Inside
GET A QUANTUM BOOST
◆ NEWS Gov’t focuses on stewardship, P. 2 ◆ NEWS Accident claims two lives, P. 3
◆ SPORTS? Almeida player of the year, P. 7 ◆ CLASSIFIEDS, P. 19-25
Free
20 10
FRIDAY, September 19, 2014
Volume 9 Issue 11
TMC 20,700
save over
60/month
$
when you bundle up with
Quantum 50
the fastest Internet in Northwest B.C.
Call us today for more details
1-800-442-8664
facebook.com/ CityWest.BC
ANY GLASS, ANY VEHICLE DANIEL ALLAIN / THE NORTHERN CONNECTOR
When dealing with automotive glass problems, Speedy Glass® is there for you every step of the way. Trust our people, our tools, and our coverage to see what makes us the leading vehicle glass repair and replacement experts across Canada.
Teachers Brandy Engdahl and Teresa McMillan, members of the Nisga’a Teachers’ Union, stand with a poster in New Aiyansh during one of the days the strike was going on. Teachers across the province voted late this week to accept a contract proposal, ending what had been the longest public school strike in provincial history.
Strike draws communities together
By Anna Killen
Certified Technicians
THE NORTHERN CONNECTOR
Best Replacement Technology
NEW AIYANSH - While there are obvious challenges to working in a small remote school district, there are also benefits in the closeness of the community. In that spirit, teachers from the Nisga’a school district in the Nass Valley hosted a series of informal lunches for students and parents in the valley’s four villages last week before rallying Sept. 12 at Lava Lake alongside the Nisga’a Highway as the second week of the teachers’ strike came to a close. The local union’s lunches were meant to update parents on events and to give students a chance to meet their teachers. The lunches were held in village government buildings, not
Strong and Durable Repairs Best Warranty Coast to Coast Network Unmatched Service
CALL TODAY TO BOOK AN APPOINTMENT 4925 Keith Ave, Unit 102, Terrace Nelson Furtado : Owner
250-635-4466
speedyglass.ca
“For the service you deserve“
ilona Re/Max kenny RealtoRs
school buildings, so as not to violate strike protocol. “It is unique. We just felt it was time for students to come and have a chance to meet their teachers,” said Nisga’a Teachers’ Union local president Rich Hotson. He hadn’t seen too many kids in the playground during the dispute, “so they’re probably doing things inside. Let’s hope their parents have them doing some schoolwork.” More than 100 people turned out in both Kincolith and Greenville, and “a smaller room in Gitwinksihlkw and it was jammed, so it’s been a good turnout at each of the luncheons.” “It was great to see the turnout, really pleased,” he said. The Nisga’a school district has more than 400 students, with
38 teachers if you include teachers on call. “With us, it’s never really been an issue of class size because our district’s been committed to providing as low a class size as possible,” said Hotson, who has been president of the local union for a decade. “Some of the problems come from some of the various needs the students will have. You can have a number of students with special needs, and if the teacher doesn’t have enough time to spend with them that can be frustrating for everyone. “Our board has always been supportive, our argument is not with our local school board, they’ve always been supportive. They listen to our needs and try and meet them,” said Hotson. Platters of prepared meat and
cheeses were driven up from Terrace by a teacher who lived in that town while other dishes were made by teachers, he said. He said teachers want to continue to hold luncheons throughout the school year for parents to ask questions and learn about school going ons, With the strike now over and the new contract ratified following votes this week, schools are to fully open again early next week. The contract is for six years, providing a wage increase of 7.25 per cent which is in line with settlements reached between the province and other public sector unions. A tentative deal was reached in the early morning hours of Sept. 16 assisted by veteran mediator Vince Ready.
fRom ‘fix-it’ to ‘fabulous’! lots of houses on the maRKet foR eveRy budget. Call me to view!
55 Gannet
$215,000
75 Chilko
$295,000
1139 tweedsmuir
$329,000
5 Yukon
$330,000
76 white
$349,900
RealtoR, Kitimat Realty • Cell 250-632-1021 • offiCe 250-632-7000
71 BlueBerrY
•
$695,000
52 stiCkneY
$719,000
ilona@kitimatrealty.com