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Jumpstart Jump
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Community p pitches in for Jumpstart Day. Jum
‘Biggest auction ever’ draws TV crew
Getting a taste of ‘Soldier for a Day’.
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Job action puts grad in danger
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Katie Bartel The Progress Chilliwack’s graduation ceremonies are one of many school-based activities in jeopardy of being cut due to the escalated battle between teachers and the government. In response to the B.C. Teachers’ Federation’s one-day rotating strike starting next week, the government has said, if no deal is reached, all high school teachers will be locked out on June 25 and 26, and all teachers locked out on June 27. In a letter ssent to the union, teachu were also We’re not clear ers told, effective Monday, yet on what the they will not impact will be be allowed on school sites any time ~ SD33 supt. other than minutes Evelyn Novak 45 before and after school, and will not be permitted to interact with students during recess or lunch hour. What that means for Chilliwack is still unclear. “We’re not clear yet on what the impact will be,” said superintendent Evelyn Novak. “We recognize that certainly this does cause stress and anxiety for parents and students, and our staff as well … we’re going to try our best to continue on with as much normalcy as possible.” Still, Novak acknowledged several activities could be cut as a result. Overnight camping trips, year-end field trips, sporting activities, and graduation ceremonies included. “It’s disappointing for our students that those activities may not be occurring,” said Novak.
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Transit trip planning goes high tech Taking the bus in the City of Chilliwack, District of Kent and Village of Harrison Hot Springs just got easier for anyone with access to a computer, tablet or smartphone thanks to the expansion of an online transit trip-planning tool. A new “Transit Trip Planner” was launched by Chilliwack MLA John Martin, Chilliwack Mayor and Fraser Valley Regional District (FVRD) Chair Sharon Gaetz and BC Transit President and CEO Manuel Achadinha, at the Chilliwack Library on Wednesday. The Transit Trip Planner, on
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Jennifer Johnson watches as boyfriend Nash Braun dives into the water to fetch a volleyball while at Cultus Lake Main Beach on Thursday. The two were visiting from Abbotsford. JENNA HAUCK/ PROGRESS
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either Google or Bing maps, is a public transportation planning tool that combines the latest BC Transit schedule and route information with the power of existing, popular search engines. It is a free service that makes trip planning quick and easy for everyone. Mayor Gaetz demonstrated how the Transit Trip Planner can link customers and the community to some of the most popular BC Transit destinations in the Fraser Valley Regional District. “Over the past year we have celebrated many public transit
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successes, from expanded transit routes and hours of operation, to ridership increases and now easy online trip planning,” said Gaetz. “This new technology will make trip-planning effortless for residents, said Chilliwack MLA John Martin. “I encourage people who haven’t taken the bus recently to get back on board – it’s more convenient than ever.” There were nearly 495,000 passenger trips on BC Transit in Chilliwack in 2013/14, a 5.6 per cent increase over 2012/13. Tools like the Transit Trip Planner will encourage even
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more ridership growth, by demonstrating that public transportation is a convenient and reliable alternative to single occupancy vehicles. “Transit customers are demanding user-friendly route information,” said BC Transit president Manuel Achadinha. “This technology gives existing and new customers a convenient and simple to use tool to plan their transit trips.” For information on transit in Chilliwack, Agassiz and Harrison go to www.bctransit. com/regions/chw and click on the Trip Planner link.
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