No call too small
Newly named chief readies to take the lead Page A3
NEWS: Mystery unearthed in park /A3 ARTS: Battling recycling changes /A7 SPORTS: Oak Bay skaters have the edge /A8
BOORMAN’S
SINCE 1933
Real Estate
OAK BAYNEWS Wednesday, March 19, 2014
Insurance Property Management 2045 Cadboro Bay Rd, Victoria
250-595-1535
www.boorman.com vicnews.com
Oak Bay High students fight to compete again Error attributed to staff almost silences debaters Christopher Sun News staff
Debate will rage on for two Oak Bay High school students. Sarah Broitman and Rory Hills were disqualified from the Canadian Senior Nationals Debate Championships after the school failed to pay a membership fee to the non-profit Debate and Speech Association of B.C. Late last week, the disqualification was reversed and the two will be allowed at the competition. Oak Bay High principal Dave Thomson said the girls were in no danger of missing nationals. “The debate was basically a non-issue once people talked,” Thomson said. “Our coach had missed paying one of the fees. The DSABC didn’t want the kids to miss (it) so they worked with us on a solution.” The school and association agreed the requirements for membership were not met by the school, due to human error by the school. In a statement from its board, the association said numerous reminders were sent to the school and the team was allowed to participate in regional tournaments, because “coaches confirmed that payment had been submitted.” However, payment was never received. “From the outset, everyone involved has been uncomfortable with the ultimate consequence that deserving students would lose out on an opportunity to represent their province and hone their debate skills at a national level,” the board statement continued. Broitman, 17, and Hills, 18, placed fifth in the provincial debate championships held between Feb. 28 and March 1. PlEASE SEE: Student makes YouTube plea, Page A6
News staff
Municipality of Oak Bay horticulturist Dan Bell counts down the days, hours, minutes and even seconds until he retires at the end of March. After 30 years of creating garden masterpieces around the community, Bell will keep busy playing soccer, cooking and maybe volunteering to drive the bus on outings for the Monterey Recreation Centre.
End of the road for traffic display Christopher Sun News staff
The Oak Bay traffic island where Fort Street, Cadboro Bay and Foul Bay roads meet is normally just a space where pedestrians wait before crossing. However, that space turns into an attention grabber every spring as the green space on the island becomes a canvas for horticulturist Dan Bell’s creativity. His first display 18 years ago was a sailboat, which he made,
OAK BAY tomf@vreb.bc.ca
250-360-4821
moored on a telephone pole with flowers. The next year, the shell of a Volkswagen bug was used and an annual tradition was born. “After two, three years, it became expected,” said Bell, 59. But he yearned to do something different at the nondescript spot. “Every winter time people asked, ‘What are you planting there next?’ and I’d say, ‘I can’t tell you, it’s a secret.’ But most of the time, I didn’t have a clue.” PlEASE SEE: Bell plans to continue on a creative path, Page A11
One of South Oak Bays great Edwardian character homes built in 1912 by the prominent contractor Eli Hume. Majesticaly situated on a land mark location (2 legal lots) over looking Windsor park. The home has a very rare legal (non conforming ) duplex designation, fantastic for the owner occupier with legal revenue, the in-laws, or of course as a fantastic single family home. This grand home maintains all the great original character with bright rooms of grand proportions, but is waiting for some paint and modern touches in renovating the kitchen and bathrooms. The location is fantastic and the (double lot) yard is truly very special, offering a tremendous private, bright and sunny setting. Floor plans available Offered at $1,225,000.
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Royal Le Page Coast Capital Realty INDEPENDENTLY OWNED AND OPERATED