SENIORS, TIME FOR B’VILLE SIGNUP PAGE A4
DENGARRY CELEBRATES 25 YEARS PAGE A10
COWBOY ACTION SHOOT PAGE A14
OBSERVER QUESNEL - CARIBOO
SINCE 1908
Wednesday, August 1, 2012
VOL. 98 NO. 95
www.quesnelobserver.com
PM 40005365
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CUPE presents 10 per cent shift DANIKA M. HÉBERT Observer Reporter The Canadian Union of Public Employees (CUPE) president, Barry O’Neill, was in Quesnel last week to present the 10 per cent shift concept at the Seniors’ Centre. The idea of the 10 per cent shift is to encourage consumers to shift 10 per cent of their spending toward local businesses instead of big corporations. O’Neill said this shift will help strengthen the local economy and it helps what he calls money “recycling.” Instead of your hard earned money going elsewhere, it would stay in the community to be used for local commodities.
CUPE’s Barry O’Neill addressed a crowd in Quesnel. Contributed photo
This shift in spending can mean the difference between local businesses thriving instead of shutting down. It is said, purchasing local first will keep up to 70 per cent of that money spent
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in the local economy. Another reason listed to shift 10 per cent of your spending toward local product is the impact on the environment. Purchasing goods produced locally reduces greatly transportation fees and excessive packaging. “We’re not saying this is a ‘buy local’ project and that you should buy local at any cost to you, or that you’re letting down ‘the team’ if you don’t,” the web page states. It encourages people sign up to be a part of the 10 per cent shift and get involved in the effort to keep money in the community. At Monday’s council meeting, several council members spoke to the information session. Coun. Laurey Anne Roodenburg attended the presentation and said she was impressed at how much of a difference a 10 per cent shift in spending could make. Another council member, Scott Elliott, also attended the CUPE presentation and said he’s already seeing an effort in Quesnel to keep spending as local as possible. “We go to the Farmers Market and to small businesses,” he said. “If you can keep it as local as possible, that’s better. “If you see a label saying a product is made in Canada and another which isn’t and there isn’t a big cost associated with buying the Canadian-made product, choose that one.” If you would like more information on the 10 per cent shift, visit the CUPE webpage, www. tenpercentshift.ca
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uesnel to Q Mark it on yourr ca calendar! alen nda ar!
August 4 & 5
at Quesnel Regional Airport Tickets available at Circle S & the Visitor Centre Check out our website www.skyfest2012 for more information
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Perfect putter Dennis Stroud takes aim to sink his putt during the annual Wegener’s Golf Tournament at the Quesnel Golf Course, Saturday. For more photos See PAGE A3. Autumn MacDonald photo
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