106th Year - Week 32 PM 40007014
MUD BOGGIN’ Check out the results from the latest Moricetown races.
SPORTS/A13
GROWING SEASON Kids get a chance to grow and cook their own food.
COMMUNITY/A17
A NEW SMITHEREEN Great grandaughter of Alfred Smithers comes to town.
OUR TOWN/A18
INSIDE
OUR TOWN A18 LETTERS A7 SPORTS A9 COMMUNITY A16 THREE RIVERS B1 CLASSIFIEDS B10
Wednesday, August 7, 2013
www.interior-news.com
Single Copy • $1.30 ($1.24 + 6¢ GST)
Smithers kicks off centennial homecoming By Nolan Kelly Smithers/Interior News
Smtihereens came out in droves to celebrate the official week-long centennial homecoming opening ceremonies on Saturday afternoon at the newly renamed Bovill Park. “We have an absolutely incredible community,” said Mayor Bachrach, welcoming the crowd. “And I’m so proud to be apart of this celebration.” After Mayor Bachrach said a few words, he welcomed special guest Claire Ackroyd, great granddaughter of Smithers’ namesake, Alfred Smithers, to the stage. Bachrach presented her with the official flag of Smithers, and made her an honourary Smithereen. “This is amazing,” said Ackroyd. “I am so flattered to be here and I thank you for inviting me to your party. “I feel like a bit of an impostor, I think some of my more illustrious cousins should be here, but too bad for them. I get to have all the fun and tell them all about it.” After, head of the organizing committee, Gladys Atrill came to the stage to thank everyone who contributed to the homecoming preparations and to
present the centennial quilt. “This centennial project was quite a ride,” Atrill said. “Taylor talked about what this valley is all about and this quilt is one little snapshot. “This quilt represents artists, the history, and hundreds of hours of work. It’s what happens when someone gets it in their head that something must happen.” Local politicians Doug Donaldson, Bill Goodacre and a representative for MP Nathan Cullen also spoke to the crowd. Interspersed with the speeches, a slew of local musicians, from Mark Perry to Alpenhorn players, to ‘Smithereens’ composer Art Henkel entertained the crowd all afternoon. The ceremonies concluded with the presentation of the centennial cake, baked by Bri Sikkes from Paul’s Bakery. With the opening ceremonies finished, the rest of the festivities were just getting started. An assortment of bands played on Bovill Stage all afternoon, and Mark Perry capped the day off playing for the street dance party from 8-10 p.m. The night before, the town held its official naming ceremony of the newly built Legacy Stage. “We want this to be more than a performance venue,”
THE HILLS ARE ALIVE Alpenhorn players Keith Berg & Jane Houlden, above, take it to the heights of Hudson Bay Mountain in celebration of Homecoming last Wednesday near Crater Lake, where they performed for several people. The event was part of the plethora of reunion and centennial-based activities occuring throughout the Bulkley Valley until August 11. Ryan Jensen photo
Bachrach said to the crowd. “We want this to be a place where people can come for other reasons, too. Though the city owns the land,
this is your square and we hope that everyone takes a sense of ownership.” History enthusiast Harry Kruisselbrink
then said a few word about the history of the plot of land the stage was built on. At its inception the lot was a restaurant
Honey Nut Cheerios see page A-24
Friday Only!
called the OK Cafe, run by a man named Ban King, whose nickname was ‘Irish’. See CENT on A2
6
$ 99 1.45 kg Super Jumbo