Nanaimo News Note June 3, 2011

NRGH Emergency Room Fundraising: Nanaimo and District Hospital Foundation has raised about $1.5 million of it`s goal of $4 million to buy equipment for the new ER at NRGH. Recently TD Canada Trust donated $50,000 making them the third financial institution to support the project.

Table Tennis League: the Vancouver Island Table Tennis Association will have their first match in Nanaimo this weekend which will lead to the League championship over the coming months. More information about the association can be found at their website.

Nanaimo Civic Election: will be conducted by city staff again this year. The possibility of contracting out the election services was investigated but city staff felt they were best suited for the job. Joan Harrison will assume her usual role as chief election officer.

Waterfront Parcel Sold: the sale is not official as there will be many layers of approvals to proceed with, but it is reported that CP Rail has accepted an offer for their 53 acres of waterfront property which is right downtown next to the new cruise ship terminal. No details are being made available as to who the prospective purchaser may be, nor what they intend to do with the land.

Nanaimo Shipbuilders: are hopeful they may see some of the $35 billion shipbuilding program initiated by Ottawa which intends to build 28 large vessels during the next 30 years.

Petition To Lower Taxes: Nanaimo residents who think that spending $16 million on a new staff office instead of keeping tax increases to zero for the next five years are encouraged to sign the petition at www.NanaimoPetition.com.