Teunis Westbroek accuses School Board of "Welshing" on deal

Qualicum Beach mayor Teunis Westbroek Mayor appeared to accuse the School Board of bad faith in the deal to trade land in a statement made during the all candidates meeting at the Qualicum Gardens. Westbroek appeared to be using the derogatory and ethnically charged term "welshed' as a reference to his claim that the school board reneged on a land swap deal. Westbroek said "they (school board) welshed on the deal".

Westbroek appeared to be offering the accusation as a defence of the town's purchase of the old bus garage for 1.5 million dollars. The bus garage purchase came under heavy fire from both the audience and the candidates during the meeting.

In the months leading up to the municipal election Westbroek initially told the taxpayers of Qualicum Beach that he was going to trade town owned land for the School board's old bus garage. Then in a few months, under his leadership, the town sold much of its' vacant property. Later, after little public debate, the town bought the old bus garage property for 1.5 million dollars. At the time, Westbroek 'speculated' that the site would make a fine location for an arts and cultral center. Finally, under his leadership the town hired not one but two consultants to 'review' the idea of a 'Cultural Center' on the site.

Now, embroiled in a lively election campaign, Westbroek has run into strong opposition to his idea of building a potentially expensive publicly funded facility on the old bus garage site. He has waivered in his championing of the site as a cultural icon. In his closing remarks at the Gardens Westbroek also appeared to be denying that the town had spent more than 200,000 dollars upgrading the land that was proposed for the ill fated land swap.  Critics have pointed out that the town should not have spent money upgrading the land, located at the airport, until they had a signed contract.

Qualicum Beach Daily Bugle "Just the facts" you decide for your self!

Mayor Thrown under Bus: No Support for Bus Garage Purchase

Oct. 26 - A stunned audience learned today that not one of the council candidates in the upcoming civic election  supports the Qualicum Beach bus garage purchase. In an all candidates meeting attended by seven of the nine candidates for Qualicum Beach council it was unanimous; no one supported the purchase.

A buzz spread through the audience as candidate after candidate jumped off the bus garage band wagon. In turn all seven stated that if they had been in office they would have voted against using taxpayers money to purchase the site.  None of the candidates who spoke are incumbents.

The old bus garage site is a long time pet project of incumbent Mayor Teunis Westbrooke. The purchase was recently completed. The purchase price is rumoured to be more than 1.5 million dollars of taxpayers money. The town has been vigorously selling other property in recent months, presumably to finance the purchase.

The former bus site has been proposed as an Arts and Cultural site by the Mayor. The town recently hired two consultants and held a public meeting to consider cultural facilities in Qualicum Beach.

Candidates Carol Nichol-Dowe and Mary Brouilette did not attend the meeting.

Mayor Out Maneuvered?

(Qualicum Beach)  Did you know? A reliable source told the Qualicum Beach Daily Bugle that the town of Qualicum Beach wanted to trade properties with the School Board. The School Board would move it's buses to the airport and the town would get the old bus garage. The town spent more than $200,000 upgrading the airport for the trade. Amazingly, the town did not have an agreement with the School Board before starting the work. The Board chose a different site. Was the town out negotiated or is that bad management? You decide before you mark your x at the voting booth!

Dave Willie seeks Qualicum Beach Council seat

Dave Willie for Qualicum Beach Council

QUALICUM BEACH – Thursday, October 13, 2011 – Long time Qualicum Beach resident Dave Willie announced his intention to seek a seat on the Qualicum Beach town council today.

“I will work hard to ensure that property taxes and the cost of services are kept down. We need to make sure that Qualicum Beach is an affordable community for all age groups,” said Willie. He also knows that water and health care are among the many important issues that the town council must continue to deal with in the next term.

“First and foremost however, we need to be absolutely sure that the high school stays in Qualicum Beach. That is my first priority,” said Willie.

Dave’s roots in the community run deep. He and his wife Jayne moved to Qualicum Beach over 20 years ago and have raised three children in the community. “The small town atmosphere and progressive attitude attracted us to Qualicum Beach,” said Willie. He and his wife operated Whitley House Bed & Breakfast for thirteen years, hosting countless weddings and other community events there. Dave has been a Qualicum Beach Rotary Club member for twenty years, and while his children were growing up, was heavily involved in the Kwalikum Secondary School music program, chaperoning students on band field trips and participating in fundraising activities. He also served as President of the Qualicum Beach Chamber of Commerce, and was founding President of the Bard to Broadway Theatre Society.

Dave and Jayne currently live in Qualicum Beach’s village core and are co-owners of Black & White Special Event Rentals.