FOND FAREWELL | Armstrong pays tribute to Tom Nordstrom’s community contributions [A11]
Morning gStar
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Friday, March 15, 2013
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Lightning ready for lights, camera... JENNIFER SMITH
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Morning Star Staff
team of young Vernon hockey stars are skating into the national spotlight. The Scotiabank Bantam Lightning team will be featured on Saturday’s CBC Hockey Night in Canada pre-game show. The minor league hockey team of 13- to 15-year-olds will introduce host Ron MacLean as well as the NHL games being aired: Montreal Canadiens vs. New Jersey Devils, Winnipeg Jets vs Toronto Maple Leafs and the Detroit Red Wings playing the Vancouver Canucks. The star appearance was a real win for the team, who recently wrapped up their season with a loss in the playoff final. “It didn’t really matter that we lost that game because they were so excited about doing Hockey Night in Canada,” said Cheryl Lambert, team manager. Through their sponsor, the team belongs to Scotiabank’s Community Hockey Program, which sees a $1,000 grant given to each branch across the country to sponsor a minor hockey team in their community. The program supports minor hockey teams in communities across Canada.
JENNIFER SMITH/MORNING STAR
Landon Currie (top) and his Scotiabank Lightning Bantam hockey teammates show their energy for Ross Lee, Hockey Night in Canada videographer, as the team has been chosen to introduce HNIC prior to Saturday’s games on CBC. Visit www.vernonmorningstar.com for a video of the local stars being filmed. And Vernon’s Lightning were chosen to be Scotiabank Hockey Tonight Kids.
“We sponsor 3,700 teams across the country so to get selected is kinda cool,” said Rob
Fulthorpe, Scotiabank branch manager. “We didn’t think we had a
chance,” said Tina Cousins, whose daughter Taylor plays on the team. Lambert adds: “We are only the second team in B.C. to get this opportunity.” When news broke that the Lightning had been chosen, the players, parents and coaches were thrilled. “I think it’s pretty cool,” said Landon Currie, after nailing his line during filming last week. The team spent close to two hours filming throughout the Wesbild Centre last week. Ross Lee, videographer for Hockey Night in Canada, says the hardest part is keeping their energy up, and consistent, throughout the shoot. “They want excitement. It’s got to be pumped up,” said Lee, who had the team on ice as well as in the dressing room, penalty box and stands. While the end result will only be approximately 20 seconds in the spotlight, the event is one the team will never forget. “For it to be aired coast to coast to coast, they’ll remember this for the rest of their lives,” said coach Rob Eggert. Eggert added that the team will be watching it all during a special end-of-season party at Boston Pizza Saturday.
Doctor incentives leave Enderby on the sidelines RICHARD ROLKE Morning Star Staff
Provincial officials stand accused of ignoring Enderby’s physician shortage. The Ministry of Health and the B.C. Medical Association will provide $100,000 each to 20 physicians who agree to move to 17 designated rural communities in the province. Enderby is not on the list. “You have to be kidding me,” said Mayor Howie Cyr when informed of the initiative. “To ignore Enderby after making them aware of the situation here is very disheartening.” There is currently just one permanent
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doctor in the Enderby area, which has about 7,200 people. Of the 17 general practitioners and specialists in the incentive program, five are designated for Interior Health Authority communities. They are Clearwater, Cranbrook, Nakusp and Princeton. Cyr says he is aware Howie Cyr of the lack of doctors in those communities and his concerns aren’t directed towards
them. But he questions why Enderby was not selected. “They (ministry and BCMA) will have to be accountable for their actions,” he said. Enderby residents are currently faced with travelling to Vernon or Salmon Arm to see a doctor and there is a concern that will lead to people either leaving Enderby or not moving there. “We’re not going to give up. We have a responsibility to our constituents,” said Cyr of the city’s lobbying. IHA has stated there will be at least one new physician in Enderby this summer. The rural physicians incentive will pro-
vide each physician with a one-time payment of $100,000 when they commit to three years of service in the 17 towns. Participating physicians will receive $50,000 when they begin working in the community. The remaining $50,000 will be paid once they have completed one year of service. “Helping to fill much-needed rural family physician and specialist positions not only benefits local families, but also provides additional support for physicians and other health-care professionals in the community,” said Health Minister Margaret MacDiarmid.
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