FRIDAY
October 7, 2011
A division of
Vol. 26 No. 80
Your community. Your newspaper.
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COMOX VALLEY RECORD
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ANNIVERSARY
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www.comoxvalleyrecord.com
Heroic RCMP member honoured
KING OF THE RING
Mixed martial arts card overcomes obstacles. ■ B13
CELL0-BRATION
Scott Stanfield Record Staff
Despite her limited swimming skills, Nicole Hall put her life on the line in the summer of 2009 when she jumped into the water to assist a teenager who was in distress and who ultimately drowned while scuba diving in the Little River area. The Comox Valley RCMP constable received the Award for Valour at the E Division awards ceremony Thursday at the Westerly Hotel. “The constables put themselves at risk. I’m very proud of their effort under the circumstances,” Comox Valley RCMP Insp. Tom Gray said. “Two of the members who attended have extensive swimming, lifesaving and diving abilities, but Nicole had very little swimming experience.” Gray was awarded the Commanding Officer’s Commendation & Insignia for the Crime Reduction Strategy, a partnership program with the University of the Fraser Valley and Simon Fraser University that took into account advice from academics. “Basically we studied different ways of delivering police services,” Gray said, noting the focus was to put prolific offenders “out of business as quickly as possible.” Members receiving the 20 Year Long Service Medal included Insp. Lyle Gelinas, Cpls. Tori Cliffe, Gordon Hay, Kenneth Hees, David MacIsaac and Ron MacLellan, Sgt. Wesley Olsen and Consts. Derek Kryzanowski and Line West. Campbell River Const. Donna Kersey and retired Powell River Const. Ghislain Paquette received the 25 Year Bronze Clasp, Comox
... see POLICING ■ A2
FAMILY AND FRIENDS of James Denton showed up in force Thursday at the courthouse in CourtePHOTO BY ERIN HALUSCHAK nay.
Charge down to second-degree murder Erin Haluschak Record Staff
Filling it to capacity, James Denton’s family and friends packed a Courtenay courtroom Thursday morning to hear the charge for the 16-year-old suspect accused of his death has been changed to second-degree murder. Crown prosecutor Gordon Baines and defence lawyer Michael Mulligan agreed to stay the charge of first-degree murder against the suspect who cannot be named due to the Youth Criminal Justice Act, although Baines added that Crown will seek an adult sentence against the suspect if convicted. Denton was stabbed July
23 around 11:30 p.m. near the entrance to G.P. Vanier Secondary School as a crowd dispersed from the Rhythm on the Rock festival at the nearby Comox Valley Exhibition Grounds. He later died at St. Joseph’s General Hospital in Comox. The defence elected to have a trial by Superior Court judge alone, but told Judge Peter Doherty of provincial court he is requesting a preliminary inquiry with 16 witnesses between he and the Crown. A temporary date of Feb. 6, 2012 was discussed for the inquiry, which is expected to last five days, but has yet to be confirmed by the judicial case manager. •••
James Denton’s family wants his name to live on through a bursary being created to honour him and to help others pay for a post-secondary education. The James Denton Memorial Bursary is being administered through School District 71. It will be presented annually to a student graduating from Highland Secondary School who is going into college or university and is interested in the trades. Anyone who wants to contribute to the bursary can mail a cheque to the James Denton Memorial Bursary care of School District 71 — Comox Valley, 607 Cumberland Rd., Courtenay, B.C. V9N 7G5. photos@comoxvalleyrecord.com
The most famous cellist in the world, Yo-Yo Ma, is a well-known musician who has numerous non-classical albums, as well as classical albums. In his non-classical genre, the first album he chose to record was Suite for Cello and Jazz Piano Trio by Claude Bolling in 1984. Remarkable Vancouver Island cellist Helena Jung presents Suite for Cello and Jazz Piano Trio by Claude Bolling in her new genre, Crossover.
...Full story on page ■ B1
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