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LANDFILL UPDATE
JUNIORS TEE OFF
The regional district landfill is growing.
Smithers golfers make impression at Junior Open
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NEWS/A4 S
THE INTERIOR NEWS 105th th Year - Week 32
Smithers,, B.C.
Wednesday, y, August g 8,, 2012
www.interior-news.com
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ILL FORTUNE 1930’s true fortunes told in Smithers and Telkwa
OUR TOWN/A5
INSIDE OUR TOWN A5 LETTERS A7 SPORTS A11 COMMUNITY A17 THREE RIVERS B1 CLASSIFIEDS B4
FEATURES RAYZ BOARDSHOP A5
WEATHER Wednesday HIGH: 17 LOW: 10
Thursday HIGH: 16 LOW: 6
Friday HIGH: 19 LOW: 6
Saturday HIGH: 18 LOW: 7
Sunday HIGH: 18 LOW: 7
Zellers, Fields closing leaves department store void By Dan Mesec Smithers / Interior News
In a small town, department stores play a key role in the local economy. So when Zellers and Fields announced they’re closing their Smithers locations, it’s no surprise it has left a few people wondering where they will make their next department store purchase. “It’s not something we’ve talked about at council, I think it’s something we’re going to talk about because it’s a topic I’m hearing a lot from the community about,” Mayor Taylor Bachrach said. “People are very aware losing two low-cost retailers in town is going to have an impact on consumer choices.” Early last year Zellers stores across the country were bought-out by Target department stores as they continued to migrate from the United States into Canadian markets. “It is a lease non-renewal as the reason for the closer,” HBC’S Tiffany Bourre said. “We’re not currently looking at a new location [in Smithers] at the moment.” The transition means some Zellers stores would have to close their doors
completely because Target didn’t want to keep certain locations. After reviewing Smithers Target decided not to renew the lease with the building owners and as of February 27, 2013, Zellers will be closed for good. “It’s not concerning at this point because with Zellers closing we haven’t heard about what’s going to be replacing that,” Smithers Chamber of Commerce Manager Heather Gallagher said. “There are rumblings that something will be replacing that space.” However, Zellers is only half the issue. Fields is already on it’s way out and again nothing concrete has surfaced as to what will replace that space as well. Smithers is full of retail stores, however most in the downtown core are more niche than anything else. Offering higher priced items that can’t always accommodate lower income customers. Zellers and Fields offered a low-cost retailer and with that gap getting wider many are left without a local department store that will inevitably send dollars to Terrace and Prince George. See ZELLERS on Page 3
DIGGING THE FESTIVAL Rowan Last, 2, was all smiles at the Kispiox Music Festival, enjoying the music and the sand pit in front of the main stage. Percy N. Hébert
Chief’s resolve strengthens By Dan Mesec Smithers / Interior News
Chiefs and councillors from the Wet’suwet’en, Heiltsuk and Gitxaala First Nations visited the Alberta tar sands last week to speak with communities affected by the world’s largest industrial project and to tour Suncor’s Millennium mine.
“You have to realize how disheartening it is to stand on a piece of ground that is dead,” Chief Na’moks (John Ridsdale) said. “Spiritually it kills you. Physically, with the smell everything around you is unreal, to me it looked like a moonscape.” See TARSANDS on Page 2
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