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OCTOBER 15, 2013
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Vol. 61, Issue 200
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BARRY COULTER PHOTO
The Coffeehouse season is underway. The Studio Stage Door in Cranbrook hosted the first Locals of 2013/14, the talent showcase’s 15th season. The sold-out theatre saw performances by Dennis Kerr, Isaac Plant, Meghan Plant and Morgan Bulloch, The Rosie Brown Band, Steve Lungal, Larry MacKenzie (with Ferdy Belland on bass) and Sheva (Shelagh Gunn Redecopp, Van Redecopp, Steve Jones). Pictured above, front row, left to right: Potluck Steve, Larry MacKenzie, Shawna Plant (Rosie Brown), Paige Lennox (Rosie Brown), Cosima Wells (Rosie Brown), Ferdy Belland. Back row: Van Redecopp, Shelagh Gunn Redecopp, Isaac Plant, Meghan Plant, Morgan Bulloch, Steve Jones. Not pictured are Dennis Kerr and Heather Gemmell and Janice Nicli of Rosie Brown.
East Kootenay elk Employers benefit from hiring numbers level off persons with disabilities: Minister G RE G A MOS Columbia Valley Pioneer
With just under a week remaining in the bull elk hunting season in the East Kootenays, populations of the elegant ungulate appear to have reached the desired levels after five years of efforts — which has meant a limited season thus far for hunters. “We closed the youth and senior season between Canal Flats and Invermere,” said Tara Szkorupa, a wildlife biologist with the Ministry of Forests, Lands and Natural Resources in Cranbrook. “All the general open seasons
for antler-less elk were closed this year, except for the early bow seasons,” she added, in order to meet the Kootenay Elk Management Plan objectives. That called for a 20 to 40 per cent reduction in South Trench elk populations, which have been reduced by 35 per cent over the last five years. That means a lower elk harvest is now needed to preserve the population at its current level. “With the snow in the mountains, animals will start to move around now,” said Ms. Szkorupa, who classifies elk as “probably the
biggest draw” for hunters in the region. “They’re still rutting right now,” she added. “The hunting season started off pretty slowly this year, but things are definitely picking up now with the cooler weather.” The open season on six-point and larger elk bulls is now underway in the region, and will last until October 20th. There’s also limited entry hunting on elk cows and calves. (The open season normally includes five to 10 days in early to mid-September.)
See ELK , Page 3
B.C.’s Minister of Social Development and Social Innovation was in Cranbrook last week to mark Community Living Month
S A L LY M AC D O N A L D Townsman Staff
It’s Community Living Month in B.C., and the province’s Minister of Social Development and Social Innovation Don McRae was in Cranbrook Friday to mark the occasion. McRae was guest of honour at a special lunch held by the Cranbrook Society of Community Living Friday to recognize businesses and other stakeholders in community living. Organizations such as the City of Cran-
brook, the Salvation Army and Works BC, and businesses such as McDonald’s, Waste Management and the Cranbrook Daily Townsman employ individuals with disabilities, and McRae spoke to the converted about how businesses benefit from hiring people with disabilities. “One of the things that some people in our society don’t realize is that persons with disabilities are incredibly loyal, they like to stay with a company
that has allowed them to come work for them, they are incredibly hard working, they are incredibly diligent in showing up on time, and they are a huge asset to that employer,” said Minister McRae. He pointed out that 95 per cent of people with disabilities require less than $500 spent by businesses to help them adapt to the position, and 60 per cent require no adaptation. Yet 70 per cent of people with disabilities in B.C. are unem-
ployed. “Persons with disabilities have such a great role to play in our society. They have the ability to step up and provide huge opportunities to every employer in the province in every sector,” said McRae. During his speech, McRae announced a new $100,000 scholarship fund that will begin taking applications on January 1, 2014.
See McRae , Page 4