Inside
u Home invasion P. 2 u MoM AGM P. 3
u Cullen critiques budget P. 3 u Gauthier studio opening P. 6
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WEDNESDAY, March 27, 2013
NEWS BRIEFS RCMP… there’s an app for that? There is now an application in the App Store, available for free download, to connect iPhone and iPad users to information directly from the BC RCMP. You can find it by searching for BC RCMP in the App Store. The application provides easy mobile access to information from the bc.rcmp.ca website, like news releases, missing persons, and wanted persons, as well as the @BCRCMP and @GRCenCB Twitter accounts, and BCRCMPNews and GRCenCB Facebook pages. RCMP are initially releasing this application for iPhone and iPad, but mobile applications for Android and Blackberry users are currently under development and will also be available as soon as they are complete. Android and Blackberry users still have access to the mobile and full versions of our bc.rcmp.ca website on their smartphones and tablets. “In this day and age people are so connected to their mobile phones and tablets we wanted to make it easy for them to connect with us - whether it’s to read a news release, check a photo of a missing or wanted person, or join in a conversation on social media”, says Deputy Commissioner Craig Callens, Commanding Officer for the RCMP in BC. “It’s all there in one easy application.”
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Bringing the landscape to life
Artists Glenn Clark (L) and Peter Corbett (R) in front of the van called the Great Grey Whale, which they have driven across the province while working on a project to paint the landscapes of the proposed Northern Gateway Pipeline route. The pair were recently back for some winter painting of the Fort St. James area. Story on Page 12 .
Photo Crystal Tremblay
Community hall coming soon to Fort St. James Ruth Lloyd Caledonia Courier Coming soon to a theatre near you … a community hall. A deal to purchase the theatre building in order to turn it into a community hall has gone through. The purchase agreement between Columbine Investments and the District of Fort St. James has had the conditions removed and a final price has been disclosed. Finding the price was a bit of a process, according to Mayor Rob MacDougall. “One of the challenges in small communities like ours is there’s no real market established for buildings of that size,” he said. “But if you look at it and the replacement value and work backwards from the replacement value, depreciation, at the end of the day we felt the price was something we’re satisfied with and we would proceed.”
The final purchase price was for $525,000 in cash and $325,000 in the form of a charitable donation receipt to Columbine Investments. MacDougall said while some may be disappointed the plans to build from scratch have been shelved, the purchase is a good one. “Our back was against the wall this year with some grant monies that we’d received,” he said. “We felt that as elected representatives we would be remiss if we did not take advantage of the $900,000 of grant funding and secure something for the community. “I think it’s a win-win for us and and it’s a building that’s structurally sound,” said MacDougall. “I’m excited to see it happen.” MacDougall said the purchase of an older building will also offer the municipality the option of doing upgrades over time as they can afford them. The land titles are being processed and once those go through, the district will take possession, but the final plans for developing the space
have not yet been determined. The district is planning on meeting with those who have been involved in the community hall, various user groups and even the broader community to help determine priorities as to what developments will be within their budget and will maximize the potential use of the building. The district is working with a $1.5 million budget so far, $400,000 coming from Towns for Tomorrow, $500,000 from the Community Recreation Program, $270,000 from reserve funds by private donation, and an estimated $30,000 from Northern Development Initiative Trust. The district will also be borrowing $300,000 on a 20-year loan towards the project. “For us, we felt it was necessary that the citizens from today moving forward help to pay for some of the structure as we move forward,” said MacDougall, “If you look at everything in the community today, it’s paid for by past citizens, we have very little outstanding debt in Fort St. James.”