FRIDAY
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JUNE 13, 2014
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Vol. 63, Issue 113
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BARRY COULTER PHOTO
The board of directors of the Nature Trust of British Columbia gathered this week to tour a number of its properties in the East Kootenay. The board checked out Wigwam Flats near Elko, Big Ranch in the Elk Valley, and Silvertip Ranch at Bull River. The Nature Trust alternates visits between locations on Vancouver Island, the Lower Mainland, the Okanagan and the Kootenays to give directors a first hand view of conservation properties that have recently been acquired as well as potential properties. The Nature Trust is dedicated to securing ecologically significant private land across the province to conserve habitat for plants, wildlife and fish. Pictured above: Front row: left to right: Brian Clark, Dr. Susan Hannon, Dr. Rob Butler, Dr. Peter Arcese. Second row: Rod Silver, Carmen Purdy, Ron Anderson, Doug Christopher, Ross Beaty. Back row: Stewart Muir, Doug Janz, John West.
Weekend deal the last Trail begun to connect hope for school year Cranbrook and Wardner SALLY MACDONALD Townsman Staff
Teachers in Cranbrook are hoping an agreement with the B.C. government can be reached before they begin a full-scale strike on Tuesday, June 17. Members of the B.C. Teachers Federation (BCTF) voted earlier this week to approve a full walkout to put pressure on the provincial government as a new collective agreement is negotiated. On Wednesday, the BCTF issued 72-hour strike notice, meaning a fullscale strike will begin on Tuesday unless an agreement has been
reached by then. In the meantime, Monday has been designated a study session for teachers, so schools won’t be open for students. “We absolutely did not want to get here,” said Shelley Balfour, president of the Cranbrook District Teachers Association. “It is so disappointing for the teachers and the children because this is the end of the year. You’ve had these kids for the whole year and now we are without the opportunity to say goodbye. That’s very meaningful for kids.
See SENIOR, Page 5
Work is underway on the first phase of an extension of the Trans Canada Trail in the East Kootenay
SALLY MACDONALD Townsman Staff
Work has begun on a new section of the Trans Canada Trail between Cranbrook and Wardner. The crushed gravel surfaced trail will follow the Isadore Canyon trail to Mayook, then continue along an abandoned rail corridor to Wardner Provincial Park beside the Kootenay River, with a bypass around private land in Mayook. A connector trail will link the
Cranbrook to Wardner trail with the rest stop on Highway 3 in Mayook known as the Ramparts Lake rest area. The project is being led by trail enthusiasts in the community, said Al Skucas, a Cranbrook-based Trails BC director. “It’s a grassroots movement. With this kind of major project, there is normally some level of government handling this. But this is grassroots and it’s important to engage volunteers and
community partners.” A special committee of Cranbrook, Kimberley, Wardner and Mayook residents is working on developing the trail. With funding from Trans Canada Trail, a feasibility study has been conducted by volunteer trail supporters to design the trail and undertake engineering drawings for small bridges and cattleguards.
See WORK, Page 4