comox valley record, november 21, 2013

Renee AndorRecord Staff

Some Denman Island residents worry the planned BC Ferries ser-vice reductions to lower-use round-trip sailings will hurt commuters, students and local business.

The Province announced Monday plans for service reductions on most minor and northern ferry routes, effective in April. Local ferry routes, connecting

Denman Island, Hornby Island and Powell River to Vancouver Island, are among those routes select-ed for service reductions.

The Buckley Bay to Den-man Island route, for exam-ple, is slated to lose three round-trip sailings per day the 6:40 a.m., and the 9:40 and 10:40 p.m. sailings from Denman during the off-peak season, (start of September to end of June). This means the earliest ferry off the island would

be the 7:40 a.m. and the latest ferry onto the island would be 8:30 p.m., rather than 11 p.m.

Denman resident Bill Engleson is concerned about how the changes could affect commuters.

If we lose ferry service at 6:40 a.m. for example, a significant number of com-muters will be impacted, says Engleson. If the last ferry to Denman leaves Buckley Bay at 8:30 p.m., youth and shift workers, not to mention travellers of all kinds, will be huge-lyaffected.

Meanwhile, Denman res-ident Elaine Head says her and her husband Steven Carballeiras business H2O Environmental Ltd. would be negatively impacted by the changes. Carballeira is a hydrologist and they travel all over Vancouver Island, the Gulf Islands, the Sunshine Coast and the Lower Mainland on a regular basis.

We ride lots of ferries, says Head. Its not uncom-mon to have a six-ferry day, and we have the occasion-al eight-ferry day. So, we depend heavily on the fer-ries, and in order to get to all the places we need to be in a day, we pretty much need to be off here (Den-man Island) at 6:40 in the morning.

Coming back from the Sunshine Coast often puts us back on one of the late ferries, coming back from Vancouver certainly puts us on one of the late ferries if weve been over there working which means we wont be able to get

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SEASON OF GIVING Remembrance Day is behind us and the air is chillier, which means Coins for Kids is back. Your spare change could make a real dif-ference to a Comox Valley childs Christmas. See story, page A5.

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Ferry cuts worrying

By the numbersPlanned BC Ferries ser-

vice reductions to lower-use round-trip sailings mean the Buckley Bay to Den-man Island route is slated to lose 888 of its yearly 6,149 round trips, (14.4-per-cent service reduction).

That would save an esti-mated $660,000 by 2016, according to the Ministry of Transportation and Infra-structure.

The Denman Island to Hornby Island route is slat-ed to lose 422 of its year-ly 4,482 round trips, (9.4 per-cent-reduction), saving an estimated $360,000 by 2016.

The Comox to Powell River route is slated to lose 94 of its yearly 1,460 round trips, (6.4-per-cent reduc-tion of service), saving $720,000 by 2016.

The Provinces goal for savings via service reduc-tions is $18.9 million by 2016. The planned ser-vice reductions to minor and northern B.C. Ferries routes are expected to save

$14 million. Further ser-vice reductions are planned for the major routes before April, 2016, (Departure Bay to Horseshoe Bay, Tsawwassen to Swartz Bay, Tsawwassen to Duke Point), which are expected to save $4.9 million.

As well, seniors, (65 and older), receiving free rides as passengers Monday to Thursday will need to pay 50 per cent of regular fares as of April 1, 2014 on major and minor routes. This change is expected to save $6 million per year.

The Province will also consider introducing gam-ing on the major routes between Vancouver Island and the Lower Mainland to generate revenue.

Community engagement starts this week, giving a chance for the public to comment on the planned changes. Details of this engagement are available at www.coastalferriesen-gagement.ca.

[email protected]

Scott Stanfield Record Staff

Comox Valley Regional District chair Edwin Grieve thanks the 4,289 residents who voted in Satur-days referendum that defeated a proposal for a solid waste pickup service in rural areas.

It goes to show that you can have all the public meetings, writ-ten comments and tele-phone surveys but you really have go to the people, Grieve said. We are so fortunate to live in a country where we have democratic process.

Unofficial results indicate 73 per cent of voters said no to the service that would have reached about 7,500 homes in areas A, B and C. The turn-out was 29 per cent.

The CVRD consid-ered rural pickup when it appeared the public supported the proposed program. Some resi-dents, however, were angry about not being able to opt out of the service.

Phil Harrison voted No because he doesnt need the service. The Area B resident com-posts and recycles monthly at Home

Depot or the landfill in Cumberland.

Im not in favour of having a free enterprise service administered by local government, Harrison said. Its not a complex critical service, as is managing and deliver-ing tap water, and I dont see the need for a third-party cost.

Pickup would have cost about $150 per household per year. The CVRD board had awarded a three-year service contract to BFI Canada.

Harrison said there was a prevailing feel-ing that theCVRD was not forthright on the cost, the BFI bid and the bylaw.

Sun Coast Waste was low bidder by almost $275,000.

Harrison suggests the referendum, with just 27 per cent sup-port, sends a strong message of a discon-nect between rural

residents and the CVRD, which predict-ed 75-per-cent support for universal roadside rural service.

Along with reducing costs for most residents and diverting recy-clables from landfills, Grieve said another benefit of roadside collection is a rebate

program offered by Multi-Material Brit-ish Columbia (MMBC), which manages the collection and process-ing of packaging and printed paper (PPP) materials. To apply and receive rebates, local governments need to own the service. [email protected]

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Continued from A1home, she contin-ues, noting they will either not be able to do as many jobs in a day or they will have to find somewhere to stay off island more often when they travel.

Head also says the ferry to Denman Island becomes bus-ier due to summer tourist traffic in May, not the end of June, as the Provinces plan lists as the start of the peak season.

Lynda Dabbs, a single parent living on Denman, says the planned service reductions will affect Grade 8 to 12 stu-dents taking extra-curricular activities at their Comox Val-ley schools.

Her son and two other Grade 10 jazz band students catch the 6:40 a.m. ferry each Tuesday and Thursday so they can make it to school in time for their course at 7:30 a.m.

With the planned service cuts, these

kids will be unable to complete the last three months, (reduc-tions effective April), of their year-long for-credit jazz band class, says Dabbs, adding these kids also take band class, which includes man-datory evening con-certs.

Most of these concerts start at 7 p.m., she says,

making it difficult if not impossible to catch the 8:30 p.m. ferry home after.

The impact on the students attend-ing classes in town is extreme, she says. Both my children attend school in town and both will experi-ence significant neg-ative impact from the cut in [email protected]

Losing routes awkward

ISLANDERS MIGHT HAVE to arrange other methods of transportation if BC Ferries follows through on service cuts it announced Monday. FILE PHOTO

Rural people have spoken

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Comox Valleys Pidcock House is not a hotelScott Stanfield Record Staff

Ken Kelly feels like hes 17, but in truth hes 78.

His lungs arent what they used to be, abused from years of smoking, but he still loves walking.

During the best three years of his life, Ken would walk from Campbell River to Willow Point and back twice a day when the sun was shining.

These days, Ken is keep-ing his eyes peeled for a place to live, preferably near Driftwood Mall where he could walk to his church. In the meantime, he is stay-ing at the Pidcock House emergency shelter in Cour-tenay.

He wound up on the street after vacating an apartment he shared with a noisy cokehead of a roommate.

What gets me is its eas-ier to find a two-bedroom apartment than it is a one-bedroom apartment. I dont know why. Seems that way to me, Ken says from the mens den, where another guest tosses him a pack of smokes. I honestly believe its cheaper for a person to take a mortgage on a house.

Ken, who was born and raised in Cumberland, was once a homeowner until relationship issues compli-cated his life.

He doesnt have much use for overpaid profession-al athletes the love of money is the root of all evil but his mood lightens when he considers the less-fortunate members of the community.

It hurts me to look at someone in a wheelchair.

Kens temporary home is a high-barrier, adult shelter operated by the Salvation Army. It contains 18 beds, 14 supplied by BC Housing and four by the Sally Ann. There are 12 beds for men downstairs and six beds for women on the main floor.

High-barrier refers to a protocol where intoxicated individuals are sent for a walk before settling in for the night.

We have a lot of peo-ple in here who are maybe recovering alcoholics or addicts, community minis-tries director Brent Hobden said.

Along with beds, Pidcock House offers healthy meals, showers and laundry. There are separate TV rooms for men and women. A new program room with two computer stations is condu-cive to small group sessions where guests can chat with Hobden or case worker/chaplain Alastair Hunting.

Outside, a gazebo will soon be added to the back-yard area, which contains a garden and a horseshoe pitch.

There are two employees working three shifts a day at Pidcock. Typically, a vol-unteer also assists before and after dinner.

Guests can stay up to a month, after which they need to work on a Person-al Development Plan for employment, education, lodging and health-care options.

The PDP developed in a cramped intake room near the entrance is a key element of the shel-ter, the goal of which is to achieve stable, long-term housing for guests.

Anybody can operate a hotel, Hobden said. That is not what were about. The Salvation Army does this because we are pas-sionate in making sure that peoples lives are changed. I dont believe theres a single person in this Val-ley that wants to live out-side, that really wants to be homeless.

This year, the Province committed $500,000 in ongoing, annual funding to ensure Pidcock continues to provide 24/7 support.

Another facility in the Comox Valley Lilli

House provides shelter for women and children.

The City of Courtenay has purchased property at Braidwood Road to estab-lish a supportive housing project.

But people continue to live on the streets.

The shelter is very much undersized, Hobden said, noting Pidcock turned away 99 people in October. Halfway into November, about 35 people have been turned aside.

Its tempting to think such cramped quarters would be a recipe for disas-ter, but life at Pidcock is pretty much in keeping with its Good Neighbour Agreement.

In every family youre going to have the odd prob-lem, but we havent had a lot of incidents, Hobden said.

[email protected]

KEN KELLY IS a guest at the Pidcock House emergency shelter in Courtenay. Brent Hobden (below) is the Salva-tion Armys community ministries director in the Comox Valley. PHOTOS BY SCOTT STANFIELD


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The inaugural Vin-tage Vegas Extrava-ganza will transport guests back to the 1920s-30s era of the city that never sleeps.

The Jan. 11 fund-raiser features an Ital-ian five-course meal, music and entertain-ment, along with a social casino and poker tournament.

Proceeds will ben-efit popular local char-ity YANA (You Are Not Alone).

Dinner is $100, which includes a drink ticket and fun money for the casino. The 60-person poker tour-nament is an addition-al $100.

We started last January, said event co-host Angela Zumbo, owner of the Mortgage Centre Comox Valley. The idea popped up the year before. Its been quite the endeav-our.

She and Daryl Rob-bins (Daryl Robbins Notary Public) both grew up in the Comox Valley. As business owners, they want to give back to the com-munity.

As supporters of YANA, which helps families whose chil-dren need out-of-Val-ley medical care, they

decided to throw a fun, adult fundraiser.

Zumbo and Rob-bins, who hope the extravaganza becomes an annual event, have appealed to Courtenay council for volunteer support, and plan to do the same in Comox. They need about 15 staffers to serve meals. There are also posi-tions for blackjack and poker dealers, wheel of fortune attendants, bar ticket sales, security and runners.

They are asking businesses to purchase sponsorship packages.

The extravaganza will start at 5 p.m. and run until about 11 p.m. at the Comox Commu-nity Centre.

Upon arrival, patrons will be hand-

ed a wad of fun-casino cash. Dinner is at 6 p.m. The poker tourney is at 8 p.m. Top prize is $1,000.

The Georgia Strait Big Band will provide entertainment.

Visit www.vinta-gevegas.ca for more information. [email protected]

Record Staff

A pocket full of change can go a long way this holiday sea-son.

Black Press Coins for Kids campaign (previously Pennies for Presents) is collecting change at participat-ing businesses includ-ing the Comox Valley Record office with 100 per cent of the pro-ceeds benefiting the First Insurance Secret Santa Program.

Every dollar collect-ed goes towards ser-vices for families in our community who need it most, said Rrecord publisher Zena Wil-liams.

Pamela Jolin, co-ordinator of the First Insurance Secret Santa Program, explained the program is entering its 12th year of service.

It began as a staff initiative when we saw a need in the com-munity at the time, she noted. We saw how successful Santas Anonymous program in Victoria was, and we wanted something like that here, and it has just been growing.

The program distrib-utes gifts to those in need, and the requests have been steadily growing over the years.

Jolin added those who want to register for the program which is exclusively in the Comox Valley can fill out a reg-istration form in the Record, drop by any First Insurance office, or call the Secret Santa line at 250-703-0858.

Now in its 17th year, Coins for Kids has raised more than $600,000 since its inception.

To donate, look for the Coins for Kids boxes at participat-ing businesses, or stop by the Comox Valley Record at 765 McPhee Ave. in Courtenay.

With a file from the Victoria News

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CABLE FERRY FOE Denman Island resident Laura Pope presented Comox Valley MLA Don McRae with a petition last week. It con-tained more than 1,800 signatures opposing the proposed cable ferry to Denman. Pope asked McRae to deliver the petition to Transportation Minister Todd Stone in hopes he can intervene with BC Ferries. PHOTO BY ERIN HALUSCHAK

Have fun for YANAVegas-themed fundraiser Jan. 11 has meal, music and entertainment

Erin HaluschakRecord Staff

More than 25 years ago, Tucky Schellinck opened her home to those in need, offer-ing food, clothing and other goods to those who needed an extra hand every day of the year.

Now, Rob Phillips and his co-workers at Coast Realty Group help provide those in need with a Christmas hamper filled with food and gifts for individu-als and families in the Comox Valley.

People in need would go to (Tuckys) home 365 days a year for food and clothes. When she couldnt do that anymore, Coast Realty took over, explained Phillips.

The Christmas Spir-it Hamper program, which is entering its

25th year, provides hampers filled with food and gifts for sin-gles (two or less in a household) or families.

Last year we had 623 hampers, with more than 300 being filled by School Dis-trict 71; they offer incred-ible support, added Phil-lips.

He said donations of funds received by profession-als in the community go towards purchasing single hampers, while those for families can be sponsored by indi-viduals, families or work places who wish to purchase items on a personalized list.

While Phillips noted registration to receive a hamper for singles is full, there is capac-ity for another 170 hampers to be claimed, which also would need to be sponsored.

We protect the pri-vacy of the individu-als receiving hampers,

and ask for a minimum amount of dry goods and tailor the bas-ket with suggestions for gifts we would

include if there is a girl or boy and their age, he explained.

This year, distribu-tion of the hampers is scheduled for Dec. 21 at 2683 Moray Ave. in Courtenay.

Phillips said vol-unteers are needed to distribute the hampers

around the Valley.I used to live in

the Lower Mainland and moved here in 1998. I was never

exposed to this level of giving on a ground level before, added Phillips.

Im totally blown away by the generosity of spirit in the Valley.

To register or sponsor a

hamper, call 250-897-3999 between 9 a.m. to 5 p.m. Monday to Friday.

For more informa-tion or to pass along confidential infor-mation, call Phillips directly at [email protected]

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Working Together to Create a Safer Community

Give A Tip ONLINE LODERStephanie MarieDOB: 1981-02-23168 cms, 54 kgs, brown eyes,brown hair Warrants for:Theft under $5000Fail to appear for court

Comox Valley le # 2013-13831

APRILBrandon RichardDOB: 1988-01-26175 cms, 100 kgs, blue eyes,brown hair Warrants for:Care and control of motor vehicle while impairedCare or control of a motor vehicle while over .08

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Warrants as of 2013-11-18Warrants as of 2013-11-18

WA N T E D

On November 12th, 2013 police attended to a report of a young child being struck by a motor vehicle while riding a bicycle on Rod and Gun road and 1st street in Courtenay.

The investigation revealed that the child drove onto the roadway in front of the moving vehicle. This investigation is continuing. (2013-13839)

Police received a complaint of a hit and run collision on November 12th in the parking lot of the Thriftys food store located at 444 Lerwick Road in Courtenay. The suspect vehicle was seen by a witness to hit the parked vehicle and leave the scene without attempting to contact the registered owner. The driver was located and charged with leaving the scene of an accident with an unattended vehicle.(2013-13853)

On the morning of November 14 the Comox Valley RCMP were called to a two vehicle collision at the intersection of highway 19 and Cook Creek Road in Fanny Bay. The investigation revealed that a delivery van had failed to stop at a red light and had collided with a fully loaded logging truck that was pulling into the intersection.

One driver was taken to local hospital for treatment and the other was airlifted to a hospital in Victoria. This investigation is continuing. (2013-13896)

On November 16th police received a report of a theft of money from a vehicle parked on the 1200 block of 1st Street in Courtenay. The vehicle had been left unlocked with the door open while the owner was getting more items from the residence and upon their return they found that someone had stolen a cash float from a cash box. (2013-13984)

Police were called about a break, enter and theft from a storage shed located on a property on the 1300 block of 20th Street in Courtenay on

November 16th. The thieves stole a new Mitre saw and its stand. (2013-13991)

The Comox Valley RCMP attended to a report of a break, enter and theft that occured at a residence on the 1600 block of Little River Road in Comox. The home owner reports being away for a short period and upon his return found that someone had entered his home through a window. Several items were stolen. This investigation is continuing. (2013-14018)

On November 16th police were called to a theft of a donation jar from the McDonalds store on Cliffe avenue, Courtenay by three males. The three were located and arrested for theft and are now facing charges in Provincial court. (2013-14028)

On the night of November 17th police were called to a report of an interrupted break and enter. The man responsible was arrested and found in possession of some stolen items from the residence and is now facing charges of break, enter and theft and possession of stolen property. (2013-14057)

If anyone has any information with regards to any of these investigation or other crimes, please call the Comox Valley RCMP at 250-338-1321. Should you wish to remain anonymous, please call Crime Stoppers at 1-800-222-TIPS (8477).

RCMP REPORTWeek of November 12-18, 2013

TOTAL STATISTICS FOR Nov 11-17, 2013

CATEGORY TOTALAssaults 5Thefts (All excluding vehicles) 15B&E (All types) 4Cause a Disturbance 6Impaired Driving Related 5Total Calls for Service 263

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VANCOUVER to NANAIMO Tsawwassen to Duke Point

Schedule in Effect: Oct 15, 2013 - March 31, 2014* except Sat; except Sat and Dec 25 & Jan 1; ^ except Sun and Dec 25

& Jan 1; except Sat, Sun and Dec 25 & Jan 1

Schedule in Effect: Until January 11, 2014Except Dec 25 & Jan 1; Except Oct 17-30; Oct 17-30 only

Schedule in Effect: Oct 15, 2013 - December 19, 2013

6:30 am Daily 8:30 am Daily 10:30 am Daily 12:30 pm Daily 3:00 pm Daily 5:00 pm Daily 7:00 pm Daily 9:00 pm Fri, Sat, Sun & Nov 11 only

6:30 am Daily 8:30 am Daily 10:30 am Daily 12:30 pm Daily 3:00 pm Daily 5:00 pm Daily 7:00 pm Fri, Sat, Sun & Nov 11 only 9:00 pm Daily

FreshOysters, MusselsClams & Scallops

WINNING NUMBERS

In the event of discrepancy between this and the official winning

numbers list, the latter shall prevail.

LOTTO MAX01 03 10 15 25 28 31

Bonus 07EXTRA 09 26 29 54

FRI NOV 152013

SAT, NOV 16, 20136/49

9 12 17 20 21 37Bonus 31

BC/4906 12 17 28 38 40

Bonus 48EXTRA 02 07 46 72

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Hamper drive in 25th yearCoast Realty Group carries on Tuckys legacy

I used to live in the Lower Mainland and moved here in 1998. I was never exposed to this level of giving on a ground level before. Im totally blown away by the generosity of spirit in the Valley. Rob Phillips

LETTERSTO THE EDITOR:

Drop letters off at 765 McPhee Ave.

in Courtenay or Mail to: 765 McPhee Ave.,

Courtenay, V9N 2Z7or e-mail to:

[email protected]

Be sure your letter includes asignature and phone number

Accreditation Can-ada has awarded St. Josephs General Hos-pital accreditation with commendation follow-ing a recent on-site survey, board chair Jim Bennett announced Monday.

The accreditation with commendation decision indicates a high level of com-pliance with national standards and that the hospital has well-established systems and processes to pro-vide safe, high-quality care and service, St. Josephs said in a news release.

Three surveyors spent a week at the hospital and assessed care and services in almost every depart-ment, in both the acute-care hospital and The Views.

Surveyors reviewed plans and procedures and quality and safety programs. The survey-ors also spent time in departments and on care units and spoke with community part-ners, board members, managers, staff, phy-sicians, patients, resi-dents and families.

While Accreditation Canada surveyors did spend some time in the laboratory and diag-nostic imaging depart-ments, laboratory and diagnostic imaging are accredited under a separate program; both of these departments were surveyed in 2013 and each received an accreditation designa-tion.

Achieving accredi-tation with commen-

dation is really about teamwork at all lev-els, said Jane Murphy, hospital president and CEO. I wish to thank our entire organization (staff, physicians, vol-unteers) for their com-mitment to providing outstanding care to our patients and residents.

The support from our Foundation, Aux-iliary and many com-munity partners is essential to us in achieving our mis-sion. In particular, the support we receive from Island Health in enhancing our evi-denced based practice, information systems and capital needs has been instrumental in our work.

Also, the board of directors and the Bishop of Victoria have provided outstanding governance and sup-port to the organiza-tion.

Overall, the survey findings were positive. Some overall strengths included:

Engaged and committed volunteer board;

Dedicated staff, physicians and vol-unteers, creating a

culture of patient/resi-dent-centred care;

Impressive empha-sis on the care of the elderly;

Strong engage-ment with community partners.

An important aspect of Accredita-tion Canada is the principle of continual improvement of care and services, Murphy commented. Through the survey a number of areas were identified where we can continue to improve as an orga-nization.

Areas that the surveyors identified included:

Continued work on transition to future role for St Josephs;

Enhanced change management strate-gies;

Continued declut-tering of equipment and supplies through-out the hospital;

Enhanced organi-zational wide risk and mitigation strategies.

We found the Accreditation Canada survey to be a posi-tive and helpful pro-cess to evaluate our organization and the services we provide to our community, said

Murphy. Having an external and indepen-dent survey to assess our hospital relative to national standards

is an important aspect of our quality improve-ment philosophy.

St. Josephs General Hospital

Erin HaluschakRecord Staff

Her long locks may be gone, but what Brax-tyn Paulhus gained was more important than the hair she lost.

Paulhus, 12, a stu-dent at Queneesh Elementary School, recently completed her fundraising drive for the Canadian Cancer Society.

She not only raised more than $600 for the agency, but also donat-ed her hair to West Coast Wigs, a company in North Vancouver that specializes in cre-ating wigs for cancer and alopecia clients.

In September, Paul-hus set out with the hope of raising $1,000, the second time she set out to raise funds and

cut her hair for cancer.Ive had family

affected by cancer its close to home, explained Paulhus in September, who added one of her teachers and vice-principal has been battling lung cancer.

In October, Paulhus had her hair cut at La Belle Amie on Military Row.

Despite not meet-ing her goal amount, she was still thrilled that she could do her part, explained her mom Tia.

Donations are still being accepted through Paulhus personal fun-draising page at can-cerevents.kintera.org/[email protected]


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Lost locks go to good cause

St. Joes passes inspection again

JANE MURPHY

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m COMOXVALLEYRECORDYourCommunity. Your Newspaper.

COMOX VALLEY

RECORD

Comox RecreationCOME PLAY WITH US!

Comox Community Centre COME PLAY WITH US! 1855 Noel Ave, [email protected] 250-339-2255 www.comox.ca

GREY CUP PARTY

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FUTURE SHOP Correction NoticeIn the November 15 flyer, page 9, the HP All-In-One PC Featuring AMD Quad-Core A6-5200 Accelerated Processor (WebID 10272094) was advertised as being a touchscreen, when in fact it does not have this feature. We sincerely apologize for any inconvenience this may have caused our valued customers.

Processors are those folks who take a raw agricultural product and create something fabulous with it.

At the Comox Val-ley Farmers Market, this includes items like yogurt and gelato as well as preserves; pick-les, jams, jellies and sauces such as those by Seal Bay, Natures Way, Ironwood, and Rockbottom Farms and As You Like It catering.

This Saturday from 9 to noon theyll pro-vide lots of samples so customers can taste the

difference that using local produce makes in the end product.

Barbara Odegard of Ironwood Farm explains why: At one time no farm household would let good, edible food go to waste. The best way to deal with and preserve foods that were in overabundant supply was to preserve them in various forms.

Jams, jellies, chut-neys, butters, canned fruit and vegetables would stock the shelves

for those long winter days until a new sea-son of fresh fruit and vegetables were avail-able.

This is why the transition into the cold months and into the indoor location brings new products from the vendors you see all summer long.

The weekly market happens these days at the Native Sons Hall in Courtenay.

Comox Valley Farmers Market


BC Coastal Ferries Community Engagement November 18 to December 20, 2013

The BC Coastal Ferry Service has been wrestling with cost pressures for more than 20 years which, if not addressed, could threaten the sustainability of the entire system.

Accordingly, the Province has engaged coastal communities and ferry users from across the province on strategies to ensure the long-term sustainability of the coastal ferry network. The Province will undertake a further round of community engagement in 2013 following a province-wide consultation in 2012.

How Input Will Be UsedInput received through the community engagement process will be compiled and presented to the Ministry of Transportation and Infrastructure and BC Ferries as they plan for the long-term sustainability of the coastal ferry network.

Small Group Meeting ScheduleTo attend a small group meeting in your community, please e-mail [email protected] or call toll-free at 1 855 974-1204 with your name, contact information and which meeting you would like to attend.

Community Date Time Location

Comox November 29 9:00 a.m. to 11:00 a.m. The Westerly Hotel and Convention Centre

Public Open House ScheduleThe first 90 minutes will be a public open house. The second 90 minutes will be a question and answer session with the project team. No RSVP is required for public open houses.

Community Date Time LocationHornby Island November 27 5:00 p.m. to 8:00 p.m. Hornby Island Community Hall

Denman Island November 28 4:00 p.m. to 7:00 p.m. Denman Island Community School

Schedule subject to change. Please check web site for the complete schedule as of November 18.

MoTI Ad 1010A - BCF Community Engagement Week 1 5 col x 105 lines7.31 X 7.5

Comox Valley Record

Nov. 13To provide feedback, please contact us at:

www.coastalferriesengagement.caWrite a submission to: [email protected] or

P.O. Box 3532 Vancouver Main, Vancouver, B.C. V6B 3Y6Call toll-free: 1 855 974-1204

dEsterre House1801 Beaufort Ave, Comox 250-339-5133

Saturday, Nov 23rd!!! 9am - noonPancake Breakfast Book, Bake & White Elephant Sale

EveryoneWelcome!

Have fun shopping with our fairly priced and unique assortment of crafts or new-to-you books, plus delicious baked items.

Delicious pancake breakfast prepared

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FUTURE SHOP Correction Notice

We would like to clarify that in the November 15 flyer, page 3, the PS4 and Xbox One Trade & Upgrade Promotion is only applicable for PS4 and Xbox One games. We sincerely apologize for any inconvenience this may have caused our valued customers.

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Sensible signatures swelling

With just over two weeks to go, the Sensible BC campaign for a cannabis marijua-na referendum will celebrate reaching the 5,000 signa-ture mark, which is 10 per cent of registered voters in the Comox Val-ley.

Were just warming up, said Ernie Yacub, local organizer of the campaign. Weve got until Dec. 5 to get an extra 1,000 signatures to cover any petitioning mistakes and this Saturday well be canvassing down-town Courtenay.

This Friday, up-and-coming indie band Vessel will kick off the night at the Bridge Lounge with a rock/blues/urban set.

Doors open at 9; admission is by donation.

For more infor-mation, check out Sensible BC Comox Valley on Facebook, or call Terri at 250-331-1322 or Ernie at 250-338-3504.

Sensible BC

Nominations deadline FridayThe nomination

deadline for the annu-al Comox Valley com-munity and business awards is this Friday.

Award categories are:Agricultural Business

of the Year (Spon-sored by MNP LLP);

Business of the Year Award (Sponsored by Thrifty Foods);

Citizen of the Year (Sponsored by Cana-dian Tire);

Customer Service Award (Sponsored

by Speedy Glass);New Business of the

Year (Sponsored by Presley & Partners);

Heritage Recognition Award (Sponsored by Vancouver Island InsuranceCentres);

Professional Merit Award (Sponsored by First Insurance);

Small Business of the Year Award (Spon-sored by Glacier-view Financial);

Young Entrepreneur Award (Sponsored by Wedler Engineer-

ing);Youth Leadership

Award (Sponsored by Manatee Hold-ings);

Presidents Merit Award (Sponsored by North Island Col-lege). This award is not open to nomina-tions.Final award recipi-

ents are not chosen based on the number of nominations they receive but rather on the quality of the sub-mission. Self-nomina-

tions are not permitted.To nominate,

visit www.comoxval-leychamber.com.

Tickets will be available in Decem-ber for the prestigious annual awards gala Jan. 25. The gala will feature a four-course gourmet dinner and an Academy Awards-style video presentation of the final nominees and award recipients.

Comox Valley Chamber of Commerce

Processors celebratedComox Valley Farmers Market this Saturday


Specials in Effect until November 26th, 2013 ONLY

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Large AvocadosGrown in Mexico

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On SaleOn SaleOn SaleOn SaleOn SaleOn Sale

Family Size PizzaPepperoni, Hawaiian or Deluxe12 x 16

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The magic number of $42,500 has been popping up all over Vancouver Island, thanks to the representatives of Canadas Reno Rebate Inc. Theyve been spreading the word about government rebates for new home purchases, owner-built homes and substantial renovations to existing homes during the tenure of the HST, and $42,500 is the upper limit a homeowner can receive for a project. Together with the Ontario-based company Rebate4U, Canadas Reno Rebate Inc. has already helped homeowners apply for rebates totaling $8 million at time of printing.

Many clients hesitate on their way out of Canadas Reno Rebate principal Sean Leitenbergs Fairfield office, where they have just handed over a sheaf of paperwork and receipts for a major home renovation.

Is this for real? they ask Sean.Thats the most common question

Sean gets, and his answer is a firm, Yes, this is real.

Sean understands the skepticism, though. He asked the same thing when his brother-in-law in Ontario called him and said, You might be entitled to a rebate on the HST you paid when you did your reno.

This rebate has been available for the last three years and its about to disappear. It must be claimed within two years of the purchase of a new house or condo or completion of an owner-built home or a major renovation. Even if you have sold your home, you are entitled to a rebate if your intention for the build or renovation was to keep the home.

There is a misconception that if your home is worth more than $450,000, you are not entitled to any government rebates, but this is just not true, says Sean.

Canadas Reno Rebate has teamed up with builders, trades, designers and Realtors to share the good news about the potential rebate with their qualifying clients.

We know several contractors and Realtors who are going through their files and calling everyone they helped

to fix up or buy a house between July 1, 2010 and March 31, 2013 when the HST was repealed, he says.

It comes down to this: if you built or purchased a new home or did a substantial renovation to an existing home for yourself or for rental during that period, you are entitled to a rebate for a portion of the provincial sales tax embedded within the HST.

Canadas Reno Rebate Inc. handles all the paperwork and follows through with the government until you receive your cheque. Because Sean and his staff know the forms, the processes, and who to call, they efficiently and quickly collect the information and submit exactly what the government agencies need. The company charges no upfront fee and if you dont receive a rebate, the application costs you nothing.

Because all the required paperwork can be done via email and fax, clients are coming to us from all over this great province, says Sean.

If you know someone who might qualify, you can pick up a postcard at Glen Lake Liquor & More or the Commons Liquor & More store in Duncan and pass it to your friend; if your friend receives a rebate through Canadas Reno Rebate Inc., youll both receive a $50 gift certificate to help celebrate!

Handing people cheques for thousands of dollars that they had no idea they were entitled to is our goal, Sean says. We are happy to answer any questions that potential clients have, so give us a call.

What have you got to lose?

$42,500: The Real Deal

778-433-74941-877-724-4624 1267 Fairfield Road, Victoria Web: renorebate.ca Email: [email protected]

Yes, this is real Sean Leitenberg, Canadas Reno Rebate

-

ADVERTISING FEATURE

COURTENAYS DOWNTOWN WILL come alive with the spirit of Christ-mas starting this Friday.

Moonlight and Magic

Downtown Cour-tenay is the place to be this holiday season with five weekends of fun-filled celebration for all ages.

From choir and the-atre performances and free kids arts and crafts to special din-ing events, shopping specials, music nights, walking tours, art exhibits, charity drives and craft fairs there is goodwill, cheer and fun for everyone at downtown Courtenay WinterFest.

Things kick off this Friday night with the annual Moonlight and Magic Celebration fea-turing magic, lights, fire and phenomenal specials that are here and then theyre gone! The streets will be alive with special events, live music, Christmas shopping sales, kids craft activi-ties and much more.

At 6 p.m., dont miss the tree lighting, choir performances and the live fire dancing spec-tacle with VestaFire Entertainment at Fifth and England.

This is an encore performance from this acclaimed troupe of circus performers who appeared at last years Moonlight and Magic event and at Elevate the Arts this past June. Their show is spell binding and excit-ing and a great way to energize the night!

Just across the street the WinterFest Hub will offer face-painting, Magic Wand crafts with Elevate the Arts and Four Frames Photo Booth from 4

till 8 p.m. These free activities are open for all ages.

If youre looking for more music after, you take in all the great sales on Friday eve-ning you can stop by Zocalo Cafe at 7 for an amazing show with renowned jazz guitar-ist Tony Wilson, head up to the Union Street Grotto for stellar song-bird Rene Forrester or slide by Billy Ds for the Friday Night Lounge with the Jilli Martini Band!

Moonlight and Magic is also the kick-

off for the annual Walk the Windows event. Explore the beautiful seasonal window dis-plays and vote for your favourite.

Entry forms are available at all partici-pating businesses and winners receive a shop-ping spree downtown. Kids can keep their eyes peeled for the lit-tle penguins in some of the window displays and enter to win, too.

Downtown fun con-tinues Saturday with the Comox Valley Farmers Market from 9 to noon and special musical guest Luke Blu Guthrie. Just up the street, the Winter-Fest Hub at Fifth and England is bustling with activity every Sat-urday. Drop in for arts

and crafts with Rest-less Raven Art Lab from 11 a.m. till 2 p.m.

Saturday afternoon is also the first in a series of all ages free community concerts at the WinterFest Hub at 2 with touring artist JP Hoe!

This acclaimed Winnipeg-based sing-er/songwriter crafts songs that burn with an intimate intensity. The six-time West-ern Canadian Music Award-nominated art-ist has a tremendous gift for writing songs that would sound as good stripped down around a campfire as they would in a soft-seat theatre with a full orchestra.

Accompanied with the wonderful Nata-nielle Felicitas on cello, JP Hoe is a show for all ages not to be missed!

Saturday evening there are some great musical options includ-ing the Black Swan Fiddlers at Zocalo at 7 p.m., or Drag on Fire! At the Bridge Lounge with the Velvet Underground and their favourite drag queens at 7:30, or Matthew Good at the Sid Wil-liams Theatre.

Then on Sunday afternoon, downtown hosts the Comox Valley Christmas Parade at 2.

For a detailed events schedule, go to www.downtowncourtenay.com or become a fan of downtown Cour-tenay WinterFest on Facebook. Check back often, as new events and activities are being added every day.

Downtown Cour-tenay WinterFest is a project of the Down-town Courtenay BIA and their community partners.

Downtown Courtenay Business

Improvement Association

Entertainment, kids crafts, dining, shopping and much more

Moonlight and Magic is also the kickoff for the annual Walk the Windows event. Explore the beautiful seasonal window displays throughout downtown and vote for your favourite.


visit us online www.BRANDOCONSTRUCTION.COM For Inquiries or to Book a Private Viewing, Please Call for more information 250-702-4396 or 250-792-1955

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Did You Know. . .Disability Benefits are available for injured Homemakers?If you are a homemaker who takes care of your household, ICBC may pay you up to $145 per week to cover homemaker expenses.

To be eligible, your injury must substantially or continuously stop you from regularly performing most of the household tasks. This coverage pays for you to hire someone to come into your home to clean.Although the law states that coverage will not pay for a family member to do the work, the Court has ruled that as long as your family member did not reside with you before the accident and comes specically to help because of the accident, ICBC must pay.

To learn more visit our website at www.awslaw.ca

Vancouver IslandLaw Offices in Victoria and Courtenay

250-338-6747 or 1-800-214-4520www.awslaw.ca512 Fourth Street, Courtenay, BC

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THE COMOX VALLEY Hospice Society is planning a Winter Won-derland-themed gala auction for Nov. 30.

Winter wonderlandA fun-filled evening awaits

guests at the Comox Valley Hos-pice Societys 30th anniversary gala auction Nov. 30 at the Flor-ence Filberg Centre.

The fundraising extravaganza presented by hospice volunteers this year is themed Winter Won-derland and features an eclectic array of donated products and services to be auctioned.

Prepare to be entertained as Master of Ceremonies Kent Roduck begins the festivities and auctioneer Dave Stevens creative-ly urges serious bargain hunters to bid on live auction items that include exciting travel packages, gourmet dining experiences and unique local adventures.

As part of the evenings enjoy-

ment, you will dine on a cor-nucopia of delectable appetizers that will dazzle your palate. In addition to fantastic food and the excitement created by avid bid-ders, theres plenty of opportunity to test your luck and compete in games of chance featuring sev-eral fabulous prizes.

Theres still time to support hospice through the donation of an auction item or as a table sponsor for the event.

A Winter Wonderland opens Nov. 30 at the Florence Filberg Centre at 7 p.m. Tickets are available by calling the CVHS office at 250-339-5533 or e-mail to [email protected].

Comox Valley Hospice Society

Wishes granted

Once again, Sears Hometown Store in Courtenay is fund-raising for its Tree of Wishes.

Its a Christmas tree that is covered with snowflakes. Each snow-flake has written on it a childs initials, age and wish gift. Working with a local charity, 30 kids were given Sears Wish Books from which to choose a gift wish in the $20 to $35 range. These wishes are then displayed on the snow-flakes on the tree.

Sears customers can then purchase these wish gifts from the selection on the tree. Sears also has a dona-tion jar for those who would like to simply donate money towards the purchase of some of these gifts.

Last year, over 10,000 gifts were pur-chased across Canada through Sears Tree of Wishes. Locally, 30 wishes were fulfilled and local management is confident they can once again put pres-ents under the tree for those most in need.

Sears Hometown Store


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PRESCHOOLER COHEN HILL is looking for-ward to participating in the Active Comox Valley 30-minute challenge Nov. 27.

Get active on Wednesday

It takes only 30 min-utes to feel like a mil-lion!

Active Comox Valley is challenging the com-munity to participate in a minimum 30 min-utes of activity Nov. 27 as a part of RBC Sports Day in Canada. This national celebration of sport is an opportu-nity for all Canadians to celebrate the power of sport, build commu-nity and national spirit and facilitate healthy, active living.

In the Comox Val-ley our goal is to reach or exceed one million minutes of activity in a single day, taking part in activities such as running, cycling, swim-ming, aquasize, yoga and much more.

There are so many ways to be active! Head out on your own or take part in one of many classes that take place in schools and recreation centres across the community on a daily basis.

If you would like to organize an activity in your workplace or com-munity group, please e-mail details to info@act ivecomoxval ley.ca so your event can be included in a list of activities outlining the many ways to get active on Wednesday.

It is very exciting for Active Comox Val-ley to have won this opportunity to be fea-tured on CBC Sports Day in Canada, says Active Comox Valley co-ordinator Jennifer Cox. The 30-minute challenge is a quick and easy way to stay motivated as we head into winter and there will be lots of fun activ-ities planned to demon-strate how easy it is to stay active.

For more informa-tion on this challenge or on any free and low-cost activities in the Comox Valley, visit www.activecomoxval-ley.ca. Active

Comox Valley

Science Lab catching on

Its an exciting time for North Island Colleges Remote Web-based Science Laboratory (RWSL) and its team as science students from around the globe make use of this ground-breaking technology.

Initially developed by Albert Balbon, NICs Supervisor of Distributed Learning & Interactive Technol-ogy, and Ron Evans, a NIC math/science instructor, it allows NIC Astronomy stu-dents located in remote regions access to a telescope and camera combination, from the comfort of their homes.

RWSL has evolved into a full suite of audio, video, hardware and software. The equip-ment and the accompa-nying technology allow users to view, interact, control and collect real data from experiments using actual science lab equipment, in real-time, over the Internet.

I see this technolo-gy as a solution for stu-dents to take courses they would not other-wise have the oppor-tunity to complete, explains Balbon. Its very far-reaching.

As awareness and interest in RWSL has grown, so has its fund-ing and its reach. NICs RWSL is supported by both the North Ameri-can Network of Science Lab Online (NANSLO) and the Consortium for Healthcare Education Online (CHEO) Proj-ect.

This week, students taking distance biol-ogy courses through Kodiak College in Alaska will use the RWSL for the first

time. Groups of two to four students, locat-ed anywhere in North America, and under the supervision of an instructor located in Tennessee, will simul-taneously log on to access the microscope located in the Comox Valley.

The students will be able to work together, passing control of the microscope between them. To complete their lab assignments, these students examine the slides provided as part of the lab curriculum, and take high resolu-tion photographs that are then downloaded to their computers.

The CHEO Grant, a four-year project, will support the creation of new labs and new lab exercises. With input from educational lead-ers in the fields of biol-ogy, chemistry, physics and allied health, 12 new labs will be devel-oped over the next few years.

Three thousand stu-dents from different states and provinces will benefit as a result of this investment.

Naomi Tabata, Man-ager, Centre for Applied Research, Technology and Innovation at NIC comments, This is the first time weve entered the RWSL into a part-nership of this nature. Well be able to receive student and instructor feedback that will help us determine what the technological capabili-ties actually are.

Because of the fund-ing, Balbon has been able to establish two similar labs in Denver and one in Montana.

North Island College


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Sharing t_h e Christmas SpiritHamper Program

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Speech about trusts

Comox Valley Men-tal Health and Sub-stance Use recognizes the integral role that families play in sup-porting individuals with serious and per-sistent mental illness-es.

Future financial wellness is a common concern identified by the individuals and families with whom we work. In some cases, family members are able to assist in estab-lishing a trust for an individual so they can continue to receive Per-sons with Disabilities benefits.

As part of the Con-necting Families Series, Comox Valley Mental Health and Substance Use (MHSU) will host an Evening Education-al with guest speaker Andrea Rowe present-ing on the topic of Dis-abilities and Trusts.

It happens Nov. 25 from 5:30 to 8:30 p.m. in the Comox Valley Health Units Cedar Room at 961 England Ave. in Courtenay.

The presentation will highlight the steps involved in establish-ing trusts; what to do about inheritances; types of expenditures and schedule of report-ing to the Ministry of Social Development.

The room will be open from 5:30 to 6:30 for an informal recep-tion with MHSU staff and a family peer sup-port worker.

Call 250-331-8524 for more information and to register.

Comox Valley Mental Health and

Substance Use

A SWAN CELEBRATION happens this weekend at the Kmox First Nations Band Hall.

The Mountainaire Avian Rescue Society (MARS) isbusy planning for the return of the Trumpeter Swan Festival just in time as the swans return to the Comox Valley.

This Celebration of the Swans happens this Saturday at the Kmox First Nations Band Hall on the Dyke (Comox) Road beside I-Hos Gallery.

The event runs from 10 a.m. to 4 p.m. with activities scheduled throughout the day.

Prior to the event photographers have been invited to submit their favourite for the online photo contest. Voting for your favourite online for the Peoples Choice Award is easy.

You must join Pinterest to vote. Voting online ends Nov. 22 at 4 p.m.

A judges award as well as peoples choice awards (for Adult and Youth, Swans and Native local Wildlife) will be presented at the Trumpeter Swan Fest at 3 p.m.

Swan Bus Tours of some areas where swans can be seen up close and photo-graphed with naturalist Steph Nathan will depart at 1 and 2 p.m. in front of the Kmox Band Hall. Seating is on first-come basis and is limited so get there early to register.

The Zocalo Caf and Gallery presents the Black Swan Fiddlers this Saturday at 7 p.m. A donation of 10 per cent will be directed to MARS if you make dinner reser-vations before the show.

South Hollow Gallery and Leapenhi Paper are sponsors for the Swan Origami workshop.

Swan counters (with Nature Comox Val-ley) have been in the fields of local areas every Tuesday counting swans since Oct. 29. On Nov. 12 the tally was 1,123 trum-peter swans.

MARS Facebook page at www.facebook.com/mars.comoxvalley has more details.

Mountainaire Avian Rescue Society

Swan festival this weekend

Merville fair has crafts

The Big Yellow Mer-ville Hall will host its annual Christmas Craft Fair this Satur-day from 9 a.m. to 1:30 p.m.

Always boasting a variety of local crafts and wares, there will be items to purchase for every taste and budget.

The hall has under-gone some exciting ren-ovations over the past year and we are invit-ing the community to come and take a look at all of the improve-ments.There is even a new furnace to keep us warm.

The Merville Grand Mothers will use the shiny new kitchen, cooking up some deli-cious soup and chili to warm you, so plan to stop by for lunch.

Come on down, do a little shopping, have a little lunch, and enjoy the warmth and spiritof the Old Yellow Hall.

Merville Hall

Pancake breakfast

A pancake breakfast, crafts, books and bake sale happens this Sat-urday from 9 a.m. till noon at d'Esterre House at 1801 Beaufort Ave. in Comox.

After breakfast, have fun shopping for bargain-priced books and baked goodies. You will also be amazed at the variety of lightly-used items on our White Elephant table and the quality of Christmas crafts handmade by the centre's seniors.

Did you know that you don't have to reside in Comox to become a mem-ber of the Comox Seniors' Centre and enjoy the over 50 different activities we offer to the young at heart?

To become a member you have to be at least 55 years old or have a part-ner who is 55. Everyone is welcome and encour-aged to check us out.

You will be surprised at how bright and cheery our facility is and how friendly and welcoming we are. Of course you are welcome to tour our com-pletely renovated activity centre.

For more information call 250-339-5133 during office hours 10 a.m. until 1 p.m. weekdays or visit www.comoxseniors.ca.

Comox Seniors' Centre

Project Watershed and the Estuary Work-ing Group have been developing restora-tion possibilities for the Field Sawmill site since 2009.

It is our belief that this property has the potential to become a highlight of a restored Kmoks Estuary, itself a signature feature of the Comox Valley, states Don Castleden, chair of the Estuary Working Group.

The sawmill that was located on this site in 1949 once served as an economic mainstay of Courtenay, however, that period was not without its cost to the health of the estuary, especially to our five major salmon runs.

In fact, a govern-mental report made in 1976 and later ref-erenced in an article in the Comox District Free Press in 1977 stated that our estuary is one of the richest in Canada and the saw-mill and log booming should be relocated.

The sale of the saw-mill site presents an opportunity to mitigate the damage done and to do what is human-ly possible to restore salmon runs as well as other flora and fauna once abundant in the estuary.

Although we realize that the price at the moment is prohibitive we have encouraged the City to work with Interfor to acquire this property with a view to restoring its natural habitat, reports Paul Horgen, chair of Proj-ect Watershed.

This could be a symbol of the commit-ment of the community to protect this impor-tant feature. Project Watershed has offered to work with the City and the community to help raise the money needed to purchase and restore this site, adds Horgen.

The chief and coun-cil of the Kmoks First

Nation support the con-ceptual ideas presented by Project Watershed, states Cory Frank, the Kmoks First Nation representative on the Estuary Working Group.

A RestoredSawmill Site The sawmill site

can be planted with indigenous plants and trees and would even-tually blend in with Hollyhock Marsh with its beautiful stand of Sitka spruce which lies just south of the prop-erty.

A small stream can be created on the property that would connect the Dyke Slough to the river pro-viding safe passage for migrating salmon in the Courtenay River (a channel is illustrated in the diagram accom-panying this article). This channel would be too shallow for seals and therefore would alleviate predation and provide refuge for young salmon.

A riparian buffer and saltwater marsh

can be incorporated into this new stream and would provide rearing habitat as well as pools for migrating

salmon fry that need to hold over while they adjust to salt-water before striking out into ocean waters.

This restoration would tie in with the exist-ing saltwater marsh and slough adjacent to Hollyhock Marsh, an area which has been determined to be one of the most productive habitats for salmon in the estuary, of which there are very few.

Salt marsh could be planted in the area and would increase feeding and breeding grounds for bird spe-cies, act as a nursery for fish, filter and store pollutants from urban sources, anchor sedi-ment and sequester carbon.

The steel sheet pil-ing at the rivers edge of the property can be removed and naturally sloped banks restored, similar to Hollyhock Marsh. These banks could be planted with indigenous bushes to stabilize the banks and protect the area dur-ing floods. Removal of the steel sheet piling would greatly improve the river for salmon survival as seals cur-


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Christmas Craft FairNovember 30, Saturday, 10am5pm

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Groups have plan for sawmill site

See CHALLENGES, A15

A 1931 PHOTO shows the future site of Field Sawmill.


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Continued from A14rently use the corrugated feature of the piling to trap their salmon prey.

The concrete and pavement on the sawmill site can be removed and replaced with park space and walkways making the area accessible to the pub-lic for recreation, educa-tion and tourism. A bridge over the proposed creek would provide an ideal site for viewing salmon during their migration.

One of the walkways could join with the walk-way being planned by the regional district between the Rotary viewing plat-form and Hollyhock Marsh. Kiosks, small vendors, inter-pretive signs, and benches would create an impressive gateway to the estuary.

In addition to the Estu-ary Working Groups vision for a restored property, several professionals have reviewed the issues associ-ated with developing this property for commercial purposes. It is important to note that any development would have to contend with:

Height restrictions due to the airpark and float-plane operations on the

river. Any building on the property will have to be assessed by NAV CANADA and Transport Canada for potential impacts to the Air Navigation System and for marking and lighting requirements.

Rising sea levels, storm surges, and flood waters as a result of severe weather events are to be expected in the future. Flood waters even now inundate the sawmill site during severe upland flooding and storm surges on the Strait.

Provincial officials are now advising municipali-ties to plan for a minimum one-metre rise in sea lev-els. It is estimated that this can result in much higher threat during the highest tides and extreme weather events.

The best defences under these severe condit

comox valley record, november 21, 2013

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