The Port McNeill Town Council meeting Monday, March 7 started off with a verbal report from Port McNeill
RCMP Sergeant Craig Blanchard. Blanchard discussed a number of topics, such as the RCMP's involvement
with the wounded warrior run, their participation with Pink Shirt Day at North Island Secondary School, a traffic
car pilot program they will be starting to target distracted driving and other infractions aimed at "reducing the
issues in the Woss area," said Blanchard. He added they will also be starting a bike patrol once the weather is
nicer, and that they've already purchased two bikes locally from The Shed. The RCMP have also recently
purchased two ATV's to "patrol the logging roads," said Blanchard. Port McNeill Fire Chief Tasos Baroutis
verbally reported afterwards, mentioning they were also involved with the Wounded Warriors Run and the Pink
Shirt Day at NISS, and that they've started training and their junior fire training program is running every
Tuesday night. Port McNeill Town Mayor Shirley Ackland was pleased to hear from both, and commented that
there was "terrific commitment from our police and fire fighters."
Port McNeill resident Gaby Wickstrom asked during the question from the public period, "What is the interim
harbour managers roll where the VIC is concerned?"
Mayor Ackland replied his role will be "the same. Peter Nelson Smith will take on the role from John French
while he's on sick leave."