AHN AUGUST 4, 2022

ALASKA HIGHWAY NEWS

THURSDAY, AUGUST 4, 2022 | SPORTS | A5

Team BC wins rugby gold Dave Lueneberg sports@ahnfsj.ca Team B.C.’s under-16 and under-18 girls rugby teams came away with gold medal wins this weekend at the Western Canadian Championships in Kelowna.

The U-16s with Fort St. John’s Kylie Kalas beat Alberta 38-0 in the championship final to take the tournament.

“It wasn’t definitely not what I expected,” said Kalas when asked about the level of competition.

“But, I really think the camp we had at UBC a couple of weeks back

really helped us prepare for this tournament.”

The U-18s, which included another Fort St. John player, Hailey Dutchak, got by another Alberta team 12-7 Sunday morning.

“Pretty even across the plate. Obviously every game is difficult in its own way,” said Dutchak after her team took gold.

“I think each team really came to play and it came down who had the most amount of drive, teamwork, and want for the win.”

Both Kalas and Dutchak are off to Vancouver for another development camp at UBC later this week.

Wim a ‘wonderful man’ From the front Elks’ speed skating head coach Richard Stickel is sending nothing but well wishes to his friend on his recovery.

“You know, Wim has been such an important part of our club. He’s the longest-serving member and really the glue that’s held the club together for years,” Stickel said. “We’ve been in contact with the family almost since this happened and we’re hoping for a successful recovery. Whatever he does, whether he comes back to speed skating, he’s a wonderful man with a wonderful family.”

In 2020, Kok received national recognition from Speed Skating Canada,

awarded the Rene Marleau Award for Official of the Year.

“Looking at the list of the people who have won this award over the years, they have officiated World Cups, Olympics, and to be in the same ball park as them is quite humbling,” Kok said at the time he was named for the award.

“I’ve worked with a lot of those officials over the years, and it’s the result of years working together as a team and supporting each other. It’s very gratifying.”

He is also known in the international community for his longstanding officiating last year. Kok has been with the club since 1990.

CRYSTAL DUTCHAK PHOTO

Fort St. John rugby players Kylie Kalas (left) and Hailey Dutchak at the Western Canadian championships in Kelowna July 30, 2022.

ALASKA HIGHWAY NEWS

THURSDAY, AUGUST 4, 2022 | NEWS | A7

Gejdos three times golden Matt Preprost editor@ahnfsj.ca There’s an old adage that says “Dress for Success.” For gold panner Brenda Gejdos, success actually came while wearing a dress, a beautiful floral 1800’s frontier-style dress, in fact.

The former Charlie Lake resident, who now calls 108 Mile home, won her third World’s Invitational Gold Panning Championship at Peace Island Park on July 31, after wins in 2017 and 2014 in the very same dress.

As has come tradition on the Sunday of the event, competitors and volunteers, encouraged to wear something that might have been fashionable when the original gold rush took place. “I wore this dress the first year that we had costumes and I won that year,” said a beaming Gejdos after earning 18 points over three rounds to claim the Class A trophy on Sunday afternoon. “I put this dress on again in 2017 and I won it again, and this was the 50th anniversary so I thought let’s put on the lucky dress and see what happens.

Sure enough, we won it again.”

Gejdos found 14 of 15 gold flakes in 130.28 seconds in the first fine round of the championship, and three of five flakes in 100 seconds in the second skill round. She found her gold nugget in an incredible 9.75 seconds in the third and final speed round.

“It was quite a tight competition, it was fun,” said Gejdos, who hasn’t missed a World’s Invitational in 41 years. “I don’t remember them having to go back and count the points and count the speed to get a winner.

I don’t remember it being this tight.”

Kelly Gejdos placed second and Trina Barrette third, both finishing with 18 points. Breaking the tie and crowning a winner came down to calculating the fastest overall panner

across the three rounds. Dorri Larstone won the Class B championship with a 17 point finish. She found 12 gold flakes in 278.75 seconds in the fine round and all five flakes in 161 seconds in the skill round. She found her gold nugget in 79.18 seconds in the speed round.

It’s the first time the gold panning championships were held since the pandemic in 2020 and 2021. Michael Gunderson, the last winner in 2019, made the “mad rush” from Edmonton to join Sunday’s event and defend his title. He finished 13th among the panners this year, acknowledging the tough competition. Tyson Gejdos topped all panners in the the Class A speed round with a time of 9.66 seconds. Four others finished with times of less than 20 seconds: Garrett Gejdos, Chris Kuchmak, Trina Barrette, and Dave Coupland.

“Stiff competition this year for sure,” said Gunderson, who found his nugget in 21 seconds. “I wanted to come here to just at least make face since I won it last time,” he said. “I made a promise to myself that I’d be coming to these as much as I could, so I’ll keep coming as long as they keep holding it here.”

Gejdos was encouraged to see so many young people take part this year, including 10-year-old Frankie Barrette who wowed the crowds all weekend, winning the Juvenile Open, placing second in the Class B, and fifth in the Class A championship. “It’s incredible to see them, it’s incredible to see that they want to do it,” she said. “When they see the gold they’re just so excited about that. It’s wonderful.” In the meantime, Gejdos will be washing and ironing her lucky floral dress before putting it back in its trunk and heading home. She and the her family plan to return to Peace Island Park to pan for gold in 2023.

2022 World’s Invitational Gold Panning Championships results CLASS A: 1. Brenda Gejdos 2. Kelly Gejdos 3. Trina Barrette 4. Chris Kuchmak 5. Frankie Barrette 6. Tyson Gejdos 7. Garrett Gejdos 8. Dave Coupland 9. Mike Barrette 10. Rob Fraser 11. Dorri Larstone 12. Cameron Argo 13. Michael Gunderson 14. Rod Scott 15. Robin Rosborough Fine: Kelly Gejdos (13 of 15 gold flakes in 116.59 seconds) Skill: Trina Barrette (5 of 5 flakes in 85 seconds) Speed: Tyson Gejdos (gold nugget found in 9.66 seconds) Most Sportsmanlike: Garrett Gejdos CLASS B: 1. Dorri Larstone 2. Frankie Barrette 3. Jonathan Garner 4. Andrew Barrette 5. Kim Spealar 6. Alecia Speagar 7. Laura Westgate Fine: Dorri Larstone (12 of 15 gold flakes in 278.75 seconds) Skill: Dorri Larstone (5 of 5 flakes in 161 seconds) Speed: Andrew Barrette (gold nugget found in 54.5 seconds) CLASS C ADULT: 1. Keith Lubke 2. Wayne Schoenenberger 3. Jean McRae CLASS C JUVENILE: 1. Luella Barrette 2. Berlin Barrette 3. Conlin Barrette JUVENILE OPEN: 1.

2.

3.

4.

5.

6.

7.

8.

Frankie Barrette Jennifer Finnie Luella Barrette Reece Wiebe Blake Froese Keagan Revoy Sarah Byford Chase Wiebe

9.

10.

11.

12.

13.

Madison Froese Avery Brodie Justin Shroeder Conlin Barrette Maizy Taillefer, Hank Taillefer, Berlin Barrette

METAL DETECTING ADULT: 1. Kelly Gejdos 2. Frank Gejdos 3. Hunter Smiley METAL DETECTING JUVENILE: 1. Maizy Taillefer 2. Hazel Taillefer 3. Hank Taillefer CELEBRITY/MEDIA: 1. Rob Fraser 2. Matt Preprost 3. Blake Brown 4. MLA Dan Davies 5. JJ Stewart 6. Lori Ackerman

DAVE LUENEBERG PHOTO

Gold Panning committee member Sheena Taillefer presents A-event champion Brenda Gejdos with her belt buckle. Gejdos also won, wearing the same dress, in 2014 and 2017.

Young gold panning phenom Dave Lueneberg sports@ahnfsj.ca Taylor’s annual gold panning championships prides itself on family.

And, as the event marked 50 years this past weekend, it will be families that will keep it flourishing for the next half-century.

In fact, all you need to do is look at the names on the trophies to prove that point – Gejdos, Scott…

You can now add one more name to the mix, the Barrettes, and a rising star in Frankie.

Having only ever competed in a Cevent, the 10-year-old had what only can be described as a stellar weekend, finishing fifth in the A-panners championship.

Both her parents, Trina and Michael, who also compete, couldn’t be prouder.

“I practiced a little bit but not a lot,” said Frankie, whose family has a claim stake in the Yukon. “We gold mined three weeks before we came here and then we’re going back after.”

The tween began her push Saturday afternoon in the juvenile open division and would end up winning the category in record fashion. From there, it was on to the much-tougher B event. Unfazed, she finished second behind Dorri Larstone.

While Larstone automatically got a berth into A, Frankie was given the choice to stay in B or pay another entry fee to compete in the top tier.

She gladly chose to pay the entry, as if there was any doubt.

Even at age 10, though, the future world class panner has been at it for awhile.

“I guess she started when she was about four,” recalled Trina, a former B-event title holder. “I just remember her holding the pan and she could barely carry it. She dipped it in the water and almost fell into the water

DAVE LUENEBERG PHOTO

Ten-year-old Frankie Barrette finds her gold nugget during the A-class competition at the World’s Invitational Gold Panning Championships in Taylor July 31.

pan and all.”

While she may have had some influence on the panning side, Trina said Michael is responsible for passing on the vital chromosome.

“Frankie has the fever. She’s always loved gold.”

“Very proud of her,” said Michael.

“Can’t wait. It’s gonna be good labour up at the mine. Free labour,” he jokes.

As Frankie competed in the speed round to find the single nugget in her pan, MC Frank Gejdos told the crowd he couldn’t remember anyone as young as 10 ever being in the A-event.

The family has said it will be back again next year.

Remember that name – Frankie Barrette.

We can all say we knew her when.

CLAIMSTAKING ADULT: 1. Tyson Gejdos 2. Robert McAleney 3. Dave Coupland JUVENILE CLAIMSTAKING: 1. Elizabeth Hull 2. Keegan Wilson 3. Frankie Barrette BANNOCK: 1. Robin Rosborough 2. Barb Dan and Trista Hotte 3. Garrett Gejdos and Tyson Gejdos PARADE WINNERS: Commercial 1. Hans on Mechanical 2. Latitude 56 3. Nels Ostero Government 1. MLA Dan Davies 2. District of Taylor (float) 3. Fort St. John Fire Department Community 1. Julius Ryme 2. Brian Folk 3. Lyn Alexander Kids 1. Saddle Champs 4-H 2. Chantel Maycock & Kenna Edgar 3. Mulligan (Lone Wolf mascot)

DAVE LUENEBERG PHOTOS

Above, fan favourite and former champion Dave Coupland gets down and dirty during the A-panning championship. He told the crowd afterwards “If you’re not getting dirty, you’re not doing it right.” Below, a good turnout for the first A-panners championship in three years, gathered here after the competition for the traditional group photo, which changes slightly from year-to-year, but surprisingly many of the faces here haven’t changed in close to 20 years.

ALASKA HIGHWAY NEWS

THURSDAY, AUGUST 4, 2022 | OP-ED | A11

How soon we forget what freedom is

By Evan Saugstad

D

uring a recent conversation on the federal Conservative leadership race, a good friend mentioned he wasn’t sure if he could support Pierre Poilievre.

His concerns stemmed from Pierre’s meeting with and support in principle of last winter’s Freedom Convoy in Ottawa.

I disagreed and believed that it is Pierre’s willingness to buck the trend, despite the obstacles, and his willingness to take risks that makes him attractive as Canada’s next leader to be. This, despite the personal attacks by our media as being un-Canadian.

Why, one must ask, should our political leaders not be willing to meet with ordinary folks who are fed up with the status quo?

Shouldn’t all MPs have stopped to say hello to those who drove thousands of kilometres to express their viewpoint? Is it not the job of the Official Opposition to listen to concerns, especially when they have been ignored by those elected to represent us?

I thought then, and still do today, that all MPs, including Pierre, who took the time to stop and talk to those protesting outside of Parliament were and are the ones we should be thinking of as ordinary Canadians and fit to govern our country. By doing such simple acts it does demonstrate care and their wish to make Canada a better country than what we have let it become today.

As to Pierre’s promise to make Canada a freer place than it is today? Wouldn’t take much to accomplish that. Could start with reviewing those judges and Crown prosecutors who were appointed by the federal Liberals who have forsaken their oaths to uphold the law, and instead made it their personal mission to try and do what the Prime Minister, or the Premier of Ontario, or the Mayor of Ottawa couldn’t do, and that is to make it look like last winter’s Emergency Order was real, was needed. Yes, they do need someone to be the “fall lady” and Tamara Lich you have been selected.

I know many will disagree and believe what they read in our national papers about how deserving Lich is to be locked up for the year or two it will take for her to get a chance at a fair trial. How soon we forget what freedom truly is.

Freedom is not only about being able express our viewpoints, but it also includes being treated fairly and not persecuted because you happened to embarrass some PM, Premier, or Mayor.

Fortunately, as I write this, there finally was a judge who did not follow the Prime Minister’s wishes, or those of the Ontario Premier or the Mayor of Ottawa, and put his own mind to the task and once again set Tamara free to go home on bail.

Interestingly, his instructions (not verbatim) were to follow her bail conditions and don’t do anything to the contrary as she is being carefully watched and scrutinized by those who still wish to see her behind bars as, if they do get the chance, she is likely to go back to jail and stay there, no matter how trivial the charges truly are.

Really, as if our police or Crown

prosecutors would do this on their own. Yes, 45 days in jail on charges that many believe will not stick, and that this a political show trial will take years to resolve, to ensure she can never embarrass Trudeau and his helpers ever again.

We keep hearing about how politized the U.S. judicial system is with their appointments based on left or right political beliefs. Are we any different? How many judges have Trudeau and his Liberal predecessors appointed that still owe them a few favours?

Remember the two Michaels (Spavor and Kovrig)? Remember how our Canadian government was so dismayed that any government would arbitrarily lock someone up for days and days (years) without a fair trial, without a chance of bail, or without fair representation?

Remember how Trudeau talked about what we, as Canadians, would do under similar circumstances? Remember how bad Meng Wanzhou of Huawei was treated during her detainment? Wasn’t it awful that we allowed her to live in her own house, travel about town freely, meet and talk with who she wished, and even enjoy the internet? A plus for her was she was not Canadian, as if you are and you embarrass Trudeau, look out. The Liberal machine does know how to put anyone they wish behind bars, as in their world, justice is not blind.

August 14 was supposed to be day to remember Tamara and call for her freedom. Now that she is once again at home, not sure what the plan will be, but if nothing else, do not forget and do not let Trudeau, Chrystia Freeland, or the Justice Minister think for one moment we have forgotten, because we haven’t.

Travesties have a way of righting themselves, and this will. Karma does exist. Just hope one day she might be sitting across the aisle in Ottawa looking at what is left of the Liberal party and their boughtand-paid-for friends in the NDP and ask, with the wry little smile, “What do think of me now?”

And what about all those cutblock, pipeline, and road blockaders that have been violating their bail conditions for years? Should every person responsible for ignoring court orders be locked up until their trial? If Tamara Lich is to be our example, wouldn’t it also be the fair to put a few of those who call themselves chiefs and political activists behind those same bars?

I do wish Pierre all the best in his leadership bid, as it will take someone like him thinking about and focusing government back on such mundane topics as there being no such thing as a free lunch — someone has to pay). Personal finances and affordability are important (nothing like being able to look after one’s family without government handouts), as are balanced budgets (stop mortgaging our children’s future), and putting more crooks who belong behind bars (and no, not because you offended someone). It will also takes someone to move our Canadian psyche from the far left back to the middle.

Evan Saugstad lives and writes in Fort St. John.

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MATT PREPROST PHOTOS

IT’S ALL ABOUT THE CANDY — Paraders got their gold as the 2022 Gold Panning Championships got underway with a parade last Friday, July 29.

Smart Money: Wanting and getting are not the same

I

am going to let you in on a little secret that is pretty useful when it comes to financial planning. Are you ready?

Things don’t happen unless there is a reason for it.

Kind of obvious, isn’t it? But many people behave as if that all they have to do is sit back and wait. Maybe they think that they really deserve good things, and so good things will somehow find a way to them. But life doesn’t work that way.

I recall a conversation I had with a local politician many, many years ago. I was questioning them on what I thought was a hideously expensive vanity project, and their response was, “When Fort St. John is the size of Grande Prairie we will need this.”

I asked them what was going to need to happen to stimulate that kind of population growth.

Because at the time both the current and the long-term population growth of Fort St. John was only 2% annually. So why would 40,000 people suddenly move here?

It sure won’t be because of our northern climate. So, are people coming here to work in the oil patch? Are they coming here because of the Site C dam? Is there some brand new thing that people are swarming to?

I am not saying it can’t happen, but if you want to spend all this taxpayer money, I want you to tell me exactly how Fort St. John is going grow 300%. Because, if you don’t know how it is going to happen, then how is it going to happen?

But this anecdote isn’t really about local politics. It’s about having a goal that is based solely on optimism, and nothing else.

There is a difference between wanting something and getting it.

Contrast a goal based purely on hope versus one that is a projection based on your current path, or one based on planned future activity. Just wanting something is not planning for the future. It’s nothing more than wishful thinking.

Good fortune usually doesn’t happen in a vacuum. If you want results you usually have to do something to set things in motion.

Even lottery winners have to buy a ticket in the first place.

Success is almost always by design. So, the questions for you

BRAD BRAIN are, what are you chasing? Are you chasing the right thing? And are you actually chasing it, or are you just wanting it to happen, but not actually doing anything to make it happen?

Here’s something to consider: What are the consequences of not achieving your goal? And is that impacting your commitment?

Here’s what I mean. Picture a pack of wolves trying to bring down a moose. Everybody in this scenario will be committed. The moose escapes, or it dies. The wolves succeed, or they starve.

Most financial decisions don’t carry the same level of conviction, and that impacts your chances of getting the results you want. When failure is not fatal, then failure is an option. When failure is not fatal then the consequence of failure is… nothing.

And that is the problem. When failure is perceived as an option, then nothing happens. Nothing changes. Nothing improves.

This is how too many people approach financial planning. They say they want to retire early, or buy a better home, or upgrade their lifestyle. But they aren’t doing much about it because the consequences aren’t fatal.

If you don’t plan for retirement it just means you have to keep working. If you don’t plan for a better home it just means you keep living where you are now. If you don’t do anything to upgrade your standard of living it just means you keep tolerating your current situation.

Remember, just wanting something is not the same as getting it. Things don’t happen without cause. If you want something – really, really want something – be the moose.

Be committed to the goal.

Brad Brain, CFP, R.F.P., CIM, TEP is a Certified Financial Planner in Fort St John, BC. This material is prepared for general circulation and may not reflect your individual financial circumstances. Brad can be reached at www.bradbrainfinancial.com.

ALASKA HIGHWAY NEWS

A12 | NEWS | THURSDAY, AUGUST 4, 2022

Planes old and new at airshow’s return Dave Lueneberg sports@ahnfsj.ca

DAVE LUENEBERG PHOTO

Pilot David Watson stands in front of his Harvard, part of this year’s Fort St. John International Air Show.

It was a busier than usual at the North Peace Regional Airport last weekend.

Close to two dozen planes including the Canadian military Snowbirds were parked on the tarmac as part of the Fort St. John International Air Show. One of the planes that got noticed both on the ground and in the air was a bright yellow-coloured number known as a Harvard. Its pilot, David Watson, from Beaumont, Alta., said this particular plane came with a rich history. “It’s spent its whole life at (Canadian Forces Base) Penhold as a military plane right from the factory,” described Watson.

“And then, when it sold, it was sold to a couple of farmers in Saskatchewan before being sold to my father in 1981.”

The tradition, now handed down to David and his brother, Drew, who have identical Harvards and fly together as a two-plane aerobatic team called Yellow Thunder.

“My father flew us around to air shows. I got to love the

plane and I loved the atmosphere flying around with the other guys.” Watson was hooked and became a pilot in 1985. “So, I’ve been flying this plane now for some 30 years.”

The plane is powered by a radial engine and generates close to 600 horsepower but it’s not light by any stretch.

“It weighs about two tons.

Technically, for what we’re doing, it’s kind of under powered.”

The plane, in its heyday, used to train new pilots but they weren’t easy to learn to fly, added Watson.

“If you could master these, then you could go into a bigger fighter and your basic flying skills would all be there.”

While considered a training aircraft, Watson said the Harvard models were flown in the second World War and did see some combat.

Slow and heavy, he was told years ago there was a reason behind it.

“It can stand quite a bit of abuse. So, when a pilot screws up and falls out of the sky, you don’t want to break the plane right away. They made them really rugged.”

MATT PREPROST PHOTOS

Snowbirds in formation during the 2022 Fort St. John International Airshow.

Above, the Gunman F8F Bearcat, part of the Erickson Collection, served with the US Navy from 1948 to 1957.

Above, the Canadian Armed Forces Skyhawks parachute team opened with a flag jump along with the national anthems.