Comox Valley Echo - February 24, 2015

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VOL. 21, NO. 16

LACK OF FIRE SERVICE .02 04.MOM FACING TERMINAL CANCER WITH COURAGE

THREE CHALETS BURN TO THE GROUND AT MOUNT WASHINGTON

HUNT FOR HISTORY

NEWS

11.Courtenay

05.Fanny Bay

named for a man who never visited.

urgently needs a new fire tanker

2

www.comoxvalleyecho.com TUESDAY.COURTENAY,BC. FEBRUARY 24, 2015

ECHO

NEWS Comox Valley Weather

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Tuesday A mix of sun and cloud. Fog patches dissipating in the morning. High 10°C.

Wednesday Cloudy.

Low 5°C. High 8°C.

Thursday Cloudy with 70% chance of showers.

Low 5°C. High 7°C.

Friday Cloudy with 40% chance of showers.

Low 4°C. High 9°C.

Saturday Sunny.

Low -1°C. High 9°C.

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

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331B 6th St. Courtenay

Ski resort fire revives need for fire protection Residents left to watch helplessly as flames burn down three chalets

BY MICHAEL BRIONES Echo Staff The blaze that destroyed three chalets last week on Mount Washington has brought the issue of fire protection services back to life.

With no fire department to help them, residents could only watch helplessly as flames engulfed three multi-storied privatelyowned chalets and burned them to the ground.

Comox Valley RCMP are still investigating. A fire inspector has been called in and insurance adjusters are also looking into the cause of the fire.

It started at about 10:30 p.m. Thursday in one of the chalets on Fosters Place, spreading quickly to two nearby houses. The two chalets were unoccupied but one had a family of four who were asleep

when the fire broke out.

Mike Collins, who owns the Broken Spoke in Courtenay, and his wife Tomiko, just had a newborn baby and were spending a couple of days in a friend’s chalet to relax along with their other daughter Lily.

Exhausted in taking care of baby Rose, Collins related to CHEK News they were already asleep by 8 p.m. Fortunately, Tomiko got up to use the washroom at around 11:15 p.m.

That’s when she saw the big blaze happening next door.

“The whole bathroom was bright orange and the windows started to crack and it was kind of bulged inwards,” said Collins.

“She jumped out of there real quick, pulled Lily out from the next room, then came down to grab me.”

The Collins family safely left the house and im-

People could only watch as fire destroyed three ski chalets (Photo courtesy CHEK News)

Chalet made of concrete may have prevented fire from spreading further

mediately called 911. But they were told no firefighters were being dispatched because there are no fire services on Mount Washington “We were watching outside, one house was on fire then it slowly went to the next one, then to the next one, and it looked like it was going to go through the whole street,” said Collins. “At the time, everybody was kind of outraged that fire services weren’t coming out”.

There was a fire hydrant near the houses, but nobody knew where to find the hoses, said Rick Gibson, a Mount Washington realtor and a chalet owner.

With the alpine ski resort closed for business due to lack of snow, there were few residents to call to ask.

“There are many people up here that know where there are hoses and know how to hook them up, but if those people aren’t here, it can’t happen,” Gibson said.

Gibson said the concrete structure of one chalet might have helped prevent flames from spreading to other houses farther up the street.

(Continued on page 3)

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Cinema #2: “Hermitage Revealed” one show only 250th Anniversary of the State Hermitage Museum in St. Petersburg Monday,February23,7:00pm(endsapprox.8:25pm).

Cinema #1: “Fifty Shades of Grey” 18A Sexually suggestive scenes; nudity Pass restricted until February 27th Nightly, except Sunday: 6:50 (9:05) & 9:40 (11:55) Sunday: 7:00 (9:15) & 9:45 (12:00). Saturday & Sunday Matinees: 12:45 (3:00) & 3:35 (5:50) Cinema #2: “Spongebob Movie: Sponge Out of Water 3D” G: No Advisory Nightly, except Monday: 7:00 (8:45). Monday: NO SHOW Saturday & Sunday Matinees: 3D 12:25 (2:10) & 2D 2:40 (4:25) Cinema #2: “Jupiter Ascending 3D” PG: Violence; coarse language.

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www.comoxvalleyecho.com TUESDAY.FEBRUARY 24 2015

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Issue of fire protection back on the front burner at resort (Continued from page 2) The mild weather was also a factor.

“A fire on Mount Washington is something we’ve always feared,” Gibson said. “It could have been a lot worse. If the winds were a little bit heavier, it could have gone through the village. Thankfully also it wasn’t August or September, so everything was wet.”

Without fire protection services, the only time fire departments from the Comox Valley Regional District are deployed to Mount Washington is if there is an imminent risk to human life. Otherwise the homes are left to burn, said Courtenay Fire deputy chief Kurt MacDonald.

“If there’s nobody trapped or any risk to a life, then nobody goes,” he said. “[Mount Washington residents] don’t pay for the service so they don’t get the service. Our taxpayers pay for us to provide a service here and we

can’t leave our jurisdiction willy nilly.”

Lynette Acciaroli, who lives down the road from the site of the fire, said she discovered something was wrong when her dogs began “freaking out” about 11:15 p.m.

“I poked my head out the door just to see if someone was in the driveway or what’s going on, and the flames were coming out of the loft window in the middle chalet.

Three houses, we watched them burn,” said Acciaroli, a full-time resident on Mount Washington.

“It was devastating and heartbreaking.”

Evelyn Tennant, who owns a chalet next door to the three that burned, was grateful there was minimal damage to her property. It was vacant during the blaze. It was charred

on one side and the double-paned windows burst from the heat.

“We were very fortunate that we were spared,” Tennant said.

Tennant said she voted for fire protection in the last referendum.

“We’re hoping that it will come around again and we can put it through the next time around,” she said. “We have insurance on our home and it is costly, but you definitely have to have it here.”

Sue Twose, who owns a property across from the ones destroyed, said there’s strong support for fire protection. While she believes the chalet where the fire started was probably doomed, there could have been a different outcome for the others.

“You’d like to think that if a fire department would

[respond], then the other chalets beside it could have been saved,” Twose said.

After fire destroyed a chalet in March 2009, Comox Valley Regional District staff completed examined the cost and feasibility of providing fire service to Mount Washington. Courtenay Fire is the closest department, but the response time for the 2009 fire was nearly 40 minutes in good weather conditions, the report found.

A referendum was held in 2003 to establish a fire department, but residents voted against it.

“So everybody up there is aware of the situation they’re in,” MacDonald said. “They chose to roll the dice and then it bites you.”

Gibson, who sells Mount

Washington real estate, said there are many places in B.C. that don’t have fire protection.

“People, when they purchase properties, they know that,” Gibson said.

“So, a lot of people have their own fire extinguishers in their properties.

They have a sprinkler system and hoses outside.

What it comes down to is that the insurance companies are satisfied there is no fire protection, so everybody has fire insurance.”

Residents on Mount Washington pay high insurance premiums. Some said after the last fire in 2009, their fees doubled.

Some pay as much as $4,000 to $5,000 a year.

Advertised prices for chalets on Fosters Place range from about $325,000 to $800,000.

Gibson is hoping the fire could revive interest in having a fire protection service.

“The concern I have and a lot of people have is not about the damage to the buildings but loss of life,” he said. “Whatever the cost of putting in a fire department, if it saves lives, it’s worth every cent.”

In a statement, the Comox Valley Regional District expressed relief that there was no loss of life or injury. The fire “brings the establishment of fire protection services to the forefront. The CVRD will continue to work with strata councils and other corporate entities to develop a fire protection service that will meet the needs of Mount Washington property owners,” the statement said.

- With files from Times Colonist

THANK YOU for your generous support!

FAMILY LITERACY WEEK 2015 WAS A HUGE SUCCESS Thank you Comox Valley for making Family Literacy Week such a tremendous success. And thank you for such generous support from The Comox Valley Community Foundation, School District 71, Starbucks Coffee, Success by Six, Thrifty Foods, the Comox Valley Echo, and Raise a Reader, from Vancouver Regional Library, the Comox Valley Lifelong Learning Association and Vancouver Island Regional Library.

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www.comoxvalleyecho.com TUESDAY.FEBRUARY24, 2015

Courtenay mom with terminal cancer says she’ll live each day to the fullest

BY DREW A. PENNER Echo Staff It’s a tough pill to swallow.

Carolyn Ang, a 33-yearold mother of three from Courtenay, is facing incurable gastric cancer and doctors say she has just six months to live.

“I don’t even have my head wrapped around it,” she said, adding she wants to inspire hope and put good vibes out there.

“I want people to just have us in their prayers.”

Friends and family describe Ang as a steadfast woman who’s taught schoolchildren about salmon habitat and makes organic lotions and massage oils.

“She’s a wonderful mother,” said Morgan Spencer, 32, a friend from GP Vanier Secondary days. “Everything’s about her kids.”

The diagnosis just helped to highlight Ang’s strength and kindness further, Spencer added.

“She’s a really great person,” she said. “She’s really taken it with a lot of grace.”

The world got a glimpse of her spontaneous side as she popped the question to now-husband Vishnu Ang on a television show called The Proposal. The wedding was captured documentary-style as a film crew accompanied them in a helicopter to the top of Grouse Mountain where a marriage officer awaited.

“It was so awesome,” Ang remembers. “It was totally raw.”

These days Ang must summon a different type of bravery.

After months experiencing unexplainable pain she was finally able to have a gastroscopy in January getting the news no one wants.

“They discovered cancer all through my stomach,” she said. “The cancer had spread to different parts of my body.”

On Feb. 6, the same day Ang received her CT scan results, she held a birthday party for her oldest son George, turning eight, and daughter Charlotte, turning two. Instead of canceling the planned event, Carolyn decided

Jung Society presentation on hero’s quest this Friday

Carolyn Ang is determined to enjoy each and every moment she can with her husband and three kids in the face of incurable cancer.

I’m totally blown away at how the community is supporting us. You don’t really notice how many people you’re connected to in the huge scheme of things until this happens.”

CAROLYN ANG Cancer patient

she would rather be surrounded by laughing children.

Later that night, her 7 month-old son Theodore had to be weaned from

breastfeeding so she could start taking heavy doses of medication.

Ang has launched a website (carolynsjourney. weebly.com/) to track her progress, sell lotions and share memories.

A GoFundMe campaign (http://www.gofundme. com/ls54a8) aims to raise money to help make the coming days the most meaningful possible.

Carolyn’s Casino Fundraiser will be held Sunday, March 22, at 6 pm at Chances Casino in Courtenay and will include a silent auction. Tickets are $25 each and include a burger and fries, a beer

or glass of wine and a $5 rewards slot play (contact stephanievaldal@outlook. com for info).

A bottle drive has also been coordinated through the Comox Valley Encorp Return-it Depots.

Ang says she tears up thanks to all to generous donations and kind wishes that have begun pouring in.

“I’m totally blown away at how the community is supporting us,” she said.

“You don’t really notice how many people you’re connected to in the huge scheme of things until this happens. It’s just amazing.”

The Comox Valley C. G. Jung Society will host a presentation entitled “The Hero’s Quest: A Map for Life’s Challenges” by Jungian Analyst, John Betts on Friday, February 27, 2015.

Everyone loves an adventure, but for some, the experience can be daunting. The stages of the Hero’s Quest are a map for an adventure, whether that adventure is a journey, a life challenge, dealing with a serious illness, or working your way through a mid-life crisis. The toughest adventure of all is the inner journey towards wholeness.

John Betts (MA, Psychology) is a Zurich trained Jungian Psychoanalyst, who lives and works in Victoria. In addition to supporting several Jungian Societies with his lectures and workshops, John has produced the engaging ‘Jung Podcast’, a free series of lectures on the fundamentals of Jung’s Analytical Psychology. See www.jungian.ca The presentation will be in Room 203, Tyee Hall, North Island College at 7 pm on Friday, February 27, 2015 at a cost of $20 at the door, or $15 for Jung Society members.

Don’t miss Citizens of the Century nomination deadline Honour someone who volunteered for the City of Courtenay The official launch of the City of Courtenay’s Centennial Celebrations was a huge success with a sold out “Memories are Made of This” party on New Year’s Eve, followed by an official launch of the year’s festivities on January 1stwith local dignitaries.

The next centennial date to add to your calendar is March 31, 2015,

which marks the deadline for nominations for the Citizens of the Century Awards, the prestigious awards that will honour those who have made a significant contribution the City of Courtenay since it was incorporated as a Municipality in 1915.

The Citizens of the Century Award is sponsored by the Canadian Western

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Bank, and is an opportunity for all local families, businesses, and organizations to review their own local history and to honour deserving volunteers past or present for their outstanding contribution to the City of Courtenay.

To be eligible, a nominee must have volunteered for a number of years to benefit the citizens of Courtenay and not their own personal or family endeavours.

There are a number of categories for nominations including Arts, Athletics, Business, Churches,

Clubs, Culture, Educational Groups, Fraternal Organizations, History, Service Clubs, Sports Teams, Youth Groups, Health, Social Services, and Environment.

If you’re involved with a local sports club, arts group, service club, or non-profit organization you can help by making the suggestion at your group’s next meeting to bring potential nominations forward.

Nominations for the Citizens of the Century can be submitted online, and should include the

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person’s name, the time period during which they volunteered, and a brief description of the personal merits or contributions to the community that you considered in your decision.

The nominating person can submit multiple names for consideration, however please note that not all nominees will receive an award.

Any proceeds raised through the year’s Centennial events will be donated to the Comox Valley Community Foundation.

You can find Centennial

event updates on Facebook as well as on Twitter, using the official hashtag #Courtenay100.

To learn more about business sponsorship or volunteer opportunities for upcoming events, visit www.courtenay.ca/centennial or contact the Courtenay Centennial Celebration Committee by email at 100years@courtenay.ca or call 250-334-4441.

This project has been supported by the Building Communities Through Arts and Heritage Program, Department of Canadian Heritage.

www.comoxvalleyecho.com TUESDAY.FEBRUARY 24 2015

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Echo presents cheques for literacy (L-R) Lynn Joseph, family literacy coordinator with Comox Valley Literacy Learning Association, Colleen Nelson, library manager with the Vancouver Island Regional Library and Danielle Hoogland, literacy outreach coordinator with the Comox Valley Literacy Learning Association, accept a cheque for $22,226.60 from Dave MacDonald, publisher of the Comox Valley Echo, for the Comox Valley Lifelong Learning Association. Lynn Moseley, executive director of the Adult Learning Centre and Janice Cashin, board chair for the Adult Learning Centre accept a cheque for $13,113.29.

The money was raised during the Comox Valley Echo’s annual ‘Raise A Reader’ campaign.

Fanny Bay Fire urgently needs a water tanker truck The 21-year-old firefighting vehicle is rusted and not worth repairing

BY MICHAEL BRIONES Echo Staff The Fanny Bay Fire Department needs to urgently replace its water tanker truck.

The inspection conducted on the vehicle determined that it is no longer structurally reliable and will require significant repairs.

“The person who evaluated it last fall found major rust issues and indicated it is not even worth repairing,” said fire chief Mike Smith. “It’s an emergency for us. We’re putting up with it and doing the best we can.”

The water tanker is vital to the provision of fire services in Fanny Bay. Smith said if it fails there is a mutual aid agreement with

other fire departments in the region, which they can call for assistance if they need it.

“We’re kind of partially covered but we really need to replace it as soon as possible,” said Smith. “It’s dripping at the back of the tanker now. It’s one of those things like ‘how long is your roof going to last sort of idea when it starts to leak? So it’s urgent.’”

The department submitted a request to the Comox Valley Regional District. Smith said money is a factor. A water tanker can cost anywhere from $20,000 to $250,000.

But Smith added they are keeping their options flexible when looking for a replacement.

“What we basically need is a water tanker and so

we can use an old fuel truck, an old milk truck, or septic truck that we can redo,” said Smith. “Of course we’d like a proper fire tanker that carries a few extra people than just two. I’m thinking maybe, $50,000 to $60,000 would get us something.”

The CVRD was looking at a water tanker for sale in Alberta for $140,000 but financing it would have been difficult to attain, said Smith, as the seller wanted the deal done in late fall of 2015.

The current water tanker is 21-years old. Smith said they’re looking all over North America.

“We’re more concerned about the water it holds,” said Smith. “Right now our existing one is 1600 gallons of water. So we’d

EARLY BIRD TICKET PRICES The Tidesmen Barbershop Chorus 40 men singing in 4 part harmony ‘Mother’s Day’ Concert * Sunday, May 10th – 2PM A presentaƟŽn of The Rotary Club of Strathcona Sunrise with net proceeds to rotary community projects.

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like to get something that holds 1600 gallons of water.” CVRD staff had recommended to the board

that once a suitable replacement truck has been identified, the emergency purchase be funded with

$20,000 from reserves and be authorized prior to the adoption on the 20152019 financial plan.

OFFICIAL NOTICE 35th Annual General Meeting Comox Valley Co-operative Thursday, March 5th, 2015 Filberg Centre Upstairs 6:00 PM ~ Registration | 7:00 PM ~ Light Dinner 8:00 PM ~ Meeting

IMPORTANT! Please RSVP by February 23rd for catering purposes.

Part 14 Election, Appointment and Removal of Directors Election at Annual General Meeting Committee will contact the nominee and 82 An election of Directors must be held affirm that they are willing to stand as a at each Annual General Meeting to replace candidate. If agreeable, the candidate has those Directors whose terms of office have 14 days to submit an application to the expired or will expire at the end of the Nominating Committee stating why the meeting in accordance with Rule 89. candidate wants to be a director and why they feel they are qualified to be a director.

Proposed change: No change.

This should include a summary of relevant 83 A member may nominate a candidate experience and a list of other directorships for Director either before or at an Annual or committees they have served on and a General Meeting at which a Director is to be summary of what skills they bring to the elected. position.

Proposed change: A member may nominate Prior to the AGM the Nominating committee a candidate for Director at least 60 days will review the qualifications of all nominees before the Annual General Meeting by and bring forward a slate of recommended contacting the Nominating Committee in director candidates to the AGM for election. writing. As per section 88 the Nominating No further nominations will be considered.

®

Call: 1(250) 338-8181 Email: lezlie@comoxvalleycoop.ca Comox Valley Co-op

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www.comoxvalleyecho.com TUESDAY.FEBRUARY 24 2015

ECHO

OPINIONS

LETTERS

Why Bambi moved to Comox Many of us who are long time Island residents always wondered why is it deer have invaded urban areas all along the east coast of Vancouver Island in the past 10 to 15 years?

So I put that question to both the guys down at our local sporting goods store, which caters to local hunters, Tyee Marine, and Briony Penn, adjunct professor of environmental studies down at the University of Victoria.

And they both basically came up with the same answer.

To quote Ms. Penn: “Our coastal black-tails are very dependent in the winter on arboreal lichens which accumulate on older trees and most particularly on the old growth of south facing slopes where the sun hits the slope and the combination of sun and old growth canopy reduces snow cover. It is places like McLaughlin Ridge (over by Port Alberni and recently mowed down by TimberWest) that provide critical winter habitat, especially when bad weather hits. When you lose this habitat the deer die or move to the cities to munch on tulips in the

winter. And, of course, cougars follow the deer.

And...It is the fundamental reason we have cougar problems...”

So there you have it, more on the environmental disaster we are currently dealing with here in the Valley; all thanks to the creation of the Private Managed Forests Land Act back in 2003 by a newly elected Liberal government. In essence, the bill served as one colossal giveaway to the two timber corporations, TimberWest and Island Timberlands, since there’s been virtually no government oversight of their operations here along the east coast of the Island since that day.

As as one old logger so aptly stated, “the fox was left in charge of the chicken house” and, as a result, not only has all our incredible 1st growth virtually disappeared but now any mature 2nd growth, (70 to 120 year old timber) is going, going...gone!! All which would have provided ideal habitat to blacktail deer and their close associates: the cougar.

Rick James Sandwick, B.C.

COMOX VALLEY ECHO An independently owned and operated newspaper published by Echo Publications at 407-E Fifth Street, Courtenay, B.C. V9N 1J7 Phone 250-334-4722 Fax 250-334-3172 Classifieds 250- 334-4215 Circulation 250-334-4734 E-mail: echo@comoxvalleyecho.com Publisher Dave MacDonald Editor Debra Martin Advertising Manager Keith Currie Office Administrator Deb Fowler Circulation Manager Hedi MacDonald Production Manager Ryan Getz 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

KEEPING SOUND SAFE I read the letter from Marianne Buijs with some sadness, as she was focusing only on financial issues and worst case scenarios.

There were also other options not only the C option she rages about.

Perhaps Marianne has recently moved here and did not realize that we DID have a referendum and the new sewage system was dramatically voted in, many years ago until we could get financial support from our Government.

Perhaps Marianne does not realize that replacing septic systems every 10-15 years ends up costing much more than the one time payment followed by annual fees?

What about the environmental impact by the many homeowners who do not have properly working septic systems - or the alternative is to have :”septic police” which really isn’t feasible.

I suspect that Marianne, like the rest of us living in this paradise wishes to continue enjoying one of the most beautiful places on earth with some of the best oysters on the planet that need clean water to grow in. Longer term this will also increase our property values. I myself have been putting away small amounts of money in my Tax Free Savings Account every year knowing that the implementation of our new sewage system would finally come and I am very happy

it is finally coming to our area - the options have been well researched are environmentally responsible, fairly reasonable cost wise if you think longer term and expandable as our population increases. I myself applaud the CVRD for their hard work in looking at the best alternatives for our beautiful Baynes Sound area.

Barb Fehlau Royston

FOR THE LOVE OF B.S. Many of us love Baynes Sound (BS) and we should, for it is vital for our local economy, recreation and the overall well being of our natural environment. The CVRD has identified it as the #1 favored option for discharging sewage because it is easy and cheap. Not only will the sewage from Royston and Union Bay be discharged into Baynes Sound, but Cumberland as well including any future mega-developments such as Kensington.

Normally a sewage discharge location is picked because it has “open waters” and the current necessary to quickly dissipate and transport the effluent away.

Baynes Sound (according to the 2003 Carrying Capacity Study) takes 3 days for a complete exchange of water with the north end, (where the discharge will be located) taking up to 3 times longer for complete removal of the tracer.

Combine this with the fact that there are no treatments available that will remove pharmaceuticals,

personal care products and microplastics all of which bio-accumulate and work their way up the food chain.

Baynes Sound has recently been identified as a “hot spot” for microplastics which after 3 days exposure can be found in the flesh of shellfish.

To add more contaminants to Baynes Sound could mean an end to the shellfish industry and who wants to swim and play in sewer soup? By the end of February, the CVRD will be tallying up the public comments and making a decision shortly after, so for the love of B.S. please ask the CVRD to remove Option A -discharge to Baynes Sound from its list - email southsewer@comoxvalleyrd.ca or call 250 871-6100 or visit the web site for more information and to fill out the comment sheet.

Edina Johnston Denman Island

LIBERTY AND SAFETY As Roosevelt once said “The only thing we have to fear is fear itself.” This simple quote holds some profound truths, and perhaps a warning to us as Harper’s Conservatives loudly and vigorously work to create a climate of fear.

Perceived threats are magnified out of all proportion and dissenters are painted as somehow supporting the terrorists. In the climate of fear the conservatives have created we may allow changes to be made that give us the illusion of safety but in actuality, are

the real threat.

We need to be very afraid of Islamic extremists we’re told, so afraid that we must hand over tremendous and unregulated powers to law enforcement agencies via Harper’s new anti-terrorism bill.

Four past Prime Ministers along with a number of Supreme Court Judges, past Solicitors General and others have written an open letter to Harper stating that the proposed anti-terrorism bill is dangerous in that there is little to no accountability attached to the powers granted.

To quote from that letter “...experience has shown that serious human rights abuses can occur in the name of maintaining national security. Given the secrecy around national security activities, abuses can go undetected and without remedy.” (Globe and Mail Feb. 19, 2015) These abuses have happened all over the world and Canada is certainly not immune. We have many examples to draw from in our not so distant past. According to a recent poll, 63% of Canadians said that they believed these agencies would “use these powers for anti-terror purposes and nothing else.”

Perhaps Benjamin Franklin’s words are food for thought.

“Those who can give up essential liberty to obtain a little safety deserve neither liberty nor safety.”

Debby Howard Courtenay

www.comoxvalleyecho.com TUESDAY.FEBRUARY 24 2015

Learn the early warning signs of bullying Children grow and develop their personalities in various ways. While many youngsters are teased or receive some good-natured ribbing at some point in their school careers, some teasing can eventually turn into bullying.

The National Education Association estimates that 160,000 children miss school every day due to fear of attack or intimidation by other students.

Furthermore, more than 70 percent of students report incidents of bullying at their schools. Although children in lower grades have reported being in more fights than those in higher grades, there is a higher rate of violent crimes in middle and high schools than in elementary schools. According to the association Make Beats Not Beat Downs, harassment and bullying have been linked to 75 percent of school shooting incidents.

Bullying can take many forms, and learning the warning signs as a parent can help prevent harassment and potentially dangerous situations.

Verbal: If your child reports being called names, being the recipient of racist, sexist or homophobic jokes, or being spoken to in an offensive or suggestive way, this can be a form of verbal bullying.

Cyber: Social media, email and text messaging has become a way for bullies to spread malicious messages or photos. In the era of digital media, this type of bullying has increased considerably.

Physical: Some bullies engage in physical attacks, including hitting, kicking, spitting, or other forms of physical confrontation. Destroying personal property also is considered physical bullying.

Indirect: Gossiping and spreading nasty rumors about a person is another form of bullying. This type of bullying may go hand-in-hand with cyber bullying.

SIGNS YOUR CHILD IS BEING BULLIED Parents can recognize certain signs that their child is being bullied at school. Bullied children frequently make excuses to avoid going to school. While the desire to stay home is something many children

may express, those who are bullied may do so much more frequently. Bullied children tend to avoid certain places and may be sad, angry, withdrawn, or depressed. They may have trouble sleeping or experience changes in appetite, and bullied youngsters’ academic performance may suffer. Also, parents may notice that children return from school missing some of their belongings.

SIGNS YOUR CHILD IS THE BULLY Parents may not want to imagine their children bullying other students, but bullies do exist. Children who bully other kids have strong needs for power and negative dominance. They may find satisfaction in causing suffering to others. Some signs that your child may be a bully include:

STAND UP AGAINST BULLYING ON WEDNESDAY FEBRUARY 25

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• • • •

easily becoming violent with others having friends who bully others blaming others quickly comes home with belongings that do not belong to him or her • getting in trouble with teachers or school administrators • picking on siblings • not accepting responsibility for actions There are ways parents can teach their children to act properly when faced with a bully. First, parents should explain that bullying is not the child’s fault and he or she does not deserve to be picked on. Next, parents can let children know that being assertive but not violent with bullies may diffuse the situation, as some bullies thrive on the fear of their victims. If the bullying behavior continues, the student should speak to an adult or authority figure.

Parents of bullies may need to be especially mindful of their children’s behavior. Counseling could be necessary to determine what is compelling kids to bully other students.

7

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Swimming, skating, fitness, wellness at the CVRD’s sports and aquatic centres For schedules visit: www.comoxvalleyrd.ca/rec or call 250-334-9622

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Questioning your investment plan?

Ask us.

Janice Armour,

22-1599 Cliffe Avenue, Courtenay, BC V9N 2K6

BBA, CPCA Consultant

Janice.Armour@investorsgroup.com

Ph. 250-338-7811 At times like these, many investors find themselves dealing with nagging questions; Have I made the right investment choices?

Should I be selling any of my investments …or is this the time to buy?

Where can I go for a second opinion?

This is where the experience of Investors Group coupled with the expertise of one of our qualified Consultants and The Plan™, our unique personalized approach to financial planning can help put your mind at ease.

Investors Group Financial Services Inc. (a financial services firm in Québec) ™Trademarks owned by IGM Financial Inc. and licensed to its subsidiary corporations.

8

www.comoxvalleyecho.com TUESDAY.FEBRUARY 24 2015

PINK SHIRT DAY Recognizing cyberbullying Includes FREE PVR and Digital Box Rentals1

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Before social media became so prevalent, instances of bullying were somewhat easy to recognize. However, with a good majority of children now engaged in digital networking and social media, bullying may not end with the ringing of the school bell, and evidence of bullying may not be so readily apparent.

According to Cyberbullying statistics from the i-SAFE foundation, more than half of adolescents and teens have been bullied online, and about the same number have engaged in cyberbullying. More than 80 percent of teens use a mobile phone regularly, making it the most popular form of technology and a common medium for repeated cyberbullying.

Cyberbullying takes place through electronic technology and differs from traditional forms of bullying. Cyberbullying can occur via text messaging, blogging, updates to social media sites and/or phone conversations. What makes cyberbullying more difficult to detect and remedy than traditional bullying is that sometimes this type of bullying is veiled in secrecy.

Those who engage in cyberbullying can create aliases and accounts under false names, allowing them to covertly engage in bullying behavior. As a result, tracking down bullies can be challenging.

Although cyberbullying is on the rise, there are some things that parents and children can do to help put a stop to such unfortunate instances.

• Parents who feel their child is not emotionally ready for the responsibility of a digital device can hold back on purchasing a smartphone or choose one with very limited features. Some schools set strict limits on phone usage at school, and children who go only from school to home and vice versa may not have the need for an “emergency phone” that can open up a window for trouble.

• Adolescents and teens should feel comfortable talking with their parents without the fear of reprimand. Otherwise, they may hide instances of cyberbullying or not know how to broach sensitive topics like bullying. Parents can engage in conversation with their children often and stress that the doors of communication are always open.

• Teens should be made aware that cyberbullying is a very real occurrence and is not just other kids “having fun” or “joking.” If behavior is repetitive and hurtful, it should be made public and addressed.

• Parents can monitor and limit their children’s personal accounts. Some smartphone and tablet applications can be mirrored on the main account, enabling parents to see incoming text

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www.comoxvalleyecho.com TUESDAY.FEBRUARY 24 2015

9

Wednesday February 25, 2015 Adults should remain diligent in monitoring what kids are doing online. Bullying can take place through digital devices, such as mobile

or video messages.

• A laptop or desktop computer should be placed in a shared space so that usage can be monitored. Parents can restrict tablet or smartphone usage to public areas.

250-334-6927

• When online, children should be advised not to share personal information. Social media sites may be used by bullies to gather sensitive information about a person that can be used against them at a later time. Children should be urged to keep passwords secret and to never give information such as birthdays, phone numbers and addresses to people who aren’t close friends. Friend lists should be restricted to only those people students interact with frequently to minimize the chance for bullying or other inappropriate behavior.

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• Teens who have been bullied can keep evidence of the bullying and may benefit from talking with a counselor.

Cyberbullying is a growing concern for educators and parents and has farreaching implications. Getting smart about this phenomenon can help staunch new cases of online bullying.

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www.comoxvalleyecho.com TUESDAY.FEBRUARY 24 2015

MONEY MATTERS RRSP MELTDOWN STRATEGIES CAN ACTUALLY JEOPARDIZE YOUR RETIREMENT

By Patrick McKeough Despite their promise to ease your tax burden on withdrawals, RRSP meltdown strategies are usually more lucrative for brokers than for investors. “RRSP meltdown” is a strategy that would let investors make withdrawals from their RRSPs without paying income tax. But some meltdown strategies are extremely risk and could jeopardize your retirement.

How the RRSP meltdown works When you take money out of your RRSP, you have to pay tax on your withdrawal at the same rate as ordinary income in the year you make the withdrawal. However, under an RRSP meltdown strategy, you would offset the additional tax by taking out an investment loan and making the interest payments from funds you withdraw from your RRSP (the withdrawals must be equal to the interest payment). Since the interest on the loan is tax deductible, the tax on the RRSP withdrawal is cancelled out. This, in theory, results in zero tax owing on your withdrawal.

According to the strategy, you can then use the investment loan to buy dividend-paying stocks, which you would use to provide income during retirement. Dividend-paying stocks also have the advantage of being very tax efficient.

Judging an RRSP meltdown strategy by the numbers The idea of withdrawing funds from an RRSP tax-free has obvious appeal.

However, we’ve looked at a number of different RRSP meltdown strategies over the years, and for the most part, we have found that they serve the interests of the brokerage industry more than those of investors. Here’s why.

Say you make a $5,000 withdrawal from your RRSP and want to offset your tax payable using the interest from an investment loan. Supposing

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a 5% annual interest rate on the investment loan, you would have to borrow $100,000 to invest in dividend-paying stocks to generate a large enough interest deduction to offset the withdrawal.

The fees and commissions that you’d generate when you invests the money are an obvious benefit to your broker. Meanwhile, you significantly increase your leverage. Moreover, many investors attempt the RRSP meltdown when they’re at or near retirement – in other words, at the worst time to take on additional debt.

Some RRSP meltdown strategies involve extreme risk Some financial advisors take this to a ridiculous extreme by offering arrangements that involve making RRSP withdrawals and placing the money in business or real-estate deals that generate large tax deductions.

These then offset the taxable income from the withdrawals.

The investor who has participated in this type of meltdown is then left holding an illiquid, and often quite risky, investment. To generate the tax deductions, you may also have to take out or guarantee a large debt.

Sometimes the deal “guarantees” the investor a steady income. But the guarantee is sure to be full of holes.

The only things that are reliably guaranteed in these deals are the huge fees and commissions they generate for the salespeople and financial institutions involved. This type of meltdown strategy is never a good idea - no matter where you are in your investing career.

No benefit to connecting investment loans to RRSP withdrawals

Notes and Disclaimer

borrowing to invest if you are in the top income tax bracket and expect to stay there for a number of years, you have 10 or more years until retirement, and you have the kind of temperament to sit through the inevitable market setbacks without losing confidence at a market bottom and selling out to repay your loan.

Either way, we see no benefit in complicating matters by tying your investment loans to RRSP withdrawals.

© 2015 by Fund Library. All rights reserved. Reproduction in whole or in part by any means without written permission is prohibited.

The foregoing is for general information purposes only and is the opinion of the writer. Securities mentioned carry risk of loss. No guarantee of investment performance is made or implied. It is not intended to provide specific personalized advice including, without limitation, investment, financial, legal, accounting or tax advice. Please contact the author to discuss your particular circumstances.

This post originally appeared on TSI Network, © 2015.

Patrick McKeough, host of the TSINetwork.ca investment website, has been a professional investment analyst for more than three decades.

He is also a portfolio manager and the editor and publisher of four investment advisories: The Successful Investor, Wall Street Stock Forecaster, Stock Pickers Digest, and Canadian Wealth Advisor. Follow Pat on Twitter and Facebook.

318 A Duncan Ave., Courtenay (Corner of Duncan & 3rd St.)

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Of course, borrowing to invest can go wrong if you buy at the top of the market and sell at a low. However, taking out an investment loan can be a good investment strategy for certain investors.

For example, you may consider

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Commissions, trailing commissions, management tees and expenses all may be associated with mutual fund investments. Please read the prospectus before investing. Mutual funds are not guaranteed, their values change frequently and past performance may not be repeated. Rates and prices as of Feb . 20, 2015 . Rates and prices subject to change and availability. RBC Dominion Securities Inc.* and Royal Bank of Canada are separate corporate entities which are affiliated. *Member-Canadian Investor Protection Fund. RBC Dominion Securities Inc. is a member company of RBC Wealth Management, a business segment of Royal Bank of Canada. ®Registered trademarks of Royal Bank of Canada. Used under licence. © 2015 Royal Bank of Canada. All rights reserved.

At times like these, many investors worried about whether or not their current investment portfolio is solid and secure find themselves looking for a second opinion. If you’re wondering whether or not you should be selling any of your investments, or buying new ones, we should talk.

This is where the experience of Investors Group coupled with the expertise of one of our qualified Consultants and The Plan™, our unique personalized approach to financial planning can help put your mind at ease.

Janice Armour,

Call us to find out more about how The Plan™

by Investors Group can help you prosper now… and over time.

BBA, CPCA Consultant 22-1599 Cliffe Avenue, Courtenay, BC V9N 2K6

Ph. 250-338-7811 Janice.Armour@investorsgroup.com Investors Group Financial Services Inc. (a financial services firm in Québec) ™Trademarks owned by IGM Financial Inc. and licensed to its subsidiary corporations.

www.comoxvalleyecho.com TUESDAY.FEBRUARY 24 2015

11

HUNT FOR HISTORY WITH JUDY HAGEN

Captain Courtenay never set foot in place named after him The name “Courtenay” was officially entered on the Admiralty maps in 1859 by Lieutenant Richard Mayne to honour Captain George William Conway Courtenay, who had served on the “Pacific Station” from 1846 to 1849.

Contrary to local legend, Captain Courtenay DID NOT sail his ship the HMS Constance up the coast to Comox, NOR did his men have R&R with gunnery practice at “the Spit” while he fished in the river that would bear his name.

This legend was disproved by Nelson McInnis whose interest in valley history caused him to suspect that what he had heard about Captain Courtenay’s connection to the river was incorrect. While writing Land

of Plenty, he began to question whether or not Captain Courtenay had ever been in the area.

After gathering information from many sources, Nelson paid a researcher in England to study British Admiralty records The “Pacific Station” during the mid 19th century, was Headquartered at Valparaiso Chile.

From there, the Royal Navy patrolled the coast of Mexico, California, and up to the Pacific Northwest. In August 1847, while serving at the “Pacific Station”, Captain

Notice of Members' Annual General Meeting (AGM) of the Oyster River Enhancement Society (ORES) 11:00 AM Tuesday March 17th, 2015 at the ORES' Hatchery off 3080 Macaulay Road, Black Creek.

There will be an election of the Executive Officers President, Vice-President, 2nd. Vice-President (new position), Secretary, and Treasurer for 2015/16. Members wishing to nominate other members for any of these positions should receive permission from the nominee and if given, then forward his/her name to Chief Electoral Officer Jim Loring. Nominations from the floor at the meeting will also be accepted. Jim Loring can be reached by email at jsloring@telus.net or phone 250-890-0582.

By Order of the ORES Board of Directors

w w w. o y s t e r r i v e r e n h a n c e m e n t . o r g

Courtenay was assigned to command the HMS Constance, a 50-gun frigate sailing ship.

During his three years at Valparaiso, Captain Courtenay made only one trip up the coast. It was an historic visit, since it was also the first time a Royal Naval vessel had anchored at Esquimault harbour.

They left Chile on the 29th of June arriving in Esquimault harbour four weeks later on 24 July.

The log book indicates that the HMS Constance remained in the harbour from that date until it sailed 04 September 1848.

Early photo of the Courtenay River (Courtesy of the Courtenay and District Museum 984.19.5)

COMMUNITY INFORMATION SESSION

(Continued on page 12)

Visit us online: www.comoxvalleyecho.com

Wednesday, March 11, 2015, 7:00 p.m. – 9:00 p.m.

Stan Hagen Theatre, Komoux Hall (K104) North Island College, 2300 Ryan Road Courtenay, BC

The North Island Hospitals Project (NIHP) is hosting a community information session to provide an update on the new, 153-bed Comox Valley hospital slated for completion in late 2017.

The meeting will start with a presentation, followed by a question-and-answer session related to the procurement, design and construction of the new facilities. The NIHP team and representatives from selected proponent Tandem Health Partners will be on hand to answer questions and gather input.

For more information visit the NIHP website at: nihp.viha.ca

2015 COMOX HARBOUR

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www.comoxvalleyecho.com TUESDAY.FEBRUARY24, 2015

Courtenay named for Royal Navy captain (Continued from page 11) On the one occasion when Courtenay ventured out of the harbour, he was in a launch which left Aug 9, and returned on August 12 which would not have been enough time to travel as far north as Comox.

If Captain Courtenay had arrived in this area it would certainly have been noted in the log book.

The purpose of the voyage was not for exploration.

The HMS Constance had sailed north to “show the flag.”

After the signing of the Oregon Treaty in 1846, the Hudson’s Bay Company had asked for British protection of their interests along the Columbia River.

Further research, about this voyage of the H.M.S. Constance to Esquimault has been written by Professor Allan Pritchard, for an article published in the BC Historical News (Fall 2004): “The real interest of Courtenay’s visit to Vancouver Island lies not in the surveys and expedition that have mistakenly been attributed to him but in what it reveals about the relationship between two representatives of British imperial power on the coast, the Royal

Navy and the Hudson’s Bay Company.”

Acting on his orders, while at Esquimault, Courtenay signed a proclamation taking the area into the possession of the British Crown, which reads follows.

“These and adjacent lands together with the coal and minerals contained therein are taken possession of through the agency of the Honourable Hudson’s Bay Company by me George Courtenay Esquire, Captain of Her Britannic Majesty’s ship Constance, acting on behalf of Rear Admiral Hornby, OM Command in Chief of her Majesty’s Squadron in the Pacific, for her Majesty Victoria, Queen of Great Britain and Ireland, Her Heirs and Successors.

“All persons are therefore warned not to settle thereon or to visit these said lands for the purpose of working the coal or other mines George Courtenay. God Save the Queen.

“Given on board the Constance in Port Esquimault, the 17th of August 1848, The Twelfth year of her Majesty’s Reign.”

During the few days that Courtenay traveled by launch they were beset with fog, and treacherous tides and currents in “Ca-

nal de Arro” later named Haro Strait, he noted that the passage was “perfectly unfit for anything but steam vessels” and that charts were inadequate for navigation.

Courtenay was not under orders to explore the area.

He would upon return to Valparaiso tell Admiral Hornby “there appears to be the greatest reluctance or fear on the part of the Hudson’ Bay Company’s Servants to afford information” indicating their resistance of the Company men to lose their dominance in a world they had ruled for so long.

The east coast of Vancouver Island was a neglected portion of Hudson’s Bay land.

When the Royal Navy began their charting of the west coast, they often chose to honour the men of the Royal Navy and certainly the historic voyage of Captain Courtenay was worthy of honour.

In the fall of 1859, when Lt. Mayne recorded that the river he named “Courtenay” had been called by local natives, “Tzoom” or “Tzo-o-me” with a main branch called “Punt-luch”.

These two names would remain on the charts as rivers which became the Courtenay River.

Mayne’s journal entry for 21 October 1859 notes, “worked up to Courtenay River”. He makes no mention of Captain Courtenay ever having been in the area.

In 1909, Captain John T. Walbran published British Columbia Coast Names, Their Origin and History.

For the Courtenay River he writes: “After Captain George William Conway Courtenay HMS Constance 50 guns. On this station 1846-1849”.

Walbran also notes Constance Cove in Esquimault harbour and Constance bank in Strait of Juan de Fuca.

He makes no mention of either the ship or the Captain ever coming into Comox Harbour or that Courtenay liked “fishing in the river”.

Nominate a volunteer *To celebrate the 100th Anniversary since the Incorporation of the City of Courtenay, the Centennial Committee will honour

volunteers who have contributed to the well being of the City Do you know someone who has made a significant contribution to your life or organization, whether in your neighbourhood, school, recreation or an arts or culture group?

Nomination forms for Courtenay’s Citizens of the Century can be down loaded from the Centennial Committee website.

Nominations will be accepted until March 31st..

2015 VIBE Awards Call for Entries Now Open!

www.VIBEawards.ca The Canadian Home Builders’ Association – Vancouver Island (CHBA-VI) is pleased to invite all professional member companies involved in the residential building industry to participate in the Inaugural 2015 VIBE Awards (Vancouver Island Building Excellence), showcasing the best in residential construction, design and renovation that Vancouver Island has to offer.

• Call For Entries NOW OPEN! • Deadline for entry is March 16th • Eligible projects were built, renovated, developed, created and/or marketed between January 1, 2011 and December 31, 2014

CALL FOR ENTRIES

• Black Ties Awards Gala is on Saturday, May 23rd, 2015 at the Coast Bastion Hotel in Nanaimo • View the Categories & Criteria and Enter Online at www.VIBEawards.ca

9

50th Anniversary of the Irish Rover’s ’STREET PARTY’ Barney Bentall, Jim Byrnes, John Mann Tiller’s Folly & Royal Wood Tonight...Piaf starring Joelle Rabu with Vancouver Island Symphony 6 Guitars Nanaimo Bar NONE Variety Show PirateFest Family FunDay VestaFire on the Plaza Speed Control’s Nanaimo Rawks Camp & Show

March 2O15

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Festival Pass $1O8

“We’ve got world class homes being built here on the island, we want to celebrate that!”, said CHBA-VI President Chris Cross SPONSORS

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www.comoxvalleyecho.com TUESDAY.FEBRUARY 24 2015

ECHO

etc.

STICK RAFFLE FOR SPECIAL OLYMPICS The RCMP in the Comox Valley is once again happy to be raffling a hockey stick off to support the special Olympians. The stick is a Vancouver Canuck hockey stick and it is on display at the RCMP detachment in Courtenay.

This hockey stick is personally signed by Kevin BIEKSA of the Vancouver Canucks hockey team. This year there are only 150 tickets for sale and they are $5.00 each with all the proceeds going to the BC Special Olympics. So come one come all and support BC’s Special Olympics.

TWO FUNDRAISERS AT MARKET There will be two fundraisers at the Neighbourhood Market at Fifth & Harmston on Saturday, February 28th. In celebration of 100 years in the Comox Valley, St. John the Divine will be selling a cookbook which they created with over 150 pages of favorite recipes. Also, an

presentation. Anyone interested in membership is welcome and refreshments are served.

Easter Fundraiser with Purdy’s Chocolates, orders will be taken and payment must be paid ahead of time so don’t forget your cash, cheque book or credit card. Of course also on site will be our vendors with homemade and/ or handcrafted items for sale.

Portion of the proceeds from table rentals will be donated to St. John the Divine.

The Neighbourhood Market is held at St. John the Divine Anglican Church in the parish hall, 579 5th Street, Courtenay from 10 am to 2 pm. N ext Market date will be Saturday, April 25th. For more info or to book a table contact Ginny 250-941-5543 or ginny,alliston@ gmail.com .

PIED PIPER VISITS SCHOOL FEB. 28 What do you do when your town is overrun by rats? You call THE PIED PIPER! On Saturday, February 28th at 3:00 and 6:30 PM take a trip to Hamelin Town with Missoula Children’s Theatre, as over 50 local students present THE PIED PIPER, an original musical adaptation of this classic tale.

This production is part of the Missoula Children’s Theatre’s unique international touring project. Tickets are (prices) and are availa ble at the door.

For more information, call Kim at 250.334.4495 ext 116.

EVERGREEN DANCE FRIDAY, FEB. 27 Friday, Feb. 27 is “Dance Night” at Courtenay Recreation’s Florence Filberg Centre. Come join us down stairs in the Rotary Hall for a great evening of Live Music.

Reiss Vink and his accordion will delight you with his easy to dance to music! Dancing is from 7:30pm to 10:30 pm with bar service (our usual coffee and cookie break will be a 9pm). Evergreen members are $7 at the door and non-members are $9. FMI call 250-338-1000.

Rotary Clubs host International Students The 4 Comox Valley Rotary Clubs will be hosting 34 international students from 20 different countries from February 25- March 1. The annual Rotary Rendezvous includes a Welcome banquet, outdoor adventure day, recreation and leisure activities and a community services component. This year the stu-

RHODO CLUB TO HEAR ABOUT TOUR For its Tuesday, March 10 meeting, the North Island Rhododendron Society (NIRS) will hear Part two of a presentation by Nanaimo -chapter member Earl Daneluk

who took part in a 12-day tour to Germany and Denmark to tour gardens and attend the “2014 Rhododendron Exhibition” in Germany, an event held only once every four years. This spectacular event highlights an array of different species and hybrids including many that are “tree size.”

Daneluk and his group also visited Hachman’s Nursery, the

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Enjoy a Spring Fling Fashion Show and luncheon on Saturday, Feb. 28, 11:30 am to 2 pm.

The event will be held in the upper hall of the Comox Legion Enjoy a lunch of soup, sandwich, dessert, and tea or coffee.

The fashion show will feature Shar-On’s All Size fashions.

Tickets: $12.00 each Sponsored by Florence Chapter # 53 Order of the Eastern Star.

All monies raised stay in the Comox Valley for charitable works.

3RD PRIZE

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Authentic Canucks Jersey

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largest rhodo production nursery in Germany and perhaps the world. They saw hundreds of thousands of rhodos in all stages of growth plus display gardens, propagation greenhouses, test fields and much more.

NIRS holds its meetings at the Comox United Church, 250 Beach Avenue each month.

Doors open at 7 pm followed by a business meeting and the

SPRING FLING LUNCH, FASHIONS

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1ST PRIZE

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dents will be going to Glacier View Lodge to share stories and provide a mini talent show to the residents. The Youth Exchange program is a key component of Rotary’s Youth Services mandate. Watch for the students in their colourful blue blazers around the community. Photo by Julia Loo

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Brad Smith Brett Silzer Scott Easterbrook Reid Woods James Grinder Ian Button Brice McCannel Terry Christie Sean Anglos Calum Barr

HOT-N-READY MEAL DEAL Includes medium pepperoni pizza, 8 piece Crazy Bread, 2 litre pop

PTS

1307 1306 1305 1302 1301 1301 1300 1300 1298 1298

AQUATIC CENTRES (pool and fitness access, registered programs are not included)

RANK

NAME

31 32 33 34 35 36 37 38 39 40

Scott Motley Brook Henry Dan White Barry Henry Jane Stafford Darren Kardynal Crystal Oelke Ken Gillis Blair Mitchell Jeffrey Crisp

PTS

1297 1296 1296 1296 1295 1295 1294 1292 1291 1289

RANK

NAME

41 42 43 44 45 46 47 48 49 50

Elaine Isfeld Tim Chaisson Douglas Eldena Grinder Bill Curry Larry Mcdonald Douglas Taylor Zach Boutin Dave Underdown Maria Egeland

PTS

1289 1286 1284 1284 1283 1280 1280 1280 1280 1280

14

www.comoxvalleyecho.com TUESDAY.FEBRUARY 24, 2015

www.comoxvalleyecho.com TUESDAY.FEBRUARY 24, 2015

15

16

www.comoxvalleyecho.com TUESDAY.FEBRUARY24, 2015

‘Coins for Convoys’ rolls out for March Fund-raiser for Alberni museum The month of March has been a traditional month for The Alberni Project Society’s fundrais-

er “COINS FOR CONVOYS” which adds a bit more to TAPS regular visitor donations at the

HMCS Alberni Museum and Memorial (HAMM) as well as any TAP Mobile exhibits around Vancouver Island.

Every dollar in loose change brought into the museum adds a mile to their pretend “Merchant Navy’s Convoy” from Halifax to Londonderry.

The idea behind this fun fundraiser stemmed from

the fund raisers of decades past where recycling, saving, buying war bonds and the like were advertised as accomplishing something tangible, such as an extra plane, or an extra ship to the war effort.

By encouraging people to bring in their jars of loose change that may be sitting around (including all those pennies that

many of us still have in jars on the dresser) and emptying them into the donation bucket TAPS has been able to offset some of the slower attended months of lower donations at the Museum.

Coins do not have to be rolled or sorted.

In addition to “COINS FOR CONVOYS”, The Alberni Project Society

is also registered with the Courtenay Return-It Bottle Recycling Centre on Puntledge Road (near Lewis Park Rec Centre) where you can donate your recycled bottle and aluminum can refunds directly to TAP/HAMM which is located in the Comox Centre Mall, Blue Arch Entrance. Open Tuesday Saturday 10-4.

WIN Canucks Tickets Wine, Wind, and Sea 361 Hunt Road playtimegaming.com HAPPY HOUR KICKS IN ON GAMEDAY!

COMOX VALLEY

www.40knotswinery.com Orland Kurtenbach

YOUR TOTAL FLOORING SOLUTIONS!

Medicine Hat

1970

Two

Enter to WIN! 2 tickets to the Spring/Summer Projects BOOK NOW!

Canucks/Stars

www.unitedfloors.ca

game on

Saturday, March 28 362 10 St, Courtenay,

(250) 338-5511

LP CONSTRUCTION

plus! $100 dinner gift certificate and overnight accomodation Find the answers to the skill testing questions inside the ads.

Write the name of the advertiser as the answer to the question below.

02-24

Three times

Number 12

How many Stanley cups have the Canucks won?

Which player named “Williams” was a fan favourite?

Building in the Valley for over 80 years MON-FRI 7a-5:30p | SAT 8a-5p | SUN 9a-5p

Central Builders’ 610 Anderton Ave. Courtenay Tel: 250-334-4416

Serving the Valley since 1924.

Trevor Linden

Which former Canuck is a member of the Order of Canada?

Your Name: Address: Phone # Submit your ballot to:

Email:

Comox Valley Echo Newspaper 407E Fifth Street, Courtenay V9N 1J7

Contest closes

March 25, 2015 @ 4 pm

• Service & Maintenance Division • Plumbing • Heating • Gas Repairs • HVAC • Hot Water Tanks

Mark Messier

You’re Busy... We’re Fast!

MONDAY - SATURDAY 8AM - 6PM

COURTENA: t $03/&3 0' 5) $-*''&

Call 250-338-8026 Stan Smyl

250-871-8700 Markus Naslund

FLEET CARDS ACCEPTED Call for details!

Tiger

only until March 2nd

tax and delivery extra

Courtenay 250-334-3621

Pavel Bure

Toronto Maple Leafs

Rogers Arena

None