WEDNESDAY FEBRUARY 5, 2014
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Vol. 63, Issue 25
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BARRY COULTER PHOTO
One of the better ways to warm up the winter is to take in a wedding and bridal fair, such as held at St. Eugene Golf Resort and Casino on Sunday, Feb. 2. Close to 40 vendors were on hand, ranging from photography, fashion and venues to flowers, hair and make-up. Of course, the centrepiece of such an event is the fashion show, presented by eight models displaying fashions courtesy of Tara’s Boutique.
Ruling will mean smaller class sizes, teachers say B.C. Government announces it will appeal last week’s B.C. Supreme Court order to return to 2002 classroom rules ARNE PETRYSHEN Townsman Staff
On the day the B.C. government annouced they would appeal last week’s B.C. Supreme Court ruling in favour of the British Columbia Teachers’ Union (BCTF), the local union president took some time to talk to the Townsman about what the ruling means for teachers. The January 27 decision rejects legislation restricting teacher bargaining and assesses a penalty of $2 million plus court costs. Shelley Balfour, BCTF Local 02 president, said the ruling brings back the class size and composition levels stripped from collective bargaining back in 2002.
“It is important to note that, during the bargaining process leading up to this, teachers across B.C. had agreed to give up wage increases in order to ensure that class size and composition provisions would be addressed in legally binding contracts with government,” Balfour said. So what can parents expect from the changes? “According to the restored language, there should on average be two fewer children in most elementary classes,” she said. “High school shop and science class sizes will also need to be reduced to meet space and equipment considerations having to do with student safety and instruction.”
Staff such as librarians and counsellors will also have their teacher-to-student ratios reduced. “In each of these cases this means students will receive more individual teacher support.” She added that legally signed contracts were not adhered to and lead to the BCTF challenge in the first place. “To discover that court documents show government was attempting to provoke a teachers strike during ‘negotiations’ a decade later simply adds insult to injury and should appall parents throughout the province.”
See TEACHERS, Page 4
Fate of Marysville arena up in the air
Petition calls for continued operation; Kimberley Council to decide fate next Tuesday C A RO LYN GR AN T
Kimberley Minor Hockey is circulating a petition in Kimberley in regards to the future of the Marysville Arena. The petition states, “It has come to the attention of the Kimberley Minor Hockey executive that the City of Kimberley is looking at shutting down the Marysville Arena for good. We, Kimberley Minor Hockey, are only one user group of this arena and need the full functioning of both Civic and Marysville arenas to provide the sport to all kids in Kimberley. “Shutting down the Marysville Arena will affect all users of both arenas and will likely eliminate some user groups from getting their ice
times or creating longer running hours thus creating extremely late ice hours for some user groups. “Please sign the petition in support of keeping the Marysville Arena in operation for all user groups to enjoy.” Mayor Ron McRae has confirmed that the Marysville Arena question will be on the agenda at the regular council meeting next Tuesday, February 11 and Council will make a decision as to whether to continue to operate it or not. McRae makes no secret of his feelings on the matter — he believes the City should continue to operate the arena.
See FATE , Page 3