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PQB News Year in Review: January to April 2024

Year in Review: January through April 2024

A look back at some of the major stories and issues in the PQB News from January to April of 2024. Check back for further installments.

Jan. 3

Qualicum Commons BrainBodyFitness project extended 

The BrainBodyFitness initiative was extended for another six months in its location at the Qualicum Commons.

The Qualicum School District Board of Education voted to allow the Qualicum Community Education and Wellness Society (QCEWS) use of room 12 until the end of June 2024.

The board heard an update from Bill Preston, QCEWS spokesperson, about the project that aims to enhance quality of life for participants through greater access to adaptive exercise equipment.

“We had a resounding expression of value and importance to people’s lives, the difference it made,” said Preston.

Council considers 4-storey Parksville development with affordable units

Parksville council is considering a four-storey mixed-use building development on McCarter Street.

The project at 150 McCarter St., if approved, would include 43 residential units and three ground-floor commercial units, according to a presentation to council’s Dec. 18 meeting.

Since the applicant plans to finance through Canada Mortgage and Housing Corporation (CMHC), 11 of the units will be affordable housing for 11 to 15 years, according to the presentation by James Garbutt. “We are committing to 25 per cent affordable housing,” he said.

Council directed city staff to provide required notice for a development variance permit and deferred consideration of the development permit.

QB Museum reports a successful year in 2023

The Qualicum Beach Museum has a new seasonal display that features toys and games of yesteryear.

The vintage toy exhibit includes toy soldiers, board games, books and more and will be at the museum through the winter season.

It capped off another successful year for the museum, which saw more than 3,600 admissions in 2023.

Lorraine Bell, museum director, told Qualicum Beach town council the museum is seeing more visitors and program participants.

“In part this is because we now have two full-time staff members, so we’re able to offer more events and outreach activities,” Bell said during her annual report to council.

Qualicum Beach glass artist does not let Parkinson’s stop her

Wendy Maurer has spent the last year relearning how to create her colourful glass bead art.

She’s been making her creations since 2006, but needed to learn to adjust after she began experiencing tremors in her left hand due to Parkinson’s.

When she taught, the first thing she would say to a student is “you need two steady hands” but she’s learned that’s not necessarily the case.

“That’s been my biggest challenge this year,” Maurer said. “After I first of all thought, ‘well I can’t do this anymore’, then I realized how important it is for me to have that creative outlet in my life.”

Jan. 10

Nanoose Bay residents oppose huge 2024 tax hike

Some Nanoose Bay residents are upset their tax bill for 2024 will be one of the highest in the Regional District of Nanaimo (RDN).

Home and property owners in Electoral Area E (Nanoose Bay) want to know why they face a 17.5 per cent property tax increase in 2024. For a home appraised at $1,302,858, taxes will go up by $173 this year, to $1,162 from $990 in 2023

The Northwest Nanoose Bay Residents Association (NNRA) addressed the issue with Area E director Bob Rogers. He explained to the NNRA the increases depend on the RDN services Nanoose Bay residents use.

The RDN provides close to 110 services to many residents in the region that include water, waste water, solid waste, transit parks and recreation and more.

TOSH arts centre facing financial hardships

The Old School House (TOSH) is facing some financial hardships and an amendment to its lease with the Town of Qualicum Beach is just the latest challenge it will need to weather.

The arts centre functions as a self-funded organization and relies on its membership, corporate sponsors and donors to keep the doors open and programs running, according to executive director Illana Hester.

The COVID-19 pandemic disruption impacted revenues and programming has been restructured since then, Hester said.

“We’re just trying to keep art in session and try and support the arts, and try to support the community,” she said.

Although the town is responsible for the building’s exterior, TOSH is not funded by the town and pays to use the building, according to Hester.

Parksville Museum attracted more than 3,000 visitors in 2023

The Parksville Museum saw another successful season, welcoming more than 3,000 visitors during its 40th anniversary year.

Parksville council received the museum’s annual report during its Dec. 18 meeting.

“We have seen many changes at the museum over the last 40 years, and this year was no exception,” said Susan Wismer, Parksville & District Historical Society president, in the report. “Highlights of our Summer of Celebration include our 4th annual Music at the Museum concert series, and the opening of our outstanding Mosaic Pavilion all about the life of the forest.”

The museum also launched a new, modernized website this year, designed to keep residents and visitors up to date on events and programming.

Generals kick off New Year on happy note

The Oceanside Generals opened the New Year on a happy and hopeful note.

After heading into the Christmas break on an 0-3 losing streak, the Generals bounced back well to start the second half of the Vancouver Island Junior Hockey League season with a 3-0 road win over the Nanaimo Buccaneers (Jan. 4), and a 3-1 decision against Lake Cowichan Kraken at Oceanside Place (Jan. 6).

“It’s nice to start the New Year the way we won,” said Generals captain Jacob Thomas. “Pucks are bouncing our way and we’re getting on our forecheck a lot better and just working harder than we were at the end of the year there.”

The Generals are in third place in the North Division behind the leaders Campbell River Storm and the Comox Valley Glacier Kings.

Jan. 17

Home assessment values down in Parksville Qualicum Beach

Property owners in the Parksville Qualicum Beach area can expect to see a slightly lower assessed value for their homes this year.

The value of an average single family home in Parksville decreased by one per cent to $743,000 in 2024, while in Qualicum Beach the average single family property value dipped to $898,000, down three per cent, accord- ing to BC Assessment data.

BC Assessments released its year- ly numbers on properties across the province, and overall Island homeowners can expect some minor changes to property values. The calculations were made as of July 1, 2023.

“For 2024, most homeowners can expect generally flat values including a mix of small decreases or only modest increases, reflecting the softening real estate market,” said Vancouver Island Deputy Assessor Matthew Butterfield, in a news release.

Group wants Nanoose community centre upgraded

Nanoose Place is more than 30 years old and is a valuable resource for the community. 

The Nanoose Bay Activities and Recreation Society (NBARS), which manages and maintains Nanoose Place, says the community centre is in need of an upgrade.

Patricia Widdershoven and Sheila Parry made the situation known at the Regional District of Nanaimo (RDN) board’s regular board meeting on Jan. 9. She said the roof on both buildings, the bathrooms, the community commercial kitchen, flooring, lighting, sound system, chairs and tables are well past their expiry date and need to be replaced.

They have a conservative estimated cost of $500,000 to achieve their plan.

Parksville, QB see another busy year for building permits

2023 may not have been a record year for City of Parks- ville building permits, but it was one of the busiest yet.

The city issued 80 permits worth $68,519,830, down from more than $102 million in 2022, when 143 were approved, according to city statistics. In terms of dollars, only 2022, 2019 and 2020 were higher.

The majority of the permit value comes from multi-family residential projects — there were 237 units approved for a total of $56,517,281.

It was also a busy year for the Town of Qualicum Beach, which issued more than $45 million in building permits from January through November of last year, according to town statistics.

Kondors sink Whalers in hoops derby

The Kwalikum Kondors survived the high-pressure game of the Ballenas Whalers, to score an 88-71 win in a Tier 2 North Island Basketball League game at Ballenas Secondary gym on Tuesday night (Jan. 10).

The much-anticipated high school boys derby game was closely contested in the first half but it was the Kondors who had more energy in the tank down the stretch as they improved their league record to three wins and one loss. The Whalers are 2-2.

Kondors head coach Taylor Wilson said the team settled down in the second half and began to better execute their plays.

“The second half we played our pace,” said Wilson. “First half we played their pace, that’s why it was close. We were on pace for 85 each in the first half and that’s not our pace. We need the game to be around 75. I told the guys if we give up more than 75 points we will lose because the last time we played them in the tournament we gave up a hundred.”

Jan. 24

Land near skatepark designated as potential site for QB pickleball courts

Qualicum Beach council has chosen a potential site near the town’s skateboard park for future pickleball courts.

The Qualicum Beach Pickleball Association (QBPA) has requested the town build outdoor pickleball courts, which are not available in town. The group indicated its willingness to help with the cost of the project by raising funds for it.

While town council already agreed to include in the 2024 budget a provision for the development of pickleball courts – that consisted of provision of town-owned land and a $170,000 capital expenditure provision, with $85,000 to be raised by the QBPA – a location had not been determined.

Cellphone crash alert helps rescue crews locate 2 people

Arrowsmith Search and Rescue (ASAR) personnel were called out the night of Jan. 18 to help rescue a pair of people after a crash on a logging road in Nanoose Bay.

Those involved in the crash were grateful for an iPhone crash alert, a cellphone fea- ture, as it sent a distress signal of the incident to emergency units in the region. The signal indicated the location and also battery level of the device.

Attempts were made to call the phone but were unsuccessful. ASAR teams were set up at Northwest Bay Logging Road and dispatched 4X4 vehicles with chains and UTV with tracks.

One Act Play award-winners named

The curtains have closed and the spotlight now turns to the talents recognized at the One Act Play Festival, hosted at the Village Theatre in Qualicum Beach.

For the second consecutive year, the prestigious Best Play Award found its home with the Nanaimo District Secondary School (NDSS) Dance Company for their enthralling dance production, Ninety Seconds.

Directed by Kelly Barnum and choreographed by Sarah Kielly, this powerful and emotionally charged piece unfolded with 17 young dancers, skilfully bringing to life the tragic narrative inspired by the worst industrial accident in history, where one thousand factory workers in Dhaja, Bangladesh lost their lives.

Ballenas football awards honour top players

The Ballenas Whalers football program held its annual awards banquet to honour the players, coaches and staff who made the 2023 season a success.

The top awards of the night were the Most Valuable Player honours and they were presented to two of the Whalers leaders on the field, the senior varsity team’s Rohan Barlow, who played multi-roles on the field, and Riley Wilson, the junior varsity team’s quarterback, who also was exemplary on defence.

Head coach Scott Childs said Barlow, who was named to the 2023 BC All-Star Team, was a versatile player that will assume any role he is asked to play in.

Jan. 31

Fireworks will not be part of Parksville Canada Day 2024 celebrations

There will be no Canada Day fireworks display in Parksville this year.

The City of Parksville has taken over the festivities for 2024, after the events were organized by the Parksville & District Chamber of Commerce for years, according to Amir Tabatabaei, chamber executive director.

“Financially it’s become incredibly expensive to run Canada Day,” Tabatabaei said. “Last year we had probably, easily 25,000 people there over the course of the day. I saved in comparison to the year before, but still spent in excess of $20,000. Just the firework display costs nearly $20,000.”

When factoring in costs like musical entertainment and setting up portable toilets in the community park, he estimated Canada Day costs more than $50,000. Tabatabaei said the chamber needs to be fiscally responsible.

Qualicum Beach society receives $211K to upgrade historic St. Andrews Lodge

The St. Andrews Lodge Historical and Cultural Society (SALHACS) has been awarded a federal Arts and Heritage Legacy Grant in the amount of $211,318.

The grant that was applied for to commemorate the 100th anniversary of the birth of St. Andrews Lodge owner Elizabeth Little, will go towards upgrading and restoring the historic building located on the grounds of the waterfront Saahtlam Park on the Old Island Highway.

Little, the first person declared Freeman of the Town, and her family left a huge legacy of community commitment that contributed to the success of Qualicum Beach as a tourist destination.

“Subsequent to initially working closely with a local contingent of experts headed by Walter Hoogland, we have been engaged more recently with two engineers and an architect, all of whom specialize in heritage buildings,” said society president Jay Smith. “Their expertise in protecting heritage values in older structures has been invaluable in obtaining this grant, and we look forward to continuing to collaborate with them and the Town of Qualicum Beach in the restoration and preservation of this beloved building.”

Classical pianist Ida Pelliccioli performs in Parksville 

Internationally touring pianist Ida Pelliccioli will travel all the way from Paris for a concert at Knox United Church in Parksville on Feb. 11.

She will perform a repertoire inspired by the French composer Claude Debussy, often seen as the first Impressionist composer, although he rejected this label.

“Debussy is in the centre of the program,” Ida Pelliccioli said. “His music is often described as Impressionist — not really right as a word because he developed his own style. But at the same time he was influenced and inspired by other composers and other art forms.”

Pelliccioli will play works by Debussy as well as Baroque French composer Jean-Phillipe Rameau and Spanish composer Isaac Albeniz.

Kwalikum Kondors reaching peak as they prepare for North Islands

The Kwalikum Kondors senior boys basketball team is peaking at the right time.

They improved to five wins and one loss in the Tier 2 North Island Basketball League after beating the Campbell River Christian Cougars 79-49 on Jan. 23 at the KSS gym.

The Kondors are currently in second place in the league standings with one more game left to secure their spot and be in good position heading to the AA North Island championships that they host starting Feb. 12.

Feb. 7

Mother of missing Parksville woman intends to lay daughter to rest this year

The mother of a Parksville woman missing for more than six years hopes this will be the year she finds out what happened to her daughter. Carmel Gilmour was last seen driving her van in the Little Mountain area in Parksville on Nov. 15 of 2017.

“My intention is to lay her to rest this year because I’m not going to torture myself looking for the next 20 years for something I may never find,” said mom Barbara Gilmour.

Carmel’s 2002 Chevy Venture was located by RCMP parked at a highway rest stop near the Shady Rest in Qualicum Beach on Nov. 21, 2017. The vehicle was initially spotted there on Nov. 15 and was reported as being suspicious since it had not moved in at least six days, according to Sgt. Shane Worth of the Oceanside RCMP.

Since then the trail has gone cold, although Carmel’s mother, Barbara, has been investigating ever since. She believes Carmel was given a fatal “hot shot”, an overdose administered by someone else.

Documentary details sensitive ecosystem

A new, locally shot documentary aims to inform people about the sensitive ecosystem at 1465 Greig Rd. in Parksville.

The film includes local experts and members of the Greig Greenway Society, a non-profit organization dedicated to the preservation of the land.

Taryn Pickard said she has enjoyed the area for approximately 12 years, using it for dog walking, photography and simply experiencing nature. She filmed Saving Englishman River Lands: A Jewel in the City during a week last spring.

“When I heard they were trying to rezone,” Pickard said. “My heart sank because it’s an important piece of land for us as individuals, but this is such an important piece of the eco- system and the river system.”

Generals crack Kraken’s armour

The Oceanside Generals finally found a way to crack the armour of the Lake Cowichan Kraken.

The Generals ended their three-game losing skid against the Kraken, scoring a 6-3 win in Vancouver Island Junior Hockey League action at Oceanside Place on Feb. 3.

It marked the third win in a row for the Generals, who have struggled to find consistency in their game and are hoping to hit their stride come playoff time. The Generals already secured their spot in the playoff and sit in third place in the North Division standings.

Parksville students prepare ‘Mamma Mia’ musical 

Students at Ballenas Secondary School are getting ready to stage their upcoming produc- tion of Mamma Mia, which begins Feb. 13.

The musical includes familiar hits such as ‘Dancing Queen’ and will run at the school’s Whalebone Theatre.

McKenzie Shaver plays Sophie, who spends much of the story trying to find out who her father is.

“Sophie is a very confused person. She doesn’t have a whole lot of self-worth,” said Shaver. “She doesn’t really understand who she is because there’s this whole big part of her childhood missing.”

Feb. 14

Feasibility plan for Parksville pool sunk due to lack of full support

The plan to conduct a feasibility study on establishing a swimming pool in Parksville has now been scrapped.

The Regional District of Nanaimo board endorsed resolutions in December 2023 to establish a bylaw for the Parksville Pool Feasibility Service that also includes requisitioning $170,000 for the study in the 2024 to 2028 financial plan.

Since then, RDN staff has sent letters to the City of Parksville, Town of Qualicum Beach and Electoral Areas E, F, G and H, seeking their consent to allow the proposed bylaw to be enacted. However, Area F (Coombs, Hilliers, Errington, Whiskey Creek, Meadowood) declined to endorse the plan.

Under the Local Government Act, all participating areas must provide consent to the proposed bylaw in order to proceed. Staff provided four recommendations to the board, at its regular meeting on Jan. 30. The board chose the option to abandon the feasibility study. The vote was unanimous.

Qualicum Beach commits to class-action lawsuit against fossil fuel companies

The Town of Qualicum Beach has committed to work with other municipal governments in the province to bring a class action lawsuit against selected global fossil fuel companies and recover the costs related to climate change.

The decision was reached by council at its regular meeting on Feb. 7 but it was not unanimous as Coun. Scott Harrison voted in opposition.

The town’s commitment involves residents contributing $1 towards the lawsuit. However, it is contingent on council obtaining a copy of a legal opinion to determine if there is a solid legal basis for the claim and that other B.C. municipalities will also join and pledge a combined minimum of $500,000.

“This is really about investing a dollar now as protection against costs that the town will incur …. we’re expected to incur because of climate change and we already are incurring some costs because of that,” said Coun. Anne Skipsey.

‘New Haida’ exhibit lands in Parksville

Mike Bellis has put his own modern take on traditional Haida carving with his latest art exhibition.

The New Haida, currently on display at the McMillan Arts Centre, is unique in that Bellis has chosen to include colours like blue, green and orange, with less of the traditional red and black.

“I was a bit more bold and my dad, the traditional carver, he’s like ‘what are you doing there?’” Bellis said. “It is a lot more modern, a lot more contemporary and I think it suits the show and the exhibition — what we wanted to get out there.”

Haida mythology, salmon and cedar are all important aspects of his work.

Kondors senior girls second at North Island hoop championships

The Kwalikum Kondors senior girls basketball team finished second at the AA North Island basketball playoffs, hosted at Kwalikum Secondary from Feb. 7 to Feb. 10.

The Kondors were seeded second in the competition that featured the top-seeded Brentwood College, Ladysmith, Highland, and John Barsby.

The Kondors earned their spot in the final after posting a close 47-42 win over the third-seeded Ladysmith 49ers in the semifinals. They faced formidable Brentwood College in the final and lost 44-22.

Feb. 21

Roaming wolf-dog continues to elude trap and expand range in PQB area

The elusive wolf-dog known as WD-40 continues to roam and apparently expand his range in the Parksville Qualicum Beach area.

First reported in the Coombs area last fall, the animal has been sighted everywhere from French Creek to Qualicum Beach to Parksville.

It was reportedly released by an unidentified owner and there are numerous reports of attacks on domestic pets, including a French Bulldog killed while on leash at the Coombs Country Campground in November. The wolf-dog has been dubbed WD-40 because it has proven so difficult and “slippery” to catch.

There is speculation now that multiple animals may be behind the sightings and attacks.

Gary Shade, co-founder of FLED (Find lost and escaped dogs), said he has received photos where the animal’s fur has a different colour pattern.

Pedestrian in critical condition following Qualicum Beach crosswalk collision

A pedestrian has sustained critical injuries after being struck by a vehicle in Qualicum Beach on Feb. 12.

Police, fire rescue and ambulance responded to the collision at the intersection of Memorial Avenue and Fern Road West at 3:50 p.m.

The initial police investigation determined that a 75-year-old Qualicum Beach resident was struck in the marked crosswalk by a pickup truck.

The pedestrian was transported to hospital by helicopter in critical condition.

Qualicum Bay man wins two gold ‘woodals’ at masters games in Italy

Rich McBride has returned home to Vancouver Island with two gold “woodals” from the 2024 Winter World Masters Games in Bormio, Italy.

McBride, who calls Qualicum Bay home, was pleasantly surprised to win both figure skating events he entered, considering he nearly dropped out of the competition.

He was not able to skate much in the lead up to the games, after injuring himself in December.

“I had two very, very hard falls,” he said. “So hard that the Apple watch goes off and says, ‘if you don’t respond in 20 seconds, we will call 911’ and the kids are like ‘are you OK?’ and I’m like ‘I don’t think so’.”

Both his gold medals are made of solid larch wood, sourced from surplus materials from wood processing in the forests in the Alta Valle Camonica Forestry Consortium, according to the Winter World Masters Games website.

TOSH hosts 80-year retrospective of artist W.H. Buchanan

A retrospective representing 80 years of work by Canadian artist W.H. Buchanan was displayed at The Old School House Arts Centre (TOSH) in Qualicum Beach.

Curating eight decades of paintings was not easy for W.H.’s daughter Leigh Buchanan, considering there were hundreds of works to choose from.

The collection includes a wide range of styles and media. Buchanan enjoys experimenting with his art, Leigh said.

“I tried to include some from each decade, which there are, other than the ’90s,” she said. “I think at that time he focused on videography and writing. He loved to do both of those as well.”

Buchanan, a veteran of the Second World War, was born in 1925 and began his career creating portraits for locals at just 14 years old, according to his biography on TOSH’s website.

Feb. 28

Affordable housing project planned for Parksville

City council got its first look at a proposed affordable housing project for Parksville during its Feb. 21 meeting.

Council heard a presentation by the Parksville Lions Housing Society in support of a four-storey, 36-unit rental apartment building to be located on the corner of Franklin’s Gull Road and the old Island Highway. The project will require an official community plan amendment bylaw and a zoning and development bylaw to move forward.

Tom Roy, society president, said the project will focus on workforce housing and falls under BC Housing’s Community Housing Fund program (CHF).

“The average home in Parksville is over $900,000,” said Coun. Sean Wood. “I don’t think any of us have ever lived in another time when housing was so expensive. This is a huge issue on a national scale, or provincial scale and obviously here on the Island as well.”

Wildfire service to fill firefighting gaps

In areas where the Regional District of Nanaimo (RDN) does not have fire services coverage, the BC Wildfire Service will be there to do the job.

The regional district has an agreement with the BC Wildfire Service to provide firefighting services in locations not served by local fire departments. The areas include the Little Qualicum River Regional Park, Mount Arrowsmith Massif Regional Park and Horne Lake Regional Park.

“If there was to be a fire, there’s no fire rescue and fire department to respond to that,” said Tom Osborne, RDN general manager, recreation and parks. “So that’s where coastal fire and the wildfire team comes in to then cover the fire.”

The total area of the lands within the agreement that BC Wildfire Service would cover is 1,769 hectares. The RDN pays the BC Wildfire Service an annual fee of $1,200.

PQB high school choirs perform with Victoria chamber singers

In celebration of their 50th anniversary, the UVic Chamber Singers will perform with guest chamber choirs from Kwalikum Secondary School and Ballenas Secondary School at Knox United Church on March 2.

The UVic Chamber Singers, conducted by Dr. Adam Con, are an auditioned ensemble who have performed to enthusiastic audiences in 140 cities, 30 countries, and on six continents.

One highlight is sure to be when all three choirs combine for ‘Bring Me Little Water, Silvy’, an American folk song, which will include body percussion (clapping, hitting thighs, stomping), plus some beautiful harmonies, according to Crystal-Anne Howell, KSS choir conductor. This will be first time a KSS choir has performed with the UVic Chamber Singers, Howell added.

“They’re very excited to be singing with the Vic Chamber Singers, who are a world class group. And I’m excited too, I sang in that group when I was in university,” she said.

Canadian football, hockey legend Gerry James dies at age 89

Canadian sporting legend Gerry James has died at the age of 89.

The Nanoose Bay resident was known for his athletic excellence in football and hockey and was the only person to play in the CFL’s Grey Cup and NHL’s Stanley Cup final in the same season. He died Feb. 13 at Nanaimo Regional General Hospital.

Good friend John Ogle was sad to hear of James’s passing.

“I met him when I interviewed him for a feature on Shaw Cable years ago when he first showed up here,” said Ogle, a sports trivia expert. “I used to watch him play for the Toronto Marlies in the ’50s. We became good friends with his wife Marg. He is quite the story. He is probably the greatest athlete that Canada has ever had in the ’50s and early ’60s.”

March 6

Woman rescued from fire

Friends, family and neighbours are rallying to a support a couple dislocated due to a fire.

B.J. Christensen and Gail Beeston’s home was badly damaged by a fire on Feb. 26, with many of their possessions destroyed.

Fortunately their neighbours, Stacy Duchscherer and Kim Duchscherer, were around to rescue Beeston from the burning mobile home. Christensen was not home at the time of the blaze.

Beeston spent part of a day in hospital after the fire and suffered from smoke inhalation and mild burns on her face.

“I almost died in that fire. If it hadn’t been for my neighbour coming and hauling me out, I would have died in there,” said Beeston

Treatment centre gets final adoption

Parksville council passed final adoption for a bylaw amendment that will permit an addictions treatment centre downtown.

Island Health applied for the amendment to establish the 19-bed Centre Island Treatment Centre at 188 McCarter St.

“I’m flattered that Parksville was chosen for this abstinence-based addiction recovery centre,” said Coun. Sean Wood during council’s Feb. 21 meeting.

The amendment adds “or mental health and/or addictions treatment facility” to the statement of intent for the CD-10 zone. The statement of intent previously read “provides for an innovative seniors care facility development.”

Wounded Warriors team visits PQB

Chris Stanger proudly led the Wounded Warriors team into the Town of Qualicum Beach.

The chief utility operator for the town completed part of the relay on the fifth day of the Wounded Warrior Run BC that started from The Old House Hotel in Courtenay early Thursday morning (Feb. 29) and made their way to Port Alberni.

The team made stops at the Bowser Royal Canadian Legion Branch 211, the Bowser Elementary School and Qualicum Beach Royal Canadian Legion Branch 76 at noon where they were treated with hot soup and sandwiches before heading to Port Alberni.

This is Stanger’s second year to take part in the annual run that raises funds and awareness for Wounded Warriors Canada to help veterans and first responders who are dealing with post-traumatic stress disorders and operational stress injuries.

Bennett named Canada’s 2023 swimmer of the year

Parksville swimmer Nicholas Bennett was named Canada’s 2023 Male Swimmer of the Year in the Paralympic program.

“I’m quite proud to be receiving this award, and honoured to follow in the footsteps of previous winners, including current national team teammates,” said Bennett, in a Swimming Canada news release. He also had previously been named the national Breakout Swimmer of the Year award in 2021.

“I think it comes down to all the hard work we’ve been putting into it. All the great coaching and support I’ve received over the past five years has helped me excel every time I get on the world stage.”

In just four years of international competition, Bennett has built a resume most swimmers can only dream of putting together over the course of an entire career. He broke onto the world stage at the 2019 Parapan American Games in Lima, Peru, where, at only 15, he captured four medals, three of them gold.

March 13

Ravensong pool expansion project in Qualicum Beach revived

The Ravensong Aquatic Centre Expansion Project has been revived for consideration.

The District 69 Swimming Pool Service Select Committee, during its regular meeting on March 7, unanimously endorsed a staff proposal the project proceed with Class B costing for Option OO, chosen by the Regional District of Nanaimo board in 2021 for advancement to a referendum process to secure the required funds.

With no support to develop a Parksville pool, the Ravensong pool project has now been brought back to life. Instead of doing the work in two phases as originally endorsed by the RDN board in 2021, staff recommend work be done in full.

‘Flying Phil’ memorial project team in Parksville unveils 4 new options

Four new options for a Flying Phil Memorial Project have been announced just in time for the late Phil St. Luke’s birthday on March 7.

Jennah Stavroff, Doug Giebelhaus and St. Luke’s brother, David, are championing a lasting memorial and are asking the community to decide what form it will take, according to a news release.

“The project will be different but it’s definitely still going ahead,” Stavroff said in the release. “I’ve heard some really incredibly touching stories about Phil since getting involved and am committed to seeing something created to mark his contributions to the community.”

The four possibilities are a chainsaw carved wooden bench, a driftwood bench and sculpture (both options would include a sculpture of Phil on the bench), as well as a series of murals and re-naming the Parksville boardwalk to the “Phil St. Luke Boardwalk”, complete with new signage and a memorial plaque.

Parksville woman to appear on ‘Naked and Afraid’ reality TV show

A Parksville woman is one of just a handful of Canadians to ever make it onto the ‘Naked and Afraid’ reality show.

Meagan Forsythe, who goes by Sunny, was paired up with a British soldier and put her survival skills to the test in the wilderness of Colombia for the Discovery Channel series.

Each episode chronicles the challenges of two strangers who meet for the first time naked and must survive for a period of time, although Forsythe was not allowed to say how long she was in the jungle.

The Ballenas Secondary graduate had to be careful every time she left her shelter and watch out for scorpions, pumas and coral snakes — even the caterpillars were venomous.

“The minute your feet are on the ground, you are so hyper-vigilant because everything can hurt you, from a caterpillar to a wasp,” she said.

Generals see VIJHL season come to an end

The Oceanside Generals suffered a heartbreaking 2-1 overtime loss to the Comox Valley Glacier Kings on Saturday (March 9), a defeat that put an end to their Vancouver Island Junior Hockey League post-season run.

A tight and exciting Game 6 in the best-of-seven series was played before a packed gallery of close to 1,000 people at Oceanside Place. Both teams played hard and disciplined, with a sense of urgency and desperation.

For the Generals, trailing 3-2 heading into the game, it was about keeping their playoff hopes alive and forcing a Game 7. For the Glacier Kings it was about sealing their spot in the next round of the playoffs, a feat that has been denied them in the last couple of years. They finally did it on Saturday night.

March 20

Qualicum Beach council approves budget with 7.7 property tax hike

The Town of Qualicum Beach council has approved its five-year financial plan that includes a 7.7 property tax increase for 2024.

The endorsement of the budget was done at council regular meeting March 13. The tax hike is divided into three parts, with 5.5 per cent allocated for municipal operations, 1.6 per cent for asset management program and .5 per cent for police services.

Coun. Scott Harrison said they have received emails about the tax increase and expects more discussions with the general public.

“I would urge people to compare us to other similar communities in the area,” said Harrison. “We’re not an outlier. I just want to highlight that. I would hope folks take the time to look at other communities just to make sure we have that context for what we’re seeing in the financial plan.”

80-year-old Good Samaritan dies after crash

The son of an 80-year-old Alberta man who died on Vancouver Island after helping a woman involved in a Qualicum Beach crash says it was in his dad’s nature to help others before “tragedy took him.”

Ronald Hare of Calgary says his father Patrick Hare was the kind of person to hold doors open for people and help out whenever he could.

RCMP say a suspected impaired driver hit the woman’s damaged vehicle which was partially on the road, striking the pair who were standing nearby, and Hare “likely saved her life” by pushing the woman out of the way.

Hare says his father had only been on Vancouver Island for a few hours when he stopped to help the woman, and he died in hospital days later.

Echo Players Theatre Society plans 50th anniversary celebration

The Echo Players Theatre Society (EPTS) will celebrate its 50th anniversary this summer.

Colin Lloyd, treasurer of the EPTS, appeared as a delegation at Qualicum Bach council’s regular meeting on March 13, seeking support for the celebration plans and also for plans to apply for grants to support new seating at the Village Theatre.

The society has operated the theatre since 1974. Lloyd told council since taking over the Village Theatre 50 years ago, their group has become an integral component of the cultural institution of Qualicum Beach.

The group seeks support in kind from the town for some of the activities they’re planning to stage, including a gala celebration at the Qualicum Beach Civic Centre that will may include skits from some of their greatest hits.

Generals head coach Lemmon steps down

Oceanside Generals are looking for a new coach to lead them into next season’s Vancouver Island Junior Hockey League campaign.

After six years behind the Generals bench, Dan Lemmon has decided to step down and take time away from his coaching career. He said he informed team officials earlier in the season this was going to be his last year with the club.

“It’s been a great six seasons,” said Lemmon. “I think the team is really heading in the right direction and had a lot of success. For me personally, I need to take a break. I need to focus on myself for a little bit. I am still young and there’s still some things I want to do in life. So a break from hockey is really what I need.”

Lemmon said having to juggle his coaching responsibility with his full-time work with the City of Nanaimo has been a challenging task that has finally taken a toll on him.

March 27

Justin Schley takes over as head of Quality Foods

Justin Schley has taken the reins at Quality Foods, following the retirement of Noel Hayward at the end of 2023.

Schley knows the company well, having grown up with it. His father Ken Schley founded Qualicum Foods with John Briuolo and Noel Hayward in 1982 when the three were in their mid-twenties. A few years later in 1986, Bruce Robertson joined the company as a partner, and the three opened Parksville’s first Quality Foods location.

Before stepping into his new role, Schley was the company’s CFO, and worked closely with his father’s founding partner Noel Hayward for five or six years, giving him the opportunity to continue learning from the people who started the company.

Board says no to later start times for Qualicum School District

Morning start times in the Qualicum School District (QSD) will stay the same for now.

Superintendent of schools Peter Jory brought a motion to consider a 10-minute shift to later bell times across the district at the board’s March 12 meeting.

Primary and secondary schools in the district begin morning classes at a range of different times, Jory said, and a shift to a later start time could positively impact sleep patterns, mental health and attendance. His motion called for the change to be implemented in September.

The school district received more than 2,000 responses to a survey on a potential 30-minutes later bell time, according to Jory, which produced a “mixed bag” of responses.

No sign of Errington woman missing in Nanoose Bay for 5 weeks

Search efforts over the weekend turned up no sign of Sara Sherry, an Errington woman believed missing in Nanoose Bay since Feb. 15.

Arrowsmith Search and Rescue (ASAR) has put in more than 2,000 hours, and that does not include time by mutual aid partners, according to Ken Neden, search and rescue manager.

“There’s been a huge effort,” Neden said. “One of the biggest searches we’ve had in a long, long time.”

Sherry, 45, was last seen driving her pickup truck near Northwest Bay Logging Road around 6:30 p.m. on Feb. 15. Her truck was located on Feb. 23, but she was nowhere to be found.

Qualicum Beach hip-hop and pop artist Amarii signed to Kolossal Records

Qualicum Beach hip-hop and pop artist Martin Rupprecht is excited that years of hard work and dedication have paid off.

Rupprecht, also known by his stage name Amarii, was recently signed to a new record label called Kolossal Records.

“I’m really excited to jump into this new journey of mine. I’ve been working for it for a while so it feels really good,” he said. “I’m going to be working with some pretty top-notch writers and a really great producer.”

Rupprecht, 21, writes lyrics based on his past experiences. Before joining Kolossal, founded by Kayla Diamond, he released three singles, including ‘Bad Guy’. That song was featured on a YouTube channel called Promoting Sounds, where it has racked up more than 50,000 views.

April 3

Number of dumped cats sees massive post-COVID jump in PQB area

People are dumping unwanted cats and kittens like never before in the Parksville Qualicum Beach area.

A significant jump was noted over the past few years by CatSpan, a non-profit organization devoted to spaying, neutering, fostering and adopting feral and semi-feral cats.

Active since 1990, the group used to manage a large regional population of truly feral cats, according to Kathy Robinson of CatSpan, but as that population dwindled over the decades, the focus has shifted to recently dumped cats, of which there are many.

“The vast majority of them are either dumped or somebody’s moved away and left them. It’s just been awful since COVID,” Robinson said. “Until a couple of years ago we were handling about 90 cats a year and now we’re doing 250.”

Parksville’s Resort Drive will be exempt from Short-Term Rental Accommodations Act

Resort Drive in Parksville will be exempt from the province’s Short-Term Rental Accommodations Act, according to the Ministry of Housing.

The new regulations come into effect May 1 and are expected to include an exemption from the principal-residence requirement for certain strata-titled hotels and motels, so they can continue to operate, the province clarified in a March 27 news release.

The news came as a relief for Jacqueline Pirie, one of the approximately 400 impacted owners on Resort Drive.

“I feel cautiously optimistic that the government made the right decision,” said Pirie, who advocated on behalf of the Resort Drive Advocacy Group, which has approximately 200 members. Pirie added the wording of the amendment in the press release is difficult to interpret, but at least she “might have a good night’s sleep tonight”.

Parksville club stages successful ping pong tourney

The Parksville Table Tennis Society staged a successful friendly ping pong tournament.

The inaugural event was held at the Bradley Centre in Coombs on March 30. It drew longtime and new lovers of the sport coming from Nanaimo, Parksville, Qualicum Beach, Errington and Coombs.

The tournament had 10 beginner category players, 12 in the novice/intermediate division, and eight more at the competitive level.

The competitive division drew some high-level talent and in the end featured a closely-contested final between junior international student from Spain, Juaquin Barrau, a Grade 10 student at Ballenas Secondary, and seasoned athlete Max Stutzig from Errington.

Canadian music legend Valdy still rocking at 78

Canadian music legend Valdy will play songs new and old at Errington War Memorial Hall on April 27.

Valdy, born Paul-Valdemar Horsdal, has toured Canada for 50 years and released 16 albums.

The two-time Juno winner is looking forward to coming back to Errington. This year he is getting back into touring full-time after a few slow pandemic years.

“It’s been great. We’re revving it up again after four years of almost nothing,” said Valdy, who is happy to be back in B.C. He’s already flown across the continent several times, including shows in Florida, California, Arizona, Ontario and Alberta.

April 10

Former Calgary zookeeper gets emotional after releasing eagle back into wild

Peter Karsten couldn’t help being emotional when he cradled a rehabilitated eagle in his arms before releasing it back to the wild.

The former Calgary zookeeper was given the honour of freeing a one-year-old bald eagle that was rescued from Nanoose Bay near a nest by Derek Downes, animal care supervisor at the North Island Wildlife Recovery Centre (NIWRC), and nursed back to health.

The release celebration was held on Saturday afternoon at the NIWRC in front of a huge crowd, with some capturing the joyful moment with long-lens cameras while others videoing the release using their cellphones.

“It was a very emotional experience,” said Karsten. “I must say, I had to wipe some tears off my eyes because it’s such an incredible accomplishment. It’s such a wonderful event. Robin and Derek were of great understanding that I wanted to hold the eagle with my bare hands and not in gloves so you can feel the eagle.”

Residents chime in on ‘Bus Garage’ project

Qualicum Beach residents got the chance to give their input on the town’s Bus Garage Revitalization Project.

At the Committee of the Whole meeting held on March 27, residents got the opportunity to see the draft concept design and hear the report presented by consultants Kait McGeary of PWL Partnership and and Jason Potter of Bunt & Associates.

Most of the public’s concerns were focused on the projected increase in traffic in the area and also the stress it will put on the parking situation downtown.

The town plans to create a public plaza and other amenities that will serve as a gateway to the heart of the town.

Parksville downtown business association proposes new lighting displays

The Parksville Downtown Business Association hopes to brighten up downtown Parksville year-round with several lighting projects.

The PDBA has proposed three lighting initiatives to make the downtown core vibrant and welcoming, according to a presentation by Tami Frankford, board president.

The projects include making the lighting on Alberni Highway permanent, rather than seasonal, upgrading the lighting canopy at Memorial Plaza and the seasonal installation of a 28-foot Christmas tree, also in the plaza.

“It is our belief that these three projects will contribute greatly to the overall beautification of the downtown area,” Frankford said during Parksville council’s April 3 meeting. “Our first project is to create a strong sense of place for Alberni Highway by changing the direction of the existing lights from vertical to horizontal, as well as we intend to add twice as many strings of lights.”

Oceanside Generals forward Jacob Thomas commits to University of Jameston

Oceanside Generals forward Jacob Thomas will continue his hockey career, joining the University of Jamestown men’s hockey team next school year.

The Campbell River native has committed to the Jimmies, playing in the Midwest Collegiate Hockey Association in North Dakota.

Thomas led the Vancouver Island Junior Hockey League Generals in scoring in the 2023-24 season and was fifth overall in the league, 36 goals and 30 assists for 66 points. He was named the Generals’ most valuable player and top forward.

April 17

Qualicum Beach will not authorize owner-occupant short-term vacation rentals

The Town of Qualicum Beach will not authorize short-term vacation rentals outside of specific commercial exceptions.

The decision is expected to potentially reduce the town’s tourism revenue.

Council made the decision at its regular meeting on April 10. A majority of council wanted an in-depth study to be undertaken in 2027.

Currently, short-term rentals are not permitted in residential areas – but data presented to council by a Parksville Qualicum Beach Tourism Association’s consultant recently showed approximately 116 short-term vacation rentals are operating in town. They include bed and breakfasts, rooms rented in resident’s homes, rentals of an entire house and hotel rental suites. They bring in tourism revenue of $11 million annually.

PQB residents mark grim eighth anniversary

Parksville Qualicum Beach area residents gathered on April 14 to mark the eighth anniversary of B.C.’s declaration of a public health emergency for toxic drug deaths.

Moms Stop the Harm (MSTH) and the Oceanside Community Action Team (OCAT) organized the event at Memorial Plaza, and speakers related their personal stories of family members who have died due to toxic drugs.

“Fentanyl poisoning has relentlessly claimed lives and devastated communities,” said Jane McCormick, who lost her 35-year-old son Jeffrey to toxic drugs. “Community members continue to die, families are shattered by grief and the promise of meaningful change remains unfulfilled. It’s time for comprehensive strategies that follow the evidence based approaches.”

BC Coroners Service recorded 14 unregulated drugs deaths in the Oceanside Local Health Area in 2023. The province as a whole recorded a record 2,511 deaths to unregulated drugs.

Qualicum Beach waterfront project gets $500K for latest enhancements

The Town of Qualicum Beach’s waterfront enhancements will continue, with $500,000 in funding received from the BC Active Transportation Infrastructure program.

The funds will be allocated towards enhancing the central waterfront area, with a primary focus on expanding parking facilities and accommodating active transportation infrastructure.

“The Town of Qualicum Beach looks forward to the successful implementation of this transformative project, which will undoubtedly enhance the accessibility and appeal of its waterfront” said Mayor Teunis Westbroek in a release.

The total anticipated cost of the project is $878,000.

VIJHL’s Oceanside Generals hire Marek Babic as new head coach

The Vancouver Island Junior Hockey League’s Oceanside Generals have a new head coach and assistant general manager.

The club has hired Marek Babic to take over the coaching position that became vacant when former head coach Dan Lemmon stepped down following the Generals’ exit in the VIJHL playoffs.

Babic was born in Bratislava, Slovakia and moved to Toronto when he was two years old. He fell in love with hockey and went on to become a professional player. During his 11 years as a pro, Babic has played in Germany, Italy, Sweden, Finland, Netherlands, Slovakia and France.

“Marek brings a wealth of experience and passion for the game of hockey, making him the perfect fit to lead our team to success both and off the ice,” said Tara Hannibal, Generals team president.

April 24

Qualicum First Nation officially opens new gas station on Horne Lake Road

The Qualicum First Nation has officially opened its Petro Canada Kwalikum Crossing station located near the Horne Lake intersection along Highway 19.

A grand opening was held on Friday afternoon, April 19, attended by members of Qualicum First Nation council led by chief Michael Recalma, as well as Courtenay-Alberni MP Gord Johns, Parksville Qualicum MLA Adam Walker and elected municipal and Regional District of Nanaimo officials.

Recalma said when they first looked at the property almost 10 years ago, they saw its potential for a gas station and decided to purchase the land.

“That’s what the community wanted,” said Recalma. “We had a meeting many, many years ago of ‘what do we want, what’s our dream?’ And it was a gas station. There were other choices – maybe a casino, maybe this, maybe that. But the common theme was a gas station. And here we are. It’s great. I tell people it’s a dream come true.”

Culvert replacement project gets nearly $1.4 million in funding

The Town of Qualicum Beach has secured grant funding of $1.374M toward the replacement of two corrugated steel culverts located on Crescent Road East.

The funding, provided jointly by the federal and provincial governments, is part of the Investing in Canada Infrastructure Program.

“We are grateful for the support of the federal and provincial governments as we work together towards a brighter, more resilient future,” said Mayor Teunis Westbroek. “This initiative underscores our combined commitment to sustainability, resilience and the well-being of our community.”

The funding is a key step toward completing the project. With a total budget provision of $2,067,400, the grant funding will assist the town in ensuring the successful completion.

Qualicum Beach residents raise concerns regarding town’s tree bylaw

Qualicum Beach residents were given an opportunity to provide input on the town’s tree bylaw, enacted in 2023.

Bylaw No. 725 is geared towards managing the town’s natural tree canopy and preserve native trees for future generatations. It regulates the cutting down of protected trees and provides a permit system to enable tree cutting and alteration under specific conditions.

However, the bylaw, according to town planner Luke Sales, does impact property owners and residents who may want to remove a protected tree from their properties.

Some residents expressed opposition to the bylaw while others endorsed it but want it reviewed to make it fair and consistent.

Parents aim to build new outdoor basketball court at Kwalikum Secondary

Kwalikum Secondary School (KSS) plans to dismantle an old basketball court officials say has been in disrepair for years.

There have been safety concerns about the surface of the court, which is cracked and uneven due to tree root systems that cannot be removed.

The school’s Parent Advisory Council convinced the school to replace the old court and the plan is to disassemble it later in the spring.

The PAC is working to find funds to pay for a new court, which has been identified as a school priority. The PAC has approached the Town of Qualicum Beach for financial assistance.



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