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THE FREE PRESS, Thursday, March 19, 2009
Opinion
Editor: Rebecca Edwards Phone: 250-423-4666 Ext. 107 Email: freepress@shawcable.com
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Letters to the Editor
End of the season for the Riders - and me by Rebecca Edwards “You’re going onto the ice at the next Ghostriders game to present the player of the month award,” said my new boss Pierre on my first day as Free Press editor last September. As an introduction to hockey it was pretty extreme. Fresh off the plane from the UK, I had only ever visited an ice rink twice in my life; only ever seen one hockey game - it took me two months of working at The Free Press to stop calling it “ice hockey”. But days later I found myself standing at the edge of the rink with our then-associate editor Caroline ready to take a photo. We were pretty anxious not to embarrass ourselves in front of a 500-strong crowd – we even drew out a diagram of where I should walk to get the right photo angle - it looked like a game plan. The Drive radio reporter Grant Sigaty announced the award over the loudspeaker and I stepped (very) carefully onto the ice to give the first award to Dave McIvor. Next month the winner was local boy Scott Traverse, then Karl Weberg, Dave McIvor again and most recently Torin Brusven. They are always polite and I’m always surprised that they look a little nervous – though not as nervous as me trying to balance on the ice! My award duties took me to more and more games and, since Christmas, my husband Jon and I have become pretty hooked. We’ve met some close friends in the hockey crowd and got to know the many volunteers who make the games happen. From the door staff to the beer stand and the security guys in yellow, there is a huge number of people to be thanked for making each game run smoothly. Then there are the crowds - infamous league-wide for being large, loud and occasionally boosted by members of the poultry family. I’ve never worked out the etiquette of starting the “Let’s go Riders” chant, but it seems like only certain fans are allowed to do it, and everyone just automatically knows how many chants to repeat until it tails off. Near us in the stands sits Benny Mangone – who bangs a drum when the Riders do well and also has a cow bell, although our friend Emma is the only person allowed to borrow it. Bart always sits in front of Benny and they throw comments on the play back and forth to each other. Over on the other side of the rink I met Doug and Wilda Quail - they have had the same seats for years. Sometime in the second period I’ll head down to take some photos at the door between the team boxes where Darren looks after the spare sticks. He’s got the best spot in the house, with the sound of skates scraping the ice and the teams shouting to each other, but you occasionally have to dodge a flying puck or wayward stick. There were a couple of tense times in the early playoffs when everyone in the stands was convinced it would be the final game, but the players managed to turn it around. Tuesday night we knew Nelson were a stronger team, but there was always the hope that Fernie could summon the strength to push them back. It wasn’t to be, and my Ghostriders foam hand and plastic trumpet (yes, I’m such a geek) will now be retired to my desk drawer for the summer - ready for next season. • Good luck to those players - Scott Traverse, Dave McIvor, Torin Brusven and Joe DeLuca - who are leaving the team this season.
Victory on V-Day 2009 I would like to take this opportunity to thank the people of Fernie and area for their participation in the Fernie V-Day production of The Vagina Monologues by Eve Ensler. The cast of women for their wonderful interpretations of the monologues; our sponsors who were the underwriters for the major costs of the production, the production, stage, lighting, sound and front of house crews for making this a well run production, the businesses of Fernie who advertised and sold tickets for us, the media outlets and to all people who attended the production. I heard your laughter, I knew you enjoyed it. I saw your tears, I knew you were moved by it. I heard your comments. I knew it made you think. Your applause and ovations made us know that this was a worthwhile endeavour. That is the purpose of theatre. All of us took a step out of our comfort zone to support women and girls locally and globally who are victims of violence. We, as a society, need to keep doing what we can to put an end to the violence. Your generous support has benefited our Fernie Women’s Resource Centre with over $3,000.00, and the Women of the Democratic Republic of the Congo with over $300.00. We look forward to doing more theatre. We look forward to your participation. That’s what makes a community. Thank you. Lynda Bird, Organizer and Director, V-Day Fernie, 2009
Vote for the valley East Kootenay voters, we all have an opportunity to participate in the next poll to determine the fate of the Flathead. The difference between the upcoming poll and the one Wildsight commissioned this fall is that it will absolutely determine whether we continue to use the Flathead or not. Of course I refer to the provincial election. Wildsight has convinced the local NDP candidate to support the National Park initiative. Our incumbent MLA, Bill Bennett does not support turning the Flathead into a National Park and he believes the majority of his constituents support this position. As a local resident, I am concerned that many voters may not give this decision the consideration it deserves. Much of the reliable information voters require to make an informed decision is not readily available. I want to provide some information about this valley and I trust that voters will consider it reliable. Even the most extreme environmentalist will agree that a strong measure of the “Wildness” of any drainage is whether it supports a healthy population of large carnivores such as Grizzly Bears or Wolves. The Flathead Grizzly Bear population is the most studied mountain grizzly population in British Columbia (since the 1970s) and the population is at or near carrying capacity. Wolves, which were non-existent here since the turn of the century were re-introduced in the 1980s and the Flathead now supports a very healthy wolf population. We need to understand, all of this took place while we “used” the Flathead. We logged, quarried, fished, hunted, trapped
and recreated here for the last 60 years (the road through Harvey Pass was built in 1957). We have proven that residents, working with government, can manage this land-base for the betterment of all. We do not need a National Park in the Flathead. George Wilson Land-Use/Access Committee Chair East Kootenay Wildlife Association
Parting thanks
I would like to say thank you to all the people in Elkford who voted for me in the last municipal election. I did my best to live up to your expectations as your representative. Recently I made the very difficult decision to resign from Council. I have taken employment as the golf course superintendent in another community. This opportunity came along months after the election and was too good to turn down life is full of twists and turns. My wife and I have loved living in Elkford for the last six years and we will cherish our memories of the good times we've had and the good people we've met. The sadness we feel in leaving is tempered by our excitement to start a new life in another small town in the Kootenays. I want to sincerely thank all of the people - the members, the board members, and the employees - at the Mountain Meadows Golf Course. I would also like to thank the Mayor, Council and Staff for the support and guidance they've offered to me as a new councillor. Elkford is a wonderful community and we are truly sad to leave. Craig Stanley Former Elkford Councillor