Congratulations on the literacy award, Linda! Serving the Creston Valley since 1948
Thursday, September 12, 2013
Volume 65, No.37
RDCK directors question value of bus service
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BY LORNE ECKERSLEY Advance Staff
While ridership on the regular BC Transit has increased since changes in the service were made last year, local Regional District of Central Kootenay directors say it isn’t worth the cost. “It is not providing the service levels to make it sustainable,” Area B director John Kettle said at a local services committee meeting on Sept. 4. “It isn’t close to giving value to taxpayers.” Kettle was responding to a presentation by BC Transit regional manager Kevin Schubert, who presented figures showing that riders pay for less than 10 per cent of the cost of the service. “A new flexible service (one that allows drivers to deviate from the route and take calls for pickup) has seen positive results, particularly in the latter part of the year,” Schubert reported. “The service change included the introduction of on-demand zones, which eliminated unnecessary deviations where no ridership existed provided for better utilization of service hours for regional and community shuttle service.” The on-demand service replaced one that simply had a bus run on a defined route, regardless of whether it was being used. See BC, page 3
Lorne Eckersley
UNSUNG HERO — Linda Steward (right), Columbia Basin Alliance for Literacy’s Creston co-ordinator, presented literacy
volunteer Linda Price with the annual Creston Community Literacy Award at the Creston and District Public Library on Sept. 5. Also nominated for the 2013 award were Henry Schoof, Maryann Morgan, Gail Kitt and an anonymous donor who contributes $5,000 annually for library reading programs.
Society helping music, media BY BRIAN LAWRENCE Advance Editor A recently established organization is seeking to better the lot of performers in the Creston Valley. “It’s to promote local music and media arts with a particular focus on profitability and business develop-
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That hasn’t been the best scenario for musicians, he said, with some organizations expecting them to perform for nothing at fundraisers and similar events. “Musicians are viewed as disposable commodities, almost,” he said. “They’re not valued. There’s an expectation they will work for free.” See MUSIC, page 3
ment, and working co-operatively with other organizations and businesses,” said Marc Archambault, chair of the Creston Music and Media Society (CMMS). “There’s not really a history of beneficial representation for either segment of the arts community. It’s just been individuals on their own.”
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