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Volume 20, No. 30

Gloves off in Maple Pool legal case City vows to fight on as campground’s supporters hit back in statement

By Philip Round Echo Staff The gloves are off in the Maple Pool case.

On Friday the City Council revealed it had decided to fight on with the intention of winning the legal battle of the campground.

And yesterday, preparing for a long haul through the courts, a group calling itself ‘Friends of Maple Pool’ attacked the council’s case for continuing, as set out in a lengthy municipal statement.

City councillors met twice more in closed session last week to consider where the controversial zoning case had got to and to discuss tactics.

Then on Friday, chief administrative officer David Allen issued the statement that concluded: “Courtenay Council is comprised of members from across the political spectrum, yet the majority - fully informed of the facts in the case believe that this case must continue.�

There was no mention of the financial implications of pressing on, which could be huge now the action has been broadened into one including the Charter rights of vulnerable residents living there.

But the City is firm on the flood safety issues involved; the liabilities taxpayers could face for not taking action; and the principled need to uphold land use zonings.

The full text of the City’s statement, and the complete response from the Friends of Maple Pool - the group of citizens and businesspeople who have been working with campground owners Jin and Dali Lin to try to resolve the issue - are posted on the Echo’s website at www.comoxvalleyecho.com Key points from the municipality’s perspective include what it says is a factual analysis of the flooding issues. It notes some have commented the risk to occupants from flooding is low and limited simply to “wet feet.�

But in the Council’s view, the risk “is indeed real and significant.� It notes the provincial government advises that vehicles are commonly carried off roadways “in as little as two feet of moving water;� just walking in moving water deeper than six inches “is potentially dangerous;� and “most people do not know that even minor depths, flows, and velocities of flood waters can create life-threatening conditions.�

It adds the City has previously witnessed flooding of some occupied Maple Pool campsites “knee-deep or higher.� Emergency evacuation procedures for Maple Pool had been drawn up in 2010, including guidelines for which specific campsites were safe to occupy in the winter season.

Mark Isfeld students Ethan Glenwright, Nicolas Parlee, Adrian Humphry, and Damian Parlee show off their two winning robots - one will compete at the VEX World Championships in Anaheim, California late this month, and the other will be heading to Skills Canada Nationals in Toronto, June 5-7.

VALLEY STUDENTS WIN MEDALS AT B.C. SKILLS COMPETITION Now the challenge is to raise money to send five to Nationals

By Michael Briones Echo Staff Four technologically skilled students from Mark Isfeld Secondary have learned the true value of reliability, durability and accuracy.

These are three salient features their robot possessed that earned them top honours at the 2014 BC Skills Competitions held at Tradex, Abbotsford last week.

The creation of Ethan Glenwright, Nicolas Parlee, Adrian Humphry, and Damian Parlee, also known as the Flying Circuits, worked almost like a well-oiled machine to beat other entries from different schools across the province to bag the gold medal and a spot at the national competition in Toronto. “We won because of our robot was accurate and reliable,� said Damian Parlee. “They compensated for the problems we had with our drivetrain, which caused our robot to sometimes stall.�

The Isfeld quartet were among the over 30 students from School District 71 that got the opportunity to showcase their skills at the annual competition. They ended up bringing home two golds, three silvers, and three bronze medals.

The other medal winners were: • Auto Mechanics: Gold, Highland, Mathew Dyck • Auto Collision Repair: Bronze, Vanier, Sam Davis (Continued on page 3)

Mathew Dyck, Highland, won gold in auto mechanics

(Continued on page 2)

Showdown at City Hall Emotions spill over as Mayor fails to identify spending cuts he wants

By Philip Round Echo Staff A budget vote at Courtenay Council led to an emotion-charged clash between the Mayor and his Council on Wednesday night.

After almost two hours going through the 2014 budget proposals line-by-line at a specially-convened meeting, a vote was called on whether to accept an overall 1.95 per cent increase in the money to be raised from property taxes.

The five councillors present all supported the motion - but Mayor Larry Jangula voted against, saying

he would prefer to see a freeze in spending or even a reduction, because “taxpayers will blame it all on us� when they got their bills.

But earlier in the evening he had called for an increase in spending on road paving and voiced support for a separate $80,000 increase in the budget to pay and equip more volunteer firefighters.

So when Coun. Bill Anglin challenged him to identify items of spending or services he wanted to cut to justify his vote, he could give no specifics, other than to suggest in general terms “cultural and recreational budgets� might be reduced.

That night’s budget meeting was, he insisted, just a preliminary discussion and there was time for council to think about specifics before they got to a final vote.

Anglin retorted: “This meeting is exactly what this is about. If you have ideas of services you want to cut or change, that’s what we’re sitting here for; that’s what we’re here to debate. “What specifics are you bringing forward? You can’t just say ‘I’d like to cut.’ What do you want to cut?�

Jangula said he wanted to think about it, as he didn’t know at this stage.

That triggered former Mayor and now Councillor Starr Winchester to vent what she called her frustration and disappointment with Jangula. “We have just gone through this line-by-line and I haven’t heard a peep from you. You make these sort of comments over and over again, but we never hear anything definitive. “You have had since the beginning of this meeting to voice your concerns. We as a council would like to talk about it, if you would say what you are proposing.�

Winchester said in casting a vote the way Jangula had was a popular thing to be doing in an election year.

2010 TOYOTA

But without being able to offer a single constructive suggestion of how it could be justified, it was not responsible.

She claimed he had taken the same approach when the council spent a long time working on its strategic plan and priorities.

And welling up with emotion, she demanded to know if he had looked into the budget details before he turned up at council, and when Jangula said he hadn’t had chance to go through it line-by-line she fired back: “Well I have - it’s all available.�

(Continued on page 3)

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A2 Comox Valley Echo Tuesday, April 15, 2014

News

Comox Valley Weather

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Tuesday, 15 April Mainly cloudy with 40% chance of showers. Clearing late in the afternoon. High 12°C.

Wednesday, 16 April Cloudy with 60% chance of showers.

Low 5°C. High 12°C.

Thursday, 17 April Periods of rain.

Low 8°C. High 11°C.

Friday, 18 April Sunny.

Low 7°C. High 14°C.

Saturday, 19 April Cloudy.

Low 7°C. High 13°C.

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

Gloves are off in Maple Pool case (Continued from page 1) But the City claims Maple Pool was in violation of those guidelines during two successive winters.

The statement adds: “Maple Pool has a history of significant flooding in recent years, in both 2009 and 2010, which required evacuation. The City provided assistance with these evacuations. The property nearly flooded again in 2011.

“Concerns over resident safety and the hazards witnessed during these floods motivated these legal proceedings.”

Risks, says the City, are not limited to water alone. In November 2011, fast-moving currents are said to have pushed a large fallen tree into a campsite. A resident’s trailer had been pulled away only minutes before, so it was narrowly missed.

“We have attempted to resolve the situation outside the court numerous times,” the statement continues. “Rezoning and OCP amendment applications would provide the necessary starting point to address both the legal and safety issues at this site.”

But three years on from the first request, the owners have still not submitted complete applications, “nor have they provided a reason for this.”

The City also claims that on April 1 it was informed that such applications would not be forthcoming “despite repeated earlier assurances starting in 2011 that they would be completed.”

The City had offered a temporary use permit while issues were being resolved, but had been rejected.

Addressing the issue of a temporary flood wall voluntarily erected by local businesses last fall but without a municipal development permit, the statement questions whether it would work - or maybe even negatively affect neighbouring properties. Without necessary engineering reviews, no one could say, but a proper permit application would have produced some answers.

The City goes on: “We are not inventing the flood hazard issues at Maple Pool, and cannot allow the situation to continue as it stands currently - both for the sake of the safety of the Maple Pool residents and the taxpayers who could ultimately be footing the bill for damages if the unthinkable were to occur.

“The City has no motivation other than the very real risks to the campground occupants and our taxpayers.”

To help justify its strong stand, the Council refers to a case in Alberta involving a riverside campground that was shut down following a court case “due to concerns that were similar to ours here in Courtenay - in their case, floodwaters resulted in the death of a campground resident.”

The Council accepts the new Charter of Rights and Freedoms aspect of the case adds another layer of complexity to what it describes as an already difficult situation, but “we do not feel this justifies allowing the property owner to continue to ignore municipal regulations.”

It adds: “We appreciate and understand the concerns of those in the community worried about Maple Pool residents. We share those concerns.

“The homeless and vulnerable in our City deserve housing that meets flood protection requirements, and the City is committed to working towards safe housing alternatives for the residents.”

But the Friends of Maple Pool are far from impressed with the arguments - and directly accuse the Council of misleading people on some of the issues.

“Council chants the tired old mantra of flood risk,” they say. And when the City refers to ‘a history of significant flooding in recent years,’ they point out Judge Robin Baird has already concluded, in his words, “the flooding in 2009/2010 was inconvenient and messy, but nothing more.”

Further, the Friends claim that year’s floods were entirely due to major water releases from Comox Dam and in any event the City has in the past dealt with potential liability issues on other vulnerable sites by simple waivers of liability.

In a provocative line, they say: “Not all City Hall statements about Maple Pool are blatant falsehoods; some are just deliberately misleading.” One such, they suggest, is

Maple Pool owners, the Lins, chat with a resident in the campground office the reference to ‘knee-deep or higher’ water affecting trailers in 2009/2010.

“The statement is true on its face, but it is exclusively confined to sites which were removed/ abandoned after the floods and there has been no permanent residential occupation of these sites

ever since.”

“Ladies and gentlemen of the Courtenay Council - Elvis has left the building!”

They go on: “Although the flooding technically occurred in 2009 and 2010, a council with greater integrity and greater devotion to truth would have acknowl-

Courtenay residents will be able to put additional new items in their blue recycling boxes from May 19.

From that date, aerosol cans, spiral-wound containers used for frozen juice, cookie dough and other products, plus hot and cold drink cups and plastic plant pots will be among the additional items that will be collected with curbside recycling.

This expansion is part of the City’s transition of recycling services to Multi-Material BC (MMBC).

Starting May 19, businesses that supply packaging and printed paper to BC residents will become responsible for collecting and managing these materials so they can be recycled.

MMBC, a non-profit organization working on behalf of these businesses, will be responsible for residential recycling programs in many areas of BC, either directly or by working with local governments such as the City of Courtenay.

In exchange, MMBC will provide a financial incentive to Courtenay, and that money will be used to offset the cost of providing recycling service to residents through a reduction in the garbage user fee charged to residents on annual property tax bills.

“We think this is a positive move for residents of Courtenay,” said David Allen, chief administrative officer for the municipality.

“We’ve heard from residents that they would like to see

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VANCOUVER ISLAND - LOWER MAINLAND NANAIMO (DEPARTURE BAY) - HORSESHOE BAY April 1 to May 14, 2014 Leave Horseshoe Bay 6:30 am 8:30 am 10:30 am 11:30 am1 12:30 pm 1:50 pm4

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Leave Departure Bay 6:30 am 8:30 am 9:30 am2 10:30 am 11:30 am4 12:30 pm

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“Council knows perfectly well why Maple Pool has been unable to submit proposals, and Council also knows that the fault lies with the City’s repeated delays in providing data from its own engineering studies.”

The Friends add: “The City tried out this accusation of delay on the part of the Lins before the BC Supreme Court. The Court made a specific finding that there had been no delay on the part of the Lins.”

As far as notification on April 1 that there would now be no submission at all, the group says neither the Lins nor their lawyers have provided that notification. But, they add, “the essence of the Lins legal defence is that they are not in violation of local regulations.”

And as for Council’s insistence it shares the community’s concern over Maple Pool, they say “talk is cheap” and to their knowledge only two elected officials from the City have visited the campground - Mayor Larry Jangula and Coun. Manno Theos.

They note the City’s commitment to ‘providing safe housing alternatives for residents,’ and respond: “Commitment is marvellous. But it keeps no one from having to sleep on winter streets while awaiting the fruits of the City’s commitment.

“Residents are presently sheltered and fed; (and) they are provided with medical, dental, optical and counselling services on a regular basis. The councillors are committed to noble projects in the misty future, but have a dismal past record on such commitments.”

New items to be accepted in Courtenay’s blue boxes

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edged that the floods occurred at the very end of 2009 and the beginning of 2010 - that is, in one flood season and because of oneoff special circumstances.”

And as for the statement ‘The property nearly flooded again in 2011,’ they respond: “Is this akin to being ‘partly pregnant?’

“The City was thoroughly thrashed in the Supreme Court of BC when trying to make a case based on actual flooding in 2009/2010. Now council relies on ‘nearly.’

As for the supposedly similar case of a campground in Alberta closed following court action, the group says the only connection is that both properties are near rivers.

The Alberta campground was shut “for reasons which have no relevance whatsoever to Maple Pool,” rather the legal issues there were sewage contaminating groundwater and dangerously exposed electrical wiring - not flooding.

The group also calls on the Council to list and date the occasions when it has tried to resolve the situation outside the courts on the “numerous occasions” claimed by the City.

And they suggest a public forum be organized to debate the issues, “recognizing that both sides will be restrained from discussing legal issues which are before the court.”

In one the most forthright statement of their response, the Friends accuse the Council of “an outright lie.” It concerns the suggestion that the Lins have had three years to initiate zoning changes or to provide reasons for their failure to do so.

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expanded recycling services. This program expands that service while also reducing costs for taxpayers, and places a greater degree of responsibility on the companies that produce the packaging and other materials. It’s a winwin.”

Current contractor Emterra will continue with pick up service and there will be no change to pick up schedules.

Everything currently allowed in blue boxes, plus the new items, will continue to be picked up, except soft plastics such as plastic shopping bags. They will only be accepted at depots.

Allen believes that other than being able to place more at the curb, residents shouldn’t notice the change. For a full list of items that can go in Blue Boxes starting May 19 visit www.courtenay.ca/recycling.aspx Recycling depots in the Comox Valley will also expand under the new

program, and at certain locations new items will be accepted. As of May 19, the recycling depot at the Comox Valley Waste Management Centre (the Cumberland landfill) will expand to accept materials including Styrofoam, glass, plastic bags and film wrap.

However, the recycling depots located at the BFI yard in Cumberland, the Courtenay Country Market along the old Island Highway, and behind the Canex store in Comox will NOT take any new items, but will continue as drop-off locations for cardboard, hard plastics, and metal containers.

The privately run Encorp Return-It depots in Courtenay and Comox will also offer packaging and printed paper recycling.

For the most up-to-date list of CSWM depot locations and recyclable materials that they will accept, visit www. cswm.ca/depots

Comox Valley Echo Tuesday, April 15, 2014 A3

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Showdown LOCAL GROUPS TAP IN TO BREWERY’S SALMON ENHANCEMENT FUND (Continued from page 1) Defending his call for more cash for paving, Jangula thought additional money could be pulled out of council reserves without adding further to taxes.

But Anglin had warned taking too much from reserves each year was not something that could continue indefinitely. The budget presented was a good compromise between drawing some money down while increasing income through a very small increase in taxation.

And Coun. Ronna-Rae Leonard said the small size of the spending increase - especially considering much bigger hikes the City could not avoid, like 9 per cent higher BC Hydro bills and increasing RCMP policing costs - was probably the best outcome she had seen in her whole time living in Courtenay, not just serving on council.

It was kudos to staff for finding so many ways to cushion the impact for citizens and hold back the increase to such a low level.

Winchester agreed, describing it as a “very solid” budget, while Coun. Doug Hillian described it as offering good value for citizens.

Councillor Manno Theos said he understood taxpayers would prefer not to have increases, but he could see no “magic bullet” that would mean a zero increase.

His only suggestions for further improvements to the bottom line was to look for increased income, maybe through a civic lottery, selling City souvenirs, and perhaps looking out for any untapped grants.

Chief administrative officer David Allen said if Council wanted to consciously reduce the budget further they could instruct staff to come up with recommendations for cuts to particular services and then decide whether they were prepared to accept them.

But Hillian said he wanted it on the record that he had no interest in having staff time spent looking for cuts in cultural and recreational services, as the only area mentioned by the mayor. Citizens used and valued those services and he believed were prepared to pay towards them.

The 5-1 vote (Coun. Jon Ambler was absent) saw the spending and income plans approved, although a formal tax bylaw will have to be voted on at a later date.

However, it is not yet clear what the impact will be on in terms of the percentage increase in the City’s share as shown on tax notices. That will depend on a vote to fix the ‘business multiplier’ for commercial taxpayers later this month.

If the multiplier stays at its current level, the 1.95 per cent increase in spending equates to a residential tax increase for Courtenay itself of just 0.63 per cent, or $6.60 for an average home in the municipality.

But commercial taxpayers, like local stores, would have to pay 4.88 per cent more to make up the shortfall, an average increase of $350.

However, if the council slightly reduces the multiplier to help business, as staff will be recommending, the balance would shift to bring about a 1.34 per cent increase for homeowners and a 3.76 per cent increase for commercial properties.

By Philip Round Echo Staff Glasses of beer were raised in celebration of a brewery’s award of salmon enhancement grants to two local societies on Saturday.

Pacific Western Brewing’s Community Foundation gave $2,000 each to the Little River Enhancement Society and Brooklyn Creek Watershed Society.

Brewery owner Kazuko Komatzu was on hand to present symbolic cheques and offer free beer to all those attending the event at the Griffin Pub on Kilmorley Road in Comox.

She commented: “Hundreds of tireless volunteers are working hard in many BC communities to rebuild wild salmon stocks and rehabilitate their habitat.

“We hope that more volunteer salmon enhancement groups and stream keepers will take advantage of our salmon enhancement fund to support their efforts.”

The foundation has $20,000 to distribute, and Saturday’s grants were the second and third to be awarded - the first was in the Alberni Valley - and more than half the total is still available.

For the Brooklyn society, president Ian Moul said they were very grateful for the support of the brew-

We’ll drink to that: The owner of Pacific Western Brewery, Kazuko Komatsu (centre), presents giant cheques to Brooklyn Creek Watershed Society and the Little River Enhancement Society at the Griffin Pub in Comox on Saturday, as Comox Mayor Paul Ives (cenery. “Brooklyn Creek supports coho salmon, chum salmon and cutthroat trout in a watershed that is highly impacted by human settlement,” he commented.

“The funds provided by Pacific Western Brewing will help us to work with volunteers and the local community to enhance salmon spawning areas in the Salish Park area of Brooklyn Creek.”

And Sherwood Grant of the Little

250.334.6432 ryanwilliams@remax.net ryanwilliams.ca

(Continued from page 1) • Electronics: Silver, Highland, Connor Ball • Electronics: Bronze, Vanier, Chris Kristoff • Graphic Design: Silver, Vanier, Katinka Newman • Jr. Spaghetti Bridge: Bronze, Vanier team, Wyatt Waite, Raymond Fukui, Riley Meyerhoff • Jr. Sumo Robots: Silver, Vanier, Alex Chow The Flying Circuits prepared well for the competition.

They’ve worked on the design of their robot since December but only fabricated it a month before the competition. There were some growing pains but they said majority of their meticulously designed machine, particularly the puck grabbing mechanism and the shooting component worked well the first time they tried it.

The robot was built like a topline vehicle. It was clean to look at with not a lot of wires exposed, and very well thought of.

“We didn’t have much problems,” said Humpry. “We were just sitting there watching our competitors work on their robots the entire day. Our robot was solid.”

The Core Game Concept had robots playing the traditional game of crokinole, which involved shooting pucks

COURTENAY LITTLE THEATRE PRESENTS

onto a four ring table top target using a ‘flick based shooting process.’ The pucks used are standard ice hockey pucks.

What gave the Isfeld robot and advantage over the competition is its rotary system that allowed it to easily line up the puck to the target and launched it close to the centre for maximum points.

This is the second robot this group has created this year. Earlier, it created a robot that entered the Toss Up competition and won the BC Championships to earn a spot at the World VEX Championships in Anaheim, California on April 23-26. They ended up being ranked 13th out of 7,000 competitors.

The group now is now raising funds for their trip to California and also for the national competition. They’re looking for donations and sponsors to help them out.

SD71’s Career Programs Coordinator, Randy

the weekend to talk aficionados through the different samples available for tasting. Food on offer to accompany the beers at the celebrations included deep fried beer-battered salmon sticks.

Other salmon enhancement societies interested in applying for PWB Community Foundation funds should tap into the brewery’s website at www.pwbrewing.com for more details.

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Grey said British Columbia has never won at the national level - Skills Canada Nationals in Toronto, June 5-7. He believes this group could be the first.

“We’re confident we have the robot to win,” the group said. “We’re tweaking it a bit by putting new wheels and motor to improve the drive train.”

The five local students that won at provincials want to go to the nationals and Grey is asking the general public to help them in their quest. It’s going to cost $1,000 for each participant.

“The community has been fantastic in the past and are being asked to please help again,” said Grey. “Together we can get these very talented youth to the Nationals.”

If you would like to donate towards this, please contact Randy, randy.grey@sd71.bc.ca, or call him at 250-897-5632.

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River society said the generous donation would help continue their ongoing work to bring wild salmon stocks back. He and his colleagues also praised Dave Davies, the community advisor with the federal Department of Fisheries and Oceans, for his work with local societies.

The Prince George-based brewery, which produces beers such as Pacific Pilsner and the Cariboo range, had its brewmaster Henryk Orlik on hand at

Valley students bring home medals from B.C. Skills contest

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tre rear) looks on. Clinking glasses of Pacific Western’s beers to celebrate the donations are Ian Moul (centre left) of Brooklyn and Sherwood Grant (centre right) of Little River along with volunteers from both societies.

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A4 Comox Valley Echo Tuesday, April 15, 2014

News

Maple Lake gets new stock of trout

By Michael Briones Echo Staff Maple Lake has just been restocked with close to 2,000 rainbow trout just in time for the official start of the fishing season.

The Freshwater Fisheries Society of BC released the catchable-sized trout last Thursday, which are approximately 10 to 12 inches long.

Maple Lake ranks as one of the most popular fishing holes on Vancouver Island. “It’s one of the most heavily fished lakes on the Island and it gets a lot of angling pressure,� said Tony Andrychuk, a fish culturist for the society. “That’s why this lake gets quite a few rainbow trout.�

Following Maple Lake, the crew went to restock Echo and Beaver lakes in Campbell River as well.

Maple Lake gets restocked with 5,000 rainbow trout every year.

The fish are diploid sterile females and will not reproduce. Andrychuk said they are designed to grow specifically for the anglers. They put all

Lucal Philp of Freshwater Fisheries Society of BC checks the temperature of the water on Maple Lake prior to releasing close to 2,000 rainbow approximately 10 to 12 inches long. Maple Lake ranks as one of the most popular fishing holes on Vancouver Island.

growth into their bodies and typically put on an inch per month in the warm time of year.

The Fraser Valley rainbow trout were raised at the Vancouver Island Trout Hatchery located in Duncan.

The society restocks around 80 lakes on Vancouver Island. The replenishing of stock at lakes in the province are funded through the fishing licence

revenue. The society receives 53 per cent of the money. Research has shown that the economic benefits from the stocking program averaged $208 million in 2010, which was a healthy return for the $8.57 million the society has spent on the program.

It means for every $1 invested in fish stocking, it related to an average of $24 in angler expenditures.

St. Joseph’s scores top marks on national check-up

By Drew A. Penner Echo Staff Accreditation Canada has officially upgraded St. Joseph’s General Hospital’s status to the highest possible level under a national standards review. The Comox facility went from an initial Accreditation with Commendation rating following a multi-day review started at the end of October, to achieving the Accreditation with Exemplary Standing distinction over the standard six-month improvement period.

Although St. Joseph’s president and CEO Jane Murphy was confident in the hospital’s abilities to boost its quality of care and organizational rigor further, she describes receiving the message announcing the updated rating as a “Wow!� moment. “I opened up that email and was very thrilled,� she said, crediting everyone in the organization with the success. “We’re extremely pleased.�

Only 22 per cent of health care facilities achieve this particular rating under the Accreditation Canada evaluation process.

When Accreditation Canada issued its report on the facility on Nov. 15, it was apparent that while the hospital had scored near perfect scores in many areas it had 20 unmet quality dimensions in both the safety and effectiveness categories (out of 505 and 642 respectively).

But the hospital has worked hard to boost infection control and prevention awareness in the interim, has improved risk analysis and even beefed up reporting requirements at the board level. “They felt that they wanted us to be more systematic and formal in how we assess the risks the organization is facing,� explained Murphy. “Actually Island Health was very helpful in providing us a template that we used as a starting point.�

A team of three surveyors spent a

$R 3TERLING $ESMOND !#505.#452%

week at the hospital examining care and services in almost every department, including the acute care area and in the Views residential units.

The recent good marks from Accreditation Canada come as a coup for a hospital that was mired by the revelation of poor patient flow and other quality challenges that led to

the loss of accredited status during the previous round of evaluations by the standards organization.

The way it works is surveyors review plans, procedures and quality and safety programs. They look at the ins and out of activity in departments and on care units and spoke with community partners, board members,

managers, staff, physicians, patients, residents and families of those cared for by the hospital.

Since the most recent survey the hospital has changed how the board of directors evaluates themselves.

There is now an evaluation of each individual board member, as part of the process.

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Community

Comox Valley Echo Tuesday, April 15, 2014 A5

The formidable volunteers of Hospital Auxiliary HUNTFor History

by JUDY HAGEN Road (Mrs. Hayman), Lazo (Capt Guthrie and Mrs. Stevens), Dove Creek (Mrs. Booth and Mrs. Dack), Lake Trail (Mrs. Harvey,) Arden (Mrs. Duncan), Headquarters (Mrs. Jack Carthew), Lower Road (Mrs. Eadie and Mrs. Hagarty), Royston (Mrs. Hilton and Mrs. H. Cliffe), Back Road (Mrs. Osler), Nob Hill (Misses Moore and Gage), Comox (Miss Cooker and Mrs.. Edgar Cliffe).

The produce collected in 1926 was valued at $259. A few years later, an annual ‘tag day’ in Courtenay would replace the donation of produce.

In the basement of the Hospital, the members of the Auxiliary canned the fruit and vegetables that had been donated or had been grown on the hospital grounds.

The raising of money was always the main topic of meetings. The annual Garden Fete was a social event for the whole valley. In 1926, they raised $1,700.

Throughout the year there were smaller fund raisers, such as the whist and dance held at Booth’s hall in Courtenay, which raised $36.85.

In August 1926, when the H.M.S. Curlew came into Comox harbour, Mrs. Osler of the Elk Hotel organized a sailor’s concert which raised $32.40.

One of the largest purchases was an Ambulance. In 1926, it was recognized that the current ambulance was not suitable for the work required and they would offer that one to the Campbell River hospital (No reason was given as to why it was unsuitable for Comox but would be satisfactory for another community).

By Feb 1929, the new Chrysler ambulance was paid in full. In March they voted to pay the expense of painting the ambulance and the following month purchased a horn.

The Depression would greatly affect the fund raising efforts. By 1931, the Garden Fete raised only $739.50. They no longer organized the Grand Balls, but relied on community dances which brought in smaller amounts with less expense.

They voted to NOT send a delegate to the annual provincial Hospital meeting, requesting Sister Superior represent them. They agreed to pay the insurance on the Ambulance, which was fortuitous because in 1932 a fire at Simms Garage destroyed the vehicle. The June 27th minutes read: “After lengthy debate, it was unanimously felt that it would be quite impossi-

1929 Chrysler Ambulance purchased by the St. Joseph’s Hospital Auxiliary (Photo courtesy Courtenay and District Museum 998.219.53).

Never underestimate the power of a woman ... and never underestimate the dynamic force of an army of women and the work they can accomplish over the span of 100 years.

When the Sisters of St. Joseph arrived in Comox in July 1913, they opened a modest hospital, with limited resources. Within a short time the women of the Comox Valley had rallied and were supporting their work. On 15 March 1914, these women officially organized as St. Joseph’s General Hospital Auxiliary.

For twelve years, the Auxiliary was led by the formidable Mrs. William Fletcher. At that time

women were recognized by their husband’s name. This was a social convention that would change in March 1954, when for the first time, the minutes noted the first names of members, but the Christian names of early members may never be known.

In 1916, when the City of Courtenay was “electrified”, Mrs. Fletcher convinced the City to extend the power grid out to the hospital.

Then in 1926, she again worked her magic so the new water system was extended from the City out to the hospital. The Sisters and staff no longer had to haul water from the wells which were then capped.

In the early years when the hospi-

tal was going through ‘growing pains’ the meetings became work parties. The minutes of 16 February 1926 record, “The order of this meeting was work first, followed by a tea and business. Sister Superior produced some bolts of sheeting and canton flannel. These being torn the proper length, the hems were then turned, ready for stitching.”

The membership was a “who’s who” of the valley. The minutes of the meetings indicate their various assigned duties.

In the fall, they would co-ordinate the donations of produce from various areas: The Orchard (Mrs. Briggs), Sandwick (Mrs. Liddle), Union Bay

Green Jobs Town Hall in Valley on Wednesday GreenJobsBC will be holding a town hall event in Courtenay to discuss possibilities for a green economy, and get feedback from citizens about their goals for creating local jobs that are good for the economy and the environment.

The town hall will bring together members of the community including labour and environmental groups to have a constructive conversation on how to achieve these goals.

The event will be held at the Westerly Hotel & Convention Centre on Wednesday, April 16 at 6 pm.

Residents of the Comox Valley are encouraged to attend and join BCGEU President Darryl Walker, Caitlyn Vernon of the Sierra Club, and speakers from GreenJobs BC

and the local community to hear about possibilities for creating green jobs, and to share local visions for their community.

“B.C. needs bold and purposeful policy and action to build an economy that creates sustainable livelihoods for British Columbians while dealing with climate change,” says BCGEU President and GreenJobs BC co-chair Darryl Walker. “We know that British Columbia can create green jobs while lowering its GHG emissions.”

“Creating green jobs is a very real

option for BC, but we need to hear from communities about how to work together to achieve this. These conversations will contribute to a vision for a green economy that includes all of BC, from cities to resource communities,” says GreenJobs BC co-chair Lisa Matthaus of Organizing for Change.

ble to provide a new vehicle.” (The Volunteer Fire Brigade took over the raising of funds. In 1935 they purchased the new “Jubilee ambulance” to honour King George V’s Silver Jubilee).

During the Second World War, with so much fund raising for the war effort, there was a loss of volunteers and the Auxiliary almost folded. A smaller membership soldiered on, continuing with small fund raising efforts, helping the Sisters with the linens, the canning and patient comfort.

In July 1944, from the minutes of a special meeting, “the final arrangements for the garden party were then discussed; it was decided as it was not possible to get co-operation to cancel the party.”

Those faithful few would not let the Auxiliary close. When the war ended, there was a renewed interest in service to the community. Daughters and granddaughters of women, who had done so much work in the past, were now joining. The new generation would be just as active and would raise funds for new projects and look for ways to give care and comfort to patients. They purchased large items such an Oxygen Tent (1947) Gas and Oxygen machine (1948) mobile X Ray Machine (1952) Like their predecessors, Presidents would take the Auxiliary in new directions. In 1969, Ruth Hazlett organized the Candy Stripers and established an annual bursary to be awarded to a young graduating Candy Striper who was going on to a medical career.

In 1995, a van at a cost of $80,000 was purchased for Extended Care Residents, so they could have transportation for day trips.

When Pat Fish became President she was horrified to learn that when the Auxiliary purchased the scanner they had to pay sales tax. She challenged the government and won, but it was a small victory only for Charities, the Hospital was still having to pay tax on purchases of equipment.

In the past decade nearly $2 million has been raised by the Auxiliary with their endless fund raisers, revenue from their Gift Shop and their Thrift Store. So hats off to the formidable army of Auxiliary volunteers who do so much for the comfort and aid of St. Joseph’s patients.

School District No. 71

Invitation to Tender Mark R. Isfeld Secondary School Construction and Installation of Entrance Sign The services required are described in Tender 2014-001-063 and are available from Carol Snead (carol.snead@sd71.bc.ca) or (250) 334-5547

Road Construction Notice Beaufort Avenue Upgrade – Nordin Street to Comox Avenue Beginning April 21 thru to June 27, 2014 construction crews will be upgrading sewer mains, roads, and sidewalks along Beaufort Avenue; mainly between Nordin Street and Comox Avenue. Non local motorists and pedestrians are encouraged to use alternate routes around the construction zone to avoid delays. Local residents and service providers will experience single lane alternating traffic between the hours of 7:00 a.m. and 6:00 pm, and may experience delays from time to time. Emergency services will maintain unrestricted access thru the site, at all times.

Motorists are asked to allow extra time, exercise caution, and observe directions given by traffic control personnel.

If you have any construction or traffic related questions or concerns regarding this project, please contact Knappett Industries at (250)390-3022, or info@knappettindustries.com We thank you in advance for your cooperation during this construction period.

Call Kent Roduck, OWNER Funeral Home Cremation And Reception Centre at (250) 334-0707 for more details regarding “The Guaranteed Inflation Proof Plan,” or mail in this coupon.

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Congratulations to Jan Vandenbiggelaar for being the SalesLady of the month for March.

Come in today to see Jan and see what sets her apart as the right salesperson for you!

A6 Comox Valley Echo Tuesday, April 15, 2014

Community

‘Living History’ video series premieres Thursday at Lake Trail The Lake Trail neighbourhood is rich with a secret history of pioneers, immigrants, and homesteaders.

Please join us at Lake Trail School on Thursday, April 17th from 1:00 3:00 p.m. for a new series of “living history” videos that celebrate a year with The Lake Trail Living History Project. Bubbly drinks, yummy appetizers from Zocalo, and the Con Brio String Trio will be on offer - plus the world video premiere and launch of the project’s new interactive website.

To document our area’s living pioneers for the public record, Grade 10 students took to the reins as community journalists, and were coached on how to conduct the challenging twohour interviews in the intimacy of people’s homes.

The spirit, good humour and vitality of these elders shines through in the videos, featuring such luminaries as 95-year old radical Ruth Masters, keen historian Lawrence Burns, and 4th-generation resident Maureen Glowasky.

Maureen’s story is especially poignant for Lake Trail students: her family grew up farming on the 160acre homestead where the school now stands, with the remaining lands becoming Roy Morrison Nature Park.

She gives a vivid glimpse into an age without streetlights, when a “sea of stumps stretched all the way to Powerhouse Road”, and horses, pigs, and peacocks roamed the property.

The video shows the original lay-

Lake Trail students Terran and Bernadette share stories with historian Lawrence Burns for the Lake Trail Living History Project, wrapping up with a public party April 17th

out and traces the path of the old mill flume - a four-mile watercourse dug by earnest volunteers in the early 20th century.

Produced by Lake Trail Neighbourhood Connections, the project engaged seniors through a revival of heritage skills and community history, with funding from New Horizons for Seniors.

Its all-ages focus - from garden parties to winter dances, and workshops in wildcrafting, knitting and genealogy - encouraged seniors to jump in as mentors and bridge the generations.

“Old and young today have few opportunities for sharing together”, says the project’s organizer Dan Vie, “and these skills and memories are endangered - we want to preserve their stories as a living body of knowledge for future generations”.

Come hear these compelling stories from the source. A discussion with the Living History Project’s participants follows this free video screening on Thursday, April 17th from 1:00 - 3:00 p.m. at Lake Trail School, in the Drama Room (follow the signs). Anyone intrigued by our community history is welcome to attend. And if you can’t make it to this daytime event, as of mid-April see all the videos, read transcripts, and contribute your own stories to our new website, http://www.laketrailstories.ca.

More info: laketrailmemory@ gmail.com

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Sign up now for Easter fun at Courtenay Rec. Hop down to Lewis Centre - Courtenay Recreation and sign up for SPRINGTIME PROMENADE. Join us on the Bunny trail, for our annual Easter celebration.

Decorate cookies, make Easter crafts, get your face painted and join the Easter bunny for a stroll through the enchanted forest. Depending on where the Easter Bunny has been, you may even find some treats along the way.

This fun family event is held on Saturday, April 19, from 11:00 am 12:15 pm at Simms Millennium Park.

The cost is $8.00/family for children 1 - 6 years old. Register early, as space is limited. For more information call the Lewis Centre at 250 338-5371

Victoria Outdoor Set with cocktail table (not shown)

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Comox Recreation’s Eggstravaganza egg hunt is supporting YANA on April 21st at Marina Park The Annual Comox Recreation Easter Eggstravaganza is supporting YANA this year; a local charity helping families travel to access medical treatment for their children.

The hunt itself is FREE, and starts at 12pm SHARP! (satellite cell time, do not be disappointed by your watch).

Monetary donations will be collected for the array of family friendly activities which include a barbeque, inflatable obstacle course, 2 hamster balls and a face painting station. The activities run until 2 pm.

This year we’re incorporating three egg hunt areas for this all ages event. Each area will be broken up into a hunt for 0-4 years, 5-11 years and 12 and up.

Have fun finding Easter chocolate, coins for bigger chocolate, and if you’re lucky, a Golden Egg! Prizes for this year’s event include a bike or scooter, books, toys, gift certificates and sporting goods.

With amazing sponsorship from Quality Foods and welcoming new sponsors - Investors Group, Mountain City Cycles and Marc Villanueva - we’re making Easter at Marina Park the most exciting it’s ever been.

Bring your family, an Easter basket and a picnic blanket to Comox Recreations Easter Eggstravaganza! Monday, April 21st at Marina Park.

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Community

Comox Valley Echo Tuesday, April 15, 2014 A7

Boomer’s Legacy gets stained glass treatment at YQQ

By Drew A. Penner Echo Staff Maureen Eykelenboom beamed as she gazed at the bright sunlight shining through the greens, yellows and blues of the Boomer’s Legacy stained glass window installed at the airport to commemorate the foundation she started in honour of her son. The airport that serves as the gateway to the community will now have a permanent nod to the impact of Andrew “Boomer” Eykelenboom who died in an Afghanistan suicide bombing although his mom quickly turns the gratitude back towards the community itself.

“It’s recognition of a community that has been so supportive,” she said following the unveiling ceremony April 8, noting she sees the foundation as working on behalf of all Canadian Forces. “Andrew was Andrew. Boomer’s a soldier who is any soldier.”

Boomer’s Legacy was set up to support humanitarian efforts of troops around the world. The foundation has been used to fund education for girls in Afghanistan, give school supplies to more than 4,200 Haitian children and give “Boomer Caps” to Filipino kids in the wake of Typhoon Haiyan. In the case of one school in Kabul the foundation has so far provided $45,000 to pay the rent of a building used for teaching girls.

“It was our military troops in Kabul that chose to fund the school,” she said. “They can help the girls in Afghanistan get an education.”

It’s the impact of the foundation that really excites Eykelenboom.

“That’s what it’s all about,” she said. “This is what we’re doing and it’s a good thing.”

The 19 Wing Comox base commander Col. Jim Benninger said it’s important to recognize the important work the foundation has done in memory of Andrew - a medic who was killed literally days before he was to arrive home from the war.

“The Eykelenboom family and Andrew in particular have a very special link with Comox,” he said.

“We’re very proud of what Maureen is doing to make the world a better place.”

(L-R) Jan Lindstrom, Dave Mellin, hon. Col. 407 Squadron, and Boomer’s Legacy ride committee, Maureen Eykelenboom, Boomer’s Legacy founder, Fred Bigelow, airport CEO and Col. Jim Benninger, 19 Wing base commander.

Jan Lindstrom and Maureen Eykelenboom with the stained glass window

Jan Lindstrom was given some very specific parameters in order to create a work that fit in with the rest of the stained glass around the automatic doorway to the terminal.

The others she has done depict scenes like WWII fighter aircraft, search and rescue missions and the local flying club.

Every piece has a unique approach, and while it’s hard to know how long it took to work on this piece, her best guess is about 200 hours or so.

“I don’t keep track of the hours,” she says, nothing how glad she was to support Maureen and Boomer’s Legacy.

“It’s been an honour and a pleasure making this for her.”

The lettering indicating the name of the fund was done through sandblasting, she explained.

“It’s just so exciting for me to see the colour and everything come alive,” she said.

Airport CEO Fred Bigelow gazed out past the windows of the departure area towards the Canadian Forces base further down where he used to be the commander. He’s glad the stained glass around the entrance shows such a powerful relationship between the two entities.

“Most of the them have some kind of military theme,” he explained, touching on the importance of the military community to the Comox Valley.

“There’s a sort of military nexus. It really is a link.”

Andrew was killed Aug. 11, 2006 and had been planning a fishing trip in the Comox Valley with his buddies something they had been talking about for a long time.

John Ambler was the first base commander to really get to know the Eykelenboom family.

“I took over the base shortly after,” Bigelow noted, explaining he had worked with Maureen on the Military Family Fund prior to current efforts on Boomer’s Legacy. “Out of the tragedy of Boomer’s death came this foundation.”

The BC edition of the 2014 Boomer’s Legacy Bike Ride will take place June 13-15 and cover 240 km from Comox to Victoria.

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Vision A community of people who are safe, supported and respected.

Mission To promote the creation of a healthy community through positive contributions to the lives of women, children and families.

We achieve the mission by offering a range of programs and services which provide safety and support personal well-being.

Programs and services include shelter, counselling and support, healing and recovery, crisis intervention, advocacy and education, prevention and awareness.

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RECEIVE A $10 VOUCHER when you spend $50 or more on cosmetics or fragrances from April 10 to May 4, 2014.

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A8 Comox Valley Echo Tuesday, April 15, 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

An independently owned and operated newspaper published by Echo Publications at 407-D Fifth Street, Courtenay, B.C. V9N 1J7 All material herein is protected by copyright. Reproduction in whole or in part is not permitted without written authorization from the publisher.

Canadian Publications Mail Agreement Number #0661538

Guest Column

Province puts recycling behind closed doors

By Kelvin L. McCulloch Why did the B.C. Liberal government set up its recycling stewardship program and MultiMaterial B.C. outside the jurisdiction of the office of the auditor general and the province’s Financial Administration Act? Back in the 1980s and ‘90s, the game of choice for a dishonest federal or provincial government was to set up a government-funded program with broad motherhood objectives, then flow massive amounts of taxpayer dollars to one or more key advertising agencies that were supposed to produce the necessary information, marketing materials and ad campaigns.

But the real game was corruption involving misdirection and misuse of taxpayer dollars. In the case of the sponsorship program in Quebec, the federal auditor general figured it out with the help of Ernst and Young and a whistleblower.

The auditor reported on the “appalling and unacceptable” situation, then called in the RCMP. The auditor reported in 2004 that as much as $100 million out of $250 million in contracts was awarded to Liberal-friendly ad agencies with little or no work done.

There was a lot of fallout. The presidents of the Business Development Bank, Via Rail and Canada Post were all canned. The ensuing Gomery Commission reported that firms were winning contracts based on donations to federal Liberals with little or no work being done.

The sponsorship program ran between 1996 and 2004. The Gomery Commission cost taxpayers $14 million. Untold amounts of additional taxpayer dollars went into the ensuing court cases. The investigation into the activities of organizer Jacques Corriveau continued until 2013. His trial date has been set for next month.

You think something like this couldn’t happen in British Columbia? Well, it already did. In 1983, the auditor general of British Columbia, Erma Morrison, uncovered inappropriate payments and missing expenditure controls in the Ministry of Tourism.

McKim Advertising had been appointed the agency of record for the ministry. All ad funds of the ministry were funnelled through that agency.

Ultimately, Morrison reported to the legislature that weaknesses in internal control and poorly documented payments to McKim were so numerous as to suggest dishonesty on the part of the ministry.

The Vancouver Commercial Crime Squad was called in. Dennis Cocke, MLA for New Westminster, brought the matter to the legislature, citing secret bank accounts, double-billing and a million-dollar cost overrun. The deputy minister of tourism took the fall.

Yes, it can happen in B.C. Back to my original question. Why did the Liberal government set up MMBC outside the jurisdiction of the office of the auditor general and the Financial Administration Act? Why is the ever-shrinking list of targeted companies being forced to pay fees in the millions of dollars directly to an organization taking the form of a not-for-profit society instead of paying taxes into the Consolidated Revenue Fund?

Why did the B.C. Liberal government set everything up this way?

Why did MMBC file a notice of intention to borrow $1.5 million from the Ontario-based Canadian Stewardship Services Alliance exactly one week after the last election?

Why aren’t the audited financial statements of MMBC from inception available for scrutiny?

How is MMBC going to repay the other monies it intended to borrow from various industry associations in Ontario?

The answer to everything is hiding in plain sight, in a YouTube video by MC Hammer - U Can’t Touch This. I can just imagine the Liberals jumping around to the beat, chanting “U can’t touch this, U can’t touch this,” referring to the oversight responsibilities of the auditor general, the legislature, and therefore you and me.

In my opinion, we will see the entire recycling industry in British Columbia fall under the control of MMBC and CSSA with the B.C. Liberals controlling the situation from behind closed doors through the stewardship regulations.

B.C. businesses are being forced by the Liberal government to pay outside the public accounts of the province to make this possible.

And under the MMBC arrangements, no one has the authority to prevent or detect financial misdealings on behalf of the paying companies, the taxpayers, or you and me, the voters.

Not the federal auditor general, not the provincial auditor general, not anyone.

Do we know why the government has structured things to place the financial affairs of MMBC outside the scrutiny of the auditor general? No. Should we be concerned? You bet.

In five years, the magnitude of funds that will have flowed through MMBC, say $400 million, will rival the total amount of all funds that flowed through the federal sponsorship program.

But unlike that program, U Can’t Touch This.

Wake up people, it’s Hammer Time.

Kelvin L. McCulloch is chief executive officer of Buckerfield’s.

Letters to the Editor

P3 model for hospitals flawed The recent decision by the Vancouver Island Health Authority (VIHA) to build the new Campbell River and Courtenay hospitals utilizing the Public-Private Partnership (P3) model is misguided and expensive. Our provincial government has mandated that major projects go through Partnerships BC, despite the fact that there is increasing evidence that this approach does not save taxpayers money nor transfer the ‘risk’ to the private corporations.

Firstly, governments can borrow money to finance capital projects more cheaply than the private sector, so we must now absorb this additional cost.

With P3’s much of the profits wind up out-of-province and country in corporate coffers and there is no long term gain for our communities.

Secondly, VIHA has indicated that housekeeping and maintenance services will be privatized and the current staff will be laid off. Contractors are notorious in paying low wages with minimal benefits or worker protections. If workers attempt to join a Union, they are let go with little recourse. The experience with private contractors in health care in the Lower Mainland is that workers are poorly trained in areas such as infection control and the hospital management has no control over employee turnover, which is frequent due to the non-livable wages & benefits. As well, many workers are forced to juggle multiple jobs in order to survive, and fatigue sets in.

Further, the private contractor is guaranteed their profits for 30 years, regardless of the utilization. A good example is

the Golden Ears Bridge in Maple Ridge which is underutilized due to tolling, yet the company will continue to reap profits for ‘projected’ usage from the public purse. The Port Mann bridge project has problems in collecting tolls through misread licence plates. As well, there are no reciprocal agreements with out-of-province jurisdictions, so those motorists cannot be billed, so we pick up the tab again.

The sales mantra of the risk being shifted away from government is a theory that also does not stand up to reality.

In cases where there are system problems e.g. flooding, electrical failure, equipment malfunction, the public demands that services be restored as quickly as possible and blames the government if they are not. The result is that in-house staff must correct the problem or the health facility needs to hire local contractors. If the P3 contractor refuses to take responsibility, it can result in lengthy and costly litigation with corporations and multi-nationals that have very deep pockets and tax write-offs.

What is even more galling is the fact that the public never sees what tax dollars are being spent on.

For instance, what contingency clauses are included that can significantly increase expenditures through add-ons.

By way of a real example, if the utilization of hygienic hand cleaner, that is widespread throughout health care facilities, exceeds agreed to levels, what additional costs to maintain/increase this are incurred? If cleaning levels required for a sterile environment exceed contracted

expectations, who picks up the cost and for how much? There have been problems elsewhere. The P3 contracts are not made public and the ‘requirement’ for competitive corporate confidentially trumps any freedom of information.

These P3 contracts are more political expediency than due diligence for fiscal prudence and service integrity.

Fred Muzin Courtenay

DON’T LOSE YOUR SAFEWAY I am an avid shopper at our Safeway centre in Brandon (Manitoba). Safeway has been in our town for years.

I am 63 and I have been shopping at Safeway for 30 years for fresh produce, meat and fruit.

The store is always clean and the staff are very friendly. We have an excellent deli with a young man who recognizes you when you come in and always aims to please.

No do not shut down the Comox Valley store - please. Because I have bad arthritis they pack my groceries and deliver them. They also deliver drugs from the pharmacy dept.

No you can’t beat Safeway, we have two Safeways and two Sobeys. Closing the store could start a chain reaction, by shutting other stores.

Thank you for allowing me to to make my views known. Good luck Courtenay Council and the Safeway stores of Canada.

Janet Lagarde Brandon, Manitoba

B.C. Chamber working hard to mitigate MMBC We appreciate your attention to the MMBC recycling program in your March 25 editorial, Buckerfield’s raises valid MMBC concerns, but we were disappointed to see such glaring errors of fact concerning the efforts of the BC Chamber of Commerce and our network of local chambers.

Your editorial accuses the BC Chamber of ignoring our members’ needs and of “rubberstamping” government policy.

This is false. It is regrettable that you rushed to press without more rigorous fact checking.

In fact, the BC Chamber, working closely with our network, was one of the MMBC program’s earliest and most dedicated critics. In close consultation with local chambers, we launched advocacy efforts in July 2013, calling for measures to mitigate impacts on B.C. businesses.

Before B.C.’s chambers took up this cause, MMBC had zero plans to bring in a small business policy and the recycling regulation on packaging and printed paper (PPP) had no exemptions to protect small businesses. It was clear to us that B.C.’s smallest businesses faced not only fees but a nightmare of red tape.

As a direct result of our advocacy, this has changed. We were able to ensure that no business that earns less than $1 million annually will be captured in this program.

Similarly, no Mom and Pop shop will be captured. As well, no small producer of PPP (less than 1 tonne annually) will be captured.

These exemptions remove approximately 27,000 B.C. PPP producer businesses from the program, leaving only 1% of all B.C. businesses affected. Moreover, we advocat-

ed, and achieved, having these exemptions enshrined in regulation - something that no other Canadian province has achieved for its small businesses on a PPP program.

Absolutely, we have thanked government for its responsiveness to our network’s needs. But we are not “rubberstamping” anything.

We have identified additional problem areas, including the treatment of franchises and potential hardship to industries such as community newspapers.

We are actively working to identify and advocate mitigation measures, as we strive to protect a business-friendly B.C. John Winter President and CEO, BC Chamber of Commerce

I’M NOT LAUGHING Is the CBC so desperate, or just so plain disrespectful that they need to chime in with the rest of the world when it comes to being willing to blaspheme the name of God for the sake of a chuckle?

Just because a woman in Newfoundland is at her snowbound front door with her son stuck in the snowdrift and he ends up knocking some snow inside, does that justify using the Lord’s name in vain and then putting it on the national news?

God said don’t use His name in vain. It was one of His Ten Commandments, not His Ten Suggestions. Does that somehow get nullified if it’s just a joke?

My Bible has a warning in Galatians 6: 7, “Be not deceived; God is not mocked: for whatsoever a man soweth, that shall he also reap.”

Thankfully God loves us and will forgive us if we come to the place where we trust in the redeeming blood of the very Holy One whose name you have partaken in blaspheming.

What do you think would happen if you did that with Muhammad? How well would a “laugh” like that go over? Protests against Canada would erupt from here to Mecca by morning.

Believers who trust in the Gospel of Jesus the Christ, the true Son of God, are being persecuted and killed around the world today at a rate unprecedented in the past two thousand years.

It was really bad at the beginning when Rome would burn someone at the stake just because they said Jesus was Christ instead of Caesar.

Canada is supposed to be a free country, but somehow I get the feeling that it is becoming something that is disrespectful to the very faith that caused it to become the true “Dominion of Canada”. It was named

by New Brunswick premier Sir Samuel Leonard Tilley who recognized that God gave us this land so we could submit our lives freely to God as described in Psalm 72: 8, “He shall have dominion also from sea to sea, and from the river unto the ends of the earth.” Hence, the Canadian national motto, “A Mari Usque Ad Mare.”

Does freedom mean licence to disrespect, insult, mock and laugh at God? I understand that on the internet, anything goes.

Silly me, somehow I expected more from our national television news providers. I guess the joke is on me.

Walter Morgan Courtenay

Community

etc.

ECHO

Earthsave dine-out at Osaka restaurant

This coming Tuesday, April 22nd at 5:30 and 7:00, Osaka Sushi Restaurant at #6-450 Ryan Rd. in Courtenay, will host this month’s Earthsave Vegan Dine Out. Owners Grace and Andrew have put together the following full service menu: Miso Soup, Vegetarian Bento Box with Tofu Teriyaki, Vegetable Tempura, Agedashi Tofu, Rice and Salad. Green Tea. The price for the dinner including taxes and tips is $20.

The evening is by reservation only; to reserve call Bob at Earthsave ph. 250-338-0751.

Herb workshop offered at Black Creek Gardeners new and experienced are invited to this workshop on how to grow and preserve culinary herbs, with farmer and agrologist, Arzeena Hamir, of Amara Farm.

You will learn growing and caring techniques for pot or ground, and get lots of ideas for preparing food with herbs. Kick your cooking up a notch with herbs from your own garden, Saturday, May 3, 2:00 to 4:00 p.m. at the Black Creek Community Centre, 2001 Black Creek Road, Black Creek.

Please call (250) 337-5190 to preregister. Cost is $30.00 per person.

Check out bccaonline.ca for more info on our Gardening Workshop Series.

8th annual marine consignment sale Deep Bay Yacht Club is holding its Annual Marine Consignment Sale Saturday April 26th at the Bowser Legion.

This Annual Sale is an opportunity to sell your used, no longer required equipment that is in any way related to water activities boating, fishing, diving etc.

It provides an opportunity for people to sell off items they no longer use but are still to good to throw out. It’s a chance to find some great bargains.

There are no limits on price or size, though items should be related to marine activities. DBYC will do the selling for you and keep 25% commission. All the sellers have to do is pre-price the item and drop them off on the morning of the sale with the proceeds towards activities of the club.

The Bowser Legion is on Highway 19A in Bowser. Pre-priced items can be dropped off April 26th 9-11am.

The sale is noon to 3pm. Unsold items have to be picked up by 4pm or they will become the property of the Deep Bay Yacht Club.

For more information contact any Deep Bay Yacht Club member or Rick Nickerson at 250-757-8438.

E-mail ricknickerson@shaw.ca.

Aboriginal Culture Days start at Highland April 16 The School District 71 Aboriginal Education team and Highland Secondary are pleased to announce that Highland Secondary will be launching the first of several Aboriginal Culture Days at Comox Valley Schools.

SOMETHING IS LIVING ON YOUR WALL – AND IT’S BEAUTIFUL! Welcome to the world of succulent wall gardens, the latest trending interior design fashion. These living works of art have been gracing magazine pages and Pinterest walls everywhere lately and now some of the Comox Valley’s hottest local businesses are teaming up to bring this off-the-wall fashion to your home.

Succulent wall gardens hang on the wall in a frame like a living painting that the owner can design to her own tastes and room decor.

They require very little maintenance, are environmentally friendly, and they fill the room with natural beauty and charm.

Local interior designer Bethany Pearce of Capstone Dwellings loves to work with succulents and encourages her clients to consider developing their own living wall art.

Pearce says “I believe spaces should be meaningful. Using living plants to emphasize architectural elements is a great way to bring authenticity and beauty to your home or commercial space.”

Pearce has joined with local succulents expert Jamey Lauinger of Valley Succulents greenhouse, and Courtenay’s trendiest florist, Tamara Penna of Purely Flower Boutique, to get the Valley’s residents to start growing their walls. The team will give a free presentation on Wednesday, April 16th, 12 noon at Purely Flower Boutique, 440 Anderton Ave in Downtown Courtenay, demonstrating how to select your succulents and create your own living art. Purely Flower will have plants from Valley Succulents, along with materials available for sale in the shop.

Anyone interested can call Purely Flower at 250-702-5813 during business hours to book a space for the demonstration. If you cannot attend the presentation but would like to find out how to start your own succulent wall garden, Valley Succulents will be celebrating their season opener Friday, April 16th and Saturday, April 17th from 9am-5pm at the greenhouse located on 2100 Anderton Rd, Comox.

Move the TV and restyle your room.

Debbie Travis CELEB DESIGNER

Cumberland United Church will be holding Vigil on Good Friday from Noon to 3:00pm, the hours the Gospels say that Jesus spent on the Cross.

There will be no formal Service so that worshipers and seekers can come and go at any time during the three hour period and use the time as they wish.

Come to meditate and pray, as several Valley musicians play quiet instrumental music, including in order of their performances, Eve Mark, piano; Marcia Haley, cello; Roger Helfrick, harp; Dodie Brand, organ; Eric MacDonald and Tracy Canil, guitar and flute, and Linda Safford, piano.

Walk about the historic sanctuary and view art work specially created for the occasion to lead us into reflection on the significance of the day. The Good Friday story from the Gospel of Mark will be posted around the Sanctuary to read as you walk. Brief summaries of some of the main teachings about the Crucifixion will be printed to stimulate thought about its significance.

Light a candle as an offering on behalf of a person or concern you carry in your heart. Communion and a Blessing with Oil will be available for anyone who wishes.

Cumberland United Church is located at the corner of First Street and Penrith Avenue in the Village of Cumberland.

The Comox Valley Concert Band presents a Mother’s Day Concert titled “Spring Rhythm” featuring music of various rhythmic patterns: waltzes, polkas, ballads and marches.

The event is on Sunday, May 11, 2:00 pm at the Filberg Centre.

Sponsored by the Evergreen Club.

Coffee, tea and concert - all for $5.00.

Wednesday April 16th, Highland will be hosting its first ever whole-school Aboriginal Day - celebrating aboriginal culture in the 21st century.

The Aboriginal Day will run like a large conference, offering an opening ceremony and keynote address, and then every student will have a choice of two workshop sessions. The day will end with a traditional River Dance.

“There is something for everyone. Bannock-making, canoeing, carving, first nations graffiti and that’s just what I read on the first page of the brochure,” says Priya Dawadi, a grade 10 leadership student.

Highland Secondary has hosted whole school events like this one before, but in the past they were around a Healthy Lifestyles theme, bringing in experts from the community on nutrition, exercise and stress-management.

It was Michelle Genge, the teacher-organizer of the Healthy Lifestyles days, that has been integral to the organization of the large scale event. “A large team of teachers, administrators, and member of the AbEd team have been working together brainstorming lists and lists of all the great people and workshops that we could bring in to our school to represent the diversity of what it means to be aboriginal today.”

More than ten percent of Highland Secondary students identify themselves as Aboriginal, just over 100 students, and they represent diverse nations - Ko’mox, Metis, Cree, Mohawk, to name a few.

(Continued on page 10)

Highland Secondary has been a leader in Aboriginal Education, not only creating the first ever Aboriginal Student Council in Canadian schools, and running First Nations English and Social Studies courses, but also on

Good Friday vigil at Cumberland United

Concert Band giving Mother’s Day show

Comox Valley Echo Tuesday, April 15, 2014 A9

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*Wireless signal range can be affected by conditions in the home. Wireless access point required, charged separately. †Offer available until May 5, 2014, to residential customers who have not subscribed to Optik TV or Internet in the past 90 days. Minimum system requirements apply. Final eligibility for the services will be determined by a TELUS representative. TELUS reserves the right to modify channel lineups and packaging and regular pricing without notice. Cannot be combined with other offers. Offer not available with TELUS Internet 6. HDTV-input-equipped television required to watch HD. 42" LG Smart TV offer available while quantities last and cannot be combined with promotional prices. TELUS reserves the right to substitute an equivalent or better product without notice. Manufacturer’s suggested retail price of a 42" LG Smart TV is $899. Cancellation fee for early termination of a service agreement will be $24/mo. for the 42" LG Smart TV and $10/mo. for the HD PVR and digital boxes multiplied by the number of months remaining in the term. Current rental rates apply at the end of the term. Rental equipment must be returned in good condition upon cancellation of service, otherwise the replacement cost will be charged to the account. TELUS, the TELUS logo, Optik, Optik TV, telus.com and the future is friendly are trademarks of TELUS Corporation, used under licence. © LG Electronics Canada, Inc. All rights reserved. “LG Life’s Good” is a registered trademark of LG Corp. © 2014 TELUS.

A10 Comox Valley Echo Tuesday, April 15, 2014

Community

Aboriginal Day

Dream Canada looking for host families

(Continued from page 9)

Dream Canada International, formerly known as GLEEM, is a non-profit ministry program which has been in the Comox Valley since 2001.

DCI is celebrating its thirteenth year and feels privileged to have hosted over 1000 students and to have partnered with over 100 wonderful host families.

DCI is a Christian foreign student discipleship ESL program for Grade 8 students who come from South Korea and Japan for five months.

They stay with local host families for two and a half months here in the Comox Valley and then move to a second campus in Salmon Arm for the other two and a half months, while the other students transfer from Salmon Arm to the Comox Valley.

The students have the opportunity to enjoy many Canadian cultural experiences with their host families.

The school program is five days a week, from 8:45 a.m. to 3:15 p.m., at theRiver Heights Church facility.

Several host families and/or respite families are needed for the April 19th to July 1st program.

Host families will need to provide room & board, transportation and include the students as part of their family, as well as be attending a local church. There is a remuneration of $1500.00 per month for two students in the home.

If you are interested in being part of this unique, impacting cross-cultural ministry team, please contact the Host Family Coordinator, Sheila Joiner at: 250-218-0806 for further information and an application form.

L’Arche artists at Berwick exhibit Wednesday 11 L’Arche artists will be included in an art exhibit on Wednesday April 16th from 5.30 - 7.30pm at Berwick Comox Valley. Music, dance, appetizers and draw prizes will be part of the reception to introduce a National

Advance Care Planning initiative. CV Hospice Society are sponsoring this event. The photo shows L’Arche artists working together on one of the paintings for the exhibit.

CVN PUBLIC FORUM ON ALR, PUBLIC FORESTS, PUBLIC PARKS Recent legislative changes to the ALR, the Forest Act and the BC Parks Act constitute a radical change in the conservation framework of British Columbia. The boundaries of green spaces, and public access to them, are being opened to shortterm private industrial interests with broad management rights. Management of these areas and the public’s stake in them, and access to them, are being redefined, without public consultation.

Comox Valley Nature has for over 48 years carried out a broad variety of long-term citizen science and restoration projects monitoring bird and plant population trends throughout the valley.

These data and the trends they represent have helped a number of agencies and non-governmental organizations provide a picture of the environmental health of the Comox Valley. This work has

also contributed to the preservation of green spaces and “protected areas” which are critical to the high quality of life enjoyed by residents, and which form the economic basis of the Comox Valley’s tourism and agricultural economies.

Comox Valley Nature will be hosting an open public forum with representatives from various key local environmental associations (Strathcona Wilderness Institute, Friends of Strathcona Park, Comox Valley Conservation Strategy, Heathens, Comox District Mountaineering Club and Tsolum River Restoration Society), to discuss conservation implications and possible ways to react or adapt to the legislation.

This public workshop will be held this Easter Sunday April 20 at 7 pm at the Florence Filberg Seniors Centre, 411 Anderton, Courtenay.

Gord McMahon, the school’s Aboriginal Education teacher hopes this day won’t be perceived as a token event. He knows that there is something going on at Highland every day - he has built with students a much-used smoke house, for instance, and between teaching Aboriginal history, literature and culture to his classes, he also hosts an ancient technology group and an aboriginal boys group.

Other Highland staff have also been involved in regular bannock-making, lacrosse, and Atlatl events.

Last year the powerful Village workshop was attended by hundreds of Highland Secondary students. “This Aboriginal Day is not something that will only happen once. Aboriginal education is for everyone, every day.”

For students and staff that may not be familiar with anything aboriginal, this day is an opportunity to try new things in a welcoming and inclusive environment. McMahon knows that there are some polar perspectives out there - especially historically.

“Regardless of their preconceived notions, all our students should realize that they are sitting smack in the middle of the K’ómoks territory. Hopefully, a chance to appreciate a few different views on what it means to be aboriginal today will get people thinking about how the stereotypes are just stereotypes. No one gets the last word on what it means to be aboriginal.”

The Aboriginal Day at Highland will open with an art show and an opening address from local artist, linguist and mentor, Andy Everson. Andy has always been driven to uphold the traditions of both the K’ómoks and Kwakwa_ka_’wakw First Nations, yet he also engages with the imagery and ideas of the 21st century - his recent art show featured Star Wars icons and his webpage has an image of a Northwest Coast Angry Bird. Andy is uniquely able to talk to youth about Aboriginal culture in the 21st century.

Billie Heinpalu, a grade 12 student who has been participating in a print-making workshop with Andy Everson, said “I think that this sort of day has never been done before - I’m really proud of my school for making this happen.”

The next Aboriginal Days will be at Valley View Elementary April 25th, Brooklyn Elementary Rededication Naming Ceremony, May 2nd and Airport Elementary May 8th.

FINAL RESULTS RANK

NAME

1 2 3 4 5 6 7 8 9 10

GARY THOMPSON Reg Dunlop budsboys teddy girls daveja KickAss Streakers Kardynal Wheel Snipe Celly john beston

PTS

1345 1341 1336 1330 1313 1297 1297 1293 1290 1289

RANK

NAME

11 12 13 14 15 16 17 18 19 20

Läckuongo ravi NHLTeddy Freebie Andre Sutter BigWillyD Giants Hugh Jassol Bobrovsky’s Precinct Nathan Sutter

PTS

RANK

NAME

1286 1284 1284 1283 1281 1273 1272 1271 1270 1269

21 22 T23 T23 25 26 27 28 29 30

JOY & RON Nootsy One Hornets Sting Parrotheads Unsteady Eddies Five Oclock Somewhere creemore Al&Elijah Skates backwards crazylegs

PTS

1267 1261 1261 1261 1257 1255 1254 1249 1249 1247

RANK

NAME

31 32 33 34 35 36 37 38 39 40

teddy boys Royston 1 Houston Hitmen Costa Rica 88’s Paul’s Yetis Sharks aftermotel PUCK YOU Royals Mini Me

New 2014 Light Duty Trucks

Clearout on 2014 HD Trucks

0% + 7,000off

Just Announced!

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PTS

1245 1240 1240 1240 1239 1237 1237 1234 1232 1228

RANK

NAME

41 42 43 44 45 46 47 48 49 50

Smokeys Rangers Pink Bunnies 21 chances snowbird 1 Misconduct Salemanders Margaritaville Darcy’s Dawgs Pilons Spitfires

PTS

1228 1227 1227 1227 1225 1225 1224 1222 1222 1220

The All New 2015 HD Trucks

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2015 Silverado HD

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Comox Valley Echo Tuesday, April 15, 2014 A11

Your Kids Golf FREE! * Kids aged 10-18 * With paid Adult Membership

(250) 334-3060 • 5291 North Island Highway, Courtenay, BC V9J 1S7

Sports and Recreation Spring fever ignites the Comox Valley Field Hockey League and there’s still time to register

COMOX VALLEY MEN’S DART ASSOCIATION LEAGUE APRIL 10/14 POS. 1 2 3 4 5 6 7

THE DART BOARD COMOX VALLEY PUB LEAGUE MIXED DARTS Final Standings POSITION 1 2 3 4 5

POINTS 165 135 119 107 99 101 93 73 59

April 8 scores: GG 4-CLA 5, CLBY 7-EF 2, CLDA 6-EM 3, CLBC 9-DoH 0

A Div Ladies Hi Score: To be determined B Div Ladies Hi Score: Wendy Wiseman 134 A Div Men’s Hi Score: Art Forbes 174 B Div Men’s Hi Score: Derrick Greig 140 A Div Ladies Hi Checkout: Wendy Jackson 96 B Div Ladies Hi Checkout: Lona Denis 100 A Div Men’s Hi Checkout: Brian Wilcox 148 B Div Men’s Hi Checkout: To be determined 180s: Brian Wilcox, Glen Litchfield

POINTS 390 330 302 278 261 195 191

TOP 10 AVERAGES 1 2 3 4 5 6 7 8 9 10

Bill DURANT Joe McNEIL Ernie LINDEN Terry JACKSON Glen LITCHFIELD Jack ETHIER Mark WYATT Daniel LEAMAN John CHEQUIS Stuart WILLS

60.70 60.04 56.91 56.03 55.53 54.58 54.44 54.23 53.95 52.91

GAMES WON THIS WEEK Comox Legion B Comox Legion C Courtenay Legion A Courtenay Legion B Courtenay Legion C Griffin Pub Griffin Pub Flyers

6 12 18 Bye 21 3 12

High Checkout: John Chequis 134 High Score: Bill MacPherson, Jack Ethier, Terry Hills, John Chequis, Ralph Brydon 177 180s: Terry Hills 2, Jamie Deith 1, Chuck Smith 1, Jack Ethier 1, Bill MacPherson 1, Hap Hanson 1, John Chequis 1, Mark Wyatt 2, Ralph Brydon 1, Glen Litchfield 1, Stan Kowalewich 1, Shane Dennis 1, Ernie Linden 1

Enjoy the action of field hockey

CARRIERS WANTED No collection required. Great exercise!

Call Comox Valley Echo • 250-334-4734 or drop by 407-D 5th Street, Courtenay Courtenay Rt. 8105 – Kilpatrick, 29th - 27th, Moray Rt. 8106 – Kilpatrick, Anfield Centre (Walmart) Rt. 8130 – Cliffe (Between 19th & 10th), Riverside Lane, Beckensell Comox Rt. 2129 – Sylvan, Parry, Aspen, Idiens Rt. 2136 – Pritchard, Dogwood, Elm, Noel Substitutes: (May/14 to Oct/14) Rt. 2145 – Jubilee, Bolt, Heron Rt. 2153A – Olympic, Murrelet Rt. 2155 - 2300 – Murrelet Crown Isle Rt. 3120 – Monarch, Royal Rt. 3134 – Crown Isle Dr., Birkshire, Sussex Valleyview Rt. 3122 – Swan, Trumpeter, Sparrow, Valley View

Earn extra $$$$ for all that fun stuff that mom won't buy!

TRANSIT future

Open Houses We want to hear from you. BC Transit is working with the Comox Valley Regional District on the second phase of a 25-year future plan.

A network was developed from your input in the first round of public open houses. The next step is to prioritize transit investments.

COASTAL COMMUNITY CREDIT UNION PRESENTS SE

Visit the Transit Future bus at:

12TH ANNUAL BOYS & GIRLS GOLF TOURNAMENT

11:00 – 1:00 pm

Cumberland, Dunsmuir Ave. (between 2nd and 3rd)

Wednesday, April 23 2:00 – 4:00 pm

IHOS Gallery, 3310 Comox Rd

HOSTED BY CROWN ISLE RESORT AND GOLF COMMUNITY

5:00 – 7:00 pm

Registration beginning @ 11:00 am | Shotgun start @ 1:00 pm $125 per player or $500 team

Oyster River – Discovery Foods 2207 Glenmore Rd

9:00 – 11:00 am

Driftwood Mall

12:30 – 1:30 pm

Union Bay Post Office

3:00 – 5:30 pm

Downtown Courtenay, 4th and Cliffe Ave.

9:00 – 11:30 am

Comox – Quality Foods, 2275 Guthrie Rd

1:00 – 3:00 pm

Comox Centre Mall

4:30 – 6:00 pm

Buckley Bay Ferry Terminal

9:00 – 12:00 noon

Comox Valley Farmers Market, Fairgrounds

1:00 – 4:00 pm

Earth Week Festival, Lake Trail Community School

THURSDAY, 5TH JUNE 2014

Thursday, April 24

SPONSORSHIP/DONATIONS Count your business as one of the valued supporters of this annual event!

Email comoxvalley@bgccvi.com or call the Club at 250.338.7582 to become a sponsor, a volunteer, or to donate an auction prize.

Friday, April 25

ћұұ2ĂñÄұÄĿÄùĦĝұ¨ù¿ұ¨¹ŪÝĿÝŪÝÄĝџ ћұұ ññұùÄŀұÙÝÓÙұÄùÄĖÓņѝұÒ¨ĝĦұē¨¹Äұ¨Ĭ¹ŪÝĂùұұұ ұ ¨ù¿ұ¿ÝùùÄĖұÙĂĝĦÄ¿ұ¸ņұEÄĦ+Pұ¨ù¿ұ ұ EĂùұ ø¸ñÄĖѢұұұ

Saturday, April 26

Visit www.bctransit.com, click Transit Future to complete our online survey.

To register a team or individual player for the tournament, or for more information contact BGCCVI, 250-338-7582 or email comoxvalley@bgccvi.com

www.comoxvalleyecho.com

4501

1 2 3 4

TEAM-A Division Crty Legion Black Cats Crty Legion DA’s Cx Legion Aces Cx Legion Beer Pigs Elks Misfitz B Division Cx Legion Bulls Hitters Elks Fungis Griffin Gang Griffin Darts of Hazzard

Team Courtenay Legion A Courtenay Legion C Courtenay Legion B Griffin Pub Flyers Comox Legion C Comox Legion B Griffin Pub A

The Comox Valley Field Hockey League had a fantastic turnout for their first Spring League practice this past Tuesday, April 8th.

The enthusiast group enjoyed a fun and well coached practice. The great news is...the league still has room for more players!

The league is extending its registration deadline to April 30, 2014. If you’d like to try the sport before joining the league, the team is now offering new players their first time out for free.

New players will then be allowed to drop in twice after that for a fee of $5. We hope that after three practices you’ll be as hooked on the sport as our members are and join the league.

The Spring League fees cover the cost of coached practises on Tuesdays, scrimmages on Thursdays and field hockey sports insurance which is important coverage for any athlete. It’s a great deal.

For more information about the league and spring registration, please visit the league’s website at www.comoxvalleyfieldhockey.ca Registration Information To register for the 2014 Field Hockey Season from April 8 - June 26 please contact the Lewis Centre at 250-338-5371 until April 30.

Who can register: Women, Men, Girls and Boys ages 13 - 68+ Cost: Adults: $75 (ages 19+) Juniors: (ages 13 - 18), $45 Practices: Tuesdays 5:30pm - 6:30pm (Ages 13 - 68+ Learn to Play and Build Skills) Scrimmages: Thursday 6:30pm - 8:00pm (Ages 13 and above) Where: Queneesh Elementary School Field Equipment needed: Mouth guard and shin pads Field Hockey sticks will be provided by the Comox Valley Field Hockey League on loan at no additional cost.

A12 Comox Valley Echo Tuesday, April 15, 2014

CARRIERS WANTED EARN $$$$$$$$ COURTENAY Rt. 8105 – Kilpatrick, 29th - 27th, Moray Rt. 8106 – Kilpatrick, Anfield Centre (Walmart) Rt. 8130 – Cliffe (Between 19th & 10th), Riverside Lane, Beckensell COMOX Rt. 2129 – Sylvan, Parry, Aspen, Idiens Rt. 2136 – Pritchard, Dogwood, Elm, Noel Substitutes: (May/14 to Oct/14) Rt. 2145 – Jubilee, Bolt, Heron Rt. 2153A – Olympic, Murrelet Rt. 2155 - 2300 – Murrelet CROWN ISLE Rt. 3120 – Monarch, Royal Rt. 3134 – Crown Isle Dr., Birkshire, Sussex VALLEYVIEW Rt. 3122 – Swan, Trumpeter, Sparrow, Valley View No Collection Required Call COMOX VALLEY ECHO 250−334−4734 or drop by 407−D 5th Street, Courtenay

Comox Valley Echo Tuesday, April 15, 2014 A13

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&/2 %6%29 0%4 A great read for any pet owner.

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Runs 2nd Tuesday of every month!

Book your ads now with one of our Sales Representatives

250-334-4722

TEXT YOUR TIP ANONYMOUSLY! Along with our 1-800-222-8477(TIPS) line, tipsters can report information via our secure WebTips application at www.comoxvalleycrimestoppers. bc.ca and now we accept anonymous tips via Text Messaging.

TEXT CVCSTIPS TO:

CRIMES

www.comoxvalleycrimestoppers.bc.ca

Now let’s hop to it: Decorate this Easter picture with your favorite colors, then send it to us for your chance to win!

Win

Set of 4 Tickets to ” Waiting for the Parade “ for you and your family in Chemanius Or a $100 Easter Basket Or a $75 Easter Basket Or a $50 Easter Basket 3 Easter Baskets per Store

— Sponsored by —

Coloring Contest Entry Form: Child’s Name: _______________________________________________________ Parent’s Name: ______________________________________ Address: ____________________________________________

Age: _____________

Phone: _________________________ City: ________________________

Drop off at either Thrifty Foods Location in the Valley

A14 Comox Valley Echo Tuesday, April 15, 2014

LOVE OUR LOWEST PRICES OF THE SEASON

Woodgrove Centre • Nanaimo • OPEN GOOD FRIDAY 10am-7pm, SATURDAY 10am-7pm, SUNDAY 11am-6pm

SHOP THEBAY.COM Savings for all offers are off our regular prices. Some items are enlarged to emphasize detail and may not be exactly as shown. All items are before taxes. Offers good while supplies last. One gift per customer. Cannot be combined with any other offer. Components are subject to change. On line gifts may differ. Selection may vary by store.