August 26, 2015

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LIVING, Page 11

Islanders get past controversy to win opener

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Cadets pilot Nick Webster gets his wings

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Wednesday, August 26, 2015

Remains found off Penelakut are those of missing teen

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With a new sited selected, the old Cowichan District Hospital is closer to being replaced. [CITIZEN FILE] the combination of a public expression of interest process and a land consultant working on behalf of the CVRHD. Lefebure said a new hospital is still likely five or 10 years out but the goal of local governments, and the CVRHD was to be prepared with a site and money in the bank should Island Health declare Cowichan was next in line for a new hospital. “Our intention was to be as advanced as possible so that we are ahead of the game,” he said. A new hospital for the Cowichan Valley will still require provincial government approval; no approvals or funding are in place at this time. But the CVRHD has been saving for years. “We know that over time putting money aside as opposed to borrowing will certainly cost our

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Bell McKinnon Road site picked for new hospital Three proper ties on Bell McKinnon Road have been selected to potentially house the new Cowichan District Hospital. The Cowichan Valley Regional Hospital District made the announcement Monday following two years of site scrutiny. “It’s great news,” said CVRHD chair Jon Lefebure. “It’s not finished yet. That’s one thing that needs to be noted.” While the site has been identified as preferred, the purchase of 6751, 6771 and 6793 Bell McKinnon Road is subject to rezoning to permit a hospital use, and moreover, the site must meet the approval of Island Health. L e f e bu r e s a i d t h e l a t t e r shouldn’t be an issue as the health authority has been working together with the CVRHD over the course of the selection process. “They’ve been at the table the whole time but they’re eventually going to own it so my understanding is that they have to have the final approval on it,” he said. “With all we’ve done to include them along the way, we expect that to happen but that still has to be noted.” Just a short distance southeast of where Herd Road/Highway 18 intersects with the Trans Canada Highway, the properties are in a residential area outside of the Agricultural Land Reserve within North Cowichan’s urban growth boundary. It was selected from a crop of 34 potential sites identified through

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residents far less if we can put a little aside every year,” Lefebure said. To date the CVRHD has put $22.6 million in a reserve fund in order to ensure the funds are there to pay for its 40 per cent share of the new hospital. Island Health spokesperson Kellie Hudson said her group is please to have the CVRDH on board as a “keen and active” partner in the eventual renewal of Cowichan’s hospital. “While it is important to note that this is a long-term strategy, and a new hospital for the Cowichan Valley does not have approval or funding at this point in time, we are grateful for the RHD’s enthusiasm and its ongoing support of this and other health care related projects,” Hudson said.

Remains found off Norway Island, just east of Penelakut Island are those of missing teen Delores Brown, RCMP have confirmed. Foul play had been suspected in the disappearance of the young Penelakut Island woman, who was last seen on the island on July 27. “The Vancouver Island Integ rated Major Crime Unit (VIIMCU) notified the Brown family earlier today,” Island District RCMP spokesman Cpl. Darren Lagan Tuesday said afternoon. “BC Coroners Service is continuing their work to determine a cause of death. Pending the results of this key finding, investigators continue to pursue a criminal investigation into Delores’ death, as foul play is suspected.” A group of kayakers found the remains in the waters Aug. 19. The Vancouver Island Integrated Major Crime Unit, Island District Tactical Team, RCMP Air Services, Search and Rescue teams and the greater community had been searching for the 19-year-old since she was reported missing on July 29. Family members sequestered themselves and rescue volun-

teers had a cultural day of a healing last week, following the news from RCMP. “You can definitely feel the tension in the air,” said Denise James, natural resources advisor to the island of about 300 people off Chemainus. Brown’s family has asked James to speak on their behalf while they came to terms with their loved one possibly meeting foul play. Their worst fears have materialized. No arrests have been made, Lagan said. James said while she didn’t know Brown well — the 19-yearold is younger than James’s youngest daughter — everyone knows each other on Penelakut. She described Delores as “shy,” and said it’s unlikely a stranger would convince her to put her herself at risk of harm. “In knowing her, and seeing her with her sisters and brothers, I don’t think she would willingly go off with somebody. She would want at least one sibling with her,” James said. Police ask those with information on Delores Brown’s case to contact the Ladysmith RCMP at 250-245-2215 or Crime Stoppers at 1-800-222-8477. With files from Darrell Bellaart

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