Airshow affects flights
Anyone travelling by air from Comox Valley Airport between Friday, August 14, through Sunday, August 16, may have flights affected by Comox Air Show.
The airport distributed a press release Thursday, July 16, to inform passengers of expected delays and route changes when approaching and accessing the airport. All details can be found online.
“We have been working very closely with 19 Wing Comox and our airlines to ensure efficient access for passengers and guests going to/from the airport on the weekend of the Comox Air Show,” explained airport CEO Fred Bigelow. “We are asking our passengers to follow a few key steps to help ensure flights leave on time under these special circumstances.”
Delays of up to one hour, between 8 am and 5 pm, especially between 9 am and 1 pm, should be expected on Saturday, August 15 along access routes to the airport. Passengers should give themselves extra time to arrive at the facility.
Air Canada and WestJet are advising passengers, who have flights booked for August 14, 15 or 16, that they need to check in two hours prior to departure time for certain flights. Pacific Coastal Airlines and Central Mountain Air ask their passengers to check in 1.5 hours early.
“Some commercial aircraft will be parked in a different location and passengers will require busing to get to their plane,” said Bigelow. “To ensure flights depart on schedule, airlines are asking their guests to arrive early to accommodate this extra step.”
To get to the airport, passengers will be following a special access route via Ryan Road and Military Row to avoid traffic congestion. Directions and a map are provided online. On the website, passengers can download a special YQQ Airport Access Pass. The airport recommends all passengers print this off and display it on their windshield. Traffic control personnel will be stationed at Anderton and Ryan Road and will not stop vehicles displaying the access pass.
From 8 am to 5 pm on Saturday, August 15, the main access into the airport terminal building will be from Military Row. YQQ airline passengers signs will be displayed and the entrance off Military Row will be clearly indicated.
“We are asking passengers for their patience and understanding as we work to maintain our operations under these special circumstances,” concluded Bigelow.
More information about Comox Air Show is available on its website.
Library workers strike a deal
Public library workers have a new contract. CUPE Local 798 and the Powell River Public Library Board have both now ratified a new five-year collective agreement.
The no-concessions deal, retroactive to January 1, 2013, includes a wage increase of five per cent for this year, two per cent next year and 1.75 per cent in 2017. The contract also features improvements to benefits for auxiliary staff, better vacation and leave language as well as improved occupational health and safety provisions.
Public library workers have a contract with the library board, one separate to the agreement reached between the City of Powell River and the union local in May.
Jon van Oostveen, public library board chair, said that negotiating for new contract was a relatively easy process which made only small changes to the previous agreement.
“We did a lot of work in revising the last contract with [former chief librarian] Charlie [Kregel],” van Oostveen said. “That was a major overhaul and really opened the door to allow the whole library to be structured differently. It really benefitted everyone. This is just a tweaking of that contract.”
The library agreement was reached after only four bargaining sessions. CUPE Local 798 president Danielle Craigen credits a cooperative and respectful attitude on both sides of the table for the quick resolution.
“It makes such a difference when both parties negotiate maturely and [respectfully],” said Craigen in a media release Wednesday, July 15. “In this case, we both had priorities and issues that we wanted to negotiate and that we did negotiate. When we work together like this the results benefit everybody, especially the community.”
The conclusion of bargaining means members can now focus on serving the public and on developments like the new Powell River library slated to open next year, she added.
Power outage
A number of businesses will be affected by the upcoming planned power outage, from 8 am to 6 pm on Tuesday, July 21, in the vicinity of Joyce Avenue and Alberni Street. Shoppers are advised to contact any business before that date to enquire about whether it will be open that day. Canada Safeway has notified the Peak that it will be using power generators and will be open as usual.
This will be the first of four planned outages necessary to undertake voltage conversion work, according to BC Hydro. When completed, the conversions will raise power capacity for Powell River to meet current increased and future needs. All hydro customers being affected by the planned outage are receiving notices from BC Hydro about the work.
