Some Sunshine Coast students are getting a visit from the Vancouver Aquarium's AquaVan this week.

The specially equipped mobile aquarium is a temporary home to small marine life, like sea stars, anemones and urchins.

Aquarium staff will also be teaching the kids about sea life in the Arctic, with special displays like a humpback whale rib bone, and a beluga skull.

Catriona Wilson is the manager of the AquaVan. She says kids are curious, and they want to know pretty much what you'd expect elementary-aged kids would want to know.

"We have all kinds of questions," she says. "Usually we speak a lot about how the animals eat, and how they move around, and sometimes how they poop."

The AquaVan is at Kinnikinnick elementary December 3rd, and Cedar Grove on the 4th. But, it is for students only, there are no public events this time out.

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MPs have taken their seats in the commons for the first time since the election.

December 4th will bring the Trudeau government's first Throne Speech.

Reports out of Ottawa suggest we should expect something short... highlighting just a few priorities the government thinks are most urgent.

Former VIU prof, and political analyst, Allan Warnke says it will still be an important speech; just for different reasons.

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Warnke also says what we'll hear in the Throne Speech will likely tie back to the sort of things the Prime Minister was saying on his recent international trips - where he kept emphasizing that "Canada is back".

A common knock against Justin Trudeau before the campaign was that he didn't do well in the House - especially during Question Period.

But Warnke says, after his performance on the international stage we should expect a different Trudeau.

"As the result of a steep learning curve, one of the steepest a Prime Minister can have, he's in the swing of things," Warnke says.

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The mayor of Sechelt is encouraging people to join a class action lawsuit over sinkholes in the Concordia Seawatch subdivision, even though the District would be a defendant.

Earlier this year a family forced to abandon their Gale Avenue home when a sinkhole opened up beside it, filed a lawsuit. Their lawyers are now looking to make it a class action.

In a prepared statement, read out at the beginning of last night's Council meeting, Mayor Bruce Milne said that move could actually open a door.

"If the Storeys' solicitors are successful in engaging the other owners in the subdivision in a class action, then the prospect of reaching an mutually satisfactory omnibus solution will be greatly enhanced," he said. "The process of assigning responsibilities to the various parties involved in the development, and the maintenance of the subdivision could then commence and in parallel negotiations could be underway with the individual homeowners concerning potential resolutions."

Milne says the District has been trying to move toward a long term solution, but isn't getting there as fast as it would like.

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The Nanaimo - Ladysmith School Board has approved a new facilities plan, after the closures and amalgamations got the nod from its Business Committee Tuesday night.

The plan will see North Cedar Intermediate and Woodbank Primary merged at North Cedar.

Rutherford Elementary will close, once the District builds a new wing at Frank Ney.

And Woodlands Secondary is being shuttered... with the students and the sports academies moving to NDSS.

A lot of parents are angry, but teacher's union head Mike Ball, and CUPE president Rob Zver, say the Board shouldn't shoulder the blame.

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Just ahead of last night's special board meeting... Steve Rae was elected as chair for another year.

The post SD68 facilities plan approved, Rae elected to 2nd year as Board Chair appeared first on My Coast Now.

Prime Minister Justin Trudeau has appointed West Vancouver Sunshine Coast MP Pam Goldsmith-Jones
as a Parliamentary Secretary.

Goldsmith-Jones will serve as secretary to Foreign Affairs Minister Stephane Dion.

In his announcement, Trudeau praises Goldsmith-Jones for her "open and inclusive approach to the creation and implementation of public policy".

Parliamentary Secretary posts are often seen as stepping stones to cabinet portfolios.

The post West Vancouver Sunshine Coast MP named Parliamentary Secretary appeared first on My Coast Now.

The Nanaimo - Ladysmith School Board's Business Committee is endorsing a new facilities plan, that will see schools closed and consolidated.

Deirdre Tansey is with "Rutherford Open and Thriving". She, and others, are still hoping to sway Trustees ahead of a final vote on the plan.

Tansey says they're having trouble understanding why a Board that seems committed to re-opening Cedar Secondary, would move to close other schools.

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The Committee vote was 5-4.

The recommendations still have to go to the full Board for a final approval, and acting on some of them will need a funding commitment from the Education Ministry.

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Cannabis advocates in the region are questioning why RCMP are cracking down on dispensaries.

RCMP in Nanaimo raided three shops on Tuesday. Sunshine Coast RCMP raided one on the weekend.

Vancouver-based lawyer Kirk Tousaw specializes in legal cases involing marijuana, and is acting for several dispensaries.

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Both Sunshine Coast and Nanaimo RCMP say the raids weren't tied specifically to the sale of marijuana, but how it was being done.

The dispensary operators say they don't think RCMP should be acting at all, while there's a possible change coming to federal laws and municipalities like Port Alberni, Victoria and Vancouver are looking at licensing and regulation.

The post Lawyer, cannabis advocate Kirk Tousaw ready to help fight any charges from recent dispensary raids appeared first on My Coast Now.

Prime Minister Justin Trudeau is on his way back to Ottawa... but, in Paris, the UN climate conference continues until December 11th

In his address to world leaders yesterday Trudeau said Canada sees tackling climate change as a top issue.

But the opposition parties say they're waiting to see results.

Sheila Malcolmson is the NDP MP for Nanaimo - Ladysmith. She says they're also waiting to see what comes from Trudeau's promise of 300 million dollars a year to support renewable energy.

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NDP leader Tom Mulcair was part of the Canadian delegation, along with Green Elizabeth May, and premier Christy Clark and others.

The post Malcolmson says NDP optimistic about Paris, but wants Trudeau government to follow up with results appeared first on My Coast Now.

If you haven't had a flu shot yet, you'll need to wear a mask when visiting health care facilities beginning today (Dec 1st).

Dr. Meena Dawar with Vancouver Coastal Health says the policy is meant to protect vulnerable patients.

"This is the fourth year of our Influenza Control Program policy in the province," she explains. "The policy application period is December 1st, usually to the end of March."

The shot-or-mask policy also applies to staff at health care facilities.

There haven't been any flu outbreaks on the Sunshine Coast or Vancouver Island, but Mid-Island Medical Health Officer Dr. Paul Hasselback says it's only a matter of time.

"We will see influenza outbreaks occurring sometime in the upcoming months," he says. "The best time to get vaccinated is before the virus is here. Once the virus is in circulation it may be too late."

The Ministry of Health says approximately 3,500 people die from the flu and its complications every year in Canada.

The post Flu shot or mask-up rule now in place for health care facilities appeared first on My Coast Now.

Sechelt Councillors are puzzling over what to do with a piece of property on the banks of Chapman Creek...

The land was purchased under the last Council, and several plans were floated at the time, including using it for a second - much larger - visitor centre.

The District's Parks Committee discussed the lot's future recently, and decided not to make any specific recommendations for now.

Darren Inkster chairs the Parks Committee. "It was bought for a purpose," he says,"But it doesn't look like this Council will bring it to fruition... so we need to talk about doing something temporary with this land that we paid good money for, and then make a (new) plan."

Councillor Darnelda Siegers says she'd like to keep the visitor centre idea in the mix, noting it might be worthwhile to have a spot that's more user-friendly for travellers in large RVs, or towing boat or camper trailers. She also says it would be nice to have a building that can support businesses like car or kayak rentals that cater to tourists.

Others, like Alice Lutes, see value in keeping the land for something like parking given the likely future expansion and greater use of the nearby Mission Point Park.

The post Sechelt pondering future of Chapman Creek lot appeared first on My Coast Now.

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The City of Nanaimo is asking for feedback on the idea of creating an off leash dog park at Nob Hill Park.

They've put up signs featuring two proposed locations for an off-leash area, and a request that residents weigh in through an online survey.

Sabrina Lorenz started the Nob Hill Dog Park Facebook page. She says it would be a great addition to the park, but they also need some other basic features.

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Lorenz says the conversation around establishing a dog park is a good time to look at the park as a whole.

There will be a public meeting about the proposal in the near future, but a date hasn't been set yet.

The survey, and more information about the dog park options can be found here.

The post City looking to hear opinions on off leash area for Nob Hill Park appeared first on My Coast Now.

The Province is offering more money to support anti-racism networks.

Bruce Curtis is the head of the Organizing Against Hate and Racism Network for the Vancouver Island Region, which also includes the Sunshine Coast.

He says having these networks in place allows communities to share resources.

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Curtis says another part of the funding will be used to provide training programs and workshops throughout the region.

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The biggest Christmas charity on the Sunshine Coast has a busy week ahead of it.

Lynn Nestman of the Elves Club says the deadline for hamper applications is coming up next Tuesday.

The Elves are also getting ready for their December 5th Telethon, and a big "Toy Lunch" at the Blackfish Pub in Gibsons on the 8th.

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Last year the Elves Club distributed nearly 670 hampers, that helped make Christmas a lot merrier for more than 15-hundred people.

The post Busy beginning to December for Elves Club appeared first on My Coast Now.

'Tis the season to indulge in some festive spirits, but Nanaimo RCMP are reminding people to drink responsibly and look after their friends.

Constable Gary O'Brien says abandoning your intoxicated friend isn't an option.

"Officers unfortunately see too many situations where young girls and guys, have been left abandoned on street corners, highly intoxicated, with no one to help. In that state, they are easily preyed upon", he says.

O'Brien says Operation Red Nose and Get a Go Go Designated Drivers are also options if you need to get your friend and their vehicle home safely.

On the Sunshine Coast there's a private ride home service called Responsible Ride that provides a similar service.

The post Nanaimo RCMP say “friends don’t leave their friends alone” after a night on the town appeared first on My Coast Now.

The Nanaimo Port Authority says it's going to start working on a Request for Proposals for daily foot passenger ferry service to Vancouver.

There is already one company, Island Ferry Services, working to get a service going... but nearly 5 years on the company doesn't have any ships in the water.

Bernie Dumas is the Port Authority President.  He says 5 years is a long time to wait, and the Authority thinks there are other potential operators out there.

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Dumas says the Port Authority will be reaching out to communities around the Central Island to get some ideas and input, before putting out the RFP in January.

The post Port Authority ready to cast a wider net for foot ferry operators appeared first on My Coast Now.

They turned on more than 200 thousand Christmas lights in Ladysmith Thursday night... in what is still one of the biggest holiday light-ups in the province.

More than 22-thousand people crowded the streets for the start of he Festival of Lights - that's almost triple the town's population.

And, if you missed the big kick off, the lights will stay on until January 10th.

And Duck Patterson from the Festival committee says this year, they've gone LED.

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Patterson says people adopted trees in town to help pay for the switch to the more environmentally-friendly lights.

The lights go on in Sechelt on Saturday, November 28th with the Parade of Lights.

More than 20 trucks are signed up to participate this year.

(image courtesy Sechelt Downtown Business Association)

Things kick off with the lighting of Rockwood Lodge at 5pm, and the parade starts at 5:45

The post The lights are on in Ladysmith, Sechelt lights up Saturday appeared first on My Coast Now.

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It's still one of the biggest unsolved mysteries on the Sunshine Coast.

On November 27, 2005 80 year-old Rhody Lake left her home in Sechelt for a walk near Porpoise Bay Provincial Park... and disappeared.

Family and friends have accepted Lake is dead, and earlier this year the BC Supreme Court granted the family's request to have that legally declared.

But Constable Harrison Mohr of Sunshine Coast RCMP says it's still an active missing persons case, and police are hoping to put the final pieces together so Lake's family can know exactly what happened.

"We had a prolonged investigation, and we've also gotten some tips over the years from the public, but her disappearance does remain a mystery and we don't really have much to go on at this time," he says. "Certainly if the public has any other tips or information they haven't already conveyed to police we'd love to hear from them."

The only clue RCMP have is that Lake was last seen on Sechelt Inlet Road, talking to a tall older man with grey hair and a tan jacket who was walking a medium-to-large sized dog.

Police have never been able to identify that man, and he's never come forward.

On the 5th anniversary of her disappearance RCMP and Crime Stoppers produced a special feature to try to generate fresh leads:

You can view it here.

(images courtesy RCMP)

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