United Steelworkers host Day of Mourning Alberni Region, Page 3
14C 6C
Cloudy with showers Serving the Alberni Valley
www.avtimes.net
Monday, April 27, 2015
TRANSPORTATION
Province: $100K to study 2nd highway ERIC PLUMMER ALBERNI VALLEY TIMES
No one was injured after a car rolled into the ditch eastbound on the Alberni Highway near Cameron Lake Feb. 2. A study on Highway 4 released in 2013 found that 265 collisions resulted in nine deaths between 2007 and 2011. [CHRIS FINLAYSON, TIMES]
“It’s not a matter of if; it’s a matter of when,” says the province’s transportation minister regarding the building of an alternative highway into the Alberni Valley. During question period in the B.C. legislature on Thursday Alberni-Pacific Rim MLA Scott Fraser asked Minister of Transportation Todd Stone about the province’s consideration of funding another highway into the community. “There are a lot of big plans in Port Alberni around a hub for a port facility, an LNG facility,” said Fraser, adding that the existing route into the Valley presents problems. “Highway 4 shuts down way too frequently from car accidents, from trucks losing their load – it’s a windy road – or from trees coming down in Cathedral Grove. It is the only lifeline. I have great concerns about what that means, for the isolation that can cause, in times of emergency especially.” Stone responded that a feasibility study on the proposed alternative highway is set to begin early this summer and completed by the fall.
FRASER
“We have allocated $100,000 in this year’s budget to put towards doing a business case on the alternative route,” he said. “This connector is going to be needed, and it’s going to be needed to foster the economic development and to leverage some real strengths that exist in Port Alberni and beyond. It’s also going to be needed from a safety perspective.” For years the Alberni Valley Transportation Committee has lobbied for the Horne Lake Connector, a more direct route than Highway 4 with lower grades better suited to industrial traffic. See HIGHWAY, Page 9
ENVIRONMENT
Haida Gwaii quake: AV prepared former resident for tremor; no tsunami warning Alberni businesses recognized at awards
KRISTI DOBSON ALBERNI VALLEY TIMES
A number of local businesses and individuals were recognized for excellence at the Chamber of Commerce awards on the weekend. » Alberni Region, 3
Timberwolves defeat undefeated Raptors For the second straight game, Co-op would have to overcome a double-digit deficit, but the Timberwolves pulled it off to win by 10 points. » Sports, 5
» Use your smartphone to jump to our Facebook page for updates on these stories or the latest breaking news.
Former Port Alberni resident Sian Nalleweg was awakened Friday morning by a motion that felt like a rolling wave. An earthquake measuring magnitude 6.1 struck the region approximately 167 kilometres southeast of the Village of Queen Charlotte just before 7 a.m. Friday. The epicentre was approximately 38 km below the surface. There were no reports of damage and no tsunami warnings issued but the shallow depth caused it to be felt widely. “This is a place where we know has been very active,” said Honn Kao, seismologist with the Geological Survey of Canada. “We received calls from Haida Gwaii and the north coast of B.C., but don’t expect to see any damage from this one,” Kao said Friday morning. “As soon as an earthquake occurs closer to a city we can expect damage to be more significant.” Kao said it was too remote and offshore to cause a tsunami. Nalleweg, a former Port Alberni resident, said most of the residents on Haida Gwaii felt the tremor. Now used to the somewhat regular rumblings, she said this one was quieter
“As soon as an earthquake occurs closer to a city we can expect damage to be more significant.” Honn Kao, seismologist, Geological Survey of Canada
than normal. “Usually I hear the china cabinet rattle, but this just felt like a rolling wave,” she said. Nallewag moved to the remote region in 2008 and said she and her family are prepared. “Living in Port Alberni had me more prepared because we always heard the tsunami warning system,” she said. “Now we have an enormous kit to last us more than 72 hours with water, food, dry packs and all other amenities.” She said it is standard for everyone to have a radio and volunteer firefighters conduct community sweeps to make sure everyone is safe after an event. “There is a block committee that does a telephone tree to reach everyone and we have regular emergency planning meetings,” Nallewag said.
The epicentre of a 6.1 magnitude earthquake on Friday was 38 kilometres below the surface. [EARTHQUAKES CANADA GRAPHIC]
For Nallewag, it is just the fear of the unknown that keeps her on edge. “Next year, my daughter will be going to the high school by ferry but I know they have safety plans in place,” she said. “But we know that if there is a major disaster, we will be the last on the list to get to because we’re the farthest away and there isn’t a lot of cell coverage.” She said the best thing to do is
to be prepared. “These ones rock the boat but it is more of a reminder to be ready,” Nallewag said. kristi.dobson@avtimes.net 250-723-8171 ext. 234
» We want to hear from you. Send comments on this story to news@avtimes.net. Letters must include daytime phone number and hometown.
Inside today What’s On 4 Alberni Region 3
Opinion 4 Sports 5
Alberni Album 6 Scoreboard 7
Comics 8 Classifieds 9
$1.25 newsstand (GST incl.)
ALBERNI VALLEY TIMES VOLUME 66, NUMBER 80
Jewel P p Party
May 1 & 2 Double Loyalty Stamps & prizes all weekend Friday 9:30am - 6:00pm Sat 9:30am - 5:30pm
4558 Elizabeth St. 250-723-3822 www.finishingtouches.ca
On the Island 9 Living Well 10
Mothers Day bracelet with two pop rocks and a compact
$99 while supplies last