U-Pass Bash a success The OnePassNow campaign takes steps in the right direction Kristina Mameli news editor pwards of 700 students and supporters gathered in Victory Square Wednesday, October 21 to demand that Premier Gordon Campbell million, will include a gas tax increase of three cents per litre, raising the total tax to fifteen cents per litre. The Mayor’s Council reportedly debated the issue quite hotly, before many reluctantly agreed. SFU and UBC students currently pay an average of $25 per month for their transit passes, while students at smaller schools such as those involved in the campaign pay a minimum of $73; that figure will be raised to $81 by the new plan in April 2010. The hope of make good on “4¢ the rally, the group, which consists of Douglas, VCC ‘B¢ OnePassNow campaign is that by U-Pass Day next year, all Metro Vancouver students will have their $25 universal pass. his campaign promise to gaina universal transit pass for all Metro Vancouver students. Sporting hot pink ribbons, signs and balloons as a show of solidarity, the rally was part of the OnePassNow Campaign. The signs read “U-Pass Now” and “$25,” sending a clear message of exactly what the group is campaigning for. At the rally, the group, which consists of Douglas, VCC and Emily Carr’s student unions as well as UBC’s AMS, received a positive sign that their message is at last being heard—at least by the Mayor. Vancouver City Councillor Geoff Meggs was on hand to deliver a proclamation by Mayor Gregor Robertson that October 21 is now U-Pass Day in Vancouver. The event started at noon with an hour of speeches, demonstrations and performances emceed by Nimmi Takkar, external relation coordinator for VCC. Highlights included five 5-foot long busses with “$25 U-Pass Now” painted on the side, which were flipped to reveal the campaign’s slogan, the closing of the rally with the singing of the campaign’s song and finally the cake at the end. The rally was held two days before the Mayor’s Council decided 98-16 on a proposal that will guide Vancouver’s transit system for the next ten years. The Funding Stabilization Plan, which will cost $130 and Emily Carr’s student unions as well as UBC’s AMS, received a positive sign that their message is at last being heard—at least by the Mayor.” RIP Granville Island Brewing A favourite local microbrew is bought out by a major player By Kristina Mameli, News Editor ‘ T ancouverites may soon be forced to bid farewell to one of the best local microbrews in town—the famed and revered Granville Island Brewing Co. The company has been purchased by Molson Coors Brewing Co. The price of the deal was not disclosed, though both are publically traded companies, as the major beer entity attempts to further capitalize on the popularity of microbrews. The deal is expected to be completed early next year. Founded in 1984, Granville Island was Canada’s first microbrewery. Five years later it was sold to Andrew Peller Ltd, which specializes in wine. With Granville Island the only beer company on its roster, Peller Ltd. jumped at the chance to sell to Creemore Springs, an Ontario-based company owned by Molson since 2005. The company said it has no plans to make changes to the Granville Island brand, but instead wants to use it to expand the Creemore name. Expansion of Granville Island beyond B.C. and Ontario into wider markets is also a distinct possibility, which could ultimately mean a lower cost of the craft beer to the consumer. Though still small, the craft beer market has been rapidly growing as the pallets of beer drinkers grows more refined, leaving major brands such as Molson suffering. Sales of mainstream beer fell 7 per cent this year, while niche sales rose 5 per cent, gaining during the worst part of the recession according to the government. In the meantime, Granville Island will remain a small business with only 35 people in its employ. It will continue to brew its eight main beers, including the English Bay Pale Ale and Cypress Honey Lager as well as its seasonal, such as the sweet Lions Winter Ale and Kitsilano Maple Cream Ale. News Shorts _ VANOC chairman dead at 76 The man responsible for bringing the Olympics to Vancouver, Jack Poole, passed away Thursday after a lengthy battle with pancreatic cancer. The VANOC Chairman will be remembered, © according to Premier Gordon Campbell, for his many contributions to B.C., as well as for being the driving force behind the Vancouver Olympic bid. Jack Poole was 76. BC Place to get a $458 million retractable roof After the close of the 2010 Games, BC Place is scheduled for * $458 million facelift. The B.C. government signed off on a plan to build the new retractable roof Friday morning. According to a press release, the roof will become the largest cable-supported, fully retractable roof in the world, more than four hectares in area. The roof’s design will allow the fabric to retract into a suspended cubed TV screen at the roof’s centre, a process that will only take 20 minutes each way. The BC Pavilion Corp, or Pavco, has signed a fixed price contract for the roof which will be paid with a 40-year, $458 million loan from the Province. The roof will apparently create 3,000 years of employment and cut energy costs by $350,000 annually. The 60,000 seat stadium was built by the province in 1983 and has needed a replacement roof since the original’s collapse in January 2007. The project will be completed by the summer of 2011, just in time for the Grey Cup. China cancels imports of Canadian canola The Chinese have cancelled all Canadian canola imports over concerns about a fungus called blackleg. Authorities are confused by the move and the Canola Council of Canada has said that blackleg poses no risk to human health and has no effect on the seed unless it germinates, making seeds pressed for oil perfectly fine. : China will not accept Canadian shipments of canola unless it is 100 per cent blackleg free effective November 15. The Canadian Food Inspection Agency is investigating. Last year, 3 million tonnes of Canola were shipped to China, $5 billion worth from Saskatchewan alone. Attack of the giant squid! Hundreds of Humboldt squid have inexplicably washed up on the shores of Port Hardy and Hardy Bay, B.C. The squid, which are normally found in warm tropical waters in the Southern Hemisphere, are believed to have migrated to the frigid waters because of climate change and moving food sources. Four to five feet in length, the squid have been spotted in the area for the last few years, but never in such numbers. In August, Tofino also saw a large number of the squid wash up on its shores. The squid are hunters and feed on hake and sardines, which may have moved to B.C. waters following currents being warmed by EL Nino, speculates Port McNeil marine biologist Steve Lacasse. Lacasse also speculated that the squid may have been moving closer to shore looking for warmer waters in which to spawn, but were frozen to death when none was found. The large squid have since been used as bait of local fishermen and scavenged by animals along the coast.