The Chilliwack
Progress Wednesday
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Making the case for restorative justice in schools.
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Winter Games produce lifelong friends.
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Y O U R C O M M U N I T Y N E W S PA P E R • F O U N D E D I N 1 8 9 1 • W W W. T H E P R O G R E S S . C O M • W E D N E S D AY, J A N U A R Y 1 2 , 2 0 1 4
Education changes bring cautious approval
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Katie Bartel The Progress
Continued: CHANGES/ p11
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A skateboarder tries a few tricks at the newly built Webster Landing Skate Park on Saturday morning. JENNA HAUCK/ PROGRESS
Aevitas president answers critics Jennifer Feinberg The Progress The Aevitas waste recycling and transfer facility slated for Cannor Road in Chilliwack would be built in such a way that materials would never drain into the Fraser River. That was one of the points made by Aevitas president Byron Day in a conversation with the Chilliwack Progress on Tuesday. Day wants people to know the company’s ultimate intention is to protect the river and the environment. “That’s what we do,” he said. The facility has come under intense scrutiny ever since it was learned that low-level PCBcontaminated oil and small
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amounts of mercury would be handled there. Although the City of Chilliwack’s rezoning process is complete, there is still a provincial government review to be completed in the coming months, along with the possibility of more consultation with local First Nations, Day said. “Although it’s not a requirement, we definitely intend to consult First Nations. That’s been our plan all along. “Our ears are still open,” he said. He sought out Ernie Crey, fisheries advisor for Sto:lo Tribal Council, to talk about the facility plan after the December public hearing.
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Day is one of two co-owners, who founded Aevitas in 1992. They were environmental consultants who initially recognized a growing national PCB problem with light ballasts. “So we developed a specialized process with Environment Canada for recycling the insulating oil, which can then be re-used.” In fact one of the recipients of recycled oil from Aevitas will be a local manufacturer based in Chilliwack. “I think it would be a great facility for the area.” The fierce opposition has focused on the proposed riverside location, but not the actual recycling work done by Aevitas. “That’s what frustrates us.
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We’re on the same page here,” he said. “We are an environmental company focused on recycling.” The proposed location in the industrial section of Chilliwack has been in the crosshairs of the opposition coalition of environmental, sport fishing and First Nations groups. “One of the reasons why we like the location is that it is in a diked area,” said Day. “If there was a major spill, it’s not going anywhere from those areas, and it won’t free drain into the river.” The floors will be built above the catastrophic flood level. “So the whole facility could take a flood and not be affected,” underlined the Aevitas president. Continued: WASTE/ p6
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Chilliwack First Nations is cautiously optimistic following an historic agreement made with the Canadian government regarding First Nations education. The Assembly of First Nations and the Canadian government reached an agreement to reform the kindergarten to Grade 12 education system on reserves Monday. The agreement – The First Nations Control of First Nations Education Act – commits to giving First Nations more control over their curriculums and adequate funding for education. The goal of which is to ensure aboriginal students on-reserve receive a quality education comparable to public education. Tyrone McNeil, president of First Nations Education Steering Committee (FNESC), said the Conservative government is saying all the right things, but it’s still too early to tell. “This is small, but significant, because it’s proposing to give more control to First Nations,” said McNeil. “We have to believe that the Conservative government, particularly [Prime Minister Stephen] Harper wants to improve First Nations education – I need to believe that.” But he has reserves. Given past negotiations with government, McNeil is wary of trust. Last year, First Nations leaders across Canada condemned a First Nations Education Act that was proposed by the government, arguing lack of consultation, funding and control. This new act was done in consultation with First Nations leaders and the Assembly of First Nations.