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Vol. 89 Issue 27 • Wednesday, July 4, 2012 • www.arrowlakesnews.com • 250-265-3823 • $1.25 Includes HST
Teachers vote for stand-pat deal
There were still some happy dogs and people in the crowd for the Nakusp celebrations even though they were overtaken by rain. CLAIRE PARADIS/ARROW LAKES NEWS
Nakusp 120th birthday a soggy celebration By Claire Paradis Arrow Lakes News
Beautiful weather came and went the week before the July 1 long weekend, and the variable forecasts had everyone guessing whether they’d be dressing in their vintage bathing costume or antique wellingtons. Saturday arrived at last with a good start: sun breaking through cottony clouds, but it didn’t last. By the time the dog contests were being held on Broadway, the sky had thickened with clouds and was dumping rain. Still, there were enough entries for a good show of competition from the dogs and their owners. Ranging in size from two-and-ahalf pounds (“Little Girl”) to nearly a couple hundred (“Vixen”), the dogs put on a show for the folks crowded beneath awnings and umbrellas. Every dog has his or her day, but most of the canine contestants looked like they would have preferred to have theirs on a drier day. Doggies and their owners lined up to take part in Dog Sense’s canine contest, which included most similar owner and pet, biggest and smallest dog, and tricks. The wet weather had more than one dog declining to sit, even when asked to. Others were full of pep, leaping into the air to catch a ball or jump over a leg. Fickle, the rain stopped in time for the wackiest beard contest, which was an equalopportunity event with the number of female contestants just under par with the men. Yes,
the General Store’s Wackiest Beard Contest had entrants of all ages and sexes. In fact, the winner of the weirdest beard contest, chosen by applause from the audience, was the youngest of all the contestants, and one of the more, well, female participants. She wasn’t alone, however. A long-bearded contestant, the ZZ Top of Canada (Zed Zed Top?) was also of the feminine persuasion, as was the bearer of a stylish mink beard. Talk about taking the idea of a “beard” to the next level! Way to go ladies. After that, it was time to stop and dry out as much as possible over lunch in preparation for the afternoon activities. With activities scheduled to take place in the street, but possibly at the arena if the weather was wet, there was some confusion, and a few different party-goers were spotted trekking between Broadway and the arena. The post-lunch weather was as unpredictable as the morning, and the Mat Hatter Doodlers outside Prima Materia were lucky enough to get a good dollop of sun before torrential rains poured down during the auctioning of their collaborative drawings. The doodle art sold for between $20 and $51 apiece, with some serious bidding wars breaking out over at least one piece of art. All funds raised went to the Nakusp Food Bank. Before anyone knew it, night had fallen and the band had started playing for the family dance.
Teachers are joined by other public sector union members at a legislature rally during their three-day strike in March. BLACK PRESS FILE violates their constitutional right to collecBlack Press tive bargaining. The BCTF is the last major The B.C. Teachers’ Federation executive public sector union in the province to accept recommended acceptance of an agreement the wage limits. reached with school district negotiators that “We have been able to achieve some extends most of the terms of the contract that modest improvements but, above all, we expired a year ago. succeeded in getting government to take its Teachers voted this week on the proposed concession demands off the table,” Lambert settlement, which runs until June 30, 2013. said. In all, 21,044 teachers voted, a turnout rate Abbott rejected the union’s claim that the of 52 per cent, and 75 per cent voted to ratify employer was trying to cut back professional the latest agreement-in-committee reached development provisions. The ministry wants on Tuesday, June 26. to standardize provisions that were negotiThe B.C. Public School Employers’ As- ated separately with the 60 districts before sociation, representing B.C.’s 60 school province-wide bargaining was imposed, he districts, will hold a vote for trustees next said. week. BCPSEA chair Melanie Joy said the tenThe agreement puts off a bitter dispute tative agreement standardizes provincial over government changes to hiring, layoff language for the number of leaves and esand performance evaluation of teachers. tablishes a process for determining local and Education Minister George Abbott said the provincial issues. deal includes a letter of understanding to Acceptance of the agreement will alcontinue talks on those issues. low schools to resume classes next fall with BCTF president Susan Lambert said the teachers resuming extra-curricular activiagreement includes some improvements to ties and meetings with school administrateacher benefits and leave provisions. But tion. The work-to-rule campaign extended Wednesday, Lambert announced the union throughout the school year now ending for is making the latest of many trips to court to most students, and culminated in a three-day argue that imposing a two-year wage freeze strike in March.
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