TEACHER, WIFE CHARGED AFTER GROW-OP BUSTED

[location redacted] teacher and his wife have been charged with
two drug offences after RCMP found a 90-plant marijuana grow operation
in an outbuilding of the couple's home.

[names and age redacted] are charged with possession of
marijuana for the purpose of trafficking as well as production of a
controlled substance.

[identifying information redacted]

The Port Alberni RCMP special-projects unit executed a search warrant
at an outbuilding on [location redacted], a rural property, on Nov. 25.

Staff Sgt. Lee Omilusik said a marijuana grow operation of 90 plants
was found, along with related growing equipment, such as light shrouds
and a watering system. The plants were not quite mature.

[name redacted] could not be reached for comment. School board
officials said he
has not been at work since Tuesday, but would not say whether that was
as a result of being asked not to come in, or choosing not to come to
work.

"I can tell you only that he is not at work," said Greg Smyth,
director of instruction for human resources with the board. "We don't
comment publicly on matters related to personnel."

Smyth said the district is bound by the School Act and the collective
agreement with teachers.

[location redacted] is a "small town and word of this will certainly cause a
stir in the community and among the students," Smyth said.

However, students or parents are not being notified specifically of
the charges.

"We don't feel it's necessary at this point," Smyth said.

He said the school board has no more information than is in the police
press release, which is available to the public online.

"We do reinforce that this is a person who is charged, rather than
convicted," Smyth said.

The police said the size of the grow operation was "about
average."

"We don't differentiate in investigations because of a person's
occupation," said Omilusik.

The [name redacted] are to be in court Dec. 30 for their first
appearance on the
charges.