Comox Valley Echo - March 21, 2014

By Philip RoundEcho Staff

Federally-licensed medical mari-juana grow-ops could soon be pro-hibited anywhere in the City of Courtenay unless potential applicants can successfully navigate through a full rezoning process to give the pub-lic a say.

On Monday, City Council gave first and second readings to a bylaw amendment that would generally outlaw such a use on any property in

the municipality, including farmland and industrial sites.

However, it accepts that as Health Canada regulations are changing from next month, people with plans for industrial-scale facilities who are legally licensed will have the right to make a specific application for rezon-ing in order to overturn such a local ban - and the council will have to consider it.

But the existing bylaws are being tightened up in advance of any such approach to make it difficult for any

applicant to jump through the hoops.

The City’s director of development services, Peter Crawford, said the scale of facilities sought by licensed operators would likely be significant to make them commercially viable.

“The potential effects of a medical marijuana operation on neighbour-ing properties, and uncertainties related to odour, noise, traffic, light-ing, fire and safety leads to taking a cautious approach to regulating this use,” he explained.

The approach of other local gov-ernments to the issue had been stud-ied, and they ranged from outright prohibition to permitting the use in either agricultural or industrial zones.

For Courtenay, he recommended a general prohibition in all zones that could be overturned for a particular site only after a full public process and the opportunity given to council to impose strict conditions if approval was contemplated.

A public hearing on the proposed

tightening of the bylaw will be held at 5 p.m. on Monday, April 7 at City Hall.

Only if the bylaw passes through all its readings would the issue be “cut and dried,” Crawford added, but by taking immediate steps to amend it triggered the right of City Hall to withhold building permits if an appli-cation did suddenly emerge in an attempt to get under the wire.

[email protected]

City seeks blanket prohibition of medical marijuana grow-ops


People who oppose the regional district borrowing $1.9 million to renovate and upgrade the local curl-ing rink now have a timetable to work to for making their views known.

But enthusiasts for the plan need do nothing to whip up support, because a fresh bid to get the issue on the ballot in a referendum of all Valley voters this November has failed.

Instead, Comox Valley Regional District board confirmed on Tuesday it would use the ‘alternative approv-al process’ to gauge the opinions of the area’s 47,372 electors.

From early May - the exact date will be advertised in local newspa-pers once it is fixed - official forms will be made available by the region-al district both from its office and online, which objectors to the pro-posed borrowing need to sign.

Those forms will have to be returned by Friday, June 13 to be counted, and if 10 per cent or more electors have signed - that would be at least 4,737 petitioners - the board will have to reconsider the plan.

It could either drop the idea or, if it wanted to go ahead, move on to hold a full-blown referendum after all.

Cumberland Coun. Gwyn Spoule made a renewed plea for the bor-rowing to go straight to a referen-dum when she spoke at Tuesday’s board. She noted it could be held to coincide with the civic elections in November to keep costs low.

She stressed she personally sup-ported upgrades at the rink, and urged the Comox Valley Curling Club to continue with its own fund-raising to help the project.

But holding a referendum would be the fairest way of finding out what the wider population thought about borrowing the bulk of the money required, she suggested.

Staff had advised the required repayments would work out at just over $4 per house per year, which would be added to tax bills for 20 years.

(Continued on page 2)

Timetable set for objections to $1.9m curling rink borrowing

Jim Grieve and his partner Carole Goodman have been feed-ing the wintering hummingbirds at their Union Bay home. Lately, they’ve been finding the feeder has been drained every evening, requiring it to be refilled in the morning. “Hummers can’t be that hungry or nocturnal so I decided to set up a

remote bird cam and as you can see, the culprit is a ‘bandit’ Raccoon”, said Grieve. “We hung the feeder high enough to keep cats away from the birds but it looks like racoons are ‘smarter’.

A strange bird


Comox Valley Regional District was poised to give final approval to its 2014 budget last night after two months’ of detailed consideration at committee level.

The vote was scheduled after the Echo’s deadline, but the spending package and tax requisition to help pay for it were expected to go through.

The recommended total budget amounts to $67.1 million, of which just under $13 million is for ‘capital’ items such as work on infrastructure and buildings.

Some of the biggest projects involve the early stages of landfill expansion at Cumberland; advance work on a deep water intake at Comox Lake; progress on the proposed sewer proj-ect to serve Union Bay, Royston and potentially Cumberland; upgrades at the sewage treatment plant on Comox

peninsula; improvements to the Black Creek/Oyster River water supply sys-tem; and the second phase a multi-use trail across Denman Island to link the two ferry landings.

The bulk of the money earmarked in the budget is for operational expenses, including $5.3 million in debt repayments for the year and a $4.3 million transfer to reserves for future project work.

What it means for individual prop-erty taxpayers depends on where

they live in the Comox Valley. The differences between commu-

nities can be put down to what spe-cific services are provided by the CVRD to different areas, and the changes in the budgets for those ser-vices.

For example, sewage treatment and disposal are provided by the CVRD in the municipalities of Courtenay and Comox, but not in Cumberland.


Regional District set to approve $61m budget

Council will consider implications, ramifications and options in Maple Pool By Philip RoundEcho Staff

Courtenay City Council will “carefully consider the implications and ramifica-tions of all possible outcomes” of its legal action against Maple Pool Campground following a BC Supreme Court judgment delivered last week.

Meeting ‘in camera’ - behind closed doors - on Monday night, there were no firm decisions on the future of the case, but the Mayor and four councillors pres-ent agreed to meet again when all seven elected officials are there to discuss the next steps and what options the City now has open to it.

That meeting will be “in the coming weeks” according to a statement issued by the City’s chief administrative officer, David Allen.

In the meantime, he reaffirms the municipality “will continue to work towards finding a satisfactory resolution to this issue.”

As reported in Tuesday’s Echo, Judge Robin Baird has ruled that two residents of Maple Pool can be added as defen-dants to the enforcement action the City is pursuing against campground owner Jin Lin for not being in compliance with zoning bylaws.

The inclusion of the residents broad-ens the issue to one with constitutional implications, as potential violations of Section 7 of the Canadian Charter of Rights and Freedoms are now in play.


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(Continued from page 1)

But, said Sproule, that was not the only increase in spending by the regional district. There were other proj-ects with significant costs that needed to be covered in the coming months and years, and they all added up.

Sports Centres Commission chair Manno Theos, who also sits on the CVRD board, said he had “struggled” with the issue of how people should be consulted.

But he was persuaded the alternative approval process would be faster in a bid to ensure a curling season was not lost, as the upgrade work could be done during the off-season from April-October 2015 if the borrowing went ahead.

Staff say the period between this summer and the awarding of a contract in early 2015 is needed to progress the detailed planning and pursue the procedural steps needed to keep the project moving. Until borrowing approval is confirmed, it is not considered appropriate to spend time and money on those steps.

Courtenay Coun. Jon Ambler said both a referendum and the alternative approval process were enshrined in law, and both were legitimate ways to consult electors.

They were different approaches, but he was “not uncomfortable with the process,” and going with the alternative approval process would result in a quicker decision.

The curling facility at the Exhibition Grounds on Headquarters Road is owned by the regional district but operated by the Comox Valley Curling Club, which origi-nally built the premises more than 50 years ago.

It has been clear for some time that action is needed to either improve or completely replace the ageing facili-ties, with major issues such as the condition of both the floor slab and ice-making equipment causing particular concern.

Technical studies have underlined the problems, and after considering options ranging from minimal repairs to a complete rebuild, the regional district board has homed in on what it sees as the most cost-effective solu-tion to ensure curling continues in the Valley for at least another 30 years.

The curling club itself has collected $100,000 that it could contribute towards the cost of improvements, and points out it saves the regional district a lot of money annually by running the centre at its own expense.

When it came to a vote, the adoption of the alternative approval process and the timetable for responses was agreed 9-1 with only Sproule voting against.

[email protected]


And the regional district provides plan-ning and parks services across most rural areas, but not in the municipalities. In addi-tion, everyone pays a share towards services provided communally for all residents of the Valley, such as transit and the aquatic cen-tre.

This year there are virtually no tax increases required to pay for regional dis-trict services in the three municipalities - for example, in the Village of Cumberland the requisition rate is increasing by just one-tenth of one per cent. That will mean only a few cents of difference for most Cumberland residents.

But for City of Courtenay and Town of Comox property owners, bigger increases will show up specifically because of invest-ment in, and operating costs of, sewage treatment services.

The two municipalities themselves set the sewer utility charges after they have added their own collection costs in, but the region-al district’s overall requisition will require Courtenay property owners to pay roughly an extra $7 for every $100,000 of assessed value and those in Comox about $5 per $100,000.

In the rural areas of the Valley, which receive a wider range of services from the regional district - but not sewage treatment - there are increases everywhere.

They amount to an estimated to $5 per $100,000 assessed value in rural Area C (Puntledge-Black Creek); $4 in rural Area B (Lazo North); $4 in Area A - Baynes Sound only; and an extra $3 for people Area A residents who live on Hornby & Denman Islands.

Regional district costs are, however, only one part of total property tax notice. Others whose requirements get added in include

the school, hospital and library boards and - most significantly - the municipalities of Courtenay, Comox and Cumberland in their respective areas. It won’t be known what the bottom line will be until later in the spring, with the bills going out in May for payment by the beginning of July.

Breaking down its budget into constituent parts, the regional district notes that in 2014 almost half its total spending (48.4 per cent) will go on water, sewer and solid waste ser-vices and 20.4 per cent on recreation and culture (especially the sports and aquatic centres). No other budget service amounts to more than 6 per cent of the total.

As far as income is concerned, taxation is expected to bring in 36 per cent of the total needed, grants and transfers from reserves will cover 31 per cent, revenue from fees and charges will raise another 31 per cent, and debt proceeds round off the total with the last 2 per cent.


And that will mean a longer, more complex and more expensive hearing if it proceeds to trial.

Allen added: “The motivation behind the City of Courtenay’s court action against the Lins has been two-fold: first, to protect the safety of the Maple Pool resi-dents in an area prone to flooding and previous evacua-tions; and second, to protect Courtenay taxpayers from the potential future liability that could occur from not enforcing City bylaws, whether at Maple Pool or else-where.

“As stated previously, since 2011 the City has been open to working with the Lins and their representatives to explore possible solutions to resolve the Maple Pool issue outside of the courts, such as through a rezoning application.

“During this time the City has agreed to suspend the

Regional District set to approve $61m budget

Council will consider implications and options in Maple Pool case

Medical pot bylaw

legal proceedings on three separate occa-sions for several months each time.

“Additionally, in a February 17, 2014 Council motion, Council resolved that, regardless of the results of the court action, the City would ‘seek a court order that pro-vides a reasonable amount of time for the property owner to address non-compliance issues and for any residents who may be impacted to find alternative housing.’

“Housing solutions are the top strategic priority for the remainder of the Council term, and finding a resolution to the Maple Pool issue is second only to the supportive housing project on Braidwood Road.”

Allen also suggested the new court judg-ment to allow the residents to become defen-dants “does not directly affect the main court case - whether or not the City is enti-tled to enforce its zoning bylaw in a flood-plain.”

But as recently as last month, before the latest judgment was handed down, he told the Echo: “The court’s decision will have a greater influence on the court case than it may appear at first glance.

“The proposed new defendants are seek-ing to take the proceeding in a very different direction. The court’s decision will deter-mine whether or not they will be added, as well as whether they will be able to raise new issues that were not previously raised by the Maple Pool property owners.”

They have now been added and so they can raise the new issues based on the Charter’s “right to life, liberty and security of the person, and the right not to be deprived thereof.”

In his reasons for judgment, for the record Judge Baird also set out details of the six orders the City is seeking to have enforced.

Among them are not only orders to per-manently cease using the property as a campground, but also to strip the site of its buildings, structures and even infrastructure like water and power connections.

The residents’ rights are therefore now clearly a key factor in the case as well as those of the campground owner.

So in some quarters there is a growing concern that the City could be heading towards a ‘no win’ situation.

If it proceeds to trial and loses, it would face huge legal bills as well as having its authority over zoning enforcement under-mined.

If it wins, it will be vindicated on its stand as far as the right to enforce bylaws is con-cerned, but will likely face a massive coun-ter claim or claims. They could come not only from the business - there is claimed to be written evidence the City offered reassur-ance before money was borrowed to buy and develop the site - but also potentially homeless residents, too, since they have been added to the proceedings as representa-tives of the wider community at Maple Pool.

And even if the case does not go to trial and an amicable solution is reached between the parties, the City has already incurred legal costs of more than $120,000 that will have to be covered by City taxpayers, and the tensions created in the wider community over the issue could yet come to the boil in this November’s civic elections.

[email protected]

More Scholarships and Bursaries available to NIC students this yearThe North Island College Foundation will

award $265,000 in scholarships and bursa-ries to NIC students this spring, helping many more students achieve their academic and career goals.

The money represents a significant increase over last year and includes 20 new awards totaling more than $25,000.

“The North Island College Foundation scholarship and bursary program is growing consistently year over year,” says Bert

Heeringa, NIC Foundation Board Chair. “This tells us the generous people and busi-nesses in our communities understand the value of investing in North Island College students. From electricians, welders, and accountants to nurses, educational assis-tants, and small business owners, NIC stu-dents are the foundation of our communi-ties.”

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For a full list of awards pick up an awards booklet at the Student Services office at any NIC campus, community employment cen-tre, or high school counseling office. Apply online or download the awards booklet today at www.nic.bc.ca/awards.

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National Victims of Crime Awareness Week — TAKE ACTION

We acknowledge the funding by Justice Canada’s Victims Fund and the support of our project partners:

Comox Valley Transition Society Comox Valley Family Services Association Community Justice Centre RCMP—Comox Valley Detachment

Military Family Resource Centre CFB Comox Volunteer Comox Valley

Dr. Jackson Katz North America’s leading gender violence educator

is coming to the Comox Valley, April 10 & 11

Men's Leadership in Preventing Violence:

A special breakfast presentation for community leaders—sports coaches, firefighters, politicians, ministers, police, teachers, youth leaders etc.—to talk about the important role they play in lead-

ing boys and young men to a healthy understanding of male adult roles.

Friday, April 11 7—8:30 AM Upper Florence Filberg

Tickets ($5.00) available at Laughing Oyster Bookstore, or by calling the

Community Justice Centre, (250) 334-8101 and leaving your name, phone #, and affiliation, for pick up at the door.

Breakfast with the Guys

National Victims of Crime Awareness Week — TAKE ACTION

We acknowledge the funding by Justice Canada’s Victims Fund and the support of our project partners:

Comox Valley Transition Society Comox Valley Family Services Association Community Justice Centre RCMP—Comox Valley Detachment

Military Family Resource Centre CFB Comox Volunteer Comox Valley

Dr. Jackson Katz North America’s leading gender

violence educator is coming to the Comox Valley, April 10 & 11

The Macho Paradox:

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No tickets or reservations required Doors open at 6:30 PM.

Why some men hurt women and how all men can help

NewsComox Valley Echo Friday, March 21, 2014 A3

By Drew A. PennerEcho Staff

Little progress was made on a combined effort to help homeless people in the Comox Valley as local governments killed off an idea to prop up the Comox Valley Housing Task Force with $15,000 in fund-ing.

But the regional district has decid-ed to investigate the details required for a cross-community organization to help the less fortunate residents in the area.

Politics surrounding the task force bubbled to the surface at Cumberland council’s regularly scheduled meet-ing March 10, before elected officials voted against supporting the new funding proposal submitted by its chair Ronna-Rae Leonard.

Only Coun. Roger Kishi voted against a motion to reject the idea, noting the task force is “defunct,” having spent all its money.

“I don’t agree with it myself,” said Coun. Kate Greening of Leonard’s official submission. “Even in this report it shows how many different reports have been done. That’s all that seems to be going on.”

Mayor Leslie Baird, who has expe-rience sitting on the task force, said she had mixed feelings about sup-porting $15,000 in bridge funding until a new non-profit organization to address housing and homeless-ness could be set up, given a previ-ous drive to build a shelter went bust.

“The municipalities and the regional district went together to purchase land for this site,” she said. “The land was purchased and then it was not acceptable to the City of Courtenay. And they have now bought other land to put this place on. To me it is the City of Courtenay who should be leading this. I don’t really know if it’s our place to be putting money into a building that will be situated in Courtenay, and starting another ser-vice all over again.”

Greening said the back-and-forth coming out of Courtenay on how to help the less fortunate doesn’t quite add up.

“I’d rather give $15,000 to Maple Pool Campsite to put up more trail-ers or something there to help sup-port the homeless with a place to live,” she said. “I just find it a little bit odd with Courtenay being so gung-ho to start a homeless shelter but yet they’re still fighting over homeless people living at Maple Pool Campsite. It’s really easy to solve some of the problems if they would just solve some of their own in-house zoning problems.”

Coun. Conner Copeman ques-tioned the spending under the plan as put forward by Leonard, which listed S3,600 for the website mainte-nance, $2,250 for admin fee, and $5,150 for logos, networking costs and funding search money.

“It just seems more administrative than actually helping people,” he said. “It just can’t quite be the best option. We need to push for better options rather than just an option. I’m suggesting spending money in these areas is not what I’m interest-ed in.”

Coun. Roger Kishi, who repre-

sents Cumberland on the task force said the real issue that is a lack of support for the cross-municipality initiative from local governments.

“Yes, there’s been a lot of things that have gone on and maybe there’s not a lot of concrete pieces, but there still is, I believe, a role for local governments,” he said. “Unfortunately, we’re going to find ourselves again where there’s going to be another pause and probably until after the elections in November there will be some other push to deal with the homeless issue and we’re going to have to start all over again.”

Soon after the meeting a Comox Valley Regional District committee shot down the plan, deciding not to make a decision on the future of the task force for 12 months — after municipal elections have taken place.

Director Starr Winchester spoke strongly to urge putting off the deci-sion.

But while she was away March 18, her official alternate on the regional district’s full board just happened to be Ronna-Rae Leonard, who moved an amendment to the committee’s minutes that Staff pre-pare a report on what steps would need to be taken to initiate the rec-ommendation of the housing task force for a successor organization.

Director Jon Ambler supported the idea of a staff report that would not initiate any services right away but would take a hard look at the issues and implications of setting up

an organization meant to address homelessness and affordable housing issues in the Valley.

“There’s been a lot of pious hand wringing,” he said. “It would be informative to find out if the community really does want to do something about homelessness.”

The motion passed 7-3, after several board members expressed interest in seeing possible governance and financial implications set out in report, which could potentially be put to a referendum to gauge support.

—With files from Philip Round/Echo Staff

Homeless strategy runs out of steam

By Michael BrionesEcho Staff

A parent, who wanted to raise concerns about her son’s education, felt bullied at a recent School District 71 board meeting.

Jordan Huber, during the public question and answer period, wanted to know how many teachers one class can have over the course of a year and if there’s a policy that requires a minimum number of days that a teacher must teach in the class.

Huber chose to do this at the meeting because of the lack of response from the school district to her questions despite send-ing numerous emails. She acknowledged superintendent Sherry Elwood did reply and had been advised, “there’s no limit to the number of teachers a class can have over the course of the year, and that there are no minimum requirements for attendance for the assigned teachers to be present to teach a class.”

But Huber said it wasn’t enough. She had more questions that needed answers and wanted the board to address them openly at the meeting.

Huber is concerned about her son’s class, which has endured countless numbers of days with substitute teachers. And because of the lack of consistency, she believes it is hav-ing an impact on her child’s learning. Because her son is only at the elementary school level, Huber said, “it is critical to have a consis-tently assigned teacher to support and create a positive environment for our children to succeed in the education system.”

This was only Huber’s first time to attend a school board meeting. She was emotional in expressing her views, she admitted, because “when it comes to my children and the impor-tance of their education, I tend to be passion-ate, as most parents undoubtedly are.”

However, while she was relating her story, Huber said, she was abruptly cut off by board chair Peter Coleman, who then proceeded to end the meeting.

Assistant superintendent Tom Demeo and director of instruction Allan Douglas told Huber after the meeting that she was pre-vented from speaking further because she inadvertently mentioned the names of the teachers involved, which she said she was not aware of. She felt the school board handled her case poorly.

“It is a sad day when a concerned parent has no right to voice their concerns at a pub-lic school meeting,” she said. “I thought that as the trustees are elected officials that this was a democratic process and there is account-ability to the public. But this does not appear to be the case.”

Huber emailed the school board to ask what its policies are in regards to question period at the meeting. She was also told she could not ask questions that were not on the agenda. Huber then asked why she was not told to simply refrain from mentioning names and allowed to continue.

“I did not feel the treatment I received at this meeting was just or fair,” Huber wrote in her email. “I felt as though I had been bul-lied.”

Coleman defended the board’s action. In his response to Huber’s email, he indicated, “a public meeting is not a proper place to describe issues with named individuals. Once it was clear you had already spoken to the superintendent, who is responsible for per-sonnel matters, there was no point in prolong-ing the public meeting. A private meeting with the director was more appropriate. As chair, it is my responsibility to conduct the meeting and I did so.”

Huber said that Coleman did not hear her concerns. Although Elwood gave her some information, not all her questions were answered. She also had questions that arose from Elwood’s reply to her, which she wanted to ask the board.

This being her first ever board meeting, Huber said she was not aware of the protocols but should have been allowed some slack.

“Surely you could have granted me the kindness of letting me know that I was not able to use names and then let me continue to ask my questions,” said Huber.

The parent also criticized Coleman for not communicating with her sooner when she emailed him several times and did only when she questioned the board’s policy during meetings.

“It is also telling how the only time I receive a response from you Mr. Coleman, is to simply defend your role as chair of the meeting, and not to any of my other emails pertaining to questions regarding the policies I originally was emailing about. No wonder parents are becoming extremely frustrated with the board.”

Parent feels bullied at school board meeting


There’s still no lead on who deliberately placed tainted hotdogs near Edwin Place and Headquarters Road that were meant to poison dogs.

The hotdogs had embedded white pills. According to Comox Valley SPCA manager Leon Davis, they had a couple of pharmacists look at the pills, and said they may be Acetaminophen and Ibuprofen, which can be harmful to dogs.

The SPCA continues to investigate and is being assisted by the RCMP. The files, said Davis, have been passed over to a special forensic con-stable from Vancouver Island.

A woman walking in the area first discovered the tainted hotdogs last week. She brought it to the BC SPCA, which subsequently went to look for more around the area.

Davis said the hotdogs were intentionally placed with the purpose of poisoning dogs. They concluded that after finding a poster that was put up in the area warning about a dog that is alleg-edly disturbing livestock.

So far, no dogs have been reported to have eaten the tainted hotdogs.

“We’ve had no reports from veterinarians and we’re hoping we got everything. But it is a pretty long stretch of road,” said Davis.

There appeared to be another batch of tainted

hotdogs discovered near Casa Loma and Headquarters but Davis said they could confirm it because the person who found them did not want to be questioned.

Meanwhile, Davis said the SPCA is advising people with pets to be more vigilant.

“If anybody walking that stretch see their dog eat something or are acting strange, they should contact their veterinarian,” said Davis. “It’s pretty important to get your dog to the vet quickly because each hotdogs had at least three to four pills.”

Davis said he understands the frustration of people who live on rural properties especially the farmers who have livestock.

“There are dogs that are worrying their live-stock, and this is their bread and butter,” said Davis.

“Sometimes animal control can’t catch them, they get frustrated. But poisoning them is not legal no matter how angry they are. Breaking the law and putting people, pets, other wildlife and possibly children who may pick them up at risk is a big concern.”

Davis is hoping the RCMP will help get the white pills analyzed.

If anyone knows who is responsible for this, they are asked to call the Comox Valley RCMP at 250-338-1321 or if they wish to remain anony-mous they can call Crime Stoppers at 1-800-222-TIPS ( 8477 ) or text - cvcstips to crime.

BC SPCA warns of tainted hotdogs placed on side of road in rural area

Wieners were stuffed full of white pills

A4 Comox Valley Echo Friday, July 2, 2010

News

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Presents Special Guest Angelina Steenstra

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March 22nd Comox Recreation Centre

7:00 pm

As well as other speakers

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Kiyo, the California sea lion that has an entanglement around its neck, has resur-faced again at the Fanny Bay dock.

It’s still uncertain whether he’s got a fish line around his neck or a cable but it is now embedded deeply into his skin.

Wildlife photographer Netonia Chatelaine, who was the first to spot Kiyo’s condition and named him, said in her facebook page, that upon seeing the sea lion, she started to get physically sick just watching him.

“The cable is tighter and deeper,” she said. “He is still sad and very uncomfort-able. It’s extremely easy to see his dis-tress.”

Chatelaine is urging people to call the Department of Fisheries and Oceans to express their concerns and to demand a new rescue effort be launched.

The DFO had been notified of Kiyo’s return. The California sea lion was nowhere

to be found when mammal rescue crews went out looking for him more than a week ago.

Lisa Spaven, the DFO Marine Mammal Response Biologist, told the Echo following the first operation that saved two entangled sea lions - the third and fourth time it has been achieved in B.C. - they’re not ruling out another rescue if Kiyo returns.

But organizing it is not a simple process and it does take time.

Spaven explained that’s because it’s resource intense and involves a myriad of things to consider like the boat, medicine, weather conditions and permits, as well as forming a very specific team for the res-cue.

The rescue effort more than a week ago involved staff at the Vancouver Aquarium led by head veterinarian Dr. Martin Haulena, who is only one of a few veterinarians in the world, and the only one in Canada, who has experience immobilizing sea lions with an anesthetic drug delivered by a

dart. According to the Vancouver Aquarium,

Haulena is out of the country right now.Another expert who was also on the boat

was Ucluelet-based Wendy Szaniszlo, a Vancouver Aquarium research associate and the marine mammal biologist who got the ball rolling on the disentanglement project.

She said, “this is pioneering work, and due to the nature of the rescues, it requires a vet with marine mammal experience to be doing the darting and leading the animal care associated with these disentangle-ments. As the techniques are learned and refined, the goal is to train other veterinar-ians who have marine mammal experience. This in turn will benefit sea lions coast-wide.”

If anyone sees a marine mammal in trouble, they should call the Department of Fisheries and Oceans 1-800-465-4336 or Vancouver Aquarium’s Marine Mammal Rescue Centre 604-258-SEAL (7325).

The installation of new bleachers at the Memorial Outdoor Pool in Courtenay will mean a section of the popular Lewis Park river walkway will require a short detour next week.

On Monday (March 24), starting at 6:00 a.m., City crews will begin dismantling the bleachers on the north side of the pool, adjacent to the walkway, as well as replacing fencing. The walkway is scheduled to reopen the following week, on Tuesday, April 1 at 4:00 p.m.

Joy Chan, the City of Courtenay’s property manage-ment coordinator, said signage will be posted to direct walkway users away from the work zone.

“We’re setting up a detour that will go around the other side of the outdoor pool, next to the wading pool,” advised Chan. “The detour will be accessible to wheelchairs and strollers.”

New aluminum bleachers with a fabric canopy for shade will replace the old bleachers in the coming weeks, prior to the outdoor pool season opening in

New bleachers installation requires walkway detour

Walkway along river will be closed for bleacher work

Kiyo is back in Fanny Bay, but rescue is not happening soon although wire around neck tighter

The sea lion called Kiyo is suffering from a wire or cable entangled around its neck (Michael Briones photo)

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Under its new regulations, the BC Government has set up

an association led by big corporations to take over the local

Blue Box recycling program throughout BC. If you look closely,

you’ll see that of seven board members, six are executives of

Toronto-based multi-national corporations, with the seventh

weighing in from Montreal.

How do you like that, British Columbia?

This means, unlike the current program run locally

by BC municipalities, this new program will be managed not

by people whose first responsibility is our local environment,

but rather, their Bay St. profits.

That can’t be a good thing for BC.

The most perplexing thing is that we currently have a Blue

Box program that works, is efficient, and costs BC homeowners

just $35 a year on average. The new proposed system does not

guarantee to keep our local environment as its first priority,

nor does it guarantee that there won’t be job losses here in BC.

It doesn’t guarantee service levels, or say anything about how

big business will pass along the costs to you when you go to pick

up a pizza or buy groceries.

Yikes!

Perhaps this is why several of BC’s municipalities

refuse to sign onto the new program, calling it

a “scam.” Given that, maybe it’s time you called

Premier Clark to keep BC’s

environmental decisions right

here in BC where they belong.

What’s going on here?

Email Christy Clark at [email protected] or call 250-387-1715. For more info, visit RethinkItBC.ca. #RethinkItBC.

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ECONOMIC ACTION PLAN 2014 works by controlling spending and putting Canada on the road to balanced budgets in 2015.

Balancing the budget protects our economy and keeps it strong. Economic Action Plan 2014* includes proposed investments in things that matter to Canadians like:

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Proposals for a development of apartments and an activity centre for L’Arche Comox Valley will be the subject of a public hearing on April 7 (City Hall, 5 p.m.), City Council agreed on Monday. The project, proposed for a vacant lot at 1465 Grieve Avenue, Courtenay, requires amendments to municipal zoning and the official community plan if it is to go ahead, as well as a successful fundraising campaign that is to be launched next month. The proposed building, which has been designed to look like a residential property in a garden setting, is being

described as “a place of belonging” for adults with development disabilities to serve the north of Vancouver Island. Providing about 8,200 sq.ft. of floor space in total, the project includes residential accommodation for up to nine people in five apart-ments; an activity centre with multiple rooms able to accom-modate up to 50 people in a variety of activities at any one time; and office, kitchen and storage rooms. (Photo rendition of what the completed building could look like courtesy Joe Newell Architect Inc. of Victoria).

Public hearing for L’Arche plan:


Provincial auto insurer ICBC has chipped in $75,000 to help fund ten road and pedestrian improvement projects in the Comox Valley.

It’s part of a wider program of sup-port across the province where upgrades are intended to improve safety - and reduce insurance claims.

The money represents only a rela-tively small contribution to each project, but municipal staff say the grants all helps to keep total costs down.

Seven projects within the City of Courtenay are being supported with contributions. They are: Addition of traffic signal left-turn phasing at Ryan Road/Lerwick ($9,900); extension of the eastbound merge lane on Ryan from Crown Isle Drive ($15,900); a safety and operational review of Ryan Road’s intersections with North Island College and Cowichan Avenue ($2,000); installation of a pedestrian-activated flashing crosswalk on 17th Street south of McPhee Avenue ($5,000); various road improvements and a flashing light crosswalk at the Fifth, Fourth and Menzies intersec-tions ($14,000); installation of unin-terrupted emergency power systems for three sets of traffic signals in Courtenay ($7,500); and upgrading

the pedestrian crosswalk at Lerwick and Malahat to full traffic signals ($11,000).

Three projects are being supported in the Town of Comox: The installa-tion of pedestrian-activated flashing crosswalks at Beaufort Avenue by the Town Hall ($2,000), and at Comox Avenue and Ellis Road ($5,000); and a new marked pedestrian crosswalk at Guthrie Road and Skeena Drive ($3,000).

Welcoming the grants, local MLA Don McRae commented: “The safety of our families and our kids is a pri-ority for people in the Comox Valley.

“Investing in work that improves crosswalks and turning lanes is one of the best ways to help protect resi-dents and visitors to our communi-ty.”

ICBC’s director of road safety, John Dickinson, added: “Safer roads means fewer crashes, which also translates into fewer claim costs.”

He pointed to research that dem-onstrated once projects had been implemented, on average there was a 20 per cent reduction in severe crash-es and a 12 per cent cut in property or vehicle damage.

But however many improvements are implemented, a big part of safety is down to road users. “Drivers need to do their part by making smart driving decisions to prevent crashes,” said Dickinson.

ICBC chips in to help fund road safety projects in the Valley


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When Ross Green got the call from the Minister of Justice that initiated his career as a judge about 10 years ago it only took a couple weeks for Barry Stuart, former Chief Judge of the Territorial Court of Yukon to fire him off an email. But instead of a lecture on the independence of the judiciary or some minor talking points, there was one powerful mes-sage that rang clear.

“The one thing he said to me was, ‘Never stop building bridges,’” Green recalled, during the 2014 Campagnolo Lecture on Restorative Justice March 13 at the Stan Hagen Theatre at North Island College. “I started hearing all these different voices from all these different sides.”

The talk, put on by the Community Justice Centre, touched on the ways in which alternative justice models can be used to augment traditional notions of “justice” and bring about healing in the community.

Green, a noted Saskatchewan jurist and writer explored the changing and broadening roles of restorative justice in the criminal justice system during the lecture, which included a Q&A portion.

“In my view there are no throw-

aways,” he said, after describing an encounter where he disagreed with a criminal defence lawyer from Toronto who said he represented bad people. “There are good people doing bad things and they do need help. And there is a way that can be provided.”

Restorative justice seeks to achieve a balance between a number of differ-ent tensions, taking a therapeutic not retributive approach, balancing the rights of offenders and needs of vic-tims and focusing on rehabilitating the offender as well as protecting the public.

From Green’s perspective some-thing almost magical happens when people talk face-to-face.

“I don’t think it happens on the phone, and I sure don’t think it hap-pens when you’re text each other,” he said. “It happens in the way people build trust when they talk.”

“I think engagement is a very important part in what happens in a restorative process.”

As far as Green is concerned the community restorative justice system gaining steam in the Comox Valley will continue into the foreseeable future.

One attendee asked about the slug-gishness of restorative justice being brought online in Canada.

“I think it’s a very good observa-

tion,” he said. “You’re asking me why the system moves slow.”

There is an increasing sense that people with Fetal Alcohol Spectrum Disorder who commit crimes and young offenders need to be dealt with differently than others, and Green noted restorative justice programs tend to take root quicker in some communities than others.

“It is true, I think, that a lot of the restorative justice initiatives are per-sonality driven,” he said. “Until it is institutionalized it doesn’t have a lasting effect.”

That’s exactly what’s happening in the Comox Valley, where the Community Justice Centre has been discussing a broader role for alterna-tive options for a range of offences with the Crown office.

“It’s going to be difficult to con-vince most citizens that people who commit serious crimes should be dealt with by restorative justice stan-dards rather than the judicial pro-cess,” acknowledged Bruce Curtis, Community Justice Centre chief administrator. “The judicial process however is not necessarily best suited for dealing with these kinds of com-plaints.

“Restorative justice has had a much better impact on repeat offenders than the courts.”

‘Bridge Building’ Judge captivates at Campagnolo Lecture

Judge Ross Green speaks at the 2014 Campagnolo Lecture on Restorative Justice March 13 at the Stan Hagen Theatre at North Island College.


A home is often considered to be a place of safety and sanctuary. But unfortunately it’s not always the case for many women, children and fami-lies in our community.

That’s the message the Comox Valley Transition Society is spreading in the community through its Peace Begins at Home, Purple Ribbon Campaign.

“The goal is to bring the issue of family violence out into the open and bring the community together in a collective commitment to end family violence,” said executive director, Heather Ney, who appeared in a del-egation to Comox council recently.

Home for some, she said, is a place where family members or inti-mate partners use violence and coer-cion to maintain power and control.

In 2010, the Comox Valley RCMP detachment handled nearly 600 domestic violence cases, 123 of which led to criminal charges.

In 2013, after changing the way stats are compiled, there were 929 domestic violence cases - 146 were assaults, 494 domestic conflicts and 289 were other domestic offences including breaches of no contact orders. Out of those cases, 188 led to charges.

“We know that only eight per cent of victims of sexual assault and 30 per cent of victims of marital vio-lence report to police,” said Ney. “So what is reported is actually far less than what is actually occurring in the Comox Valley.”

To mark this year’s purple ribbon campaign, Ney said a long-time wish for the society has come to fruition. The group will finally host Dr. Jackson Katz, North America’s lead-ing gender violence educator. They were able to land him through a part-nership with the Community Justice Centre, and CV Family Services, Volunteer Comox Valley.

Dr Katz, who will be in the Comox Valley on April 10-11, is recognized as one of America’s leading anti-sexist male activists and one of the key architects of the “bystander” approach to gender violence preven-tion. He is also the founder and director of Mentors in Violence Pevention Strategies, an organization that provides gender violence pre-vention training and materials to educational institutions, law enforce-ment agencies, military, community organizations and corporations.

On April 10, Mr Katz will make a public presentation at Mark Isfeld at 7 p.m. titled the Macho Paradox: why some men hurt women and how all men can help.

In the morning of April 11 he will speak at Breakfast with the Guys, Men’s leadership in preventing vio-lence, a special breakfast session for community leaders - police, sports coaches, firefighters, politicians, ministers, teachers and business leaders and talk about the important role each plays in leading boys and young men to a healthy understand-ing of male adult roles.

Both presentations will address the importance of collaboration with women and the vulnerable and the powerful role that bystanders play.

Later on the Friday morning Dr Katz will make a school presentation at Mark Isfeld and in the afternoon Dr Katz will be presenting at CFB Comox .

Ney is encouraging Comox council to attend the presentations and to bring five friends or colleagues to learn about the leadership role they have in addressing family violence and the importance of being more than a bystander.

Purple Ribbon Campaign calls to end family violence


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By her own admission, Jenny Yurkewich was a bit of a tomboy when she was young.

She’s older and wiser now, but is still a standout woman in an industry that remains predomi-nantly male.

Yurkewich is on the staff of 21 Degrees Mechanical Ltd., which has its offices and showroom on Cliffe Avenue in Courtenay.

But much of the time she is down in the crawlspaces and base-ments of local homes checking out their requirements for heating and ventilation systems.

She’s definitely a woman in a man’s world according to employ-ment statistics for Canada - and even more so when North America is taken as a whole.

Fewer than one in 50 people working at the front end of the heating and ventilation industry are female, but when 21 Degrees company owner Graeme Sargent was looking to expand his busi-ness, he quickly saw Yurkewich’s potential.

She had already spent nearly a decade in the heating business, working with gas and wood fire-places, inserts and wood pellet stoves as well as heating systems for hot tubs and swimming pools. Much of her work was on the sales side, but over the years she progressively built up her techni-cal and troubleshooting support skills.

“I saw she had a strong care and service background in residential heating products, fireplaces and hot tubs,” said Sargent.

“In this male-dominated indus-try, some people are not always comfortable talking to a man about their home and finances, and certainly don’t want a hard sell. Having Jenny here gives everyone the choice to have some-one they can trust to give them excellent advice.

“And as far as we know, she’s the only female heating advisor on this part of the Island who gets into a crawl space to gather all the necessary information and mea-surements for the installers to do their job.”

Yurkewich commented: “I don’t really think I’m at any kind of advantage or disadvantage because of my gender - it doesn’t really cross my mind much. I just think I bring something different to the table.

Getting down and dirty in a man’s world

“People seem to respond well to my low-tension approach - I know for sure I would fail miserably on a used car lot.

“My job is to really listen to the home owners and understand their needs and concerns. I think women tend to explain what a system does, what its benefits and drawbacks might be, instead of getting into the detail of how the mechanics work.

“For many people - not just women - that’s what actually matters.

“I like to think of myself as a ‘comfort consultant’ who’s ready to demonstrate the different systems and how they work in the showroom and then get down and dirty in the crawlspace to see what’s pos-sible and practical.”

Crawlspaces come in many shapes and sizes - and their occupants frequently include wildlife. But that doesn’t faze her.

“Critters in crawlspaces tend to run away from humans,” she says. “I’ve only ever abandoned one, when I discovered it was infested with rats.

“It’s all part of the job - if you can’t do it thor-oughly and properly, you shouldn’t be doing it at all.”

* For more information about the company, go to www.21deg.com

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Woman in a man’s world: Jenny Yurkewich carries off a cardboard image representing a male icon of the heating industry - Dave Lennox, the inventor and businessman who established a furnace manufacturing company that is now a global operation. Getting down to business: Jenny Yurkewich at work with 21 Degrees in Courtenay.


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Congratulations on the 100th anniversary of the founding of the St. Joseph’s General Hospital Auxiliary.

In 1913, responding to an invi-tation from J.D. McCormack of Comox Logging & Railway Co., four Sisters of St. Joseph of Toronto travelled west on a mis-sion of love and mercy to estab-lish a hospital to care for the injured loggers in the district. The Sisters opened the doors of the four-bed cottage hospital to the first patient on August 10, 1913.

Within weeks of the opening of the hospital, several local ladies, well known for their community work, met to plan the beginning of the Hospital Auxiliary to sup-port the important work of the Sisters to continue Christ’s mis-sion of healing.

On March 14, 1914 the first recorded meeting of the Auxiliary was held. Headed by Mrs. W. Fletcher, President from 1914 – 1925, their membership, as it reads today, is much like reading a town street directory – the Cliffes, the Piercys, etc.

In their early years during the war, many of the Auxiliary ladies’ functions consisted of hemming sheets, mending linens, rolling bandages and making dressings. The ladies collected produce from local farmers and set to work canning and making jams for use within the hospital and as a means of raising funds to support the hospital. Much of the linen used in the hospital was bought from the proceeds of funds raised through garden fetes, raffles, business men’s suppers, dances and card parties.

The Auxiliary has grown and developed over the years to respond to the needs of the hospi-tal and the community. With the addition of the extended care unit to the hospital, the Candystripers program was established by the Auxiliary in 1969. This program continues to thrive today, with its youth rendering valuable services and treasured companionship to the patients and residents.

The Gift Shop was opened in 1980 and the Thrift Shop in 1987 and, collectively, they raise signif-icant funds for the hospital.

Through the generosity of the Auxiliary, vital equipment and life-saving technologies have been acquired; patent and resi-dent comfort items purchased; and key programs such as music therapy, resident activities and colposcopy services provided.

Giving of their time, members of the Auxiliary provide invalu-able support to the staff, patients,

residents and visitors of both the hospital and The Views, manning the information desk and lending a helping hand wherever needed.

No request has been too big or too small, no project too daunting for this dedicated group of ener-getic men, women and youth vol-unteers from the Comox Valley.

Today, the Auxiliary has approximately 120 active women, men and youth volunteer mem-bers and in 2013 alone, the Auxiliary donated $254,767 to St. Joseph’s.

We are forever thankful to our Auxilians for their spirit of volun-teerism is a remarkable gift to the patients, residents and staff of St. Joseph’s.

- St. Joseph’s General Hospital

Auxiliarydeservespraise formany gifts


Every little bit counts. That might as well be the motto for the St. Joseph General Hospital Auxiliary, which has raised almost $1.8 million since 2002. It has all come a little at a time, but has led to immeasurable ripple effects of a century.

“Of course it has grown and changed over the years,” mused hospital CEO Jane Murphy, fol-lowing the Auxiliary’s 100th Anniversary Tea, March 14 - the day the group first met. “They’re here to meet the needs of the patients and residents.”

Hospital staff and local dignitar-ies showed up to speak at the tea, including the Mayors of Comox, Courtenay and Cumberland.

In 2013 alone the auxiliary gave $254,000 to the hospital. They

HOSPITAL AUXILIARY CELEBRATES 100 YEARS OF SERVICE

help provide equipment, comfort items and ease the transition between departments for patients. A service that received quite a bit of airtime during speeches and on the lips of members at the tea was the popular music therapy program that has received support to the tune of $40,000 from the hospital.

Singing old time songs or hymns can be a great comfort to people who have dementia living in the Views, explained Brian Ducedre, chaplain pastoral care.

“We are so fortunate to have the hospital auxiliary,” he said in a speech.

Auxiliary president Patt Cutt said the group currently has 120 mem-bers.

“It’s humbling when you think back to how things would have been 100 years ago,” she said. “The organization itself has been able to keep itself going.”

Courtenay Mayor Larry Jangula said the volunteers have made a big difference to the community at large.

“I think it’s amazing how they’ve done so much to interact with fami-lies and patients,” he said.

Three of the many ‘Pats’ involved in the Auxiliary.

Hospital CEO Jane Murphy presents Pat Cutt, president of the St. Joseph’s Hospital Auxiliary with a bouquet.

Tracy Canil and Chris Kind provide music to go along with the tea festivities.


POLICE BLOTTERIf you know anything about one

of these crimes or any other crime you can call the Comox Valley RCMP at 250-338-1321 or if you wish to remain anonymous you can call Crimestoppers at 1-800-222TIPS(8477) or text to - cvcstips to crime.

Statistics for the period March

10-17, 2014 Assaults 9 Thefts (All excluding Theft of

Vehicles) 16 B&E (All types) 6 Cause a Disturbance 5 Impaired Driving Related 3 Total Files For Period 273

The Comox Valley RCMP responded to the following inci-dents between March 11 and 17:

On March 11th the Comox Valley RCMP received a report of a break, enter and theft from a residence on the 100 block of Webb Road in Courtenay. The homeowner reports that someone entered the shop via an unlocked door and stole 12 beer and assort-ed electronic devices. This investi-gation is continuing. (2014 - 2800)

Police received a report of a theft, on March 12th, from a con-tractor’s storage trailer while parked in the Stoneridge Cres. area of Courtenay. Thieves broke the locks off the door and then once inside stole $3000.00 in tools. (2014 - 2833)

On the morning of March 12th police received a report of a stolen motorcycle from a trailer on a property on the 8700 block of Paulsen Road in Black Creek. The owner believes the bike, a red Honda 70 mini trail bike, was taken sometime in the last month. (2014 - 2836)

Some time overnight on March 13th unknown culprits smashed the side window and removed the side mirror off of a car parked on the street on the 2700 block of Allen Avenue in Cumberland. (2014 - 2875)

Police have taken several reports in the past month of people walk-ing on streets, in Cumberland and Courtenay, and attempting to open car doors. Some reports are that they are also trying residence doors to see if they are open. The public are reminded to lock your doors. It’s not like it was in the past where you could trust every-one. Unfortunately there are peo-ple in our communities that live off the proceeds of crime.

The City of Courtenay is report-ing that spray painting vandalism continues to be a problem with numerous reports weekly.

On March 15th police respond-ed to an alarm at a business on the 900 block of Comox Road in Courtenay. Culprits smashed a front door window and then entered the business, where they ripped the alarm box off the wall. Nothing is reported stolen in this break-in. (2014 - 2975)

Police were called to a report of a theft from a motor vehicle on March 16th. The owner reports parking the vehicle on the street in front of a house on the 2000 block of Fitzgerald Avenue in Courtenay and when he returned in the morning he found someone smashed his side window and had taken his portable GPS unit. (2014 - 3006)

The Comox Valley RCMP attend-ed to a report of a possible undet-onated explosive device on March 16th at the BC Hydo pole yard at 330 Lewick Road in Courtenay. The RCMP Explosives Disposal Unit was called and attended from Vancouver and the suspected device was destroyed. (2014 - 3013)

On March 14th police respond-ed to a call of three masked men, carrying weapons, smashing their way into a residence on the 700 block of 9th street in Courtenay. Minor injuries were reported. This investigation is continuing. (2014 - 2915)

Police took a report of a stolen motorcycle, on March 16th, from a shed at a property on the 2700 block of Maryport Avenue in Cumberland. The motorcycle is described as a 2004 Yamaha WR450F CC which is blue in color. (2014 - 3023)

On March 17th police received another report of a stolen motor-cycle and chainsaw from an unlocked shed at a property on the 6400 block of Fitzgerald Road in Merville. The motor cycle is a 2005 Yamaha PW80 and the chainsaw is a 359 Huskuavarna. (2014 - 3039)

Raymundo De JesusFRANCIA-VEGA

DOB: 1933-02-14189 cms, 73 kgs, Blue eyes, Gray hairWarrant: Uttering threatsComox Valley file # 2012 - 3145

Lance HarlanBOND

DOB: 1983-07-26170 cms, 60 kgs, Brown eyes, Brown hairWarrants: Failure to comply with probation X2Comox Valley file # 2014 - 2693

If you have any information about the whereabouts of either of these two people, call the Comox Valley RCMP Detachment at 338-1321, or Comox Valley Crimestoppers at 1-800-222-TIPS (1-800-222-8477). You don’t have to give your name and you could be eligible for a cash reward.

WANTED

www.comoxvalleycrimestoppers.bc.ca

OpinionsECHO

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‘Classism’ a reason for Maple Pool saga


I am so tired of reading about all of the resources put into trying to get rid of the campground, and those folks who live there, at Maple Pool.

It never ceases to amaze me how imper-vious those who have, can be to the plight of those who have less.

This valley is in desperate need of affordable housing.

In the continued absence of government intervention it is time to stop putting up legal and financial road blocks to the Lin’s private initiative to provide housing and support to some of the more unfortunate folks who call the valley home. People need homes NOW!

Having worked in a business at Puntledge park that was frequently sub-ject to flooding, I can find no good reason for City staff to focus on removing the Lin’s livelihood and the homes of their residents.

Why not remove all of the businesses and homes on the flood plain? If the money spent on court cases had been spent on finding solutions, (to create berms, to rezone the property, and to con-

sult with Hydro so that they never again open the flood gates during an extreme high tide...), this issue could leave the front pages.

The only possible reason for this contin-ued harassment that I can see is classism.

I hope some day soon city staff and our elected officials wake up to the fact that we are all in this together, and if it wasn’t for accidents of birth, opportunity and abuse, that they too could find themselves in a similar situation.

The measure of a society is how it treats the less fortunate. Courtenay City Staff and Council are not doing a very good job of measuring up!

Alice GrangeCourtenay

Dear Minister Mary Polak,In your role as Minister of the

Environment, I wondered what kind of disorder would allow you to propose Bill 4, an amendment to the parks act designed to facilitate industrial development of our

parks? Then I realized, you must be suf-fering from Nature Deficit Disorder. Only a Minister of the Environment who is with-out experience or understanding of nature could propose that we drill, mine, pave and otherwise exploit our world famous parks. Parks which are the engine for tour-ism; part of the psyche of BC’ers; arks for the preservation of species and gene pools; providers of environmental services such as clean air, clean water and even the weather we enjoy; parks which offer a glimpse of creation.

It is time for you to leave your office in the city, to travel, as Teddy Roosevelt did with John Muir, into the backcountry and experience for yourself the marvels of nature and give thanks that so many peo-ple fought so hard for so long to save our parks.

Please withdraw Bill 4 now. (and may this open letter inspire others to contact you with the same message, at your phone 250 387 1187, or email [email protected]

A J Vaughan Black Creek

Letters

While reading and listening to various media, it was interesting to note the teachers’ strike vote, the provincial budget, various opinions on the teachers’ bargaining, and the lack of money for education. Then there were the articles on a provincial entity named PAVCO, B.C. Pavilion Corporation. What do they do? They operate B.C. Place and the Vancouver Convention Centre.

While school boards are left scrambling for funds to heat schools; while teachers struggle with up to 4 disabled children in their classrooms, with no aides; and school boards unable to run a deficit, there was a different set of rules for PAVCO. From 2009 to 2013 PAVCO ran a deficit of $234,178,000. This comes from PAVCO’s audited financial statements.

So while schools boards, who provide one of the most valuable services to citizens and their families, aren’t allowed to run a deficit, buildings used for entertainment are. It should be noted the provincial government does come to the rescue of PAVCO and does give them money to reduce the deficit. School boards, not so much. School boards have to deal with the carbon taxes, wage hikes for non-teaching staff, increases in hydro, all within their set budget, no excuses or you are removed from office and replaced by a provincial government official, who will bring the budget “into line”.

While we have various citizens and politicians commenting on how much or little teachers are paid and teachers’ unwillingness to forgo wage increases we have the PAVCO executives. During the 5 years PAVCO ran up their deficits, their 5 highest paid executives were actually rewarded. Yes, rewarded. Collectively they were rewarded $6,416,446 in “bonuses and other non salary” benefits. Yes, that is over and above their salaries, which aren’t small either.

For added flavour, these managers have managed to make B.C. Place and The Vancouver Convention Centre the “western world’s least cost effective pub-lic sports arena and the most expensive convention space in North America”.

Before Minister of Education. Fassbender, goes off making comments about teachers and school boards, he might be advised to go down the hall and speak with the minister responsible for PAVCO and see if he can get that $6 Million and change in bonus money transferred to the school boards.

Mr. Fassbender might also want to discuss with his cabinet colleges why PAVCO gets to run such a huge deficit (over $234 hundred million dollars) and school boards aren’t permitted to run ANY deficit, even if heating bills go through the roof.

In my opinion education, medical services, police, and fire fighters, are four of the most important services a government provides to its citizens. We ought to at least give school boards and teachers the same playing field PAVCO gets.

Better yet, require PAVCO to not run a deficit and use the money the provincial government gives them, and transfer it to the education system. In the end children and their education are more important than sports teams and conventions.

E. A. FosterComox

Nasty names are due those whose promises of succour are without hope of being kept. And who know it. Especially, when uttered solely for political gain. As has been the case of the Crimean versus Ukraine situation.

Such a pseudologer - truth stretcher, Huckleberry Finn would say - is prime minister Harper. Little wonder Disraeli called a Conservative government for an organised hypocracy. Or that our own Bourasa declared democracy for a farce and a lie. Voters must be wooed by whatever means handy, including blarney.

This is not about pedestrian bridges, aquacultures, or the homeless. It is about a non-existing-foreign-policy Foreign Policy, conducted with an eye on the ca. one million Canadians of Ukrainian descent. Harper, at full voice, stern demeanour, expensive tie, while promising the weight of Canada’s diplomatic might upon the dastardly Russians, have vowed ret-ribution, sanctions, even his very own, personal disapproval.

Of course, no one likes to see the armed might of Russia descend upon the Crimean. Intimidating, at the very least. But arguably not entirely unmerited given the eventual 97% vote by the Crimeans in favour of joining Russia. A map reveals that the Crimea adjoins Russia, not Canada, nor the USA. History tells us that when (a likely plastered) Kruschev transferred the Crimea to the Ukraine, its population stayed as did its Army bases and a great Fleet. Somewhat akin to Alaska being handed to Russia without change in that state’s status quo. With what the Germans call ‘realpolitik’ in mind, absolutely nothing the West could, or can, do. As for Ukraine itself, this region is historically at the very core of Rusland, Rus being the name bestoved upon it by the Varangian Vikings out of Sweden.

Where was Harper when armed Americans landed in Panama, on Granada, in Iraq and elsewhere, or sent in heavily armed Marines to protect American citizens?

A USA government allowed a plebiscite in Kosovo. USA’s lack of even-handedness has alienated practi-vally the entire Moslem world. And now they call the kettle black?

The guarantees given Ukraine, with gallant Harper impeccably hairdo’ed and loud, seems much like those extended to Poland in 1939. That too, led to an upset Soviet government, who saw it as a Western unwillingness to treat them as a serious partner.

The result was the August pact with the Germans, leading to WWII in September. Today’s politics rep-licate those of 1939, if on economic rather than political grounds.

Notice, oh Canadians of Ukrainian descent, the repercussions - some Russian and Crimean officials will temporarily be unable to vacate in Florida!

Now, just what had you expected?Finn Schultz-Lorentzen

Courtenay

Kids worth morethan sports arena

PLEASE ENLIGHTEN ME as to why seniors are complaining about their “fixed incomes”? As a senior myself, I am delight-ed with the fixed income I receive from our government (CPP & OAP). It’s ample enough to provide food, utilities and gas for me and my wife. Will it pay rent or a mortgage, no, but whose fault is that? We don’t even get the full amount most do as we didn’t receive the income they did. By the way, no com-plaints. I believe there are millions if not billions in our world today that would love to be on a senior’s fixed income and medical such as what we have here in Canada. No, we have not worked for the government in the civil service or in any union with all the benefits and a pension plan throughout our working years. What we did do is we lived within our means which means no money = no buying or borrowing, nice and simple. Why are seniors today still paying rent or mortgages? Have you listened too often to those ads that state “don’t let the equity in your homes tie you down”? We’ve come through the best years money-wise this country has ever seen or probably will ever see again! Just put yourself in the position of our young people today as they are look-ing at $300,000 plus mortgages! We were encouraged back in the 1960’s and forward to put a little aside for retirement but it looks like you took the borrowing life style and holidays instead. And now you want the rest of us who planned ahead to “fix” your decisions! I do recognize there are exceptions and I’m all in for helping those who are truly in need but sorry, I’m not in for helping those complaining about their fixed income not keeping up with inflation and their life style. To you young people out there, get out of debt ASAP and then stay out. Life will then be much more content and enjoyable.

98.9 JET FM and Comox Fireplace and Patio deserve a lifetime of beautiful bou-quets and blessings. Our family was able to rest easier this winter due to a Christmas wish come true. These two pillars of the community teamed up and cleaned our chimney during a time of financial crisis. We haven’t had a worry about our chimney catching fire since. Though belated, our gratitude is deeply heart-felt. This is not the first time Comox Fireplace and Patio has come through for us in our hour of need. If ever in need of a committed company, Comox Fireplace and Patio deserves your business. Thank you once again for all of your care.

BEEF to the person who believes only homosexuals have an agenda. My question is don’t we all have agendas? Not just the homosexuals and why is their agenda offen-sive to you? Women got the vote, they had an agenda, which is great for me, now I can vote. The world is round, someone had to prove that too, they had an agenda, to pro-mote the truth. People are who they are. People, all people, have rights and the right to stand up and be seen, not hurt. Homosexuals have the right to promote their rights and agendas the same as you. Let homosexual people fly their flag! You ring your church bells don’t you, just don’t call some things abominations and other things your rights and freedoms. P.S. there is always a Christmas tree up somewhere is there not? Even at city hall. I’ve even seen public officials sworn in on bibles even though we are not all believers.

TONS OF JUICY beefy bouquets to

Andrew who works at Wendy’s. What a fabulous fellow to have take your order: cheery, friendly, upbeat, he’s all that. Keep up the good work young man!

BOUQUET to the writer re: shoddy work ethics. Sounds like we both got stuck with the same loser. I suffered through a bath-room reno that involved removing the tub and installing a walk-in shower. This was necessary because of mobility issues. The job began in February, and by August this guy was still F——— around! I lost many hours waiting for this bozo to show up when he promised he would, but didn’t. I can’t get those hours back. He stole them from me. My time is valuable too. I wonder if he thinks his presence is so dazzling that the homeowner will overlook his shabby attitude. Needless to say, I will not recom-mend him to anyone!

THANK YOU Kenny the bus driver on the Uplands run on March 13th at 4:10 pm for listening and being encouraging and for generally just being you, you truly are the best, and you know who you are, thank you Kenny.

MANY SPROUTING Spring flowers to Barb Hanson and The Black Fin Pub for sup-porting KidSport Comox Valley. Your dona-tion helped us raise funds so that more Comox Valley kids can get involved in sport. You are appreciated!

BOUQUETS to Cumberland Council for

their user pay approach to water consump-tion. Every Community with limited water supplies, have user pay systems, but Cumberland considers their constituents ability to pay. Big spending administrations in the other Comox Valley jurisdictions take a big cut out of Comox Lake water revenue and criticize Cumberland for their consider-ate, democratic service to their constituents. Those other jurisdiction’s huge reserve funds come in part, from those who can least afford them.

BEEF to Hydro. Yhey changed out my

meter today to their smart meter. They left a door card saying thank you for confirming YOUR choice of a smart meter—-when they really meant thank you for allowing us to force you into changing out to the smart meter. Why tell lies to the public?

A HUGE BEEF to your editorial staff. By your own admission this forum is meant to be a light hearted one. You even state that if a beef has gone “too far”, it may not get printed. In light of the two slurs you printed on Friday, one truly wonders if in fact any-one can really go too far. Perhaps it is the ugly and ignorant letters that sell the most papers for you. If that’s the case? ....shame on you. At the same time I offer a huge bou-quet to your editorial staff. History has shown that a persecuted church is a strong church. So thanks for the opportunity to “soldier up”. Your paper has been the vehi-cle for these anonymous verbal attacks far too many times for this to be discounted. This is a management decision. It seems you have declared open season on the RCs. Lucky for you the faith you allowed to be slammed was not Judaism. Our Jewish brothers and sisters would not tolerate such defamation.

A BEEF to the person(s) responsible for leaving the wieners with pills inside along Headquarters Road, allegedly to poison a bothersome dog in the neighbourhood. How stupid, cruel and irresponsible of you? Why did it not occur to you to call the SPCA or Animal Control? I lost my beloved dog after she ate something laced with rat poison (which was located in a public place) a couple years ago. It is a devastating, sense-less loss. I hope you are identified and pros-ecuted for your careless actions.

AT LEAST with the “Birdman” working at the landfill, Comox Valley ratepayers are getting some “bang for the buck”.

More Beefs and Bouquets

NATURE DEFICIT DISORDER?

HARPER AND UKRAINE

Beefs&Bouquets

Beefs&Bouquets

Beefs&Bouquets

The Comox Valley’s First and Best Readers’ Forum

This week’s winner, drawn at random from submissions received up to Tuesday, is:

Winners, you may pick up your prize certificates at the front desk of the Echo, 407-D Fifth Street, during regular business hours.

Thanks to everyone for the great submissions- keep ‘em coming!

This week’swinner Our weekly feature, Beefs and Bouquets,

is intended to be a light-hearted forum for you, our readers, to express brief views on issues and events in your lives.

It’s not intended to hurt people or make unsubstantiated and libelous comments.

Names won’t be published with the beefs and bouquets; however, we do need your full name, mailing address and tele-phone number for verification purposes.

Each week someone will win a 2 Classic Cheese Basket Meals from Dairy Queen. Have fun with this!

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Anne Wichmann of Cumberland, 2 Classic Cheese Basket Meals from Dairy Queen.

THIS IS A BOUQUET to two of the most giving people I know. They are always giving of themselves and never expect anything in return. They are always there for others whenever called upon and are always volun-teering their time and talents when needed. The concept of paying it for-ward is just the way they live their lives. I am very fortunate to be their daughter and I benefit form their giv-ing nature a lot! I am extremely proud of them and only hope that I can continue in their lifestyle. I love you mom and dad (Ann and Jim)!

CONGRATULATIONS to writer and director Betty Annand and cast, along with musicians, for their won-derful performances of Fish ‘n Chips ‘n Hominy Grits at the Florence Filberg Centre on March 12. The senior actors/actresses of the Evergreen Club (Second Stage Players) and musicians Glen Hiebert, Bruce Oliver, Bob Casavant, Art McMartin, Bruce Martin, Dan Ellis and Dora Moen. Thanks also to stage support staff and the 550 people who attended the afternoon and evening shows. A great show! “I should say so!”

THERE IS A SHOP on Kilpatrick that I want to applaud. I went all over town looking for a certain size nut and bolt. Finally I was sent to Strathcon Industries on Kilpatrick. I arrived shortly after closing time. To my surprise there was still someone in the store. They let me in and not only did they find exactly what I needed, but they took the time to install it for me. When it came time to pay a measly $2.00, I didn’t have the cash. Because they had closed, I couldn’t use my debit card. I emptied my change on the counter and they accepted my $1.55. I have thought about it all night and decided a quick note would probably be more appre-ciated than the money I owe or a dozen donuts. Thank you guys soooo much.

LARGE BOUQUET to the gentle-man in the red truck who pointed out something wrong with my van, at the light at the top of Mission Hill, March 17. Turned out a coolant hose had split and there was hardly any cool-ant left in the system. Thanks to him, the repair bill was small instead of huge.

OH GREAT. Now the gay-bashers and religion-bashers are duking it out in this light-hearted forum that’s not intended to hurt people. Any day now I expect to see mobs of angry seniors storming through the streets on their electric scooters, brandishing torches and pitchforks, hunting down miscreants who fail to change lanes properly.

HI. On Saturday, March 15th I was scratched by a stray cat. I woke up Sunday morning with a poison line from my thumb to up under my arm-pit. I went to the walk-in clinic. I had blood poisoning from the cat scratch. They told me at that Clinic (the Doctor did) I have to go to the

Hospital immediately. But they would not phone an ambulance because the doctor that was on said they would not come for that. Right after she Said that if I don’t go I’ll probably be dead Monday morning. First the Doctor said it is very serious and you need to go to Hospital. But at the same time she says they won’t come for that. Describe serious. I’m very upset about this and will be talking to a lawyer. What is wrong with OUR health care. I had to take the bus on a Sunday to get to hospital?

THANK YOU Amanda at Dominos Pizza for the amazingly great service and awesome Pizza! You go above and beyond for your late night cus-tomers. All the Best to you and many Bouquets of Roses to you Amanda ....<3

CONGRATULATIONS to the Mark Isfeld Senior Boys Basketball Team for your 4th place finish at the Triple A Provincial Finals in Langley. You played with so much heart and skill. You rallied when the going got tough but you kept in there always. We are all so very proud of each and every-one of you. Have a great spring break!!

A LIFETIME of 3-pointers for Tom Elwood, coach for Mark Isfeld Senior Boys Basketball. Your dedication and training to these young men has been outstanding. You are a man of few words but your unwavering support and your own long hours working with the boys to show what hard work can achieve, has not gone unnoticed. You have taught them much more than how to play basket-ball. I am not a parent but an appre-ciative onlooker, but I thank you for all your efforts and commitment.

SLOW COOKING BEEF to the city for this madness. The RD wanted to purchase property to help the home-less situation, remember? Judges, citizens and most of all the people affected have tried to talk reason with you. And still you spend and spend and spend our money in court. It’s a loss, even if you win in court because people will not let this happen. Give up.

BOUQUETS from cheerful chil-dren, to the Beefs & Bouquets com-mentators, about the placement of trampolines in yards. Thanks for the tip in how to prevent new people like you moving into joyful family neigh-bourhoods - put the trampoline up to create a setback from you. Or was I being punked when I read your com-ment that one shouldn’t have to see children jumping on their trampo-lines in their own yard? You can’t be serious!

BEEF AND SHAME to the money grabbing Doctors out there who insist you can only talk to them about one issue - and then you have to make another appointment to discuss any other issues that might be affecting you! It’s hard enough to get time off work as it is, and now you can’t spend 5 minutes listening to what might be wrong with your patients?

Then a bigger COLOSSAL BEEF to extorting even more money from the system by insisting on seeing me before a surgical procedure to write another report for the Hospital, when you’ve been advised by the hospital that it’s not necessary at all! You’ve now become part of the money grab-bing make-what-we-can-get-from-the-system problem that is blighting society - shame on you, absolute shame on you. I’m sure your oaths said nothing about bleeding the sys-tem dry.

TO THE PEOPLE out looking at properties for sale. You probably needn’t be too concerned about kids making excessive noise while frolick-ing on their Trampolines. By the time the weather gets pleasant enough for you to head out to your Patio to try relaxing, the Cadet Tow Planes will be out. Grinding up the atmosphere over your home, every two minutes or so, from dawn to dusk. I doubt you will even be able hear those happy children at play.

HELLO Steven Watson and BC Hydro! Climate change is here. Bouquets for cutting back on Hydro water use, but it should be no sur-prise that Comox Lake level is below normal - rainfall and snowfall are well below normal, but expected. Check out the CVRD website and consultants reports. Adapt your Hydro Plan to the new reality. Sometime, maybe soon, there will be more water than anyone can handle -hopefully BC Hydro will be pre-pared. This is also predicted in the CVRD consultants reports.

TO THE YOUNG MOTHER of the little boy my friend and I witnessed, first running rampant in a thrift store, then he spent the next 45 minutes screaming bloody murder in a change room by himself while you changed in the one beside him. I think he was maybe two. I didn’t go near the change room for the screaming was unbearable. Then he finally stopped and I used the change room. One of the staff even offered to watch him as you clearly were not! I was forgiving and remembered when I had little ones and how difficult it could be to get your errands done. Then my friend and I went for a long lunch and then continued our shopping in another store (probably an hour later) and we heard that scream again! No, it couldn’t be? Yes, there you were with your screaming, prob-ably hungry, tired two-year-old shop-ping still. You obviously need to learn the difference between a tem-per tantrum and a child who needs food, water, or sleep. You’re just lucky I didn’t cross your path as my friend and I had had enough of your poor, borderline-neglectful parenting skills. I hope that you read this and realize that your kid was in turmoil and your behaviour was not in the best interests of your child because you were too busy “picking out a top for mommy”.

BOUQUETS to Comox Valley poli-ticians - doing their best in a com-plex, expensive system of multiple

A BIG BOUQUET to three young adults who were cleaning up trash and debris on Lake Trail Road out of the goodness of their hearts this past week. Liam, Steve and the lovely young lady with them - you rock!

MANY HAPPY FLIGHTS to WestJet employees. May they continue their excellent service to the Comox Valley. On a recent flight, we left one of our passports onboard. We weren’t aware of this until we had checked into our hotel. A phone call to WestJet, and we were assisted by a very efficient and polite customer service rep. She quick-ly contacted the crew that were on their way to another destination. The passport was returned on the next flight and we were able to connect to our next flight without any interrup-tion.

local governments. It could be worse - we could have the Ford Brothers, Rob and Doug, and the “WWF “approach. So it’s really that bad in municipal politics. Go Olivia go. Toronto Electors, dump the Ford Nation! An insult to First Nations, and most Canadians.

BOUQUET to the Comox Valley Recreation Commission who approved to move forward with the AAP for the Comox Valley Curling Centre. Canada is known world-wide for curling and their recent showings; 2x gold at the Sochi Olympics and 1xgold from the World Juniors Championships; and possibly more to come from the men’s and ladies worlds are indicators that curling Must continue in the valley. Curling is not an elitist sport; the local center has over 450 regular members and plays host to and invites several hundreds more from school students, business persons, military and many others to visit and utilize the centre. As well the recent hosting of the BC Senior Provincials combined with the other competitions held at the centre creates economic benefit to local hotels, restaurants and various other business in the valley. But most impor-tantly it offers an opportunity for physical activity at an affordable cost to persons of all ages and abilities. To put the cost in perspective; the cost to the average taxpayer will be approx. $5.00 per year for 20 (the average daily coffee consumption).

Email to: [email protected]


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The Rialto is having a special one-time showing of Elton John: The Million Dollar Piano on Wednesday, March 26, at 7:30 pm.

World-renowned singer, songwriter and performer, the legendary Elton John performs his critically acclaimed concert from The Colosseum at Caesars Palace in Las Vegas.

‘The Million Dollar Piano’, is cur-rently being performed to standing ova-tions during Elton’s residency at Caesar’s Palace and includes all of Elton’s greatest hits from throughout his career including ‘Rocket Man’, ‘Tiny Dancer’, ‘Saturday Night’s Alright for Fighting’, ‘I’m Still Standing’, ‘Goodbye Yellow Brick Road’, ‘Crocodile Rock’ and ‘Your Song’.

At the centre of the performance is the show’s namesake piano, featuring more than 68 LED video screens creat-ed by Yamaha. The state-of-the-art piano is the perfect accompaniment to Elton’s greatest hits displaying imagery to complement the entertainer’s fan favourites.

Tickets on sale now at the Rialto: Adults $10.50; Children $8.99; Seniors $8.99. For more information call (250) 338-5502.

The Comox Valley Clown Club meets 1 pm, Monday, March 24th, at the Lewis Centre, in the meeting room; hope to see you there.

Mindfulness is present moment awareness, the art of softening and awakening to the beauty of life. Come and spend a day experiencing the love-liness of life’s renewal in Springtime.

Margo McLaughlin, former Valley resident, and community Dharma Leader will lead this retreat at Dove Creek Hall on Saturday March 22 from 9:30 to 4:30 pm.

The retreat is open to beginners and to those with more experience. Cost is $20 plus teacher offering. To register, contact Jane McCarroll at 250-334-0086.

Who doesn’t love a yummy pancake breakfast? Who doesn’t love be fully served for a sit down meal?

The Evergreen Club is inviting every-one out to their pancake breakfast held in the Conference Hall, the upper level of Courtenay Recreation’s Filberg Centre. For only $5.00 a person you get your choice of beverage and buckwheat or buttermilk pancakes. You also get delicious Hertels bacon or local sau-sages from Tannadice Farms. Gather your friends and family and share in this feast for all ages. W

hether you are an early riser, or love to sleep in, you can feel good about supporting the Evergreen Club. Mark Saturday, March 22nd from 7:30 am- 11:00am, down on your calendar.

For more info call Courtenay Recreation’s Filberg Centre 250-338-1000.

It’s a modern classic, so it comes as no surprise that Ernest Thompson’s much-loved play, On Golden Pond, is performed

again and again all over the world. However, in a somewhat different twist, Courtenay Little Theatre veterans Tony Arnold and Gail Limber are about to embark on their third version of the play, in a production which opens at the Sid Williams Theatre April 10th.

They play the Thayers, an elderly couple struggling to cope with the problems of both old age and family, as they vacation at their summer cabin. Tony Arnold first played the role of Norman to Gail Limber’s Ethel in a produc-tion at the Sid back in 1996.

“It was directed by the late Jim Rickson,” Arnold recalls. “Someone whom we all loved and now miss terribly. It was a very happy pro-duction to be involved in, because, although the play is about dealing with the problems of old age, it’s wonderful to make an audience laugh, and the play is very funny. Surprisingly funny,” he adds, unable to resist quipping: “Well, there are a lot of loons on Golden Pond!”

Gail Limber recalls a more recent production for them both. In February 2011 she and Arnold reprised their roles at a packed reading of the play in the Stan Hagen Theatre. It was done as a benefit performance for friend and fellow thespian Kymme Patrick, who was undergoing treatment for cancer. Tony Arnold directed, in addition to playing Norman to her Ethel once again.

Now, Limber has no qualms about undertak-ing the role a third time. “What a challenge,” she says. “To try to do it better! After all, we are almost twenty years older now, and we both have more life experiences to draw from.”

Arnold agrees with that. “In our first produc-tion I was only fifty-four. I had to “act” Norman’s age, which is eighty. I found that quite difficult to sustain through a two hour performance.”

“There’s no problem keeping it fresh,” adds his stage-wife.

“Ernest Thompson has kept updating the script, and it’s more like rediscovering moments. I love this play - and I feel a great kinship with Ethel; I feel I know her inside out by now. This has been one of my favourite roles in all of my acting experience.”

“Gail is a wonderfully generous actor,” explains Arnold. “I love playing opposite her. We are great friends and have been in a num-ber of shows together. I believe this background helped to make a chemistry between us in the past, that contributed strongly to the show’s success. So, why wouldn’t we want to do it again?” He also points out that he is enjoying playing opposite some new members of the cast, and is very pleased to be on stage again with Shannon Phoenix, who plays his troubled daughter Chelsea. “She’s a very thoughtful and

sensitive actor.”Referring to the characters of Norman and

Ethel, and analysing their enduring popularity with audiences and players alike, he claims that “Essentially, we love them both because they are who we are.”

Director Kirstin Humpherys feels fortunate to be working with both her seasoned lead actors. “Tony and Gail bring years of acting and direct-ing experience to their roles.

They are the right age, have the right life experiences, and are fond friends. The fact that they have played these characters before is the icing on the cake.”

Don’t miss the opportunity to share in this special production. Tickets are available at the Sid Williams box office or at www.sidwilliam-stheatre.com.

Production dates are April 10, 11, 12, 16, 17 at 7:30 pm ($20) and April 13 at 2:00 ($18).

Tony Arnold and Gail Limber played the Thayers in 1996 (photo below) for Courtenay Little Theatre’s On Golden Pond and will again be on stage with these memorable charac-ters when the classic play opens April 10th at the Sid Williams Theatre.

Together Again: CLT actors reprise leading roles in On Golden Pond

Elton John: The MillionDollar Piano at the Rialto

Comox Valley Clownsmeeting on Monday

Meditation retreat at Dove Creek Hall

Evergreen Seniors willserve you breakfast

B2 Comox Valley Echo Friday, March 21, 2014

What’s On

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ABC’s freshman comedy is taking a leaf out of “Cheers’” book and centring the whole show around a bar and its patrons. The entire first season will follo

the 10 main characters over the course of a single evening in a chic Manhattan bar. “Mixology” premieres Wednesday, Feb. 26 on ABC.

February 21 - 27, 2014

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What happens when you combine great documentary films, inspiring speakers, and demonstrations with a local food focus?

You get a delicious taste of positive community development in action. Local food culture - including the food security of communities that want to produce and consume healthy food - is quickly becoming the hottest topic in social development in the Comox Valley.

On Sunday March 23, from 10am -2pm at Lake Trail School in

Courtenay, the Festival of Food Films will bring together Comox Valley folks to connect with other commu-nity members who share interests and concerns. Admission is by dona-tion. Lunch will be available for purchase from LUSH Valley Food Action Society.

The inaugural Festival of Food Films is a brand new World Community project which will screen eight top-rate food themed documen-taries in partnership with LUSH Valley Food Action Society, the Comox

Valley Growers and Seed Savers, and Lake Trail Neighbourhood Connections.

The headline feature film More than Honey is a “Best of Fest” screen-ing from the World Community Film Festival. A variety of short films will be highlighted as well, with each screening followed by a brief presen-tation and discussion by members of the local food community.

“We chose More Than Honey as our feature partly because there is such a vibrant community of bee-

keepers in the Valley, and also because of the depth of concern there is about threats to survival of honey bees,” said Wayne Bradley, festival curator. “We expect the other films to be just as challenging and inspiring.”

Just as gardens need careful nur-turing, a successful local food system requires input and tending from the whole community. Whatever your interests, from the sanctity of seed, getting started in farming or the importance of community support for local agriculture, the Festival of Food

Films promises to deliver a feast for the eyes, mind, heart and appetite.

Volunteers are needed to assist with setup, take down and welcom-ing and directing guests. Anyone interested in volunteering should contact Arzeena Hamir of Amara Farm at [email protected].

Lake Trail School is located at 805 Willemar Ave. in Courtenay. For more information, look for the Festival of Food Films on Facebook events, con-tact (250) 337-5412, or visit www.worldcommunity.ca.

Festival of Food Films invites audiences to watch, share, grow - and eat

Owner and weight loss coach Kristin Bjarnason with studio manager Alma Narnajo

Join Samudra Weight Loss for their 3rd year anniversary Open House and Informational Saturday, March 22nd between 1 - 4 p.m.

Nominated for three business awards by the Chamber this year and recipient of the 2013 New Business of the year award in Qualicum Beach, you will want to come and find out what this weight loss studio is all about.

A local physician commented in her letter of recommendation for the Studios business award: “I have with great confidence referred patients to Samudra. I have yet to hear a negative word. Clients were treated with great professionalism, privacy and non-stop support. Given the global scale of obesity, diabetes and associated hyperten-sion, the work is not done yet. Samudra is a business our commu-nity can be proud of”.

Owner and weight loss coach Kristin Bjarnason says “this is a unique weight loss approach that targets fat and protects muscle and is endorsed by medical doctors. Through the weight loss journey our clients are supported weekly by trained and compassionate coaches and our clients love the results they quickly achieve”.

Happy weight loss client Evelyn says the program “has been life changing...improving self esteem, physical health and fun shopping for clothes again”.

Join in and receive a free body composition analysis, enter for door prizes and have some fun!

If you are unable to attend call for an individual consultation at 250-871-7006 or 250-334-7008

www.samudrahealthandwell-ness.com

6th Street (2 doors down from the Atlas Café)

Anniversary party at Samudra Weight Loss

Get Involved in the Great Outdoors!

That’s the theme for the 22nd Annual Outdoor Recreation Show held at the Courtenay and District Fish & Game Protective Association on 7 and 8 June 2014. The gate opens at 9 am each day and closes at 5 pm on Saturday and 4 pm on Sunday.

The annual show is a popular family community event.

We do not charge admission; we

ask only that each visitor bring a non-perishable food item for our local Food Bank.

There is a nominal fee for activity tickets and for participating in shoot-ing sports.

We are currently looking for exhibitors who would like to be a part of our show.

Check out the info for exhibitors at www.courtenayfishandgame.org and call Linda Marinus at (250) 338-2455 or email [email protected] .

FISH AND GAME CALL OUT FOR EXHIBITORSLocal painter Martha Jablonki-Jones will give an artist talk at the Comox Valley Art Gallery Saturday, March 22, from 2 to 3 p.m. Her exhibit “Riverway” is on display at CVAG’s community gallery until May 2.

Artist talk at CVAG

Beefs & BouquetsS u b m i t y o u r s a t


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What’s OnComox Valley Echo Friday, March 21, 2014 B3

Annie Becker performs Tuesday, March 25, at The Waverley Hotel.

This is a full band, sit down show for Annie’s new album release of “Back to the City”.

Tickets $15 in advance available at Bop City, the Waverley Hotel or by phone (250) 336-8322; limited seat-ing. This is an early show, doors at 7:30 pm show at 8. With special guest Brodie Dawson.

It’s hard to believe Annie Becker is from the West Coast and not from the basement of a late 30s Jazz Club. Becker has been cloaking her audi-ences in a Gyp-sea of sultry sound-scapes across Canada, New York, and Thailand for the past 5 years.

In 2011 Annie Released her first album, ‘All About the Beez Neez,” and in 2013 was awarded Vancouver Island Vocalist of the Year.

With this New EP, ‘Back to the City,’ Annie takes us out of the City and back to that Vaudeville Cabaret. She laces Latin grooves with a taste of Rockabilly and Jazz, stripped down to showcase the rawness of Becker’s Vocals. This is music you can play loud in your car. www.anniebecker.com

On this, ‘Back to the City EP,’ Album Launch Annie Becker will be performing with Drummer Corijn de Roo, Guitarist James Lambert and Bocephus King’s UpRight Bassist Wynston Minckler.

“I’m eager to get out from behind my guitar and just sing for some of the tunes,” says Becker, “We’re excit-ed to reproduce a similar sound to the record. Live.”

Opening up for Annie is Brodie Dawson. Annie and Brodie have played many shows together and are amped to share the Waverly Hotel Stage once again.

http://www.anniebecker.comhttp://www.brodiedawson.com/

ANNIE BECKER CDRELEASE CONCERTAT THE WAVERLEY

Help G.P Vanier’s Senior Improv Team go to Ottawa.

Please help us fund together in the spirit of loving competition to send our Vancouver Island Improv Champions to Ottawa for the Canadian Improv Games National tournament April 15-19.

Here they will compete with other high school Improv teams from across Canada for the National Cup at Canada’s National Art Centre.

The Canadian Improv Games (CIG) is an education based format of improvisational theatre for Canadian high schools. To get to this point the team participated at The North Island Tournament in Courtenay where they

won first place. The top four teams then moved onto regionals in Victoria, Feb 07-09th 2014.

On Friday March 28th, you are invited to GP Vanier’s Improv Team’s Italian Improviganza, an Italian Spaghetti Dinner, Silent Auction and Improv Variety Show fundraiser.

The event will be held at 6:30 at 1640 Burgess Road Courtenay, Northgate Foursquare Church,

Tickets are Adult-$ 20.00, Youth 6-12- $10.00, Family rate-$60.00(family of four or more), Children 5 and under are free.

Contact :h t tps ://www.facebook.com/

events/1403070329955438 or email

[email protected] to reserve seats or purchase tickets directly from our amazing Improv Team members. Included with ticket is entry into our raffle at the door.

Cash or cheques payable to G.P Vanier accepted.

Or if you can’t make the dinner, you can also help by making a dona-tion at Fundrazr.

The address is :h t t p s : / / f u n d r a z r . c o m /

campaigns/8hfsd/ab/d2sVJ0. No amount is too small. This team

of eight, along with their Improv coach Lori Mazey from G. P Vanier High School would be most apprecia-tive.

Spaghetti dinner show to help Improv teamVanier’s Senior Improv Team has qualified for the Naationals (Photo by Amy Bonell)

It’s time to celebrate local bakers! With eight baker vendors at the Farmers Market this year, they pro-vide a staple product to the market mix, and are often some of the most sought after vendors.

As part of the Farmers Market monthly food fest events, bakers will be showing their wares and sharing their skills at the market this Saturday between 10-12 at the Native Son’s Hall!

Alderlane Farm will be setting up a baking display showing how Sharon makes her croissants and offering mini croissants to tempt your taste buds. They offer a wide variety of sweet treats including cin-namon buns, croissants, brownies, bread, Danish & granola.

Little Orca Bakery will be giving away a colouring book and recipe along with a cookie to their custom-ers. French baker Hubert Gravoueille offers quality European and Canadian favorites.

Willovic Bakery is offering a dis-count on their most nutritious bread, the 100% organic rye. He has also offered to do an education table about the ingredients he uses with samples and answer bread baking questions. Willovic is famous for their amazing rye bread, Montreal style bagels and simply decadent cinnamon buns.

With so many food sensitivities in the general population now, Heidi of Sweet Surprise Gluten Free Bakery focuses on those with special needs for their sweet tooth. She explains how they started:

“We were very connected with the Farmer’s Market and often made it our Saturday morning social scene-treating ourselves to freshly brewed coffee, baked goods and listening to

great music, chatting with friends and neighbors or meeting new folks. Once my husband could no longer enjoy any baking , I realized how many others were going without. And the idea for Sweet Surprise was born! It’s been four great years of offering new friends gluten-free, dairy free, paleo, vegan or diabetic options.” Heidi will be making up dozens of gluten free cookies for kids to decorate.

Try some delicious baked goods at the Farmers Market on Saturday

It’s Bakers Fest day


What’s On

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Bobby the Safety Boat The interactive robot for kids

Ocean Pacifi c Boat Build Row boat building in progress, see our technician at work

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‘The Readers’ Circle’ by Joe Ziner

Even in our new age of e-readers and digital books, just stepping through the door at the Laughing Oyster Bookshop in Downtown Courtenay is enough to make you fall in love with the printed word all over again.

This one-of-a-kind ambiance comes from floors well-worn by decades of visitors, personal reading suggestions and friendly conversation at the 100-year-old register, and, of course,

the real live bookshelves: full of care-fully selected fiction and non-fiction, thought-provoking and entertaining, ranging from time-tested classics to the newest releases.

To help mark your place in your reading adventures, Laughing Oyster has partnered with local artist Joe Ziner for over fifteen years to design a collection of unique locally pro-duced bookmarks.

Laughing Oyster owner Evelyn

Gillespie is excited to announce the brand new 40th anniversary book-mark series - The Readers’ Circle - that Ziner has created to mark this special occasion.

“In the 40th anniversary bookmark series for Laughing Oyster, I’ve used a lithographic process that allows me to work directly with my drawings using a range of both colour and tone,” says Ziner.

“The result is a brightly multicol-

ored scene that divides into a series of unique bookmarks.

“Each design is a creative print - meaning I’ve done both the artwork and printing. My goal was to create the feeling of community spirit that Laughing Oyster brings to Downtown Courtenay.”

Laughing Oyster invites you to meet local artist Ziner this Sunday, March 23rd from 2-4 pm at their open house 40th anniversary celebration.

A complimentary sparkling drink of Magick Mead from Hornby Island’s Middle Mountain Mead will toast the occasion.

Ziner will discuss his artwork and sign personalized bookmarks for you to take home or give as a gift to your favourite reader.

A perfect addition to your library!

- Submitted by Sue Smith for Laughing Oyster Bookshop

LOCAL ARTIST DESIGNS LAUGHING OYSTER’S 40TH ANNIVERSAY BOOKMARK SERIES

Explore park on free walkExplore the Valley’s Natural

Heritage in Comox Valley Nature’s Monthly FREE Public Walk to the New Headquarters Townsite Regional Park.

Parks play an increasingly impor-tant economic and social role in today’s technological society. Green corridors are not only important for the preservation of nature and the biological diversity of species, they also increase the quality of human life and lower health costs.

As recent research shows, outdoor exercise lowers susceptibility to flu, depression and attention deficit dis-orders.

When economic accounting fac-tors in all the ecological costs and benefits of green spaces, the social and economic returns of green cor-ridors outweigh the costs and short-term benefits of urban development, and are a necessary part of our eco-nomic balance.

Although our parks may seem like a mere background to the high quality of life in the Comox Valley, they are the quiet and insufficiently celebrated drivers of our prosperity.

As the valley grows we need to maintain our green spaces to enhance our prosperity. Our regional and provincial parks should never be taken for granted.

Comox Valley Nature celebrates the CVRD’s farsighted role in negoti-ating the creation of new parks, and the maintenance of existing ones, by organizing monthly interpretive walks in these parks.

On Saturday, March 22, Dr. Loys Maingon (President CVN) will lead a FREE public walk at the recently incorporated Headquarters Townsite Park. Interested participants should meet either in front of The Old Church Theatre on Harmston (Courtenay) at 9:00 am, or at the bridge on Farnham Road at Headquarters.

The CVRD has recently negotiated the creation of this park with its owner, Timberwest Ltd, and both entities are to be commended for their appreciation of healthy envi-ronments as economic drivers.

As part of its educational mandate Comox Valley Nature invites the public to monthly public interpretive walks to experience sites of environ-mental interest.

Anyone interested in participating in CVNS activities can contact us at the website http://comoxvalleynatu-ralist.bc.ca/ or Loys Maingon (CVN President) at 250-331-0143.

What’s OnComox Valley Echo Friday, March 21, 2014 B5

CongratulationsRob Phillipsrecipient of the

2013 VIREBREALTORS Care® Award.

Comox Valley residents may want to check out the fishy fun at Vancouver Island University’s (VIU) Deep Bay Marine Field Station Saturday, March 22 during the Kids Day Open House from 10 am to 4 pm.

“This is one of our key events during the Brant Wildlife Festival,” says Field Station Manager Brian Kingzett.

“Activities will include a colouring contest, face painting, arts and crafts, bird banding demonstrations and more - all designed to teach kids about marine sci-ence and wildlife.”

Admission is free and staff will be available to answer questions and introduce visitors to the amaz-ing marine life inside touch tanks and a large public aquaria in the Field Station. Visitors will be delighted with the wide assortment of sea creatures, including 20 new Pacific Spiny Lumpsuckers, which arrived from the Vancouver Aquarium in January.

“It’s not often you find a fish so cute that you want to squeeze it but the Lumpsuckers are that adorable,” says Stephanie Richards, facility coordinator at the Field Station.

Besides Kids Day Open House, families and kids will want to check out spring break camps this week and next week at the Field Station, which is located in Bowser.

The Station is also hosting an on-going film and speaker series until April 24. Bill Merilees will give a light-hearted presentation on the life and challenges of penguins at a talk entitled “Penguins of the Antarctic: Cute as a Button - Tough as Nails” on Thursday, March 20 at 7 pm (doors open at 6 pm).

Merilees is a former Australian Antarctic Field Biologist responsible for documenting the life history of the Royal Penguin, Wandering Albatross and Southern Elephant Seal, during a 13 month residence at Macquarie Island.

He later became an Antarctic cruise ship lecturer on the “World Discoverer” making 17 trips to the Antarctic Continent via the Falkland Islands, South Georgia and the Antarctic Peninsula.

Visitors are encouraged to arrive early to check out the aquariums and touch tanks inside the Field Station, and enjoy gourmet snacks and treats for purchase and prepared by VIU Culinary Arts students.

Tickets for the film and speaker event ($10 each) are available at the Deep Bay Marine Field Station, the

Salish Sea Market in Bowser, or the Courtyard Café in Qualicum, or by calling 250.740.6611.

The Deep Bay Marine Field Station, located about a half hour south of Comox, is a key research facility and public marine science centre that is fast becoming a popular tourism destination for the region.

For more details, visit www.viu.ca/deepbay.For general information about the Brant Wildlife

Festival, go to www.brantfestival.bc.ca or call toll free 1.866.288.7878.

Touch tanks and large aquaria at VIU’s Deep Bay Marine Field Station in Bowser are used to teach people of all ages about marine science. The Field Station is open to the public daily from 10 am to 4 pm.

Deep Bay Marine Field Station hosts Kids Day Open House


Sports and Recreation

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RANK NAME PTS11 Andre Sutter 111312 Kardynal 111213 Hugh Jassol 111114 NHLTeddy 111115 john beston 111116 Giants 111017 Parrotheads 110518 Freebie 110319 BigWillyD 110220 Skates backwards 1101

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The Competitive Gymnasts from Chimo Gymnastics Club in Comox have produced some great results at the recent BC Artistic Gymnastics Championships in Kamloops.

Chimo sent 7 gymnasts to the Provincial Competition. Isfeld stu-dent, Kira Magor came home the newly crowned Provincial Level 2 Novice Champion, topping the field of 46 gymnasts in her category with an overall score of 48.5.

She took the gold medal on the floor and silver on beam and uneven bars.

Kaylee Guignard walked away with the Provincial Level 3 Open Category’s All Around bronze medal for her overall score of 48.4. She also won the silver medal on uneven bars and vault.

Josee Jalbert and Isabella Pelletier also competed in the P3 Open cate-gory.

Both gymnasts placed in the top ten all around with Josee placing 8th on beam and Isabella placing 4th on vault, 6th on beam and 8th on floor.

Sophia Mossie competed in the Provincial Level 3 Novice Category and placed 6th on the beam and 8th on the floor for a strong12th place all around finish.

Sawyer Sturam and Lauren Carr competed in the Provincial Level 4 Open Category, Sawyer took 5th place on beam and 7th place on vault while Lauren placed 4th on the floor and 9th on the vault for an overall placing of 10th.

All of these gymnasts continue to

train regularly along side the Pre-Competitive athletes as the next competition in Abbottsford on April 3rd to 5th.

Chimo gymnasts podium at BC Championships

Chimo gymnasts, l. to r., Isabella Pelletier, Sawyer Sturam, Sophia Mossie, Kaylee Guignard, Lauren Carr and Kira Magor in front.

The 52nd edition of the International Curling Tankard was held at Cowichan Rocks Curling Club March 7-9 in a long-running battle between Canada and the U.S.

A partnership of Curl BC and the Washington State Curling Association selects 48 worthy vol-unteers from BC (24) and the US (24).

The Tankard is a friendly compe-tition that brings together curlers who have been nominated by their curling club to attend this special event.

Jack Holden, Steve Whynott, Sharon Walker and John Davis rep-resented the Comox Valley Curling Club joining curlers from Juan de Fuca, Marpole, Richmond, Langley, Esquimalt, Golden Ears, Glen Meadow and host club, Cowichan

Rocks on the Canadian teams. The U.S teams included curlers from Seattle, San Francisco, Hollywood, San Diego and Beaverton, Oregon’s Evergreen club.

Starting the competition off, the curlers were divvied up into six Canadian teams and six American teams, selected on Friday night, then each rink played three games against foursomes from the other country. Members from the same club were placed on different teams making an interesting mix where the team huddle decided who would play what position. Then it was game on!

Opening ceremonies was set out in a traditional manner with a piper, RCMP colour guard, Royal Canadian Legion Branch 210 marching the teams onto the rink. After introduc-

tions and welcoming tributes, the youngest curler of the Cowichan Rocks club, Jaxon Zalinko threw the first ceremonial rock (it looked bigger than him) and it covered the button with the help of discrete toe kicks from sweeper, Jack Holden.

It is the custom of the Tankard where teams play 4 ends, stack their

brooms on the button, take time out for a libation or so and then return to play the final 4 ends. Pretty relaxed if not downright civil!

In the end, the efforts of the US teams could not overtake the BC teams and the ‘bragging rights’ were that of the Canadians.

Next year, the tankard will return

to Washington State and again, the Comox Valley Curling Club will be recognizing volunteers to attend this great event. What an absolutely incredible and fun way to acknowl-edge the volunteer efforts of those who put their heart and soul into the continuing growth of the game of curling!

Jack Holden, Steve Whynott, Sharon Walker and John Davis represented the Comox Valley Curling Club at the International Tankard

Curling volunteers rewarded with spots in bonspiel

Comox Valley Duplicate Bridge Club

Our monthly lessons will continue through April, and then will be suspended for the summer; but will start back up again in September.

Our next Team Game is on March 31st at 7:00 at the Lion’s Den. Get your team together and come out and join us!

Monday, March 10, 2014 results:

1. Mike Moffatt - Vicki Moffatt; 2. Arlene Petersen - Cathy Wolfe; 3. Pete Marinus - Linda Marinus; 4. Bob Dugas - Tom Dugdale

Thursday March 13, 2014 results:

1. Lloyd Snyder - Bernice Snyder; 2. Jack Bradshaw - Bob Dugas; 3. Mike Moffatt - Vicki Moffatt; 4. Pete Marinus - Darryl Pippin

Our club is located on Nordin Street across from the Comox Mall under the newly renovated Museum and Art Gallery.

Thursdays at 12:30 we have FREE 20 minute infor-

mation sessions before the game. We also offer guar-anteed partnerships, so if you’re visiting or your reg-ular partner is away, make sure you come out to play anyway! If you don’t have a regular partner, I’m sure you’ll meet one.

Our Website is www.cvdbc.com and our email is [email protected]

For more information, please contact Linda Marinus at (250) 338-2544.

D’Esterre Duplicate BridgeResults for Tuesday,

March 11 (25 pairs):N/S - 1. Carole and Jack

Bradshaw; 2. Jean Tait and Harvey Piercy; 3. Bernice and Lloyd Snyder; 4. Betty Fountain and Barb Morris; 5. Maureen Olafson and Philip Sanford.

E/W - 1. Barb McCrindle and Denise Holst; 2. Lynn and Dick Sangster; 3. Daphne Welsh and Ann Cook; 4. Irene Smith and Doug Poole; 5. Jeanette Baron and Tom Dugdale.

Results for Saturday, March 15 (18 pairs):

N/S - 1. Barb McCrindle and Denise Holst; 2. Bernice and Lloyd Snyder; 3. Maggie Wynde and Clark Graham; 4/5. Diane McKinnon and Sheila Lockhard; 4/5. Jean Tait and Neil Jackson.

E/W - 1. Ann Cook and Harvey Piercy; 3. Rona Lawson and Pat Ailles; 3. Irene Smith and Betty Fountain; 4. Penny and Doug Poole.

Friday Duplicate Bridge

Results for March 14 (11 1/2 tables):

N/S - 1. Tom Dugdale and Dianna Rickson; 2. Bob Dugas and Paul Bozenich; 3. Jim and Joan Boase; 4. Mary Ann Aikman and Carol Ange.

E/W - 1. Daphne Welsh and Karin Franzen; 2. Roy Hagg and Keith Ware; 3. Betty Fountain and Denise Holst; 4. Lyall and Maureen Ashbaugh.

BRIDGE NEWS


Job FairFor positions at

Painter’s Lodge & April Point Resort & Spa

Painter’s Lodge lobby 1625 McDonald Road, Campbell River

Are you looking for a fun place to work? A place where you can work with dynamic people in a beautiful setting?

We are full-service seasonal resorts, offering competitive wages, flexible hours, travel opportunities and more. Transportation is available for staff during the season from Painter’s Lodge to April Point Resort & Spa.

Positions available include:Front Desk Clerks, Night Audit, Dining Room Servers (Morning and Evening), Pub Servers, Bartenders, Banquet Servers/Bartenders, Bussers, Dishwashers, Prep Cooks, Cooks, Dock/Cooler Attendants, Marine Center Guest Services, Room Attendants, Laundry Attendants, Night Cleaners, Fully-Certified Fishing Guides, Fully-Certified Zodiac Guide, Esthetician, Massage Therapist, Baker/Pastry Chef, Head Chef, Host/Hostess.

See you there!

Apply at the Job Fair or online at www.obmg.com/crewResumes for Painter’s Lodge and April Point Resort & Spa can also be forwarded to: [email protected]

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Sports and RecreationComox Valley Echo Friday, March 21, 2014 B7

ENTER TO WIN!Wrestling Tickets & T-Shirts

All-Star WrestlingAUGUST 8TH

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Phone:________________________ Email:

Drop off at the Echo, 407-D 5th Street, Courtenay, by Friday, March 28. Draw to be March 28 @ 4 pm

You could win a pair of tickets and T-shirts.

Additional ticket sales are available at these locations:Cameron Salon & Barber 250-336-8746 Cumberland Hotel 250-336-8844Weaver’s Leather 250-897-0239 I-Hos Gallery 250-339-7702Fineline Embroidery 250-339-3031

Sponsored in part by the

CODES COUNTRY LANES

Bowling highlights from Codes Country Lanes:

Monday AM Club 55 - Barb Casey 233, Nora Lanyon 161, Marion VanLoenen 183, Micki MacDonald 179, George Railian 195, Roy Brekke 232, Nick Tjart 207.

Monday PM Club 55 - Val Johnson 299, Pat King 294, Rick Kroeker 245, Bruce Ram 184, Bob Sharp 215, Ruth Johnson 190, Mildred McLachlan 180.

Tuesday Breakfast - Brenda Searl 210, Paulette Z 181, Doreen Gould 177, Jane Wedge 180, Barb Potruff 186, Marilyn Shetterly 224, Penny Savin 194, Laurie McWillis 210, Audrey Batho 183.

Tuesday Club 55 - Garry Pearson 187, Judith Munro 115, Allison Bennett 134, Ed Schievink 146, Ev Andrews 167, George Andrews 156.

Tuesday Mixed - Anna Mahavolic 279, Brian Booth 278, Bob VanNes 247, Andrew Stubbing 287, Ed Carefoot 251, Wayne Couzens 203, Sandy Couzen 187, Jan Harding 205, Cynthia Taylor 194.

Wednesday Club 55 - Heini Von Shilling 209, Pat King 229, Lorne King 209, Grace Coulter 207, Heather Abraham 229, Nick Tjart 266, Marie Israel 199.

Tuesday/Wednesday Courtenay Recreation - Leona Wagner 156, Lisa Bruce 111, Brian Mitchell 126, Lindsay Clayton 120, Patti Gove 105, Jack Errington 189, Clint McColl 132.

Wednesday Mixed - Tannis Pond 204, Dave Pond 253, Al Gavel 258, Travis Webber 202, Eric McWillis 245, Tom Lever 223, Doris Smith 234, Dan Robson 204, Tim Patterson 218, Sandy Nurse 249, Brian Booth 217, Tom Nurse 225, Gord Pottruff 245.

Youth Bowling - Morgan Grout 92, Rayelen Macdonald 71, Talisha Miller 72, Lucien Rousseau 159, Devin Sorensen 88, Bryden MacDonald 43.

Thursday Club 55 - Grace Rodriguez 240, Barb Casey 242, Vera Winter 197, Vicki Bailie 213, Sharon Shepherd 192, ARNI MORRISON 323, Bob Sharp 260, Ben Braun 195, Kelvin Davis 207, Rick Kroeker 212, John Kendall 185.

Thursday Mixed - Roy Brekke 241, Scott Mc 266, Dawn Hill 209, Dave Stacey 291, Jessica G. 229, Jane Wedge 211, Vern Greenhill 297, April Greenhill 240, Heather Abraham 202, Chris Roberge 242, Alfred C. 196, Steve Robson 285.

Friday Club 55 - Trudy Olsen 235, Ken Olsen 182, George Sand 212, Doris Cosman 208, Ruth Rivington 219, Joyce Unsworth 191, Art Wesner 211, Minnie Frame 212, Ickle Brown 194, Nick Tjart 232, Roy Brekke 217, George Andrews 220, Eve Andrews 215.

Special O - Jacob White 190, Meghan Williams 148, Penny Savin 211, Lisa Bruce 172, Sarah Lariviere 147, Morgan Bell 165, Marilyn Shetterly 187, Chris Gillis 204, Danny Erb 154, Larry McCooey 193, Bobby Bolen 165.

Mark Isfeld finished 4th at last week’s provincial boys basketball 3AAA championships.

Seeded 7th going into the tourna-ment, the Ice drew Maple Ridge Secondary in their opening round match-up Wednesday, March 12. The Ridge is a perennial basketball power in the Fraser Valley.

Isfeld trailed 14-9 after quarter number 1 and at the half trailed by 5. Noah Kaefer provided a spark in the first half coming off the bench to give a struggling Ice some much needed offensive punch (he ended the game with 8 points).

The game turned into an old school defensive showdown with the Ridge packing it in playing a 3-2 zone and the Ice playing their typical stingy man to man.

In the third quarter the Ice began to seize control of the game as Cole Hutchings guarded the Ridge’s best player, holding him to 5 points in the entire second half after he had 14 by the break.

Points were hard to come by but with a superb defensive effort the Ice held the Ramblers to just 8 points in the third quarter to go up by 2. The fourth quarter was more of the same and the Ice prevailed 45-39.

Leading scorers were Morgan Proctor with 10 while Cole Hutchings, Richard Girard and Owen Kaefer chipped in with 9 each. The key to the victory was a superb defensive effort and total domination of the glass as the Ice outrebounded Maple Ridge 50 to 28.

In round 2, the quarter finals, Isfeld faced Vancouver #1 and #2 overall seed in the tournament, Charles Tupper. The Ice built an early lead and went into half time up 10, 35-25.

Tupper made a run in the third quarter to close the Ice lead to 5 which set up the drama of the 4th quarter.

Both Richard Girard and Owen Kaefer hit their foul shots in the last minute to put the Ice up 1 with 15

seconds to go. After Kaefer’s foul shot Ron Ronquillo drove to the basket and hit a tough fade away 15’ jumper to give Tupper its first lead of the game 60-59 with 5.9 seconds left.

Isfeld called a timeout to advance the ball into the front court for the end of the game drama to unfold. Cole Hutchings set a screen for Morgan Proctor and then popped to the corner catching the inbounds pass. He imme-diately drove to the basket drawing 3 Tupper defenders and put up a tough shot.

The shot missed but Morgan Proctor dove to the basket secured the offen-sive board and scored with 1.4 seconds left. Tupper chose not to call a timeout, inbounded the basketball quickly and took a hurried 75’ shot that rimmed out.

In the semi-final Isfeld faced Charles

Hays from Prince Rupert as they had defeated the number #3 seed in the tournament on the first day of the tour-nament in the first game. The Rainmakers were led by Justin McChesney, BC under 16 team mem-ber, and his 25 points. After being up 2 at the half on some terrific shooting from Richard Girard and Cole Hutchings the Ice cooled off in the second half. Charles Hays prevailed 73-65. Hutchings lead all scorers in the game with 26, Girard had 17 and Owen Kaefer had 12.

On Saturday the 15th after playing 3 straight games of tough man to man defense the Ice ran out of gas against #1 seeded Abbotsford Panthers losing 71-51.

Down only 1 at the half, 37-36 the Ice could not buy a basket in the 3rd quarter and ended up down 12. The

final score was not an indication of how hard Isfeld competed but rather a sign of exhausted shooters.

Abby opened up the game playing man to man and could not contain the Isfeld quintet but inconsistent shooting hurt the Ice as they ended up down 1 21-20 at the end of the first. Once again Cole Hutchings ended up the games leading scorer with 18 points, followed by Richard Girard with 14 and Morgan Proctor with 11.

Individually Cole Hutchings was named the tournaments best defensive player and placed on the Provincial 3AAA first All-Star team.

After spending the entire season ranked in the top ten in BC, reaching as high as number 1 for 4 weeks, the Ice proved themselves worthy of that ranking at the provincial champion-ships by reaching the Final Four.

Isfeld Sr. Boys finish in final four at B.C.’s

The Comox Valley Road Runners’ 8-week Run4Fun program will be starting April 7th and running Monday evenings from 6:00-7:00 pm until June 9th. Participants of all abilities between 8 and 14 years old are invited to register for some good times playing games, meeting new friends and finding great places to run in the beautiful Comox Valley. Run4Fun offers an educational, supportive, non-competitive environment to help kids develop their running skills, endurance, and self-confidence. The program

encourages a healthy lifestyle including eating well, preventing injuries and exercising while having fun. The program cost is $25.00 and includes a T-shirt and a water bottle. We would like to thank our sponsors for their continuous support each year: Extreme Runners, RE/MAX Ocean Pacific Realty, Rawthentic Eatery, and Quality Foods. For more information or to register, drop into Extreme Runners on 5th street or call Mary-Ann at 250-339-9730. We hope to see you there!

Calling all junior runners: CVRR Run4Fun is ready to kick off another year


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Comox Valley Echo Friday, March 21, 2014 B9

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