THURSDAY
S I N C E
SEPTEMBER 4, 2014
1 8 9 5 Smokies roster getting closer
Vol. 119, Issue 138
105
$
INCLUDING G.S.T.
Follow us online
Page 9
PROUDLY SERVING THE COMMUNITIES OF ROSSLAND, WARFIELD, TRAIL, MONTROSE, FRUITVALE & SALMO
RDKB chair wades into sewer talks
Local PAC backs teachers
Times Staff
BY LIZ BEVAN Times Staff
We've heard from the teachers. We've heard from the provincial government. Now, it is time to hear from the parents about the ongoing labour dispute. Glenmerry Parent Advisory Council (PAC) Chair, Erica Charette, says she has received comments from parents saying they are getting tired of the back and forth between teachers and the province. “I think, basically, the way most parents are feeling is that the whole dispute is becoming a bit ridiculous,” she said. “It seems to me that the teachers' union has been making concessions from the get-go and the government has made none. I have a lot of friends who are teachers and I have been watching what is going on and it is very frustrating.” The feeling Charette is getting from the parents in the area is that they support the teachers and just want the dispute to be over. “It was unfortunate that the government and the teachers union didn't come together over the summer. That was disappointing to most par-
sought assent for the city to borrow millions to build a pedestrian/pipe Emotion mixed with a lot of bridge, the regional district released money can lead to spending on an updated report that outlined things that aren’t wanted or needed other and less pricey ways to string long-term. Or emotions mixed with a sewer line across the Columbia a lot of money can prevent what River. needs to be done or wanted longRossland Mayor Greg Granstrom term. was vocal at that time and vented So with the rise in discord over frustration that options could have the future of the regional sewer been clarified instead of cancelline, Grace McGregor ling the meeting, no exercised her right agreement had been “(The participants) to step in and take between need the freedom to reached over as chair of the regional partners, be able to service’s committee, and a final decision which is an action wouldn’t happen represent their she doesn’t take respective councils at until after the sewer lightly. committee reconMcGregor is board the table without the vened Sept. 2. chair of the Regional McGregor conconstraints of District of Kootenay cedes that she chaired chairing a meeting.” Boundary (RDKB) the Tuesday meeting GRACE MCGREGOR and director of Area for “everyone,” not C (Christina Lake). just Rossland and But Tuesday afternoon she became Warfield. chair of the Sewerage Committee, “I did it for Trail also,” she said. which is a position she will retain in “In a service this size everybody is the foreseeable future. involved, and everybody is looking “When you have participants that at some pretty large dollars,” conare spending an awful lot of money, tinued McGregor. and we are talking about spending “Right now, spending large dolan awful lot of money,” McGregor lars in communities is really diftold the Trail Times Wednesday. ficult because the money just isn’t “They need the freedom to be able to there.” represent their respective councils Warfield stayed out of the spotat the table without the constraints light over the last few months. of chairing a meeting.” But Wednesday morning, the vilMcGregor was referring to the lage’s Mayor Bert Crockett, said contention between participants that McGregor kept the meeting in the regional sewer service, the on point, and he confirmed that cancellation of the Aug. 5 sewer Rossland and Warfield offered Trail meeting at the behest of then-chair $2.7 million toward construction Robert Cacchioni, and the latest costs of the new pedestrian/pipe reports about the cheapest way to bridge. replace the aging interceptor line “What we are all interested in is currently hanging off the Old Trail getting the sewer off the old bridge Bridge. and getting it across the river.” “There was a bit of apprehen- he noted. “We’ve narrowed down sion because one of the meetings the options and our choice is the was cancelled by the chair,” she cheapest for taxpayers in Rossland, explained, adding, “He felt that was Warfield and Trail.” the right thing to do because there That number is only half of what wasn’t enough information at that Trail is asking from its regional time.” sewer partners. That upset another participant, In a City of Trail letter dated July she said, and when there is emo- 25, the city asked the sewer committion attached to such a substantial tee for a lump sum payment of $5.4 investment, then “you’re better off million for the regional district’s not to chair a meeting.” share of the bridge construction Right before general voting day, costs. Aug. 23, for Trail’s referendum that See OFFER, Page 3 BY SHERI REGNIER
LIZ BEVAN PHOTO
J.L. Crowe Secondary School teachers Dale Smyth and Tanner Ansley were back on the picket line Wednesday morning as the strike action continues across the province. ents,” she said. “You're always going to get those that don't agree with the labour dispute, but for the most part, most of the parents that I have talked to on a personal level are behind the teachers.” Charette says she has heard that some parents are attempting to continue their child's education, or even just brush up on a few concepts
Friday rally at Crowe and FES
The Kootenay-Columbia Teachers’ Union (KCTU) is hosting a “Turning up the Heat for Public Education” barbecue at Trail’s J.L. Crowe Secondary and Fruitvale Elementary School on Friday at noon. Andy Davidoff, KCTU president says parents, PAC members, administrators, trustee representatives, local government representatives and prospective trustee and local government candidates are welcome to join in a show of support for local teachers. – Bevan
SPORT,
RECREATION
while the strike action continues. “I've heard of a few parents that were going to buy the school workbooks you can get at Wal-Mart and places like that, and just go through it and do some review with their kids,” she said, adding that she has been doing the same with her children. “I've got my kids doing stuff like that. They are reading and I am making sure that they are keeping up on their skills.” With a daughter entering Grade 8 and a son going into Grade 5, Charette understands the frustration of other parents during the labour dispute. Although, as a stay-athome mom, childcare isn’t an issue for her as it is for some other parents. See PARENTS, Page 3
Learn about local sport, Brought to you rec reation and by culture opportunitues for the entire A Greater Trail t n e family v e Free g in t o prom “play” in our region
& CULTURE MARKETPLACE
Sept 17th 5-7:30pm Trail Memorial Gymnasium Sponsored by
Contact the Times: Phone: FineLine250-368-8551 Technologies 62937 Index 9 Fax:JN250-368-8550 80% 1.5 BWR NU Newsroom: 250-364-1242 Canada Post, Contract number 42068012