Sign In Subscribe Now everyone can be Irish for the night at the St Paddy’s Contra dance in the Big Yellow Merville Hall This family friendly event features the Funtime O’Fiddlers playing jigs and reels for the contra dances No worry if you have no partner or don’t know how to Contra dance Enjoy the luck of the Irish and take it up for the first time as there is a Contra workshop before the dancing begins.  will take to the stage and strike the first notes and let the gaiety begin Singles can pair up with anyone during the Contras and our Contra sets last about 15 to 20 minutes see if you can win a Spot Dance prize and spend the night kicking up your heels The luck of the Irish will flow through all at the dance Doors open at 7:00 p.m., dancing starts at 7:30 p.m.. Cost is $10.00/adults, $5.00/youth (6 and under free) and you can come as a family for $22.00. The free workshop starts at 7:00 p.m..  For more information, email: seabankmars@shaw.ca Dialogue and debate are integral to a free society and we welcome and encourage you to share your views on the issues of the day. We ask that you be respectful of others and their points of view, refrain from personal attacks and stay on topic. To learn about our commenting policies and how our community-based moderation works, please read our Community Guidelines Ward 3 Belpre City Councilperson Lyndsay Dennis Blake Bryan and Lance Mayberry of Cawley Hospice The Belpre Area Chamber of Commerce held a ribbon-cutting Sept owners Amy Gallagher and Megan Merville cut the ribbon on their retail space and activity area and offered music food trucks and activities and showcased their plans for the future for kayak rentals classes and expanding community utilization of local recreation | https://www.newsandsentinel.com | 519 Juliana St. Please select what you would like included for printing: Copy the text below and then paste that into your favorite email application Enter your phone number above to have directions sent via text This site is protected by reCAPTCHA and the Google Privacy Policy and Terms of Service apply Service map data © OpenStreetMap contributors You don't have permission to access the page you requested What is this page?The website you are visiting is protected.For security reasons this page cannot be displayed The intriguing beach chairs are on a beach in Normandy and protect you from both the wind and the sun.  they are completely booked,” Sylvie Dupont the deputy mayor of Merville-Franceville in charge of culture from locals to French tourists to foreign tourists.”  The strandkorbs are placed on the beach in the beginning of June and then removed in early September.  Some have extra features such as footrests and folding tables.  The hooded design was designed to protect the user from any potential unpleasantness on the beach originally the harsh winds of the Baltic Sea but also from the sun and any sand.  who lived on the coast of the Baltic Sea wanted to visit the beach despite her rheumatism Physician Wilhelm Bartelmann’s solution was to invent the strandkorb has been located in Heringsdorf since 1933.  This small German spa town is twinned with Merville-Franceville whose mayor and his deputy decided during a visit to introduce the chairs to Merville-Franceville The first ten strandkorbs were put on the beach around ten years ago and their numbers have since tripled to 30.  walking routes and local legends in this unique corner of the Pyrénees-Orientales This small department on the German border is home to the historic city of Strasbourg the Bard of Scotland and the Great Chieftain of the puddin'-race will be honoured at the Robbie Burns Contra dance on Saturday 27 at the tartan dressed Merville hall.  There the Fiddlers will play for your dancing pleasure while hairy legged kilted Scotsmen and Scotswomen swirl about the floor shaking their thistles and spurtles Contra dances are similar to square dances and English country dances.  No experience is necessary as the caller teaches each dance before it is actually done to the music The caller then leads the dance while the band plays so dancers are able to perform each movement to the music.  Most people catch on quickly and soon the hall is full of prancing participants.  You don't have to come with a partner as dancers can pair up right there on the hardwood floor and you'll dance with everyone on the floor jigs and schottisches.  Tasty helpings of “haggis” will be served and we’ll toast the Scottish Bard.  You might even win a Spot Dance or “Best Dressed” prize.  Wear your kilt and kick up your heels trot your Highland Shetland Pony to the Big Yellow Merville Dance Hall right on the Old Island Highway between Campbell River and Courtenay.  Doors open at 7:00 dance starts at 7:30pm.  Cost is $10.00/adults $5.00/youth and you can come as a family for $22.00.    For more information call:  339-4249.   Paddy’s Contra dance in the Big Yellow (and Greenish) Merville Hall.  The lucky Funtime O’Fiddlers love to play the jigs and reels for the contra dances. All are welcome to attend this family friendly function There is a brief Contra workshop right before the dance.  At 7:30 p.m., the Fiddlers leap onto the stage strike the first notes and the gaiety begins.  Singles can pair up with anyone during the Contras and sets last about 15 to 20 minutes win a Spot Dance prize and click your heels.  The luck of the Irish will be with everyone at this kitchen party.  Green music Join the Irish fiddlers at the Big Yellow Merville Dance Hall between Campbell River and Courtenay.  Doors open at 7:00 p.m. dance starts at 7:30 p.m.  Cost is $10.00/adults $5.00/youth (six and under free) and families can come for $22.00.   Free workshop starts at 7:00.   with the Funtime Fiddlers playing for your dancing pleasure at the Big Yellow Merville Hall.  Everyone knows that the bagpipes play second fiddle to the fiddle as the musical instrument of choice for strapping Celtic Caller June Cannon will guide the dancers with her clear and clever instructions always with an eye on those who might need a bit more guidance.  Nobody gets left behind and everyone will have a good time.  Almost guaranteed Doors open at 6:45pm and there is a Contra Dance workshop right before the dance to loosen you up and to prepare you for the spins and lively steps of the Virginnia Reel and the Gay Gordon.  The dancing begins at 7:30 with families and single dancers being very welcome.  Singles can pair up with anyone during the Contras and our Contra sets last about 15 to 20 minutes.   The fiddlers will also play old time waltzes and reels; jigs and swing; schottisches and foxtrots We’ll celebrate the poetry of Robbie Burns and have healthy samplings of “haggis” to titillate the taste buds.  Kilts are great for dancing in so wear your colours with flair and we’ll create a dance to make the Highlanders proud The Big Yellow Merville Dance Hall is right on the Old Island Highway between Campbell River and Courtenay.  Doors open at 6:45 p.m. dance starts at 7:30 p.m..  Cost is $10.00/adults $5.00/youth and you can come as a family for $22.00   For more information call 250-339-4249 and receive top headlines in your inbox Monday to Saturday A structure fire ripped through a building in the early morning of Sept 13 near Farnham and Carlson Roads in Merville Explosions could be heard in the area during the flare up This is an isolated event with the fire not spreading to any additional buildings  Toneff Funeral Services Long-time Merville resident Sally Gellard boarded a train in November with the goal of bringing a message of peace to Ottawa Gellard was one of 40 West Coast activists who embarked on the train to Ottawa The idea began in Port Alberni last spring when a group of letter-writing peace activists found letter-writing to their MPs was not enough wars and human rights violations occurring internationally had reached a level where this group felt they must do something to convince Canada’s decision-makers to take a stand and reinvest in peacekeeping The group reached out to Courtenay-Alberni MP Gord Johns who encouraged them and committed to helping the cause "Months of preparation involved talking with advisors people with backgrounds in diplomacy and international peacekeeping," a release from the group says "The advice from all sides was to take a specific 'ask' to Ottawa." That culminated in a 1,000 signature petition that Johns presented to the House of Commons on Nov call upon the House of Commons in Parliament to establish and fund a Centre of Excellence for Peace and Justice focused on research education and training in conflict resolution diplomacy and peace operations for Canadian civilians military personnel and the international community.” The idea calls on Canada's history with peacekeeping there were over 3,000 Canadian UN Peacekeepers Canada had over 3,000 military personnel deployed in non-UN missions around the world "With the closing of The Pearson Peace Centre in 2011, Canada lost an important institution that supported peace operations and gave us a highly regarded reputation of being a peacekeeping country," the release says the Peace Train Canada group left Vancouver on Nov and travelled across the country via Via Rail other activists came out to cheer on the travellers and their idea and hosted an all-party MP and Senator reception when the train arrived on Nov "The support at the reception was impressive with a showing from each federal political party who each gave strong messages of encouragement," the release says is returning to the Comox Valley with his band Freeman always enjoys playing with his hometown audience.  “We try to play the Merville Hall every year or two warm and receptive crowd in a community-oriented hall,” he said Throughout the last ten years of being a band The Fretless has honed its sound and evolved out of an experiment of arranging tunes for a string quartet.  “It's really like it has become its own style and its own genre This last album has successfully become the genre that it has been trying to be,” said Freeman is part of the evolution of The Fretless with Freeman stating that it is experimental and exciting with a calm subtly This follows the band honing their sound and figuring out just what they want to sound like.  “It feels like we’re playing together the most out of any album we’ve made.” the band got to do something they had not done before - collaborate with another musician throughout the writing process They have collaborated before with other musicians playing parts in their songs but they had never invited anyone into the actual writing of their music.  “We got to write some songs with Madeleine Roger It was the first time inviting anyone else into our writing process which has been circular insular and a bit of a cooking pot for the last decade To open it up and bring someone else in was quite inspiring,” said Freeman.  The upcoming tour is not just about the music of The Fretless; it is also about an immersive experience with set designer Gillian Gallow and lighting designer Emerson Kafarowski adding to the show “The enhanced lighting moments combine with what you hear to expand what you’re hearing and influence your hearing in another way When the lighting director knows there is a nice swell coming up they can just match it with the lighting.” The show at the Merville Hall will be the first to incorporate both the lighting and new sets.  Tickets are available here: https://thefretless.com/glasswing-tour-comox The Merville Grandmothers are calling for excess fabric as they prepare for their annual Fabulous Fabric Sale The group is looking for donations of fabric including cottons upholstery and quilting materials as they prepare for their annual September sale "Now is the time to clear out that excess fabric from your cupboard and donate to make a difference and help us support grandmothers in sub-Saharan Africa," a release from the Grandmothers says The group has been active in the Comox Valley since 2007 Since then they have found creative ways to raise funds for the Stephen Lewis Foundation's Grandmothers to Grandmothers campaign which links Canadian grandmothers to grandmothers in Africa who are raising grandchildren and providing leadership in their communities Donations can be dropped off at the Potters Place in Courtenay through the summer People can also arrange for pickup by calling Anne at 250-338-1168 "Mark your calendar for September 21st and stay tuned for further details about this fabulous fabric sale!" the release says About the Author: Comox Valley Record Staff take your children on a giant egg hunt at Château de Merville If Easter is a treat for young and old alike it’s also the perfect time to find the activity that’s sure to please your children Toulouse Secret tells you all about the giant egg hunt to be held in the boxwood labyrinth of the Château de Merville Château de Merville Located 20 minutes northwest of Toulouse Château de Merville will once again be opening its doors with an activity perfect for your children the boxwood labyrinth of this atypical place welcomes children for a giant egg hunt There’s plenty to keep your little ones entertained over the long weekend Good to know: access is free for children under 4 and let’s get ready for the Easter egg hunt  Toneff's Funeral Services the Big Yellow Merville Hall will be full of the music of two dynamite bluegrass/old time bands Montreal’s Veranda and Toronto’s Porch Couch Both bands will also be performing at the June Cowichan Bluegrass Festival so the festival organizers have offered those who attend the Merville show a $35 discount at Cowichan That means that you’ll actually make money by attending the Merville show Veranda is a four piece bluegrass band that started as the duo of Léandre Joly-Pelletier and Catherine-Audrey Lachapelle a cozy watering hole regarded as a Montreal Bluegrass institution Joly-Pelletier is a virtuoso on the guitar and a sought-after multi-instrumentalist who has worked extensively with many well-established folk Lachapelle is a professional actress known for her role in Radio-Canada’s hit TV show “District 31.” The duo soon expanded into a four-piece bluegrass band featuring award-winning fiddler After a well-received first EP released in 2019 Veranda has a new record of original French and English bluegrass music that blends the traditional and contemporary with simplicity and virtuosity Their music is filled with sweet harmonies and soulful melodies From high lonesome bluegrass to intimate folk ballads the duo offers a fresh take on classic Country music It’s been said that Veranda calls home a place way out in the countryside Ralph Stanley and Emmylou Harris singing under the pines The Merville Hall will be the perfect country music hall Porch Couch features Jaron Freeman-Fox and Alan Mackie This dynamic duo is reanimating old-time and square dance tunes from Appalachia and beyond on fiddle and banjo They deftly balance a deep respect for tradition against all the times they’ve shirked it: throat singing with Norwegians in a Siberian yurt camp modern dancers leaping across tables at the PWYC bar gig or playing for ravers under the midnight sun while the drummer bangs pool cues on the floor Porch Couch is an original sound in traditional music that moves listeners and dancers alike make your way to the Big Yellow Merville hall Tickets are $25/$10 (youth) at Long & McQuade THE combined junior team from Merville and Grove Jiu-Jitsu clubs were out in action for the first time in 2025 at the local Championships in Shankill Leisure Centre on Saturday 24 Juniors went to fight the best junior athletes from all around the country and returned to North Belfast with five gold,five silver and seven bronze medals between them - not bad for two little clubs from North Belfast/ Newtownabbey who draw their membership from all the local youth of the area and slightly further afield Competing in Jiu-Jitsu is a curious contradiction but you just can’t reach a decent standard without a significant support team behind you and the skill level on display last Saturday was definitely a decent standard The Merville and Grove clubs are representatives of the wider Team Ryano International MMA team took first place as the most successful Jiu-Jitsu team on the day Coaches Mick Cullinan and Glenn Kelly masterminded much of the team’s preparations beforehand but they still do not do justice to the achievement of these fighters,” they said “They don’t record the countless hours of practice and dedication it takes to train and develop with all the other distractions that they have at their age For anyone interested in learning more about Grove or Merville Jiu-Jitsu Clubs, more information can be found at: www.mervillejujitsu.com/grove Sign up to the weekly sport briefing to stay up to date with everything Sport Donate to BelfastMedia.com today to ensure that this website remains free now Developed and maintained by Soundlining © Copyright 2025 Belfast Media All rights reserved Developed and maintained by Soundlining © Copyright 2025 Belfast Media All rights reserved was carried home by her Heavenly Father on Jan daughter of the late Bernard and Nellie Danser Russell who preceded her in death after more than 50 years of marriage The most important thing in Marge’s life was her family and in retirement was an antique dealer with her husband She was a former member of Beechwood Presbyterian Church and Faith Gospel Church and Megan Merville (Tyler Parrish); nineteen great-grandchildren; one sister The family would like to extend their sincere appreciation to Housecalls Hospice Over 120 acres are being turned into parks in the Comox Valley Regional District north of Courtenay The regional district recently acquired new park lands within Electoral Area C The first is a 4.51 acre land donation received from Resolute North holdings Ltd The donation was made through the federal Ecological Gifts Program and is located adjacent to Maris Nature Park. Maris Nature Park features approximately 940 metres of ocean frontage with 44.05 acres of intact mature second growth forest Further development of the park will be guided in part by community feedback and avoiding restricted or geographically sensitive areas It is located next to Sarah and Brian McLoughlin Nature Park and the Eagles Greenway in Merville A management planning process is currently underway for Maris Nature Park with public engagement planned in 2025 where community feedback will inform the planning process The second park will be made up of two land parcels with a combined area of 115.86 acres located near Spike Road Park This significantly increases the size of the existing park and will further improve its ecological value ecologically-sensitive wetland and extends the One Spot Trail through the 1,400 metre unopened road dedication which bisects the property The property is also located on ALR land and will be subject to provincial rules Public engagement to support a management plan for Spike Road Park is expected to occur in 2026 “It is important to note that both Maris Nature Park and Spike Road Park will remain inactive and not open to the public until their respective park management plans have been completed and the appropriate visitor infrastructure is in place,” said Mark Harrison “We ask that residents do not enter these parks at this time Official announcements regarding public engagement and park openings will be communicated once the management plans for these new park spaces have begun.” More information on the parks is available at comoxvallleyrd.ca/maris and comoxvalleyrd.ca/spike Orion Magazine It is my everlasting pleasure to live in the rural community of Merville and urban defectors with new plaid shirts and attitudes a tectonic fragment off the left coast of a restless continent Like slipping on a pair of shoes that caress my feet the fit so ideal; this is what it was like when I came onto this land thirty years ago The realtor sat in his hot car and waited so I walked without his badgering sales pitch It was late August and the land sung in a sultry late summer voice black cottonwood leaves rattled in the outflow wind releasing that Balm of Gilead scent which evoked my childhood on the hot prairies where trees were rare Rising from the wetland to a slight ridge the acreage was trying to heal itself from the logging which preceded the sale with healing root nodules infusing the soil with needed nitrogen they promised to make the land well again if only I would give them time in a succession arising from millennia of rehearsal have given way to a wonderous stand of Douglas fir fed them on the richness of the glacial loam — vegetables fruit and animals — then sent them into the world to make of it what they would Tomorrow one is visiting with his daughters who will leap from the truck and race to the garden to scavenge strawberries They will return with sticky smeared faces and hands to us sitting in the deep shade of a prairie Bur oak planted as a seedling my late mother brought out wrapped in a brassiere deep in her suitcase Then the largest seaborne invasion in history the D-Day landings were planned down to the last detail One of the most important parts of this attack had nothing to do with an assault from the water it was the deployment of Allied paratroopers as some of the first soldiers to land in France with the paratroopers dropped behind enemy lines the 82nd and 101st Airborne Divisions were deployed in advance of the amphibious landings to ensure important locations were secured These paratroopers were vital to the success of D-Day as their objectives played a significant role in the outcome of the other missions The US divisions were dropped behind Utah Beach taking part in various actions to ensure those who landed later in the day would be able to quickly move on with their objective The 6th were dropped near the Orne to support the British troops who would land at Sword Beach These positions also ensured that the flanks of all five landing points were secured Although many of the paratroopers who were dropped in the early hours of the morning had never before seen combat and often missed their drop targets these goals were all part of Operation Tonga While initially only one brigade would be deployed the plan changed to see the drop of the entire 6th Airborne Division which was designed to help them accomplish their three assigned tasks The pilots charged with dropping the paratroopers trained day and night to ensure they mastered their maneuvers Those assigned to take the bridges over the Orne and Caen Canal trained on similar structures in Exeter assigned to destroy the Merville Gun Battery where a replica was created for training purposes They practiced repeatedly and learned how to operate in and around the coastal fortification and also went over the best ways to defeat the Germans Just before midnight on June 5, 1944, British paratroopers onboard Handley Page Halifax heavy bombers, towing Airspeed Horsa gliders, departed from Royal Air Force (RAF) Tarrant Rushton. Shortly after, the remaining troops took off in waves in Armstrong Whitworth A.W.41 Albemarles, Douglas DC-3 “Dakotas” and Short Stirlings The various brigades were to be dropped in France between 12:50 AM and 4:30 AM on June 6 many of the paratroopers were dropped a fair distance away from their intended targets as his mission at Merville Gun Battery relied on the entire brigade along with some of the men who landed with him It appeared he wasn’t the only one who was dropped off course only 110 paratroopers had arrived with a very small amount of artillery Otway had to have the Merville Gun Battery destroyed by 5:30 AM the 9th Parachute Battalion marched on the fortification where they met up with 22nd Independent Parachute Company pathfinders When the incoming gliders with the British sappers missed the target with his men divided into four assault teams regardless of the extensive issues faced by the troops who were scattered along the countryside the scattering of the divisions unintentionally made the Germans believe there were far more paratroopers landing than there actually were More from us: The World’s First Ever Gliderborne Attack Allowed Germany to Take Belgium Reinforced by an additional wave of paratroopers from the 6th Airborne later on repelling German assaults until they were withdrawn from the front on August 27 Rosemary Giles is a history content writer with Hive Media She received both her bachelor of arts degree in history and her master of arts degree in history from Western University and Canadian history with a specific focus on the Second World War she worked in a variety of research positions She also worked as a teaching assistant in the History Department she has decided to take a step back from academia to focus her career on writing and sharing history in a more accessible way With a passion for historical learning and historical education her writing interests include social history especially researching obscure facts about the Second World War Rosemary enjoys spending time with her partner linkedin.com/in/rosemary-giles Professor Emeritus Merville “Merv” Shaw who taught psychology at Chico State for 31 years and went on to earn a bachelor’s degree in economics from Franklin & Marshall College and a master’s and PhD in psychology from Syracuse University He taught briefly at Oregon State before he was hired at Chico State College in 1952 as a professor in the psychology department and testing officer for the college Shaw had a reputation for a distinguished academic and professional career in which he earned the esteem and respect of his colleagues and students With the exception of a four-year departure from Chico State to teach at UCLA in the early 1960s he served on at least one committee per year throughout his entire career He was among the first recipients of the Professional Achievement Honors awards at the time of their founding in 1981 and he was honored with the Outstanding Professor Award in 1984 Shaw also held numerous research grants during his career—one of which is purported to be the first research grant ever secured at Chico State with funding support from the US Public Health Service in 1959 Shaw also had research grants from the California State Department of Public Health and the California State Department of Education Professor Art Sanchez shares that it was Shaw along with faculty Dave Hicks and Bill Rector As the primary architect of “preventative” methods and curriculum Shaw helped embed those tenets across each of the counselor education and psychology graduate counseling programs—which were among the first of their kind to be developed in California and empirically sound curriculum that was arguably a beacon in the region as well as throughout the profession,” Sanchez said Shaw is remembered not only as a leader within his discipline but also for mentoring new faculty and a legacy of students who have gone on to have significant careers in the fields of psychology and education He was especially passionate about the emphasis and value of prevention-oriented services in the schools as he advocated for counseling and guidance early in life that address both a child’s home and school experiences “I remember my early days as a young professor stepping into the shadow of a brilliant It was daunting and intimidating,” recalled professor Neil Schwartz Merv’s progressive and innovative thinking had a profound influence on the way I conceptualized the field and the seriousness of purpose with which I coordinated his program for 12 years “I believe he would be deeply satisfied to know that his legacy continued in the evolution of the fine school psychology program he began at Chico State decades ago,” Schwartz added In addition to presenting his research and expertise on the national and global level Shaw had an extensive history of publication He also passionately volunteered his expertise as a consultant to nonprofits and numerous school districts in California Shaw is survived by his four children: Sara McDaniel, Douglas Shaw, Richard Shaw, and Paul Shaw. His family is holding private services but suggested anyone wanting to make a contribution in their father’s name do so through the Nature Conservancy The University flag will be lowered on Monday Chico State Today is an official site of California State University A historic recovery vehicle will stand guard over the soldiers who repair and maintain the vehicles of the British Army's global response force A Bedford Light recovery vehicle has been refurbished to go on display outside 8 Field Company (Para) REME's workshop at Merville Barracks in Colchester Iraq and Afghanistan with the unit and was used by the personnel for the recovery and repair of broken-down or damaged vehicles It entered service from the 1970s before being replaced by the Support Vehicle (Recovery) in the early 2000s Deputy Chief of the General Staff and Master General of the REME unveiled the vehicle as it officially started its new duty who leads 8 Fd Coy (Para) REME's recovery section organised the vehicle's refurb for its new role He said it looks "great now" following a "deep clean and a respray" "It had been parked in our vehicle park for a few years and needed a lot of TLC and elbow grease to get it ready to go on display!" he said "The Bedford Light was a very capable vehicle when it was in service – it could be moved by aircraft and was small and agile enough to get to where vehicles needed recovery it's come back into service to remind us of our role Please select at least one newsletter to subscribe to: Amanda Batchelor hospitalized under Florida's Baker Act Layron Livingston FORT LAUDERDALE – A man was hospitalized Wednesday after he was caught pointing a gun at vehicles in Fort Lauderdale sat under a tree in the 1100 block of Northwest Seventh Street and pointed the gun at passing cars He also pointed the gun at a patrol officer who responded to the scene Police said the suspect was wearing body armor and walked away while speaking with negotiators Authorities eventually used rubber bullets to take down the suspect Police said an AK-47 was found inside Vaughn’s car that was parked nearby Vaughn was taken to Broward Health Medical Center as a precaution under Florida’s Baker Act Vaughn has since been released from the hospital including three counts of aggravated assault on a law enforcement officer one count of aggravated assault with a deadly weapon reckless display of a firearm and resisting without violence Copyright 2020 by WPLG Local10.com - All rights reserved Amanda Batchelor is the Digital Executive Producer for Local10.com TV Listings Email Newsletters RSS Feeds Closed Captioning / Audio Description Contact Us Careers at WPLG Terms of Use Privacy Policy Public File FCC Applications EEO Report Do Not Sell My Info 1.0 Host Exhibit Copyright © 2025 Local10.com is published by WPLG INC. BC Supreme Court will review local government decision that water bottling is a home occupation Bruce Gibbons of Merville Water Guardians is taking the Comox Valley Regional District (CVRD) to court in hopes of reversing a decision that will allow a local resident to extract up to 10,000 litres of fresh water per day Scott MacKenzie’s initial conditional license from the province – to extract water for bottling  – was denied but in March 2023 MacKenzie’s amended application for waterworks (water sales and water delivery) came back to the CVRD and transportation could be classified as a home occupation use under CVRD bylaws opening the door for MacKenzie’s water extraction application to be approved This is what prompted Gibbons to file a Petition for Judicial Review in the Supreme Court of British Columbia It is set to be heard during the week of January 22 “I think they [the CVRD] blatantly contravened their own bylaws by allowing bulk water storage as a home occupation business,” says Gibbons “the CVRD was unwilling to reconsider their decision.” a lawyer with a particular interest in environmental issues Gibbons connected with the West Coast Environmental Law Environmental Dispute Resolution Fund (EDRF) which is providing financial support to help defray the costs of his legal challenge “I recently visited the Comox Valley and heard from many residents who are deeply concerned about their access to water,” said Shawn Smith Staff Lawyer at West Coast Environmental Law “We are pleased to support Merville Water Guardians’ work with their lawyer Noah Ross to stand up for the health of their water While Gibbons’ petition revolves around a specific aquifer in the Comox Valley “Municipalities are entrusted with the ability and responsibility to regulate fresh water use,” explains Noah Ross Gibbons’ application can create a precedent which will pressure the CVRD and other municipalities to interpret existing bylaws conservatively when it comes to proposed industrial water uses.” Gibbons has spent more than five years communicating with the public; local administrations and politicians; and staffers and politicians at multiple provincial ministries about the importance of preventing ground and surface water – a critical public good – from being extracted for private profit During this time, Eastern Vancouver Island, where this legal battle is being waged, has experienced historic drought levels, the worst being 2023’s unprecedented 11 weeks at Drought Level 5 (Adverse Impacts Almost Certain) Gibbons is hoping that when the BC Supreme Court court hears his case the decision will be in favour of protecting this all-important resource responsibility for water and water license management was transferred to the Ministry of Water This may signal a more robust approach to safeguarding water in the future We’re honoured to accept all contributions and bonus copies to colleges and libraries and we will publicly thank you in our magazine we always thank you from the bottom of our hearts Thanks but please hide this request for a month All monthly donations include an optional print or digital subscription A local battle to protect an aquifer from being turned into bottled water has grown… Merville debate underscores growing pains of BC water law Indigenous communities are building in-community capacity to address drinking water challenges through Water First's Internship… The Watershed Sentinel has been the voice of the grassroots environmental movement in BC (and beyond) for over 25 years When environmental community groups and thinkers –the folks who are working on-the-ground on issues such as water In a world where our access to news is increasingly corporate-and-algorithm-controlled we aim to amplify the stories that don't get heard elsewhere and to provide a forum for intelligent discussion about environmental issues and their broader social implications the Bard of Scotland and the Great Chieftain of the puddin’-race will be honoured at the Robbie Burns Contra Dance on Saturday the fiddlers will play for your dancing pleasure while hairy-legged Contra dances are similar to square dances and English country dances No experience is necessary as the caller teaches each dance before it is actually done to the music so dancers are able to perform each movement to the music Most people catch on quickly and soon the hall is full of prancing participants You don’t have to come with a partner as dancers can pair up right there on the hardwood floor and you’ll dance with everyone on the floor Tasty helpings of “haggis” will be served and we’ll toast the Scottish Bard You might even win a spot dance or “best dressed” prize $5/youth and you can come as a family for $22 Regional district chambers were overflowing Tuesday (March 21) when rural directors voted on a home occupation use for a Merville resident who has applied for a water extraction licence Scott Mackenzie’s application for 2400/2410 Sackville Rd has drawn a great deal of pushback in recent years Bruce Gibbons of the Merville Water Guardians has a hard time believing Mackenzie will use less than 2,000 litres of water a day “The proponent has misrepresented his proposed operation to CVRD directors to intentionally mislead them as to the scope of the proposed business,” Gibbons said in a presentation to the board a home occupation business…This is a commercial trucking business.” He displayed an excerpt from a provincial application that showed an intent to fill a tank truck without exceeding 10,000 litres a day; however storage is needed for 20,000 litres to be filled over two days Gibbons said the number in the application contradicts government comments from March 6 RELATED: Comox Valley directors approve home occupation use for water extraction Gibbons was accompanied by former Area B director Arzeena Hamir who said agricultural water demands come from aquifers while it doesn’t have a say in water licensing “Squeezing this application into the home occupation definition goes against everything this community has asked of you,” Hamir said to the board “It creates a dangerous precedent for resource extracting under that section of Bylaw 520.” Gibbons said he’s spent five years fighting with government to overturn its policy to “basically give away our water” under the Water Sustainability Act While the province is responsible for water extraction he said local government can regulate what goes on above ground “Home occupation should protect us,” Gibbons said Area C director Edwin Grieve understands the public’s frustration “The only thing we differ on is the interpretation of a bylaw — one is right and the other is legal,” Grieve said The board allowed Mackenzie to provide additional information about his application he expects “a dozen bathtub fulls” will suffice “There is no threat to water in the Comox Valley,” he said “This is all a guise under the climate emergency.” Area A director Daniel Arbour feels it’s a stretch to put this application under home occupation because he considers it resource extraction Arbour opposed the recommended home occupation use but Grieve and Area B director Richard Hardy voted in favour Mackenzie’s application is now in the hands of the Ministry of Land Comox director Jonathan Kerr said experts predict global freshwater demand will outstrip supply 40 per cent by 2030 he questions what directors will tell residents whose wells run dry this summer Government to change regulations about water use Grieve said the unfortunate thing about a flawed bylaw is that The district can revise a bylaw so as not to prevent future approvals but an original application is grandfathered under ‘legal non-conforming use.’ it is that this issue will spur the board to double down on reviewing bylaws which do not fit in with our current climate policies,” Grieve said reporter@comoxvalleyrecord.comLike us on Facebook and follow us on Twitter Sign up below for unlimited digital access for 30 days receive our daily news alerts & breaking news The Merville Organics Growers’ Co-operative is disbanding… and according to its members “The co-op was designed to grow small farms and it has done that job incredibly well,” said Mariette Sluyter of Whitaker Farm small farms explored their capacity by working collectively on marketing and distribution It was originally the brainchild of Merville-area farmers Moss Dance (Ripple Farm) and Arzeena Hamir (Amara Farm) One of the successful programs of the co-op was the Community Supported Agriculture (CSA) Veggie Box Program wherein customers pre-purchased a season’s worth of harvested local vegetables The program was established to provide consumers with quality local product while also giving farmers the stability of an assured market What started as a 15-member program in 2014 eventually grew to 190 members by 2020 we want to thank you for your continued energy and support,” said Sluyter “Our farmers keep farming because you have shown us quality certified organic local produce is important to you Simplifying logistics and staying flexible in these uncertain times is what is needed from our growers in order to serve you best.” Enter your email to connect to 30 more days worth of stories by journalists living & working in Courtenay Thank you for supporting local journalism Sean Kernan and Kate Boles at the Radisson Blu Hotel Christmas Party night Santa and his helpers will visit Carraroe Community on his special sleigh arriving outside Carraroe School next Friday 20th December at 7 pm He will have small treats for all children and all children and parents are invited to come and meet Santa and his helpers CADRA would like to wish all residents a very Happy and Peaceful Christmas We think especially of residents who have lost love ones during the year We remember those who are ill and in hospital or nursing home during this time We extend our Christmas wishes to all our community living away from our area We welcome home those who will join the Community for the Christmas and New Year and hope they have a pleasant stay with family and friends Help us all to stay safe and drive carefully during the Christmas period This text group has been established to assist organising the community and giving information to the wider Carraroe area Anyone interested joining the What’s App group can send a text to 0872222835 and you will be added to the group Please note it is not a replacement for the Text Alert system which is primarily a system to facilitate An Garda Siochana notify our community of incidents and advice We remembered our former card player Joe Moran RIP who passed away and was buried on Tuesday We observed a minute silence in his memory prior to starting the game and we extend our sympathies to his family This was Christmas Party Night at the Progressive 25 Card Game which took place on Tuesday 10th in Carraroe Community Centre with special prizes on the night Our social committee provided a wide range of Cakes We also had a selection of sweets to treat the players We thank all who provided the lovely selection of treats on the night The Jackpot of €300 was going on the night on 15 games it was not reached and therefor the Prizes were awarded as follows: €200 went to Padraig Mc Loughlin /Dermott Mitchell on 12 games We distributed three €20 prizes and one €10 prize for the raffle We wish all our card players and families a very Happy Christmas and New Year CADRA is planning to commence CPR Refresher and New Training in the New Year and are seeking volunteers to assist with organising this project We would welcome assistance with planning events scheduling the attenders and assisting to register on nights involved Anyone willing to assist with this short-term project is asked to telephone 0892459123 or email cadrasligo1@gmail.com or any committee member Carraroe and District Regeneration Association Annual General Meeting will be in March 25 and in order for the group to continue to work in the interest of the community we will require new people to become actively involved in running the Association We are appealing to the younger generation and perhaps new residents to join and assist Contact 0892459123 to offer your assistance Tickets are available in the following outlets – Molly Fulton’s You can also play online at St John’s GAA webpage It is interesting to see social media has highlighted the absence of Sligo Town Bus Service to Carraroe Retail Park and as result a large number have replied re it being essential and indeed questioning why it was removed and who took the decision As is known to the Carraroe Community CADRA has campaigned for many years on the issue without much support or success We have suggested as interim measure sending the existing S1 service across Cairns Hill to Lakeview and back to Sligo via Carraroe and Retail Park We drove this extended route commencing at Greenfort estate and made 5 stops on route back to Pearse Rd stop which took exactly 10 mins Therefore with a 10 mins extension of route timetable the service could be in place immediately establishing a Directory to assist people who want to access local service providers like Gardening If you are a contractor or qualified in any on the listed service providers and wish to be listed .Send your contact details to carraroesligonews@gmail.com Ann is attending Carraroe Community Centre each Wednesday 7.30am to 10am and each Friday morning 9am to 10.30 Everyone welcome Enquiries to Ann 0872362487 or www.slimway.ie The new Church website is available at www.carraroechurchsligo.com The New Holy Well web site is available at www.holywellsligo.com To have events/news items included in Carraroe section contact 0872222835 or email carraroesligonews@gmail.com not later than Friday am each week Merville Community Centre and Dreamchasers Childcare Services will close for Christmas and New Year Holidays from close of business on Friday 20th December and reopen 9:15am on Monday 6th January 2025 A peaceful Christmas and a prosperous new year to all our patrons staff and on behalf of the wider Merville community wish to offer our condolences to the family and friends of Mary Sexton (née Currid) 69 Jinks Avenue please keep an eye out particularly for elderly neighbours the vulnerable and those living alone at this time Be wary of opening the door anytime and especially after dark or allowing anyone you don’t know into your house Notices for publication can be emailed to mervilleycc@gmail.com or hard copy left into the Merville Centre for inclusion in our local notes and our social media platforms League of IrelandSligo Rovers boss John Russell explains why star midfielder Connor Malley was left out of Shamrock Rovers tripSligo Rovers manager John Russell has suggested that midfielder Connor Malley was left out of the squad for yesterday’s defeat to Shamrock Rovers because of how he has trained and conducted himself around the group Join the Mountainaire Avian Rescue Society (MARS) and Gary Allan for a short presentation on wolves and the showing of the documentary film This documentary film took several years to complete and explores the lives of wolves and wolf-dogs and a Vancouver woman who bonded with a wolf-dog Some of you may have met Tundra on one of her visits to MARS She and Gary did numerous presentations in schools and other groups to educate the public on wolves on the corner of Fenwick and Hwy 19a in Merville please visit www.marswildliferescue.com and sign up on Eventbrite No One Else Covers Courtenay Like The Comox Valley Record Don’t miss out on reading the latest local provincial and national news. Join our community and receive daily news alerts & breaking news fiddle and Hawaii seem to go together in the Comox Valley it’s Hawaiian Contra dance time at the Big Yellow Hawaiian Merville Hall but the tropical breezes inside will warm up the crowd as the fiddlers keep a lively beat caller June Cannon will keep everyone stepping lively as she maps out the moves for the dancers to follow amidst the swaying ‘palm trees.’ Join thousands of other like-minded readers and sign up below to gain immediate & unlimited access to our news for the next 30 days – plus start receiving our newsletters will be rocking the Big Yellow Merville hall with his hot band From his 1980 days in California with the original Tony Rice Unit John has dazzled audiences across the globe with dozens of mesmerizing original compositions played with great power One person is confirmed dead following a residential fire in Merville Tuesday morning Tenants of the Hillview Apartments in Merville were evacuated Tuesday around 11:40 a.m when the top floor of the eight-unit building caught fire A total of 23 Courtenay and Oyster River firefighters attended the blaze at 7437 North Island Hwy “Great effort by our crews and Oyster River,” Courtenay Fire Chief Don Bardonnex said A local battle to protect an aquifer from being turned into bottled water has grown into a BC-wide movement becoming an activist was not among Bruce Gibbons’ New Year’s resolutions were enjoying early retirement on a small hobby farm on a quiet road near the headwaters of Portuguese Creek in Merville But everything changed on a Friday in early March, when they learned from the Merville Residents Association that a neighbour had received a conditional provincial license to bottle and sell water – 10,000 litres a day – from the local aquifer Because bottling was not a permitted use on Scott MacKenzie and Regula Heynck’s rural residential property the couple had requested a zoning exception The matter was on the agenda for the next Comox Valley Regional District (CVRD) meeting – only two days away Everything changed when a neighbour received a conditional provincial license to bottle and sell water – 10,000 litres a day – from the local aquifer Gibbons – whose mild demeanour hides a remarkable persistence – recalls ‘We have to stop this.’” He has a powerful belief that nobody should have a license to take water from a shared aquifer for profit Most British Columbians share this belief. In a 2018 public opinion poll 91% of BC residents agreed that “fresh water is our most precious resource,” while 85% deemed fresh water “a basic human right not to be denied or sold off by governments or corporations.” Gibbons was alarmed that a bottling operation could be approved in an area where most of the properties were designated as Agricultural Reserve Land (ALR) and where many farmers irrigate their crops from the aquifer he initially believed he just needed to talk to the right people to get an illogical situation sorted out He’s launched environmental appeals (denied) He’s filed Freedom of Information requests (unanswered) And he’s lobbied every municipal government in BC What he’s found is overwhelming support for his common-sense cause – except from the provincial government British Columbia’s Water Sustainability Act (WSA) is meant “to ensure a sustainable supply of fresh clean water that meets the needs of BC residents today and in the future.” But it nonetheless allows individuals and corporations to extract water for profit as long as they’re licensed by the Ministry of Forests Natural Resource Operations and Rural Development Gibbons launched the Merville Water Guardians to share information and activate support when needed and Gibbons began making presentations to local governments on Vancouver Island and beyond Gibbons’ mission was to make local politicians aware that although they couldn’t stop anyone with a provincial license from taking water from an aquifer they could change bylaws to prevent water bottling in their jurisdiction more than a dozen jurisdictions have already changed their bylaws “Local government representatives are looking after their community After Gibbons presented his case to the Strathcona Regional District (SRD) directors Brenda Leigh and Jim Abram took it to the Association of Vancouver Island Coastal Communities AVICC unanimously adopted a resolution calling on the province to stop licensing the extraction of groundwater for commercial bottling purposes the SRD took a similar resolution to the Union of BC Municipalities (UBCM)’s conference in September 2019 Gibbons and the Water Guardians rejoiced when the UBCM passed the resolution with strong support but the province replied with platitudes – and no action Gibbons gained valuable help from the Canadian Freshwater Alliance and the Comox Valley Council of Canadians Both citizen groups had developed insights garnered over years of waging similar battles; their shared expertise enabled the Merville Water Guardians to access grant funds and reach new audiences It’s been heartening for Gibbons to find allies in many places: “I’ve met really good people and was so surprised to find hundreds of people out there doing this kind of work [for the] forests environment.” Like many other activists before him he’s discovered more questions than answers The WSA is supposed “to ensure a sustainable supply of fresh clean water that meets the needs of BC residents today and in the future.” So why are extraction licenses still being issued Scott MacKenzie’s initial conditional license to extract water expired December 31 the CVRD are about to address his amended application (details are not public at this time) This application has been emphatically rejected for a variety of reasons by a community so why is the province still trying to make it happen Gibbons notes “how unfair it is for the provincial government to download decisions and the cost of fighting water-bottling to local governments.” But those local governments are now calling on the province to take some responsibility and “immediately cease the licensing and extraction of groundwater for commercial water bottling and/or bulk water exports from aquifers.” BC residents need no reminders of the last 15 months of record heat why doesn’t provincial water policy prioritize social good over one individual or corporation’s profit motive The Merville Water Guardians are going to keep on asking those questions In a time of supply chain interruptions and rising transport costs in praise of the ever hovering spirit of Robbie Burns the Contra Dance Fiddlejam Funtime Fiddlers will play for the dancing kilted Scotsmen (full of “haggis” and wee drams of liquid barley) who will be will be hooting it up about the Big Yellow Merville Hall hardwood floor Celtic Caller June Cannon will guide the dancers with her clear and broguish instructions keeping an eye on those who might need a wee bit more guidance in the midst of this brouhaha You’ll want to have an extra helping of salted raw oatmeal in the morning to give you the energy to carry on through the night The Big Yellow castle doors will open at 7 p.m and there will be a complimentary Contra Dance workshop right before the dance to loosen you up and to prepare you for the spins and lively steps of the Virginnia Reel and the Gay Gordon Families are very welcome and singles can pair up with anyone during the dance Tasty helpings of “haggis” will be served and the Scottish Bard will be toasted Spot dance and “best dressed” prizes abound steer your Highland Hupmobile in the direction of the Big Yellow Merville Dance Hall Like us on Facebook and follow us on Twitter Dialogue and debate are integral to a free society and we welcome and encourage you to share your views on the issues of the day. 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