April 19, 2019

GOOD MORNING NANAIMO – “Hallelujah,” was the first word in a message from Len Krog – “Sharon is now cancer free.”

The Krogs are naturally elated and asked us to share their thanks to so many people in the community. “Many have been so kind and so many saying prayers. The Oncologist said her CT, MRI and PET scan are all clear. Pretty close to a miracle and we are over the moon. She has put on some weight too.” Len said he didn’t even mind being stuck in a ferry lineup and having to miss the Cultural Awards (Thursday night). “This is a truly special Easter.”

It’s been heart wrenching to see what Sharon and Len have endured over the past half a year with all the treatments, heavy drug reactions and trips to Vancouver, and Len still carrying on his mayoral duties. It truly is a special Easter. Welcome back Sharon.

RING THEM DOORBELLS - By now you are probably getting used to your doorbell ringing. Candidates appear to be making more direct contact than we can remember in the past, and that’s likely because there is a lot at stake in this vote. Conservative candidate John Hirst says he has personally knocked on 6,600 doors, and campaign workers have done a lot more on their own. It's likely a similar story with other candidates.

Candidates are getting some interesting feedback from voters – crime appears to be a major concern. Other topics focus on the environment and the perception of outside influences on candidates from U.S.-based environmental groups. And there’s also some concern about individual candidates, but that’s par for the course. Prime Minister Trudeau is also a campaign topic people love to discuss.

If you want to get a personal face to face with the candidates, there are two election forums coming up. The first is the Chamber of Commerce event April 25 at Beban Park Auditorium. The doors open at 5:30 p.m. with an opportunity to meet candidates one-on-one. The debate follows at 7 p.m.

The second one is The South End Community Association’s all-candidates meeting on Monday, April 29, 6:30 pm. It will be held upstairs at the Harbour City Theatre, 25 Victoria Rd.

John Horn

GOOD MORNING NANAIMO – Congratulations to John Horn on his new post as Executive Director of the Cowichan Housing Association. John has been dedicated to the affordable housing cause in Nanaimo for more than a dozen years as Social Planner for the city. He is a Registered Professional Planner and holds a Bachelor's Degree from Concordia University. It was a pleasure to work with him during my term on city council when John was the workhorse on building a Safer Nanaimo. He has a strong understanding of the challenges in meeting affordable housing needs along with the implications of homelessness. Cowichan is lucky to have him.

WOMEN WHO CARE – Nanaimo Brain Injury Society got $13,000 from 100-plus Women Who Care Mid-Island. Kix Citton, executive director of the society said the money will support the program which helps individuals and caregivers. More than 4,000 people in our region are living with effects of brain injuries. NBIS serves thos people as well as caregivers. Community education programs are offered for the public, service providers and in schools, with a focus on prevention. 100-plus Women Who Care Mid Island meet quarterly, learn about the work being done by local charities, and then vote on which one to support. The charity gets $100 from each woman. If you want to know more about 100-plus Women Who Care, visit www.100womenwhocaremidisland.com. For more info about the brain injury society, visit www.nbis.ca. 

CHIPPING IN - A program providing affordable, healthy meals in Nanaimo will continue into the future, thanks to community fundraising and support. The Good Food Box program of Nanaimo Foodshare, gives $10 boxes of fresh fruits and vegetables once a month. It faced an uncertain future at the end of last year after losing provincial funding. Foodshare executive director Jen Cody covered the needs. On top of that, the program will see its provincial grant renewed. 

GOOD MORNING NANAIMO – Guess what – The Nanaimo bar is going postal. The Nanaimo bar has ensured its place in Canadian confectionery, thanks to the announcement by Canada Post that it will be featured on a stamp. The Nanaimo bar is one of five desserts featured in a new Sweet Canada stamp set for release on April 17. Also getting the stamp of approval is Saskatoon berry pie, butter tarts, tarte au sucre and blueberry grunt. A booklet of 10 permanent domestic Sweet Canada stamps goes for $9.

TURNING UP THE HEAT - Nanaimo is in for a double treatment of top-echelon politics this weekend as two party leaders come to town. Opposition Leader Andrew Scheer will meet and greet folks with candidate John Hirst at Groveland Park on Sunday at 1 p.m. Don't worry if it rains, alternate arrangements have been made. People's Party of Canada leader Maxime Bernier is here Sunday to Tuesday to support candidate Jennifer Clarke. There's a town hall meeting on Monday at the Nanaimo Yacht Club. Doors open at 6:30 pm. And a late addition, NDP leader Jagmeet Singh is in Nanaimo Monday at The Bees Knees, 208 Wallace Street, 6 p.m.

BOOST FOR SOCIAL PROGRAMS - Five Nanaimo non-profits will get more than $147,000 in funding. MLA Sheila Malcolmson said the organizations offer programs for at-risk youth, restorative justice and sexual violence through the province’s Crime Prevention and Remediation grant program. Haven Society will get $30,000 to develop its Mid Island Men’s Services program. 

Nanaimo’s Men Centre will get $30,000 to  serve families who have experienced domestic violence. $28,056 goes to the Nanaimo John Howard Society for its Alternative Learn Youth Crime Prevention Program, a 12-week program to support youth who are at high risk of being involved crime. In addition, John Howard will get $16,905 to support to victims participating in the Restorative Justice program.

Whitecrow Village FASD Society was granted $19,950 to address the effects of trauma and prenatal alcohol exposure in the Restorative Justice setting.  Nanaimo Women’s Resources Society gets $22,712 to hire an outreach worker to connect with women and youth vulnerable and involved in the sex trade. The funding comes from the B.C.’s Civil Forfeiture Office. 

April 11, 2019

GOOD MORNING NANAIMO – The city has a new communications manager. Farnaz Farrokhi brings 10 years of experience in strategic communications and public affairs. She has worked in the Office of the Prime Minister, Environment Canada, the British Columbia Automobile Association (BCAA) and most recently, White Rock as the City’s Manager of Communications and Government Relations. As a seasoned communications professional, Farnaz has focused on integrated marketing communications practices, including utilizing digital platforms to enhance public awareness, engagement and trust. Welcome to Nanaimo Farnaz.

FREE STUFF - If you’d like to attend the 2019 Culture & Heritage Awards Ceremony on Thursday, April 18, I know where you can get some free tickets. The City will recognize the best of Nanaimo's culture and heritage. Tickets are still available but must be reserved. Reserve your tickets online www.porttheatre.com /Events & Tickets/April 2019 or by contacting the Port Theatre Box Office directly at 250-754-8550.The ceremony, an evening of recognition and celebration, will be held in the Port Theatre at 7 p.mto honour:
Dean Chawick, Honour in Culture
Nico Rhodes, Emerging Cultural Leader 
Nanaimo Historial Society, Honour in Heritage

IF YOU EVER wonder what they do there up on the hill at Vancouver Island University they’re studying ancient brews. That should draw a large singup. Professor Marie Hopwood and anthropology undergraduate student Melissa Ayling have turned to ancient brews to whet students’ appetites for what can be a dry subject. Hopwood, an anthropological archaeologist specializing in Mesopotamia wants to show her students the birthplace of early civilizations aren’t just collections of static artifacts, but were homelands to people who traded, created, worshipped, sang, raised children, worked, fought, farmed and enjoyed a good brew. There are copious details of architecture and organized religion and warfare and empire, but they were also making beer and they were sharing it and they were using it in feasting. They were making food and they were doing all these things. Women, it turns out, were the primary brewers of ancients beers. “In every single household this is part of what it is to be a good woman in these societies. They were making their own beer,” says Hopwood.

A WORLD RENOWNED artist whose career blossomed in Nanaimo is being remembered for a lasting legacy in the Harbour City. Francine Peters died in Puerto Vallarta in late March. She rose to prominence living in Nanaimo as Fred Peters in the late '90s and early 2000s before transitioning to Francine and moving to Mexico. Peters' rise to fame as a painter came under unique, if not unprecedented, circumstances. Peters took up drawing and painting. Realizing Peters' skills were far beyond that of an average hobbyist, her then-wife urged her to give painting a shot as a career. A great legacy to be treasured. 

Tuesday, April 9, 2019

GOOD MORNING NANAIMO – It should be as lot easier to manage your dealings with the city, from tax accounts to user rates and almost everything in between. The City has modernized its online account management system – The MyCity so residents can view their property taxes, user rates, business licences and more with one personalized login and account. There is also the option to set notices and ebills to be delivered through email and some online payment options as well. You can check it out at www.Nanaimo.ca and clicking on the 'Log in' button in the top right-hand corner of the page.

BUILDING PERMITS appear to be headed to record levels in the city with major investments under construction or on the drawing boards – hitting $130-million in the first quarter of 2019. That’s almost as high as the total-year average of $185 million over the previous 10 years. The $130 million construction value includes approximately $70 million residential, $56.6 million commercial, and $3.1 million industrial.

Permits issued in the first quarter include:

• 100 Gordon Street – 9-storey, 172-unit hotel; $22 million
• 15 Front Street – 6-storey, 89-unit hotel; $9 million
• 2020 Estevan Road – 74-unit affordable and market rental; $20.5 million
• 20 Prideaux Street - 57-unit affordable seniors housing, $6 million
• 6544 Metral Drive – 32 rental units; $5.2 million
• 4900 Uplands Drive – Dodd's Furniture; $5 million
• 1965 Boxwood Road – Industrial; $2.1 million
• 1925 Boxwood Road – Industrial; $2 million
• 440 Selby Street – 45-unit hotel; $2.8 million
• 6973 Island Highway North - 49 rental units; $6 million
• 3425 Uplands Drive – 28 units of affordable housing; $5 million
• 1515 Dufferin Crescent – 5-storey medical office building and parkade; $12 million

TOP-CALIBRE - Nanaimo building projects brought home the honours from the Vancouver Island Real Estate Board Commercial Building Awards.The awards recognize the best commercial, community and industrial building projects north of the Malahat.The 2019 Awards of Excellence winners from Nanaimo are:

• Magnolia Apartments, multi-family townhome;
• Nuutsumuut Lelum, multi-family non market;
• Vancouver Island University Centre for Health and Science, institutional;
• Harewood Centennial Park covered multi-purpose court, community;
• Quality Foods Harewood, retail.
• Legasea, a mixed-use condominium project, Judges’ Choice best overall entry.
Awards of merit went to Harbour View Autohaus, Building Envelope Remediation Construction Service, Harbour City Flats. La-Z-Boy Furniture Gallery got an honourable mention.

SHOWCASE YOUR SKILLS - Nanaimo Parks and Recreation wants community members to showcase their skills as instructors in the Fall/Winter Activity Guide. Program proposals for a variety of areas, including dance, cooking, language, arts and crafts, music, outdoor recreation, and more are now being accepted. Programs may be designed in any category and for any age group, however applicants are encouraged to review the current Activity Guide in an effort to avoid duplication of currently scheduled classes. Applicants can now complete the process, including attaching their resume and other relevant certifications, in an easy to use, one-step online form.

Melynda Bergen

GOOD MORNING NANAIMO – Vancouver Island University biology student Melynda Bergen made history at the University of BC’s Multidisciplinary Undergraduate Research Conference last month. She is the first non-UBC student to win an award. To recognize the diverse and impressive research happening at the undergraduate level outside of UBC, event organizers extended the invitation to nearby universities. More than 260 presentations were delivered by more than 400 students. Three VIU students were chosen to showcase their research – Bergen, who presented a 10-minute talk about the Synthesis of novel coumarins as potential antibiotics, and Csilla Vasarhelyi and Rae Wilson, who were invited to be part of the Poster Session. https://news.viu.ca/viu-student-makes-impression-ubc-undergraduate-research-conference

THOUGHT FOR TODAY - Foreign aid is taking money from the poor people of a rich country and giving it to the rich people of a poor country.

Rand Paul

April 5, 2019

THERE'S A LIGHT at the end of the tunnel. The ongoing saga of legal issues relating to former city management staff appears to be slowly fading into history – there are three human rights complaints along with one wrongful dismissal case remaining. The human rights complaints relate to former Chief Administration Officer Tracy Samra and former Chief Financial Officer Victor Mema. The third human rights complaint is by Brad McRae who is also has a wrongful dismissal suit. There's also one unnamed longer-outstanding wrongful dismissal suit.

THIS WEEKEND - If you're looking for something to do this weekend check out the Ukrainian Easter Bazaar on Saturday, 11 a.m. to 3 p.m. at the Canadian-Ukrainian Culture Society at 4017 Victoria Avenue. The Vesna Ukrainian dancers will be there.

Diane Brennan

GOOD MORNING NANAIMO – Congratulations to my former city council buddy Diane Brennan on her appointment to the board of Island Health. Diane was a Nanaimo city councillor from 2002 to 2008 and from 2011 to 2018. I had the pleasure of working with Diane as co-chair of the Safer Nanaimo Committee which resulted in more than 120 housing units built for the city’s homeless. Diane also chaired or was a member of several other committees including Social Planning, Heritage and Culture Committee, Protocol Agreement Working Group with the Snuneymuxw. She was Deputy Chair of the Regional District Board where she served on the Executive Committee and chaired the Regional Transit Committee and the Regional Parks and Trails Committee. Diane holds a Bachelors degree in Sociology from the University of Victoria.

Jeff Lott

GOOD MORNING NANAIMO – Congratulations to Nanaimo's Jeff Lott for being named to this year’s BC Achievement Community Awards. The recipients were announced by Premier John Horgan and Anne Giardini, Chair of the BC Achievement Foundation. Jeff is a retired RCMP Superintendent. He is a dedicated volunteer leader. As a stem cell courier with the Bruce Denniston Bone Marrow Society Jeff has taken more than 20 trips across the world to pick up stem cells for Vancouver General and BC Children’s hospitals. For 17 years he served as an Honorary Aide De Camp for the Lieutenant Governor of British Columbia and is an active board member for a number of Nanaimo’s social agencies, notably St. John Ambulance. Jeff was also the President of the 2014 BC Summer Games in Nanaimo.

THEY ARE HER HEROES - Two Nanaimo kids are heroes in Lorraine Buchan’s book. They came to her aid after she fell and banged her head. 90-year-old Lorraine took out her trash March 14 at about 10:30 p.m. when she fell and banged her head. She lay there for a couple of hours when she couldn’t get back on her feet. She eventually crawled into her home on her hands and knees and then lay there with the lights on and the front door open all that night, calling for help, but no one responded. She lay in the cold for 10 hours until the following morning when Noah Lutz, 8, and his sister Meghan, 11, heard her weak cries for help.Noah stayed with Buchan until he heard a car start next door and ran to get help.Meghan went looking for help. Lorraine was in hospital for eight days.She now has a Lifeline medical alert device; she’s not ready yet to give up her independent living.

HATCHING COMFORT - The wood ducks at Oliver Woods will have a new nesting option with the installation of four wooden duck boxes. This installation is in partnership with the Nanaimo NatureKids and will be installed the first week of April. Wooden duck boxes are designed to provide a safe nesting area where natural cavities are limited.  This is not the first program Parks and Recreation and the Nanaimo NatureKids have tackled. Last year several maternity bat boxes were installed at Diver Lake and Linley Point Gyro Park to give bats a safe place to roost, raise babies and cover from the elements. Bats play an important role in the environment, especially controlling insect populations.

April 1, 2019

GOOD MORNING NANAIMO– April Fool’s Day shenanigans are getting somewhat mundane, most have run the course of false and/or misleading stories. You know, ones about nuclear submarines at Ranch Point at Nanoose, the annual chairlift up Mount Benson story. Stories like that can have consequences. Some years ago the late Larry Thomas and I concocted an April Fool’s story about the proposed development of a two-storey golf course on Newcastle Island. The two storeys should have been the giveaway, but some readers bought into it hook, line and sinker. It stirred serious fallout. We had not alerted Mayor Joy Leach that the story would be coming in the News Bulletin, and the crap hit the fan. The Mayor’s office received many very nasty phone calls. To them it wasn’t funny even though most readers enjoyed a belly laugh.

AIDAN WEBBER LEGACY - Several hundred people attended Aidan Webber’s celebration of life on Sunday at the Beban Park social centre. The Nanaimo BMX community, friends and family remembered the 18-year-old, who died in a workplace accident March. An Aidan Webber Legacy Fund has been set up to promote youth participation in cycling and other sports, support high-level athletes, and help young people overcome barriers to realizing their goals. Aidan was an international-calibre BMX rider, nationally ranked both in Canada and the U.S. and a reigning Canadian champion. His month said that above all those accomplishments was his ability to connect and to relate to people. He was a complete soul with the ability to draw people in and make them feel good and loved and special. For more information about the Aidan Webber Legacy Fund, click here.

VANCOUVER ISLAND UNIVERSITY - has two new Elders-in-Residence at the Nanaimo Campus.Since the program started, VIU Elders-in-Residence have played an important role at the institution, providing cultural and spiritual guidance and other supports for students and employees, and supporting the use of Indigenous knowledge and language at the institution. Maxine Hayman Matilpi (Lakwa) and Barney Williams (Klitch-wii-taa) are the institution’s newest Elders-in-Residence at the Nanaimo Campus.Matilpi also works for Vancouver-based West Coast Environmental Law as the project lead for the Revitalizing Indigenous Law for Land, Air and Water (RELAW) project. Through this project, she works with First Nations around the province to articulate traditional laws, finding principles of laws within ancient stories.Williams of the Tla-o-qui-aht First Nation on Meares Island near Tofino, is also a VIU alumnus – he received his diploma in social work in 1973.As a young boy, Williams was put in residential school. Suffering from post-traumatic stress disorder after this experience, he turned to alcohol. Eventually, he sought a career first as a social worker and then as a counsellor, helping others with similar experiences.

WEED INVASION- The signs of spring are popping up everywhere, including native blooms such as Fawn Lilies, Camas and Sea Blush. At this time of year the City works with community groups on invasive plants in parks and offers our drop zones, where you can drop off invasive plants, It also puts the focus on the impact of invasive plants in our parks and natural areas.  Plants, such as English ivy, Scotch broom and Himalayan blackberry are well established in Nanaimo while others, such as Knotweed and Giant Hogweed are relatively new but can have a severe negative impact on residents. Volunteer work parties work with City staff at various locations throughout the City, including Linley Valley Park, Bowen Park, Serauxmen Field and Pipers Lagoon Park. Additionally, residents who remove invasive plants from their own property can bring them to the two drop zones for safe disposal. If you want to join in any of the scheduled work parties or would like to co-ordinate one on your own, register through the City website or call 250-756-5200 for more information. 

THANK YOU – to all the staff and volunteers at the United Way.

Would you like to thank someone? Send your suggestion to Editor@nanaimonet.com

GOOD MORNING NANAIMO – 16-year-old Arianna Phillips of Nanaimo won two gold and one bronze medals at the Special Olympics World Summer Games, but that wasn’t what thrilled her the most. She got the most satisfaction of setting new personal bests in all three competitions, 4x100 metre relay, 200 metre run and high jump, which made the competition in Abu Dhabi such a success. “That hit me more than getting the medals around my neck. I'm always hoping for a new personal best. That's always an athlete's goal,” she told  NanaimoNewsNOW once she was back home after an arduous journey marred by numerous delayed flights. She cleared a high jump at 1.32 metres.

TALKING ART –  Conversations is an art exhibit opening April 11, 5:30 p.m. at the John Harris Gallery, 115 Haliburton Street. There will be works by the Group of Five, Tony Martin, Donna Mattila, Donna Nona, Ted Polkinghorne and Katherine Surridge. The exhibit continues to April 27. More info at www.johnharrisgallery.com

THANK YOU – Nanaimo Marine Search and Rescue, station 27

Friday, March 29, 2019

GOOD MORNING NANAIMO – We have an election campaign going on.Where have we heard that before? If you want to get the real low-down on what's happending, you can attend a couple of events on Saturday. First it's the Conservative candidate John Hirst's campaign office opening at 195 Commercial St. at 10 a.m. After that, go out for a nice lunch and then head over to the NDP nomination meeting at the Conference Centre at 1 p.m. for registration  and 2 p.m. for the nomination which has four candidates seeking to punch their ticket to run in the May 6 election. It happened earlier this week, but Gree Party's Paul Manly's office is open at 1601 Bowen Road. Liberals and the People's Party have not provided any information to date.

SWEEPING VICTORY - A team of Nanaimo women are the new B.C. club champions. Congratulations to Mary Ellen Konyer, Sharon Wright, Karen Hungar and Kellie Rice who won the women’s title at Curl B.C.’s B.C. Club Challenge in Abbotsford.

March 28, 2019

GOOD MORNING NANAIMO – You don’t have to be smart to be a crook. Police are looking for a cerebrally-challenged thief who had his picture taken while stealing security cameras from a business on Rosstown Road. The theft happened Sunday shortly before 1 a.m. and the cameras managed to capture images of the suspect, who wore a hat and bandana to conceal his features. Investigators suggest he is tall since he was able to reach the cameras which were mounted quite high up. Anyone with information is asked to call the Nanaimo RCMP at 250-754-2345. To remain anonymous, contact Crime Stoppers at 1-800-222-8477 or submit a tip online at www.nanaimocrimestoppers.com.

March 27, 2019

GOOD MORNING NANAIMO – Janice Stromar of Nanaimo has been elected director of the B.C. Real Estate Association at its general meeting this week. Janice has been a licensed realtor for 15 years and served as president and vice president of the Vancouver Island Real Estate Board, retiring in 2018. She is a former member of the Nanaimo Affordable Housing Steering Committee, and prior to becoming a Realtor, she was a paralegal for 10 years. 

GOODBYE HOWARD – Howard is moving to Saanich. The world's tallest gnome is leaving the mid-island after arrangements could not be made to keep the nearly 30-foot landmark in Nanoose Bay. Bridget Matewish, whose grandfather Ron Hale built the fixture on top of Nanoose Bay hill, said he is headed to Galey Farms in Saanich. She said their ability to fix and repair him was a big factor, but also the exposure to family and kids which is what he was originally there for. Staff at Galey Farms builds and repairs their own infrastructure and will properly restore Howard, who's in need of extensive upgrades.

GET LUCKY IN PORT ALBERNI – If you buy lottery tickets, A-1 Convenience in Port Alberni seems to be the place to go. It’s one of the winningest convenience stores in B.C. Lottery Corporation history. Last Friday, A-1 Convenience on Redford Street celebrated its fith, million-dollar and multi-million-dollar winners in its 26-year anniversary.

BE ALERT -  Susan Simosko, Sidney BIA president, was the victim of a cyber-security breach that compromised her e-mail account, sending out a false plea for help to her entire contact list. She says hackers appealed to the generosity of her friends, colleagues and family members.  The scam was based on a false emergency situation asking them to send $200 in Google Pay cards, to a bogus email address with her name on it. She says many gave generously, thinking Simosko needed genuine help. She says she feels badly for those who were duped by the impersonation.

GOOSE STEPPING – People going for walks these days need to tread lightly. The goose nesting season is on for the next few weeks. Canada geese will pairing up and start nesting, usually in areas near bodies of water. During this time, geese are especially aggressive, says Mike McGrenere, of the BC Field Ornithologists. Usually the geese will give you a warning by hissing. If they feel you are a threat they will charge at you

BOOK SALE – Another reminder the Rotary Spring Book Sale is next week – April 5-14 with more than 100,000 titles, priced at $2-3.

THANK YOU – To all the land search and rescue volunteers to step forward in the time of need.

March 24, 2019

GOOD MORNING NANAIMO – The rising cost of gasoline has some motorists looking at electric vehicles. Before you jump in the deep end, check out about charging your new car. If you have a single family home and can install a charging station, fine, but check out the costs first. It can be a real shock. If you live in a strata, be extra prudent. Most don’t have the electrical wiring or the ability to install, and you have to get the approval from the strata corporation. Also find out what the cost of operating an EV will be on your Hydro bill. Those government incentives for electric vehicles may well evaporate with the extra costs. 

CELL PHONE providers are hiking their rates, without excuse, except that they want more money. That’s what we are hearing from numerous readers. A posting this morning from a Nanaimo resident who is in Vietnam. He reports pay $9 Canadian per month for get unlimited data, messaging, and phone anywhere in Vietnam. Another one sent a note to say in India he is paying $15 per month with 2 gb of download daily. In Canada we pay $80 per month for 4gb, compared to Australia where its $45 per month for 50gb

THEN IT WAS GONE – We never thought we’d hear west coasters longing for rain, but after breaking temperature records for highs last week some people are actually uttering that wish. Meteorologist Matt MacDonald says we haven't seen a pattern this intense for this time of year going back to the March of 1994 and we've even been breaking records from that year. High temperatures were 18.5C on Monday, 20C on Tuesday and 21C on Wednesday. MacDonald says March 17 and 21 missed setting daily records by less than one degree and highs were around 11-degrees warmer than normal averages for this time of year. The warmer temperature and lower precipitation has raised concerns about a possible drought on the Island this summer.

HAPPY RETIREMENT - Nanaimo Child Development Centre  Resource development manager Michelle Kocourek is retiring at the end of May after 17-years of going to bat for kids in need of assistance for their developmental and physical needs. NanaimoNewsNOW did an in-depth interview with Kocourek. It’s worth reading. HERE

BOOK SALE – Another reminder the Rotary Spring Book Sale is next week – April 5-14 with more than 100,000 titles, priced at $2-3.

THANK YOU –  Crossroads Crisis Pregnanancy Centre for all the services they provide to those in need in our community – clothing, baby supplies and counselling.

March 22, 2019

GOOD MORNING NANAIMO – Howard the gnome may not be homeless much longer. A shortlist of potential new homes has been released for the nearly eight-metre-tall statue in Nanoose. The statue was originally built as a mascot for an amusement park that once operated at the same location. It was sold, but the gnome stood pat as the gas station moved in. Bridget Matewish, the granddaughter of Ron Hale, who erected the statue, said they want to find a new home where people can visit and take photos. Now, the family has narrowed it down to five potential new homes. 

• Coombs Antique Store
• The Log Cabin General Store (Parksville)
• Fast Time Grand Prix (Parksville)
• Galey Farms (Saanich)
• Sayward Whitewater Resort

BOOK WORMS  The Rotary Spring used book sale returns April 5-14 at Nanaimo North Town Centre (Rutherford Mall). The've got more than 100,000 titles. And the price is right at two to three bucks, and you're helping the community when you buy. See you there.

THANK YOU - Royal Canadian Marine Search and Rescue, Nanaimo station 27. The boating season is upon us and this group of volunteers puts in countless hours of training around the clock to make sure we are all safe on the water.

March 21, 2019

GOOD MORNING NANAIMO – A huge salute to Dr. Dick Beamish for organizing a breakthrough salmon research project involving five countries. That in itself is a formidable task. Beamish raised more than $1 million for the expedition. Local news media toured the Russian research ship for a first-hand look at the operation. The scientists from Canada and Russia whom we talked to spoke of absolutely ground-breaking results from the research in the Gulf of Alaska. Scientists from Russia, Canada, the United States, Japan and Korea worked side by side studying and discovering things that swept away many long-standing beliefs about the migratory habits of the fish. The trip to Nanaimo, after stopping in Vancouver, was an added cost, but Levi Sampson of Harmac footed the bill so local people could get a closer look, especially those who work at the Pacific Biological Station. Get more detailed reports of the project here. 

MORE AT CHEK TV

NEWS BULLETIN

CULTURE AWARDS – The Nanaimo Culture and Heritage awards will be presented on April 18, and the tickets are free. The City will honour Dean Chadwick, Nico Rhodes and the Nanaimo Historical Society for their contributions to culture and heritage. The awards night is at the Port Theatre. Mayor Leonard Krog says culture and heritage are deeply woven into the fabric of Nanaimo and that’s truly worth celebrating.  The tickets are free but you must reserve online at www.porttheatre.com or the Port Theatre Box Office at 250-754-8550.

VANCOUVER ISLAND REAL ESTATE - Nanaimo realtor Kaye Broens of eXp Realty is the new president of the Vancouver Island Real Estate Board. Kevin Reid of the Comox Valley is president. Kelly O’Dwyer, Blair Herbert, and Judy Gray are new board members, joining Erica Kavanaugh, Chris Quinn, Ray Francis and Ian Mackay. VIREB represents more than 1,000 real estate agents on Vancouver Island.

PARTING THOUGHT - For every minute you are angry you lose 60 seconds of happiness.

March 18-19, 2019

GOOD MORNING NANAIMO – Congratulations to Nanaimo sisters Sophia Seward-Good and Aunalee Boyd-Good who will get to feature their Indigenous clothing design house Ay Lelum at the Vancouver Fashion Show. They will show off their latest collection, called K'wuyucun, at the renowned fashion show this Friday. It tells the family story of the first grizzly bear through the clothes worn on the runway, the homemade music designed for the showcase and art from their father William Good and brother Joel Good.

A MURAL dedicated to the memory of Makayla Chang was unveiled at Harewood Centennial Park on the weekend. The 16-year-old Chang was killed two years ago. “She loved art. She loved creativity. She loved dance,” said Ajay MacLeod, a friend and driving force behind the mural. “Any opportunity to express in a creative way would’ve been totally up her alley and I think she would’ve been really proud of her peers who put this together.” Despite extensive searches, it was two months before RCMP discovered her body. Mounties said it was a homicide but no one has been charged.

PARTING THOUGHT – Whenever you find yourself doubting how far you can go, just remember how far you have come. Remember everything you have faced, all the battles you have won and all the fears you have overcome.

March 17, 2019

GOOD MORNING NANAIMO - Have you started on your income tax preparation yet? The deadline is getting every closer.  Income tax filing time brings our the scammers like the police CRA scam, a long-running favourite of fraudsters. The scam usually manifests as a phone call by someone impersonating a Canada Revenue Agency agent who claims a recent audit has identified discrepancies from past filed taxes. The intended victim is threatened with arrest and seizure of assets if the outstanding bill isn’t paid within a short period of time. Payment is often demanded in iTunes gift cards or through an online money transfer service. Canada Revenue Agency does not deal with tax issues over the phone, so you you get a phone call, laugh loudly and tell the caller where to go. 

LOOKING FOR A HOME - Howard is the world’s tallest gnome and he may have a new home – in Langford. Galaxy Motors is relocating to a new nine-acre plot in Langford. Galaxy owner Phil Dagger hopes the new location will become Howard’s home. He saw the news coverage and reasoned it could be a great attention-getter for his new dealership location. For anyone not familiar with Howard, he is a 25-foot (eight-metre) tall gnome beside the Island Highway at the Chevron gas station near Nanoose.

VANCOUVER ISLAND UNIVERSITY’S next president is prepping for her new role, visiting campus for the first time since she was hired. Deborah Saucier visited the Island last weekend and was at the Nanaimo campus Monday. The current president of Edmonton’s MacEwan University won’t start her new job at VIU until July, but says she will be back and forth between now and then. Saucier said she hadn’t been looking for a new job, but couldn’t pass up a chance to come to VIU, an institution she said she’d been watching with interest since it was Malaspina University-College. She said she’s had other opportunities and said no, but the opportunity at VIU was just so special that she couldn’t possibly live with herself if she had turned it down.

March 15, 2019

GOOD MORNING NANAIMO –  Way to start off the day, a note from Brian Peckford that Aspengrove tops the list of elementary schools in Nanaimo Ladysmith Region. The Fraser Institute rankings for elementary schools in this region shows that independent Aspengrove tops the list in overall ranking for 2018. Tied for second place are McGirr Elementary and Pauline Haarer, both public schools. The testing to achieve these results relies on the Foundation Skills Assessment system covering reading, writing and numeracy in Grade 4 and Grade 7. One year may be too short a time , but it gives a snap shot of achievement at the schools for the last year. Over the last five years, Aspengrove remains in first and Hammond Bay comes in second. Then McGirr and Pauline Haarer third and fourth followed by Nanaimo Christian.
The full report is available online at the Fraser Institute.

SUPPORT FOR LOCAL ORGANIZATIONS - Our MLAs have been busy handing out grants this week. Sheila Malcolmson and Doug Routley announced the following: 

•  Nanaimo Art Gallery Society - $60,000
• Nanaimo & District Museum & Archives Society - $34,800
• Gabriola Arts Council - $38,680
• Arts Council of Ladysmith and District - $8,000
• Mid-Island Metis Nation Association- $7,000

Arts & Creative Writing Awards:

• Hilary E. Peach - $6,000
• Andromeda Romano-Lax - $12,000

 Multiculturism Grant Program. 

• Nanaimo Literacy Association, $4,000
• Crimson Coast Dance Society, $4,000
• Central Vancouver Island Multicultural Society $4,000. 

The program promotes intercultural trust and understanding by funding projects that bring people together in creative ways to enhance multiculturalism and address racism

DON’T WAIT TOO LONG – If you have not opted out of the new speculation and vacancy tax you could wind up paying a heft extra tab on your property tax. The deadline for doing the paper work is March 31. About 99 per cent of British Columbians can be exempt from the tax but only if file their declaration before the end of the month. And it’s easy, you can do it by phone or online with the information you got in the mail last month. If there are more than one registered owner, each of them has to make the declaration.

PARTING THOUGHT – Never lie to someone who trusts you, and never trust someone who lies to you.

March 13, 2019

GOOD MORNING NANAIMO– The Vancouver Island Symphony is known for its innovative fund raising events, and their latest one will surely bring home the bacon. That’s actually the name of the event “The Bacon Bevy Bash” which combines it with the Island’s craft brewers, cideries, wineries and distilleries for an evening of bacon-inspired fine fare from finger foods and salads to main courses and desserts. It all happens this Friday so you don’t have a lot of time to make up your mind. Teri Smith of Pacific Island Entertainment came up with the idea for Nanaimo’s first bacon bash while at an event in the Okanagan in last summer hosted by a college’s culinary department. Tickets are $52, with a limit of 350 available online only until noon Friday. Beverage taster tickets are $2 each throughout the evening. For tickets go to https://baconbevybash.com/

B.C. FERRIES is upgrading its fleet and wants to hear people’s thoughts and their ideas about how to improve the travelling experience. Public engagement is under way as part of a project to replace four existing vessels with up to five new ones. The new vessels will service routes between Vancouver Island and Vancouver, replacing the Queen of Cowichan, Queen of Alberni, Queen of Coquitlam and Queen of New Westminster. “There is still a lot to be decided as we work to keep fares affordable, reduce our environmental impact, plan for future flexibility and enhance the onboard experience for customers,” CEO Mark Collins. MORE

TIME FOR CHANGE – Now that we’ve adopted Pacific daylight time for the spring and summer, it may become permanent. Premier John Horgan is looking at making daylight saving time a year-round system. He has written to the governors of California, Oregon and Washington, where state legislators are all considering bills that would seek an exemption from U.S. federal law so they can opt out of turning the clocks back an hour each fall and then ahead in the spring. Horgan said the seasonal time change is the number one issue he is contacted about. Horgan said if there is a policy change it has to be done in all four jurisdictions. MORE

IRISH STEW – Lantzvillle Legion is celebrating St. Patrick’s Day with a dinner and dance Saturday night at the branch. Featured fare on the menu is Irish stew, what else? It starts at 6 p.m. with cocktails and the dinner  at 6:30. And if you fancy a little more, there’s music and dancing. Tickets, at 30 bucks,  are available at the bar. You can call 250-390-2108 to reserve.

HONOUR FOR TOMMY - Former Nanaimo member of Parliament Tommy Douglas is being permanently recognized as a person of national historic significance. Aside from his service here, he was the CCF premier of Saskatchewan and former leader of the federal NDP. He is also known as the father of medicare. A plaque was unveiled in Regina dedicated to Tommy. "He was involved in so many public policy issues that truly made a difference in people's lives," Regina MP Ralph Goodale said. MORE

DON’T WAIT TOO LONG – If you have not opted out of the new speculation and vacancy tax you could wind up paying a heft extra tab on your property tax. The deadline for doing the paper work is March 31. About 99 per cent of British Columbians can be exempt from the tax but only if file their declaration before the end of the month. And it’s easy, you can do it by phone or online with the information you got in the mail last month. If there are more than one registered owner, each of them has to make the declaration.

MORE OPTIONS – Homeless people in the city now have more options on where to lay their heads at night. The city has changed the rules on overnight shelters, allowing camping in T Beban Park, Bowen Park and Colliery Dam Park because they are “broader parks that can balance the rights of all members of the community for usage and access.” Still of limites are Maffeo Sutton Park, Georgia Park, McGregor Park, Kinsmen Park, Queen Elizabeth II Promenade, the Departure Bay seawall and city hall and surrounding property. MORE

CUT THE MUSIC – Here’s something for fans of a cappella entertainment. Nanaimo’s Tidesmen Chorus opens the show at the Port Theatre tonight at 7 p.m. The evening’s show is the inaugural SING! BC featuring award winning Countermeasure performing Cole Porter to Britney Spears to original songs. Countermeasure features 13 of Canada’s top vocal talents, performing innovative arrangements of pop favourites, classic jazz standards, and original songs. Their diverse songbook has equipped the group to headline international choral concerts, play the main stage at jazz festivals, entice club-goers onto the dance floor. Tickets are $28 to $32, with students at $10.

March 12, 2019

A SAD DAY– Aidan Webber of Nanaimo died in a workplace accident on northern Vancouver Island on Sunday. The national champion BMX athlete was in his late teens. Gillian Burnett, of WorkSafe B.C. said WorkSafe was notified about an incident that resulted in the death of a young worker at 10:40 a.m. Sunday. Preliminary details indicate it happened about 10 miles off the coast of Port Hardy and involved a fish pen. Webber won the junior men’s national championship at Cycling Canada’s BMX national championships in Drummondville, Que., last July. In 2017, he was awarded the Steve Smith Memorial Award for achievement in extreme sports after winning the national championship in 2016.

LIGHTS, CAMERA, ACTION –B.C. is where the action is when it comes to broadcast drama pilots being shot this year. Vancouver tops the list with 10 drama pilots, up from six last year, an all-time high and is the most of any city this pilot season. In total, almost a third of the broadcast drama pilots this year are headed to Canada – 10 in Vancouver, one in Toronto. Los Angeles dropped from eight hour-long network pilots last year to five. That busy schedule has spill over effects, keeping the B.C. industry hopping. Meanwhile, good news on the local front, Chesapeake Shores has been renewed for a fourth season, shooting in Nanaimo, Parksville and Qualicum Beach.

PARTING THOUGHT – I’m not getting old, I’m just becoming a classic.

Monday, March 11, 2019

GOOD MORNING NANAIMO – It was nice of our Governor General to drop in on Saturday. Governor General Julie Payette made a special trip to the COCO Cafe in Cedar and stayed for lunch. The COCO employs people with disabilities. “It's so heart warming and also rewarding,” Payette was quoted after her tour of the kitchen, where she took photos with staff and pressed grooves into the tops of freshly made peanut butter cookies. Payette said the success of COCO Cafe is a testament to how important it is to open the doors to all when hiring.

JUST GET IT DONE –  The problem is they may not get what you intend if you don’t have a legal will. Online legal platform Willful surveyed 800 British Columbians and found 58 per cent do not have a will. Millennials are among the worst prepared – 90 per  cent in B.C. do not have a legal document that sets out what should be done with their money and property after they die. Similarly, 88 per cent of Canadians between the ages of 27 to 34 don’t either. Twenty-nine per cent of Canadian adults who do not have their affairs in order said it was in part because they don’t know where to start or believe they can’t afford one. So be aware, if you don't make a will your blood relatives will get to give real meaning to the word blood.

THE REST OF THE NEWS – If you're looking for even more news, we've added a BC section to Nanaimonet.com. CLICK HERE or the menu bar at the top of this page and learn about LNG Canada's full steam ahead, mansions renting in Vancouver on the really cheap, and US regulators approving genetically-modified salmon.

PARTING THOUGHT – Size isn’t everything – the whale is endangered while the ant continues to do just fine.

Photo courtesy of Gary Korpan

GONE SWIMMING – There seems to be no depth to the stupidity of some people. The owner of a 2018 Jeep Wrangler was driving into the channel during a party at Pipers Lagoon when the vehicle got stuck . . . and the tide came in.  Nanaimo RCMP and Fire Rescue were called. They couldn't remove the vehicle so Fisheries and Oceans was called in to assist. Aside from destroying the vehicle, the owner is looking at possible follow up with a probable marine pollution incident. Oooh, that will cost money.

CLICK IT OR TICKET – Seat belt legislation has been around for about 40 years but some people still tempt fate by not buckling up. RCMP Traffic Services handed out 60 tickets to drivers not wearing a seat belt at various central island locations during a one-day blitz March 1. Seat belts are one of the simplest ways to reduce the chances of being injured in a collision. Police hear every excuse possible from people caught without a seat belt on.

MOVING ON – Congratulations to Nanaimo Ladysmith Public Schools assistant superintendent Robyn Gray who has been named superintendent and CEO of the Cowichan Valley School District. She begins her new job April 1. During her time with Nanaimo school district, she served as director of instruction, principal of John Barsby and Dover Bay secondary schools, vice-principal of Ladysmith Secondary and the district principal of aboriginal education.

CLEANING UP THE MESS– The final phase of cleanup started last week at the former Jean Burns building which burned down three years ago. Heavy machinery has been clearing remaining debris and knocking down concrete and structural issues that could pose safety hazards. The process has continued in stages following a fire that destroyed the 100-year-old building in 2016. To date no there have been no offers to purchase it and Crankshaw Holdings plans to maintain the site as it is. A two-phase environmental assessment has to be conducted along with some geotechnical work to determine what can be built there.

PARTING THOUGHT – Don’t let anyone’s Ignorance, hate or negativity stop you from being the best person you can be.

Screensaver of found Iphone.

HAVE YOU LOST your cell phone? Nanaimo RCMP have a green green Iphone which was found on a street in central Nanaimo on Wednesday February 27. Investigators were able to retrieve the phone number and spoke with a woman who said it was not hers. A screen shot of the screen saver may help to identify the owner. If you have any information, please contact the Nanaimo RCMP at 250-754-2345 and quote file # 2019-6914.

GNOME WITHOUT A HOME– The Nanoose Bay gnome is being evicted and he has to be out by April 30. Howard, as he’s been known, has been a landmark for decades beside the Island Highway at the Chevron gas station. Bridget Matewish, whose grandfather Ron Hale built the world's largest gnome on top of Nanoose Bay hill, said the owners of the gas station plan to dismantle the structure by April 30. She has appealed on Facebook to find a new home for the famous nearly 30-foot high mascot. “The risk of moving the gnome from the facility and returning it to a new base along with the future potential risk of the gnome failing and causing an accident was a risk the business no longer wants to be liable for,” a statement sent to Matewish said. The gnome was built primarily from recycled items on the property with help from her artist grandmother. Howard quickly became the face of Gnome Man's Land, a former theme park featuring go-karts and a giant slide.

NANAIMO ABORIGINAL CENTRE youth will have access to more opportunities, thanks to the donation of a van to the centre on Tuesday. Harris Mazda and the Garrett Paquette Fund for Families in Need provided the vehicle. Wendy Beaton, a teacher at the Tsawalk Learning Centre, said many of their learners have struggled to have success in other learning environments and removing as many barriers to learning. Hats off to Harris and The Garrett Paquette Fund.

THIS WOULD BE FUNNY if it wasn’t so serious. A man wanted on nine arrest warrants called the Abbotsford Police Department last week to say he had moved to Calgary, and he used a phone that is linked to two investigations into the fraudulent purchases of high-end SUVs. Sgt. Judy Bird said officers had been trying to reach Stevie Ryan Ziko, 32, to convince him to turn himself in. Bird said Ziko returned the calls, telling police that he had moved to Calgary and they won’t be able to find him. However, they believe that Ziko is in the Lower Mainland.

PARTING THOUGHT – Heard this one yesterday. A Nigerian man died and authorities found $27 billion in his apartment. He had been trying to give it away for 15 years but nobody would return his calls.

Tuesday, March 5, 2019

NEVER MIND THE WEATHER it's time to get naked for the annual B.C. Schizophrenia Society fundraiser Saturday and Sunday (March 9-10) at WildPlay. The 13th annual naked bungy jump raises funds for the Victoria Branch of B.C. Schizophrenia Society, is expected to attract close to 200 jumpers. Since its inception, 1,990 adults have taken part in the naked jump and raised over $216,237, enabling BCSS Victoria to help an estimated 33,000 people by providing peer support, family support programs and information.

March 2, 2019

WEEKEND GOOD MORNING – Baby, it really was cold outside. Last month was one of the coldest on record in Nanaimo and it also brought the city more snow than any other urban centre in the country. The bone-chilling average temperature of just above freezing was almost 4 Celsius colder than what we’re used to – the fourth-coldest February on record dating back more than 100 years. “Those 88 centimeters (about 36 inches) were the largest amount of snow in any city in Canada until that point”, said Meteorologist Armel Castellan. That shattered the 30-year average of 10.9 cm. 

PAY UP OR WALK – As of this week, you may have to buy a bus pass or walk if you're behind on child or spousal support payments – you could lose your driver’s licence if you don't pay up. The Family Maintenance Enforcement Program (FMEP) granted ICBC the ability to cancel or refuse to renew the driver’s licence of someone with more than $3,000 in owed support payments. There are 70,000 parents enrolled in the FMEP, with an over-all payment rate of 92 per cent. 

NEW AREA CODE – Guess what, we’re running out of phone numbers, so we’re getting a new area code. The Canadian Radio-television and Telecommunications Commission has approved a new area code – 672 – across the province. The Canadian Numbering Administrator warned that B.C. will run out of its current area codes by May, 2020. At present, 236 and 778 serve all of B.C., 604 serves the Lower Mainland and 250 serves the rest of B.C.

SENIORS ON SHOW – Nanaimo Harbour City Seniors want you to know all about them. They are staging an array of seniors activities at an open house on Tuesday (March 5) at the Bowen Park activity centre. If you are 60 plus you can drop in and meet members and get information on the many classes available – carving, art, exercise, singing and others. There will be tables and demonstrations so prospective members can get an idea of what the various activites entail and have any questions answered. MORE 

WE’RE NOT ALONE – Three fires in two days, and nine total since it sprang up on city property, a tent city in Maple Ridge got an evacuation order on Friday. An evacuation order was issued by the Provincial Fire Commissioner after an application by Maple Ridge’s Fire Chief. The order follows three fires – two Wednesday and another early Friday. 

ENGLISH - WHO AND THAT – Any reference to a human is who, every other reference is that. “The little boy WHO ran after the dog THAT had escaped from the woman WHO was taking it for a walk on the street THAT is next to her house. 

PARTING THOUGHT – Hey, I won $2 in the lottery this week. Please respect our privacy as our family decides how to move forward in this exciting pivotal moment in time.

Crime Stoppers paper
shredding day is today

Crime Stoppers is holding another document shredding event today, March 2, 10 am to 4 pm, at Brooks Landing Save On Foods in co-operation with Best Shredding. Your personal and commercial documents will be shredded for a minimum donation of $20. And while you’re waiting you can get a scrumptious hamburger or hotdog prepared by Crime Stoppers and Nanaimo RCMP Victim Services volunteers. Save On Foods, a long time supporter of Crime Stoppers, is donating all the food. Crime Stoppers does not get government funding and is run by volunteers, says co-ordinator Cst. Gary O’Brien. Shredding confidential documents significantly reduces your chances of becoming a victim of identity theft, which can destroy you financially, wipe out your credit and take years to recover.

March 1, 2019

GOOD MORNING NANAIMO – The Parks & Rec Spring and Summer Activity Guide is available on the City's website and available for pick up from City recreation Friday. Spring and summer recreation program registration begins on Wednesday, March 6.A variety of programs and events for all ages at facilities and parks throughout Nanaimo can be found in the Activity Guide along with information on other community programs. You can register online at recreation.nanaimo.ca or by phone at 250-756-5200 beginning March 6.

IT HAD TO HAPPEN – Small town girl Mira Laurence is back on the rock. She returns to Vancouver Island to join Pacific FC as part of the soccer club’s management team. Mira has been a fixture in Nanaimo during her 13 years at CTV Vancouver Island as sports anchor and covering the Nanaimo Clippers and other local sporting events. Welcome home, Buddy.

A  WARNING has been issued about a deadly mushroom and the importance of health-care providers recognizing signs of poisoning from a variety that is spreading along the Pacific coast. Dr. Omar Ahmad, head of critical care and emergency medicine for Island Health, said the so-called death cap mushroom can easily be mistaken for edible varieties and is responsible for 90 per cent of the world's mushroom-related fatalities. People who eat death caps can experience abdominal pain, vomiting and diarrhea within six to 12 hours, but a false recovery phase follows up to three days later and can prevent people from seeking medical help as toxins attack the liver and possibly the kidneys. Death caps were first discovered in B.C. on beech trees imported from Europe and they spread to native Garry oaks. There is no antidote for poisoning from a death.

ENGLISH - Hard and difficult – remember a rock is hard, a task is difficult.

PARTING THOUGHT – You know what’s cheaper than therapy? Admitting you are crazy and running with it.