NEWS: Sue Jones wins volunteer award
COMMUNITY: Pie Day at Credit Union
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College links with industry By Jackie Lieuwen Houston Today
MOVING Forward
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The site for the Water Treatment Plant, north of 6th Street, is being prepared for construction by Bodnar Contracting. Interim Director Of Engineering Tony Edwards says the main construction contract should be coming out for bid mid-December.
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Connecting with local industry and with the community are two important priorities at the Houston Northwest Community College campus. Regina Saimoto, NWCC Regional Director, spoke to council last week Tuesday, about the Houston campus and programs. Saimoto says the partnerships they are developing in different industries are providing a win-win situation: it’s helping them create stronger, more relevant programs and it’s building industry connections for students for future employment. Partnering with the Central Interior Loggers Association, NWCC is offering a Heavy Equipment Operator Forestry program in Houston starting this fall - which
is still open for more students and waiting for an instructor to be confirmed. Saimoto says they talked with Canfor, Houston Forest Products, Pacific Inland Resources, B.C. Timber Sales and some of the logging contractors to make sure the curriculum is relevant to the industry. Mayor Bill Holmberg says it’s encouraging that the college is working with the CILA, as they seem to be ahead of the coast with their operator training. NWCC is also developing a program for Mineral Processing Operator in partnership with Huckleberry Mines Ltd., which they are offering this winter. Offered at the college through the School of Exploration and Mining, the program details are still being worked out, said Saimoto. See NWCC on Page 3
Houston Public Library seeks to meet community needs By Jackie Lieuwen Houston Today
Houston Public Library is seeking to play a part in bridging the gap between unemployed people and the business needs. Toni McKilligan, Houston Public Library Director, and Sue Jones, Library
Treasurer, spoke to Houston council last week Tuesday about the Library programs and goals. Jones said the Library sees an opportunity in Houston to play a role in meeting the community needs. There are a large amount of people on financial assistance
“We’re really proud of our little Library,” - Sue Jones, Library Treasurer
coming to Houston and local industries are facing challenges to find trades workers to fill needed jobs,
Jones said. “We see this not as much as a threat, but as a reality and also as an opportunity. We
want to help link the two,” she said. She says they’ve already taken steps in that, with many of those moving to town coming to the Library, knowing there are resources such as computers, wifi internet, and books. Jones says the Library Board be-
lieves one of the key strengths of the Library is it’s ability to do a lot of different things under one roof. They see themselves as a community leader in developing the literacy of people coming to town, she said. The Chamber of Commerce presented the Library with the
Innovated Business Award this year, said McKilligan. “We think that this shows that Houston Public Library is valued and a valuable institution in the community. And we’re very, very grateful for all the support that we get,” she said. See BOOKS on Page 6
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