MORDEN MINE MONUMENT

On a recent sunny Saturday afternoon members of the Friends of the Morden Mine society gathered at Morden Colliery Historic Provincial Park for the official unveiling of a monument dedicated to the memory of those who worked in the old coal mines of Vancouver Island.

 Approximately one-thousand miners lost their lives in these mines and countless others succumbed to workplace injuries and mining-related diseases.  Morden is the appropriate location for such a memorial because it contains the last remaining sizable structures of the old Vancouver Island coal mining industry and because it is a provincial historic park, the only such park dedicated to our mining heritage.  

UNSOLVED CRIMES IN NANAIMO AUGUST 2017

Nanaimo Unsolved crimes: August 12 to August 22. If you have information on any of these crimes, call the Nanaimo RCMP at 250-754-2345. If you wish to remain anonymous contact Crime Stoppers at www.nanaimocrimestoppers.com, text 274637, keyword Nanaimo or call 1-800-222-8477.

1. Nanaimo RCMP file # 2017-26460 Sometime overnight on Sunday August 13 an earthquake kit was stolen from the backyard of a home in the 6300 block of Pinewood Lane. The kit was kept in a large bin that was not taken. The stolen goods consisted of clothing, food, rain gear, flashlights and pet supplies. Around the same time, several break ins were reported to vehicles parked in the neighbourhood.

2. Nanaimo RCMP File # 2017-26535 On Monday August 14 from 510 Nova St, 25-30 boxes filled with models and collectibles were stolen from a tent stored on the property. The items were earmarked for an upcoming yard sale and consisted of CD's, bike helmets, metal lunch kits, Superman print and airplane/ship/car model kits. The suspect may have had knowledge where the items were being stored and would need a vehicle to remove the stolen goods.

3. Nanaimo RCMP File # 2017-26673 Sometime overnight on Tuesday August 15 an unlocked garage located in the 3400 block of Monterey Drive was entered and 2 power washers were taken. One power washer is a yellow MCS with hose reel attached, the other is a Multi Quip mounted on an aluminum base with a 9hp Honda motor.

4. Nanaimo RCMP File # 2017-26835. Over the past two weeks there have been a number of random thefts from the yard of a home in the 300 block of Kennedy St. Items taken consisted of spot lights, boxwood plants and 4 bikes. The thefts are occurring overnight and to date no suspects have been identified. If you see suspicious activity, report it immediately. 

5. Nanaimo RCMP File #2017-27001 Between 8:30 pm and 11:30 pm on August 16 a boat was stolen from the back of a pickup truck parked in the Walmart parking lot. The fiberglass homemade boat weighs approximately 250 pounds and is dark green with white painting resembling a killer whale. The boat did not have a HIN number and there was no motor for the boat.

6. Nanaimo RCMP File # 2017-27903 On Friday August 18 a boat moored at 104 Front St was broken into. The front door to the vessel was pried open and taken were a large brown ottoman, TV wall mounts, LED bulbs and a set of keys.

7. Nanaimo RCMP File # 2017-27218 On Saturday August 19 between the hours of 12:30 am and 7 am a home in the 200 block of Bowlsby St was broken into. The home owner was sleeping during the incident and when they woke they realized several items were missing. It appears the suspect entered through an unlocked office window. Taken were some cash and a one year old Galaxy cell phone.

8. Nanaimo RCMP File # 2017-27428 On Monday August 21 at approximately 7 am a homeowner residing in the 400 block of Selby St awoke to find a male in his early 20's in their apartment attempting to take their beige Chitzu dog. When confronted the suspect male jumped off the balcony and ran off without the dog. The suspect male was approximately 5 ft. 8, slim build and wearing a black baseball cap, black pants and white shirt.

9. Nanaimo File # 2017-27603 On Tuesday August 22 a break and enter was reported at 55 Victoria Road. The property manager told police unknown persons had thrown a drainage grate through the front door then took art work from the lobby.

10. Nanaimo RCMP File #2017-27630 On Tuesday August 22 at approximately 4 pm a cell phone was stolen from an outside table at the Modern Cafe on Commercial St. The owner of the phone told police she was sitting at a table when a white male walked by, grabbed the phone and ran off with it. The suspect male had short darkish hair and was wearing a black shirt and black shorts with a green stripe. The owner used her Find my phone App and tracked it to the area of Museum Way. Shortly thereafter the phone was shut off. The owner has advised her service provider and the phone will be locked preventing any unauthorized usage.

CANADIAN ECONOMY NOT SO ROSY

Click image to view Huffppost article.

Click image to view Huffpost article.

TWO FLEE BOWEN ROAD CRASH

Photo contributed: Nanaimo RCMP

Crash puts resident out of house

A homeowner was abruptly awakened late Monday night after a car driving southbound along Bowen Road crashed into the front of her home. The 32 year old homeowner was not injured although the vehicle caused major structural damage to her residence and surrounding yard. A 23 year old male driver was arrested at the scene for impaired driving and when officers arrived, he was still behind the wheel of his vehicle attempting to reverse out of the yard. The crash occurred at approximately 11:25 pm on Monday August 21 and took place at the intersection of Ashlar and Bowen Road.

Officers responded along with City of Nanaimo Fire and Rescue to reports of the crash which resulted in a newer model black SUV driving through a fence and the main supporting wall of the home. Officers learned there were two passengers in the vehicle that fled prior to police arriving.

The homeowner was offered short term accommodations through the City of Nanaimo Emergency Services but declined the offer after a nearby neighbour stepped up and took her in for the evening. The male driver later provided two breath tests at the Nanaimo RCMP Detachment with both being over the legal limit. As a result he was served with a Promise to Appear with police recommending charges of Impaired Driving. The 23 year old was also issued with a violation ticket under the Motor Vehicle Act for driving without a valid driver's license.

"Investigators would like to speak with the two passengers who fled to ensure they were not injured and to learn their version of events," said Constable Gary O'Brien of the Nanaimo RCMP. If anyone has information on the identity of the passengers please contact the Nanaimo RCMP at 250-754-2345. If you wish to remain anonymous contact Crime Stoppers at www.nanaimocrimestoppers.com, text 274637, keyword Nanaimo or call 1-800-222-8477.

City Uses Lego To Promote Boondoggle

Using Lego to sell the latest taxpayer ripoff

Why taxes keep going up??
City Hall invents ways to burn your money!!

The latest effort to keep dipping ever deeper into your pocket is coming your way this fall, courtesy of the city garbage collection department headed up by Charlotte Davis. That would be the same person who spent a few hundred bucks on pocket ashtrays and several thousand bucks on a 'quit littering' campaign a year or so ago. Remember?? No?? That could be because it had zero effect on the problem of pigs throwing their garbage and butts where they happen to be standing.

Automated garbage trucks being forced by 'staff safety' concerns

At least that is the official rationale being promoted by city hall to support this outrageous use, or misuse of your tax dollars. The claim is that ever since we started the green bin program there has been an uptick in staff injury claims which can only be resolved by the taxpayers spending millions and millions of dollars to switch to automated truck pick up. 

One of the biggest expenses is the $6.5 million that is going to be spent on new garbage bins which we are now going to have to deal with instead of our current collection system.

Bogus 'staff safety' arguments

One of the reasons Ms Davis offered for the increase in injury claims was the fact the garbage men have to pick up twice as much now as they used to since the garbage is in one bag and the green bin is a separate item. Well, there may be two items to handle, however the combined weight would be the same if it were all in one bag, as it used to be. Of course there are only two items every other week, as the recycle bag is not collected by the city garbage man. At least not yet.

You may recall it was not that many years ago that each household could put out two garbage containers every week and the garbage men of the day, seemed to be able to deal with them without any 'safety issues'. 

What do you want to bet, that it turns out that the new system can not handle as many pick ups in the same time frame, as clearly it will take more finessing to pick up the trash using a joy stick and robotic arm than it takes one healthy, able bodied person to jump off the truck and pitch the container into the truck. Just wait and see how the cost of trash pick up will grow in years to come. It is already going up 15% this year alone.

Is safety really the issue, or is the union just using some of it's muscle to lock in more union jobs which can be handled by the aging workforce, who arguably should step aside and let younger more able bodied people take their place?

There has never been any explanation as to why the final decision about this garbage boondoggle was decided at an in-camera meeting, away from prying eyes. 
Was it so that the public could not see the role the union played in this waste of tax dollars?

Nanaimo taxpayers may think they elect their decision makers at election time, but a lot of the shots called at city hall are by the local CUPE union which of course is not answerable to the public in any way shape or form. 

That is why a level one union member (not qualified as a laborer) starts at $24.40/hr. with three weeks holiday and health and dental benefits to die for. All courtesy of the local Nanaimo taxpayer.

The fact that several city councilors received thousands of dollars from unions to use at election time could raise the question of whether union or taxpayer interests are foremost when decisions are being made.

During the last election Councilor Bestwick received $5250 or 63% of his total funds from unions, Councilor Brennan received $4250 or 71% of her funds from unions and Councilor Yoachim received $6750 or 37% of his funds from unions.

Suspicious Fire Destroys Community Centre

Fire destroys First Nations community Hall 

At approximately 5 am on Saturday August 19 a structure fire was reported at the Nanoose Community Centre located on the Snaw Naw As First Nations territory.  Lantzville Fire Crews battled the blaze for most of Saturday which destroyed the unoccupied building and one vehicle parked adjacent to it. No injuries were reported and no other damage was reported to nearby homes.

Nanaimo RCMP fire scene investigators along with City of Nanaimo Fire investigators examined the scene on Saturday. In addition to forensic evidence gathered at the scene Investigators are following up on information that a number of young people were seen in the area prior to the fire starting. "At this time the actual cause of the fire has not been determined and it is considered suspicious in nature," said Constable Gary O'Brien of the Nanaimo RCMP.

If anyone has information on the fire, please call the Nanaimo RCMP at 250-754-2345. If you wish to remain anonymous contact Crime Stoppers at www.nanaimocrimestoppers.com, text 274637, keyword Nanaimo or call 1-800-222-8477.

AMERICAN ECLIPSE - JUST A COINCIDENCE?

THE COMING ECLIPSE
MORE THAN MEETS THE EYE?

The fact the path of the eclipse intersects the three major earthquake hazard zones in the USA would seem an unlikely coincidence.

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Pastor explains possible end time warning for the United States. Harbinger of things to come, or just another celestial event? 


If you are an email subscriber you may have to visit Nanaimo Info Blog to view this video.

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Map showing paths of solar eclipse over the USA 1918, 2017 and 2024.

The year 1918 saw the worst flu pandemic killing between 50 - 100 million fatalities with 675,000 of those being in the US alone. That year also marked the end of WWI.

VIEX - Nanaimo Aug. 18 - 20

Click to view schedule of events

THE CASE FOR SITE C HYDRO ELECTRICITY

Email subscribers may have to visit Nanaimo Info Blog to view this video.

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This is the case for Site C, take the time to listen to someone who actually understands the need for this project and is not being driven by a political ideology.

I would challenge either Mr. Weaver or Mr. Horgan to sit down in a public arena and debate the merits of Site C with Jessica McDonald.

Shutting down this project to chase the green dream will prove a costly decision that will cripple the province for generations.

PETITION GAINS TRACTION - COUNCIL DOZES

Petition now has 4306 signatures.

Another bit of national attention for Nanaimo.

CITY COUNCIL NEEDS TO MAKE A DECISION

Jim Taylor

Make a decision
get Ms Samra back on the job

When is this council going to decide what to do with the findings of an independent consultant that found the city manager was enduring a toxic work environment? When is council also going to make public the facts that are contained in this report? Continuing to wait and punt this down the road is only resulting in more and more speculation in the public arena, and that is never a good thing,


So, Nanaimo City Council........ you have had this report for over a month now, and it is time you made a decision as to how to address the problems identified. A recent petition is now suggesting this is an issue of racism on the part of the mayor, and that is not the kind of publicity we need. Deal with it!

SUSPECTED IN TWO ACTS OF THEFT

NANAIMO RCMP SEEKS PUBLIC ASSISTANCE 

Theft of lotto tickets and purse

The Nanaimo RCMP is asking for the public's assistance in identifying the male shown in the attached photo who is a suspect in at least two recent thefts.

On Wednesday August 2 at approximately 3:15 pm the male allegedly stole a lady's purse while she shopped at Fairway Market located in the North Town Centre Mall. Then on Sunday August 6 at approximately 5 pm he struck again, allegedly stealing lotto tickets from the Shoppers Drug Mart in the Country Club Mall.

The suspect male is white, 40-50 years of age, 5 ft.10, short hair, greying on the sides. If you know the identity of this individual, please call the Nanaimo RCMP at 250-7540-2345. If you wish to remain anonymous contact Crime Stoppers at www.nanaimocrimestoppers.com text 274637, keyword Nanaimo or call 1-800-222-8477.

FALL 7 WINTER NANAIMO ACTIVITY GUIDE

TO VIEW/DOWNLOAD THE NEW ACTIVITY GUIDE VISIT CITY WEBSITE HERE

MORE FREE FUN ON VICTORIA CRESCENT

Saturday, August 26, The Victoria Crescent Association is proud to present our second street fair of the summer – and Pro-Wrestling is the main event!

Beginning at noon, there will be all kinds of kid’s activities: from face painting to games. Slide down a gigantic 35-foot blow-up slide, bounce around in a big play fort. Try your skills at jousting or put on a Sumo Wrestling Suit and take your opponent to the mat – AND IT’S ALL FREE!

Then get ready for our main event at 6 o’clock - scream, yell or boo for your favourite Vancouver Island Pro Wrestler, who will be performing live, right in a ring set up in the middle of Victoria Crescent, downtown.

So don’t forget, Saturday, August 26 – Crescent Day on Victoria Crescent in downtown Nanaimo. A whole lot of good, wacky, crazy fun for the Whole Family!

PETITION CALLS FOR NANAIMO CITY COUNCIL ACTION

326 Signatures already

A petition started by Zoe Todd has gathered 326 signatures so far. In part the petition says:

Action needs to be taken now. It is time for Council to act upon the legacy of violence against Indigenous women in Canada, and to acknowledge the violence Ms. Samra has endured in her duties as Nanaimo's CAO. It is time for an official apology to be issued by municipal leadership for the violence against Ms. Samra, and it is time for Mayor McKay to resign.

To add your name to the petition follow this LINK.

BC CHALLENGES ANOTHER CANADIAN RESOURCE INDUSTRY

Click image for full CBC report

B.C. hires retired Supreme Court justice to advise on the provinces next steps in it's efforts to kill the Kinder Morgan pipeline.

A CANADIAN TRAGEDY - PETRONAS CANCELLATION

To read this Financial Post article follow this LINK. 

FIFTEEN BRUSH/WILD FIRES IN NANAIMO

File Photo

FIVE FIRES IN THE PAST WEEK ALONE
Everyone has a role to play in preventing brush/wild fires

"The number of fires are very concerning, especially since the majority are human caused." Umesh Lal Fire Prevention Officer 

August is traditionally the most active month for brush/wild fire season as a result of the extremely dry conditions. Given the number of fires the City has recently had, and observing what is happening in the interior, Nanaimo Fire Rescue is encouraging the community to remain vigilant when outdoors regarding fire safety.

There have been 15 brush/wild fires during this past month compared to zero last year. Five of those fires happened within the past week alone. Four of the fires are attributed to discarded cigarettes, three were intentionally set and one was caused by fireworks.

If you see a fire call 911

NANAIMO FREE SUMMER CONCERT AUG. 12

Nanaimo Air Quality Index Hits 7 - High Risk

At-Risk Population
Reduce or reschedule strenuous outdoor activity. The elderly and the young should also take it easy. To find out if you are at risk CHECK HERE.

General Population
Consider reducing or rescheduling strenuous outdoor activity if you experience coughing or throat irritation.

An index of 7 (high risk) is forecast to remain through Saturday night and Sunday.

Why Wendy Pratt Resigned From Council ?

Visit Nanaimo Info Blog to view video if it doesn't show on your email.

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Did Assault Lead To Resignation?

City Press Release:

Independent consultant confirms Mayor, Councillors
created hostile work environment for City of Nanaimo CAO

NANAIMO, July 31, 2017 – An independent consultant has confirmed that the conduct of Mayor Bill McKay, Coun. Diane Brennan and former Coun. Wendy Pratt has created a hostile work environment for City of Nanaimo CAO Tracy Samra.

The official report of independent consultant Roslyn Goldner was released to council July 20.  

Samra filed complaints under the City of Nanaimo's Respectful Workplace Policy and violence in the workplace policy resulting in an independent investigation by Roslyn Goldner. 

Goldner began her investigation after Ms. Samra was physically assaulted by then Coun. Wendy Pratt as shown in above video. 

“On February 27, 2017 I was assaulted by Coun. Wendy Pratt at a closed council meeting in front of nine witnesses,” Samra states. “At least six witnesses were interviewed by the RCMP and a video tape of the incident was marked into evidence that night.  I sustained minor physical injuries”.  

“I was advised that Ms. Pratt was arrested and released on a promise to appear and an undertaking that she not attend my workplace at city hall, SARC and the Shaw auditorium.”

The sudden resignation by Coun. Pratt took place following the assault.  Ms. Samra was advised that the criminal matter went to “diversion” and that Ms. Pratt is expected to make an apology to her.

Samra states that a prior assault by Pratt on Samra took place January 11, 2017, which was reported to the RCMP and taken to the Crown, but did not result in charges as there were no witnesses in the room.  

“I filed this complaint after the Feb. 27 assault by Coun. Pratt so there would be a mechanism for this to stop, and to get Mayor McKay to stop targeting me,” says Samra. “I believe Mayor McKay needs to be held accountable for his conduct, as I am entitled to be treated professionally in my workplace in front of my staff and the public.”

“The Mayor has consistently made defamatory remarks about me in the media over the last 20 months calling into question my capabilities to do the job and my ethics.”

Ms. Samra maintains that the Mayor has also made disparaging remarks in public on multiple occasions about her to her colleagues at other institutions, including at an aboriginal graduation ceremony, a joint City-SD68, and at an RCMP panel in front of a representatives from Snuneymuxw First Nation.

“I went on leave after the assault by Coun. Pratt. I attempted to return to work on a limited basis,” Samra says. “I know now that I should have gone on leave after the first incident to address the anxiety and fear I faced going to work each day after months of targeted by Wendy Pratt, Diane Brennan and Bill McKay.”

“When the Report was released last week I made unprofessional comments that were overheard outside the boardroom.  I apologize to those who heard my remarks.”  Ms. Samra expects to remain on leave while Council considers the Report findings and what steps can be taken to address the toxic work environment.

Previously on Nanaimo Info Blog

Gord Fuller's account of event.