Special Features - Northern Spirt_July 31

STUART NECHAKO’S

NORTHERN SPIRIT Includes stories and pictures of people featuring the spirit of our local communities in Vanderhoof, Fraser Lake and Fort St. James. Produced by the Omineca Express & Caledonia Courier.

2013

PUBLISHER NOTE: These compiled Community Builder articles & photos have been previously published in the Omineca Express & Caledonia Courier. Some content may be dated.

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Stuart Nechako’s Northern Spirit 2013 ___________________________________________________________ 1

Highlighting Community Spirit John Rustad, MLA

John Rustad is sworn in as the MLA for Nechako Lakes on Tuesday, June 11, 2013. John will serve as Minister of Aboriginal Relations and Reconciliation

John Rustad was born and raised in Prince George, and has lived in northern British Columbia his

entire life. He worked in the forest industry for over 20 years, most notably as the Geographic Information Systems department manager for Timberline Forest Inventory Consultants in Prince George. In 1995, he founded Western Geographic Information Systems Inc., offering consulting services for the forestry industry. John began his public service with his election as a school trustee in 2002. In 2005, John was elected to serve as the MLA for Prince George-Omineca, and with the riding redistributed and renamed Nechako Lakes, he was re-elected in 2009 and again in 2013. During his time in the provincial legislature, John has worked tirelessly for his riding. During John’s last term in office, major investments were made in the roads of the Nechako Lakes region, Burns Lake received a replacement hospital, and, with John working as the Parliamentary Secretary for Forestry, significant strides were made towards a solution for the mid-term timber supply. Communities in the region benefited from a wide range of investments, including ice arena improvements and the re-paving of the airport in Vanderhoof, a new water treatment facility and upgrades to Mouse Mountain School in Fraser Lake, a new community centre and public library for Fort St. James, a new community forest and hospital for Burns Lake, and upgrades to Houston Secondary and funding for seniors housing for Houston. In his current term of office, John is serving as the Minister of Aboriginal Relations and Reconciliation, and is part of the Cabinet Committee on Strong Economy as well as the Environment and Land Use Committee.

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FORT ST. JAMES 2 __________________________________________________________ Stuart Nechako’s Northern Spirit 2013

Chief Kw’eh recognized nationally Chief Kw’eh (known as Kwah) is a lot more than a name on some local streets and a building. The local historical figure has now been recognized for his national importance in history on recommendation from the Historic Sites and Monuments Board of Canada. The historic chief’s importance to the history of Canada was among 13 recognized on March 22, 2012. “Today’s designations will bring to life the spiritual, cultural and physical ties that First Nations have to this country, for both Canadians and visitors to Canada,” said Peter Kent, minister of environment, in a release. “They will give future generations an understanding of moments in time that span the centuries.” The recognition came after years of research and hard work by one of Chief Kw’eh’s descendants, his great-great granddaughter, Lillian Sam. Curiosity about her family’s history came upon Sam slowly through her life; she did not grow up with stories about her family and spent time in Lejac Residential School. As a child she did spend time with her grandfather Louis Billy Prince on the Stuart River, but her grandfather was a quiet man who spoke Carrier (Dakelh) a lot, he did not share many stories with his young granddaughter. “I knew he was an important man,” explained Sam, who helped him correspond with some important people over the years, as his hands shook too much to write legibly at that time. Her own father was a veteran of the Second World War, and he also did not say a lot, and neither did Sam’s mother. Her mother was from Yekooche, so her background was even more of a mystery to her daughter. “That was the seed there that grew until I had time to look at it, examine it,” said Sam. After getting married and having eight children, in the summer of 1982 she lost her husband. She then began looking for work, and naturally gravitated towards researching cultural tradition and history, because she spent a lot of time with the elders and they always told her stories about the old ways and times. They told her a lot of “things I never knew when I was in residential school,” she said. She began working for the Nak’azdli Band researching culture and history and she researched the genealogy of seven generations of

Lillian Sam sits with a photo of the original Chief Kwah grave site and her grandfather. her own family. “But that was just genealogy, there was no information on who they were,” said Sam, who then began trying to find out more about these people. Eventually, she began working on a project with Parks Canada and they interviewed 39 elders from the area. Through these interviews, Sam began to learn a lot about the old ways and the culture and some of the stories were published in a book called. Nak’azdli Elders Speak and Sam’s curiosity about her background grew. One other important book was by Mrs. Lizette Hall, The Carrier My People, it had information about Chief Kw’eh and Chief Louis Billy Prince. A replica of Chief Kwah’s dagger was on display including a recording off the story of the last massacre at the Fort St. James National Historic Site and further research connected Sam to a James Monroe, who then returned some artifacts to Sam which were from her grandfather, including his rifle, and a beaded handbag which had a prayer book printed by Father Morice. The Nak’azdli Elders Advisory group were approached by Site Manager Bob Grill and the question was who should be nominated as a significant historical person from the area. “The stories go that (Chief Kwah) was once a great warrior,” said Sam, and so they settled on Chief Kw’eh for the nomination. After a lot more work and research, submissions and revisions, Chief Kw’eh was eventually chosen in 2009 as one of the historical people of national significance, but the official announcement was not made until March 22, 2012. In the end, Chief Kw’eh will now take a

place in the nation’s history and Sam has finally satisfied some of the curiosity about her family’s history. “He was a dreamer, he was a warrior and a fur trade chief,” she said. “These days we don’t have leaders like that.” The research and what she learned was a great experience for Sam, and she seemed very satisfied with the outcome of her hard work. “For me, it’s been an honour to our people,” she said. “It uncovered a lot for me.” She said she learned a lot about the loss of the Carrier (Dakelh) way of life and how the land was taken away from them, and she sees the need for change and growth. “The most important thing for me is finding my identity.” The designation means the area has four figures of National Historic Significance to celebrate: Father Morice, James Douglas, Simon Fraser and now Chief Kw’eh. Chief Kw’eh (Parks Canada information) Chief Kw’eh used kinship ties as well as personal qualities and gifts to gain traditional rights and leadership over a wide territory and numerous Carrier (Dakelh-ne) communities in the late 18th century, bringing new stability after decades of warfare between the Carrier and Chilcotin in north-central British Columbia. He oversaw the end of the era when traditional Aboriginal leadership in this region functioned without foreign interference. He used his skills as a diplomat and leader to negotiate a mutually satisfactory relationship with Euro-Canadian traders who entered lands to which he had traditional rights, played a significant role in the development of the fur trade, and showed moral strength in resolving without violence a conflict with the young Hudson’s Bay Company clerk James Douglas. Chief Kw’eh was born into a noble Carrier family in a period of intense rivalry and warfare with the Chilcotin people as both struggled to control the exchange of coastal and interior trade. By slaying his father’s killer Kw’eh took over the latter’s prestige and hereditary hunting territories. A focus for Carrier identity, he has an ongoing legacy among the Central Carrier communities as “dreamer of the salmon.” It is said that as long as he is remembered, he will continue to provide for people by presiding over the salmon fishery from his burial place at the mouth of the Stuart River.

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VANDERHOOF Stuart Nechako’s Northern Spirit 2013 ___________________________________________________________ 3

Hockey coach wants kids to feel happy at the rink Fans of amateur hockey know that where the puck drops the stick must be ready to put it in the right direction. When young people have access to competent coaches and people who can help them with their skills at any sport or hobby the community is all the better for it. This is not news to one Vanderhoof man of whom his friends say, “He lives more at the rink than he does at home.” A familiar face in Vanderhoof and Fort St. James ice rinks, minor hockey coach Marty Floris says he was inspired to coach because he also had a good one. “I coach for the simple fact that when I was young I had a coach who didn’t have any kids in minor hockey but he was a knowledgeable guy who gave his time,” Floris explains, “I think if I didn’t also do that, I’d be doing a disservice to my town.” He said Bob Best, his minor hockey coach from back East was very helpful. “I started my first year in Vanderhoof in 95 and 96,” Floris says, “before I had kids that were hockey aged, now mine are in there and I’m still going.” He says his 12-year-old son, Hunter is playing peewee and Ethan, three years younger plays in the atom league. Floris says it’s more than just about passing on skills, to be sure. “It’s extremely important that the kids enjoy coming to the rink,” he notes, “I try to make it as great a learning experience and as fun as I can.” This makes the kids much more than just better at hockey, in his opinion. “This can accomplish that A they get some important skills that help them progress as a hockey player, and B, that they progress as a good human being,” Floris said. He said he’s in good company with other Nechako Valley minor hockey mainstays. “Vanderhoof has a really good group of coaches right now volunteering all of their time of course,” Floris said confidently. He noted there have been years in past where those numbers weren’t as solid and kids had to go elsewhere to play.

“One year I helped out coaching a Fort St. James team,” he added, “so I got together a handful of kids and went up there.” But he notes things are in pretty good shape now, “from the Bantam league right down to the Timbits,” he said. He also tries to help the kids get outfitted at times when they’re short a piece of equipment or outgrowing something, “I know people who have stuff, so a pair of pants or skates can get passed on to somebody who needs them, sometimes stuff from my own kids,” he said. Floris admits the commitment can involve spending a lot of hours laced into a pair of skates, coming out to four practices a week and games on the weekends. He appreciates there’s others around who help. “I’m grateful for the good help, so that in a time conflict I can send one of my sons and they’re going to be in great hands.” Coaching can involve a lot of road trips as well, he explained. They travel sometimes to rinks in Salmon Arm, Langley and Kamloops. “It’s a real eye-opener for the kids to play in other communities,” he said, as it gives them a gauge of how their skills are coming along, and of course for the excitement of hitting the road. Though there’s been occasions

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when it didn’t seem so wonderful. “While travelling to Merritt for a tournament Remembrance Day weekend, we left 100 Mile House up the hill toward Cache Creek. As we neared the top of the hill, the bus had filled with smoke and we pulled over,” Floris shares. He said their driver, Steve Martens and parent, John Funk, got out to look and quickly returned yelling for everyone to get off the bus. “One player asked ‘do we have to?’ and one of the men said ‘yes the bus is on fire!’” Floris remembers, adding, “Needless to say, we all piled off the bus and watched it burn on the side of the road.” He noted that he, Steve Little and Ryan Hutt got the gear off the bus because they needed it to play, but kids lost clothes, text books. Perfect homework excuse hey? But that wasn’t the end of their ordeal, Floris notes. “We got taxied back to 100 Mile House where we waited three hours for another bus to get us. “My wife, seven months pregnant, had Emma 3, Hunter 20 months to deal with. She will never forget the trip,” Floris can laugh now, “we managed to get to Merritt and finished second in the tournament.”

FORT ST. JAMES 4___________________________________________________________ Stuart Nechako’s Northern Spirit 2013

You can’t help but be infected with the enthusiasm flowing from Joanne Vinnedge when she talks about nature. It is a palpable thing, as she describes how exciting it was to see a breeding pair of Cape May Warblers west of the Rockies, a rare sighting she attributed to the location. Spotted in Germansen Landing, the birds were directly in line with the trench, along which lays Williston Lake, creating a path through the high mountain range. And Joanne Vinnedge isn’t just any birder in the area. She’s also the regional coordinator for the British Columbia Breeding Bird Atlas, an ambitious seven-year project to attempt to “determine the distribution and relative abundance of birds across British Columbia” according to the project’s website. Over five years, birders and casual observers will provide information on birds for each 10 kilometre by 10 kilometre square of the province, a huge project for such a large province and one so sparsely populated. The project will survey and map breeding bird populations, and while Vinnedge is part of the B.C. atlas project, the initiative is taking place across Canada, with the goal of helping to provide vital information on birds and bird populations across the entire country. Information critical to monitoring and understanding changes in these populations over time and due to environmental impacts such as climate change or habitat destruction. Vinnedge will be doing a lot of surveying herself, but needs as many volunteers as she can get, given the large size of her region, which stretches from south of the Blackwater River up to Johanson, and the fact she also has to enter the data for the region, compiling it for the atlas. Volunteering involves the opportunity to get to some remote and interesting places, to spend some time truly immersed in the nature of an area. There are a total of 435 10 kilometre by 10 kilometre squares she will be attempting to get data for, which will involve 20 hours of birding and point-count surveys of random points to record every bird seen or heard at that point. “It’s really an interesting exercise,” said Vinnedge. Her region being made even more

For the birds

Top: Joanne Vinnedge kneels next to the newly planted whitebark pine she helped plant in Spriti Square. Bottom: A busy flock of birds at a feeder seem to have their own dialogue going on, as they jockey for position and seeds. interesting by the difficulty in accessing much of it, as there are far fewer roads in the northern regions. In July alone, Vinnedge put on 1,300 km doing surveys, most of which occur in the valley bottoms, where the roads are, so she goes for intensive stints into the backcountry and alpine to cover some of this habitat. This past June, Vinnedge spent a week in the northern part of her region with three other birders, including the provincial coordinator for the atlas, Christopher Dicarato. The four went up as far as the Johanson area, so her vacation involved hiking around to hit a number of the 10 km squares in less accessible areas to fill in some of the information she needs for her huge region. She described how interesting it was to travel north through the area, seeing some species drop off as they passed the northern limits of their range, and other species become more common. So far she has picked up sightings of seven new species she had never seen before, which clearly excited Vinnedge. On Johanson Lake, she saw some Arctic

Terns, which she described as “so cool.” There were Brewer’s Timberline Sparrows, normally a Yukon subspecies, and there were breeding pairs of Common Redpols, a species which normally breeds in the Arctic. On a recent canoe trip, Vinnedge was also collecting some plants for the Royal British Columbia Museum for a genetic study they are doing of plants. “Then your holidays are worthwhile,” she said, once again becoming animated as she talks about a particularly interesting find. On the shores of Thutade Lake, Vinnedge found a small carnivorous plant. “That was really exciting,” she said, rattling off the small plant’s Latin name. While the surveying will be coming to an end as the breeding season of the birds is now finishing for the year, Vinnedge will be keying up for a last intense push to the finish for the atlas next spring, in the final year of the five-year survey period. Any and all information on breeding birds in the region is helpful, according to Vinnedge, who adds casual sighting information to her mountain of data, many people she works with at the ministry office give her random sighting information. As we finish our discussion of her ambitious volunteer project, I find myself asking Vinnedge for a recommendation of a good bird book, and getting inspired to once again pay more attention to the fauna in my travels. She recommends The Sibley Field Guide to Birds of Western North America, and I put it on my mental shopping list. Anyone interested in volunteering for the British Columbia Bird Atlas project or to pass on bird sighting information, can contact Joanne Vinnedge at 250-996-5262.

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VANDERHOOF Stuart Nechako’s Northern Spirit 2013 ___________________________________________________________ 5

The Baldy Trail has been reopened

The Baldy Trail used to be the route north for gold seekers wishing to access the Omineca gold fields from Manson Creek. The trail was established after the 1861 discovery of gold in the Omineca area, resulting in the Omineca Gold Rush of the 1870s. The trail was used to access the area up until the construction of the North Road in 1939. While the trail was no longer used by vehicle traffic, it was still used extensively by trappers, hunters, hikers, ATV riders, snowmobilers, dogsledders and others in the following decades. However, a fire in the early 1980s burnt a section of the trail and then resulted in heavy windfall and thick pine regeneration, making an estimated two kilometre section of the trail impassable, and the trail was then in poor condition and unused. But a large 52 km section of the trail is once again open, thanks to some hard work carried out this year by the Vanderhoof Canadian Ranger A view of part of the Baldy Trail route, with the Vanderhoof Canadian Ranger Patrol after days of Patrol, initiated by their commander, hard work clearing the trail to restore the historic route. Frank Read. Legend has it, Gillis came to the goldfields in the 1870s to seek his After Read heard of the state the historic trail was in, he thought it was an appropriate challenge to under- fortune, but not before making a promise to his fiance that he would return after one year to marry her. take the restoration of the historically significant route. One year later, Gillis was on his way back home with a “poke full The group of Canadian Rangers made it into an exercise for the paof gold” when he happened across a pack train which was carrying a trol, with an assessment and reconnaissance and then the establishment letter for him. of a base-camp to work from. Gillis opened the letter from his betrothed, walked a short distance The group consisted of 18 people, Sergeant Paul Brandson and Patrol Commander Frank Read leading the 16 rangers on “Exercise Mount away, put a revolver to his head and committed suicide. He was buried there, a short distance from the trail, with stones to Baldy.” The group worked for four days on the trail after establishing a base on mark the spot. In the 1940s, the Gillis grave had been upgraded by Albert Alexanthe Thudate-Nation Road. The trail was cleared using chainsaws a quads to move themselves and equipment along the route, and in the first day der, who placed a memorial on the site. In 2010, Louis Gauthier and his wife also rediscovered the grave and alone, 14 km of trail were successfully improved. Baldy Trail was still maintained and cleared from the one side, be- once again refurbished it. A poem by the late Earl Buck is contained in a weatherproof contween Mount Baldy and Manson Creek, however, the group managed to tainer at the site and there is a journal for visitors to sign. clear the other section to the top of Baldy Mountain from the ThudateAfter their many days of hard work, the ranger group broke camp, Nation Rd. loaded all their gear up and headed back down to their home bease of The group also enjoyed an extensive visit by Terry and MargaretVanderhoof. Ann Houghton while they were camped in the area. The Vanderhoof Canadian Ranger Patrol seemed to not only have Terry Houghton is the owner of a trap-line in the area, and told many done a great service to the region by restoring the historic recreation trail, stories to the group about the history of the area, which seemed to make but also seemed to have gained a great experience while doing it, full of an impression on the group. history and discovery. Along the way, one member of the group, Ranger Krueger, also hapWritten by Ruth Lloyd from information in a report by Sam Campese pened to stumble across an old gravesite belonging to Hugh Gillis.

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FORT ST. JAMES 6___________________________________________________________ Stuart Nechako’s Northern Spirit 2013

Whither the weather?

Thanks to the efforts of one man especially, the oldest operating weather station in the province will keep on measuring local temperatures. Since 1895, people have been measuring temperatures in Fort St. James. Originally, the measurements would have been taken from the site where the office of Ecofor now sits, and over the years, while the location moved around a bit, it was still in the same general location at the end of the lake. In 1965, Grant and Marianne Luck began taking care of the station, which was then located on the Sowchea side of the lake, near Pitka Creek. The station was later moved to the Luck’s own property, on Grant Road, and until October of 2010, it remained there, where the Lucks took daily readings for Environment Canada, and finding someone to fill in for them when they were away. Anthony Fast, a Registered Forest Anthony Fast takes care of the oldest operating weather station in the province, one of the Technologist, found out about the station. Fast takes a particular interest in older-style stations, this one requires regular monitoring, while newer stations are automated, the local weather changes thanks to his but more expensive to put in place. The Fort has been recording weather data since 1895. position at BC Timber Sales (BCTS), After a reading is taken, Fast shakes down the liquid mercury again, to where he is in charge of the tree plantreset the instrument. ing contracts in the area. The second thermometer is an alcohol thermometer, which contains a Fast was interested to see it, and so he visited the Lucks, who were getting a bit tired of having to monitor the station daily, and were looking to small bar, which is pushed down as the alcohol drops, marking the low temperature over the measured period. potentially pass it on to someone else. Snow depth is measured as accumulated (the snow packs down as it Fast was already considering the possibility of relocating the station to piles on top of itself and temperatures change the crystals) and as daily, one the B.C. government ministry building on Stones Bay Road. measured on a board on the ground, one measured from the roof of the ther“I thought, why not check and just see if we can move it over here,” mometer box, which is cleared off after each measurement is taken. said Fast. Because Fast only works Monday to Friday, he takes readings twice a After conversations with his supervisors, who supported his idea, Fast day on those days, and with the help of his coworkers, Cindy Holland and went to Environment Canada, who also were in agreement. And so the weather station now lives on the shores of Stuart Lake again, Paul Inden, the weather readings for the Fort area still continue. The readings are entered into an Environment Canada database, and but 3.5 km from its last location on Sowchea. With Environment Canada now subject to deep cuts by the Harper gov- readings and temperatures can be accessed online via their website as far back as readings began. ernment, the weather station would quite likely have been phased out once On the day of writing this, September 8, in 1895, the high temperature the Lucks gave up monitoring it, according to Fast. Fast has taken on the for the day was 5.6 degrees Centigrade, the minimum was -1.7 and 7.9 mm monitoring for free, and now monitors the station twice daily Monday to of rain and 0.5 cm of snow fell. Friday. While Fast’s interest in climate is a bit unorthodox (he believes our carThe weather station itself is an unassuming site, made up of a small bon dioxide contributions to the atmosphere are not as much the cause of square structure, a rain gauge for the summer and a board for the winter to changes in climate as changes from the sun) his interest has meant the Fort’s measure snow depth. The square wooden structure is painted white so it doesn’t absorb extra long tradition of weather monitoring can continue. To have a look at historic temperatures or precipitation data, go to the heat, and baffled to reduce the effects of wind on the gauges inside it, there National Climate Archive and click on customized search, then search by are just two thermometers inside. One thermometer is a mercury thermometer which measures the high station name using Fort St. James and enter the year or date you would like to see. temperature of the day.

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VANDERHOOF Stuart Nechako’s Northern Spirit 2013____________________________________________________________ 7

Dig deep and give back is winning stategy Young people are encouraged to dream big, but making those dreams flourish is often the result of true dedication, hard work and support from the community. This is exactly what happened for Vanderhoof student Riley Wallace, along with his teammates and coaches at Nechako Valley Senior Secondary. Remarkably, some feats are the stuff of legend, despite the fact that he and his peers were born less than two decades ago. Perhaps you have already heard the story of the night of the 2011 PG Bowl, when late in the final quarter, Wallace threw to receiver, Spencer Siemens to score a tying goal and then a few seconds later threw to his roommate Mauricio Parilli, for a spectacular winning touchdown pass. But that’s not all the adrenaline-packed weekend had to hold, as you also may know. The Viking quarterback, Wallace, his dad and Parilli took the long road trip to Kelowna to compete in a high school cross-country running meet. Due to some accommodations mix up, the trio ended up only napping in the truck for a few hours before the race. In spite of that long, rough ride and cheated sleep, Wallace legged it to the front of the pack to place 22nd out of 300 student athletes from around the province. In step with the generous spirit this Vanderhoof athlete exhibits toward others, Wallace is quick to credit the dedication and help of his coaches and others, and most folks understand that there are key people behind the scenes lending their talent and time, and are essential to anyone’s success. Wallace exalts his cross country running trainer. “Mr (Brian) Nemethy is a very dedicated running coach, and at times I wanted to quit, he kept me going out to practice, he worked around my basketball and football schedules,” Wallace says appreciatively. Wallace also praises Eric Lytle, the father of a friend who is helping him and others excel at basketball, the game Wallace calls his favourite sport. “He (Lytle) opened the gym every morning before Riley Wallace looks forward to playing college basketball but loves playing at school so we could practice until a teacher could come home in Vanderhoof. He praises coaches and others for putting their hearts and supervise,” Wallace shares. into seeing young people like himself succeed. You’d think that practicing at lunch and after school would be enough for any young athlete, but some have a dedication beyond what others consider “enough,” it The teams put a lot of effort into raising money to travel so far, seems. Yet, with the world of sport reaching for ever higher levels Wallace explains. of achievement, the stiff competition for scholarships and coveted “We have bottle drives, (we take contracts to) clean up after positions on college and professional teams makes practicing every parties and clean baseball diamonds (bleachers),” he notes. day for several hours common as geese in Vanderhoof. But when he’s off from playing competitive sports, Wallace In a huge event in 2012 the Vikings football team and number says he takes part in life’s other pleasurable challenges, such as 10 (Wallace) will be attended the Coal Bowl in New Waterford, performing in the NVSS play, Fiddler on the Roof, and outdoor Nova Scotia the last week in January to play for that prestigious fun like snowboarding, kayaking and rock climbing, often with his cup. brother, Rhys.

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FORT ST. JAMES 8 __________________________________________________________ Stuart Nechako’s Northern Spirit 2013

FSJ initiative gains national attention

The local “Be Seen, Be Safe” Reflective Bracelet Campaign has already increased safety in Fort St. James, and the results are visible, but not only on our streets. The arm bands can be seen around town on all ages of area residents, thanks to the efforts of Sowchea Elementary students in Mrs. Madhok’s Grade 6 class. “I’ve been seeing (the armbands) everywhere,” said Constable Lance, who has been working with the kids since the beginning of the campaign, which was inspired by the tragic death of 11-year-old Nolan Alexis on Highway 27 on the Nak’azdli Reserve. An article written by their Principal Cam McCormick and a photo taken by The Courier’s Ruth Lloyd will be published in a number of places, getting the students exposure nationally, and maybe even internationally. The goal is to highlight the success of the program, and the initiative the students showed in reacting to tragedy in their community, according to Lance. He said the full page article should appear in The Quarterly, the official magazine of the RCMP Veteran’s Association, The Pony Express, an internal national magazine for members of the RCMP, and will be submitted to Blue Line Magazine, a national law enforcement magazine. The article will also be posted online on the bc.rcmp.ca website, giving it even greater reach. This is the story which will be giving the students the press across the country: Every parent knows the feeling of helplessness and nausea seeing a child dashing across a roadway full of traffic. November 4, 2011 was such a day for the twin communities of Fort St. James and Nak’azdli First Nation. Nolan Alexis, a grade 6 student at David Hoy Elementary School, was hit and killed by a vehicle as he ran across a dark and busy Highway 27. The tragedy affected everyone in the community. Many of the students in the Grade 6/7 class at Sowchea School were all grieving but focused their sadness on making a change and wanted to prevent a tragedy like this from ever happening again. Collectively, the class decided that they needed to do something about the situation. They wanted kids to be safe and decided that they would purchase reflective bracelets for every child in Fort St. James, Nak’azdli, Tl’azten, and Yekoochee First Nations. RCMP Constable Jeffrey Lance, school liaison officer for Sowchea Elementary School met with the students and supported them in their quest by providing the guidance and steps necessary to set their plan in motion. Four of the students met with Georgina Alexis, Nolan’s mom, who lived and worked in the Tl’azten community of Tache. They told her of the “Be Seen, Be Safe” project aimed to educate and promote traffic safety in honour of Nolan’s memory. The students returned with an even stronger commitment to their project after hearing Georgina’s expression of extreme sadness for the loss of her child and the praise for their project that could prevent another tragedy.

Students waiting in line at Sowchea Elementary School show off their reflective bracelets.

Despite their fears and shyness the students met with a number of community service agencies to request letters of support. The Northern Traffic Safety Coordinator for ICBC sent the students a letter of support and provided them with their first forty reflective snap bracelets. After learning about fundraising techniques the students with the assistance of the Sowchea School Parent Advisory Committee, organized a family movie night which raised nearly $400 towards the purchase of reflective bracelets. Students then sent out business letters promoting their goal and were humbled with the number of donations and letters of support they received. In order to promote and advertise their project they designed posters on a Traffic Safety Theme and approached the Caledonia Courier local newspaper. The newspaper provided publicity through articles and advertising space. The local community college, College of New Caledonia - Fort St. James assisted by printing all the large posters in colour. Two thousand of the reflective bracelets were ordered and posters were printed and laminated. The first school to have the “Be Seen, Be Safe” presentation was Eugene Joseph School in Tache, Nolan’s home community. Every student was given a reflective bracelet which they accepted with excitement and wore them proudly. The project also created talk at the Highschool level and the bracelets were introduced to the Fort St. James Secondary School. Highschool students and Elementary students proudly wear their reflectors on their boots, ankles, wrists, arms, hats and backpacks. Regardless if it is for fashion or for safety, students are wearing the reflective bracelets and can now be seen by motorists and are safe when following the traffic laws “These students amazed me with their passion and determination. ‘ Stated Cst. Jeff Lance of the Fort St. James Detachment “They have created a project that the entire community has embraced and I truly believe they have made a difference.”

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VANDERHOOF Stuart Nechako’s Northern Spirit 2013 ___________________________________________________________ 9

Calling to mind a father’s memories of war

The Great Depression had just finished scourging Canada when, at 21, Grenville Skelton joined the Canadian Army on July 11, 1940. There was still mass unemployment at the time, and Grenville and his wife, Sadie, had recently married in Vancouver. “My mother always said they only had two dollars and two street car tickets,” said Candice, one of Grenville’s four daughters. “Everybody was looking for work back then.” Just a year earlier, Canada had declared war on Germany and the federal government started spending massive sums of money to bolster its military. As the Nazis were invading western Europe, Grenville, best known as “Skelly”, turned to the Royal Canadian Navy

for a job in 1940. For reasons unknown, Grenville’s application to the navy was denied. Instead, he was assigned to the Irish Fusiliers, an infantry regimen based in Vancouver, as an army trooper and was soon deployed to continental Europe. Grenville’s involvement with the Canadian Forces led him through France, England, the Netherlands and even Germany. Italy, which entered World War Two in alliance with Germany, was particularly memorable for Grenville and he would write poems about his experiences there. Sometimes Grenville collected religious trinkets and sent them home to Sadie in Prince George, where she was earning money ironing soldiers’ shirts while raising two daughters. Once, while in Holland, Grenville got a picture of a Dutch woman wearing clogs who was sitting on a rooftop, which he brought back to Canada as memorabilia. “It used to drive my mom crazy, that picture,” said Candice. Grenville spoke about the War sparingly and kiddingly, perhaps to avoid reliving the grim realities of combat. The only serious memory he ever shared with Candice and her sisters was of a tragic incident that occurred when Grenville and a good friend were advancing through enemy-held territory in two separate tanks. The armored column was attacked and Grenville’s friend was killed when his tank exploded. “That had shattered him a bit because it was his buddy,” said Candice.

After the war ended and Grenville was demobilized in 1945, he kept a ring engraved with the number 1921, the same year he was born. Grenville always jokingly told his daughters that it came from the severed finger of a dead German soldier. “Where that ring actually came from, we were never really told,” said Candice. As was the case for many veterans who fought, transitioning back to civilian life in Canada was a challenge for Grenville. Candice recalls her mother describing him as somewhat more stern and, at times, detached after so many years at war. “He left a young boy and came back a hardened man,” Candice recalled her mother saying. One episode in particular may have changed Grenville’s own perception of life here in Canada, where freedom is ubiquitous and tyranny is nonexistent. In one of his poems, Grenville documented children scavenging for food in the trash at one of his military posts, a sight that perhaps influenced his decision not to allow Candice and her sisters to leave the dinner table until they finished eating their sup-

per. “He was probably thinking that we didn’t appreciate what we had,” Candice remembered. “We didn’t have much in those days, but what we had, we had to utilize.” Grenville died at the relatively early age of 59. Although he smoked heavily, Candice believes something must be said about the trauma and high degree of stress that soldiers endure during war time, which presumably takes an enormous toll on their health. “Their bodies and minds go through so much,” said Candice. Candice moved to Vanderhoof in 1969, and then to Mackenzie, B.C., in 1992. She said her 35 years of involvement with the Royal Canadian Legion, including as president at the Vanderhoof branch, were because of her father, Grenville Skelton, a decorated soldier who received the 1939 to 1945 Star, the Italy Star, the France & Germany Star, the Defense Medal, a Canadian Volunteer Service Medal and the War Medal of 1939 to 1945. “I feel very proud to say my dad fought in the Second World War and that he fought for our country,” said Candice.

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Lacing up in history If you ever wondered how they made lace, well now you can see how it was done, right here in Fort St. James. While the majority of lace today is generally made by machines using standard patterns, lace was originally handmade using bobbins and thread, all by hand. The woman demonstrating the traditional craft is Holly Behncke, a German retiree who has always dreamed of living in Canada. “It’s not that it’s so complicated … it just needs a lot of patience,” explains Behncke. She explains how the one piece she is showing me probably took her around 500 hours to do the 1.8 m in length scarf out of raw silk. But while time consuming, she said hand made lace is more unique and quite different from the machine-made lace made largely in Asia. “If you make it by hand .. they have a kind of character,” she explains. Using complicated cross and turn patterns, she sits in a chair at the Fort St. James National Historic Site for about five hours a day, volunteering to do her hobby in public so she can help to educate people about a nearly lost art. But far from being bored after already volunteering for hundreds of hours, Behncke is extremely enthusiastic about what she is doing. “I’ve met so many wonderful people, it’s just unreal,” she said. Behncke enjoys showing people the ancient craft and said while many European travellers take it in stride, because it is known more widely in Europe, Canadian visitors to the historic park are amazed.

LEFT: Behncke practicing her hobby in the historic site. BELOW: a close-up of the finely detailed work involved in the traditional art of lace-making. “The attention I get over here, it’s something I’m not familiar with,” she said, explaining how she loves to see the joy in people’s eyes as she demonstrates the art. But it’s not only the people who keep Behncke going back to the park day after day to spend her time, it is also the location itself.

“To sit in this kind of spot doing this is just so special.” She came to the community of Fort St. James with her daughter last September, and she instantly felt a connection to the place. “We felt so comfortable in this little community,” she said. “I can hardly describe it.” The historic site itself was

Official Name Fort St. James or Place Text parkscanada.gc.ca National Historic Site

somewhere she was interested in visiting, and when she first came to Fort St. James last year, she hadn’t made it to the park. But when she returned this last time to stay with her daughter, she knew she would like to see the park and she brought over some of her lacemaking equipment with demonstrations in mind. “This historic site is really special,” she said. “I feel (like) family with these people.” Behncke is hoping to move to Canada permanently, which would be the fulfillment of a lifelong dream she has had, and one which was rekindled in a visit to Canada for a vacation 16 years ago. Her daughter Xena, who works here in Fort St. James, remembers her parents enthusiastic descriptions of Canada after their return from that trip, and it is part of what inspired her to move to Canada to work. For her part, Behncke is happy to be here, and happy to be sharing her skills, and her friends back in Germany can hardly believe what she gets to do here. “I really feel blessed right now to find a place like this.” Behncke is even planning on teaching others how to make lace in classes, but is working on getting the necessary supplies, as the equipment for the craft is hard to find in Canada. “It’s like you learn a language,” she said of her craft. “It’s a kind of passion, but then it’s a most wonderful thing to do.” She will be returning to Germany, where she will be taking further courses in lacemaking there to help develop her skills even further.

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VANDERHOOF Stuart Nechako’s Northern Spirit 2013 __________________________________________________________ 11

Paddling the Nation Lakes and building memories

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“Life-changing experience.” These are the words brought back by the t paddlers of the Nation Lakes chain recently to organizer Renada Wolstrom. d Seven people went on the trip, with one kayak, four canoes, and one motorboat for d backup, and they paddled 72 kilometres over five days. Wolstrom had come up with the idea for - her community to do the canoe trip after speaking to an elder from the north coast y about an annual trip his community does ) each year, with 60-70 people taking part. “It was just so inspiring,” said Wole strom. While she had always heard of people a doing the Nation Lakes chain, she had never heard of anyone from her community d in Nak’azdli doing it, even though it was - something they would have done traditionally. So she decided she really wanted to see it happen again, and she shared the idea with her community, and it sparked enough a interest to get a group together to try it out. Top: Sun catches the tops of the Mitchell Range spanning the horizon on the Nation She saw the trip as an “innovative way Lakes chain. Bottom: A set of warm springs sits on the edge of one lake along the chain. Dennis Cumberland photos to get the community working together and working towards something that helps them and the bugs were “negligible,” according to Houghton, who has regain identity and defining self in traditional cultural ways.” done the chain 10 to 15 times. s “What we envisioned was travelling the chain and camping and The wind was at their backs for most of the trip, and there ... sharing of stories ... and to open it up to a lot of traditional cul- wasn’t a lot of it, so except for one day, the lakes were fairly calm tural practices,” said Walstrom. and they had only a bit of rain. While the weather changed every And that is exactly what happened. two hours, according to the pair, at times the lakes were like glass, When Dennis Cumberland and Terry Houghton spoke about and the paddling was easy. their experiences on the trip, there were tales of drumming and Houghton and Cumberland both philosophized about their exsinging going on around the fire on their first night, while Cumberperience, appreciating both the experience and the group. land and other paddlers bathed in warm springs just across the lake. “I consider the Nation Lakes route one of the best kept secrets,” The sound carried across the water, and created a unique and said Houghton. o beautiful evening, one Cumberland captured part of on video. While Wolstrom wasn’t able to make the trip at the last minute s The stories told by Houghton, of his trapping and wilderness this year, because she had to move that very week, she is hoping to experiences and the history, were also something the paddlers make the trip an annual event and she will be there next year. brought back to Wolstrom as making the trip memorable. While some of the group had expressed doubts to her about withfishing two locations to serve you better: o There were attempts at fishing, but HoughtonNow said “the their ability to complete the journey, they all managed it and she was lousy” compared to most of his trips down 14370 the chain. He did Upper Mud Rd, Prince George saidRiver this brought the paddlers a lot of pride in their accomplishmanage to catch one five-pound char and cooked it over a fire at a ment. and inside Glacier Toyota, Smithers. lunch stop for the group. “It’s just more about bringing the community together to emt There was also an attempt by the one member of the group to bark on more traditional practices that help bring unity and pride in l shoot a caribou, but his shot missed the animal, and the caribou our traditional lands,” said Wolstrom. made it safely to shore and into the trees, to the pleasure of some The maiden voyage was a success, with the group making “this o of the group. is the life” their trip motto and Wolstrom hopes to carry the moe On the beach one day, Cumberland found part of a stone tool mentum on. or arrowhead, which he brought back with him and has sent for “They brought back the confidence that we need to make it biganalysis. ger and better next year,” said Wolstrom. Overall the conditions were excellent, other than the fishing,

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VANDERHOOF 12__________________________________________________________ Stuart Nechako’s Northern Spirit 2013

Whitney Moutray honoured with Queen’s Medal

Whitney Moutray is a modest man considering all the contributions he has made to the community. October 2012, Moutray received the Queen Elizabeth II Diamond Jubilee Medal for his 46 years of volunteer service with the 4-H Club in Vanderhoof, a nation-wide organization that provides young people with opportunities to learn how to become productive, self-assured adults. The medal, slightly larger than a two-dollar coin, is being distributed to only 60,000 deserving Canadians who have devoted themselves to family, community and country. Although humbled, Moutray never aspired to be recognized for his many years of service with the 4-H Club. “He’s so modest,” said Chris Moutray, Whitney’s wife. “But he has helped oodles of kids.” Whitney’s contributions extend far beyond his role as a 4-H Leader. After immigrating to Canada from England more than 50 years ago, Moutray started a dairy farm in Vanderhoof in 1961. A few years later he began helping out the 4-H Dairy Club, which later expanded to become the Nechako Valley Dairy and Beef 4-H Club.

In 1991, Moutray was recognized as the Vanderhoof Rotary Club Citizen of the Year, and he spent 19 years with the Community for Kids committee fundraising for the B.C. Children’s Hospital. His involvement in the B.C. Federation of Agriculture, the B.C. Dairy Foundation and the B.C. 4-H Provincial Council was duly noted in 2003 when his fellow 4-H Club members nominated Whitney as Co-operators National Volunteer 4-H Leader of the Year in Canada. As a 4-H member, Whitney has watched children grow up to start their own families, whose kids and grandchildren later became members of the 4-H Club in Vanderhoof. “It has continued through the generations, and you’ve been a part of that,” said Whitney, as he sat pondering the medal at his kitchen table on October 28, 2012. “I enjoyed working with them all.”

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VANDERHOOF Stuart Nechako’s Northern Spirit 2013___________________________________________________________ 13

Save your pennies, save a person Youth nowadays. So many teens are given a hard time for their sense of entitlement, self-absorption and social media obsession. Yet when I saw a post on Facebook by Brennon Thwaites, it was not about himself or some thinly veiled reference to his love life. Instead, Brennon had posted on a public page for the local community about his penny drive. Brennon was using social media to ask for donations of pennies towards a Free the Children fundraiser to help provide clean drinking water to people in developing countries. It impressed me, and I messaged Brennon for him to call me and tell me about the project and what he was up to. One of the first things Brennon said to me was “It’s not about me.” He emphasized how it was a group project, something the Free the Children group at his school in Vanderhoof was working on, and he was only doing his part. Brennon was one of the group who attended We Day in Vancouver in October 2012. He took the bus down with the students from Fort St. James, Vanderhoof and Fraser Lake for the event. “It was amazing,” he said about the event. “It was really inspiring to make change.” The speakers at the event all made powerful impressions on him, and narrowing it down to a favourite would be difficult, but Brennon remembered Marc and Craig Kielburger, the brothers who founded the Free the Children Foundation. It was their explanation of the need for clean water and how really inexpensive it is to do the projects which especially struck a chord. It is only $25 Canadian to give someone clean water for their lifetime, explained Brennon, a fraction of what most Canadians spend on their monthly cell phone bills. So the penny drive made sense to Brennon and the rest of the Free the Children group in Vanderhoof. “We figured it would be a really easy way to raise money,” said Brennon. With so many people keeping penny jars, it made sense to try and put those pennies to good use providing clean water to those in need. The group is directing their funds to Ecuador, where some of the group is going next year to help build a school. Brennon has participated in other campaigns the group has done in the past as well. He started out in Grade 9 doing the Vow of Silence, when students pledge to spend the day not speaking -

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ABOVE: Brennon Thwaites has been conducting campaigns to help others since Grade 9 when he took his first Vow of Silence to raise awareness of children’s rights. LEFT: Pennies can buy clean water for those in developing countries.

some even include text messages in their pledge to raise awareness for those in other countries who do not have the right to speak out. This year, Brennon has pledged to take the Vow of Silence for 24 hours. The campaign attempts to raise awareness around children’s rights issues. He is also selling Rafiki chains, which are beaded friendship chains. Each one helps raise enough money for a person in a developing country to have clean water for a year. So while in many ways, Brennon Thwaites is your stereotypical 16-year-old, with an iPhone at the ready, he is also a great example of what youth are capable of. Brennon said his interest in helping people in

other countries started with World Vision commercials showing poverty-stricken children in other parts of the world. “That idea has been able to keep on motivating me,” he said. So while some teens are working on figuring out how they are going to be able to get to the next big party, Brennon and his fellow Free the Children group at Nechako Valley High School will be cutting out silhouettes to represent the missing women along the Highway of Tears and collecting pennies so teens in other countries can enjoy the luxury of clean water. The next time a person repeats a stereotype about today’s youth, think of Brennon and other Free the Chidren group members working towards a better world. Brennon Thwaites can be reached at btbrennon@gmail.com to donate pennies.

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FORT ST. JAMES 14__________________________________________________________ Stuart Nechako’s Northern Spirit 2013

The cure for boredom

In a community as small as Fort St. James boredom is one of the greatest hurdles the community can face. Winnie Sam, the recreation coordinator for Nak’azdli, is trying her best to combat that energy sapping feeling and strengthen community ties at the same time. With a new grant the band is kicking off a casual volleyball league to encourage people to get out of the house, have some fun and become better at the sport. “So many of our young adults are into volleyball and if they want to get onto the court with people who already know how this is a good start so they won’t have to be so shy,” said Sam. With the new volleyball initiative Sam has reached out not only to Fort St. James, but to Tl’azt’en too. “I always invite the surrounding communities,” said Sam. Currently Sam is waiting for the surrounding communities, like Tachie, Yekooche and Fort St. James to complete their sign up sheets in hopes of Winnie Sam stands in front of the action on the popular Volleyball night at Kwah Hall. having some inter-communal competithe kid’s enjoyment of the sport. Basketball, and an ex-high school bastion. “It’s important that we get community inketball coach, seems to be one of the keys. It’s more than just about the competition volvement,” said Sam. “You know how kids, Brendan Taylor has recently started a drop-in and the sport. “Part of the recreation is it’s all about fun,” they like to show off for their parents and if basketball time that has proven popular with there’s something happening they get to do the teenage set. Or at least it was popular with said Sam It’s the fun that draws the kids out from that. I’m trying to get parents and volunteers the parents. “Once Brendan started the basketball I the boredom of the home, or the danger of the to come out and cheer them on. We don’t always get that.” know some of the parents pushed some of streets. The joy that comes from seeing those kids their kids over,” said Sam. “That’s a start it “When there’s no bingo we get a rush of people, and if there’s nothing they always say preen under the encouraging eye of a parent is gets them back into the gym and being active.” With a little bit of parental help the prothey’re bored and there’s nothing to do,” said one of the small joys Sam gets from the job. “It’s nice just seeing the kids just brighten gram has picked up steam and has started to Sam. “Just having it open, even if there’s no grow. one around it’s always open. We have the sur- up because they’re accomplishing something, they have that person behind cheering them “It started out with one or two, and now rounding people in there that make it safe for on,” said Sam. “That’s really important for it’s picking up and it’s getting some of the everyone.” them to know they have someone there sup- older boys coming out,” Even for people who aren’t interested in It’s the older kids that take on the role playing sports the gathering of the people porting them.” The younger kids still have that boundless model roles, and the adults above them, that there can create a social atmosphere that enenergy, and as a result are easier to encourage can encourage the younger kids, and teach courages community. It’s an aspect that Sam to come out. It’s the older kids, the teens with them. It’s here that Sam finds another perk of wants to make known. her job: watching the kids soak up the knowl“So what if it’s volleyball night. It doesn’t their, at times, sluggish lack of energy and edge around them. have to be just volleyball, you can just come fondness for video games, that Sam has found to be a real challenge. “It’s really awesome to see, we think the and visit,” said Sam. “I had a hard time getting one group, the kids aren’t listening, but if your singing or The spectators can be just as important teenage group to a little older, to come out. playing the kids are there and they’re actually as the players, especially if the players are listening. It’s really important for the adults to young. A cheering grandstand can increase They’re playing video games, so we’re missing them,” said Sam. be there to be role models,” said Sam.

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Fraser Lake karate kid makes BC team Fraser Lakes very own Karate Kid, Cassidy Carter has qualified for the Karate B.C. Team Squad. Carter, 13, qualified after finishing third in her age and weight category in the black belt division at the Karate BC Provincial Championships held in Burnaby at the end of January. Cassidy came away with a bronze medal by winning two of three matches, only losing to the gold medalist by a single point. Against twelve other advanced Karate Athletes from B.C., Cassidy showed tre-

mendous ability and courage for her age, by battling back from a loss in the early going. Next up for Cassidy is training with the rest of the B.C. Team, then a Round Robin Tournament against the top four in her Division. The top two from this Tournament will then be eligible to travel to Montreal in March to represent B.C. at the Karate Nationals for Canada. A great achievement for a Karate Athlete from Zone Eight of the Province of

B.C. “It was an excellent performance that earned her a chance to try out for the BC Provincial team that will attend the 2011 Canadian National Championship tournament in Quebec on March 18-20,” said Cassidy’s Sensei Richard Bisanz. Cassidy attended a prestigious international karate tournament, called the Sato Cup held at BCIT in Burnaby on February 5, 2011. Once again she fought for a top spot, and after three fights, brought home a silver medal.

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VANDERHOOF 16__________________________________________________________ Stuart Nechako’s Northern Spirit 2013

Nechako best says artist, 94

Hilda Villumsen is sitting in a sunny window, filling out forms to enter her art rugs in the local arts festival in April, 2012. The papers note the festival is open to emerging artists. Villumsen shares some doubt she should be putting her works under a spotlight, especially at the age of 94. “Do you think I am too old to be an emerging artist?” she asks. She has crates upon crates of yarn, just to have enough colours for the amazing images on the rugs, some of which are renditions of famous art. If you aren’t aware, Villumsen has been hooking rugs for quite some time, but says she is one of the few people in the area who still do. That’s something she would like to change. “I thought I would enter the festival because I want other people to start hooking,” Villumsen emphasized. At one time there were dozens of people in the valley who practiced rug hooking. The Northside Women’s Institute were doing this when Villumsen arrived in the area. “I don’t know how they taught me,” she says, however she managed to pick it up. “The first rugs were for returning soldiers (from WWII),” Villumsen explained. It is time consuming and can take 125 hours for a project, “When people hear that, it sometimes scares them off,” she says, shrugging. Hooking a rug also takes good eyesight. “Looking to put each piece with one small hole in the Scottish burlap,” she says demonstrating, “it’s tight and sometimes I can’t get the hook in.” This isn’t the only craft Villumsen has practiced throughout the years, she has painted, done wood burning and taught china painting as well. But for now she’s concentrating on the rugs. Villumsen has been known in the valley as a fabulous gardener. The Library’s 75 birthday slide-show featured a photo of her standing in her garden, and people say they still garden by the advice column she used to write for the local paper. Her accent is a tip off that she came from outside Canada. In fact, she was born in one of the most difficult times in Europe, near the end of WWI, and it’s not a stretch to say she might not have survived, considering her mother contracted the Spanish flu and pneumonia when she was an infant. But with love from her family, she

grew to be a girl with lots of spirit, enjoyed playing with her brothers and getting her hands dirty. “I grew up as a tomboy ... I liked my sailor outfit with the gold buttons like (boys) wore at the time,” she remembers. Her fa- Wall hanging hooked by 94-year-old Hilda Villumsen, longtime resident of ther was an Vanderhoof. Her works were on display at the regional arts festival held engineer with April 23-29, 2012 in Vanderhoof. the Dutch “He came to lock up and we were still waitnavy but the German intelligence found out in ing,” she says, “We were thankful he allowed us 1942, and a nurse told her family soldiers were to stay at his home.” coming to confiscate everything. They were treated like guests, she marvels, “I was bossy and I rounded up our neigh- until the farmer came by sled - two weeks later. bours to help move our things,” she says laughShe said it was cold and they had to dress ing, “My mother got a cattle truck and hosed warm for going to bed. Eventually they decided out the manure and we loaded our furniture in to come to B.C. moving to an established farm there ... and what we couldn’t fit we put under here. Vanderhoof still had wood sidewalks and the floor,” Villumsen says, happy to relive this Prince George was hours away by dirt road. triumph. “We came in the morning and by afternoon Times were tough but her family didn’t go we were plowing,” she recalls. hungry, because she walked to a farm every day They grew amazing crops and also raised where she was paid for her work with farm protwo children, one of whom still lives nearby. “I duce. have never felt sorry for being here,” Villumsen At some point, Villumsen met a fortune says. teller who told her she would meet a man whose She shares another prophecy of the Dutch language she didn’t know. fortune teller, that after age 55 the psychic didn’t “I thought this couldn’t be true because I see what happens. And so our emerging artist learned French, English and German,” the poly- shares that she thought that’s when she was goglot says, “But then I met and liked this man ing to die. who turned out to be Danish.” “I quit my job, sold the farm in 1972 and They married but were undecided about moved to five acres in town ... and waited to die,” where to settle. “He wanted to live in Holland, she says. and I wanted to live in Denmark ... it’s a beautiWell not so much sitting around and waitful, romantic place.” ing, as you might’ve guessed. She grew vegThey also read about Australia and Canada etables, berries and greenhouse tomatoes, she so they came in winter to a farm in Saskatch- travelled some, and she stayed involved with the ewan. Rather, they came to a train station where fall fair and the town arts scene. a farmer was supposed to pick them up. But bliz“I never thought I would live to 94 and be zards kept him from coming. Luckily there was in good health ... it’s been 35 years and I’m still a kind station master. waiting,” Villumsen jokes.

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FORT ST. JAMES Stuart Nechako’s Northern Spirit 2013___________________________________________________________ 17

Local lady keeps prom memorable

Some of the biggest events in life are marked by the dresses women wear. Wedding dresses, debutante’s dresses, graduation dresses: all leave marks in the minds of the women who wore them, and the minds of their dates. The dress, yes men’s clothes too, is an important part of the occasion, yet not everyone can afford the dresses that make those nights feel so special. When Allison Leach realized that kids in her community didn’t have the money for a prom dress, and no way of borrowing a dress, she decided to help keep their prom night special. She calls it ‘A Night to Remember.’ The project is simple: collect dresses, and suits, to outfit kids going to prom that can’t afford to outfit themselves, though Leach works on a limited budget herself. “We operate on a shoestring budget-my shoestring,” Leach said, then motioning to a new $500 check that had been donated by The Fort St. James Volunteer Fire Department Assoc. corrected herself, “well, did.” Now, faced with the most money her project has ever had, Leach isn’t quite sure what she’ll do with the new found wealth. “I’m undecided whether I should use it to dry clean or buy more dresses,” said Leach. The project started off small, with a few dresses Leach had purchased in the band room at Fort St. James Senior Secondary. “I just started purchasing dresses,” Leach said of the beginning of the program. A small story in The Courier, marking the start of ‘A Night To Remember’, netted her twelve dress donations soon after, and the closing of Eve’s Essentials grew her closet again by two more dresses. The kid’s curiosity concerning the dresses hanging in the band room soon convinced all involved that the band room was not the place for this project. Growing out of the closet in the Band room, and Leach’s own children’s graduation pushed her idea to new heights. “As my daughters moved into grad, it morphed into wanting to give the experience of shopping,” Leach said. Jan Zaparozan, the manager of the strip mall, had a store front open (now the bus depot/taxi stand), and allowed ‘A Night To Remember’ to operate at the store, giving Leach the boutique/shopping feel she want-

Kirsten Rudolph (Left) gives Allison Leach a $500 donation to fund ‘A Night To Remember’ in Leach’s makeshift boutique. ed to provide for the grads. Last year Leach moved her ‘boutique’ once again, this time to a storage room under the school gym the principal supplied. The space isn’t perfect, but it does offer easy access for students, which is great for everyone involved. Though some might refer to it as a storeroom, Leach has done wonders with the area, truly offering a boutique atmosphere. Leach’s hard work has put smiles on young girls’, and guys’, faces, though she rarely gets to watch them finally find that perfect dress, because it’s the teachers that work with the students to get them ready for prom. Teachers help students with everything from doing hair, to their corsages, and, when it’s needed, going down to the basement and choosing a dress. Kids come in a multitude of sizes, so when they’ve finally found ‘the one’ it usually needs a bit of work to make it fit just right. School staff, Shirley Buck and Monica Sillje, had tweaked the dresses up to this year. Now, however Kirsten Rudolph, a former seamstress, has volunteered to take care of the more serious ‘nip and tuck’ work. As the project has grown Leach has

reached out to kids outside the graduating class. “Once the grads have said ‘no, I don’t need anything’ it goes to dates or grade 10/11 kids attending prom,” said Leach. This alleviates the need for kids to buy a dress, or suit, for attending this year’s prom, and one for their own. Over the years Leach has run ‘A Night to Remember’ she has kept her eyes open for dresses she could use, buying dresses even on her holidays over the border. She has also built up a relationship with the thrift store in town over the years. “When (the thrift store) gets an evening dress or suit they set it in the back for me,” said Leach. Though she has ranged far for dresses, the suits she usually gets locally. “Donated suits,” Leach said, “come from people who have ‘outgrown’ their suits.” She’s looking for more men who’ve had the post-40’s horizontal growth spurt to pad her thinning collection of menswear. With an ever-growing collection, an in-house seamstress and her own space ‘A Night to Remember’ is truly giving grads a memorable experience.

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Richard Wruth cultivates a child’s garden of theatre

Some young people can’t “Kids adapt very well, the wait to grow up and get out quick changes; sometimes four to of their home town and go five times they change costumes conquering new and exotic and they only have one minute to territories. change,” he marvels, “It can get Yet, some are lucky pretty hectic in the change rooms, enough to find a worthwhile I see some of the newer parents project that gives them a ballooking pretty overwhelmed,” he ance of challenges and satisnotes with a little laugh, “it’s infaction right near home. credible how much needs to hapRichard Wruth of the pen, to change sets and props and Vanderhoof Children’s Theeverything.” There’s always the unexpectatre is one of those who reced things that make some occaognizes there’s a lot to be sions interesting, of course. gained right in his own back “Once we had these brand yard or his own back stage as The Vanderhoof Children’s Theatre 1957 musical ‘The Music Man’ . new headsets and they didn’t it were. “It’s pretty nice to be able charge properly so we had to There’s all the elements: singing, dancing to work at this,” Wruth says with a smile. scramble to get the communications back up and acting. The “this” he is referring to is producing and He has also done dinner theatre, as with and running.” And yet the show went on, “And no one directing kids in musical theatre every year. Sinkut theatre and Christmas concerts, but he “I started in 1999,” he remembers, “I had said that there just isn’t enough time to do even knew, I don’t think, that we were having planned to go to college. But, now I think any problems.” that on top of all the rest he does, he discovOf course people are more forgiving if why, when you’ve worked so hard to build ered. there are trip-ups, the young producer notes. something like this yourself, why would you Really. You don’t say?! It’s children’s theatre. leave it?” There’s a lot that needs doing when And his months are so peppered with auWruth remembers another great aspect of you’ve been involved with close to 3,000 perditions, rehearsals and road trips, it’s easy to formances on and off the stage, and all that the genre is that if there are lots of kids in one see how the past twelve years have sped past, needs to be done, manufactured, measured family, often many of them are participating as being busy lends to that perception. Wruth and fitted. Then there’s getting everything in the play together, and a whole family will became involved in drama in grade 8 and said put away and cleaned up after each and every come to watch as well, he says. “That’s another reason why the plays are he knew he loved it right away. performance as well. Why kids? “Yeah, there’s the organizing the sets, by donation, because if you can afford to, “I love it. Working with kids is the best,” props, costumes,” he says, working the num- you’re more likely to bring the whole family he raves, explaining he works with young and maybe even come see it twice.” bers out, almost in disbelief at the figures. Wruth notes that in 2012 instead of doing people from grades two to twelve. But why “I guess I have good helpers,” he says, the usual one hour play, they were trying out does he love it? The Vanderhoof native tries nodding. He credits the families of the kids doing two half-hour plays, Winnie-the-Pooh to nail down the reason, and then he says, with stepping up to helping get lots of the and Cinderella. “Kids are great, they’re fun. And it’s partly necessary stuff worked out. “I think they are popular because people because they do what you want unlike adults He’s referring to the moms in charge of who are constantly questioning your direcsewing costumes, and the ones who do fund are familiar with those characters,” he guesses. tion and saying ‘maybe I should do it this raising, and all the people who assist in build“We usually take the plays to Prince way’,” he says chuckling a little, “but I do ing props and helping out back stage. George first and then bring it home to take the kids’ input as well.” They also take the theatre on the road. How many kids does he work with at Vanderhoof in June,” he says. One can almost hear a chorus of kids singing once? It’s usually around thirty to forty, but Wruth and his sister run a clothing store “are we there yet? in ostinato repetition. he has worked with large groups in the range their family started. He says he’s lucky for Wruth said one year they went all the way of 75 at once. to Kelowna and he plans to do it again. Why, his sibling being flexible. That may sound a little crazy ... its been you ask? “I better get back,” he says, looking at the reported most teachers start to gnaw on their “It was an absolute blast,” Wruth shares, clock hands that show we’ve been talking for own flesh when their classes reach that 30 nearly an hour, “I told her I was just going to “we did six shows, all were sold out and it’s a mark. the post office,” he says jumping up. Then he big theatre, and nice.” Auditions are coming up next week for stops to remember how important that relaWhat else is involved that makes that a the next double bill he’s producing: Winnie- good time? tionships has been for him. “I’m really thankful to have my sister the-Pooh and Cinderella. “The kids feed off of being in a different “Everyone gets in,” he explains, “everyhere or I don’t think I could have done thetheatre, in a different community,” he notes. one gets a role.” atre,” Wruth affirms. He said it’s also a challenge the theatre It helps that the productions are musical kids rise to, with the different lights, different What a loss for the community and their theatre, and require singers as well as actors. kids that would have been. stage set up and only a short time to adjust.

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Travel = experiential learning

Like any good teacher, Travis James knows a subject has more impact when a person can see, hear and even smell something in real life. “I’m always amazed by the stuff they’ll come home with - the stories,” said James, recalling a memory of the smell of the steam rising from the New York City subway system. “I’m never going to forget that,” he said. Travis James is a teacher at Fort St. James Secondary School and also the organizer of the High School Community Travel Club. As the organizer for the club, James has coordinated and booked seven trips for high school students and community members for places around the world, with next year’s trip to Beijing being the seventh. From Costa Rica to Rome, Teacher Travis James in the FSJSS library showing his Queen Elizabeth II Diamond Jubilee Medal New York to Ireland, James has which he received in recognition of his volunteerism with the school travel club. taken students to places far outside the daily life of Fort St. James. the Children and Me to We, according to James. Kielburger was a speaker “I still have my metro card,” at the event and handed out the medals. said Pita Rokoratu, a student who went to New York City with the club “I felt honoured,” he said. in the spring of 2010. “It really opens your eyes to the world around you.” “Travis is being awarded this Medal because he is extremely commitRokoratu said at first he was a bit overwhelmed with how busy the city ted to excellence in education with a focus on experiential learning,” said was, but he became much more comfortable in the hustle and bustle as the Stephanie Ruttan, spokesperson for EF Educational Tours in a letter about trip progressed. James. “He goes above and beyond in his daily life to support the EF mis“I remember we watched Wicked in London,” said Kristina Joseph, sion of breaking down barriers of language, culture and geography, and to who went to England and Ireland this past spring. Joseph also recalls learnencourage his community to be global citizens.” ing about the Potato Famine in Ireland from an Irishman, getting a more But like most volunteers, James was quick to share the credit for what direct perspective on history. Josh den Engelsen, who went to Greece and Italy in 2011 recalls see- the travel club does. “It’s just awesome for the community and district that we have stuing the Acropolis and the city of Athens and legendary mountains like Mt. dents that are doing this … and that we have a very supportive school.” Etna and Vesuvius. He said the area school board and his school’s administration have “All the history that I’ve ever known here only goes back hundreds of been very supportive of the travel club over the years. The club itself was years, but over there it goes back thousands,” he said. started by Mary Huffman, and he picked up where she left off and continJames’ leadership and volunteerism earned him some special recogniued to grow it. tion in 2012, when he was awarded a Queen Elizabeth II Diamond Jubilee The trips he has gone on so far have all been to places James has been Medal in Toronto. before, because this gives him a level of confidence about taking the stuIn total 60,000 Canadians will be awarded the medal to commemorate dents there. the sixtieth anniversary of Queen Elizabeth II’s accession to the throne. “It’s very much not a vacation,” said James. He said he doesn’t reJames was one of 30 teachers nominated by EF Educational Tours, which was a partner in the nomination process, and is the company James orga- lax and enjoy the experience himself until the plane lands back in Prince George at the end of the trip. nizes his tours through each year. “A weight is lifted off my shoulders,” said James. On Oct. 13, 2012 James was awarded the medal at a ceremony in ToBut it’s all worth it in the end. “It just goes back to the students,” he ronto, with a big part of the thrill of receiving the award being the opportusaid. “I figure it’s something they’re going to remember from their high nity to get up close and personal with Marc Kielburger, co-founder of Free school years.”

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VANDERHOOF 20 _________________________________________________________ Stuart Nechako’s Northern Spirit 2013

No rust on me

Ross Williams holds the replica of the Nation River Bridge he built. It is meant to be a replica of the second Nation River Bridge which was built in 1962. Williams helped construct the original bridge and now built the replica to commemorate it. “I’ve got two five-gallon pails outside my greenhouse, and the one I use all the time is in good shape. The one I never use, the bottom’s rusted out of it. I figure, if I’m gonna sit, the bottom’s gonna rust outta me too.” To avoid this problem, Ross Williams keeps himself busy, and at 80 years old, he enjoys spending his afternoons and evenings doing different woodworking projects. A project he completed, after working on it from time to time over a week or so, was a replica of the Nation River Bridge, as it was in 1962, made out of birch wood. It is a version of the second Nation River Bridge, the first bridge across the Nation River was built in 1932, according to Williams, and his grandfather Silas Gilbert was

up working on its construction for three months cutting timbers for the structure. He worked with some other well-known figures from the time, Charlie English and Earl Buck, and was gone long enough to get the surprise upon his return of two twin grandsons, Ross and his brother Jim Williams. For 30 years the original bridge crossed the river, but being made of wood, it eventually became rotten and fell into the Nation River in 1962. At that time, Ross Williams went up to follow in his grandfather’s footsteps and went up to work on the second bridge. The bridge and the area must have made an impression on him, as he has made a couple of replicas now of the structure.

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One he made 25 years ago and gave to a neighbour of his at the time. He has since found out the children still have the structure. The second one is the one he made recently, and he took it to show some different people in Vanderhoof, and people there had asked to keep the model. “I said you guys aren’t getting it,” recounted Williams. He wanted the bridge to remain in Fort St. James because of the proximity of the community to the Nation River and it’s significance in the area. He has since donated it to the District of Fort St. James. Williams has lived in Vanderhoof most of his life, leaving to work at different times, but always coming back and he’s now retired there with his wife Louis Williams.

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FORT ST. JAMES Stuart Nechako’s Northern Spirit 2013___________________________________________________________ 21

‘A language hero’

Lifetime of dedication recognized when Catherine Bird Coldwell was given an award for her years of service to language preservation

All communities have their heroes, and not all of them are recognized. However, not long ago, a woman described as a “language hero” by her colleague was recognized for a lifetime of dedication to Carrier/Dakelh language preservation. Catherine Bird Coldwell was given a framed photograph of one of the Nation Lakes by local photographer Dennis Cumberland to recognize a lifetime of work with the Carrier Linguistic Society to preserve the Carrier language. They say “if there’s no language, the culture will die,” explained Dick Walker, another person instrumental in local efforts to preserve the language. Walker, and his wife Shirley Walker moved onto the Nak’azdli Reserve in 1961 to work on language initiatives. “When we moved here in 1961, our goal was to provide for the Carrier Nation a modern, written form of their language,” said Dick Walker. With the “modern, written form” there would then be the possibility hof educational tools and religious tools to help carry on the language and culture. Catherine Bird Coldwell holds the framed photo she was given in recognition of her life-long o Catherine Bird Coldwell then passion and dedication to preserving the Dakelh/Carrier language. e came to the couple and the group Photo submitted . they worked with, with her dream of ance of Ray Prince, and Coldwell was there through it all. bringing the language into local schools and teaching the stu“Every time we have a project of course, Catherine has been t dents throughout their education. involved in them,” said Walker. d “From that time on it’s just been an excellent relationship The group has continued to work on language preservation, and is completely revising the Carrier language dictionary they -with her,” said Dick Walker. The group then created the first language primers for schools, originally produced and are creating online resources. Soon, o using the online site First Voices, students of the language will -to introduce the Carrier alphabet they had created, they prorduced a plant book for the area, produced a teaching approach be able to hear Carrier spoken aloud. to help meet the provincial language teaching requirements. They have also produced a bilingual classroom dictionary. The College of New Caledonia (CNC) also helped the group f Through all the labour-intensive projects, Walker said not develop teaching methods. only has Coldwell been there working with the group, but he f The group also developed a Carrier language dictionary, a described her as a “visionary colleague” and “one who has al,huge stride for the language’s preservation. ways had that vision of the value of the Carrier language,” said d The group was formalized into the Carrier Linguistic Com- Walker, also calling her a “happy and very positive outreaching mittee, and later the Carrier Linguistic Society under the guid- colleague.”

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VANDERHOOF 22__________________________________________________________ Stuart Nechako’s Northern Spirit 2013

Trailblazer lands in Vanderhoof

If ever you find yourself exploring the trails around Vanderhoof take the time to appreciate the hand cut paths that you find yourself on for they were made for you. Peter Rodseth, a resident of the community of Vanderhoof for the past 38 years has dedicated much of his time giving to the beautification of the community that so many of you call home. Rodseth stems from a “fortunate” upbringing under the watchful eye of his mother whom raised Rodseth and his younger sister on her own in the comforts of Prince Rupert. “My father passed away when I was four years old,” said Rodseth. “I had such a great upbringing with my mother” As a graduate in 1965, Rodseth set out in search of a career that would fulfill his appeal for the outdoors.

He studied two years at BCIT (British Columbia Institute of Technology) in the forestry program that had Rodseth working in Northern Vancouver to then gravitate to Plateau Mills, just west of Vanderhoof as a technician. Rodseth has many accomplishments to call his own, as he has been an adventurous soul that has had him travelling across Canada for most of his young adult life. However, Vanderhoof caught Rodseth’s attention during his travels for it was vast with “flat land” that encouraged the trailblazer to be creative outside of his professional field. Rodseth has a creative ability to carve a vision from various types of wood that can often be seen mounted throughout Vanderhoof. “Staying busy gets me out of my head

and doing things not only for the community but for myself,” said Rodseth. “Walking along the street picking up garbage is something I do for my own personal benefit. I want to be able to enjoy the town and its beauty.” Rodseth refers to himself as a wellrounded Canadian as he enjoys heading out on the river on his canoe or to hike the “mystic” mountains that populate northern B.C. “ I am so very Canadian with my canoe and my boy scouts,” said Rodseth. “It has been a dream of mine to climb Far Mountain.” Rodseth can often be seen around Vanderhoof with his dog, Foobie as they often venture about interacting with locals or taking on one of the many adventures that Rodseth lays out for himself day after day.

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Making connections

Local teacher goes above and beyond to broaden her students’ horizons “The level doesn’t define you,” said Marilyn Gammon. Gammon is a Grade 4/5 teacher at David Hoy Elementary, but she isn’t necessarily just any teacher. Gammon was recognized for her work by a research group out of Stanford University who have developed strategies to help improve learning mindsets. Their strategies work on directing the learner’s mindset towards a growth-oriented attitude. While a fixed mindset would react to poor results on a test with the attitude the results show them to be a failure and subsequently give up, a growth mindset approach would be to take a poor result and try to figure out how to improve on it. By utilizing a different language, teachers can encourage a more growth-oriented approach instead of a strictly results-oriented approach, allowing students to make mistakes to learn, and showing them hard work pays off. Gammon had written to the Brainology group, as the researchers are called, about what she was doing with her students at the end of last year. Gammon had worked on goal-setting for the students before the summer break, and took the class to get library cards, so they would be able to continue learning through the summer. This helped the students to plan for the long break, and have strategies to keep busy and growing. “It’s really simple, and it’s really positive,” said Gammon. The Brainology group then recognized Gammon’s approach by making her the Growth Mindset Educator for July. But Gammon is innovative in more than just her approach to learning by encouraging a growth mindset, she is also embracing new technology. The teacher has started a blog which both parents and students can use to keep on top of what is happening, and comment on it as well. She started the blog to make learning more transparent for the families, and it gives access to what they are doing 24

David Hoy Elementary School teacher Marilyn Gammon was recognized this year for her work by researchers at Stanford University. hours a day, seven days a week, so parents can check in and have a look anytime. There are links to some of the topics or areas of study, and there are even photos of some of the activities students are doing. The blog has been a tool Gammon has used successfully for a few years, and now she has also added a Twitter account to her tool bag of social media for education. The mini-blogging site has allowed the class to make connections around the world and they now have contacted a class in Ireland they are doing a swap-box with. The class puts relevant items of Canadian culture in the box and then mails it to the class in Ireland, which then sends it back with items of Irish culture in it. They have also made connections with other classes around the world, they are learning from a Mandarin language class in Hawaii and have started following a blog from a class in New Zealand. During the winter deep-freeze of 2010, her class took snow depth measurements in the field and tweeted them to the Cryo-

sphere Research Project, a “citizen scientist” research activity which gets the public involved in gathering information for research. “My mission is kind of to remove the classroom walls,” said Gammon. “To bring more and more into the classroom for them.” The class is also Skyping, and have done three different author visits now and the students have gotten to speak to actual authors who discuss their books and tell them about writing and the kids then can ask questions directly of the authors. They have also had a Skype discussion from actors who were on the television show on Nickelodeon called the Naked Brothers Band about bullying for this month’s anti-bullying theme. “It’s really nice because there’s a lot of people who want to share their knowledge,” explained Gammon. Gammon’s classroom blog can be found at: http://4dragons.wordpress.com and the class’ Twitter ID is @room3MrsG.

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FRASER LAKE 24 _________________________________________________________ Stuart Nechako’s Northern Spirit 2013

Northern Health Community Health worker retires after 33 years

In the group photo are, L-R: Heather Ferris (Clinical Leader for Home and Community Care), Gwen Middleton (retiree), Peter Donohoe (Home and Community Care Manager) and Miriam Ludwig (Home Support Field Supervisor). Submitted Heather Ferris On February 29, 2012, after providing personal care for individuals in the Fraser Lake area, Gwen Middleton retired with thirty three years experience. She held the number one position for seniority for the community health workers in all of Northern Health and was the longest serving UFCW employee in the health care subsector in the province of BC. Back in February of 1979 Gwen was hired with Human Resources as a home maker. Nechako Valley then took over this service and finally in 2003 Northern Health took over and she has worked as a community health

worker with Omineca Home Support up until her retirement. Gwen chose a career in home support because she was living in the Fraser Lake area at the time and this type of work allowed her the flexibility to both work and be a mother to her three young children. She was able to set up her own schedule that best suited her family’s needs. When asked what the most satisfying aspect of her job has been, Gwen felt that being able to make a difference in someone’s life had to be the best thing about her job. As a community health worker Gwen was able to help individuals remain in their own homes for as long as possible by assisting with personal care as well as providing families a

break from caring for their loved one. Gwen said she will miss her home support clients and her connection with fellow workers once she has retired. Retirement won’t be boring for Gwen though. She is looking forward to spending time with her family, working on her sewing projects and berry picking in the summer. Come winter time she is going to “hibernate” and become more efficient on her newest purchase; a computer. Gwen’s colleagues at Northern Health wish her the very best for her retirement and thank you for the years of service and care she has provided to the communities of Fraser Lake and Fort Fraser in her capacity as a community health worker.

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Local soldier in Afghanistan receives military honour

“But I guess I was a little high on adrenaline so I immediately grabbed a couple more boxes of ammunition and jumped straight into the gunner’s pit, not realizing the extent of my injuries, and carried on fighting.” Corporal Bill Geernaert speaks over the phone from the sidelines of a children’s soccer match where he’s stationed at Canadian Forces Base Edmonton. The children calling in the background do little to lessen the impact of his words, and the hair on my arm stands on end. Geernaert is recounting the harrowing tale of an event which took place on August 4, 2009 while he was on tour in Afghanistan and which cost some of his fellow soldiers and their opposition forces their lives. Geernaert’s tank group was on its way home from a mission in the Afghan desert when they were caught in an insurgent ambush. The tank he was in hit an improvised explosive device (IED), and he was severely injured, just how badly, he didn’t even realize at the time. “We were getting evac’ed out because the area was too hot, they couldn’t land choppers in it —there was too much gunfire so we were getting run out by wheels,” explains Geernaert. But in the medical vehicle he was in, one of the medics was shot, losing the mobility in his hand and therefore his ability to man the gun, and so Geernaert stepped in, taking over as gunner and rejoining the fight. With brain stem trauma, injuries to his hips and back, Geernaert fought to push back the insurgents until the group could finally get back “inside the wire” to the relative safety of a secure compound, the entire firefight lasting 14 long hours. “I just kept on thinking I wanted to get home,” he said. And while he did get home to Canada after his injuries, he didn’t stay for long. Feeling as though he was “leaving the guys alone,” the intense comradery of the forces drew him back in and he returned to the front, even though he hadn’t completely healed from his injuries. He compared the closeness of the soldiers to the ‘Band of Brothers’ miniseries depicting soldiers from E Company of the Second Battalion in World War II, saying he felt he could not stay away while they were still on tour. And it must be intense to overcome the desire to return to a more “normal” existence in North America, given his description of the conditions. With temperatures outside reaching 156 degrees Celcius during the day, the temperature inside tanks was even hotter, and the soldiers were “like people in an oven,” according to Geernaert. “You’re dry, you’re thirsty, all of your sense are wide awake, you’re straight in survival mode.” However, the neurological damage he sustained caught up with him, and his tour ended for good in October of 2009, and he is still continuing to undergo treatment from neurologists, chiropractors and physiotherapists to deal with the injuries. But despite his injuries and the tough environment, Geernaert felt like he could take something positive from it all, including appreciation for his family.

“You see the conditions over there and after a few ‘incidents’ you really come back and you give your family more than 100 per cent every time.” he said. “Everything you do you work hard at it, because you’ve seen it so much worse —we’ve got it pretty easy here in Canada.” As well, the incident and his injuries have not made him lose his belief in the benefits of the Canadian Forces presence in Afghanistan. “I think we’re giving the people over there what they need to start over,” said Geernaert, adding he felt he saw improvements during his tour. Geernaert made his mark there and his efforts were recognized back home in Canada as well. His part in the August incident earned him recognition by the Governor General of Canada for “gallant and distinguished service.” On May 13, 2011, Governor General of Canada David Johnston awarded Geernaert the military honour of being “Mentioned in Dispatches,” for his deeds. This was the highest award to a member of the forces from Fort St. James or Vanderhoof since at least World War II, according to Al Geernaert, Bill’s father, a veteran and a director of the executive of the Fort St. James Legion. Bill Geernaert was born and raised in the Fort, but his family originally came to the area to take up farming on land they were given under the Veteran Land Act in 1919 just outside of Vanderhoof on Braeside Road. It was the family history of service in the forces which helped to inspire Bill to join up, but it was also a drive to get actively involved and make a difference. “Instead of sitting back and saying you’re going to do something about it, I actually went and just said ‘Screw it, I’m gonna go do something about it,’ and so I enlisted.” So, while the Fort might still be home, the military is taking care of him for now, as he took care of some of them. During the insurgent attack, Geernaert said he was looking at his fellow soldiers as though he was their dad, and as a parent: “I just wanted to get out of there alive and I wanted to make sure I brought everyone home with me.”

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FORT ST. JAMES 26 _________________________________________________________ Stuart Nechako’s Northern Spirit 2013

Fort St. James hits the silver screen

Eleven groups of media arts students will soon have their 15 minutes of fame in the Fort. The students are all in Andy Sundahl’s Visual Media Arts and Tech classes at Fort St. James Secondary and will be premiering their short films at a gala event on May 25 at Fort St. James Secondary School. Students were given the opportunity thanks to a collaborative effort between the District of Fort St. James and Sundahl. The idea came about through discussions on the lack of tourism-related video materials for the area, a suggestion brought forward by Kevin Gedling, Product Development Officer for the Fort St. James National Historic Site. The idea was then to partner with the high school to try and generate some interesting material for the community. Economic Development Officer for the local district, Emily Colombo arranged for the purchase of the necessary equipment to support the project and hired a consultant who has been helping the students with the process. The consultant, Joanne Malo, has over 25 years of experience in television and film. “I grew up in it,” she said. Malo has been impressed with the work the students have put into their projects and she’s impressed with the range of ideas. “Every single one of them have had these major, major creative moments.” The students were provided with new video cameras, lights, a boom mic, and wireless microphones. The students also got to have a Skype conference call from professional CBC cameraman Mike Varga to give them some tips and advice. The students have since brainstormed their ideas, based on the broad theme of “My Fort St. James,” story-boarded the short films and filmed much of the footage for their projects. “It’s a big project,” said Malo. “I’ve been their guide as to what they do next - taking them through the steps.” Some students already have nearly complete short films, with the final films expected to be around three minutes in length.

The Courier will be previewing some of the projects each week leading up to the gala showcase on May 25. All In - The Bakers go to Fort St. James By Devon Kipper Kipper has created a four-minute animated piece, all of which was drawn by Kipper himself. A fan of the Simpson’s and Family Guy, an animated piece seemed like a natural fit. Using the program Paint, Kipper drew the story of a family’s trip to Fort St. James for the annual Stuart Lake Fishing Derby. The family hops in the car and heads to Fort St. James for a day on the lake to catch the big fish. My Fort St. James (no set title)

King and Goodwin decided their Fort St. James included a day doing their favourite thing to do in Fort St. James in the winter, ski and snowboard. The pair’s film will depict a day at Murray Ridge, which they start right from home and then head up to the hill for some turns. The filming took place on their last day of the season at the hill, enjoying some turns in the sunshine. While the snow wasn’t the perfect powder day, they still enjoyed the sunshine, snow and their favourite ski hill food - poutine. Fort from a different angle (no set title) By Leiha Constantine and Logan Erickson Thanks to Constantine’s grandfather, John Helweg, these filmmakers had an opportunity to see the Fort from a different perspective. Helweg, who has a recreational pilot’s licence, flew them over the area in his Cessna airplane. They flew south towards Vanderhoof and filmed each other and the view from the air. The film will take the viewer on the day’s journey, from getting ready for the trip to the take-off, flight and landing. All of the students’ short films will be shown at the gala awards event on May 25 and the top award-winning group will be given the opportunity to complete an internship for the District of Fort St. James to produce a film for the district. TOP: Devon Kipper created a short animated film for his version of My Fort St. James. The film is a whimsical family trip to Fort St. James for the annual Stuart Lake Fishing Derby. BOTTOM: Sarah King (left) and Kaitlyn Goodwin of Shred Shed Studios production team are working on the final edits of their short ski film showing a day at Murray Ridge Ski Area.

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VANDERHOOF Stuart Nechako’s Northern Spirit 2013___________________________________________________________ 27

Vanderhoof Fish and Game Club win three conservation awards at the BC Wildlife Federations AGM

Submitted The BC Wildlife Federations 56th Annual General Meeting hosted by the Courtenay and District Fish and Game Club saw the awarding of three conservation awards to the NVSA - Vanderhoof Fish and Game Club. The Vanderhoof Club was first awarded the Roderick Haig-Brown Memorial Conservation Award for their Nest Box Project, a conservation project that saw the installation of duck, raptor and bluebird nest boxes around the Nechako Valley over the past two years. Major funding for this project came from the Habitat Conservation Trust Fund and involved the students from Nechako Valley Senior Secondary and Rock Allred’s wood working shop. The second award was the Dr. Louis Lemieux Pictured receiving the Roderick Haig-Brown Memorial Conservation Award award is Ray Klingspohn from Award- 2011 which recog- the Vanderhoof Club, Rod Weibe, President of the BC Wildlife Federation and Wayne Salewski from the nizes the efforts of a club Vanderhoof Fish and Game Club. or region through a grant toward an ongoing habiawarding of the Tom Sterling Waterfowl HabHabitat Conservation Trust Fund. tat conservation project The BC Wildlife Federation is British for the Murray Creek Stream Rehabilitation itat Conservation Award for the completion of Columbia’s largest and oldest conservation Project. The Vanderhoof Club has been work- the W.L. McLeod wetland project. This wetland is located beside the Nechako Valley Seorganization. The 38,000 members are pasing on Murray Creek for the past few years. sionately committed to protecting, enhancing This important stream provides habitat for nior secondary and the WL McLeod ElemenChinook salmon fry, rainbow trout and emp- tary and saw the installation of two viewing and promoting the wise use of the environplatforms, educational signage and a commument for the benefit of present and future ties into the Nechako River at the only known spawning grounds of the Nechako white stur- nity walking trail. The wetland was dedicated generations in recognition of W.L. (Bill) McLeod who is The Vanderhoof Fish and Game Club geon, a SARA list species. This project has can trace its history back over 45 years and seen over $300,000.00 invested in it over the credited with preserving the wetland in the has been one of the most active clubs in the past few years by the Vanderhoof Club, pro- mid sixties and using it to educate students in the values of wetlands to society. This project province working on conservation projects vincial funders and the area producers. was sponsored by Integris Credit Union and throughout its history. The third award of the evening was the

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FORT ST. JAMES 28 _________________________________________________________ Stuart Nechako’s Northern Spirit 2013

Jane of all trades It’s all come back full circle for Anne Marie Sam, a school board trustee who’s soon to be representing the people of the north before the UN. Sam’s aunt Sarah was an inspiration in Sam’s life. Her hard work encouraged Sam into the myriad of jobs she’s had, resulting in the net of influence Sam has in the community. “The reason I am doing everything I do is because I saw her when I was young going to CNC,” said Sam, who was impressed by her aunt who not only went to school, but took care of six children as well. Now Sam is a school board trustee, engaged in the very thing that inspired her: education. Though education weaves its way through Sam’s life, the ‘everything’ she mentions is enough to write a resume the length of your arm. Sam has done research work on both the major industry undertakings in town, Enbridge and Mt. Milligan, she was on the Nak’azdli council, has worked as a ministerial aid in Victoria for (now Grand Chief) Ed John, and is now with School District 91 as a school board trustee, just to name a few. Her new position is not one she takes lightly. “It’s a big responsibility for all of Fort St. James, not just Nak’azdli. I’m quite excited about it” said Sam. Now that she’s installed in the position her next goal is to get people talking to her. “I would like to hear from community members, just to see what some of the issues are here in our area, so that I can bring that to the district,” said Sam. The new position gives both her and the

school board the chance to diversify. “There was an opportunity to have an Aboriginal person on the board and we thought that was helpful for the whole district to diversify and to bring different perspective to the table.’ With a couple months of trustee experience under her belt .Sam is now heading over to the Old World, Geneva, Switzerland to be precise, with the First Nations Women’s Advocating Responsible Mining (FNWARM), to make sure the north, and

Aboriginal women, don’t get ignored by the Canadian Government. “Through FNWARM we have put together a submission to the United Nations Committee on the Elimination of Racial Discrimination (CERD),” said Sam. They’re concerned about the way provincial and federal governments strong-arm in projects that will be detrimental to the health of a community. “A lot of communities are feeling the pressures of the Canadian government or the B.C. government just telling communities what they’re going to do or allowing exploration to happen without consultation,” said Sam. And when these projects come close to communities it’s the First Nations women who suffer the most, according to Sam, which is something that hits close to home as she has daughters of her own at home. Though Geneva seems like such a far way to go to fight the Canadian government, Sam has a more pragmatic way of looking at it. “We’ve gone to B.C. to let them know our concerns. We’ve gone to Canada to let them know our concerns, and now who else can we turn to. If Canada and B.C. are willing to violate and impact our human rights then the next step is to go to the U.N.,” Sam said. The idea for FNWARM came after a mining conference in Prince George in 2008 where a lot of the Aboriginal representatives were female, and there was a noticeable difference in the focus of the meeting. They decided that community and family was too often overlooked by government and industry and set out to change that.

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Garden brunch helps build church hall Evelyn Hall takes great pride in her garden. And thats why, for the past 11 years she has been the perfect host for the communities ‘Garden Brunch’ event. The idea came about in 2000 when the congregation of Holy Trinity Anglican Church were looking at ways of raising money to replace the old church hall. “We wanted a new hall but the church wasn’t making enough money,” said Hall. Along with others in the congregation, ideas were thrown about including the idea of holding an annual garden party and charging an entrance fee. “We talked about holding a garden brunch and I said we could have it in my garden. “We thought it was a good way of raising money because there would be no expenses - it was just straight forward money,” said Hall. The brunch involved a pancake breakfast, garden tours, a luncheon to follow and a tombola stand with all items donated by the congregation of Holy Trinity. The congregation also donated all of the food for the event. Evelyn dealt with all the food at her home in advance and kept it on ice in the garage. A large tarp was also erected in the garden in preparation for all kinds of weather. The brunches were a hit and after ten years, enough money was raised to complete the church hall, now aptly named Evelyn Hall. The hall was completed and officially opened in April, 2010. $11,000.00 of the total cost of $150,000.00 to build the hall, was raised by the Brunch. As a keen gardener, Hall says she’s had green fingers from a very young age. “I’ve always enjoyed gardening - even at school,” she said.

“It was wartime and so you actually had to grow something.” Hall is from Yorkshire, a county in the North of England and moved to Canada in 1959 with her husband and three children to continue what they had been doing in England - farming. After a five day ferry ride from the UK, the Halls arrived in Montreal where they took a train to B.C. to their first home in Giscome, a town to the east of Prince George. After a brief stint in the Salmon Valley, Hall and her family went on the search for their own place where they could build their life and their farm. They chose Vanderhoof, and nearly 50 years later, Halltray Farms Ltd is still going strong. Now aged 81, Hall is highly active and loves to go carpet bowling, as well as keeping her garden up to par. She is also involved in many other community groups including helping out with events at the Friendship Centre, and lending a hand to Neighbourlink. She is also heavily involved with the Women’s Institute group in town, who, back in the day, were

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FRASER LAKE 30__________________________________________________________ Stuart Nechako’s Northern Spirit 2013

Every Child, Every Chance, Every Day

(L-R): Jacob Bleeker, Shailyn Olin, Skighler Rodrigues, Jesse Prevost, Alicia Isaac Middle (L-R): Arik Johnson, Malcolm Conwright, Rajah Jr. Singh, Andrew Zaste, Cade Arnason, Michael Bleeker, Devin Chokarni, Kara Strijak-Ponte, Memphis Hall, Hailey Matthew, Jamie Shen, Kiona ArmatageECE, Trish OlinECE assistant Top (L-R): Bryson Bisanz, Sean Habsburg, Blake George, Darrian Charlie, Ema Culberson, Shaelene LaPointe, Alyssa Koenig, Mikalie Culberson, Paige Allen, Lara Hartman, Vaughn Semmler, Elizabeth Schulz, Marla BisanzECE, Ewan Conwright. Marla Bisanz Saturday April 21, 2012 marked the first annual Fraser Lake Junior Leadership Conference sponsored by the Vancity Community Foundation and Early Childhood Educators of British Columbia (ECEBC). One year ago local Early Childhood Educator Marla Bisanz applied to ECEBC for $10,000 in funding to accomplish her goal to support leadership skills in youth grades 4-7. Assembling a team of educators, Trish Olin and Kiona Armatage, Bisanz and her team travelled several times to Vancouver to plan and research existing youth centers/programs and create an opportunity for local youth to connect, strengthen and celebrate their unique individuality, self-worth and social abilities. The final outcome, a spring conference that supported local youth’s

growth in self esteem, family and community commitment, social responsibility, anti bullying messaging and leadership skills. Bisanz, recipient of the 2009 Prime Ministers Award of Excellence in Early Childhood Education continues to support and promote her philosophy, Every Child, Every Chance, Every Day. She said this experience has been rewarding and challenging and she commends the strength, commitment and passion of her team members, Trish Olin and Kiona Marla Bisanz Armatage, exECE

ceptional leaders committed to quality childcare! Over 30 local youth from the communities of Fort Fraser and Fraser Lake participated in the conference. The leadership team plans to continue this event annually and looks forward to the next group of junior leaders in 2013!

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Benefield camp engages Vanderhoof youth

The NVSS gym was full of enthusiasm and team spirit on July 5, 2012 as CFL AllStar; Daved Benefield delivered a motivational talk to the kids. The bleachers were filled with aspiring football players and their parents as they listened intently to what Benefield had to say about the game and how to get to the top. Born and raised in Southern California, Benefield stemmed from a family that revolved around values and making the most of what you’re allotted. Benefield’s dad, a Vietnam veteran, his mother, a city worker, made sure that their son had an enriching upbringing that would

provide opportunity when needed. “I started playing football in my sophomore year,” said Benefield. “I played because my friends were playing.” Benefield stressed that “teamsmanship” and learning the “fundamentals” are the key component when on the field come game day. “When you’re out there playing the game, you’re not alone,” he said. “You either want the job, or you don’t. You get to the point where you love it and don’t want to leave it.” Benefield has been playing professional football for 13 years alongside All-Star ath-

letes and coaches that exude a comradery on and off the field. “Brotherhood is what you learn,” echoed through the gymnasium as Benefield engaged the boys to speak up and share their goals and passion not only on the field, but also off. According to Benefield, education is the backbone behind anything you do in life – whether that is with sports or day-to-day endeavours, “set an example” not only for yourself, but your teammates as well. “You dream big and you go for it,” said Benefield. “That’s what football teaches you.”

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Weight loss epidemic takes over Vanderhoof Healthier lifestyle changes are at the forefront of 2012. Most Canadians struggle with dieting as they’re unable to get into the routine of sticking to one specific diet, or a lack of willpower to make a lifestyle change. Dr. Douwetee Coetzee, a physician at the Omineca Medical Clinic here in Vanderhoof heads the weight loss program Monday, Tuesday and Wednesday evenings with her fellow colleagues, Dr. Michael Makin and Dr. Shani van der Spuy. “Everyone has tried at least one diet in an effort to lose weight,” she said. “This is one that they can see maintaining.” Coetzee’s vision was to construct a healthy program that doesn’t revolve around a stigma that discourages patients to stick to a healthy way of life – rather a physical or nutritional change that will have the support and encouragement of others with the same ambition. With intent to back the program with facts and the confidence in knowing it is possible to maintain, Coetzee decided to partake in the clinic and experience the ups and the downs that patients may have to face while on this path to a healthier self. Coetzee has recently lost 30 pounds with the program. “Its your basic low calorie, low carbohydrate, low fat lifestyle change,” reassures Coetzee. “We want to stay away from saying it’s a diet.” The goal for the program is to medically monitor and target health abnormalities patients may be struggling with. “Patients come together as a group,” Coetzee said. “It helps patients stay motivated. The 12-week program started in January 2012 with a huge response from the community and surrounding area. Dr. Du Toit, a physician out of Valemount, BC facilitated the program that became viral across North America when patients health abnormalities diminished with evident weight loss results in over 100 Valemount residents, losing a combined weight of 3,269 pounds last year. “It’s incredible with the pounds that have been lost to date,” Coetzee said. Patients that are involved with the weight

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Dr. Douwetee Coetzee, left, and Jesse Horita, a nurse at the Omineca Medical Clinic have lost a combined 60 pounds on the 12 week weight loss program. loss program are generally dealing with diabetes, hypertension, and lipid abnormalities or told they need to lose weight. “Its not a quick weight loss plan,” says Coetzee. “It needs to be a change of lifestyle so it’s maintained after the 12 weeks.” It’s not a diet that you can pick up on and do it yourself at your own leisure. “The program needs to be monitored and adjusted accordingly depending on the patient and their needs,” says Coetzee. Patients are required to go through extensive testing to be sure they can withstand the program and stay committed without complications – “there are no exclusions.” “I couldn’t have done this without the group,” says Coetzee. “I needed a change in my eating habits in order to be successful and they inspired me.” The testing process consists of blood sugar, fasting blood sugar, thyroid stimulating hormone, cholesterol profile (lipid profile)

and liver testing. According to online reports, the program has benefited many of those dedicated to its success, as diabetics are no longer on medication, obese people who have lost 100 pounds and are now runners. Jennifer Little, assistant manager at the clinic couldn’t be happier with the success rate since the program started back in January. “We have had a tremendous response,” she said. “Patients are seeing results. Significant results.” The purpose and motivation behind this program is to improve patients overall health with the hope they continue with follow-up sessions with family physicians to maintain their progress and future goals. Fight for life and be a healthier you. For more information about the weight loss program contact: Jennifer Little, assistant manager at the Omineca Health Clinic at (250) 567-2201.

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Turning the page

Longtime librarian moves on and a new librarian learns the ropes

When Diana Uhrich began working for the Fort St. James Library, they were just phasing out the card catalogue. Library users of the past can recall the drawers and drawers of small cards, one for each book in the library. In Uhrich’s 15 and a half years, things have changed a lot, with computer automation making the sharing of books and information across B.C. libraries possible. “Things are better,” said Uhrich. “The only thing that hasn’t changed is when the power goes out.” While many cash businesses are forced to close when they lose power, the library can simply revert to pen and paper to record books going out, and then they enter them once power is restored. But while she has been around for a lot of changes, and the new library building, Uhrich is moving on, she and her husband are moving into Prince George. “Hopefully I’ll find something just as fulfilling in Prince George,” she said. “I’ve really enjoyed this.” While it took quite awhile to find a replacement, Wayne Briscoe was eventually selected, and he appears to be a great fit. “I’ve been wanting to be a librarian in a small town for a very very long time,” said Briscoe. “I just prefer smaller towns.” When he was coming to the community for an interview, he said someone from the board checked to make certain he understood it is a small town at the end of the road, unsure he realized exactly what he was getting himself into. Some of his colleagues in the Lower Mainland also were giving c him a hard time about where he was headed. But Briscoe is already appreciating some of the bonuses of small town life, and said he loves that he lives within walking distance of both where he works and where he buys his groceries. Briscoe was living in Richmond, B.C. before this, where he was working for three and a half years, before that he was in Squas mish for eight years. Briscoe has a Masters Degree in Library Science and over 20 years of library experience, both in the public and academic library systems. He chose working with the public through the public system, performing what he sees as “a vital service for every community.” Briscoe started at the library at the beginning of June, shadow” ing Uhrich, and took over the helm on July 3. While he said he’s still asking a lot of questions, it works out because Uhrich has stayed on as a consultant as he learns the “nits ty-gritty” of the day to day operations of the library. h Briscoe said “every library is unique” but even with the high level of activity in the local library, he hasn’t had any big surprises Outgoing Librarian Diana Uhrich (left) and her replacement Wayne n yet. Briscoe at the Fort St. James Bicentennial Library. While nothing will be changing in any big way immediately, Briscoe said the library board is going to be doing some strategic more services for seniors, but children programs will continue. planning in the near future and they are looking at how the facility “It’s a question of finding out what is needed and how to strucmight implement wireless internet. ture services,” explained Briscoe. “Whatever people may think about Some different language services are being looked at, as well as public libraries, children and family programs are the cornerstone.”

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Bright future ahead for Vanderhoof teen

All it took was a bit of dedication and a goal. Connor Nielson has had his disadvantages like any other teenager growing up experiencing the rigors of high school and coming into one’s own. Nielson developed the name “Mr. Football” around Vanderhoof, a nickname that surely denotes Nielson’s passion for the game. Football became an outlet for Nielson during his high school career at NVSS. An activity which allowed him to interact with other players, define his leadership skills and hone in on his talents that were evident from age 12 when he got his start in sports. Claire Nielson, as any mother would, speaks highly of her son as she encourages him to be all that he can be. “It has always been more about the team than him,” she said. “He has faith in his team.” Nielson got his start in sports participating in the Steve Nash Basketball camp. Football didn’t come to fruition until the Nielson family moved to Vanderhoof from the Cayman Islands. According to Claire, her son has always been “extremely accurate” in all that he does. “Connor came into his own while at the Steve Nash camp,” said Claire. “He was a shy boy.” Connor was the top basketball athlete during his camp days. However, after he had experienced being on a team with the opportunity to build upon camaraderie with the other players, football was in Nielson’s sights. Nielson has spent his high school career pushing himself, as a quarterback, and his Vikings teammates on the football field toward victory.

The NVSS Vikings won provincials, which led to defeat in semi finals in overtime in 2011. Nonetheless, Nielson and the team are more excited than ever for the years ahead of them where they can prove they are the team to beat. Nielson has had the opportunity, amongst his teammates, to benefit from the Daved Benefield Camp which has them interacting with a professional CFL athlete on their on turf. “It was really great to work with Benefield,” said Nielson. “He’s my favourite coach.” The camp has put the team into overdrive as each individual player has benefited

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from working one-on-one with Benefield, Nielson couldn’t be happier about the whole experience. “I like how we can have fun and joke around and still be competitive,” said Nielson. Nielson’s bags are packed as he has made way to Top Gear, a 4-day camp (July 16-19, 2012) that reached out to Nielson and nine other quarterbacks from British Columbia. “I feel good going into this camp,” said Nielson. “This is a confidence booster and I’ll have the opportunity to work with really good athletes.” When the camp is done, only one quarterback will be chosen to continue forth with benefiting from the camp. If there is anything Nielson can take away from his football career it would be that it encouraged him to excel in school. Nielson aspires to continue on with post-secondary at either the Florida State University (FSU) or the University of British Columbia (UBC) on the coattails of a scholarship that requires him to keep his grade point average (GPA) above 80 per cent. “My goal is to finish high school with a scholarship,” he said. “I would like to pursue a career in business with the opportunity to coach football.” According to Nielson’s family and friends, football has completely changed his life. “I’ve told his story a lot,” said Claire. “I’m so proud of Connor.” Nielson is at the forefront of opportunity, and with the heart and determination he exudes Vanderhoof may very well have an AllStar to call its own.

FRASER LAKE Stuart Nechako’s Northern Spirit 2013 __________________________________________________________ 35

Fraser Lake resident fighting for youth and senior facility

Fraser Lake local Michael Walsh has been campaigning for the kids in his town for the last seven years. That’s why he has started up the Fraser Lake Roller Sport Club - a non-profit group whose aim is to build an indoor facility that could house activities and entertainment for both kids and seniors in the village. His campaign for the facility started when his own kids left home after graduating high school. “My kids grew up in Fraser Lake but as soon as they finished Grade 12 they said dad we’re out of here because there’s nothing to do,” said Walsh who also works at the local sawmill. “So now that my house is empty I’m going to fight for the young kids - they said “dad do it because there’s nothing for the kids and when we were young we had to go out and make all our own fun,” he added. The Fraser Lake Roller Sport Club currently has about six members all working to get the idea of the new facility out to the public. They held a T-shirt logo competition for kids to enter into. 10-year-old Joey Shen, from Fraser Lake was chosen as the winner and received a $20 prize. “All the money at the moment is going into advertising to get people aware of Fraser Lake and that we are trying to get something for seniors and young kids here,” said Walsh. He added that the club has already found the perfect piece of land for the facility which is right across the road from the Fraser Lake Hotel. “It’s right on the main drag ... it’s a beautiful spot,” said Walsh. “Now all we need is the funding,” he said, adding that the land is priced at $100,000. Within the facility Walsh would like to see an indoor miniature golf facility with 36 holes, an indoor skate park and a cafe.

He would also like the facility to be the permanent terminal for the Greyhound Bus that comes through the Village. “There’s no fixed place for the Greyhound Bus terminal - Subway used to be the terminal, then another store and then the Fraser Lake Hotel was the bus depot ... you have to have a fixed place for people

to go when the bus comes in where you’re away from the weather,” said Walsh. “There’s a hell of a lot of kids in Fraser Lake ... and we need to get the young kids active before they get into trouble,” he said. “If you don’t skate or curl there isn’t a whole lot to do here.”

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Vanderhoof Quilters Guild and Monica Rach Quilters in the Nechako Valley have been stitching together more than sections of fabric. They have, for generations, been threading together friendships and warming the people and the community where they live. One group, the Vanderhoof Quilters Guild, has made countless quilts as individual craftswomen and as a group. “In 2011 we made quite a few quilts, around 20 I think,” Olive Silver said. The long-time guild member said the quilts they’re making for 2012 are going to various charities, including Bags of Love. The bags are a care package for children adjusting to social care. One group that the guild has an on-going relationship with is the cancer treatment centre at St. John Hospital. “When people go for treatments, like chemotherapy, they get a quilt and then when they’re done (their series of treatments) they get to take the quilt home,” Silver explained. Along with the excellent care at the hospital, nothing expresses caring nearly as well as something handmade. To see the beautiful work that goes into each, it’s easy to understand the comfort they must give. The quilting guild has been working together for a long time, Silver says, adding she doesn’t remember when they started. Members have come and gone but now there’s fourteen in the regular group who meet at the Nechako View Senior’s common room a couple of days a month. “We’re all retired, so meeting in the day time works for us,” Silver noted. Vanderhoof Safe Home Society, is receiving quilts for the first time this year thanks to the quilters guild as well. A lot of fabric is donated, Silver added, including from quilters themselves, as well as the Quilter’s Corner in Vanderhoof which makes efforts to collect pieces for them. The Vanderhoof guild members are: Fran Sheeley, Anne Evans, Heather Grove, Lily Egli, Janette Lowen, Marg Letkemann, Olive Silver, Gerrie Ray, Cec Candeline, Marg Cook, Vi Larson, Peggy Grimm, Ellen Crimer and Dot James. Another big quilting project was taken on by a number of Vanderhoof craftswomen nearly a decade ago to provide quilts for the 60 plus senior citizen residents of the Omineca Lodge when it was opened back in 2005. Vanderhoof quilter, Monica Rach, who is given credit for instigating the project remembers it being a time when quilting was

extremely popular in the area. “It was around the time I started my shop and quilting started to boom,” Rach said. Lots of people volunteered time to sew them and lots of serendipity helped in getting it done. She praises the Quilting Nook in Vanderhoof for providing space to construct the quilts, saying, “We put them all on Helen’s wall, pinning Quilter Monica Rach. them onto hanging felt, I my life.” helped design them and then volunteers would So important, that she collected special come in and work on them.” The ad-hoc group had an appointment fabrics over many years, going on buying book for volunteers, but it sort of organized trips, even to other continents. The Vanderhoof artist still donates quilts itself, she remembers. she has made, and as with the guild ladies, she “It was quite lovely how it worked; when three quilts were ready to be put together, takes many of hers to the St. John Hospital cancer clinic. three people would show up to work on them While she has a fine arts education, Rach that day,” she said, “it was amazing how peonotes she’s been around fabric all her life. ple were tuned in to what needed to be done “I have always been exposed to arts and so many times.” And finding supplies wasn’t really a prob- crafts, and at one time I travelled to quilting shows,” she explained, “and we held classes lem, either, she notes. through the quilting store.” “Lots of people donated fabric, I emptied Throughout that time the quilting was out my studio as other people did,” Rach says. They looked at what they were designing much more of a social thing, and very group and incorporated the various pieces to make oriented, she reflects. “Now my quilting is a more solitary purthe designs. She notes Janet Bangs donated suit,” she observed, “I’ve taken my work in the batting, a crucial part of quilts. a different direction; it’s more personal, has Rach said it was merely days before the lots of symbolic things that represent personal lodge opened that all the quilts were finished, stories.” one for each of the resident’s beds. Since the project Rach said she continues to make quilts as it’s been her favourite fibre art, of the many she has tried. “I have a passion for different cultural fabrics; one of my favourites is Japanese,” she explains, “I love colour ... it is Members of the Vanderhoof Quilters Guild. really important in

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In it for the kids

When some of the cyclists start to lag behind and feel as though they might have to call it quits, he tells them to think of the kids. The ones who have to undergo long and arduous cancer treatments and fight with everything they have just to stay alive. This is Constable Greg Pichler’s motivational chatter when he helps other RCMP members in the Cops for Cancer Tour de North ride each year. l Pichler has been g doing the Cops for sCancer ride for 10 eyears now, and so this lyear, he will once again saddle up for the 700 hkm ride from Prince George to Prince Rudpert. The Tour de North groute alternates each syear between northsouth and east-west, and Greg Pichler stands on the shores of Cottonwood Park with this year’s bike for the Cops for Cancer Ride. sthis year is the east-west proute. Pichler puts his bike mechanic skills to Over the years, he has continued to enjoy Riding in the Cops for Cancer tour is work on the tour as well, supporting the ride the event, but he has had some special mo-somewhat of a natural fit for Pichler, as the ments which stand out for him. nRCMP member has been a fan of bicycles by wrenching along the trip. As for the ride itself, while riding seven One such moment came when on the last ssince he learned to ride on a CCM with a baor eight days in a row and anywhere from 64 day of the ride one year, the entire Williams l nana seat when he was eight or nine years old. km to 197 km per day might sound daunting Lake RCMP detachment came out to meet He picked blueberries to pay for half of to some, Pichler is an avid cyclist who used the riders with police vehicles and escorted that first bike, and now he usually has beto ride 4,000-5,000 km a year and was riding them into the city. tween nine and 15 bikes at a time in his posaround 80 km a day at one point. The “esprits de corps” he felt in the gathsession. “Biking has always made sense to me, ered mounties “plucked a heartstring.” “I’m a geek, I like bicycles,” said Pichler. The money raised by the Tour de North while owning a vehicle doesn’t,” said Pichler. But all those bikes aren’t just for him, in “It’s the most efficient form of transport out helps to fund Camp Good Times in Maple fact, Pichler works on rebuilding bikes and Ridge on Loon Lake, for kids with paediatric there. selling them as a way to help raise funds for cancer. It’s the freedom of being on the road and the Cops for Cancer Tour. Pichler held a fundraising event at Stone’s being able to do large distances without any Integris bought the riders eight new bikes Bay Pub on August 29, 2012 in which memoutside aid.” from Cycle Logic, carbon fiber Synapses by He said cycling can become almost a bers of the community and Pichler himself Cannondale, and so when the older bikes were volunteering to remove some facial or metaphysical experience for people and he from previous rides are overstocked in certain other body hair to solicit donations before the enjoys seeing other riders improve along the sizes, the older ones from the tour are fixed up way and reach different stages and accom- tour began, and the tour ran September 14-20, and sold when they are a couple of years old. 2012. plish goals.

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Mapes boy wins disproving theory

A Mapes school student recently won a gold medal and a special category prize for his experiment with perpetual motion. He also ended up inventing an unorthodox engine brake. For Christian Keleman it wasn’t just a science project that he put forward at the regional science fair, it was, for him, a chance to play with engine components, ideas and the unchanging laws of physics. “I’ve always been interested in science, when I was very little I played with levers ... I take apart things like a phone with a dead battery, and see how they work,” the Grade 6 student said. He won the Central Interior Automotive Innovation award for his project that tried to answer, Can you make a perpetual motion machine using magnets? He also took home the UNBC Active Minds award. So how did he get the idea for an experiment on perpetual motion? “I was watching Inventions That Shook The World,” Kelemen says, “it’s one of my favourite (TV) shows.” The key thing he says, was learning the potential for magnets and learning to build an electromagnet. “He tried to make an electromagnet by wrapping wire around (a piece of steel), but it wasn’t working,” Keleman’s mom said. Then he found out what was missing by reading ‘How to build a compass’ in a survival guide book. “I found out that coated wire would work, and (the home made electromagnet) the one I made actually picked up a screw,” Keleman said happily. Then he needed to put the magnets to work in some kind of motor. “I got a (10 litre water jug) and a weather station wind speed (gauge) that has fins on it ... and I bolted it down into the jug and I put magnets on the fins,” Keleman explains, “What happened is it slowed down and turned gently.” That wasn’t all there was to the experiment, however. “I put one magnet on one side and I thought I saw it slow down, then two and it definitely slowed down ... then more magnets and (the windspeed gauge) was shaking and came to a fairly fast stop,” the young Cluculz resident observed. Then when he put all the magnets on one side he said the unexpected happened. “The fins slowed down and turned backwards,” Keleman marvels. He set out to create perpetual motion and he created a brake. “I wasn’t disappointed ... I went on (a web

encyclopedia) and it said (perpetual motion machine) wouldn’t work because it defies the first and second laws of thermal dynamics,” Keleman says, “energy can be changed from one form to another, but it cannot be created or destroyed.” The Mapes school student wanted to change his hypothesis once he realized this, but it’s just as important to prove you’re wrong in science, he notes. “Thomas Edison’s dad didn’t think he could make a light bulb,” Keleman’s mother says with humour. And she is 100 per cent behind her son’s science play and then some. “My mom helped me get prepared for the science fair,” Keleman says, “she’s my main coach.” Also his dad and grandfather advised the young scientist. “My dad said I’d need an outside power source, (to create energy) and my grandpa who is a heavy-duty mechanic said the same thing.” And to prove the apple doesn’t fall far from the tree, his maternal grandfather was also an inventor and discovered how to build a houseboat that had a retractable trailer built right into it. He never got the patent off the ground but it would have been a popular project at any science fair. Keleman enters science fairs not Christian Keleman with his gold medal and trophy. so much for winning prizes as for man. the fun of it, he said. He has won medals at “I love motorcycles,” he informs with district and regional science fairs before. But showing a project takes an entire day describ- more evidence to support the theory that ing to judges just what the student is demon- learning has a solid ally in play. This year when the 11-year-old went to strating. the regional contest, he actually didn’t think That sounds like it would take lots of conhe would win anything. That’s because after fidence and the gift of the gab. But Keleman is the first round of judging he did not see the good at that, his mom notes. While Keleman’s judges for the rest of the day. writing skills are hampered by a condition of He and his family attended the awards dyslexia, he has no problem talking about sciceremony in order to cheer on his friends, he ence. “That’s where he excels,” his main coach explained. Then he was called up to the stage to accept a gold medal and a trophy so big and confirms, “he was explaining it for all the heavy he had to steady himself just to carry it judges at the science fair and did really well.” back to his seat. This region as a whole does well in sciAnd all of this he did disproving his theence; two teens from Prince George qualified ory. But that’s not the most significant thing. for the world science fair in Japan this year He has a practical application in mind out of only five chosen across the province. But Keleman is from a school of 40 stu- for his discovery. When airbrakes fail on big transport trucks, maybe trucks could have a dents in a very rural community thirty minmagnetic brake like Keleman’s on board for utes outside Vanderhoof. That may be part of backup. a winning formula; seems that playing with “This is a brake ... I know it can absolutely things, modifying and driving them on the family property has been an asset for Kele- work,” the young inventor affirms, smiling.

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Cody Karey from Fort St. James signs record deal At four-years-old his mom remembers him telling her: “The next time you sing Mommy, I wanna sing too.” But even at four-years-old, Cody Karey didn’t just want to sing any old place, he told his mom he didn’t want to sing where she sang. She asked him where he wanted to sing then. He told her he wanted to be on stage where she saw the Nitty Gritty Dirt Band perform. That was the CN Centre in Prince George. “He’s seen himself on the big stage since the earliest days,” recalled the ambitious singer’s mom, Stacey Karey. Well, Cody Karey apparently didn’t grow out of his ambitions, instead they grew with him. Since his four-year-old declaration, Karey, a 21-year-old from Fort St. James, B.C., has gone on to perform with huge stars and has performed at the Madison Square Gardens in New York. “That’s got to be right on top of my things, walking out on stage and saying ‘Hello New York City’ at Madison Square Gardens, that was pretty cool,” said Karey. He has gotten to share the stage with Michael Buble, Barbara Streisand, Cher, Donny Osmond, Paul Anka, and toured with David Foster and Friends. The timeline, while short from the outside, has been a bit of a grind for Karey, who left Fort St. James in September of 2008 to pursue his singing career in Vancouver after entering a singing contest in Vancouver in August of 2007 which got him connected with David Foster, the Canadian music industry icon. “I was able to get out of the Fort a little bit and go and do some pretty incredible things and caught the bug from there for sure,” explained Karey. In the summer of 2008, he went to Toronto and was the finale number for an audience of 40,000 people for the opening of a new building at the Royal Ontario Museum. He then went to Dallas, Texas for a private event and as he listed his accomplishments, he became a little self-conscious of them and interrupted himself. “I feel like I’m name-dropping in a huge way right now,” he said. But his mom was not so reluctant to name names, and said he performed at Farah Fawcett’s funeral service and Mohammed Ali’s 70th birthday party. She describes him as a really humble kid, but when I speak to him on the phone, Karey comes across as very articulate and confident, something he likely has learned in the years of

Twenty-one year-old Cody Karey from Fort St. James has toured with David Foster and has now signed a recording deal with Universal/Verve Records.

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performing and self-promotion he’s put into his career to date. “It was a lot of work there for awhile,” he recalled. “A lot of people have this vision of people going from relative obscurity and into the limelight fairly quickly, when in reality, in the vast majority of cases, an overnight success is 10 years in the making,” he added. His manager, Su Bailey, who “discovered” Karey when he was 14 1/2 years old, echoes this sentiment, and said she’s a firm believer “it takes 10 years to be an overnight success.” But Karey, while only 21, has been working towards where he is for a long time. “The good news for me is I’m six years down that road already.” And where he is right now is just having signed a record deal with Universal/Verve Records. The deal means Universal/Verve will now begin putting their promotional machine behind Karey. The company has committed to doing a record with Karey, which he said is a big deal for them to commit to the type of music he does and the shape of the music industry in the digital age. “It’s an indication and a commitment which

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is pretty cool as well,” he said. The deal also includes the possibility of five more records, as long as the music hits some markers along the way. With the power of David Foster behind him, Karey seems pretty confident he will be able to make something happen. “It’s hard to imagine not having some level of success, it’s pretty exciting,” said Karey. After all the hard work to get a deal signed, Karey won’t be sitting back anytime soon, however. “First, I want to start with making a really really great record with really really great material, honest stuff, real stuff, great solid music and you know, just be able to get out there and perform it,” said Karey. His determination to keep improving is obvious, and he said he is also focussing on becoming a better musician and diversifying his skills. “You know I play a little bit of everything but being able to hone my skills to a certain level of expertise is really important, especially in the type of music that I want to do and that I’m really passionate about,” he said. “I’m a person that is always striving for more and always striving for perfection.” “The sky’s the limit as far as I’m concerned.” A record deal with Universal/Verve Records is a long ways from starting out in Fort St. James singing at coffee houses, but when Karey tells people he’s from Fort St. James, he said it always makes for a good story, and has given him a good grounding. “It was really a fantastic place to grow up as a kid and have a childhood and to be able to sort of move on with a base of a) humility, and b) a really solid understanding of community,” said Karey. Now what exactly does Karey’s music sound like? Well, it’s complicated. “I had someone describe it to me, once upon a time as the illegitimate love child of Michael Buble and Josh Groban, so you can maybe imagine what that would be like,” described Karey. “Sort of a sophisticated, orchestral pop if you will, mostly predominantly big ballads, pop classical sort of piano tunes.” Not your average musical act, and definitely not something you would normally see in Fort St. James, but he obviously loves what he does and is making a go of it. “Realistically I’ve got an opportunity right now where I can kind of get to a place in my life where I can take my passion and turn it into something that I can make a living by.” Not bad for 21-years-old.

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Harnessing the fun in games

For Maddison Fantillo, the rewards of teaching are more important than the thrill of competition. In 2011, Maddison, a resident of Vanderhoof, attended the longtrack speed skating camp at the Pomeroy Sports Centre in Fort St. John. Under the coaching of former Olympic athletes, Maddison learned different techniques to skate faster and more efficiently. The camp has served as a launching point for Maddison and other members of the Nechako Lakes Speed Skating Club who are preparing to compete in the 2015 Canada Winter Games in Prince George. Although she hopes to participate in the games, Maddison has been devoting her spare time to other things these days. “Maddie’s focus over the past couple years has actually been on passing her skills onto the younger ones,” said Mike Fantillo, Maddison’s father. For about three years, Maddison has been teaching kids how to speed skate. Although the club gave her some free swag in exchange for her assistance, Maddison volunteers solely because she enjoys spending time with the younger skaters and helping them improve.

“As with any sport, it’s a total personal development thing,” said Mike. “It has let her become a better, more well-rounded person. Especially the coaching. It has given her new skills.” As Maddison continues volunteering with the club, her goal of participating in grand Olympic events has waned some, mainly because of the intense daily training regimen that aspiring Olympians must adhere to. More important to Fantillo is teaching the younger skaters, many of whom she has befriended over the years. As Maddison can appreciate, the club’s programs for children tend to emphasize fun rather than serious skills training. But in the past, Maddison was able to combine both successfully, hiding physical aspects in various games that appealed to the younger skater. “They don’t really know that they’re learning it,” Maddison said of the kids she has taught in the past. “Because, after a while, it gets kind of boring just skating back and forth.”

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FORT ST. JAMES Stuart Nechako’s Northern Spirit 2013 __________________________________________________________ 41

Before the building comes the planning

l Without a plan, building is just chaotic acd tion with the end result something less than what had been anticipated. , In an effort to escape that treadmill action, - Nak’azdli hired Angel Ransom as the Comn munity Planner. In place for just over half a year now, Ransom is in the midst of an infor- mation storm she’s trying to subdue and lay r into a neatly charted plan that will benefit not d only Nak’azdli, but it’s conjoined twin, Fort , St. James too. e Though Ransom’s still new to the job she - has at least one goal firmly in mind. “My number one goal as a community o planner, regardless of whether it is a Nak’azdli , Band member or a Fort St. James community d member, is to get the people themselves involved. Because, after all it is a community , plan, made by the community, for the comn munity. “ n Working in that community, she hopes to take on the troubles that band members have s told her are troubling them. “We’re working toward community den velopment on all levels, like increasing emo ployment, increasing training opportunities, a higher education success rate, less homet less people, less social issues, more housing. n Those are kind of the big things I’ve heard,” n said Ransom. Through all that movement and developk ment runs a chord that will keep the programs and plans viable. “Moving in a sustainable manner is the underlying goal,” said Ransom. It all adds up to a big job. Ransom, a born and bred Fort St. James native, was drawn to the job after having finished school in Prince George and wanting to come home to work. “What drew me to this position was: being able to work at home, to live back in the community, and work for my specific First Nations community,” said Ransom, adding later, “I saw it as an opportunity to reconnect with community members and also learn more of history of Ft. St. James and also the Nak’azdli/ Carrier culture and traditions. So getting back to my roots.” Jumping into the job she found herself in the middle of an immense project. “When I came into the job the first thing I said was one year is not enough time to do a community plan, if you want a good plan. And

I looked at the big picture and thought, ‘holy smokes this is gonna be a big job.’ And it is, but I knew I would have to build relationships, build trust with people,” said Ransom. Ransom isn’t letting the size of the project deter her from making it through. “I’m willing to commit to see it to the end, till it’s implemented,” she said. That, in and of itself, is a great step forward to the project. Interruptions are one of the greatest obstacles that plans face. Continuity, both hers, and the governments, is instrumental. “What would make some of this planning possible is to have consistent financial and human resources in place to continuously work toward achieving those long-term goals,” said Ransom. Interruptions can be deadly for a project, and similarly a plan, no matter how good, can fail if there’s no will to Angel Ransom is Nak’azdli’s community planner. make things happen. “Say somebody’s workmunity and the Fort St. James community. ing on a project and they have “Collaboration, for one, is a key thing. I a good rolling start and then their project funding ends, and then the project dies. It’s like that support the thought of collaboration and partnerships on projects,” said Ransom. with a plan, you can have an excellent, effecBy mining the common needs for both tive plan in place, but it’s a matter of actually implementing it as well, and seeing it through communities Ransom increases her tools to make the project successful. so it’s implemented properly,” said Ransom. “If we’re working with the district they These obstacles have convinced her to, not might have a key person that we don’t have, only make her plan, but take her time to make and we can mix and match and fill in the gaps,” a good plan, and make sure it’s going to be said Ransom. implemented properly. With her focus on collaboration Ransom To create the atmosphere, free of interruptions and with enough resources for imple- intends to move from the information collecting part of her job and moving to communicatmentation, Ransom knows she can’t do it all ing with the community. herself, or ignore the help and community that “There’s going to be a lot more commuis out there. nity engagement,” said Ransom. “I knew it was going to take a lot of supThrough the long, slow process Ransom port, and collaboration through inter-departkeeps in mind a saying she hears at a conferment, ad outside agencies,” said Ransom. “It’s a project I knew that I can’t do alone. It’s go- ence: If you want to go far go together, if you ing to take time and patience and resources.” want to go fast go alone. So she’s reached out to the Nak’azdli com-

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42 _________________________________________________________ Stuart Nechako’s Northern Spirit 2013

Running for life

Local runner and community health nurse helps get the community up and moving Renada Walstrom is more than a runof time and work to get there, they were ner, she is an inspiration. realizing a very real reward. Walstrom started running when she The group had nearly 100 participants, Walstrom stood at the finish line and was on maternity leave after the birth of her son, Devin Ketlo, five years ago. watched the runners come in. She was looking for something to do, She said some were brought to tears, some were laughing, but they were all something to keep her busy and get her out of the house. rewarded with a renewed belief in themselves. So with the encouragement of her partner Donnie Ketlo and her friend Allison “It was just a crazy amazing thing to Moise, she went out for a run - but it was see and experience, and that’s why I do it,” not love at first steps. she said. “To be able to see that in other “It was so uncomfortable and painful,” people is profound.” she said. “I remember it clearly, it was not Walstrom has also used running to a good feeling.” help her with her work, and not just as But she knew there had to be more stress relief. to running than the discomfort and pain As a community health nurse, she said she felt on her first day, and a better way the statistics which show First Nations at to learn the sport, so she went home and such high risk for many illnesses like dialooked up learn to run programs. betes, tuberculosis, and HIV are almost She found a program she liked through overwhelming. SportMedBC and started her journey to “They’re all so preventable,” she said. become a runner. “If we can just get people up and moving…” Five years later, Walstrom ran her first marathon at the BMO Marathon in KelowFrom running, Walstrom can then inna this past October. troduce nutrition counselling, and other Shortly after, she ran the Vancouver prevention options for people to help creHistoric half marathon on Nov. 26, which ate healthier overall lifestyles, including took her around the sea wall, which she Renada Walstrom (right) and her son Devin Ketlo reintroducing some hunting and gathering had not been all the way around before. show off their medals after a BMO running event skills to get people back to a simpler way She said it was a day of perfect weather of life before fast food and video games. in Kelowna, when Walstrom completed a marathon and she saw a seal. And she is working on passing on and Devin did the 1 km kids run. these ideals to her own children. Her son So far, Walstrom has run a half maraDevin Ketlo, who is five years old and atthon in Victoria, three half marathons Photo courtesy of Renada Walstrom tended kindergarten at Nak’albun Elemenin Vancouver and the full marathon in Kelowna. tary School, ran in a one kilometre kids race when she went to Kelowna to do her “It kind of went from there and I just interested in training for it. fell in love with it and it was just the feeling marathon. In just the first year, she had 25 people that you get when you complete a run or an Devin said he had fun and would do it come to Vancouver to participate in the Sun event and you set those goals and you comagain. Run. plete those goals,” she said. “I liked the result, “It was amazing for me to see and be The following year there were around I liked how I felt.” there with him,” said Walstrom. “I know that 60 people, and nearly 100 the next year after “The world is a cruel place and you know, he’s going to live an active lifestyle.” that. if I go out for a run, I feel like I can totally “Just a little thing like that I think is a Most of those people had never run betake on anything after that,” said Walstrom. huge thing,” she said. Walstrom believes it fore, some had not even walked much. “Worries can take up your world and you go opens up all kinds of possibilities for him to “It’s just so easy to get caught up in befor a run and … it doesn’t matter anymore.” see different opportunities out there and he ing in your home,” she said. Even walking out But what makes Walstrom an inspiration can feel like he can go anywhere. the door can be intimidating for people who is she did not keep what she had discovered Walstrom herself already has goals she is have not been getting out much, but being out through running to herself. working on for the years ahead. She wants to doing the training as a group she said helped Instead, when Walstrom went back to qualify for the Boston Marathon in 2014. some people overcome their fears. work after her maternity leave was over after To get there, she needs to clock in at three “That was great to see,” she said. “You starting to run, she saw it was the time for hours and 45 minutes in a qualifying maracould see their spirits lifting, you could see the Sun Run training to begin, so she put it thon, which she is planning on doing next it in their eyes, you could see it in their face.” out to the community to see if anyone was year. While the participants had to put in a lot

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Peddling towards a cause

Sharon Unger, a Vanderhoof paramedic participated in the Canadian Cancer Society’s Cops for Cancer Tour de North on September 14, 2012 as a medic rider. Unger’s father, Arnold Unger, lost his battle to prostate cancer 9 years ago – she dedicated this ride to him. Unger had been training for the upcoming event biking alongside Highway 16 to taking the back trails around Vanderhoof for a more challenged ride. “Our ride was from Prince George to Prince Rupert,” Unger said. “They biked 850 kilometres in total.” Unger had applied for the tour two years in a row as she had seen the riders come through town over the years. “Prior to this I was a very leisure bike rider,” Unger laughed. “I’ve rode to the Cluculz Lake rest area and back which is an 80 kilometre ride.” The funds that were raised went directly toward pediatric cancer. “I personally don’t know a family that isn’t touched in some way by cancer,” said Unger. Unger volunteered her time to the IDIDALAP4CANCER events on June 22, 2012 and made a few laps in honour of her father during the candle light ceremonies. “We had a lamp for my father,” she said. “I brought my mom out with me for a few laps.” Tour de North had 25 riders that took the trek across Northern B.C September 14-20, 2012 raising funds and awareness for pediatric cancer research, Camp Goodtimes and other support groups that focus

on kids with cancer. “The kids going through this must be so devastated,” said Unger. “Where adults have a better understanding of what they’re having to face.” Unger was in the community raising

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money through various bottle drives and with the distribution of her posters. The 7-day bike tour commenced in Prince George on September 14, 2012 and biked through ten communities along the way.

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FRASER LAKE 44__________________________________________________________ Stuart Nechako’s Northern Spirit 2013

Survival story

As 64-year-old Ernie The punishments could George sat in his wheelchair, still bring him to tears though. haloed by the milky afternoon Like all the smacks in the sunshine washing through his ears, the hits and punches, the window, he didn’t seem to retimes they used sticks. alize he was crying. “It happened every day, Following him through not only to me but all the kids the corridors of the hospital in that school got the same to his room, you can tell he treatment.” is a man known for his flashGeorge remembers one ing grin and good humour in particularly harsh punishspite of the collision that left ment. He was dragged into him so severely injured he’s the shower room, his palms been hospitalized for several against the wall. Someone months. Still, he greets nurses tore down his pants and then by name, he teases them as he they began to hit him over whizzes past, one leg carefuland over again with a belt, 35 ly stretched before him, knee maybe 40 times. He bled. wrapped. The beatings resulted Nothing seems to bring in hearing loss. In the 80s him down. George had surgery on both Nothing except remem- Fifty years after he spent time in residential schools at Lejac and Kamloops, ears and now he has aids bering portions of the 10 years the memories still evoke an emotional response from Ernie George. that help him hear the world he spent in two residential around him. DeLynda PILON/Free Press schools – six in Lejac and four He had other surgeries as in Kamloops. well. They, however, could He can talk easily about not completely repair the the beginning of another day. You could be punbeing snatched up by the Indian Agent when he damage that was done when he was raped. ished if you didn’t work hard enough at one of was six-years-old and tossed onto a train with This is the one thing that can still bring him the multitude of chores everyone, child of six several other children, heading for the severe to tears more than half a century later. He talks or 16, was expected to take part in, from cleanthree-story brick structure that sat sentinel on about it in monosyllables and pools of moisture ing out slop pails to picking vegetables to yard the shores of Fraser Lake, about halfway begather in his eyes then run down his cheeks, work. It didn’t matter the season, there was altween the town of the same name and the Vilwhile he absentmindedly wipes them away, always work to do even if it meant frost-bit toes lage of Fort Fraser. most as though they don’t matter. and fingers. “It was a big red building, brick inside and Sexual abuse, he said, was rampant in LeYou could be punished for speaking your out,” he said. “We were pretty traumatized just jac. Other older kids were sometimes the rapown language. by the different nationalities of kids there. There ists, the priests were sometimes guilty, but it At six-years-old, George knew very little were natives from all over, six years old to 16.” was the brothers George feared the most. English. Although most of the children brought into But in the end, he survived even that. He was already a hard worker, learning the Lejac were Carrier, many were also Sekani and He wonders who he might have been if not skills his grandfather taught him, memories that Gitksan. Children of similar backgrounds confor the Indian residential school and all the horstill shine brightly in his mind. He talks about gregated together, picking fights with others. rors perpetrated there. moving with the seasons, fishing the lakes and “I lost my culture. I lost my identity. I just Newcomers often got blamed for whatever went skinning out the white fish, eating everything about lost my language,” he said. wrong. Fights would break out, and everyone including the roe. Then they’d freeze the fish And he lost his roots. would be gathered inside, sitting without food and fill potato sacks with them, selling then to Territorial land that should have been his until someone told. When the culprit was disnon-natives for other food essentials, fuel and covered, or enough children pointed their finger was lumped in with other treaty land, and now clothing. the right way, that person was punished. he is fighting to have the knot ravelled when In Lejac he was always hungry. Punishment was the norm in Lejac, George his past was taken from him untangled. But he He cried a lot the first few years, then he said. keeps working at that knot and he has no intenstopped crying just like the rest of the kids who You could be punished for not getting out of tion of giving up. got used to it. bed quickly enough when the caretakers walked After all, as he says, if he can survive Lejac, You could tell the newcomers, he said, beinto the cavernous dorms, beds lined up in rows, he can accomplish nearly anything. cause they were the ones who still cried. and clapped their hands at 6:30 a.m., signalling

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VANDERHOOF Stuart Nechako’s Northern Spirit 2013___________________________________________________________ 45

Friends helping friends It started with a dream. Leslie McAvity sat amongst family friends in the survivor’s tent at the second annual IDIDALAP4CANCER event on June 22, 2012 in support of those whom are affected with the devastating disease. “This is such a worth while cause,” said McAvity. “Its community support for those survivor’s that feel they’re alone.” McAvity stands by recognizing the immense effort survivor’s put forth when battling through a disease that often claims ones life. This has been a dream for McAvity, a cancer survivor, to be able to offer a support group to those who were “close up” to the disease. “It’s an umbrella for those travelling the journey through cancer,” she said. McAvity was never alone during her cancer trials as she had the love and support of a dear friend, Karen Leslie. Cancer free for 23 years, Leslie has been an advocate to leading a positive and fulfilled life whom surrounds herself with the love and support of family and friends. When Leslie was diagnosed with the unforgiving disease her children were seven and 12. During that time she was going through 12 weeks of chemotherapy and radiation treatments. “This year has been an emotional one” for Leslie as her family has grown which gave her the fight and determination to fight through her illness and come out on the other side as a strong, healthy survivor. As a survivor, Leslie also participated in the second annual IDIDALAP4CANCER arm in arm with husband, daughter and grandchild. Walking alongside family and friends supporting a cause that claims the lives of many year round during the survivor lap left Leslie feeling humbled.

(Above) Leslie McAvity during the IDIDALAP4CANCER. Right) Cancer survivor Karen Leslie with the support of her husband, daughter and grandchild.

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FORT ST. JAMES 46 _________________________________________________________ Stuart Nechako’s Northern Spirit 2013

Pin up Calendar for a Cause Fundraising is hard work, but it can also be a lot of fun. Or at least this is my conclusion after my involvement in the 2013 Pin-up Calendar for a Cause, a fundraising project which took over 40 volunteers to make it a reality - and it the project is not finished yet. Full disclosure, I was a significant participant in the project, as the photographer of four of the months and a part of the design and final selection process as well as some of the original concepts for the images. The project took from May until the end of November to get the calendars printed and delivered, with sales ongoing, all the proceeds are being donated to three charities: Greening Up Fort St. James Society, Fort St. James Humane Society and International Bridges to Justice (a human rights organization). But while I was involved, it was the coordination of Mel Chesnutt, also the brains behind the original idea for the project, which really made the project come to fruition. She came up with the idea, and ran it by some friends here and there, but it was at a clothing exchange in May a group of friends were doing when she suggested it to the group. Five of the women at the gathering said they would like to participate, and it began. Little did they know at the time what they were getting themselves into. “I distinctly remember thinking: ‘This is going to be a piece of cake,’” said Chesnutt. “It wasn’t until three or four months into it I realized there was going to be so many more elements to it.” It started with the design schemes for each month, assigning models and photographers then finding cars. The trick was to maintain some kind of variety through the calendar, avoiding all brunettes and burgundy cars initially seemed like the challenge because of who came forward first, but these concerns were worked through. The group involved met over half a dozen times all together, brainstorming, discussing ideas and wardrobe options, choosing cars and themes. Then once each month was set for who was photographing, modelling, doing hair and makeup and the vehicle owner had been contacted, there were schedules to coordinate and the photos were taken. The pin-up style was part of the original

Mel Chesnutt was the project coordinator for the Calendar for a Cause 2013 and was one of the volunteers manning the booth at the Craft Fair in November. concept by Chesnutt because she’s fond of the trend. “I just like the pin-up style,” she said. “I think it’s flattering to all shapes and sizes.” The fun, colourful genre was also a natural fit with the classic cars, and there turned out to be quite a few in the area. “Besides the pin-up style being so much fun, the women - who’ve never done something like this before … stepping outside their comfort zones, was the most impressive to me,” said Chesnutt. One of those women was Jasmine Kendall, who if you don’t already know, is a local massage miracle worker and aesthetician. Kendall learned about the project on Facebook, and actually bid on her spot in the calendar, which the group decided to do after one person dropped out and more than one person wanted the spot. “I thought bidding for them was a good way to raise additional funds,” she said. “Who wouldn’t want to have a picture like that?” She said Chesnutt’s coordination really made the process work. “It didn’t seem like a hugely complicated process, that’s how easy she made it seem,” said Kendall. But Kendall’s participation was not just to

show up and have her photo taken, she also did the makeup work on six of the models. “It honestly went a lot smoother than I originally thought it would go - with a fantastic end result,” she said. Kendall also taught a makeup tutorial to the group in case models wanted to do their own makeup or schedules did not mesh. But the modelling was the easy part. “I just really had to show up - they took care of everything,” she said. She said working with Kevin and Laurie Wallace and the car owners was a great experience, and the photographers really put her at ease. One more reason Kendall was happy to help was because one of the charities selected to benefit from the proceeds was the Fort St. James Humane Society, in which she is heavily involved. Both women are interested in doing another calendar project, and Chesnutt thinks next time would be easier now she has done it once. “If I was to coordinate this project again, I know what steps to take and in what order,” said Chesnutt. While next year might be too soon for another project this big, she is contemplating ideas for the next one.

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Vanderhoof Seniors Connected Program Debra-Ann Bishop Submitted

Vanderhoof is one of the many initiatives of the Good Neighbours Committee. Vanderhoof Seniors Connected Program has received further funding and will be continuing with outreach, transportation and seniors bingo. We will also be adding workshops to the calendar this year. Look for exciting topics such as: nutrition, health and wellness, understanding supplements etc. If you are a senior or elder wanting assistance with transportation, outreach, visiting, etc. Or if you looking for a gratifying volunteer position assisting seniors or elders, with their everyday lives, stop by the Neighbourhood Space, 183 First Ave (beside the Subway) in Vanderhoof. For more information contact Debra-Ann Bishop, Program Coordinator: 250-567-4879 The Space, 250-567-0623 cell, email volunteervanderhoof01@gmail.com Attention: “Seniors Connected” Vanderhoof Seniors Connected is for seniors or elders living on their own or in semi-assisted situations, and the groups mission is to contribute to an increased quality of life for seniors or elders. Let us make Vanderhoof an age-friendly community.

Do you have a compassionate heart and an understanding towards the humanity of aging? Are you looking for a volunteer position that is geared towards seniors or elders? Imagine making an impact/difference in another person’s life that could transform and maintain their well-being and that would take no more than a couple of hours a week of your time. Then the Vanderhoof Seniors Connected Program is for you. From Outreach Programs to transportation needs, we are looking for volunteers. Our elders or seniors are a very important part of our society and we have the opportunity to show our respect to them through supportive programming. This is an opportunity to bring them to the community or the community to them. Many, many seniors in our communities are supported by friends and family but for those who aren’t able to have friends or family support them — we want to be there. Are you a senior looking for companionship, to have someone come by and visit, or just have someone phone to see how you’re doing? Have a cup of tea, work together on a hobby, talk, laugh and spend time together? Would you like transportation assistance to get to appointments, shopping or just out and about? Vanderhoof Seniors Connected is a program dedicated to improving the quality of life for the seniors or elders in our community. We will strive to match seniors and volunteers based on personalities and common interests. Vanderhoof Seniors Connected computers are set up in various locations in the Vanderhoof community with well-trained encouraging and patient volunteers ready to assist and help with basic computer needs such as; internet exploring, emails, pictures, video chat, music and more. Vanderhoof Seniors Connected is a Volunteer Vanderhoof Program and is A Coffee Social where volunteers and seniors can enjoy a cup and conversation. From the front Ken Ingram, April Penner, Katherine Penner, Bob Holmes and Patrick Blenginger. sponsored by the United Way of Northern B.C. Volunteer Photos by Debra-Ann Bishop

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VANDERHOOF 48__________________________________________________________ Stuart Nechako’s Northern Spirit 2013

Times of old are changing for Elks Art Flaterud strolls through the Vanderhoof Elks lodge, which has served the community for almost 30 years. Equipped with a kitchen, stage, leisure room, banquet hall and sturdy hardwood floors, the lodge has been utilized many times for gatherings and special events. “It takes lots of work to do it all, but it’s a lot of fun with the bunch we have here,” he said. With more than 60 years of service with the Elks, a charitable organization promoting and serving community through lodge volunteers, Flaterud is one of the longest serving Elks members in the community. He has been a part of the Vanderhoof branch since he moved here in 1974. The lodge, an old church that underwent renovations in 1983, accommodates 200 people. But over the years, performances and live entertainment, which usually attract large crowds, have waned. “I’d like to see those come back,” said Flaterud. Membership numbers, too, are also in decline. As senior members grow older, young people are increasingly less likely to take their place as they concentrate on their personal welfare, Flaterud explained.

Art has had some happy times at the Elks lodge. Additionally, there is less time for volunteer work as parents work longer hours and family time is diminished. “I dread the thought of it,” said Flaterud, staring across the empty banquet room on Tuesday, Dec. 18. Aside from new membership challenges, the Vanderhoof Elks still play an important role in the community. Ten years ago, the Vanderhoof Elks donated $50,000 to help establish the Nechako Senior’s Home. In recent times, Elks members took turns bussing kids to school from rural areas. In return, the lodge received letters and pictures from students, an act that brought “tears to the eyes,” said Flaterud. “I’ve been lucky enough to have a decent living and I guess it makes people feel better if you can help out.” The Elks of Canada celebrated their 100th Anniversary in 2012. It is the largest, all-Canadian, fraternal organization in Canada with approximately 12,000 members in over 250 locations throughout the country.

Founded in British Columbia on September 26, 1912, and incorporated under an Act of Parliament, May 1913, the Elks motto is “Promoting and Serving Community Needs”. In 1998 the Elks opened their doors to both men and women. The Elks are recognized for their service to children with hearing impairments through their national charity, Elks and the Royal Purple Fund for Children. The Royal Purple being the auxiliary of the Elks of Canada. The National Charity of the Elks and Royal Purple of Canada was founded in 1956 as the Elks Purple Cross Fund. In 1998 the name was changed to the Elks and Royal Purple Fund for Children. The Fund has been extremely effective in personal assistance to individual children (to the age of 19) with special needs and developing and supporting ongoing clinical programs across Canada in the area of speech, hearing and communication disorders.

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FORT ST. JAMES Stuart Nechako’s Northern Spirit 2013 __________________________________________________________ 49

Pets need people

Fort St. James Humane Society still working to complete shelter and keep going Education is the key to many things, and the Fort St. James Humane Society is hoping it might be the key to improving the lives of pets in Fort. The group is reinventing itself after founder Angela McLaren moved to Prince George and a new board of directors has since taken up the job. The group was created in 2008 to help to provide a much-needed service in the community helping to deal with area cats and stray or wandering dogs on Nak’azdli and other places outside the District of Fort St. James municipal boundaries. Monica Grill of Nahounli Kennels has a long-standing contract with the municipality to pick up stray dogs within their boundaries, but there was a need for something to be done outside of the municipality as well and so the society was created to fill the void. The group does a huge job, dealing with stray cats and dogs, finding foster homes for the animals, keeping the animals fed and taken care of and ensuring they get veterinary care until the animals can hopefully be adopted out. The society now has a partnership with the store Petland, and the store makes spaces available to put pets from the society up for adoption. It’s a never-ending job and one which continues to grow as awareness about the society also grows. The group is funded partially by a contract with Nak’azdli Band to do animal control and transport animals to be spayed or neutered, as well as by donations and various fundraising activities. The group, run by volunteers who also have full-time jobs of their

own already, are continuing to struggle to raise the funds to help complete a shelter so they can more properly accommodate dogs and cats year-round. Currently, there are two catteries and a basic building shell for a permanent shelter, but no money to finish the electrical, plumbing and final construction to make them year-round facilities. The group is now working on raising $10,000 to get power and water to the buildings, but now they’re struggling to keep operational because they need more volunteers and more members for their board of directors, which they say is very rewarding work, and would be much less demanding if they had just a few more people to share the load. “We all really enjoy it,” said Monica Sillje, one of the board members. Every day volunteers go out and clean the shelters and play with the dogs. They also hold some fundraisers through-

out the year, with an annual Feasts for Beasts dinner, which this year raised $1,700 and some bingo night raffle tables and bake sales. Petland has also helped out the society and raised over $1,000 this year at an adoption event. The group also collects bottles at the local bottle depot, so funds from bottles returned can be donated to the society and offers bartending services for events to help raise funds that way. But the many fundraising efforts still have the group a long way from the total of $30,000 it would take to completely finish the shelter and have it providing year-round space for the animals. Right now, animals are fostered out over the winter, and there are far less spaces in the months when animals need the most help. The group is now developing a strategic plan with Emily Colombo, economic development officer with the District of Fort St. James, and hoping they can find more people to help with the growing need. “We’re struggling,” said Sillje. The group also puts out a monthly newsletter and maintains a web presence with a Humane Society Facebook Page. To contact the group or for more information call 996-3370 or go to www.fsjhs.org. TOP: A cat housed in the cattery tries to get friendly. The catteries are still unheated and so the society must close them down once winter comes and keep the animals in foster care for the winter. Bottom: Humane Society volunteers held a bake sale and raffle at a Kwah Hall bingo night event to help raise money for the non-profit organization. Photos courtesy of FSJ Humane Society

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VANDERHOOF 50__________________________________________________________ Stuart Nechako’s Northern Spirit 2013

Nechako Senior Friendship Centre

Camaraderie, physical activity - a need to get out of the house, are you looking for any of these and more? The Nechako Seniors Friendship Centre in Vanderhoof has this in spades and don’t let the word seniors put you off, this lively bunch are hard to keep up with. Staying healthy is extremely important both for seniors and society so what better way to ensure these are available, than to go and join in the activities at the friendship centre. Whether it be carpet bowling, pool or cards there is something to entertain you and make you new friends. You will be warmly invited to participate and they will take great pride in showing you how these games are played. Carpet bowling looks pretty difficult to play and if you can eventually manage to keep the ball on the carpet its fun and very exciting trying to beat your opponents, I would recommend anyone to give this a shot. They play mixed teams so you aren’t always playing with the same group of people so you make friends easily. Carpet bowls is a variant of indoor bowls, four inch indoor biased carpet bowls are delivered from the front down a 30’ x 6’ wide carpet trying to get closest to the jack and to keep your opponents from getting anywhere near it. Carpet bowling is played every Monday and Thursday afternoons at the centre, go along and give it a try, you will be pleased you did, its fun. Cards or bingo are played every Wednesday evening, this will help keep you sharp in mind. Just as our bodies need physical exercise and training to keep fit, so our brains need to be exercised to keep fit. Choose something new and challenging, and make an effort to learn new games every so often. What better way to keep mentally fit than to get together with

Carpet Bowling is a fun game to play. friends to learn a new game or enjoy an old favourite? Playing card games can help keep senior minds active by learning playing strategies and using math skills. Improve memory skills by playing games that depend on remembering which cards have been played and which are still likely to be in the opposing players’ hands. All this and lots of laughter, what better way to enjoy your Wednesday evenings. In tough economic times, getting together with friends to play cards or bingo is also an economical way to entertain. A stimulating evening or afternoon of cards not only keeps our minds active and alert as we age, but is a great excuse to socialize, laugh and have fun. And never underestimate the importance of laughter and fun to healthy, active minds.

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Don’t forget the pool or snooker games to play, they have two pool tables and a snooker table to keep everyone happy. The last Friday of the month the group gets together for a music night, if you can play an instrument, sing or just want to be entertained come on down to the Seniors Friendship Centre. Let us make Vanderhoof an age-friendly community it is one of the best ways to help seniors to remain healthy, active and independent for as long as they can. Go and join in the fun, these experienced souls have a lively time. Everybody is welcome whether you are young or just young at heart. Call Oscar Walstrom for more information on the Nechako Senior Friendship Centre: 250-567-4582.

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FORT ST. JAMES Stuart Nechako’s Northern Spirit 2013___________________________________________________________ 51

From Tache to New York

Hereditary Chief Edward John of Tl’azt’en is now Chair of the United Nations Permanent Forum on Indigenous Issues New York City may be a long way from Tache Reserve, but for Chief Edward John, it is just a matter of taking the right steps to get there. “There’s always hurdles, you just have to bear down,” said John over the phone from Vancouver, where he had returned from New York. John is a hereditary chief of the Tl’azt’en Nation, and was even an elected councillor for around 18 years, but he only works in the background now, as he has his hands full. As the recently appointed chair for a one-year term of the United Nations Permanent Forum on Indigenous Issues, John was in New York in May, chairing a twoweek session at the United Nations. The Chief Edward John chairing the opening of the forum is an advisory body to the United 11th session of the Permanent Forum on IndigNations (UN) on indigenous issues. enous Issues. Photos courtesy of Edward John There were 1,800-2,000 indigenous delegates from around the world at the session, The implications of this declaration are plus government representatives, representahuge for all indigenous peoples, and John said tives from international organizations and one of the greatest things indigenous leaders some from non-governmental organizations can do for their people is to understand the (NGOs, usually aid organizations like Doctors articles of the declaration and work with loWithout Boarders or World Vision). cal communities and others to implement the “It’s a big undertaking,” said John. provisions. As the chair of the second largest annual “A good example for that would be the gathering at the UN in New York (the largest concept of ‘free prior and informed consent for being the forum on women’s issues), it is lo- resource development in indigenous people’s gistically a lot of work to chair the long ses- territories’” explained John. sion. This kind of globally relevant work is not a John and the rest of the forum must listen bad gig for a boy from Tache. to the discussion on the floor between indige“I’m right from the village of Tache,” said nous peoples, and between indigenous peoples John, when describing his background. and governments, and then the 16-member foHe spent time growing up in a number of rum of which he is the chair produces a report surrounding communities, with relatives in for the UN Economic and Social Council. The Portage, Nak’azdli, Yekooche and as far west report then goes to the UN General Assembly as the Babine Lake community of Nan Tl’At. in the fall. With nine brothers and sisters, it is not surThere will be advice and recommendations prising John still has relatives throughout the related to next year’s meeting in Rio de Janeiro area. (Rio +20), the UN Conference on Sustainable But growing up, he said he focused on getDevelopment. World leaders will then be meet- ting through high school and did not set out ing in 2014 to deal with indigenous issues, so with the intention of going to law school or bethe recommendations John is helping to make coming involved in government and politics, potentially have long-term global impacts. but he had a work ethic taught to him by his These recommendations will look at ways family. the UN and state governments can implement He graduated from O’Grady High School the 46 articles of the UN Declaration on the in Prince George, and from there went to the Rights of Indigenous Peoples. University of Victoria (Uvic), where he com-

pleted his undergraduate degree, but came back to work in the area each summer. After graduating from Uvic, John returned and worked for his community for a couple of years and then went back to the University of British Columbia (UBC) for law school. Even though he said there was a need and demand from his community still for his time, they understood and supported him in what he was doing. “I made it clear that my first priority is my education,” he said. After finishing law school, he did his articling at a law firm in Prince George. From there, John became involved in the First Nations Summit, a B.C. body addressing treaty negotiations and other indigenous issues in the province, and from there he went to the UN. Chief Ed John said he did not set out to become a lawyer and get involved in higherlevel politics. While he may be living on Musqueam Reserve near UBC and traveling extensively for his role with the UN and the First Nations Summit, he also still maintains a connection with his community in the north, providing some background support and advice. “We all have responsibilities to our community,” said John. The work he is doing has also given him some truly valuable opportunities to get to know First Nations people across the region, with the greatest benefit coming from spending time with the elders, talking with them and learning from them according to John, which he said gave him a firm grounding. “Having that grounding I think really served me well in the work that I do nationally as well as internationally,” he said, giving him a depth and a world view not well understood outside of First Nation culture. In his time with the UN, John has already seen some interesting things happen, and said Canada’s role at the UN is a developing one. “They’re working on it, let’s put it that way,” he said. “And there’s a lot of work that needs to be done.” While Canada did endorse the UN Declaration on the Rights of Indigenous Peoples, they are also the only country in the world which voted against it twice.

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VANDERHOOF 52__________________________________________________________ Stuart Nechako’s Northern Spirit 2013

Knitting a popular craft

If you’ve received a cozy knit sweater or a hat in recent years, you may appreciate the value of the hand knitted item for the comfort you get and the charm it adds to your wardrobe. It’s certain that if you were the one who made this or another piece, then you appreciate the work and care put into its construction. The earliest known knitted items were a pair of socks, unearthed in Egypt, and dated to around 300 AD. In modern times, the Great Depression, wars and other hard times saw surges in people learning knitting in larger numbers. In many parts of the northern hemisphere knitting has been celebrated where a garment’s cold stopping properties really come in handy. It is famously rumored that France’s King Charlemagne went to Friesland in the Netherlands to get a set of knitted long underwear he had custom ordered. Whether you’re pursuing outdoor adventures, or sitting in a chilly castle, it’s not dignified to shiver, be you a royal or everyday person. And the skill to keep you warm can be learned by most anyone. Vanderhoof knitter, Ruth Wiebe certainly understands this, having knitted since the age of 12, putting together countless items, and is now instructing others in this very useful craft. While there are books and websites for instruction most people find it’s more helpful to learn with a real live teacher. That’s where Wiebe comes in. “Seeing it is easier, and is usually more successful,” the veteran knitter says. Wiebe says she learned how to knit from a neighbour who took her under her wing. Once you have the basics you can go on to learn a lot more, she explains. Wiebe teaches beginners and then more advanced classes in downtown Vanderhoof. First-time knitters must start with step-by-step instruction, but many get better quickly with practice. “The beginning classes are toughest to teach,” she explained, because newbies aren’t used to the terminology or basic steps, “More advanced knitters know what you mean when you say, ‘cast on 36 stitches.’” Then once you’re successful with a few projects, there’s a lot more clothing or accessories to make, or to fancy up with new techniques.

It’s said that teachers are always learning, and this is true of Wiebe. One skill she learned so she would be able to help a knitter was left-handed knitting. Who knew such a thing existed? But when duty calls, a solution can be found. Wiebe teaches children and youth as well as adults, and she’s even gone to teach in people’s homes for a group or family requesting it. In March, she held a variety of advanced classes on Thursdays at the Quilters Corner in the Vanderhoof Department Store. “One of the classes she taught was Fair Isle - which is knitting with colours,” she explained. Then she offered instruction on the mysterious skill of heel turning for hand knitted socks. In her many projects, does she have a favourite material to work with? “I’ve been working with self-striping yarn,” she says, showing a photo of an attractive sweater, “you don’t have to work the colours in because they’re in the yarn.” Wiebe notes she displays different items at the department store so crafters can see what can be achieved with the various things available. “Once you see what is possible with some materials, you may want to try that type of yarn or technique,” Wiebe said. As she works full time, it’s hard to imagine where she finds the time to make the many things she does. “Some people only knit seasonally, but I knit year-round,” she noted. And she can knit while doing other things, such as visiting or taking in a show. This is because, as Wiebe explained, knitting for her is much more than a hobby. “I’m passionate about it,” she emphasized, “I just really love to make home made gifts.”

Her favorites to work on are baby things, though not all of them are typical baby clothes. On one occasion she made a baby sweater for a mother who was expecting, and whose spouse was a hockey official. She designed the striped referee sweater herself “It was not easy to find the materials, because baby yarn doesn’t come in black,” the knitting veteran said. She explained they had to wait for the baby to be born to finish the sweater, since the parents wanted pink for the armbands if the infant ref should turn out to be a girl. Wiebe notes she has since made sweaters for older children and their siblings. And most would agree, it’s a heartwarming thing to give and receive a home made gift, even if you don’t always make it yourself.

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FRASER LAKE Stuart Nechako’s Northern Spirit 2013___________________________________________________________ 53

Two years on: Breakfast for learning at FLESS a huge success As a first aid worker at Fraser Lake Elementary-Secondary School (FLESS), Isabel Smith is used to being called down to the schools medical room to tend to sick students. Two years ago she says it was a common occurrence to have a number of kids complaining of stomach pains and cramps. One particular student caught her attention. The girl had become known to Smith for her persistent complaining of stomach pains, and due to the frequency of the complaints, Smith decided it was best to take the student to the Fraser Lake Clinic to seek a doctors advice. “When I took her to the clinic and we were waiting for her mom to arrive, I just happened to ask, “Did you have breakfast this morning?” and she said “no.” “I said “Oh how come?” and she replied “Because we don’t have very much food at home and the food that we do have I want my brothers to eat”. “Well my heart just broke - tears came to my eyes,” recalled Smith. After her mother arrived at the clinic, Smith headed back to the school and sought the advice of fellow colleague Cheryl Parsons, known to Smith for working a lot with the student in question. The two ladies decided to speak to the principal on the matter. “So we went and talked to the principal and we told him exactly what had happened that morning ... “He looked at me and said “What are you going to do about it?” I said - “Well are you leaving this in my hands?” and he said “yep and I’ll support you guys.” “So that was it - Cheryl and I decided if this is what is happening then we will feed the kids breakfast at school,” said Smith. The women enlisted the help of a number of others in the community and together they came up with the idea of doing a survey to find out how many kids at FLESS were eating breakfast. “We found out that 40 per cent of our kids were not eating breakfast which is a huge number,” said Smith. “So the next week we served our first school breakfast - we made ham and cheese buns for

the kids and we ended up feeding 140 students out of over 300 enrolled at the school,” she said. She added that while the breakfast was specifically being targeted at 40 students in particular, any student who wants to eat, may eat. Originally the breakfast for learning was only made available on one day of the school week, but due to a number of funding and grants since it began, FLESS can now afford to serve the breakfast three days a week. The Breakfast for Learning team follow the healthy schools network program and so everything served to the students meets a healthy criteria. “Oatmeal is our most popular breakfast ... we also serve ham and cheese buns, egg wraps, we do waffles with fruit, pancakes the odd time, yogurt and granola bars etc., and they get fruit with everything ... so they are getting a very healthy, balanced breakfast,” she said. She added that since the Breakfast for Learning program began, there has been less medical referrals and less office referrals for bad behavior. “And when we go around and ask the teach-

ers if they see an improvement in the kids they say - “Oh my gosh we can’t believe it - the days that you guys cook breakfast, it has done amazing things for our classrooms and the kids are much more eager to learn,” said Smith She added that teachers will come down during breakfast time and work on school work with students before class starts. “You don’t see that very often - that’s basically unheard of in this day and age,” said Smith. FLESS is always looking for more funding for the program and those who donate money are invited to come in to serve the breakfast to the kids so they can see where where the money is going ... “We bring in people from the community to serve. “We bring in the RCMP, the doctors, the nurses, the paramedics, the fire department, local business merchants and other people that donate ... we dedicate a week to them, and that way the students and the school get to know who everyone is. “It has been an absolutely wonderful success,” said Smith.

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Dan Nickel shows young refs the ropes and even gets their backs Dan Nickel helps prepare youth for the demanding job of hockey refereeing. The 30-year veteran of refereeing officiated for military hockey teams across Canada, from New Brunswick to Alberta and many places between. “I enjoy it, the camaraderie is great, and I don’t play hockey anymore, so it keeps me involved with the game,” Nickel says. Nickel came to Vanderhoof two years ago and was thrust almost instantly into this region’s hockey world, becoming head referee for the local minor hockey association. Nickel said he knew it was time for him to pass on his skills to the young and aspiring officials. “When I was younger the older refs helped develop me,” Nickel reflects, “and now I think it was time for me to give back.” Nickel keeps busy with the refs-in-training, spending many hours watching them work the games, then evaluating their skills and giving feedback. “I spend about 26 hours on a weekend at the rink ... watching them and then I talk to the refs about what they did well, and what they could have done better,” Nickel explains. The referee chief also puts on seminars and training sessions throughout the year, to build skills and keep the training current. He said refereeing can be a tough racket, so in addition to the after-game evaluations, he likes to lend support to the young officials to prepare them for the more unpleasant parts of the game. “I know the 12 to 14-year-olds like to have me there because I can get their backs,” the chief ref said. That’s because the wilder hockey fans can get too opinionated and loud, he explained. “I can talk the refs through the struggles that they may have,” Nickel notes, hoping that way, he can keep more referees coming back. Young officials require on-going support mainly because most of what they learn comes from doing. They receive training at a Hockey Canada clinic in the fall, at the beginning of the hockey season, and they also write a test, Nickel says. “Then the next thing you know, they have a referee sweater and they’re on the ice,” he

observes, “they’re also in charge of a game and the adult coaches that are on the bench, and for a twelve-yearold that can be quite stressful.” That very delicate balance of power, he notes is why it’s important to have a chief referee around to offer advice and to help young refs roll with the punches. “I help them get over the hurdles of being scared out there, and help them gain some confidence,” Nickel notes. He says it takes many seasons for referees to pick up skills and grow a thicker skin to deflect the sometimes cruel and inappropriate things hurled at them by fans and coaches. He said it was so bad a few weeks ago he skated over to the bleachers and reprimanded spectators for taking out their frustrations on the official. “I told them to put themselves in that young ref’s shoes,” Nickel says, “think of how he must feel to hear them yelling like that.” He noted after that event, the public thanked him for drawing a line, as it’s hard for just anyone to tell people to zip it, even when you’re right. Nickel says the dangers of refereeing aren’t just in breaking up fights or dodging fan debris; sharing how he got a crooked finger. “I fell during a game and a player skated over my hand, severing some tendons,” he says. “I show the younger refs how to fall with their hands closed so that it doesn’t happen to them,” Nickel says, noting as officials don’t wear gloves. He adds humourously, that when he’d dole out the family chores, pointing to who was being matched with a task, his kids asked him “who are you pointing at?” because his index finger is bent. He believes the refereeing in Vanderhoof is coming into its own, with lots of very good officials turning up to referee the games. “We have a great group of refs eager and willing ... a great group of school kids coming

Dan Nickel

up,” he says. He is also quick to give credit to some local ref supporters. “Dy deVos helps out a lot and treats the refs really well,” Nickel notes, “she supplies them with towels and snacks, and makes everybody feel special.” Nickel doles out special praise to Rio Tinto Alcan for pitching big time, paying for referee training, supplies and ice time. “(Rio Tinto Alcan) gave us $1,800,” Nickel gushes, “I can’t stress enough how important that was.” He added the association was also aided by the district’s grant writer, Janice Baker, who wrote applications on their behalf. Nickel foresees he will be involved in hockey for a long time, “Even after I can’t keep up with the eightyear-olds anymore,” he says, “I’ll still find a way to be there.”

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FORT ST. JAMES Stuart Nechako’s Northern Spirit 2013 __________________________________________________________ 55

Rower returns

Joan Reid is a reluctant athlete. “I went almost all the way to the 2010 Paralympics, and I didn’t feel like an athlete,” she said. While she is humble about her achievements, Reid has just returned from the London Paralympics Games, which she managed to reach after only having 15 months to train. Reid grew up in Fort St. James, a young woman her father said is the last of his children anyone thought would make the Olympics, and she did not participate in any competitive sports in school. “I’m not a team sport person,” said Reid. When she was in Fort, there were not a lot of individual sports for youth to get involved in competitively, and she enjoyed riding her bike for fun, but considered herself uncoordinated. Yet, after a car accident in 1985 left her in a wheelchair, she became involved in sport, which helped to give her purpose. Initially, Reid became more involved with cross-country skiing, and she had aimed to make the 2010 Paralympics as a skier, however a rowing injury in 2007 at the World Cup ended her training and her drive to pursue this goal. “My head was not in the game anymore,” said Reid. The broken rib was a result of the strap paralympic athletes in Arms and Shoulders rowing must wear. The strap helps to balance the rowers and can help to equalize the different types of disabilities by isolating the lower body to some degree. - However, the strap puts incredible pres- Joan Reid holds a poster photo from her earlier sure on the ribs while rowing hard, and eReid said those types of injuries are not rowing days. order to reach the qualifiers, and she was sent suncommon. For some reason, Reid became disenchantto Serbia in May 2012 for the last qualifiers -ed with racing after her injury, and she began before London. to turn away from sport in general. On the way, she went to Italy, where she o “I swore I was never going to get back into had the chance to row against some who had eit,” she said. already qualified for the 2012 games, and But after a persistent trainer kept encourwhile she didn’t beat them, she said she held laging her to come out for an upper body spin her own, and it gave her confidence a boost tclass, she conceded and gave the class a shot. before competing in Serbia. The class was a bit of a revelation for Reid, She placed first in the races in Serbia, sewho said she once again felt the endorphin y curing her a spot in the London games. rush of a workout and the next day she called On Aug. 13, Reid then went to Portugal to o her coach and asked if she could come back train before the games, having been invited by and try again. the Irish team to train with them there. n She also had the help of a custom-designed While the Paralympics are competitive, strap to avoid a re-injury of her ribs, made for Reid said athletes can still socialize together. -her by a prosthetics specialist in Kelowna. “It’s friendlier (than the Olympics) … but a While only 15 months before the games, at the end of the day, you still want to beat Reid worked hard to meet the time goals in them,” she said.

On Aug. 23, she arrived in London, and was there for a week experiencing the modern security of the games, with sealed buses carefully inspected by dogs and guards before being allowed back into the athlete’s village. Her brother Ken Reid and her nieces Marti and Hannah Wiltse then arrived in London to watch, arriving the day of her first heat. “It definitely made it all worthwhile having them there,” said Reid, who was overjoyed with their enthusiasm and support. With a goal of making the “A” final in her Arms and Shoulders Women’s Single division, Reid achieved her goal, and she had some good races along the way, beating her previous times in every race. Her first race was her best, beating her personal best by a full 13 seconds, and racing hard to secure third place, in close competition with the rower from Korea. “It was a really fun race,” said Reid. The next day she was second in her heat, but in the final medal races on the last day, she did not have any energy, and didn’t make the podium. However, the experience was something she will always remember, with the noise of the crowd and especially hearing her family cheering her on. After the final, her nieces awarded her their own Cadbury’s medals for her achievements in their own awards ceremony. Even getting to the games took everything she had, training everyday for two to three hours, twice a day. “It’s pretty much all you can focus on,” she said. Reid had to quit her job and hire a manager for her business, “Cat-tale Cottages” in Enderby, but she said there are great benefits to offset the hard work. “I got to go a lot of places in the world,” she said. She said the emotional and spiritual growth she achieved through sport is probably what she will remember the most from her experience, especially because of her family being there as well, and seeing the games through her nieces’ eyes. She returned to Fort to visit family and to give thanks to all the support she received from the Fort St. James community while at the games. While Reid said she is probably too old to try again, she will not be leaving sport entirely, and is motivated this time to stay in shape. It’s more important when you are disabled to maintain health and purpose, because disabilities can be so limiting, said Reid. “Sport will give you a purpose,” she said.

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VANDERHOOF 56__________________________________________________________ Stuart Nechako’s Northern Spirit 2013

Vanderhoof doctors help out in Honduras

It is interesting how events in life can work out. During a medical education trip in 2011, Drs. Nicole and Sean Ebert, who both reside in Vanderhoof, met an inspiring couple. A year later, they returned from a medical mission in Honduras. The mission focused on providing surgical care to the poorest people in the area around Comayagua, which is a couple of hours north of the capital Tegucigalpa. The work was done in the San Benito Jose Medical Centre, a mission hospital run by the Franciscan monks. “We worked with great people and it was fun to share stories of rural life in Canada,” said Dr. Sean, who runs a practice here. “They dubbed us the ‘Northern Connection’.” The mission team was organized by Aloha Medical Missions, a secular, nonprofit volunteer organization based in Honolulu, Hawaii, that provides free health care to underserved people around the world, including in Bangladesh, Burma, Cambodia, China, East Timor, Indonesia, Laos, Micronesia, Nepal, Papua New Guinea, Philippines, Solomon Islands, Vanuatu and Vietnam. Team members donate their time and cover their own travel expenses, room and board during the mission.

Medical supplies, medications and equipment are all donated by team members, hospitals, health organizations and charities. “We were part of a 25 member team which included surgeons, anesthetists, nurses and support staff,” said Dr. Sean. “It was an intense but incredibly rewarding experience.” A total of 81 general surgery and gynecological cases were completed during the five days of surgery. “The patients were amazing,” said Dr. Nicole. “Despite their incredible need, they did not complain, were always smiling and were so thankful for the help.” The patients ranged in age from two to 87 years old. “It was great to be able to give in this way. It was a powerful reminder of just how blessed we are to live in Canada,” said Dr. Nicole. Volunteers of the Aloha Medical Mission have embarked on 134 missions overseas, performed 17,864 surgeries and seen 263,533 patients. Nearly 4,500 volunteers have performed medical work under the mission. “Volunteers are the foundation of Aloha Medical Mission’s success,” the mission says. “There have been thousands of you over the years who have contributed significantly and we thank you.”

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INvolved

Realizing the Values of the Forest Resource

P.O. BOX 100 - Vanderhoof, B.C. V0J 3A0

Highway 16, Vanderhoof

Tel: 250-567-4701 Fax: 250-567-2424

the heart of it all VanderhoofBC

Spring: Hooterville Hoot Classic Car Show Summer: Vanderhoof Airshow

For every season, there is a reason...

to visit us in Vanderhoof ! Fall: Pumpkin Walk and Fireworks D is

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tri

Winter: Parade of Lights

of

Va n d oof erh

Summer: Concert in the Park

www.vanderhoof.ca