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$1.10 (includes tax)
WEDNESDAY, AUGUST 21, 2013
page 18,19
❚ In the den
VOL 116 NO. 34
Border Bruins gear up
Funding shortfall jeopardizes BETHS shelter KARL YU
250-442-2711 1-800-567-3199
272 Central Ave. www.grandforksrealty.ca
Grand Forks Renovation Centre
See page 16 for details
OPEN HOUSE Wednesday, Aug. 28 1 - 5pm
Christina Lake
Brian Thate 250-442-7370
www.brianthate.com
LITTLE OAK REALTY
An anticipated funding shortfall could put the Boundary Emergency and Transition Housing Society’s (BETHS) cold weather shelter plans in jeopardy this season. The society, which relies on yearly funding from BC Housing, received full funding last year, and BETHS chair Jim Harrison said the funding decrease is due to numbers and finances. “The basic funding climate in B.C. right now is one major issue,” Harrison explained. “The other issue is cost-effectiveness. BC Housing, like every other government agency, is under the gun to be accountable that they’re being cost effective. That’s one of the main reasons we’re facing this.” BC Housing said it reviewed occupancy rates at the shelter and the beds were rarely full—it said BETHS shelter was never at capacity during the 151 nights it was open and overall occupancy for the winter was just over eight per cent. The 2012/13 funding allowed BETHS to employ four people full-time but due to the expected shortfall that will decrease. “What they (BC Housing) have suggested to us this year, at the very most, we may be able to employ one person full time,” explained Harrison. “It basically represents a 75 per cent decrease in our funding.” He said a cut in funding was anticipated by BETHS board but the full extent of how much is not yet known, as BC Housing has not confirmed BETHS’ budget proposal for the coming year. “We knew it was going to be drastic but we didn’t realize it was going to be as drastic as it is,” Harrison said. “We’re talking about a 75 per cent reduction and that’s based on if (BC Housing) accepts the proposal that we’ve put in – it might be even more.” Harrison said closing the extreme weather shelter for the year was a consideration but the board was unwilling to do that and an alternative solution was decided on, which will rely heavily on volunteers. “Because our funding has been cut back, we are in need of volunteers – we need one to two volunteers every night to join the one paid staff member,” explained BETHS’ volunteer co-ordinator Tracey Garvin. See BETHS Shelter on Page 7
TIMOTHY SCHAFER PHOTO
Grand Forks Gazette
Park it
Weather, automobiles, crowds shine in first Park in Park Car Show
CRAIG LINDSAY Gazette Reporter
A
s far as inaugural events go, things could not have gone much smoother for the Park in the Park Car Show at City Park on Sunday. The event, which was organized by Lawrence Morgan and Melodie Davidoff, featured over 100 cars, trucks and even a few motorcycles. “We’re members of the Beaumont-Chevelle club and we invited all these people,” said Morgan. “We met all these people going to different car shows throughout B.C., Alberta and the United States and have become friends. This is our debut.” The pair thought the beautiful setting of City Park would be a great place to hold a car show and the location, and weather, did not disappoint. “This is our passion,” said Morgan. “We enjoy going to car shows and meeting car people. We live in Grand Forks and thought, ‘Look at the setting.’ It’s beautiful. Why not? Penticton is getting so big. Grand Forks hasn’t had a car show in 20 years. We thought, ‘It’s time. Let’s get them out here and make it bigger and better.’” The couple had hosted a barbecue for car enthusiasts for the past 15 years but wanted to do more. See Car Show on Page 14, 15
Justin Ash & Bloom Hines
Top: Gordon Sturgeon (right) and Bruce McInnis enjoy a moment reflected in the bumper of Sturgeon’s 1956 Pontiac; Above: There were over 100 cars, trucks and even a few motorcycles at the first Grand Forks Park in the Park Car Show on Sunday (Aug. 18) at City Park (Craig Lindsay photo).
August 30th @ 7:30 p.m. Grand Forks Secondary School Auditorium
with
Vehicle of Change Tour
Tickets $20.00 in advance. Available at Thistle Pot Gifts, The Source, Morrissey Creek Building Supplies and Gallery 2. $25 at the door. Opening Performance by Grand Forks born and raised
Danny Freeway
Enter to WIN 2 TICKETS to see Justin Hines in concert. See page 5 for entry form
Proceeds to: Boundary Music Educators Association and Habitat for Humanity
Second Class Registration # PM0034