Tax bill coming
A $39,000 tax bill is coming to households in Royston and Union Bay. The Comox Valley Regional District is charging households for the Sewer Extension South Project, which will connect wastewater lines from Union Bay and Royston to the treatment plant in Comox.
Households in phase 1A of the Sewer Extension South Project will see an annual property tax of roughly $1,550 beginning in 2026 and ending in 2051. Alternatively, residents could skip the 25-year term and pay roughly $22,000 upfront.
These payments will account for an estimated $5.8 million of the $63 million costs to build sewer infrastructure to the affected areas of Royston and Union Bay. Households will then pay a one-time fee to decommission their septic systems and connect their homes to the sewer, estimated between $2,500 and $8,500.
Urbaloo unrest
Courtenay council agreed the downtown Urbaloo washroom should not stay open overnight. The decision came after reviewing a pilot project from last year, which saw the Urbaloo public washroom stay open 24 hours each day.
The pilot resulted in “significant vandalism and damage, extended ‘lock-ins,’ and significant safety risks to the public and staff,” according to an incident report. Council heard that the Urbaloo washroom recorded 151 overnight lock-ins, defined as someone refusing to open the door after being inside for an hour.
The facility also had 46 cases of vandalism, nearly seven times more than any other public washroom, the report states. The bathroom with a cleaning and staffing budget of $24,000 annually would reportedly see operation costs rise to between $185,000 and $240,000 annually if overnight service returned.
Motorbike collides with vehicle
A motorcyclist collided with a vehicle on Highway 19A on Wednesday (June 7), leading to serious but non-life-threatening injuries. The motorcyclist was travelling northbound near Lytton Street in Union Bay, when it appears they collided with a vehicle exiting a driveway, the Record learned from RCMP media relations officer Cst. Monika Terragni.
Investigators do not believe impairment was a factor. The driver of the vehicle was not injured, and the motorcyclist was transported to hospital.
Fire at NIC
An early morning fire damaged a set of portables on Thursday (June 15) at North Island College. At around 3 a.m., college staff were alerted that the Village portables at the back of Courtenay’s campus were on fire. Courtenay Fire Department controlled the blaze by 6 a.m., according to vice president of college services Colin Fowler. Fowler told the Record one classroom and three portables of office space were affected in the fire.
Snowbird charged with sexual assault
A pilot from the Canadian Forces Snowbirds team is facing one charge of sexual assault and is no longer listed as a member of the team. Maj. Steven Hurlbut from 431 Squadron was the 9 Jet Lead Solo pilot for the team, according to an archived web page from the Royal Canadian Air Force.
He was formally charged on June 17 by the Canadian Forces National Investigation Service following an allegation of sexual misconduct that was alleged to have occurred in Barrie, Ont.
Fitness instructor charged with sexual assault
A 58-year-old man has been charged with sexual assault against a youth and investigators believe there may be additional witnesses or people with information valuable to the investigation.
Earlier this month, the BC Prosecution Service approved a charge of sexual assault against Richard Zinger of Courtenay. In January, the Comox Valley RCMP began an investigation after allegations that a youth had been assaulted by a local fitness instructor.
The offences allegedly occurred between September and December 2022. According to his Linkedin page, Zinger is/was the owner/operator of 9Round Fitness in Courtenay.
Totems unveiled in Cumberland
A large crowd flocked to the Cumberland Peace Park on National Indigenous Day, June 21, to witness the unveiling of two totem poles. The celebration started at around 10 a.m. with a speech by Chief Wedlidi Speck, who was backed by numerous chiefs and wise ones.
Długwaya X̱alis (Karver Everson), one of the two carvers behind this project, delivered a heartfelt speech about his experience working on the totem poles.
Welcoming those entering the village via Cumberland Road, the two totem poles depict a man and a woman with their child alongside them. Junior Henderson, the other artist involved in the project, acknowledged that the presence of children profoundly influenced his experience.
ARTS
Local artist in exclusive company
A jury of artists stood between a local woman and her dream. That’s how it works at the Federation of Canadian Artists. If your goal is to gain membership, submit your work. Convince the group that you belong. Royston artist Sharon Lennox did just that.
She applied for the highest level of membership, “senior” status. That meant being vetted by a jury of around 20 of the most recognized artists in Canada. In spring, the decision came through. Lennox was accepted into the exclusive group.
Lennox’s scratchboard art — usually etching animals into canvases — was considered “outstanding” by the jury. She was presented with the senior status award in April at a gallery on Granville Island.
SPORTS
Javelin champ
Langley hosted the BC High School Track and Field Championships earlier this month, and Comox athletes rose to the occasion, with numerous medals, and a provincial record. Gillian Galik of Mark R. Isfeld set a new junior women’s provincial record in the javelin with a throw of 42.54 metres, nearly a metre further than the previous mark.
She was joined on the podium by GP Vanier’s Erika Burry, who won the silver with a throw of 38.15m.