Every week we feature Valley history taken from our back issues.
Five years ago this week in the Comox Valley Record:
Despite pouring rain, cold temperatures and slippery conditions, Olympian Geoff Kabush of Courtenay used home-course advantage to defend his elite cross-country titles during the Tim Hortons Mountain Bike national championships.
Kabush held off 2006 world championships U23 bronze medallist Max Plaxton of Victoria by less than 30 seconds during an all-Island one-two finish.
Ten years ago this week in the Comox Valley Record:
Four young sea cadets received commendation awards for their heroic efforts after a motor vehicle accident last May.
When Charlene Vermeersch’s leg was accidentally pinned under a minivan at an HMCS Quadra practice parade, the young men “got all the other cadets out of the way and administered first aid,” said Vermeersch’s mother Nancy Otway.
One of the cadets “even put his hand in my daughter’s leg and removed the hitch.”
Fifteen years ago this week in the Comox Valley Record:
History was made at Saratoga Speedway on the weekend with the largest crowd of 1997 coupled with the largest-attended IMCA Modified race in the country.
The racing oval attracted national attention. Performance Racing News, a large East Coast racing magazine, made their way west for the first time and judging from their positive reaction we will see them here often.
Twenty years ago this week in the Comox Valley Record:
In a David v.s. Goliath matchup, Village Food Markets is taking the largest food supplier in Canada to court.
By blocking the independent grocery store’s expansion, Kelly Douglas hopes to reduce competition for a planned Great Canadian Superstore, suggests Village Food’s statement of claim to the B.C. Supreme Court.
“We are not concerned about the Superstore — we can and will compete with all retail food outlets,” says Village Food Markets co-owner Laury Haines. “What we want is the right to compete on a fair and level playing field.”
Twenty-five years ago this week in the Comox Valley Record:
School trustee Gary Bourque says the royal commission on education expected to visit Vancouver Island next September will give trustees and school administrators a chance to review the entire educational structure.
“Our school system was put together over 100 years ago when Canada was an agrarian country,” says Bourque. “The long summer holiday was designed for kids who had to work on the family farm. Now we’re going to look at what education should be like in the 21st century. Perhaps we need a system of trimesters.”
