Comox Valley Echo Tuesday, February 18, 2014

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Volume 20, No. 14

Preparing for aftershocks from Safeway’s fall By Drew A. Penner Echo Staff

Tinney Davidson was overwhelmed by the outpouring of gratitude from Highland Secondary School students Feb. 14.

Highland Secondary School students wave back on Valentines Day By Drew A. Penner Echo Staff Dorothy “Tinney” Davidson used a tissue to wipe away tears of joy at a special Valentine’s Day ceremony where she was the guest of honour. The elderly Guthrie Road resident found a place in the hearts of the staff and students at Highland Secondary School through a daily habit of waving at passersby for the past several years. “I’m astounded,” she said, after a rousing assembly that included a choir performance, a special Thank You video and a presentation of a gift basket filled with handmade Valentine’s cards. “I’m only a little old lady - well, not so little.” She beamed like a light throughout the Highland Has Heart event in the gymnasium, clasping her hands together and smiling with surprise. In 2007 when she moved to her nearby home she came her idea of how she could brighten the day of the local youth. “I thought, ‘I’ve got to wave to the kids,’” she said, adding the next bit was the part that just tickled her pink, “and they all started waving back.” Danika Sabistan, a Grade 9 student, says it’s the little things that make the big difference. “If you start talking to her she’ll say, ‘You look pretty,’ or you look amazing today,’” she said, noting Tinney Davidson can be found spreading cheer n the morning, after lunch and after school. “She’s

The Comox Valley is bracing for anticipated ricochet effects from the planned May 10 closure of Safeway in Courteany, affecting 120 full and part-time employees. Remembering a time when the store was the largest grocer in the Comox Valley, Courtenay Mayor Larry Jangula said the business would be missed. “They were always a big part of the Valley,” he said. “The sad thing is we’re talking about the livelihoods of up to 120 families.” On Thursday Canada Safeway announced the location was not financially up to snuff and would be closed, following a regular review of operations. The same day the Jim Pattison Group-owned Overwaitea Food Group said it would scoop up 15 grocery stores in B.C. and Alberta from Sobeys Inc., which recently acquired Safeway in a $5.8-billion deal last June. Courtenay’s Safeway location was not one of these stores. John Graham, director of public affairs with Safeway Operations said the company has been pondering the move for months. “It’s a store that we’d been monitoring well before the acquisition by Sobeys,” he said. “In recent years it’s struggled to meet financial targets.” In the grocery sector prices have not kept up with inflation in recent months and a confidential document emerged in December from deep within Sobeys’ executive chambers revealing it was planning to leverage its new heft thanks to the Safeway buy to put further pressure on food suppliers. (Continued on page 3)

Heavy snowfall on Mt. Washington causes smiles and scary moments By Michael Briones Echo Staff

A packed gymnasium witnessed the ceremony where Tinney Davidson was honoured for being a prodigious hand waver. just one of those people who pumps up your attitude.” Grade 12 student Emily Haagerup explained how Davidson’s actions have a much bigger impact than she probably even realizes on the students.

“It’s someone they all can know and wave at on their way to school,” she said. “She’s a connecter for everybody.” Haagerup hopes Davidson enjoys her Valentine’s Day. (Continued on page 2)

Be careful what you wish for. For the many avid, hungry skiers and snowboarders, the recent heavy snowfall on Mount Washington has been God-sent. Over the weekend, the alpine resort, which opened last Thursday, was packed. It was a great day for tubing, skiing, and boarding. Smiles were clearly etched on happy patrons’ faces as they celebrated the end of the snow drought that had caused the alpine resort to close down in January after being opened only for 14 days. However, they might have received more snow than they bargained for, especially on Sunday. The white fluffy stuff fell heavily unexpectedly just past noon. It transformed the day of fun into a horrible experience for many motorists who were on their way home. They encountered a blizzard that caused near whiteout conditions, and resulted in multiple vehicular collisions along Strathcona Parkway. (Continued on page 2)

Family docs to probe health care needs of Valley By Drew A. Penner Echo Staff The Comox Valley will undergo a “check up” as family doctors investigate what could be done to improve care locally. The Comox Valley Division of Family Practice has commissioned a telephone survey to help lift the veil on the health needs in the region. “We really need the information,” said Janet Brydon, executive director Comox Valley Division of Family

Practice. “We’re hoping to have a betting understand about the perspective of people in the community.” As part of a long-term A GP for Me project, which is funded jointly by Doctors of BC and the Ministry of Health, the division - a non-profit that aims to give doctors a voice in influencing health care - is charting the course of future options for community services in the Comox Valley. The survey will look at how many people say they have access to a doctor compared with those who use

walk-in clinics. “The evidence so far shows it’s very important to have a long-term relationship with a primary care provider,” she said. “Having that family physician relationship helps us understand what other issues people have around health care.” There are many unknowns when it comes to the wellbeing of the community, but Brydon says the survey will be an important way to gain a better understanding of who has been marginalized by the current system

and where future resources could be targeted. While people with mental health issues, substance abuse problems and cancer could be the groups that fall into this category, the expectation is the survey will help reveal this statistically. This is not the first step in the information gathering process. Already the division has conducted surveys through walk-in clinics, the emergency department at St Joseph’s General Hospital, the Comox Valley

Nursing Centre, and partnering health care providers including physiotherapists, optometrists and pharmacists. Community service agencies have also played an important role. “Last year, we began conducting surveys of community health care providers to get a better understanding of the issues impacting access to effective care in our community,” she said. “Don’t be surprised if you get a call from our survey group asking for your input.” (Continued on page 2)

A2 Comox Valley Echo Tuesday, February 18, 2014

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Storm slams mountain (Continued from page 1) Vehicles wound up skating and spinning on the slippery road that was covered with thick white powder and some icy patches, smashing into other vehicles like a pinball. Siobhan Burns, an employee of the Alberni Valley Times, was among those who got caught in the middle of the brutal snowstorm with a friend and their children. “It was a freak storm,� said Burns. “We were too far away from the lodge when it started to snow heavily. The flakes were big and we couldn’t turn back.� Burns’ friend, Stephanie Burr, was driving her Honda Pilot SUV. They had four children with them. They were on their way home when they hit some black ice. “We spun like three or four times,� said Burns. “We went sliding down backwards and ended up on a snow bank. When we tried to get going again we slid again and spun three times. We hit another vehicle before stopping on a snow bank.� Burns said they encountered several vehicles in the ditch and witnessed a number spinning out of control and a number of collisions. A shuttle bus that attempted to go up to the resort went sliding down sideways towards their direction, which terrified them. “People started getting out of their cars and running away,� Burns said.

“Fortunately it stopped before it hit a vehicle. Had it crashed into that vehicle, it would have caused a big pile-up. The vehicles would have ended up on us and I had no way of getting the children out. It was scary.� Burns said they were stuck on the hill for around three hours. They left the resort at 1:30 p.m. and didn’t reach the bottom of the hill until 4:30 p.m. “The roads were horrible,� said Burns. “The snow was so thick on the road. I’m still traumatized.� Justin Burgers, operations manager for Emcon Services Inc, the company hired to plow the roads during heavy snowfall said their trucks were caught in a jam in all the mess along the way. There were around 16 vehicles that were stuck and Burgers said around eight were abandoned, blocking part of the road. They tried driving around them but decided to have them towed in the end. Burgers blamed poor visibility and motorists not being prepared for the road and weather conditions, carrying no chains, driving with all-season tires instead of winter tires. The 18-kilometre stretch of the Strathcona Parkway, which leads to Mount Washington Alpine Resort, was plowed and cleared. Mount Washington spokesperson Brent Curtain advises skiers, boarders and tubers to check weather reports

Visibility was almost zero for motorists trying to get down from Mount Washington on Sunday and advisories before traveling to the mountain and prepare for those conditions. “It’s a mountainous road with the highest elevations on the Island,� Curtain said. “We always suggest motorists carry backup chains with them on any mountain roads and that all four tires on their vehicles be winter tires.� The blizzard conditions did leave the ski resort with its highest accumulation of snow of the season and happy patrons. But due to avalanche

fears, the resort is keeping the backside slopes closed. The snow is being left to “settle out naturally,� said Curtain. Avalanche experts will test the backside of the mountain for risk in the days ahead and base its decision on whether to open the back slopes for expert skiers on those results. The Mount Washington ski resort closed in late January due to lack of snow after just 14 days of operations. The newest statistics from Monday

morning show an accumulation of 210 centimetres over the past week with 100 centimetres during the past two days. Yesterday morning it was “blue bird� conditions with blue skies, a thick carpet of overnight powder and “ecstatic snowboarders and skiers,� said Curtain. “It’s really set us up for the rest of the season,� said Curtain. “The phones are ringing off the hook for spring bookings and accommodations.�

Students thank lady for her kind waves Family docs to survey health care needs (Continued from page 1) “After all those years of waving to people and not asking for anything in response it probably meant a lot to her,� she said. Tylar Turnbull, in Grade 9, waited in line for a chance to specifically thank Davidson. “She’s one of those people that even though you don’t know her, you know who she is and you care about her,� she said. “She waves to people and does really good stuff likes makes hats and the money goes to cancer research.� It was the efforts of Grade 10 student Sadie Cameron, who brought up the kind activities of the senior neighbour to teacher Charlotte Hood-Tanner. A personal visit led to making cards which led to the moving assembly. Greg Kochanuk, Highland’s vice principal, said such tiny actions make such a big difference to kids. “High school kids are bombarded with hormones, they’ve got multiple classes going on and they deal with stress every day,� he said. “Something as simple as a wave can brighten your day.�

Dr. C. Bullock, Family Physician

Students who would otherwise trudge to school and go through the motions have a reason to smile each and every day, he explained. “They’ve been totally positively affected by the impact of this woman,� he said, “just by doing that one little thing.� Davidson says the act itself is its own reward, noting how good it feels to have the kids acknowledge her. “Seeing them smile that’s the best part,� she said emphatically. “I hope to go on doing it for

(Continued from page 1) In order to push health care forward in the Valley, the division plans to work with community health care partners to develop a program that tackles the issues raised in the surveys. Then the rubber will meet the road as it begins to implement the plan to address the community’s needs.

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In addition to A GP for Me, the Comox Valley Division of Family Practice is also working on several other projects supporting community health care and will give an overview of these at the upcoming Patient Voices Network free orientation and lunch on February 15 from 11:00 am to 3:30 pm in Courtenay. For more information and to register, visit www. patientvoices.ca.

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(Continued from page 1) While Graham wouldn’t comment on the letter to suppliers from Dale MacDonald, senior vice-president of category management and national procurement at Sobeys, he acknowledged the challenges Safeway has faced in battling it out in an increasingly crowded marketplace. “We’re no stranger to competition in any market,” he said. “I think you’re seeing - not only in Courtenay but across Canada - more US competitors entering the Canadian marketplace and Canadian players looking to expand their business.” Jangula said we’ll just have to wait and see what the ultimate impact is on the Comox Valley. “It opens up a whole kettle of worms for everybody,” he said, adding he hopes workers will be able to find other employment relatively easily. “Some of them will find it difficult to pay property taxes on their own bills.” No one likes more bad news, in the wake of the about 20 downtown store closures in the last year. “It’s concerning,” he said, “as is all the economic bad news we’ve heard from downtown.” Mark Middleton, president Downtown Courtenay Business Improvement Association, said the closure will hurt area businesses. “That’s going to trickle down into less money spent at restaurants, pubs, and sporting good stores until these people get back on their feet somewhere else,” he said, adding the Safeway jobs had the advantage of not paying minimum wage. “They were some of the better paying jobs in that sector.” Middleton said the BIA is waiting to hear from Thrifty Foods, which is also owned by Sobeys and could be pondering a move to the current Safeway location, following the shutdown. Sobeys reps declined to comment on whether such a move is in the cards. “If the ripple effect of that is Thrifty moving and affecting the BIA, then yes, we’ve got an issue,” Middleton said, noting the foot traffic attracted to the core by the downtown grocer has significant economic benefits for the area. “I hope they find another tenant.”

Food Bank may be forced to “beg” for produce Maryanne Palmer gets up early to begin her 5 a.m. shift as a grocery

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Preparing for aftershocks from Safeway’s fall Robert Mulrooney

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Mike Benisch, assistant manager of the food bank, Maryanne Palmer, volunteer, Susan Somerset, manager of the food bank, and Jeff Hampton, food bank society president, show off produce they get from Safeway. They worry about what they’ll do once Safeway closes. stocker at Safeway. At least that’s what she used to do when there was more work to go around. “There are no hours, you know?” she said. “Since Walmart went in it’s been pretty quiet.” Thursday’s big announcement didn’t exactly come out of nowhere. “I was surprised but on the other hand I wasn’t, because it’s just been so dead in there,” she said. “Except for around suppertime.” Now she’s facing the prospect of applying for jobs sought after by her fellow employees. But she knows the bigger impact could be felt at the Comox Valley Food Bank where she volunteers. Every day the non-profit organization receives about 60 boxes of apples, oranges, potatoes, lettuce, dairy and other items from Safeway, allowing around 150 of the Valley’s most vulnerable residents to get important nutrient rich food five days a week. “Instead of throwing it away they pass it on to the food bank,” said Comox Valley Food Bank Society president Jeff Hampton. “If we lose this fresh produce connection it may have an affect on us being able to be

open.” Other stores do pitch in as well, but they mostly just provide bread and milk, said food bank manager Susan Somerset. “We’ve tried and it’s really tough to get the produce,” she said. “We’re going to have to beg.” Already the food bank tells residents to try to come for veggies and

dairy once a week, so there’s enough to go around. Now the organization is looking at different options for dealing with the loss of the supplier, including purchasing canned vegetables - which would be at an added cost. “It’s going to make a huge impact,” Somerset said. “I don’t know what we’ll do.”

CAMPAGNOLO INJURED IN RECENT FALL Former B.C. lieutenant-governor and Trudeau-era cabinet minister Iona Campagnolo is in hospital with a spinal cord injury, but she is expected to make a full recovery, according to a report by Canadian Press. Campagnolo, a Comox Valley resident, was injured in a recent fall and is now in the spinal care unit at Vancouver General Hospital. The injury means Campagnolo, 81, won’t be attending next week’s federal Liberal party convention in Montreal. Campagnolo was elected to Parliament in 1974 in the northern B.C. riding of Skeena and was eventually appointed as minister of

state for fitness and amateur sport in the government of then-prime minister Pierre Trudeau. She became the first woman to serve as B.C.’s lieutenant-governor in 2001 and was succeeded by Steven Point in 2007. Since leaving her posting as lieutenant-governor, Campagnolo has held several honorary positions and has worked with the Child Honouring Society, a group founded by children’s entertainer Raffi Cavoukian. She is also involved with the Comox Valley Community Justice Centre, which sponsors an annual human rights lecture in her name.

If you hear explosions near your area, don’t be alarmed. It’s just the Canadian Armed Forces Explosives Ordnance Disposal teams conducting training in the Comox Valley from Feb. 17 to 28. During this time, residents are advised of increased military activity. Although much of this training will take place at Canadian Forces Base Comox (Main Site), exercise participants will also be operating at CFB Comox (Goose Spit Site), and other locations throughout the Comox Valley, as pre-coordinated with local landowners. Due to the nature of the training activities, residents may also hear occasional explosive sounds or “popping” noises throughout the day, from approximately 9 a.m. to 5 p.m., including weekends. Only small firecrackerlike devices will be used during offbase training. Safety for the public and military personnel is paramount to any military exercise and all activities will be carried out within approved CAF training safety regulations. 19 Wing thanks residents for their understanding and continued cooperation as members complete this important exercise.

BC Conservative Party candidate visiting Feb. 21 Dan Brooks, leadership candidate for the BC Conservative Party, will be touring Vancouver Island and invites the public to attend. COMOX VALLEY, Feb 21st: Open invitation to attend a “no host” breakfast, candidate speech and question period. Party members, the general public and the media are welcome to attendthe White Spot Restaurant, 2299 Cliffe Ave., Courtenay, from 9:00 am to 11:00 am

WinterBites Festival tops expectations of organizers The inaugural WinterBites Festival wrapped up on Feb 2nd after a successful 18-day run during which it entertaining thousands of visitors and locals with multiple genre concerts, pond hockey tournaments and the first ever outdoor skating rink. The festival was led by the Comox Valley Economic Development and Tourism office, with support of the founding partners including Vancouver Island MusicFest , Comox Valley Minor Hockey, Comox Valley Exhibition / Fall Fair, Mount Washington Alpine Resort, City of Courtenay, Courtenay Accommodation properties and the Vancouver Island Newspaper Group. The festival, identified in their 2014 Comox Valley Destination Marketing Tactical Plan, was the first out of the gate in 2014 and couldn’t have been timelier. Created with the

purpose of helping to drive awareness, increased visitation and economic activity into the region during a quite time of the year, the festival also made up for a short fall in visitations with the poor snow conditions affecting the usually busy ski season. “The festival was a collaborative effort with just over 90 sponsors and community partners plus an incredible dedicated effort by more than 70 volunteers, which speaks volumes in terms of the interest and commitment that this Valley has to supporting events that will benefit the whole community,” says John Watson, executive director, Comox Valley Economic Development & Tourism. “The diverse offerings from concerts to skating and a hockey jamboree showcases the ability for Comox Valley to draw upon its expe-

rience and deliver top notch events.” The Additional Hotel Room Tax program was a major funding agent of the new festival and a lot of effort was put towards awareness of the hotel packaging to provide best value to generate overnight stays. S trategically a big push was done through traditional and social media which created quite a buzz. In total, 68 articles appeared in papers around the region and across the provinces, from Victoria to Campbell River, from Vancouver to Montreal, reaching 2.3 million people while on the Island CTV, Shaw TV and JetFM radio did interviews and shot the action on the ground. Online, discovercomoxvalley.com<http://www. discovercomoxvalley.com> saw a 324.52 per cent increase in visitors a huge leap - from Nov. 2013 to the end of Jan. 2014.

“We definitely saw a difference in hotel numbers,” says Jill Rushton, assistant general manager, Old House Village Hotel & Spa. “With the unexpected snow drought in January, the ‘usual’ crowd was nonexistent, so the timing couldn’t have been better, and the festival’s combined activities for the whole family, translated into more reasons to stay.” A highlight of the festival was the creation of a synthetic skating rink that enabled outdoor public skating on the streets of Courtenay. A Pond Hockey Jamboree-organized by the Comox Valley Minor Hockey Association, attracted over 20 teams from around the Island and lower Mainland for three weekend tournaments. The twelve -day installation, which drew crowds and TV cameras, was largely made possible by the

City of Courtenay and a brigade of volunteers. “I’ve helped out with a lot of events, but never have we had an outdoor skating rink built in the middle of town and a chance for us to share in a true Canadian tradition,” says Dave Mellin, a long time resident of the Comox Valley. “I had to get involved as I believe in giving back to the community that has given me so much and I also love the creative, outside-the-box events the Valley puts on. I think the people who came out had a great time.” “It really was quite a remarkable outcome for an event like this,” says Doug Cox, MusicFest executive producer. “The community was supportive and eight of nine concerts completely sold out - not bad for the first year.”

MONEY MATTERS

THINKING ABOUT AN INCOME PROPERTY?

Investing in real estate is a favourite Canadian wealth building idea. Real. Estate. It's familiar, it's land and buildings and it feels safe and secure. Being a landlord is a very tempting proposition, and many people have built real wealth this way over time. So it's a great idea right? Not so fast. As with any type of investment there are many pros and cons, and you should go in eyes wide open and fully informed. How long is your time horizon? What is the economic outlook for real estate in the area? There are economists and analysts the world over that feel the Canadian real estate market is over heated with predictions for low to no growth or worse over the long term. Logic bears this out with the state of the economy and flat income levels. Are you borrowing to buy? Interest rates are supportive at a near all time low. Yes, you can write off the interest costs against income, but rates won't stay this low forever. When you last bought a home to live in what did you look for? A well maintained home, a modern kitchen and bathroom, nice landscaping? Do you intend to upgrade and modernize the home

you've bought to rent out? How much pressure will future buyers place on you to drive down the price if the house isn't tip top? Think about it! You will also pay capital gains tax, if you are lucky enough to sell the house for more than you paid for it. Real estate is not liquid. I worked for years in banking and witnessed first hand the stress and hardship that people went through trying to sell investment properties they didn't want, could barely afford and couldn't sell. This article is just scratching the surface of the in depth analysis one should go through when considering investing in real estate. As with everything, do your research, think twice and buyer beware. James Vasilyev is a Certified Financial Planner and Investment Advisor with TD Wealth.

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A4 Comox Valley Echo Tuesday, February 18, 2014

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Google Transit makes it easier for people to plan trips New tool introduced by BC Transit will help travellers save time

tions and boarding times; that will make our services even more efficient and effective.” For more information on Google Transit in the Comox Valley, please consult our website www.bctransit. com/regions/com and click on the Trip Planner link.

By Michael Briones Echo Staff Travelling in the Comox Valley via the BC Transit has just become a lot easier. Figuring out bus routes and stop times can be a puzzling undertaking. The BC Transit brochures may help but for some it is difficult to understand. The new Google Transit launched by Social Development and Social Innovation Minister and Comox Valley MLA Don McRae along with Comox Valley Regional District Chair Edwin Grieve and BC Transit Vice President and CIO Brian Anderson on Friday at G.P. Vanier Secondary is going to make it easier. The Comox Valley is only the fifth location in the province to implement this user-friendly planning tool that requires the use of internet or a smart phone. People can now plan their trips with a lot more accuracy as Google Transit will be able to provide information on how long a trip from one place to the other would be and also provide the bus times and service routes. Vanier Grade 8 students were introduced to the new program and it didn’t take them long to figure it out. “It’s easier to understand where the bus routes are going and how you’re going to get where you want to go,” said Lucy Zelko, one of the Grade 8 students who use the public bus to get around. “Reading the bus pamphlets, I find it difficult to understand them and how to use them properly. I always have to ask some one for help and sometimes it’s pretty confusing for them too. This is going to be lot easier and less time consuming.” McRae said people’s time, whether you are 14 or 74 years old, is precious.

GETTING STARTED 1. Go to Google Maps 2. Click ‘Get Directions’ (top left of screen) 3. Choose the transit icon 4. Enter your origin 5. Enter your destination 6. Choose whether you want to ‘Leave now’, or ‘Depart at’ or ‘Arrive by’ a time and date 7. Click the ‘Get Directions’ button 8. If you see your origin or destination highlighted in yellow, Google needs you to choose chose the correct location from the list 9. Google will provide up to three trip options with estimated times and step by step trip descriptions. 10. The trip you choose will show up on the map to the right

Grade 8 student Lucy Zelko from G.P. Vanier demonstrates to Comox Valley MLA Don McRae and Comox Valley Regional District chair Edwin Grieve how easy it is to use Google Transit, a new tool launched by BC Transit to help bus users plan their trip with a lot more accuracy and efficiency. “People don’t want to stand in the rain on a day in February. They want to make sure they go to point A to B as quickly as possible,” said McRae. “Google Transit is an opportunity that will make sure you leave your house, you get to the bus at the right time, you get to your destination on time and you get home. And that’s the kind of opportunity that will encourage more people to use transit on a regular basis.” More than 544,000 people rode BC Transit in the Comox Valley in 2012/13. Tools like Google Transit will demonstrate that buses are a convenient alternative to private vehicles. “We saw this as a great opportunity,” said Grieve. “We’ve been growing the bus system about five to seven per cent a year. This is going to increase those numbers

even more so because traditionally, this hasn’t been a community that had busses like some of the major centres do. So it’s a bit new. By working with the students, in developing those kind of habits. You and I know all it’s going to take for the price of gas to go up 20 cents a litre, then you’re going to see a lot more people on the bus.” Google Transit is a public transportation planning tool that combines the latest BC Transit schedule and route information with the power of Google Maps. It’s a free service that’s user-friendly online. “Transit customers are demanding easy to use route information,” said BC Transit Vice President and CIO Brian Anderson. “This technology gives existing and new customers a convenient and free tool to plan their trip with simplified direc-

Search for woman who saw police dog incident By Philip Round Echo Staff A woman who may have witnessed a man being bitten and seriously injured by a police dog in a rural area of Courtenay is being urgently sought by the Independent Investigations Office of BC. The incident happened at around 2 p.m. on the afternoon of Friday, January 31 near a wooded area in the 2300 block of Jacqueline Drive, not far from Stotan Falls. “An adult male sustained serious injuries after he was bitten by a police dog,” according to spokesperson Owen Court of the IIO, the official body that investigates incidents involving police officers that result in serious injury or death to determine whether or not an officer has committed an offence.

Court said they had been advised the RCMP were called to a residence in the area, and were seeking to arrest the man near woodland when a police service dog was deployed. He was not able to say why the man was being pursued or the nature of his injuries, but they were serious. “IIO investigators have learned that an adult female may have walked past the incident as it occurred,” he added. “The IIO wishes to identify this person and speak with her as soon as possible.” The woman, and anyone else who has any information relating to the incident, is asked to call the IIO’s witness line on 1-855-446-8477. Based in Surrey, the IIO is a civilian-led investigation service set up two years ago by the provincial government’s ministry of justice.

Bid to cut Transit subsidy still in the balance Attempts to cut $200,000 from the amount local taxpayers pay towards subsidizing bus services in the Comox Valley narrowly failed at a regional district committee meeting last week. But the issue will be back on the table for further discussion later today (Tuesday) following the intervention of CVRD board chair Edwin Grieve. Last Tuesday, Courtenay Coun. Starr Winchester proposed the amount included on property tax bills be cut for 2014 from $1,428,000 to $1,228,000. She believed that surpluses expected to be available during the year, including some cash from a potential fare increase in the fall, ought to cover the difference. But several other committee members were not so sure, and expressed concerns that services might have to be cut back rather than expanded as intended. Staff had recommended the 2014 requisition be frozen at last year’s level, with small improvements to the service effectively paid for out of a surplus carried forward from the 2013 accounts. When it came to a vote, Winchester’s amendment to the proposed budget was tied five-five on a headcount, but under the ‘weighted’ voting system reflecting the population each member represented, it was lost 24-22. Later, when it came to a final vote on the proposed Transit budget, the headcount was a clearer six-four in favour, with Courtenay Coun. Jon Ambler backing the proposed budget rather than leaving it in any doubt. He argued that even though he lived in a fairly expensive house, the share of the Transit bill he faced each year was $60, whereas every time he went to fill up his vehicle it cost him $90. He didn’t use the buses himself, but they were an important part of community infrastructure and everyone benefited from the service through

reduced traffic on the roads and fewer accidents. And, he noted, he paid taxes for other services he didn’t use in 2013, such as schools, the 911 service, or even the hospital. “I pay for them all because they are needed by society,” he said. “We need to reframe this debate. Transit, when it is working well, is a benefit to all of society and subsidizing it is a worthy thing to do.” But Winchester had noted the true average cost per ride on local buses was $5.05, and of that passengers only paid an average of $1.62. The government, through BC Transit, chipped in a $2.42 per ride subsidy, and the regional district share was 20 per cent of the total or $1.01 a ride - the latter added to property taxes. She said the proposed expansion of the Transit service over the next five years could see an increase in the requisition of 71 per cent. “That’s a lot of money,” she commented. “No one is saying Transit isn’t a vital part of our community, but we have to do something about this - it’s simply not sustainable.” And Courtenay Coun. Bill Anglin said while no one disputed support for Transit was a good thing in principle, the issues of how much subsidy and what level of service were appropriate were important going forward. Comox Coun. Tom Grant said while fare income was projected to rise $100,000 over five years, the requisition payable by taxpayers was set to rise by more than $600,000. But transit manager Mike Zbarsky said that projection did not take in to account ticket price changes in the future, although he agreed potential rises would likely only cover some of the increased requisition as services expanded. Grant suggested, however, that it would be worth considering at least capping the subsidy and devising services that stayed within a defined budget. Zbarsky said such a move would be possible, as long as it was accepted that fares would go up and up as costs rose - possibly to such an extent that ridership dropped back - or services would

need to be reduced to save operating costs. But he acknowledged that BC Transit itself has capped its own contributions to local services across the province as a result of legislation. Area B director Jim Gillis said he believed it right to be subsidizing bus fares. It was important that everyone had the opportunity to get to work, school or visit places for whatever reason. He would consider going even further, by looking at the implications of providing a free bus service that really would make it an attractive proposition for more people to ride and leave the car at home. Rural Area A director Bruce Jolliffe said Transit was very much part of the community and added richness to it; and board chair Edwin Grieve (Area C) noted that while rural areas had the least services, they together contributed as much in

24 HR Service 250-338-8026

subsidies as the City of Courtenay. Comox Coun. Patti Fletcher supported the Transit system, and hoped further consideration would be given to schedule changes that would help shift workers at St. Joseph’s Hospital. A similar experiment to CFB Comox had not proved particularly successful, she accepted, but she believed it worth a try at the hospital. Zbarsky noted that in 2013, there had been 570,776 rides on local buses, which was an increase of 4.4 per cent on a year earlier. Work was progressing on a long-term plan for phased improvement to Transit services, which should be ready for discussion by elected officials in the late spring and potential approval by late summer. He also reported one new bus had been ordered for the service, and it would be smaller than regular sized buses to reflect the actual needs.

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Community News

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DIY bread, cinnamon bun making workshop

Who can resist the smell of fresh bread or buns right out of the oven? In this hands-on workshops, learn how to make delicious bread and gooey sticky cinnamon buns that are to die for! Sunday, February 23 from 10:00am-1:00pm. Cost is $35 per person. Call the Black Creek Community Centre to register. 250337-5190

Dietitian to speak at osteoporosis meeting Dietitian Linda Hammel will discuss the connection between nutrition and osteoporosis at the Feb. 26 meeting of the Comox Valley Osteoporosis Support Group. Osteoporosis is a condition that causes bones to become thin and porous, decreasing bone strength and leading to increased risk of breaking a bone. It is estimated that one in three women and one in five men will suffer with osteoporosis in their lifetime. The presentation is open to anyone who is living with osteoporosis and who would like to learn more about how nutrition can assist in improving quality of life. When: Wednesday, Feb. 26, 2 pm Where: Comox Valley Nursing Centre, 615 10th Street, Courtenay For more information contact: Michele Caley, Comox Valley Nursing Centre, 250-331-8504 ext. 68425 (Michele).

The man behind the mountain name HUNTFor History by JUDY HAGEN The naming of a mountain is a very serious process, never taken lightly. Four of the mountains on the Beaufort Range were named for people who have had a great impact either locally or federally. They are the four mountain peaks easily seen outlined against the skyline to the south of the Comox Glacier: Robert Clifton and Mount Chief Andy Frank were two First Nations leaders and Mount Bill Stubbs was a prominent educator in the Comox Valley. The fourth mountain honours Henry Elvins Spencer, a prairie pioneer who had an impact on Federal politics but retired to the Comox Valley. Henry began life in a privileged English home and would in Canada become a champion for the rights of the prairie farmer. Born in March 1882 to William and Mary (nee Elvins) Spencer, Henry was the second of three sons of a prosperous flour mill owner. Their home was an Elizabethan half-timbered house called Manor Farm, of Great Alne, Warwickshire. The property was listed in the Domesday Record. The extended Spencer family was wealthy farmers in the county; William had acquired the mill about 1870. In its heyday, the mill would employ 15 workers and supply flour to bakers throughout the county. (It ceased operation in 1966). In the 19th century, it was assumed the eldest son, William

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A photo by Walter Gage, taken around 1910. The mountains, all named much later, are, l. to r., Mr. Henry Spencer, Mt. Stubbs, Mt. Chief Frank and Mt. Clifton (Photo courtesy of the Courtenay and District Museum P85-96a) would inherit the property, so Mr. Spencer encouraged his younger two sons, Henry and Herbert to go “into the City� to become Bankers, which offered security for the future but the two boys wanted something more, they wanted adventure. They decided to immigrate to Canada. In August 1908 they were at the railhead in Hardesty Alberta. With 2 oxen, a mule, equipment and supplies for 6 months, they walked 52 miles to their homesteads near Edgerton. Within 18 months they were listed as having 2,000 acres of open range for cattle, grain fields with some mixed farming acreage. Herbert would marry Catherine

Comox United Church and the Comox Valley Unitarian Fellowship will present a film about the famous pilgrimage across France and Spain to Santiago de Compostela, hosted by British art critic Brian Sewell, on Friday, February 21, at 7 pm. Santiago de Compostela is where the remains of the Apostle James are allegedly buried, and has been the destination of religious pilgrims since the Ninth Century. Every year, tens of thousands of pilgrims walk hundreds of kilometers along different routes, all ending at Santiago. Sewell, a witty skeptic and lapsed Catholic, travels from Paris through Bordeaux and Lourdes, crosses the Pyrenees to Bilbao, and on to Leon, and Santiago. He visits medieval churches along the way, critiques the church architecture, and talks to modern day pilgrims. On the way, he gets tipsy in Bordeaux, seasick on the Spanish coast, deluged by a flood and finishes the last thirty miles of his trip on horseback to qualify as an official pilgrim. Unexpectedly, he finds that he is deeply moved by the beauty of the Medieval churches, the faith of the pilgrims, and the final Mass and Feast of St. James in Santiago, even as he insists that he has lost his faith and doesn’t want it back. The presentation will be at 7 pm Friday, February 21, 2014 at Comox United Church, 250 Beach Drive in Comox. Admission is by donation.

Comox Fire will give, install smoke alarms Comox Fire Rescue is again offering its “Sound of Life Smoke Alarm Program� to the residents of both the Town of Comox and the Comox Fire Protection District. If residents are lacking a working smoke alarm then Comox Fire Rescue will install battery operated smoke alarm(s) free of charge. Comox Fire Rescue will also check/ test existing smoke alarms and replace batteries if needed. We will also see that old or nonworking smoke alarms are disposed of in an environmentally friendly manner. Interested residents can call Comox Fire Rescue at 250-339-2432 or email at firehall@comox.ca to set up an appointment. Remember Working Smoke Alarms Save Lives.

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Comox Valley Echo Tuesday, February 18, 2014 A5

Clarke and Henry married the local teacher originally from Nova Scotia, Zella Crowe Homesteading in the prairies before the Great War was like a blank canvas ready to be painted and the Spencer brothers soon became involved in local issues. The first was a school. At that time, if there were 5 students, a school district could be established, but education beyond the rural schools brought Henry into the broader issues and he would serve as chairman of the Alberta School Trustees. Later he was executive secretary for the Canadian School Trustees Association. They established a local Farmers

Co-Op, organizing a telephone exchange for the community as well as building a grain elevator to counter the National Grain Company elevators. Farmers had no voice in Ottawa. There were many political issues but especially control over freight rates. In a 1971 interview, Henry Spencer explained, “We had very little to do with prices of freight rates. We had to fight to be able to produce goods and sell them at a livable return. At one time we couldn’t send anything where we wanted to without the consent of the CPR� (Comox District Free Press. 13 January 1971. p. 5) (Continued on page 6)

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COMOX VALLEY REGIONAL DISTRICT Temporary Industrial Use Permit 1C 12 File No. TIUP 1C 12 This temporary industrial use permit (TIUP) application, if approved, would be valid for three years and allow for a commercial composting operation within a portion of the subject property (approximately 2 hectares). The proposed composting operation will process yard waste within the Upland Resource - 400ha (UR-400ha) zone at property legally described as The Part of the South East Âź, Section 31, Township 9, Comox District, Plan 552G except South West Âź (Strathcona Parkway), as shown on the map below.

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A copy of the application and related information may be viewed at the &RPR[ 9DOOH\ 5HJLRQDO 'LVWULFW RIÀFH &RPR[ 5RDG &RXUWHQD\ %& between 8:00 a.m. and 4:30 p.m., Monday through Friday, excluding holidays until 4:00 p.m. February 25, 2014. Anyone who believes the proposed application will affect their interests can submit a written submission, mailed or electronic. All submissions must be UHFHLYHG E\ WKLV RIÀFH QR ODWHU WKDQ S P 0RQGD\ )HEUXDU\ Enquiries should be directed to: 7RQ 7ULHX 3ODQQHU 3URSHUW\ 6HUYLFHV %UDQFK &RPR[ 9DOOH\ 5HJLRQDO 'LVWULFW &RPR[ 5RDG &RXUWHQD\ %& 9 1 3 7HO ‡ 7ROO IUHH ‡ )D[ (PDLO SURSHUW\VHUYLFHV#FRPR[YDOOH\UG FD ‡ ZZZ FRPR[YDOOH\UG FD The Comox Valley Regional District is a federation of three electoral areas and three municipalities providing sustainable services for residents and visitors to the area. The members of the regional district work collaboratively RQ VHUYLFHV IRU WKH EHQHÀW RI WKH GLYHUVH XUEDQ DQG UXUDO DUHDV RI WKH Comox Valley.

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A6 Comox Valley Echo Tuesday, February 18, 2014

Community News

Hunt for History: Mountains (Continued from page 5)

The Evergreen Singles Meet and Greet Club continues to support the Comox Valley Food Bank. The group holds a fundraiser for the CVFB annually and on Valentines Day, they’ve opened not only their hearts, but also their wallets,

as well as donated food to this charitable organization. Jeff Hampton of the CVFB received the goods and cash of over $100 from Meet and Greet club members (left to right) Voila Bergen, Maria Nomec, Ellen Whitelaw and Babs Edwards.

They formed a branch of the United Farmers Association and under the Progressives banner, Henry ran for election, becoming the Member of Parliament for Battle River. He would serve for 13 years. In 1921, the “Progressives” had elected 12 members from Alberta. H.W. Wood, dubbed them the 12 Apostles; they held the balance of power in the House, supporting PM McKenzie King. During those years, they were able to effect changes to the Grain Act and prevented the CPR from canceling the Crows Nest Pass Agreement which allowed grain going east to have a lower freight rate. In 1924, Henry Spencer was one of the members of the “Ginger Group”, who split with the Progressive Party because they did not support a party structure that tied an MP to the party. They wanted to act only as representatives of their constituents, not the party. The group consisted of 5 United Farmers of Alberta members plus United Farmers of Ontario MP Agnes Macphail. As an MP, Henry Spencer expressed his

concerns on many issues such as immigration laws and fostered the idea that the Bank of Canada should control the economy of the country. He had a great interest in health reform, suggesting that the Federal government should assist provinces by “health units” as grants to the provinces. It was his ideas that would later be formed into policy by Tommy Douglas as the CCF instituted Universal Health Care. In 1934, Herbert Spencer and his wife Catherine had left the homestead in Alberta arriving in Comox to start a small farm at 2026 Comox Avenue. He would eventually have 40 fruit trees, a potato patch, berries and 150 chickens. In 1947 after the death of his wife, he invited his brother Henry and Zella to join him on the small farm. Both brothers would become involved in the community supporting the local agricultural boards, the Fall Fair, the Courtenay and District Historical Society. They became active in the NDP party, were World Federalists and members of the Unitarian church. Both Spencer brothers died at age 90, as did Zella.

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A7 Comox Valley Echo Tuesday, February 18, 2014

Community News

Tom Brailey, left, and Reece Johnston (Photo by Max Powsey)

Highland geographers know their world BOLLYWOOD COMES TO THE VALLEY TO HELP GAYLE Even the tickets for this Bollywood-style fund-raiser are fun

Highland Secondary students once again participated in the Great Canadian Geography Challenge demonstrating their knowledge of the environment. The top ten junior and top ten senior students then competed in a championship round. Despite the questions being very difficult this year, all of these students performed really well. In the junior category, Reece Johnston placed first in a tie-breaker, Alex Jones second, and James Coates third.

Last week, Reece wrote an online province-wide test to determine whether he would continue on to the Nationals. At the senior level, Tom Brailey was first, also in a tie-breaker, Phil Schaffhauser second, and Rory O’Brien and Tristan Zaborniak tied for third. In previous years, Highland students have scored in the top five provincially and top ten nationally. The Highland community eagerly awaits the results of Reece’s provincial competition.

If you are a woman of the Comox Valley, you might have attended Bridesmaid Revisited, or The Lady in Red or Cowgirls Don’t. All were sold out events for women that raised thousands of dollars for local charity. Once again, women are invited to gather together to raise the roof (and money) for one of our own - Gayle Bates. An extravaganza Bollywood Night will take place April 4th at the Filberg Centre to help Gayle through her battle with breast cancer. Tickets are available at both event

sponsors - Secret Drawers Lingerie on 5th Street and Level 10 Eurospa on Cliffe. The $50 ticket includes an authentic Indian meal, live and silent auctions, entertainment, dancing and loads of fun. Even the tickets are amazing! Donated by ABC Print, and painstakingly put together the tickets can be recycled into bookmarks. Everyone is invited to dress in Bollywood fashion and Level 10 is offering a special on temporary hair dyes for those who wish to honour Gayle by turning their hair into her

trademark colors. Ladies, get together with your friends, make up a table of eight, get your outfits ready and be prepared to Bhangra the night away. Oh, one final point. Since Gayle is the Recycling Queen, we will not be purchasing any decorations but rather will invite each table to create their own centerpiece from recycled materials. There will be a prize(s)!! Tickets need to be sold by March 5th to give organizers up front money to confirm catering and venue.

Parents invited to Navigate (NIDES) community information nights Navigate (Powered by NIDES) is inviting parents who want to know more about their blended learning programs to attend one of two Community Information Nights planned for February 19th and March 6th. Both of these informative events will be held in the library at Mark R. Isfeld School from 6:00 - 8:00PM and will be a great opportunity for parents to meet some of the Navigate staff and ask questions about the blended learning programs offered. What are blended learning programs? They are based on 21st Century learning theory and combine independent online learning at home with face-to-face interactive learning experiences with others. With close to 5000 students enrolled in one or more courses or as full time students, Navigate is the 2nd largest school in SD71 and one of the largest distributed learning schools in BC. It is also recognized as an inno-

vative leader in the delivery of blended learning options for students. Since 2010, Navigate has successfully piloted and launched blended learning programs for students from K-12 including: the eCademy of New Technologies, Engineering and Robotics (ENTER) for grades 6-8, the Fine Arts eCademy (FAE) at Tsolum School for grades K-8, and the traditional iClass program for learners in grades K-12. Adding to this list is the proposed ENTER2, which would extend the ENTER program to learners in grades 8-10 this fall. These innovative blended learning programs combine 3 days of hands-on in class learning with 2 days of distributed learning at home and take place in various locations in partnership with other local schools and communities. Students in the ENTER program have in-class learning days at Aspen Park Elementary.

For those in the FAE program the in-class learning takes place at Tsolum School. The iClass program offers interactive learning days at Tsolum, as well as locations in other communities including Nanaimo, Parksville, and Qualicum Beach. The location for the new ENTER 2 program is still to be determined. Both the ENTER and FAE programs take a customized approach to education and deliver the BC curriculum through either visual, performing and music arts or the fields of engineering, science, and robotics. Another unique feature of Navigate is the 8-week learning cycle, each concluding with a Compass Week which provides time to review, give feedback, evaluate, and set new goals. Compass Week activities often include an element of community integration with informative presenters from many different fields of

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expertise. “Not all learners benefit from the traditional class-paced approach to education, nor do all learners excel at self-paced learning. Many parents and students are finding that a blended approach works really well for them and we’re seeing exciting results,” says Navigate Principal Jeff Stewart. “Thinking outside of traditional models allows us to offer families new options that still fully satisfy the Ministry of Education’s BC Education Plan and that are delivered by qualified BC teachers.” Space in the FAE, ENTER, and ENTER2 programs is limited so mark your calendars to attend the information sessions held on February 19 or March 6th. Come out to ask questions and find out if a blended learning program will spark the learners in your family.

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1590 Cliffe Avenue, Courtenay, BC To register call 1-877-664-7842 or visit www.innovationisland.ca/events

workshop outline: • Learn how start-up funding works • Perfect your pitch • Refine your idea • Turn your idea into a product • Find out how to maximize government programs and services • Build a team and leverage advisory Boards • Determine the right company structure • Understand Patents and Trademarks • Discover your entrepreneurial type • Benefit from free technology tools • Hone best practices in marketing and sales

program facilitators: GRAHAM TRUAX

EiR, Innovation Island Graham has over 25 years’ experience working as an entrepreneur and executive with start-ups and SMEs. Graham is a business and technology advisor in the areas of product conceptualization, market research, strategic planning and risk/opportunity assessment. As an ardent information junky and technology advocate, Graham keeps his clients informed, engaged and inspired.

EAN JACKSON

Analytics Marketing Inc. Ean has invested the past 27 years in management, technical and business development roles in the tech industry. Ean is a Managing Director of Analytics Marketing and is accountable for delivering new revenues, new clients and investors to growing businesses. He speaks frequently on business and technology issues, is an angel investor for early stage tech companies and is a volunteer mentor for New Ventures BC.

Contact Innovation Island at info@innovationisland.ca or 250.753.8324 for more information.

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A8 Comox Valley Echo Tuesday, February 18, 2014

Opinions ECHO

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Letters

Comox disregards neighbourhood Try absorbing some 180 additional vehicle trips daily in a quiet neighbourhood. Wallace Avenue in Comox is facing this by way of becoming the driveway for a new 31-townhouse subdivision. When Comox was asked to address concerns about traffic routed through our quiet residential area, the town allowed the developers’ consulting firm McElhanney to provide judgement. An Anderton Road access has been deemed a bad choice. The study’s biased premises are evident, our concerns and request for an alternate access have been mostly disregarded from the outset. All the construction traffic, then townhouse traffic, will further congest the main Gladstone St/Comox Ave intersection. This and other traffic problems have been minimized or ignored in this report. Additionally, the town is gifting the subdivision with a 30-foot wide passive park along Anderton Road using a town-owned services alignment. Provided are extensions of multiple townhouse sidewalks over a taxpayer maintained lawn with shrubs and some trees. Few will want to linger beside the road traffic. Although pedestrian access through the development is a supposed ‘public perk’, walkers on the sidewalk proposed currently end up high up Anderton Road, far away from the bus stop, shopping mall and any safe crosswalk. A work in progress it was explained; I say dangerous. The 30-foot service alignment could be incorporated into an Anderton access for the subdivision. I am opposed to a Wallace driveway for the 335 Anderton subdivision. Here in my neighbourhood, I wish to enjoy my retirement home and garden I have worked on for twenty years. What could be 12 months of road upheaval and construction traffic, then townhouse traffic, will certainly decrease my peaceful enjoyment. Teresa Colby Comox

WHEELS FOR WELLNESS APPRECIATED A letter to The Honourable Don McRae: Re: Wheels for Wellness I want to thank you and your government for funding the Wheels for Wellness on Vancouver Island. The funding allows that group to have many vans, pay for gas and the insurance for the vehicles. The service is then provided by community-spirited volunteers who give door-to-door service to people who need transportation of more than 60 kilometers to a medical appointment. Especially since we live in a rural community this is a very needed service and it is rather nice to be able to say “Thank You” to the government. I also want to commend the Executive Director, Don Buchner, for his superb administration of the service. While working with the SOS (Support Our Seniors) Comox Valley group in the past ten years, I have worked with many seniors who have used this service and who wouldn’t have been able to get to medical appointments without it. I myself have recently needed this service and, thus, know personally how lucky we are to have it. Gwyn Frayne Courtenay

GETTING RID OF THE UNION According to my interpretation of the agreement between the Competition Bureau of Canada and Sobeys acquisition of Canada Safeway stores is that any closures must be sold as a functioning store. So why is the Canada Safeway store in Courtenay being shut down and 120 good paying jobs lost? That is a violation of the agreement for the purchase of Safeways in Canada. My personal reaction is that this is a way to shut down a store with Union employees. It seems ridiculous to me they would keep their small over-crowded Thrifty Foods location in downtown Courtenay open over the larger Safeway store. Now we will have less competition in the grocery business in Courtenay and higher prices will ensue. Well you won’t catch me shopping at any of Sobeys outlets. R.F. Coleman Comox Valley

Letters to the Editor

Singing the parcel tax blues Being a pensioner living on a fixed income, I am appalled, by yet another tax added by our Regional District Representatives. This time it is a parcel tax for acquisition of more parkland, partially consisting of the old railway grade between Royston and Cumberland. Going to the Regional District website I see that there is a lengthy list of target acquisitions totaling over 7 Million Dollars by their figures; also they say that they need 3.3 million dollars over the next 17 years. When do the rural taxpayers get to vote on a grandiose scheme on this scale? At least when they tried forcing the rural garbage plan on us we had a chance to vote on it. What gives these 3 rural represenatives the right to come up with these schemes without approval of the taxpayers? Are they afraid that if taken to a vote, it could be turned down, like their much hated garbage scheme. This is like the ancient Chinese torture of death by a thousand cuts, only in our case we are getting death by a thousand taxes. I also notice that it is only the taxpayers of areas A, B & C that are required to pay the parcel tax. The residents of Cumberland, Courtenay and Comox are not required to pay the Tax. Why is this? You would figure that as Cumberland, by its proximity is a net beneficiary of this corridor trail, why are they not contributing towards it? The parcel tax is $19.00 per parcel, it does not sound like much,but this is NOT a one time tax, this is a tax for at least 17 years. The real irony here, is that one of the gems of the Comox Valley is Stotan Falls. This was offered along with a large acreage for a park at no cost to the regional District by a private developer in return for a developement in that area.

Think of the jobs that would be created by letting this developement go ahead. The regional district put a price tag of 5 million dollars to accquire this property. But no, it did not fit in with the community plan, which also had no vote by the taxpayers! Since the Strathcona Regional district was cut in half a few short years ago, my property taxes have gone up by 50%. I understand that the administration costs in the now Strathcona regional district are much less than those of the Comox Valley Regional District, why is this? In these difficult times, with the way the economy is going, (ie 120 jobs to be lost at the closure of Safeway, hydro to go up 22%, ferry fare increases etc, etc) we need to have local governments concentrate on lessening the financial burdens it places on its taxpayers, not add to their pain. Chris Miles Black Creek

NEED A SKATEBOARD BYLAW A letter to Mayor and Council of Courtenay: I am approaching you about a very serious problem on the streets of Courtenay. On Wednesday, Feb. 12 at 3:00 in the afternoon, I almost ran over a young male on a skateboard. I had just turned onto Puntledge Road, off the Old Island Highway by Lewis Park. I was accelerating when I noticed a young male riding a skateboard in the oncoming lane, but traveling in the same direction I was driving. He was weaving back and forth. I immediately began to slow down. Just as I was almost abreast of him, he lost control of his skateboard and, in trying to correct his direction of travel, he fell in front of my vehicle. I was able to turn to the right and stop, maybe six feet

from him. He got up and he and his two friends were laughing about the close call. I rolled down my window and asked, “What the hell are you doing? I could have hit you!” He replied, “you should be more careful.” I said, “Get off the road. I could have killed you.” He said, “F—- off.” I was shaken by the close call and angered by the youths’ responses. I parked at the Pump House and approached the three youths and asked if they had something to say. They told me (using more colourful language) that I should have been more careful. I told them I was going to call the police. Again, they told me to “f—- off”. AT this point, I lose my temper and returned their insults in kind for a brief period before calling the police. The RCMP took my complaint seriously and spoke to a witness who knew the kids. Later, the RCMP contacted me advising they had contacted the mother of the youth who fell. She, according to the officer who spoke with her, was not surprised, and said she would take his skateboard away AGAIN! Something must be done about skateboards on our streets. How many more of our young people need to be killed? We have already lost two youths on our rural roads. Nobody should have to live with the memory of running over a person on a skateboard. I know that close call will haunt me for a long time to come. My suggestion is that the City of Courtenay should pass a bylaw giving the RCMP the authority to seize any skateboard being used unsafely or inappropriately on our streets. Just, maybe, the neighouring communities will follow suit, and the province, too. R.A. Nichol Area B

SCHEME BACKFIRED ON US ALL Remember how many taxpayers did not want the HST, and listened to all mighty gods of Bill VanderZalm and the BC NDP party. Well here is what they did not tell you, about B.C. Personal Amount and Spousal Amount tax credits, which is part of the non-refundable tax credit form. These tax credits were INCREASED in 2010 with the implementation of the HST, to offset added expense, in other words, to even things out with the new tax. These amounts will be reduced for 2013 because of the re-implementation of the PST. 2013 tax credit adjusted re return of PST has personal amount at $9859 and spousal amount at $8442. If the HST had carried on, these amounts would have been, personal amount at $11524, and spousal amount at $10,113. Because the PST is not re=implemented until April 1, 2013, the full year tax credits will be blended rates to reflect the higher credit amounts for the first 3 months of 2013 in which the HST applied, and the lower credit amount for the 9 months in 2013 in which the PST applied. The resulting blended rates for 2013 are personal amount at $10,276 and spousal rate at $8860. The end result is the HST is gone, but taxpayers must now pay more income tax because of less nonrefundable taxes. The end summary, is that, Bill VanderZalm and the B.C. NDP forgot to mention, “THAT YOU CANNOT HAVE YOUR CAKE AND EAT IT TOO” Joe Sawchuk Duncan

It’s impossible to escape from scents If you stepped from the shower and abruptly felt confused, nauseous and disoriented, would it occur to you that you might be having a scent reaction? If you use scented products, this could happen to you even if you’ve never had a reaction before, because the fragrance industry routinely includes sensitizers in its formulas (http:// safecosmetics.org/article.php?id=222). Sensitizers are chemical agents which, upon repeated exposure, can lead to permanent sensitivities or allergies. Once a person is sensitized, every exposure - even to increasingly smaller amounts - causes an adverse reaction. Reactions may set in more quickly and increase in severity over time (http://www.webmd.com/allergies/features/fragrance-allergies-a-sensory-assault). The fragrance industry’s refusal to disclose the common allergens in its formulas makes it difficult or impossible to figure out what the sensitizer is. Avoidance of all scented products becomes necessary yet complete avoidance is impossible because we are all subject to second-hand fragrance. Of all known allergens, fragrances are ranked among the top five and the most frequently reported ( h t t p : / / s a f e c o s m e t i c s. o rg / a r t i c l e. php?id=644).

Often people are unaware that symptoms from scent reactions can be mental, emotional and/or physical. Mental symptoms may include problems with memory and concentration, dizziness or lightheadedness. Emotional symptoms such as depression, anxiety, irritability or mood swings may also be experienced. An incomplete list of physical symptoms includes headaches, nausea, sore throat, fatigue, insomnia, respiratory difficulties, asthma attacks, pain, dizziness, eye irritation, contact dermatitis or eczema (BC Lung Association: When No Scents Makes Sense; Canadian Centre for Occupational Health and Safety: Scent-Free Policy for the Workplace). The routine use of scented products on the body and in the home is risky. The older we get, the less our bodies can cope with chemical insult, thus increasing the risk of activating that irreversible switch fragrance allergies. Sources: 1. Mail Online: Is your scent making you ill? Today’s obsession with perfuming everything from candles to bin liners could be to blame http://www.dailymail.co.uk/ health/article-2204745/Is-scent-making-illTodays-obsession-perfuming-candles-bin-

liners-blame.html 2. Campaign for Safe Cosmetics: Fragrance http://safecosmetics.org/article. php?id=222 3. Campaign for Safe Cosmetics: Not So Sexy: The Health Risks of Secret Chemicals in Fragrance (Click link in Allergy section “see results” p.9) http://safecosmetics.org/ article.php?id=644 4. WebMD: Fragrance Allergies: A Sensory Assault http://www.webmd.com/ allergies/features/fragrance-allergies-a-sensory-assault 5. Women’s Voices for the Earth: How Hidden Fragrance Allergens Harm Public Health http://www.womensvoices.org/issues/ reports/secret-scents/ 6. Campaign for Safe Cosmetics: The Allergens Hiding in your Scented Products http://safecosmetics.org/article. php?id=1110 7. Positive Health Online: Fragrance: A Growing Health and Environmental Hazard http://www.positivehealth.com/article/ environmental/fragrance-a-growing-healthand-environmental-hazard

Carol Lewis Comox

Sports and Recreation

Comox Valley Echo Tuesday, February 18, 2014 A9

FROM 8 TO 88 Valley Club members show it’s truly a lifelong sport Curling is truly one of those “Lifetime” sports that can be enjoyed by all ages. Pictured here are Grant Compton, 88 years young and Chris Parkinson, 8 years old (actually turned 9 this month). Both curl at the Comox Valley Curling Centre, Grant in the Seniors league on Mondays and Wednesdays and Chris in the Junior Program on Wednesdays and Sundays. Grant is not the oldest curler at the centre, there being a 90-year-old gent curling in the same league. Chris is also not the youngest. The Junior Program has some 6-year- olds curling. At the age of 5 Chris saw curling on TV at the 2010 Vancouver Olympics and was hooked right away. His parents thought he was a bit young then so he didn’t start until age 7 but right from the start he was saying he would be a Brier and Olympic curler some day. His “Manitoba” tuck delivery pictured here is the envy of most of the adult curlers at the club. Grant started curling 60 years ago at the age of 28 in Ontario. One of his best curling memories is of winning the Ohio Mixed Open Bonspiel twice. Grant retired from his work as a chemical engineer in 1985 and moved to Comox where he joined the Comox Valley Curling Club. Unfortunately he had to give up curling a year later due to bad knees. However the advent of stick curling brought Grant and his wife Joan back to curling 27 years later in 2012. Use of the stick for the curling delivery has brought a great number of curlers back to the sport they love. Grant epitomizes the volunteer aspect of curling too. Recently he noticed there were only three hack protectors available when a curler is practicing. The engineer attitude in him of identify a problem and fixing it had him go home and build nine more ensuring there are two for every sheet of ice, one at each end. The Comox Valley Curling Centre is host to the BC Tim Hortons Sernior Curling Championship from February 18-22, 2014. Admission is free so come to the curling centre on Headquarters Road to see the top men’s and women’s teams in BC compete to see who goes on to the National Championships. Anyone wishing information about learning to curl, open practice ice, drop-in curling or joining a curling league can check the curling centre website at www.comoxvalleycurling. com or call 250-334-4712.

North Island Champions, the Isfeld Ice junior girls basketball team

ISFELD JR. GIRLS NI CHAMPIONS Grant Compton, 88 years young and Chris Parkinson, 8 years old, both enjoy curling

The Isfeld Ice junior girls basketball team came together at the right time, winning three straight games to win the North Island championships and advance to the Vancouver Island championships as the North Island number one seed. G.P. Vanier jr. girls grabbed the last berth to the Islands finishing with an impressive 3-1 record, also advancing

Towhees play tough before playoffs The Vanier Towhees Sr. Boys Basketball team had a league rematch on Feb. 11 with Cowichan Thunderbirds from Duncan, at Vanier. The Vanier boys did not want to repeat the poor showing they displayed in late January in Duncan, and on this particular night the boys played the T-Birds very tough. It was a good game, and the number one player they had to stop was grade 11 sensation Josh Charles. The 6 foot 5 inch point guard is a man amongst boys physically, and between Joss Biggins and Foster Dewitt Josh was held to 19 points, and eventually fouled out. With the game tied at 52 the last two minutes were crucial for both teams. Unfortunately, Vanier scored no more points, and Cowichan scored two more baskets. Considering Vanier lost by over 20 the last time they played, the boys felt they now can certainly play with this undefeated team come playoff time. Bryce Olsen had a fine game with 14 points and 9 rebounds. The grade 11 power post also hit 7 of 10 from the field. Joss Biggins led all scorers with 22 points, 11 for 11 from the free throw line and a team high +10 rating. Final score Vanier 52 - Cowichan 57 Feb. 13th was another league rematch for the Towhees,

a game they had to win to get a more favorable position for the upcoming North Island Tournament. Alberni was the foe, and again they brought their scrappiness, tough rebounding, and full court press to try to upset the Towhees in their own gym. The half time score was low, in favor of Alberni 24 to 18. But the second half was a different matter, with Vanier holding the Armada to 21 points, while scoring 41 themselves. The team defense was smothering, rebounding improved, and the Towhees cut down theirturnovers to only 7 in the second half. Joss Biggins led with 22 points and 5 rebounds while Bryce Olsen had 10 points and 9 rebounds. Jakob Jungwirth and Foster Dewitt had solid defensive games while adding 8 and 7 points respectively. Colton Derykce continued his improving ways with 8 assists and great court vision. Final Score Vanier 59 Alberni 45. This week: THE SR. BOYS NORTH ISLANDS, hosted by GP VANIER start Friday night at the Towhee Nest with Cowichan playing Alberni at 5 pm, and then the Towhees playing Dover Bay at 7 pm. Saturday’s games have the losing teams playing at 5 pm while the winning teams play at 7 pm. Come out and support your Towhees.

as the North Island number 3 seed. Isfeld defeated Wellington (Nanaimo), host Kwalikuum in front of a packed and loud gym, then defeated Dover Bay (Nanaimo) in the final decisively 31-16. In the championship game The Isfeld girls played strong defence throughout leading 6-1 after the 1st quarter, and 12-5 at the half. The third quarter proved to be the turning point as Sylvie GranthamStewart broke the lid off the basket as the teams scored three treys and 16 quarter points to lead 27-8 after three quarters. Strong defensive play by Chelsea Lachapelle and Aleah Ashlee highlighted a total team effort on defense with key contributions by Kyla Dewitt, Maggie Snyder-Harris, Maddie Eaton, Delaynee PedersenSkene and Sabine Rankin. A nice basket by Jairynn Kurucz and treys by Sydney Kuhnert, Lachapelle and Ashlea seemed to seal the deal. Both Isfeld and Vanier advance to the Vancouver Island championships at Gulf Islands Secondary school to determine two berths to the Provincial championships. The strong team spirit of both the Vanier and Isfeld girls was evident throughout the season and both schools and the Comox Valley should be proud of the skills, character and sportswomanship displayed by the Ice and Towhees!

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A10 Comox Valley Echo Tuesday, February 18, 2014

Sports and Recreation

Official results in Russia Local Nordics president heading to Sochi to work at Paralympic Games Strathcona Nordics club president Len Apedaile leaves next week for a big event in Sochi, Russia - the 2014 Sochi Paralympics. Apedaile will be there as the Technical Delegate for all Paralympic cross-country ski events, including biathlon. The Technical Delegate supervises the event, the work of the jury, signs off on the official results, and guarantees that the rules are upheld throughout the competition. Apedaile is no stranger to taking on big roles at big events. At the Vancouver 2010 Games, he was the Sport Manager for both Olympic and Paralympic cross-country ski events; he regularly works the IPC World Cup and World Championship circuit and, in December, was the FISappointed Technical Delegate at the Winter Universiade in Italy. Apedaile lives in Black Creek and began his officiating career doing ski club races at Mount Washington and has worked through the five levels of Officials certification. “Once you become a certified Level 3 Race Official, you can take it in two directions,” says Apedaile, “You can become a Chief of Competition who is an organizer at a sanctioned event, and you can become a Technical Delegate who guarantees things are run according to the official rules.” Of the Paralympics, Apedaile finds the games exciting and interesting. He points out that the competitors are elite athletes and racing on courses of the same level of difficulty as the Olympics, despite their physical impairments. In preparation for the Paralympics, Apedaile has been to Sochi five times in the past four years and has been working closely with the orga-

THE DART BOARD COMOX VALLEY PUB LEAGUE MIXED DARTS Feb. 18/2014 POSITION 1 2 3 4 5 6 7 8 9

POINTS 124 102 96 78 65 65 65 50 43

Feb. 11 scores: EM 3-CLBP 6, EF 6-CLA 3, CLBH 2-CLBC 7, CLDA 5-GG Ladies Hi Score: Leslie Lamouroux, Patti Dennis (2), Wendy Wiseman, JoJo Scott 140 Men’s Hi Score: Art Forbes 174 Ladies Hi Checkout: Lona Dennis 100 Men’s Hi Checkout: Shane Dennis 102 180s: Brian Wilcox, Glen Litchfield

COMOX VALLEY MEN’S DART ASSOCIATION LEAGUE Feb. 13/14 Len Apedaile (far right) officiated at a World Cup event in Sochi last year. Apedaile leaves for Sochi next week to take the lead official role at the Paralympics. nizers. He says he is confident in the Russian organizers and their ability to put on an inspiring, exciting

Winner announced for Mini World Cup logo Comox Valley United Soccer Club (CVUSC) is excited to announce the winner of their 2014 Mini World Cup Logo Contest - Kayla Kalhous, a select player with our U13 Girls Team Millenium. Kayla is the lucky recipient of a free Spring soccer registration. In addition Kayla’s logo will be featured on all of the MWC team shirts and all media related material including a web page designed specifically for this year’s event. The Mini World Cup is a youth soccer tournament that is played in a different Vancouver Island community each year. 2014 will mark the third time the Mini World Cup has been hosted in the Comox Valley, as it was previously hosted in 2008 & 2003. The event will attract up to 2000 players, not including their families. Invitations to participate will be forwarded to youth soccer clubs throughout the Upper and Lower Island. CVUSC is the largest organized sports club north of Nanaimo with over 1100 players expected to register for the Spring House league which runs this year from Saturday

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

April 12 through to Saturday June 21. All registrations must be received no later than March 1, 2014 to guarantee your child a spot on a team. For further information on our house league and for information on where you can register please visit our website at www.cvusc.org , call the club office during regular business hours at 250-334-0422 or email cvuscsoccer@gmail.com. For more information on the Mini World Cup event please contact Robin Smart, Chair, MWC at robinjsmart@gmail.com

Paralympic Games and adds, “providing the weather cools down a bit in Sochi!” You can learn more about the

Sochi 2014 Paralympic Games on the website: Sochi2014.com/en/Paralympic

SUE STEUART TOPS IN SINGLES AT COMOX DARTS TOURNAMENT Winners of the Ladies Open darts tournament held on the weekend at the Comox Legion were: Doubles: 1st Sue Steuart and Brenda Durant. 2nd Pattie Dennis and Kellie Watt. 3rd Angie Kienas and Noella Russ. 4th Janet Litchfield and Ann Ward. Singles: 1st Sue Steuart, 2nd Brenda Durant, 3rd Angie Kienas, 4th Patti Dennis High out 59 Patti Dennis High score 154 Patti Dennis In all, 16 ladies participated in a long day of darts.

2nd Kevin Hunt 74 1st Low Net Mike Berger 66, 1st Dave Wacowich 69 c/b Snips Hole #2 Andy Blair, #5 Kevin Hunt, #11 Chris Kalnay, #12 Rob Borland, #14 Terran Berger, #17 Dave Wacowich HCP 10-15 1st Low Gross Lyle Torrie 83, 2nd Ferg Webster 84 1st Low Net Dave Brooker 68, 2nd Jim Loring 71 c/b Snips Hole #1 Rob Egan, # 2 & # 11 Rod Gray, #4 Dave Brooker, #10 Ferg Webster, #16 Al Murray HCP 16+ 1st Low Gross Rudge Wilson 87 c/b, 2nd Gabe Tremblay 89 c/b 1st Low Net Glen Meeres 70, 2nd Peter Leskovich 71 c/b Snips Hole #11 Tim Hautzinger Not as many winners with a small field, maybe we will be lucky next week with some good weather. See Ya. - Submitted by Ron Carter

island health

Community Information Session

The North Island Hospitals Project (NIHP) is hosting a community information session to provide an update on the new $334 million, 153bed Comox Valley hospital slated for completion in late 2017.

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

1 2 3 4 5 6 7 8 9 10

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

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

CARRIERS WANTED No collection required. Great exercise! Call Comox Valley Echo • 250-334-4734 or drop by 407-D 5th Street, Courtenay Comox Rt. 2148

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Bye 4 13 11 20 8 16

High Checkout: Joe McNeil 118 High Score: Bill MacPherson, Jack Ethier 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 1, Ralph Brydon 1

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60.61 59.73 56.49 55.54 54.46 54.44 54.23 54.08 52.78 52.43

GAMES WON THIS WEEK

Date: Tuesday, February 25th, 2014 Location: Stan Hagen Theatre Komoux Hall (K104) North Island College 2300 Ryan Road Courtenay, BC The meeting will start with a presentation, followed by a question-and-answer session related to the procurement, design and construction of the new facility. The NIHP team will be on hand to answer questions and gather input. For more information visit the new NIHP website at: nihp.viha.ca

POINTS 262 231 222 194 188 145 129

TOP 10 AVERAGES

GLACIER GREENS GOLF NEWS Saturday, Feb. 15th the weather was forecasted to have a wind warning with rain, but 43 hardy souls went out to play anyway at Glacier Greens. The day started no rain but light showers fwll after a few holes. Lenny had to dry the card out before he could calculate who won. Remember you MUST use the mats on the tees that have them. Here are the results, wet and soggy: HCP 0-9 1st Low Gross Rob Borland 72,

POS. 1 2 3 4 5 6 7

Comox Valley Echo Tuesday, February 18, 2014 A11

CARRIERS WANTED EARN $$$$$$$$ COMOX Rt. 2108 – McKenzie, Robb, Gull, Rodello, Aitken Rt. 2117 – Balmoral, Juniper, Pritchard, Comox Ave, Donovan Rt. 2118 – Comox Ave, Baybrook, Orchard Park, Mack Laing Rt. 2129 – Sylvan, Parry, Aspen, Idiens Rt. 2144 – Guthrie, Becton, Deerwood, Admiral, Ensign Rt. 2148 – Ridgemount, Moralee, Torrence Substitutes: (Jan/14 to May/14) Rt. 2113 – Buena Vista, Queens, McLeod, Richardson, McCullough CROWN ISLE Rt. 3120 – Monarch, Royal Rt. 3134 – Crown Isle Dr, Birkshire, Sussex VALLEYVIEW Rt. 3122 – Swan, Trumpeter, Sparrow, Valley View Rt. 3123 – Nechako, 5th St., Chemainus, Cowichan, 6th St.

No Collection Required Call COMOX VALLEY ECHO 250−334−4734 or drop by 407−D 5th Street, Courtenay

A12 Comox Valley Echo Tuesday, February 18, 2014

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