LOGGING CONCERNS Meeting happening March 20
WORK BEGINS Observatory construction has now started
PAGE 3
CYCLONE CUP HERE IN 2015 PAGE 3
Mission will host the junior B championship
2012
PAGE 30
85¢+ GST
CCNA
Friday, March 14, 2014
SERVING MISSION SINCE 1908
Major facelift for historic dam $748-million upgrade in progress at Ruskin Dam Alina Konevski ABBOTSFORD NEWS
An historic hydroelectric dam on Mission’s Stave River is getting a major facelift. But even as crews work to rebuild the structure almost entirely, the Ruskin Dam is still operating at two-thirds capacity and pumping electricity into the BC Hydro grid. The upgrade is being done at a cost of $748 million over a six-year period, to be completed in 2018. It is the first significant renovation on the 85-year-old dam. The seven old spillway gates, which control the flow of water through the dam, will become five wider gates. The massive cement piers that held up Hayward Street directly over the dam have been deconstructed block
by block. New towers will hold up a much wider road and allow for two-lane, two-way traffic atop the dam. Pedestrians will enjoy a new walkway. When construction began 1929, it was “built right,” said BC Hydro senior construction manager Robert Peever. “It was state of the art at the time,” he said. “It really took some neat engineering solutions to be able to do it.” The Stave River proved so productive for generating hydroelectric power that the Ruskin Dam was stationed at a narrow gorge less than six kilometres downstream of the Stave Falls Dam, completed 17 years prior. The Ruskin Dam creCONTINUED ON 05
Major construction work continues on the Ruskin Dam. The facility is still operating at two-thirds capacity during the upgrading. SUBMITTED CREDIT
Stats Canada surveys homes for emergency preparedness Carol Aun MISSION RECORD
Statistics Canada will be calling about 600 homes in Abbotsford and Mission for its Emergency Preparedness and Resilience in Canada survey. Participants will be randomly selected and anyone living at a cho-
sen home aged 15 or over can participate. The survey will be conducted over the telephone until June 2014 and results will be available by fall 2015. Questions relate to risk awareness, social network, community engagement and emergency preparedness,
as well as basic demographic information, like health, education, and household income. The results from this survey will provide information on how well individuals and communities are able to prepare for, respond to, and recover from a disaster or major emer-
gency and may be used to develop emergency management and safety programs. Results will help communities to develop and deliver strategies to improve preparedness and resilience. More and more people are interested in being prepared for an emer-
gency, said Nancy Bartlett, owner of Life472, a Mission business which sells emergency preparedness kits and educates the public on how to be ready. “Unfortunately, when other disasters happen, that’s when the message gets brought home,” she stated. “The
more you are prepared, the more you can help others.” Bartlett started her business two years ago after she struggled to find an emergency preparedness kit to purchase. An emergency kit should include enough food and water for you
and your family for 72 hours, whistle, emergency blanket, waterproof matches, as well as copies of your insurance papers, medications, and some cash. For more information visit www.statcan. gc.ca/survey-enquete/ household-menages/5208-eng.htm.
MICHELIN LTX™ M/S™2 33245 GLASGOW AVENUE, MISSION (Located next to commuter rail)
604.826.9119 We’ve Built our Reputation on 40 Years of Quality Service.
www.symons-exceltire.com
The light truck tire industry reference
• Exceptional combination of performances for pickups and suvs. • Longest-lasting tire in its class - 32,0000 more km than the competition. • Great Traction, Great Confidence!!
•TIRES •SHOCKS •BRAKES •TUNE-UPS •ALIGNMENTS •CUSTOM EXHAUST •AIRCARE