Two new SD71 facilities
School District 71 opened two new school buildings on Oct. 7 and 8, starting with the community school on Hornby. The building on Sollans Road replaces the old one damaged by arson in 2018. The following day, the new Lake Trail Community School opened in Courtenay.
Bridge repair timeline extended
The City of Courtenay had expected 5th Street Bridge repairs to be finished in October, but the completion date was pushed back twice. In July, the city announced a one-month delay due to scaffolding installation issues. Then on Oct. 7, it revised the completion date to the first week in January, largely due to labour shortages, as well as equipment malfunctions and scaffolding install.
Charges unlikely in machete attack
The family of a senior attacked with a machete in downtown Courtenay was told by RCMP that without more evidence, there may never be charges laid in the case. Bob Plumb, 89, was assaulted by a man armed with a machete in the early morning hours of July 31, 2019, as he waited for his newspaper bundle to arrive so he could do his daily deliveries. The attack resulted in numerous surgeries. Plumb died June 12, 2021. His family has no doubt the attack played a part in his passing. Police made an arrest, but evidence gathered did not meet charge approval standards. Charges against this individual were not approved.
Fire at Courtenay motel
An early morning fire Oct. 19 at the Travelodge Courtenay sent one person to hospital and displaced at least 25 residents. The B.C. government had been using the motel to provide temporary supportive housing. Courtenay council held a special meeting that morning. Recognizing that some residents required urgent accommodation, council resolved to provide emergency shelter services for up to 10 displaced individuals. All those who were displaced by the fire were housed.
94-year-old author pens another novel
In 2017, Betty Annand celebrated her 90th birthday with the launch of her first novel, The Girl From Old Nichol — the first book of the Gladys Tunner trilogy. In 2018, The Woman from Dover was published and in 2019, Annand completed the trilogy with The Lady from New York. Her fourth book, Canada, By Jove, was launched Oct. 30.
MusicFest returning
Vancouver Island MusicFest is returning in 2022. The popular Comox Valley festival has been limited to an online event over the past two years, due to the pandemic. But it returns to the Comox Valley Exhibition Grounds July 8-10.
Strong start for Yeti
Mike Nesbitt predicted a change for the better last year when he took over as head coach of the Comox Valley Glacier Kings. He promptly rebuilt the junior B hockey club, and the team started to win games. In the early stages of the 2021/22 season, the Yetis were second behind the Campbell River Storm in the Vancouver Island Junior Hockey League (VIJHL) North Division with a 9-5 record.
Team Richards tops B.C.
The Richards rink kick-started the B.C. junior curling season by winning their first tour event and then losing a close one in the final. The team — which includes Gracelyn Richards, 17, of Courtenay and Keelie Duncan, 16, of Comox — won the Anita Cochrane Memorial Junior cashspiel, Sept. 16-19 at the Royal City Curling Club in New Westminster. On Thanksgiving weekend, the team went 4-0 in the round robin at the Golden Ears Tour event in Maple Ridge. They won a close semi-final but were edged out in the final. Sporting a 10-2 record, the team sat atop the province for the U21 and U18 levels.
Memorable season for mountain biker
Comox mountain biker Emmy Lan bracketed a 2021 European tour with a pair of national titles. In July, she won the Junior Expert women’s division at the Canadian Downhill Mountain Bike Championships in Golden, B.C. In October, she battled through wet conditions and a crash to win the Under-21 race at the Enduro National Championships in Whistler.