Every Friday we feature Valley history taken from our back issues.
Five years ago
this week in the Comox Valley Record:
Bodies of two men were found on a Denman Island beach Jan. 11. Police and the coroner’s office had not identified the bodies by press time.
Both men were dressed in yellow Mustang full-body floater suits, found near Whalebone Point. Police do not believe the men were victims of crime.
No missing boaters had been reported to authorities at press time.
Ten years ago
this week in the Comox Valley Record:
Hugh Carter grinned from ear to ear after Courtenay council issued him a development permit to build a Wal-Mart.
Carter, of Carter Property Consultants, the agent for Toronto-based developer First Professional Management, said it’s been a long two years working with city staff and council to reach this point.
Coun. Starr Winchester said she’s relieved the Wal-Mart saga is finally over.
“I’m glad to see we’re back on track,” she said.
Carter expects to break ground for the 105,000 square-foot store early-February. Site prep should begin in the spring while he expects the store to open in October. The store is expected to include a pharmacy, McDonald’s, TD Bank, Pennzoil Tire and Lube Express, Vision Centre, 1-Hour photo, garden centre and Magicuts.
Fifteen years ago
this week in the Comox Valley Record:
More public input should have been considered before council supported a proposal for a new cabaret in Courtenay, says a councillor opposed to the project.
“I don’t think council’s reasons for making the recommendations they did were totally based on the real issues,” Katherine Cook said.
Cook is the only member who openly opposed granting a Class C liquor licence to Greg Jarvis, who wants to open a 6,500 square-foot club on Kilpatrick Avenue behind Driftwood Mall.
Mayor Ron Webber said the issue is out of council’s hands.
“It’s now in the hands of the Liquor Control Board in Victoria. There’s no guarantee it will be approved,” he said.
Twenty years ago
this week in the Comox Valley Record:
Demanding an end to military buildup in the Middle East, close to 300 protesters rallied at the courthouse.
Many waved signs bearing slogans like Bread, not bombs! as speakers called for more pressure on the government to bring Canadian troops home.
“This is a war from hell,” Comox Valley Peace Group member Patti Willis said. She predicts war with Iraq would cause up to 250,000 casualties, including 45,000 children.
Instead of military action, Willis called for continuing economic sanctions against Iraq.