TRAIN OF FREEDOM
RUGBY GRIT
Freedom train takes protest to Ottawa
Gryphon Rugby ruck the North
NEWS/A3
SPORTS/A15
“Celebrate, Remember, Fight Back” 18 days ‘til Relay for Life, May 26th.
THE INTERIOR NEWS 105th th Year - Week 19
Smithers,, B.C.
Wednesday, y, Mayy 9,, 2012
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Workers welcome base pay boost By Andrew Hudson Smithers/Interior News
BRIGHT LIGHTS VIKE Flaming orbs don’t phase valley’s top UFO-logist
OUR TOWN/A5
INSIDE OUR TOWN LETTERS SPORTS COMMUNITY THREE RIVERS CLASSIFIEDS
A5 A7 A15 A16 C1 C4
FEATURES INVESTORS GROUP A21
WEATHER Wednesday HIGH: 7 LOW: 0
Thursday HIGH: 8 LOW: 1
Don Kindrat hangs tight during the bouldering competition at the Bulkley Valley Pool last weekend, where upgrades to the bouldering wall pushed competitors to the limit. Dan Mesec photo
Friday HIGH: 12 LOW: 2
Saturday HIGH: 10 LOW: 2
Sunday HIGH: 11 LOW: 4
Smithers workers welcomed B.C.’s new minimum wage last week—a raise many said was overdue. But the move was not without some growing pains. On Tuesday, B.C.’s minimum wage rose to $10.25, the last of three raises up from $8 a year ago. Cheryl Ann Stahel, manager at Smithers’ Work BC employment office, says it’s a significant increase. “The first time it went up, people didn’t really see it,” Stahel said. “The next time the attitude had slightly changed: ‘Okay, I see the bucks on my paycheque.’” Stahel said the new $10.25 an hour wage is a better deal than income assistance, and not only in dollar
terms. “Work skills, things to put on your resumé, independence—all of that can start at $10 an hour,” she said. As for business owners, Smithers Chamber of Commerce President George Whitehead said most are content with the move. “A lot of them were paying above minimum wage,” said Whitehead, noting that high labour demand in the region drives wages up. But the new base pay may push other increases, since workers who were paid $2 or $3 above minimum a year ago may want an increase also. “I know that issue has weighed on a lot of people,” he said. “That is maybe a bigger issue for more businesses.”
See WAGES on Page A2
Second sheet of ice project just around the corner By Dan Mesec Smithers/Interior News
Smithers council is one step closer to realizing the dream of a second sheet of ice after receiving a report and complete schematic design from Bruce Carscadden Architects Ltd. and
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Venture Pacific Construction Management. Council rejected an earlier plan two months ago because it failed to provide the details they needed to approve or reject it. After receiving two proposals that were far over
budget, Smithers council asked for a more detailed analysis of what could be built for the amount of funding council has allocated for the new facility. After much debate and comment from Bruce Carscadden
Architects and Venture Pacific, council postponed the decision until staff could better examine the information. However, for a project 20 years in the making, the sense is things are moving ahead. “I think people
are feeling really optimistic. It’s fantastic to see things have gotten to this point,” said Mayor Taylor Bachrach. “This is a project that has been on the books and in the planing stages for many years and I think the sense
of enthusiasm and excitement you feel is because we’re almost at the point where we can make a decision about whether or not to go forward with putting shovels in the ground this construction season.” See ARENA on Page A2
see page A-24