"Boycott of ‘Unhealthy’ Nanaimo urged during 2010

Some of Nanaimo’s environmental stewards are encouraging the world to avoid the city during the 2010 Winter Olympics in Vancouver unless compromises are made over development near sensitive wetlands.

Rory Rickwood, a steward with Friends of the Cat Stream, said Nanaimo is ‘too unhealthy to visit’ because of the way the community and Malaspina University-College pushed through
their athletic program to build the Serauxmen sports fields on Third Street at the expense of the Catstream, a nearby wetland habitat.

‘We have a conflict of values going on here in Nanaimo which makes our community an unhealthy place to visit,’ he said. ‘On one hand, we have the local baseball association referring to the sensitive marsh area as a ‘year-round swamp’,

and a member of Parliament public survey of 658 Nanaimo residents tells us that there is 81.3% local support for an emphasis on habitat protection.’

The Friends of the Catstream have been advocating for more watercourse setbacks, about 80 metres, from the Third Street sports fields to help protect the rare Virginia Rails, and other species that nest in the Catstream, but planners decided on a 30-meter watercourse setback.

Rickwood said the city is in ‘blatant contravention’ of the land-use principles in the Third Street Land Use Plan adopted by council. ‘I believe a compromise to this conflict is possible and we are prepared to end our boycott campaign when the city simply follows the rules and works with us to protect vital wetland habitat,’ he said."

“Blacktop path hard on Nanaimo wildlife

Excerpt from Globe and Mail article by Mark Hume published Nov. 20, 2006, Page S1:

VANCOUVER -- The Trans Canada Trail, an 18,000-kilometre network of pathways crossing every province and territory, is supposed to help Canadians celebrate the country's natural beauty. But close to where it starts, on Vancouver Island, the city of Nanaimo has made a dubious contribution to this great project. Right through the middle of a sensitive ecosystem known as Jingle Pot Marsh, the city has slapped a strip of blacktop, three metres wide, flanked by a wire fence. The pavement is ideal for motorcycle riders, who've been seen speeding through the marsh, and the fence, which apparently was meant to keep hikers from wandering into the bog and getting their feet wet, has turned out to be a good device for killing Virginia rails, rare marsh birds that congregate there in the winter. “They are low-flying birds. They don't see the wire. Whap. They break a wing and then they die,” said Rory Rickwood, chair of a small environmental group in Nanaimo known as Friends of the Cat Stream.”

Story cont. Click link - http://www.myccr.com

Editorial and Comments

“Marsh no place for ball

To read click "More"

“Environment deserves care – ERR ON SIDE of caution when it comes to dealing with sensitive ecosystems

To read click "More"

“Lack of consultation – Parks commission only looked at the opinion of one group, but not for the input of the disabled

To read click "More"

"Malaspina Governors and City of Nanaimo Urged to Act Responsibly

To read click "More" (PDF)

"Please don't pave all the parks

To read click "More" (PDF)

Fun to See Island…

You can quickly travel through Nanaimo to find wonderful sites around Vancouver Island!

http://www.hellobc.com
http://vancouverisland.com/
http://vanisletourism.com/
http://www.vancouverisland.worldweb.com/

“Trail fight wins federal support

Excerpt from the Nanaimo News Bulletin front page story by Toby Gorman published June 11, 2008

Federal members of parliament are taking notice of a controversial asphalt trail …

Story cont. Click (link) http://nanaimonews.wordpress.com/

Why Nanaimo is an
Un-healthy Community

By Rory Rickwood

Click image to read article.

“Asphalt on sensitive wetland fuels controversy in Nanaimo

Excerpt from Times Colonist article by Judith Lavoie published April 29, 2007, Page C2:

The strip of blacktop, which runs through the middle of Jingle Pot Marsh in Nanaimo, has divided more than the designated sensitive wetland. Since last year, when the city topped a seven-metre wide berm across the marsh with a three-metre wide asphalt trail flanked with page wire, arguments between environmentalists and the city have escalated.

Located next to Malaspina College [renamed, Vancouver Island University], the trail is needed to allow students access to recreational facilities such as the Aquatic Centre and ice rinks.”

Story cont. click here (link): http://www.canada.com

Choosing a University in Canada is about Choice... Why Students are not choosing Vancouver Island University

Students are concerned about environmental issues and Sex Crimes at VIU

For stories click “more”.

Media Enquires

For further information the Media can contact Rory Rickwood by e-mail at: rrrickwood@hotmail.com

Mini Bio:

Rory Rickwood's record of public and volunteer service includes: past school trustee (School District No. 62), past chair of the Vancouver Island Regional Library board, served on a economic development commission, served on various arts councils, past vice-president of a chamber of commerce, past director on the Nanaimo Centre for the Arts, and volunteer Media Manager with the 1994 Commonwealth Games. Rory Rickwood has been a member of the Healthy Communities movement and was appointed by government to chair a healthy community project called, The Sooke Area Healthy Communities Task Force (1993). Rory was recipient of the Nanaimo Volunteer Stewardship Award in 2001. He is presently Chair of the stewardship group, Friends of the Cat Stream, and serving on the Buttertubs Marsh Liaison Committee to the City of Nanaimo.