Behaviour by those attending the Oscar Hickes hockey tournament will be closely monitored by police.
An RCMP report on last year’s Oscar Hickes tournament indicated many minors were found in and around the community who were intoxicated or under the influence of drugs, said Cpl. Michelle LeBrun. Many of the children were not from Port Alice.
In all, 19 infractions were serious enough to warrant police investigative files. The offenses cited included liquor act, assault, drug possession, indecent acts, driving offenses, breaching the peace and causing a disturbance. People were found grossly intoxicated in public by the police.
There were no infractions of the special occasion permit, said LeBrun. She believes that the excellent turnout of volunteers to manage that part of the event was the reason.
Crime stats
The annual report on crime statistics for Port Alice showed an overall increase in the number of calls for service. The volume increased 14 per cent from 382 calls in 2009 to 434 calls in 2010.
RCMP Cpl. Michelle LeBrun said impaired driving charges nearly tripled from a low of four cases in the previous year to 11 in 2010. Driving suspensions were just 10 per cent of the previous year with only one suspension recorded.
Crimes of a sexual nature tripled, with six cases reported in 2010 and reported instances of family violence almost doubled moving from six to 11 reported.
It is very important for organizations and individuals requesting criminal record checks to get their requests in very early, said LeBrun. She said checks can take two or three months and if the individual’s name closely resembles a previously convicted felon’s then the check can take up to six months. LeBrun urges to start early and check yearly. She suggested there may be a way to create an umbrella organization working to combine record checks for individuals who volunteer for many positions in a community so that a blanket record check for all activities might be covered by a single application.
Wood waste
A solution to the pile of wood waste accumulating behind Angus Dawson Memorial Ballfield has been found. Director of Operation, Keir Gervais said a bid of $9,000 from Pacific Wood Waste Inc. of Courtenay has been received and meets the Village’s guidelines.
The Pacific Wood Waste proposal covers grinding the wood waste and transporting the residue to 7-Mile Landfill and Recycling Centre.
Gervais said the price for the wood grinding service could be $2,000 lower if Neucel agrees to accept the ground wood as hog fuel.
Council voted unanimously in favour of Coun. Bruce Lloyd’s motion that the Village accept the Pacific Wood Waste proposal to a maximum of $9,000.
The Courtenay company has also been contracted to grind wood waste from the Seagate Hotel demolition in Port Hardy.
Dance program
In a letter to council, Alana Collins of Portside Academy of Performing Arts announced she has stopped giving dance instruction classes in Port Alice effective immediately due to a lack of students.
Mayor Gail Neely said she was sorry to see the program end. Coun. Ardie Bazinet echoed the mayor’s sentiments. She moved council send a letter to the Port McNeill-based teacher expressing their regrets for the loss the program and their thanks for the teacher’s attempts to revive dance in Port Alice.
Heritage Week
Coun. Lloyd moved Heritage week be proclaimed in Port Alice for the week Apr. 21 to 27. He suggested that the Neucel mill is a big part of the village’s heritage. Bazinet said a pot luck dinner is one festivity that has been planned.