FRIDAY FEBRUARY 17, 2012
www.pqbnews.com
Official newspaper of the Save-On-Foods Oceanside Generals
KEEPING THE FAITH
15-SECOND FIGHT
A14
A26
Parksville boxer Brandon Busby wins quickly
Peace campaigners continue their vigil
SPECIAL REPORT
Centre in spotlight
Health centre has great deal of support - and many people consider this only the beginning AUREN RUVINSKY WRITER@PQBNEWS.COM Almost 20 years after the need for a health centre in District 69 was formally recognized, ground was broken in Parksville last month, but there are questions still being asked. A 2001 Central Vancouver Island Health Region report said the need for improved and additional health care services had been recognized as early as 1994, with some references going back to the 1970s. That report, by the precursor to the Vancouver Island Health Authority (VIHA), was supported by Parksville, Qualicum Beach and the Regional District of Nanaimo and has become a touchstone, especially for critics of the current process. In 2005, a follow up report by physician Tom Dorran called for an increase in inpatient beds over the 2001 study. The push became more organized in 2008 from the Oceanside Primary Health Care Task Force, made up of local doctors and politicians and then the formation of the Federation of Oceanside Residents Associations (FORA) to pressure VIHA. In early 2009, VIHA sent out a call for expressions of interest to build and operate a facility, kicking off the current process. It didn’t call for inpatient beds. From that first formal step it took a year for a request for proposals and then another year to choose the contractor.
See FEATURE, page A22
NEIL HORNER PHOTO
CITIZEN OF THE YEAR: Lynette Kershaw accepts her hand-carved Qualicum Beach Citizen of the Year trophy from Quality Foods’ John Briuolo Wednesday night. See page A18 for our coverage of the community awards night. .
Driver arrested in crash
Police suspect alcohol was a factor in a single vehicle crash in Qualicum Beach QUALICUM BEACH — Drinking and driving is being Upon attendance, the police say they found the driver to blamed for a single motor vehicle crash in Qualicum Beach be allegedly intoxicated by alcohol. He noted witnesses to last week. the incident helped the police by making key observations Oceanside RCMP Cpl. Jesse Foreand keeping an eye on the driver after Add your COMMENTS at man said the crash took place at the her crash. www.pqbnews.com intersection of Bay Street and High“Thankfully no other people were way 19A at 4 p.m. on Friday, Feb. 10. harmed in this collision,” Foreman said. Foreman said the driver, a 48-year-old Qualicum Beach The driver was arrested and released to appear in B.C. Prowoman, drove her vehicle off the road and into a ditch after vincial Court in May for the offence of operating a motor — NEWS staff misjudging a turn. vehicle while impaired.
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