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Soap boxes attract few

Candidates get a turn with the megaphone at election event
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Area G candidate Lance Pope counts the donations from an impromptu basket-passing.

An old fashioned soap box and megaphone were used by Regional District of Nanaimo (RDN) candidates running in Area F as well as members of the public who wanted to express how they felt about the burning issues in the area on Saturday, Nov. 5.

The event sponsored by the Organized Rural Communities Association (ORCA) and the Oceanside Communities for Quality Education (OCQE) took place at the Coombs Emporium between 1 and 3 p.m. While all the candidates showed up for their five minutes with the megaphone, there weren’t the numbers of local citizens organizers had hoped for.

It seems the people who live in Errington, Coombs, Whiskey Creek, Hilliers, Corcan and Meadowood were too busy doing other things on Saturday to attend Social Networking — Coombs Style, billed as an opportunity to share passions with the community and the spirit of rural independence and grassroots democracy.

There were free pony rides for the kids and marimba music for all but only a handful of people showed up.

The RDN came under fire on several occasions for implementing building permits in Area F. The need for a hospital was also front and centre. Electoral Area F candidates Richard de Candole, Jullian Fell, Skye Donald and Leanne Salter all showed up for the opportunity to voice their election platforms as did some of those running for school trustee.

Although it wasn’t his campaign area, Lance Pope (Area G) was also given five minutes to speak. A basket was passed to raise money for his campaign. Pope said he had no knowledge there would be a collection basket and called it a nice gesture.