OAK BAYNEWS An unlikely artist Oak Bay businessman finds his softer side through artistic expression. A2
NEWS: Performing art school celebrates /A3 ARTS: Belfry goes Red on stage /A13 SPORTS: B.C. WHL season preview /A15 Watch for breaking news at www.oakbaynews.com
Friday, September 21, 2012
Tour de Rock takes the Island
Heritage consultant, Stuart Stark on St. Patrick Street in South Oak Bay with homes he feels could be considered heritage. Sharon Tiffin/News staff
Riders set off on 1,000 km journey for cancer research Natalie North News staff
Composure is expected of Oak Bay cop Dorothy Junio, but it’s hard not to get a little misty-eyed walking into the Oak Bay High gymnasium when 1,500 kids are screaming for the Cops for Cancer Tour de Rock team. For her last two years in the role, the former school liaison officer was swept into the excitement with the Oak Bay teens as they went headto-head in a fundraising faceoff with Reynolds secondary – an annual challenge that has seen students at both schools band together to generate tens of thousands of dollars for the cause that fights childhood cancer. “That’s what drew me into this to begin with,” said Junio. “I cannot believe the Dorothy Junio passion and the emotions that go along with this. It’s contagious. The real purpose comes out when you see kids so dedicated to the cause.” So Junio, 50, along with her husband and Saanich police officer, Jett, became the first husband and wife duo to join the team of police officers on the 1,000-kilometre journey down Vancouver Island set to leave from Port Alice on Sunday. And while Junio was physically fit leading up to the Tour, the commitment meant adjusting to the extreme balancing act of managing three training sessions per week and attending fundraisers and community events with Cops for Cancer, on top of her work as a police officer, business owner and parent of two teens – who have had to “fend for themselves,” she said, while both parents have been tied up. “It’s just been a blur,” Junio said. “We did it one day at a time. That’s how we managed.” “I don’t know how I would have done it without (Jett),” she added. “We motivate each other to get to the events, the training and complain about all the aches and pains (together).” PLEASE SEE: Individual riders become one, Page A6
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More than buildings at stake in heritage plan Council seeks input, direction on heritage Tim Collins News staff
The fundamental values that shape the nature of Oak Bay's character are being examined in a process that the Heritage Commission hopes will help guide the future of the community. The process began this spring with the municipal council calling on the Heritage Commission to prepare a heritage plan for Oak Bay. The plan is to be finished prior to and for consid-
eration within the development of the overall Oak Bay Community Plan. “We found that whenever heritage properties came up for demolition or change, we were dealing with them on a one-by-one basis,” said Mayor Nils Jensen. “Having a plan in place with some established policies and direction will be preferable to approaching these important questions on an adhoc basis.” The process is being driven by Stuart Stark and Associates and Donald Luxton and Associates, the consulting firms charged with determining what it is about Oak Bay that makes it special. They're being challenged to develop an effective, sustainable and realistic
framework to preserve the viability of the unique heritage resources within the community. Both firms are well qualified for the job, with Stark literally having written the book on Oak Bay heritage. As well, both firms have received the B.C. Heritage Award, conferred annually by the Minister responsible for heritage. Those awards were given in 2002 and 2009 respectively. “Heritage isn’t always just about old houses,” said Stark. “We want to know what citizens value as heritage in their community.” PLEASE SEE: Range of opinions sought, Page A12
BARCLAY S FINE CUSTOM JEWELLERS