TRACKING TRAINS PAGE A3
ALMOST A CENTURY PAGE A14
FHL CHAMPIONS PAGE A17
OBSERVER QUESNEL - CARIBOO
SINCE 1908
Wednesday, April 11, 2012
VOL. 98 NO. 63
$ 34
1
www.quesnelobserver.com
includes HST
Panning for treasure Jeremy Dumais, left and Ken Englund were trying their luck in the Fraser River last week in hopes of finding beautiful agates or other rocky treasures. Jonas Gagnon photo
ourQuesnel initiative to aid in comprehensive sustainability plan The word “sustainability” has become a popular buzzword, but it’s an important part of community planning. The evolution of a sustainable community, not only environmentally, but economically, socially and culturally, is critical to Quesnel’s long-term prosperity and vitality. To see this happen, Quesnel needs to develop a comprehensive, community-wide sustainability vision and plan. A new initiative, ourQuesnel: Sustainability in Action, has been launched to guide that process. ourQuesnel will create an essential planning process and policy document that will guide the long-term planning decisions and practices of local government and participating partner organizations moving forward.
COME
It will deliver a vision, support the City’s strategic planning process, and lead to the development of a successful and sustainable future for the community five, 10, 20 years from now and beyond. Citizens and partner organizations are being asked to get involved in the process. Most immediately, they are invited to provide input regarding the priorities Quesnel should address looking to the future. This is being done via an online survey running April 10 – 21. Links to that survey and additional information about the process, can be found at www.ourquesnel.com “Creating a shared vision for the future success and sustainability of the community will have long-term benefits,” Mayor Mary Sjostrom said. “It will also allow us to en-
H KE
WITH US!
Quesnel & District Palliative Care Association
Hike for Hospice Sunday, May 6, 2012
Registration: 12:00 p.m. Hike: 1:00 p.m. LeBourdais Park 100% of funds raised stays in Quesnel.
joy short-term benefits, such as developing a communitywide framework for decision making and a common language for local discussion and dialogue. Achieving a shared vision will only be possible with community-wide commitment, so we hope people will get involved.” “Quesnel has opportunities and faces challenges, but in those challenges, additional opportunities are found,” Coun. Ed Coleman, the ourQuesnel Sustainability Task Force chair said. “ourQuesnel will be the lens and filter for all our decisions and for how we do business in the future. Council and staff will be actively engaged and we encourage our community to get involved as well.” Led by the City of Quesnel and the Whistler Centre for
Sustainability, ourQuesnel will work towards that target between now and the end of the year through a streamlined process, informed by an advisory team made up of citizens, Council, staff and partner organizations. The City of Quesnel and partner organizations will be able to use the ourQuesnel process to guide decisions and activities at all levels and across all functions. The Whistler Centre for Sustainability is a non-profit organization that provides sustainability planning and implementation advisory services to local governments in B.C. and across Canada. To learn more about the Centre’s work, visit www.whistlercentre.ca. –submitted by City Hall staff
Good day, Quesnel. Thanks for reading — and that includes loyal subscriber W. Sutton! To join the Observer family, please call 250-992-2121 and ask for circulation.
Investigation continues into the death of a 15-year-old Quesnel teen Shortly after 2 p.m., April 6, Quesnel RCMP were called to a residence in the 400 block of Baker Drive after a teenage male was discovered unresponsive inside the residence. The 15-year-old male was pronounced dead on scene. Preliminary investigation conducted by Quesnel RCMP’s G.I.S. investigators and the Coroner suggests that drugs may have been a factor in this death. Foul play is not suspected. An autopsy will be conducted later next week to confirm the cause of death. The name of the deceased will not be released at this time, in order to allow the grieving family to make notifications to all relatives. Quesnel RCMP are working with the community to ensure that Victim Services are available to anyone in need of grief counselling support. Investigation into this death continues. Anyone with any information regarding this investigation is asked to call the Quesnel RCMP at 250-9929211.
Total Lung Therapy Cleanse & Protect Can be used by:
•Asthmatics •Smokers & ex-smokers who need extra lung support
•People who reside in polluted centers •Healthy people for lung protection
351 Reid Street Across from Post Office • 250-991-0298 Helping you build a healthy body & mind, Naturally!