You know its summer when the Canada Day Parade kicks off on July 1^st. This year we are extremely fortunate to have hot and sunny skies in the forecast – a pleasant change from the usual rain we seem to get on parade day.

Be sure to pack your sun block, water, and a hat, because it is supposed to be a hot one – in fact, the entire 4 day long weekend is looking pretty good! The weather network is forecasting 28 degrees on Saturday, 26 on Sunday and Monday, and cooling slightly to 25 for Tuesday. The remainder of the week looks great at 22.

The sunshine will be welcomed as the festivities kick underway with the parade set to start at 10:30. The complete schedule, as printed in today’s Comox Valley Record can be found by Visiting our Canada Day Events page.

We hope everyone has a great time this Canada Day! Leave us a comment on what you like most about this early summer holiday!

Labels: entertainment, events, weather

The 22^nd Annual father’s day kite fly was a success on Sunday. The annual tradition packed the parking lots and streets and brought hundreds of people to Goose Spit. The weather was perfect the winds were up, and they skies were colorful with a huge variety of kites big and small.

If you have a pile of debris that you plan on burning, you better strike the match soon as all backyard burning, including camp fires, is about to be banned in Courtenay.

Monday night, a recommendations made by fire chief Don Bardonnex, was agreed on by city councilors to strengthen an existing burning bylaw, and to end the fires indefinitely.

The major reason for the change is cleaner air, as the smoke from backyard fires, especially on very calm days, can actually build to hazardous levels.

These days backyard burning is completely unnecessary. For a few years now the City of Courtenay has offered free curb side pickup of yard waste, which is then composted and recycled. Find out when they are picking up in your area and place your yard waste in compostable bags or cans clearly labeled as yard waste. Its better for the environment, and its better for your lungs.

Labels: courtenay, environment, recreation

Terasen Gas is working for a rate increase to be in place by July 1 – the request is currently before the British Columbia Utilities Commission. The increase would result in an average annual cost to customers of about $150.

If approved, the upcoming 11% gas price hike will not impact us islanders. Vancouver Island and the sunshine coast are covered by a different regulatory agreement than the rest of the province. As we island folk recently saw a 3.5% increase in rates back in March, there is no scheduled increase in our gas rates.

Effective July 12 Taxi fares in the Comox Valley (and the rest of BC) will increase 3.5 percent due to the rising cost of fuel. The increase is to help out struggling operators manage with the significant increases on fuel over the past few months.

If you frequently take taxis be prepared for the small increase in fares. With the upcoming carbon tax driving up fuel prices another 2.4 cents higher, one has to wonder, where does it all end? Get your bicycles tuned up, and your running shoes laced – motorized transportation is quickly becoming the way of the super rich.

Its been around in the lower main land for some time now, and very soon, 10 digit telephone dialing will be integrated into the rest of the province.

With the high demand on phone numbers, the current 250 & 604 area codes are just not enough, and the integration of a new 778 area code will begin as of September of this year, just a few short months away.

For now both the traditional 7 digit, as well as new, 10 digit dialing will work. As of June 23rd, callers dialing 7 digit numbers will hear a recorded message reminding them to switch to 10 digit dialing, and as of Sept 12th of this year, 10 digit dialing will be required.

Now is the time to switch all of your pre-programmed numbers over. Just think of all the extra calories you will burn dialing those extra three digits every time you make a call!