedures for responding to reported incidents of family violence has been issued,� wrote C. L. Surtees May 20, 2014, suggesting she get back in touch with the Military Family Fund. “Hopefully, this directive will bring to an end the type of experiences you and your daughter were subjected to.�

Katie tries to look on the bright side as much as possible these days, despite everything. After all, she’s thankful her precious daughter is still alive. “She won’t remember the pain of the broken bones,� she said. “She won’t remember the face of the person that did that to her. I’m grateful for that.�

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A8 Comox Valley Echo Friday, August 22, 2014

Opinions ECHO

THE COMOX VALLEY ECHO Publisher Dave MacDonald Editor Debra Martin Advertising Manager Keith Currie Office Administrator Deb Fowler Circulation Manager Hedi MacDonald Production Manager Ryan Getz Phone 250-334-4722 Fax 250-334-3172 Classifieds 250- 334-4215 Circulation 250-334-4734 E-mail: echo@comoxvalleyecho.com

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More Beefs & Bouquets BEAUFORT ASSOCIATION sends a big bouquet of appreciation to Dennis and Brian Rice Toyota for their assistance in bringing our new (to us) wheelchair accessible van from the Fraser Valley. Also a big thank you to the Comox Valley Community Foundation for making this possible.

HEALTHY DAYS & Healthy Nights, to the wonderful ER Staff at St. Joseph’s Hospital on Sunday afternoon when my husband and I arrived at the ER. I was attentively looked after by Shelley the ER Admitting Nurse, then was seen by the amazing Doctor who restitched my arm as I had surgery two days earlier at the Nanaimo General Hospital, and the stitches had come out leaving a gaping wound. Dr. Louis Huisamen with his great expertise and wonderful bedside manner stitched my arm back up with reinforcing stitches and care. Then Mary the ER Nurse came in and bandaged the wound, and put a sling on me to keep my arm immobilized.

Our heartfelt thanks and appreciation to all of you for making a scary situation calming, caring, and professional.

Thank-You. RE: BOUQUETS to the glider program. It is not by choice that the glider tow planes fly over specific addresses, but by the laws of physics, which dictate that the glider must be towed to an altitude sufficient for the A/C to return to the base. Which way the wind blows dictates the position of release. The Airbase Having been here since the 1940’s, if some are offended by the noises attendant to aviation activities, they should have not moved here. Or should live across the estuary....

BIG BEEF to the person who defaced the inspirational sign on Dyke Road. It formerly read “Just Be Yourself ... Unless U R a dickhead”, a fine sentiment and one I think we can all agree on! Now it’s been vandalized to read simply “Just Be Yourself” which I am concerned gives all the dickheads out there validation of their dickheaddery. Shame, vandal! Let us all work together to rid our happy little valley of dickheaddedness in all its forms.

IT WAS INTERESTING that the Auditor General for local government chose the Comox Valley Regional District, as one of six local governments to be audited on operational procurement. The audit was conducted in December 2013 and the report was due this month. For some reason, the report has been delayed to 2015. Could there be some bad news that could impact on the November elections? If it was good news, why not issue the report and satisfy those who question CVRD polices? The audit was intended to ensure that taxpayers are getting good value for money - waiting up to 15 months for an audit report, is not at all assuring. It looks like the BC Liberals are way off track on their commitment to improve local government accountability.

A HUGE BEEF to our collective elected admininistrators from Courtenay, Comox, Cumberland, and the Regional Districts—now you want an additional homeowner tax to combat homelessness! That sounds like a very noble goal, but I have yet to see any sort of concrete plan, financial or otherwise, of what you would actually DO with such tax money to fix the homeless problem. None of you seems to be able to agree on anything to date, except to hire yet another administrator to consider the problem. Until you can come up with a definite, costed out plan to accomplish this laudable goal, keep your hands out of my pockets!

BOUQUETS of sweet-smelling asphalt from a Cumberland taxpayer to Mountain Valley Paving, Jean Cameron and Cresslynn Fey for stepping up to arrange repairs to 3rd St. Seems like the new road surfacing wasn’t quite up to the pressure of the spectacular bike tricks at last weekend’s Motorcycle Roundup. Thank you!

A BOUQUET to Village of Cumberland for approving their OCP. No doubt it was a long and expensive process, which recognizes the unique nature of the Village and protects the environment. The CVRD is approaching completion of their OCP which recognizes the unique nature of Rural neighborhoods and protect their environment. The budget for this ongoing CVRD initiative is $2.2 millions a year. The Valley spends $4 millions a year on planning. Planning is important, but so is water, sewerage, garbage, roads and bridges infrastructure. Think about what we could do for low, or no income folks with half the planning budgets in the four local governments. Let’s elect those who will focus on priorities, in the next 4 years. Vote for change in November.

MY BEEF is with some Comox drivers. Not coming to a full stop at a stop sign, not understanding the right of way at 4-way intersections, lack of turn signals, speeding in park/ school zones, ignoring yield signs are just a few of the infractions I see everyday driving around Comox. The RCMP need to start clamping down hard on these drivers who are either too lazy or too ignorant to perform the most basic of driving skills.

EAR PLUGS FOR THE NEIGHBOURS and area residents on Willemar, who have to listen to the lady scolding her dog “LUCA”. The dog is NOT deaf and neither are the neighbours.

Your voice is like a blasting fog horn. I feel sorry for the poor dog who is constantly being yelled at. You only create the problem for the dog ... The problem is you, not your poor dog.

HAVE YOU NOTICED they’re now selling lottery tickets at BC Liquor Store checkouts? Bless their hearts, our politicians continue to show creativity in making more money for the betterment of us all. Just imagine how rich and happy we all will be in this land of plenty when they start selling heroin and crack in the liquor stores too. There will be more than enough to finance treatment centres for those with addictions problems.

SENDING ENDLESS BOUQUETS of sunflowers welcoming the newly opened Sweet Surprise Gluten Free Bakery to downtown Courtenay! This cozy yummy bakery (which you can also find their goodies at the Farmers Market each Saturday) offers entirely gluten free savory & sweet eats without the worry of gluten contamination, so calling all Celiacs, this is now a location for you to 100% safely eat at!

Food allergies or not this great bakery is worth adding to your must visit list in the Comox Valley. Heidi, Alex & Julie thank you for sharing your passion & venturing out and opening up this store front where we can visit you, pick up goodies, sit, relax inside in the beautiful cafe or out on the great courtyard, have a drink and treat and enjoy a breakfast or lunch Tuesday to Saturday each week. As a celiac I am truly thankful for you gals, your bakery and everything foodie that you have taught me like making food with love, because your food and bakery radiates from your passions!

Welcome Sweet Surprise, the valley’s first 100% gluten free bakery! Yahoo!

SENDING HUGE BOUQUETS of fresh, fragrant, beautiful roses to Len and Susan. Kind and thoughtful patients of ours who often treat us to a nice cold lemonade on Fridays. Your thoughtfulness is greatly appreciated.

BOUQUETS OF DAISIES to the Town of Comox workers and to Kristen in the office. Our beloved cat Daisy was found

by the crew, a victim of a hit and run. They went to the effort of noting her ear tattoo and burying her. When they saw our missing cat posters they made sure someone from the office called us. And to Kristen, who hated making the call but knew we would appreciate knowing the truth. So nice to live in a town where everyone looks out for one another.

A HUGE BOUQUET of THANK YOU to the fine gentleman that independently pushed my vehicle that was stalled in the turning lane at Cliffe & 5th on July 31/14 into the City Hall parking. You preformed an amazing feat and I really appreciate your kind help. I did pass it forward. Thanks to the many kind souls that did stop and offer to help as I waited for the tow truck. You are all so thoughtful and helpful. I was so impressed with all the young, women and men alike that offered assistance. Thank you. I apologize to all those motorists I inconvenienced.

BIG HUGE BOUQUET of Soul to the Courtenay Kia. I want to thank Chris, Loretta and Michael for all the great service I recently received. You don’t see customer service like they provide anymore. I know at times we all change our minds and knowing how understanding they were made for a good laugh and great service! Won’t hesitate to go back to them again but will wait a bit this time!

Thanks Guys!

SO APPRECIATIVE to Drew at Mission Possible for the service given to us when our washing machine bit the bullet. You and your company always provide sound honest advice and EXCELLENT service.

I WAS GOING to the Filberg Festival at 6:00 PM and it was closed, I thought it was open until 10:00 PM. So I went to Marina Park and it too was closing and no beer garden. The festival seems to have gone from wild and crazy to mild and lazy. Soon there won’t be any fireworks as they might disturb someone’s sleep. Keep up the no fun town image and then the festival can be cancelled due to lack of interest A BIG TROPICAL BOUQUET to Scorpio’s Hair Salon in Comox. Cheri, owner, and Cortney, stylist, go out of their way to make the kids who are donating their hair for children’s cancer wigs feel comfortable and special. The cutting process has to be done to exact specifications which takes extra time and attention. Thank you Scorpio’s for participating in this awesome gift of giving.

LOTS OF SUNSHINE for MRM Irrigation!

Thank you to owner Jaak, along with employees Steve and Noah for your expert and professional work recently at our home. We sincerely appreciated your excellent and honest service. You are one of the nicest businesses we have ever had the pleasure to deal with. I would recommend you in a heartbeat.

SO THE CVRD are proposing a vote on another new tax, to help the homeless. While this may seem like a noble initiative, the CVRD has a cash reserve fund of 67 million dollars and has inflicted 2 new AAP taxes on those who can’t afford it -the forty nine percent of Comox valley residents who struggle to pay the rent. We need to elect new directors with new ideas, in November.

SENDING OUT SMILES to our entire community for making it such a fantastic place to live and visit. Everyone here is so welcoming and helpful, often looking out for one another and the animals, we have great local attractions that keep us entertained and incredible businesses with folks working hard sharing their passions & doing what they love for us all to enjoy! As this warm summer continues and we are all out and about, put down your techy devices & remember to be thankful for where you live and take the time to soak up what you are surrounded by. We are all in this busy life together so let’s continue to make the Comox Valley a great place to live and work! Good job everyone!

AS USUAL, the CVRD directors are looking at another new tax, this time to fund the ongoing homeless issue. Rather than impose new taxes and fees on those who can least

afford more local government costs, the directors should be looking at paring down the cost of CVRD expenses. Last year elected officials and CVRD staff claimed $139,861 in expenses above their generous salaries and benefits. Redirecting this discretionary expense money to the Salvation Army would do more to provide homeless services, than yet another tax. But, how likely is that - they live in a different world. $139,861 in optional expenses while many are living on less than $20,000/year in total income.

A BIG JUICY HAIR BALL on your pillow to all the people out there who think it’s okay to have your cat roam free outdoors, unattended and not contained on your own property! This is wrong on so many levels, let me name a few reasons: Firstly, it’s unhealthy for your cat. Not only are they at a much higher risk for contracting a disease by fleas, ticks, and god knows what else, they can also get into altercations with other irresponsible cat owners’ felines too. There is also the threat of other wildlife harming them; raccoons, eagles, etc. Now let’s get to the other dangers: dogs, cat-hating people, cruel children, motor vehicles, accidental ingestion of poison, the elements, to name a few. You love your cat you say? Well if that were true, you would not let him/her roam free! Can’t you see the dangers? Cats domesticated themselves, they are happier and safer inside or if outside, on a leash or in the safety of a catio (secure cat patio). And to the people who don’t spay and neuter their pets and then let them out, let me just tell you that you are the epitome of ignorance and irresponsibility. Let’s talk about the other things your kitty is doing on his “innocent” prowl around the neighbourhood. Now, I know what you’re thinking: “my kitty doesn’t do these things”, or “he’s just doing what nature intended.” Please, spare everyone your delusions and ignorance.

So while you think your precious kitty is helping to control the local rodent population, please keep in mind that he is also partly responsible for the MILLIONS of song bird deaths that occur from domestic cats every year. If you give any lick whatsoever about conserving our declining songbirds, you’ll keep your cat inside for that reason alone! At the very least, put a collar with a bell on your cat! Your precious kitty is so cute, especially when he uses my flower beds, on MY property as his own personal litter box, and my front door, patio furniture, BBQ etc, as a pee spot. I also really love your kitty at night, when he’s howling his head off at the moon and I especially love all the fights he gets into at 3 o’clock in the morning.

Thanks for that, I really enjoy that blood curdling yowl and the mini heart attack it gives me each time. Your cat puts people’s health at risk, especially children who unknowingly play in the area where your pet has defecated. Do you have any idea the nasty and horrifying diseases that people can get from cats that spend their free time outside? You might think I hate cats. I do not. I have an indoor kitty who is very happy and whom I love very much. She is my family member and I would never risk her health and life by allowing her to run amok in the neighbourhood. I also have RESPECT for my neighbours! So you still think it’s okay for kitty to roam free? Well you know what they say about common sense...it’s not so common. Don’t be surprised when your cat goes missing...if you even care. If I get ahold of him, consider yourself lucky. I’ll only take him to the SPCA. Your other neighbours may not be so nice, if you catch my drift.

A BEEF TO TELUS. Phoned their directory assistance and asked for the phone number for the Comox Valley Regional District office.

The response: No such number. No such listing. I explained this was a government office in Courtenay, B.C. in the Comox Valley, and asked they look again. Response: There is no listing. The Telus representative, whereever they were located, didn’t seem to understand there was a Comox Valley in B.C. or that there might be a government office attached to that. Oh, and I’ll get charged $1.25 on my next bill to have been told one of our local governments does not exist. Let’s hope when our local governments move the local 911 operation out of the valley, the new office knows where we are. Because if Telus can’t find us, who knows who else can’t find

us.

A BOUQUET to Cumberland’s Conner Copeman who sees signs as “visual noise” and “littering”. Cumberland is pretty much sign litter free compared to Courtenay which has oodles of visual noise. Then there is Comox by the sea, with a few massive “noisy signs” in their territory. The top prize for “noisy signs” could go to Areas A, B, C with noisy non-complying signs in CVRD territory.

Four administrations - four expensive sign bylaws. Had enough? Sign the petition for governance review.

THIS RESPONSE/BEEF is to the person with a grandson who encountered an unfortunate incident with a dog at Nymph Falls Park. I can’t quite make out if your ‘Beef’ is actually serious or if you are just printing it to stir up a lot of unnecessary trouble in an area that’s been managed and maintained by residents & volunteers for years, to a very high standard as the one and only ‘off leash’ park in the Comox Valley. Part of me thinks that you’ve printed this as a joke, my reasoning for that thought is quite simple: 1. There are signs stating that Nymph Falls Park is an off leash park as you enter it. 2. Your Grandson ‘had a fun time’ rock climbing in the Park - would that be the area around the actual falls at all? - because there isn’t anywhere else? Where so many accidents occur & the SAR have to be called out because naturally the rocks are slippery and made smooth by the years of water storming against them - where he could have easily have fallen into the falls and injured himself?

3. You witnessed a lot of families who were enjoying themselves and having a great time with - ooops! more than one dog - yet those families didn’t experience what you & your Grandson did? How strange. But also, how strange that God forbid - they were enjoying the company of a dog! 4. You’re blaming the presence of off leash dogs for the lack of wildlife in the Park! You’d be blaming someone else if you did see a cougar or bear near your grandson! Nymph Falls Park is the one and only off leash Park in the area and is an absolute heaven for all responsible dog owners that visit it. You had one unfortunate incident which you should have taken up with the person responsible - don’t make the rest of the Comox Valley pay for your blinkered view when it’s been perfectly fantastic for many, many years. You want to walk your Grandson in a Park? Please pick the other 999 that the Valley has to offer where dogs do have to be on leashes or learn to read the picture signs which state Nymph Falls is a Paradise for our canine friends.

MANY BOUQUETS to the Friends of Maple Pool. What a challenge for community supporters of a minority who find unreasonable city bylaws nearly impossible to deal with.

Those who have put money and time into trying to resolve this issue deserve our vote in November. Let’s hope their names will be on the ballot - we need problem solvers, not bureaucrats, to represent us.

MY BEEF is the misuse of handicap parking permits. Today, August, 2014, at 03:30 PM, I saw a dark Dodge Mini Van unload a young man, in an electric wheelchair, by a ramp out the side door, at St. Joseph’s Hospital. Needless to say, no parking spot in the parking lot is wide enough to handle this; after unloading the young man, the apparently very able-bodied lady drove the van to the parking lot, and parked in a handicap spot, as if the permit was in her name, when she could very well have parked in any other spot, as she would have to walk back to the van and drive it to the front of the Hospital to pick up the young man.

BOUQUETS AND MUCH THANKS to the By-law officers at the Regional District who listened to my complaint regarding dogs in the Point Holmes area and acted swiftly to remedy the situation. The situation has improved greatly after suffering for many years and it couldn’t have happened without your assistance. Thank you!

A WELL-DESERVED BOUQUET to Gerry Berard, plumber. If you need plumbing help - call Gerry! First rate service - on time, effective and efficient service, priced right - the way it should be.

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A BEEF about the Monday to Friday 6:00am exercise class going on outside my bedroom window. I hope the participants are enjoying this as the neighbourhood’s quiet, peace and rest are being disturbed by the pounding bass of the music and the commanding voice of the instructor. How does the City enforce compliance to Bylaw 1798, relating to nuisance and disturbances?

A BIG BEEF for the person living in the Marsden/LakeTrail area who has recently acquired a rooster. You may enjoy his screaming intermittently from early morning. Some of us do not. If I knew where you lived I would be complaining directly to you. I guess my only hope of quiet is for a local raccoon to remove the problem.

A BASKET FULL of long stem yellow roses to Jean Cameron for organizing the Motorcycle Roundup in Cumberland on the weekend of August 8. Her planning included motorcycle judging, demonstration stunt riding, music on the street, games for kids and adults, wrestling and pole dancing for the brave. But, the motorcycles! Big ones and small ones. With somewhere near 2,000 motorcycles in town there had to be a million dollars worth on the street.

There was a style to suit everyone’s taste, and the paint jobs on some of those bikes! My car didn’t cost that much. Again, I would like to thank Jean and her team for bringing such a great event to Cumberland. And from all the reports I have heard there was next to no trouble in town all weekend. Here’s hoping you have the energy to do it again next year.

THE EXCELLENT PEOPLE at Sure Copy on Cliffe are losing a star performer; Michael Holding, off to sunnier climes. I’ve known Michael for a number of years, personally and professionally and he will be missed.

Personally, he is highly intelligent, sensitive, kind and compassionate; a gem of a man. Professionally, his com-

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Beefs

Bouquets &

The Comox Valley’s First and Best Readers’ Forum Email to: echo@comoxvalleyecho.com puter design talents are outstanding.

In the several projects I brought to Sure over the years, Michael was the embodiment of patience and unfailing good humour in the face of the many (too many!) revisions I asked for - but he endured and delivered until the job was done. Thank you, Michael and thank you Sure Copy for your ever-smiling goodwill.

A BEEF to all those individuals who smoke pot at Lewis Park.

Cigarettes smell is bad enough but pot smell is terrible. Let’s hope they never legalize marijuana. I hate to think of the putrid smell of pot lingering around all these public places. Too bad people need to use drugs.

I don’t know what they are thinking altering the way their brain functions.

BOUQUETS to the Cumberland Councillor who raises the issue of “visual noise”. Only 50 residents objected in writing to more oyster rafts, and floats in Baynes sound. In November, the silent majority will get to vote on this issue. Incoming retirees are big income earners, likely they will want a natural view, and go elsewhere. Sawmill and paper mill jobs pay twice as much as oyster jobs and the local logs are going offshore - where are local politicians on this issue? No doubt the sea cucumber and geoduck lobby is encouaraged by support from CVRD directors for local jobs - but will they employ locals? Will they pay minimum wages as the new P3 hospital could do?

AN ARMFUL OF BOUQUETS to all the many readers and colleagues who have helped me, as an Echo reporter now retiring from regular work, to showcase the amazing range of events, achievements, protests, celebrations, debates, controversies, and other myriad activities that occur in the Comox Valley year round, year after year. Over the past eight years, in around 800 editions of the Echo, I have tried to live up to a mantra I was taught at the BBC that it was my job not simply to report, but to “inform and explain, educate and entertain” - the last of those hopefully justifying some of those dreadful puns and examples of wordplay I frequently weave into my writing. Special thanks to Dave (publisher) and Debra (editor) for their support and encouragement, and to other colleagues past and present both at the Echo and with the other local media in newspapers, radio and television. Competition keeps all of us on our toes, and serves both readers and businesses well - without it there would be little incentive to give over as much space to local news, and advertising rates would inevitably skyrocket. But it’s been great to have had the opportunity to work on a newspaper that does indeed put news first - and in a community that, for its size, produces news like no other I’ve ever known. - Philip Round BEEF to the local politicians who are suggesting taxing us on our prop-

This week’s winner

erty taxes for the homeless? Don’t get me wrong, it is an important problem, but the real problem is the money-wasting politicians who are trying to make people homeless.

Over the last 10 years dating back to Greg Phelps mayor’s taskforce that did nothing for the homeless to the most over-priced, useless property purchase and then the alleged sale to the city of Courtenay with a cash bonus from the regional district that was supposed to be for a homeless shelter - NOTHING HAS BEEN DONE FOR THE HOMELESS. About 2 million dollars has been spent on committee after committee and no shelter. Can we even begin to trust the same old politicians who only want to do things behind closed doors? I think not. Maybe we need to put this out for referendum. NO MORE IN CAMERA MEETINGS SO EVERYONE IN THE COMOX VALLEY IS INFORMED AS TO WHAT REALLY HAPPENS! Or they can just keep spending our hard earned tax dollars trying to evict the residents of Maple Pool making more homeless people to count, CAN WE TRUST THEM? Is there a politician out there that would agree to no in camera meetings. I highly doubt it. If you agree with me or not one thing is very clear, the local politicians cannot be trusted with our tax dollars.

SIMPLE SOLUTION to traffic heading up Ryan Road hill. Remove the sign “keep right except to pass”.

Let the traffic travel in whichever lane the driver deems necessary to get where they’re going. This eliminates the need to get from the outside lane to the inside lane when heading to North Island College, Home Depot, Costco, etc. It should also help eliminate frustration when drivers try to ‘get over’ to the inside lane. Treat Ryan Road hill the same as Lerwick Road, connecting Courtenay and Comox. There are no “keep right except to pass” signs on that road and the distance is far greater than Ryan Road hill. All that is needed is common sense and the problem is solved.

BIG LOAD OF BULL MANURE to the C.V. Regional District Board of Directors. Their pending referendum asking for funding to tackle homelessness, is designed to fail and will just give our elected officials another excuse NOT to take action on the problem. If they really wish to gauge public support on this issue they shouldn’t ask for extra money, as most people are averse to paying extra taxes. Instead, the CVRD should ask us all if we want them to take money from ELSEWHERE in the budget to use in this manner. My personal choice would be to re-allocate funding from the Comox Valley Economic Development Society towards ensuring that everyone who lives here has a roof over their head.

That would be especially fitting since the policies developed by this organization to drive our economy have led to low wages and high housing costs, the very conditions that have led to the high homelessness rate in our area.

This week’s winner, drawn at random from submissions received up to Tuesday, is:

Jennifer Fisher of Comox, 2 Classic Cheese Basket Meals from Dairy Queen.

Winners, you may pick up your prize certificates at the front desk of the Echo, 407-D Fifth Street, during regular business hours.

Thanks to everyone for the great submissions- keep ‘em coming!

BEEF TO THE PARENTS of teenage children in Cumberland. Do you know where your teenage children hang out in Cumberland? Or do you really care? The local park in the children’s play area. My understanding is that the local Rotarians and Village of Cumberland have spent over $200,000 on upgrading the park facilities for the little kids of Cumberland. It is a great make-over for sure. Who is going to pay for the upkeep and fixing of the playground equipment once it is broken? Not the kids who broke it or damaged it.

They actually took over most of the play equipment in the park, acting like bullies so the little kids could not use the equipment. The parents, grandparents, were basically forced to herd their little ones to the far side. Why would gang mentality permeate a children’s play area. The signs mention 1 1/2 years to 12 years old. Well these young people were way older than that. Apparently any equipment that would enable them to sit down on was where they sat.

They have no shame - bikes etc. just strewn in the general area. The smoking in a public place, especially around children. Do the rules apply to teenagers? Apparently not in Cumberland. Hopefully parents will take a look at where their children hang out and help make this a safe place for little kids to be able use without being afraid.

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A BOUQUET of the prettiest, most pleasant smelling roses to the beautiful young female Goose Spit Park Steward.

As a common visitor I am delighted to see your smiling face and passion for nature. I am amazed how well you do your job. Thank you so much and have a lovely time at University, Alicia.

INTERESTING that the spokesman for the Dogwood Initiative misses a major point on the oil pipelines.

One of the major issues is that the enterprising folks who manufacture the nylon baseball caps will also be building the pipeline and refining the rar sands oil in their own country, with lower environmental standards. The BC Government has already inked a deal with China for foreign workers to build BC LNG plants The Federal Conservatives are likely inking similar deals for the construction of oil pipelines. The oil and gas is going to flow - will it be offshore jobs or good jobs for Canadians?

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HERE’S HOW IT WORKS! Our weekly feature, Beefs and Bouquets, is intended to be a light-hearted forum for you, our readers, to express brief views on issues and events in your lives.

It’s not intended to hurt people or make unsubstantiated and libelous comments.

Names won’t be published with the beefs and bouquets; however, we do need your full name, mailing address and telephone number for verification purposes.

Each week someone will win a 2 Classic Cheese Basket Meals from Dairy Queen.

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BOUQUETS to the many BC Parents associations that have rejected the $40 payment for no school. They are not taking sides. They want their kids in school - they don’t want any more “cooling off” periods - they want get on with it - an agreement. If veteran mediator Vince Ready can’t get it done - fire the BC Government and the BCTF. Find two parties that care about BC kids’ education.

I REALIZE that weeks have gone by but I would like to thank the many volunteers who made MusicFest such a success. A huge Bouquet of musical notes to you! I would however like to share my surprise with the organizers of this event that a headliner such as Bonnie Rait would have a start time of 11 pm. This is slated as a family event and I have yet to meet some one who managed to stay for this performance. Hopefully there was a good crowd. She was the reason that I initially bought my tickets so was very disappointed when I found out what time she was performing. We didn’t make it. I’m sure it was wonderful but why so late?

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The businesses were packed with out of town quests, as were the B&B’s, Hostel and Comox Lake for camping.

The festival goers were kind and respectful. The Village Park was transformed into the most amazing set of stages (Circus tent, WOW!), activities and forest fundraising. The food by Gourmet Girls was FANTASTIC! The musicians were thoughtfully hand picked to provide a diverse listening experience and have left an everlasting impression on me. To the Village of Cumberland: Congratulations on providing a truly diverse community.

From leather & steel one weekend at the Motorcycle Roundup to feathers, glitters and colourful spandex of Atmosphere the next. I’m proud to be home in Cumberland! Can’t wait to see what event happens next...

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A10 Comox Valley Echo Friday, August 22, 2014

News

School honours peacekeeper with long fought-for sign on birthday

By Drew A. Penner Echo Staff Mark R. Isfeld would have been 52-years-old if he were alive to see the school sign bearing his name officially unveiled. On Aug. 14 the secondary school which has long carried itself in the identity of the valiant peacekeeper finally brought a new entrance sign into reality, after 10 years of struggling. “The sign dedication has been a very, very long journey,� said Marlene Ricard, the chair of the Parents Advisory Committee, stressing the importance of an effective public communication tool. “It’s quite a community hub here.�

The first plan to erect a new sign emerged way back as Courtenay Junior was becoming Mark R. Isfeld Secondary School, in remembrance of a Canadian Forces engineer who died during a mine-clearing mission in Croatia.

The Parents Advisory Committee managed to come up with $10,000 to get the sign off the ground. And while you might think that would represent the lion’s share of the work, that was only just the beginning.

Parents wanted to be able to alert the community to goings on at the facility through a digital marquee or some other similar tool.

Unfortunately the school has had to make do with interim solutions as a showdown with City Hall only intensified as the weeks turned to months and the months into years.

Courtenay officials were worried that any moving letters or flashy graphics would distract passing motorists. But conveying a lot of digital information on a small surface was a big priority for the school community. “The reader board was seen as a very important element,� she said, noting this could be the perfect way to help inform people about events in the multi-purpose room, on the drama stage or at the ballot box during election time, noting the current methods “just weren’t

School administration, parents’ group representatives and military members gathered Thursday last week to celebrate the new sign at Mark R. Isfeld Secondary

Master Warrant Officer Marshall Dumont describes how the granite with the crest on it came from Afghanistan.

going to cut it.�

The gaming commission was nearly at the point of emptying the fund of the $10,000 raised for the project as a crucial deadline loomed.

Just as they thought they might have to give up the City of Courtenay decided to revisit its sign bylaw.

They came to a compromise. Text won’t scroll across the sign but the school did secure

a 40 cm variance to display their branding in a larger font, with space for a crest at the top. “The sign was on its way finally,� she said. “This initiative never died. “At last our sign is a reality.�

The sign is further recognition for the school’s namesake, a peacekeeper named Mark R. Isfeld, who was killed in Kakma, Croatia, trying to clear landmines to pave the way for a school. His late parents both lived in Courtenay at the time. His mother started the ‘Izzy’ dolls knitting campaign in his memory which saw little dolls knitted across the country for troops to take on overseas missions to hand out to children.

Master Warrant Officer Marshall Dumont noted the Master Corporal would have been 52-years-old on the day of the ceremony at the school for the new sign and noted the granite used for part of it came from Afghanistan. “Unfortunately Mark had gotten hit with a bounding mine,� he said, noting this sent him flying into another mine. “When he got up that set the other mine off and that took his life.�

Principal Jeff Taylor said he’s glad the school could thaw “frosty relationships� with City Hall in order to bring the sign to life and honour their namesake.

He commended the school community for never giving up on the dream. “I can’t believe how relentless and dogged our PAC has been over the years,� he said. “We needed a roadside presence.�

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Extra ECHO

Comox Valley, BC

The COMOX VALLEY ECHO ❑ Friday, August 22, 2014

etc.

ECHO

Library noon hour poetry readings

The Comox Valley Writers Society and Courtenay Library invite the public to a reading of poems by local poets to be held in the Courtenay Library events room on Thursday, Aug. 28 from noon until 1:30 pm.

There is no admission charge which means the event is free!

This event is a follow-on from the successful reading session given by 12 local poets in July.

Come, relax, and enjoy your noon break while listening to talented local poets reading from their published and unpublished work.

You will enjoy the session.

The Amigos at tonight’s Evergreen Club dance Your band of choice at this evening’s Evergreen Club Friday Night Dance is “The Amigos”. The band is well known for playing many of your favorite dance tunes.

Gord Kruger and the guys will be at the downtown Filberg Centre from 7:30 ‘till 10:30.

Everyone is welcome, so please join the gang for a great Friday night of dancing ... see you there!

Doctor Who season premiere at the Rialto Come to the Rialto for a special Doctor Who re-launch with a new Doctor, Peter Capaldi, at the helm of the TARDIS and a thrilling new adventure through space and time.

It’s the perfect opportunity to experience Doctor Who for the first time or for long-time fans to be a part of this highly anticipated season premiere with exclusive bonus content.

Two performances: Monday, August 25 at 7:30 pm, and Saturday, August 30 at 12:55 pm.

Tickets on sale now at the Rialto: General $14.95; Children and Seniors $12.95. For more information call (250) 338-5502.

Evergreen Choristers annual variety show Tickets are on sale now for the Evergreen Choristers’ annual Variety Show on Wednesday, Sept.

17.

The theme this year is Songs from the Movies and songs were chosen from many great films of the past 50 years.

There will be hits like “I Have a Dream”, “Ol’ Man River” and “Rock Around the Clock” to name just a few.

Many favourite soloists will perform and there will be comedy routines, dancing and piano stylings.

These shows always play to a packed house so get your tickets now, $5 per person at the Florence Filberg Centre office.

The show starts at 1:30 pm in the upper conference hall of the centre (doors at 12:30).

FMI: 250-338-1000 or www.evergreenseniorsclub.com

Brian Randall and the gigantic salmon he carved that ended up at the Fish and Game club

Etched in Memory Brian Randall’s impression on the Comox Valley won’t fade any time soon

By Drew A. Penner Echo Staff When Brian Randall was killed at age 63 in a motorcycle accident this summer he left behind a body of work that continues to touch those who knew him best. Over the years he drew on his experience in the bush as a logger and an outdoors enthusiast to craft utilitarian art that stood out because of its quality.

“He had an amazing talent as an artist,” says Bill Maximick, a local artist who shared both logging camp days and an artistic spirit with his friend. “I’ve always been impressed by Brian’s abilities.”

The type of art that Randall created reflects the natural beauty of the Comox Valley region but also serves a purpose. His art tended to serve a dual purpose of inspiring wonder in viewers but also accomplishing another aim, such as serving as a business sign, driveway marker or memorial.

Using wood and metal he fashioned three-dimensional art such as a ship’s wheel at Comox Marina Park made out of stainless steel, which was commissioned by the Comox Legion to honour World War II veterans. A grizzly bear sculpture was created to greet visitors to Bear Creek Ranch in Black Creek. The gate he built for J.R. Edgett Excavating Ltd. still stands today. A giant fish with his signature touch hangs at the Courtenay Fish and Game Protective Association.

His younger sister Debra Chaba says her brother was a true Comox Valley kid who grew up in the Old Orchard area near downtown Courtenay.

“It was freedom, as Brian would say it,” Chaba said, noting back

Above: Brian Randall created a sign for Mike Hamilton Logging Ltd. which is still on display along Comox Road.

Left: Painting by Bill Maximick of Brian Randall falling a tree. then her brother was a youth with a mischievous streak, running off on various adventures with his friends. “They would steal some milk on their bicycles sometimes.”

Besides plaguing the creamery, they would also ride their bikes carrying shotguns down to the water to shoot ducks.

“It was that quiet of a little town in those days,” she said. “The river was their street. We’d just swim down the river to get home instead of walk all the way from Puntledge Park. There wasn’t like 500 people

on inner tubes in the river at that time.”

His ability as an artist presented itself early on. Chaba remembers her brother drawing pictures as a child.

“We were always in awe of his artwork,” she said. “He always said he thought out of the wrong side of his brain from other people.”

But when he finished high school he decided to take his career in a different direction.

(Continued on page 2)

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B2 Comox Valley Echo Friday, August 22, 2014

What’s On

‘Funnest’ family sport on a horse Comox Valley Exhibition hosts the NVIHA Cattle Sorting Competition Cattle sorting’s name says a lot: the activity involves cowboys riding on horseback and sorting cows. Team sorting involves two cowboys.

To start, the cowboys are faced with a herd of 10 calves, with each calf numbered zero to nine. A judge then calls out a number. Say the judge calls out “three.� The riders will then begin sorting the cattle, moving them from one pen to another, beginning with the number three calf and moving on sequentially.

Order is essential, which is why one contestant will focus on isolating the appropriate calf while the other makes sure that the remaining calves don’t move prematurely into the other pen.

If a calf gets through to the other pen before its turn, the sorting team is disqualified, though only for that particular round of competition. The riders must herd as many calves as possible to the other pen — in order — within 60 seconds.

In sorting, a variant of cattle sorting, there are 12 cows, with 10 numbered from zero to nine and two remaining unnumbered. The unnumbered cows are called dirties. The dirties are supposed to remain in the original pen, while the contestants herd the numbered cattle, in order, from one 60-square-foot (5.6-square-meter) pen to another, channeling them through a 12-foot-long (3.6-meter-long) passage.

Ranch sorting can be done with up to three riders on a team and one or two dirties. The size of the pens and the passage between them may also vary.

People of all ages compete in these sports, even children as young as 5 years old up to 90 +.making this event a very popular family-oriented activity.

Considered to be one of the “funnest family sports on a horse� you will be sure to be sitting on the edge of your seat for these events.

Shows at Comox Valley Exhibition Grounds - 4835 Headquarters Road, Courtenay, Sat. Aug. 23rd and Sun. Aug. 24 at 11 am and 2 pm

ITS C

LO S I N for

Clockwise from left: Brian Randall at work on huge salmon; ship’s wheel in Comox; recent photo of Randall

Faller leaves behind artistic legacy in Valley (Continued from page B1) “He logged pretty much right out of school,� said Mike Hamilton, owner of Mike Hamilton Logging Ltd., explaining that at the time the forestry sector was like today’s big money oil and gas industry. “It was kind of the way. You either went on or a lot of people went logging at that time.�

Randall cultivated a reputation for hard work and clean cuts. And he had a zest for life that was unmistakable. “Brian was a faller,� he said. “He was good to work with.�

But as with so many others, a back injury took him out of the logging game permanently.

Using his welding skills and creative mind he melded himself into an artist and headed down a brand new professional path.

Hamilton remembers when Randall started to make little whales and things out of wood. The eye for detail was impressive. “You thought, ‘Wow!’� he said, adding, “I can’t draw a stick man.�

So when Hamilton considered a new sign for his business he gave Randall the job.

While Hamilton couldn’t visualize the dream his friend had come up with for the Comox Road headquarters, he could tell the company branding was in good hands and let the artist go to it.

Randall featured a grapple yarder, a piece of heavy machinery used for logging on

steep slopes that Hamilton was quite proud of, and put the item together in Hamilton’s shop. “I couldn’t see his artistic part of things,� he said. “He made it up and it turned out way better than I thought it was going to. I loved it.�

Another work that turned heads was his wood carving for Noranda Inc. where he sculpted intricate trees “planted� on a mountain.

His sister is glad he put so much energy into his craftsmanship, because it will be a legacy for the living relatives to hold on to. “People are going to know his artwork for the next 80 years because a lot of it’s made out of stainless steel and cedar,� she said. “It will be the everlasting memory.�

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join us in celebration‌ eight weeks of MEMORIES, SALES, STORIES AND FUN Monday - Saturday 9:30 - 5:30 250.287.8484 • somethingspecialgifts@telus.net

Starting Monday, August 18, 2014 Please stop by the Store to pick up our Calendar of Events

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Comox Valley Echo Friday, August 22, 2014 B3

What’s On

Choral Society prepares ‘Messiah’ this fall The 60 singers strong North Island Choral Society has been bringing great classical choral music to the Comox Valley for over 30 years.

Their Spring 2014 performances of Mozart’s “Requiem” with soloists and the NICS Orchestra were completely sold out and the reason was clear, as one concertgoer said about the “Requiem” matinee performance, “They really sing classical choral works very well.”

Choir members are mainly from the Comox Valley, although “All are welcome and from everywhere,” says president Bärbel Raynolds, “and the Choir is joined every year by new singers.

There are no auditions to scare you off and membership is very affordable!”

Paul Colthorpe, the long-time musical director, brings his enthusiasm for the chosen music and provides a heartfelt encouragement for all to sing at every rehearsal and every performance.

No wonder the NICS public performances are so complete and well attended.

Accompanist Elvera Penner has a remarkable skill. She provides piano accompaniment in such a way as to help singers learn their parts easily, which newcomers to the music appreciate.

Between Colthorpe and Penner, rehearsals are a delight to attend and full of warmth and purpose.

The upcoming Fall Rehearsals for performances in December 2014 will be concentrating on one famous work, G. F. Handel’s “Messiah,” which the NICS performs once every three or four years with soloists and the NICS Orchestra.

The performances on the evening of Friday 5th December and the matinee performance on Saturday 6th December will likely be sold out, so watch out for the announcement of ticket sales later in the year. Make a note of the dates.

This season, the Choir will be standing on a new structure of portable risers, designed and built by choir member Marcia Haley with help from President Bärbel Raynolds and Vice President Ted Moonen.

The risers, which employ a series of easily carried small boxes, were built over the summer holiday.

Project Leader Marcia had already tested successfully the concept, having built similar risers for the Strathcona Symphony Orchestra. The scheme makes installation quicker than before and requires less storage space.

The first Choir rehearsal starts at 6.30p.m. on Tuesday September 2nd at Comox United

Church, 250 Beach Drive, Comox, B.C. Registration will be followed by the rehearsal at 7.00 p.m. as usual.

The Choir rehearses thereafter on every Tuesday from 7.00 p.m. to 9.00p.m and usually at Mark Isfeld Secondary School, 1551 Lerwick Road, Courtenay.

Membership is $50 (Students $30) for the Fall Session and similarly for the Spring Session.

New members are always welcome and if you want to sing great classical sacred and secular choral music, come and join the Choir.

The rehearsals are pleasantly demanding and the time passes confortably. For more information: northislandchoral.wordpress.com/ - Submitted by North Island Choral Society

Bärbel Raynolds, Marcia Haley and Ted Noonan happily at work on the new NICS risers.

Free concert Sunday night at Simms Park with Valley’s favourite rockers XLR8 XLR8 brings their rock ‘n roll extravaganza to Simms Park this Sunday August 24 at 7:00pm.

This performance is part of a free summer concert series hosted by the City of Courtenay.

XLR8 is a power house group presenting rock tunes from the 70’s and 80’s through to today.

The band was formed 16 years ago by guitarist & frontman Mr. D and Johnny B (drummer from Sweeney Todd).

They are joined by lead guitarist Billy Young, keyboardist Ricky Bossom and Georgie M on bass.

Together they present an entertain-

ing stage show with a great sound.

The final concert of the summer concert series season takes place Sunday, August 31 with Ralph Barrat and the Sharp 7 performing popular jazz favorites.

For concert information please call the Courtenay Recreation Lewis Centre at 250-338-5371 or get updates at www.courtenay.ca/simmsconcerts.aspx The XLR8 Concert is sponsored by Dave Wheeldon, Investment Advisor at CIBC Wood Gundy. Season sponsors include the Comox Valley Echo.

The Goat 98.9 FM, and the City of Courtenay.

607 12TH STREET, 607 12TH STREET

‘Hollywood North’ filming this weekend at Elks Falls Park

By Sian Thomson Special to the Echo The bright lights of Hollywood North will be shining on Elk Falls Park near Campbell River this weekend.

Canadian-born actress Ellen Page (Juno, X-Men, Days of Future Past) and Evan Rachel Wood (Thirteen, The Wrestler) will be going “Into the Forest”, an adaptation of Jean Hegland’s acclaimed novel Into The Forest. The movie also stars Max Minghella (The Social Network).

Into the Forest is scheduled to shoot Aug. 24 to Aug. 25 in Campbell River. Set up at Elk Falls Park is Aug. 20-22, followed by the filming Aug. 24-25 and cleanup Aug. 25. During setup and cleaning times the general public will be welcomed throughout the area.

During filming, the upper parking lot access road and a portion of the new parking area near the BC Hydro Interpretive Centre will be closed to the public.

The public will have vehicle access to the park via the new BC Hydro/BC Parks parking area and the lower park parking lot.

Use of all walking trails will be allowed with occasional requests for control for short periods during actual filming.

For information please contact Vancouver Island North Film Commission 250-287-2772 or film.info@ infilm.ca.

The movie tells the story of Nell and Eva, two teens growing up in the forests of northern California, over 30 miles from the nearest town, and several miles away from their nearest neighbor. Nell and Eva struggle to survive as society begins to decay and collapse around them. There is talk of a war overseas and upheaval in Congress, but it still comes as a shock when the electricity runs out and gas is nowhere to be found. The sisters consume the resources left in the house, waiting for the power to return. Their arrival into adulthood, however, forces them to reexamine their place in the world and their relationship to the land and each other.

- Campbell River Courier-Islander

CARRIERS WANTED No collection required. Great exercise!

Call Comox Valley Echo • 250-334-4734 or drop by 407-D 5th Street, Courtenay

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B4 Comox Valley Echo Friday, August 22, 2014

What’s On

YOUTH LEAD BEAR CREEK NATURE PARK TOUR SUNDAY Since 1983, Oyster River Enhancement Society (ORES) has been conserving wild Pacific salmon stocks and their habitat in the Oyster River watershed.

ORES has a fish hatchery operation on the lower floodplain of the park, which includes a side channel network for salmon spawning and juvenile rearing habitat. About thirty dedicated volunteers meet on Tuesday mornings to contribute to salmon enhancement in the river.

YER provides work experience, training and support for youth through restoring local watersheds with community members. Most YER, Phase I participants are involved with ORES conservation work. This YERII project will involve two youth in completing an ecological inventory in Channel #1 and conclude with them leading the tour.

Please join us at Bear Creek Nature Park on August 24th at 12:00 pm.

Follow the old Island Highway north, go left on Hamm Road, then right on Macauley Road to the park entrance on the right and drive to the upper parking area. See you there.

FMI contact Wendy Kotilla at wkotilla@shaw.ca or 250-336-8487 or visit www.youthecology.ca.

August 24th at 12:00 pm the Youth and Ecological Restoration Program (YER) will host the third and final 2014 youth led public tour at Bear Creek Nature Park. This is a YER, Phase II project funded by Ministry of Children and Family Development and Comox Valley Regional District, Grant in Aid funds (CVRD).

Bear Creek Nature Park has been a CVRD managed public park since 2010. The 161 acre park was a combined donation and purchase from the previous owner and is certified as an ecological gift with Environment Canada, Ecological Gifts Program. CVRD and Ducks Unlimited Canada are jointly required to maintain and protect the park significant ecological values and promote public awareness.

Courtenay Recreation’s The LINC sponsoring ‘tween’ dance Calling all Tweens 9-12 years — Are you looking for an exciting way to celebrate an amazing summer vacation?!

Courtenay Recreation’s The LINC Youth Centre is busy planning a supervised Summer Sunset Tween Dance. Youth age 9-12 are invited to come out Tuesday, August 26, 2014, to enjoy an evening of fun and their favourite music - including live DJ, light show, games and prizes. Tickets are available in advance at The LINC and Lewis Centre for $5 or at the door for $6. Grab your friends and don’t miss out on all the action! The LINC will be open 3-8pm with the dance taking place from 4:007:00pm. Tickets are mandatory for all drop-ins. For more information please call The LINC Youth Centre at 250-334-8138.

YER youth and ORES volunteers working together to improve fish habitat

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Comox Valley Echo Friday, August 22, 2014 B5

9 & Dine is Back at Sunnydale!

•$20.00 plus gst •includes 9 holes of golf and your choice of meal from the grill menu, or the daily special.

•Monday-Friday 3pm-6pm •Book tee-times at the pro-shop

(250) 334-3232 5291 North Island Highway, Courtenay, BC V9J 1S7

Sports and Recreation

L. to r., Kim Jonsson, Skip; Mary Holden, 3rd; Sharon Walker, 2nd; Mickey Colburn, lead

LOCAL CURLERS OFF TO CANADIAN GAMES The Jonsson team is heading out on another curling adventure. Having participated in the 2013 BC Senior 55+ Games last summer in Kamloops and taking the gold in the Women’s 55+ category, qualified the team to compete in the 2014 Canada 55+Games. The event will run August 27 to 30 in Strathcona County, Alberta with teams from all the provinces and territories converging on the city to enjoy this incredible experience. The venue for curling will be at the Glen Allan Recreational Complex which sports eight sheets of ice.

The 2014 Games are projected to be the largest instalment to date across Canada with more than 2,000 participants. There are sixteen core events from badminton, tennis, soccer and bridge to golf, hockey, cycling and, of course, curling to name a few. The team is really excited about competing at the senior national level and all

for are looking forward to meeting and competing against the teams from PEI to Alberta.

Kim Jonsson will skip the team with Mary Holden playing third; Sharon Walker, second and Mickey Collburn, lead. Dusting off the curling shoes and brushes in advance of the usual curling season in October is really exciting. Once the Canada Games are over, the team will participate in the BC 55+ Games in Langley from September 9-13 to defend their title. The best of luck is extended to the gals from the Comox Valley Curling Club and their family and friends.

Just a note to those who may want to take up the great sport of curling at the local level, the Comox Valley Curling Club will have registration on September 6th with more information on the website: www.comoxvalleycurling.com or email info@comoxvalleycurling.com

Winners of Chad’s Bar and Grill Mixed Fours , l to r: Peter Harding, Pat Cutt (Games committee members), Melie Ursulom. April Gilchrist, Jackie West, Vern Greenhill

Courtenay lawn bowlers victorious at Chad’s Grill Mixed Fours event Courtenay Lawn Bowling hosted the Mixed Fours sponsored by Chad’s Bar and Grill August 16/17.

Local players were good hosts only to a point as the Vern Greenhill team with April Gilchrist, Jackie West and Melie Ursulom battled it out with Qualicum’s John Wilson, Jane

Neilson, Doug Ives and Liz Pendleton for the honours.

As Hawaaian was the costume theme this year to brighten up the usual white, Cath and Don Wiseman, Jackie West, and Melie Ursulom were the prize winners with the other costumed members of both teams receiving mementoes as well. 2015 will

have a Mexican theme.

Greenhill says 2014 has been his best year ever, having won 7 of the 14 tournaments he has entered, but he is not done yet, there are still a few to go.

Greenhill’s teams have won the Powell River triples, the Port Alberni Triples and the Parksville Mens triples and now the Courtenay Fours in the past 3 weeks. Henri Saucier, Ernie Kassian and Melie Ursulom were second in Powell River.

On the local scene, Monday intercub has one more session to go and the Courtenay Men are leading the way, while the Ladies teams are in 3rd place.

Tuesday Mixed Pairs have Archie and Linda Harris in the lead having played and won 6 games of 6. Peter Harding and Carol Nelson have won 4 and tied one while the Kassians(Ernie and Carolyn) and Vern and April have each won 4 so far.

There are some games to be “caught up” by other teams, so change is always a possibiiity.

Wednesday Mixed League has Dean Penny leading the way with 5 wins and Archie Harris threatening with 4 wins. Bill Whitehouse is not to be counted out as he has 3 wins.

Thursday 242 has Ernie Kassion holding on to a half point lead over Vern Greenhill.

- Submitted by Pat Cutt

TRAINING FOR WORLDS The Canadian Men’s Rowing team has been training at Strathcona Park Lodge & Outdoor Education Centre for the past 3 weeks on Buttle Lake, the largest fresh water lake on Vancouver Island, for the upcoming World Championship in Amsterdam, Netherlands running August 24-31, 2014. Pictured above is the the 4 man sweep boat.

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B6 Comox Valley Echo Friday, August 22, 2014

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Comox Valley Echo Friday, August 22, 2014 B7

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B8 Comox Valley Echo Friday, August 22, 2014

Sports and Recreation

GOLF NEWS CROWN ISLE CROWNS LADIES CHAMP Congratulations to Raelene Robertson for winning low gross and becoming our overall Crown Isle club champion. Congrats as well to Judy Alcroft and Marsha MacKinnon winning low net with Judy winning on a count back.

Kudos to all the ladies who competed over the weekend. Watch this column next week for complete results in each Flight.

On another glorious sunny Tuesday in the Comox Valley, the Crown Isle ladies competed in the last PIN DAY. AND THE SANDBAGGERS (OOPS I MEAN WINNERS!!) ARE: 1st low gross-Daneen Karch with an outstanding 82! and 2nd low gross with 84- May Mitchell and Rosemary Smith 1st low net-Margaret Forgeron with an amazing 63 and 2nd low net -Pam Stevens with 65.

1st low putts- Rosemary Smith and 2nd low putts-Daneen Karch KP’s- #7 Jacquie Hooper, one of our new members and #12-Daneen Karch, heard that name before!!

The birdie pot again had lots of “birds” flying around it!! Congrats to Jacquie, Sandy Linhart, Daneen, Selma de Haas, Margaret, Brenda Barrigan, and Judy Kafka PAR 5’s-Congrats to Margaret, Brenda, Judy, Pam and Linda Stickney.

Don’t forget to wear your black and white if you are registered for CROWN ISLE LADIES’ NINE AND WINE PENGUIN NIGHT on Aug. 27th. Bring your best penguin joke and penguin walk. Shotgun at 5:30. Bert will be doing a complimentary golf clinic at 4:30 for all who are registered.

Theme for our last ladies night on Sept 10th is “SWING THE BLING” Come in your golf outfit with the most bling and enjoy 9 holes of golf, appys, wine, dessert, coffee and prizes. MARK YOUR CALENDAR FOR A 5 PM SHOTGUN START for this Sept. event.

- Submitted by Donna Cunliffe

SPECTACULAR EAGLE SHOT AT G.G. A memorable highlight of the day Aug. 19 at Glacier Greens was a spectacular eagle shot by Brenda Livingstone on our par 5 hole #2!

Pin Day had Lorraine Courtemanche scooping up another pin with a low net of 66.

Rikki Farrell was second with a net 68 and Brenda Livingstone third with a net 69.

Gene Renaud took the honors of low gross with an 87.

Connie Alexa stepped up with low putts of 29.

KP’s: #12 Lynne Pringle, #4 Crystal Friesen.

Chip-ins: Brenda Livingstone, Janet Edwards, Judy Brown and Connie Alexa.

Next week will be a team effort of two best nets.

- Submitted by Lori Cameron

RALLISON TOPS AT SUNNYDALE On Tuesday, August 19th, we had 36 golfers out for our ladies club day at Sunnydale.

The first low gross winner was Joan Rallison with an 86; second low gross was Carolyn Walker with 94; third low gross was Teri Sleigh; 4th low gross was Kathie Reid with a 97; 5th low gross was a tie: Sharon Littler and Lys McCrone with 98; 6th low gross was Jane Grant with a 94 On the Net side: 1st was Charlene Ceybryk with 71; 2nd was Chris Annand with 73; 3rd was Rona Lawsen with 74; 4th was Andrea McInnes with 74; 5th was Norma Rankin with 74; 6th was Lorna Fowler with 75.

Maggie Miller and Sandra Gallaway tied for the lowest number of putts with 29. I might add that even though Magge said she played the worst game ever she managed to get a birdie too.

Longest putt on 9 was Lys McCrone.

KP on 10 which is sponsored by Rob Speer Pro Shop was the amazing Magge Miller again!

KP on 15 was Teri Sleigh and she won the coveted 2015 Comox Valley Calendar, which was kindly donated by Earl Costello of Royal LePage in the Comox Valle.y KP on 5, 2nd shot 0-24 hdcp was Joan Rallison KP on 5 2nd shot 24 and over hdcp was Charlene C KP on 178, and shot 25 and over hdcp was Margaret Poje We had a few birdies out there today, Magge, Patricia Lowe, Joan Rallison, Lois Westbrook congrats to all.

I am excited to add that Joan Rallison had an EAGLE on #14 ... way to go Joan.

The 9 hole ladies played this morning too.

They had an Irons only round and Louise Smiley won the trophy for her lowest gross. Coral Tanner was low net and Ardene Larison won lowest putts.

That’s it for this week, we are having our club championship this weekend, Saturday and Sunday, Good luck to everyone.

See you next week.

- Submitted by Pat Costello

‘B’ TROPHY AGAIN

Happy’s Islanders once again with the ‘B’ Trophy’ at Nationals in the 50+ Division

Happy’s Islanders have some success at Oldtimers Nationals Happy’s Islanders played in the Canadian Oldtimers Baseball Championship, 50+ division, in Brampton, Ontario, over the long weekend in August. After winning the ‘B’ side in Edmonton in 2013, management thought a few tweaks to the lineup would result in a shot at the big trophy.

Well, we had some great performances in Brampton. Andy Marinus and Tim McDonald, our first two hitters, both hit well over .600, consistent-

ly setting the table for our big bats of Dave Bennett, Kelly Wenstrom, Buck Briggs, and Ron Carter. The pitching arms of Richard Murphy, Mike Caton, Irwin Koziel, Ray VanderMark and Kevin Dobbelsteyn supported the big chuckers Marinus and Bennett. And the mostly superb defence was anchored by outfielders Scott Murray and Kelly McGiffen, and infielders Dave Odamura and Brad Kimmett.

But, things don’t always play out as planned.

We walked a few, booted a few, and had one really bad inning on Saturday morning (our third baseman has, no surprise, decided to spend his summers in the garden).

But we won a trophy! Soon all the aches and pains and pulls will be gone, and we will start discussions about next year’s tourney in Yarmouth, N.S. Maybe with just a few tweaks . . .