Inside
◆ BOOMING REAL ESTATE P. 2 ◆ EDITORIAL P. 6
◆ MISUSE OF A FIREARM P. 9 ◆ REDISCOVER VANDERHOOF P. 10-12
E xpress OMINECA
$1.34 Inc. HST Vol. 35 No. 20
Serving Vanderhoof ● Fort Fraser ● Fraser Lake & Area www.ominecaexpress.com
Wednesday, July 18, 2012
The Drifter’s Mini Dude Farm open for business Christina Millington Omineca Express Blanch Lawrence and Judy Dame welcomed their first guests to The Drifter’s Mini Dude farm on July 15. A project that has occupied over a year of Lawrence and Dame’s schedules has finally come to fruition as guests wander the grounds on Meadowdale Road on a Sunday afternoon. “We aren’t as far along as we had hoped,” said Dame. “However, we didn’t want to cancel today’s events. It has been a lot of work.” It has been Lawrence’s passion to convert her acreage to accommodate her love of animals with the ability to draw local residents out for the same reason, as “animals should be enjoyed.” Lawrence, Dame, family and friends helped with the construction of the farm. Lawrence’s nieces and nephew’s contributed their colourful sides to the main farm and bunny habitats with colourful paint and personalized handprints. The farmhouses peacocks, potbelly pigs, geese, goats, lama, sheep, ducks, horses and the list goes on. “Having the farm and loving animals I thought to give this opportunity a go,” said Lawrence. A lot of the animals on the farm are on the endangered list. Lawrence hopes her farm can keep the animals protected and for visitors to enjoy them. Photos on page 3
Photo by Christina Millington
An array of playful, curious animals populate the grounds of The Drifter’s Mini Dude Farm welcoming local residents during its grand opening on July 15.
Minerals North bridging community gaps Christina Millington Omineca Express It all began back in 1989, the first northern BC minerals conference was held in Terrace that had communities bridging communication gaps. Minerals North has been a strong advocate for smaller communities with its ability to engage people on a greater scale by bringing them together to discuss ways to draw “outsiders” into a community. Minerals North typically travels from town-to-town and Vanderhoof applied to host the mobile conference two years previous, which has been approved for 2014. ako Stuart-Nech Bo ok 2011 Fun Activity
community with locals having the ability to work closer to home. “It will encourage young adults to work locally and become more involved in the mining industry,” said Thiessen. Minerals North has been instrumental with networking communities to become more aware of mining and exploration projects that benefit communities substantially. “It allows a town to take ownership,” Thiessen said. “The area is showing a lot of mineral deposits. This will lead to future development in the area and showcase our town to the mining sector as exploration evolves.”
KIDS FUN ACTIVITY & COLOUR BOOK
HEY, KIDS!
Come join us for lots of fun an d colouring
Mayor Gerry Thiessen couldn’t be more thrilled to have the chance to host the conference, as it will be an opportunity to bring people into the community in hopes to benefit from the developments that have been growing over the years – such as New Gold. “This will be an invaluable option for the community,” said Thiessen. “It will allow ourselves as a community to stretch. Minerals North not only provides a gateway to communicate with other communities, but also offers communities the ability to recognize what they can do to attract people that wouldn’t otherwise find the need to visit. Thiessen feels that initiatives that Minerals North provides for the younger generations will help the growth within a
2011 Fun Activity Book
6000 copies printed to be distributed into every Omineca Express. 50 copies to every advertiser to hand out. Also placed in high traffic retail outlets. Colour Book with crayons will be given out to children at exciting local community events. Readership per your ad 6000 plus. Grandparents, aunts, uncles, a take along for holidays. Added bonus colouring contest held by Omineca Express. All entries to be published in the paper. Prizes for 1st, 2nd, 3rd place.
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