THURSDAYOCTOBER 2, 2014
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THIS PLAY IS SCARY
WHEELCHAIR SWING CLOSED
City cites liability concerns; local mom upset for her daughter; MLA weighs in
Echo Players’ first of the season is a spine-tingling thriller
A3
A18
POT PRODUCTION PROPOSAL
Wildflower wants RDN to back off Despite the plea, RDN will send letter to feds CANDACE WU
news@pqbnews.com
River’s Edge residents have the RDN’s support, despite Wildflower Marijuana’s best efforts. The Regional District of Nanaimo’s board of directors voted unanimously Tuesday to send a letter to Health Canada backing River’s Edge residents who are rallying against Wildflower Marijuana’s proposal to set up a medical marijuana operation in the heart of their neighbourhood. This RDN support came after a last-minute plea was received from the company’s lawyers urging the RDN not to send a letter to Health Canada that could hinder Wildflower’s business plans. RDN chair Joe Stanhope, who represents the River’s Edge region, has publicly stated his support for the residents and told The NEWS last week “I will go to the end of the earth to make sure this doesn’t happen.” Wildflower’s corporate counsel Stephen Pearce alleged in a letter dated Sept. 29 Stanhope made “public defamatory statements against Wildflower” without consulting the company. “It came to our attention yesterday (Sept. 28) that the chairman of the board, Joe Stanhope, has written a letter to the Honourable Rona Ambrose against our application,” stated Pearce. “The actions of Mr. Stanhope have caused Wildflower serious damages.” The letter goes on to ask the board to “adjourn any consideration of approving a letter to Health Canada opposing our (Wildflower’s) application for a license under the MMPR and further damaging Wildflower’s business interests while we have a chance to consult with counsel.” See RESIDENT VERY GRATEFUL, page A6
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COFFEE HUT ON THE MOVE: The former Quik Brimm coffee kiosk on the Island Highway in Parksville has been sold to the Ahous Business Corporation and was loaded on a flatbed on Wednesday. An official from the company said the hut will eventually be moved to Ahousaht in Clayoquot Sound.
QUALICUM BEACH TOWN COUNCIL NEWS
A closer look at the south side AUREN RUVINSKY
writer@pqbnews.com
Recognizing there is investment opportunity, Qualicum Beach will develop a South Qualicum Beach Area Plan, though there was a lot of debate about how to proceed. Development of the town’s only roundabout, the fire hall and, most recently, proposals by the owners of Pheasant Glen Golf Resort, have pushed this issue to the agenda of recent council meetings. At Monday’s council meeting, di-
rector of planning Luke Sales said “council has asked staff to explore the idea of taking a proactive approach and developing a local area plan for south Qualicum Beach rather than responding on a case by case basis.” He said the idea is to start with a study area that “includes a very large area to the south of Qualicum Beach,” including land in and outside the town boundary and land in the Agricultural Land Reserve (ALR). Sales also said the area represents a
potential investment for the town. “There’s a lot of interesting and provocative discussion points that could be had within that area,” he said, highlighting a long list of potential uses and areas to consider including park and open areas, pedestrian and bicycle linkages, protection of agricultural land and environmentally sensitive areas, residential mix and densities, and green belt protection. See BUS GARAGE, page A6
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