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Vol. 63, Issue 181
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Teachers vote on contract
86 % of 31,741 teachers who cast ballots in favour of new agreement; Schools to open Monday TRE VOR CR AWLEY Townsman Staff
B.C.’s public school teachers have ratified a hard-bargained six-year contract, ending a bitter months-long strike and allowing the start of the school year for half a million students. Results of a provincewide vote were announced late Thursday, with 86 per cent of the 31,741 teachers who cast ballots voting in favour of the agreement. In Cranbrook, local teachers put the tentative deal between their union and the provincial government to a vote on Thursday at the Heritage Inn. Closed to the public, they met during the afternoon to air out any last minute concerns with the contract that could potentially be in place for the next six years. “The meeting went well,” said Shelley Balfour, president of the
Cranbrook District Teachers’ Association. “My teachers are very conscientious and had already reviewed the memorandum of agreement which we just got late in the [Wednesday] evening. The members asked a lot of good questions, there was a lot of good discussions and they’re ready to move on.” Teachers had the option of an advance poll on Wednesday and voted in meet ins across the province on Thursday, the results of which will be tabulated by the British Columbia Teachers’ Federation (BCTF). “I think the teachers will be excited to get back to work,” said Balfour. “We’ve been off for a long time, they’re missing their kids, they’re missing their jobs and I think that the mood in the room was very positive.”
See SCHOOL, Page 5
Two dead after industrial accident TRE VOR CR AWLEY
The B.C. Coroners Service has identified two men who died following an industrial motor vehicle incident near Cranbrook on Tuesday. Murray Neil Fadden, 36, of Dryden, Ontario, and Larry John Chorneyko, 58, of Arran, Saskatchewan, were pronounced dead at an accident scene 16 kilometres outside of the city after their Mini Mack truck crashed and over-
turned. Fadden and Chorneyko, employed by a Swansea Ridge Quarry, were driving on a mine site access road that ran parallel to a conveyor. With Fadden behind the wheel and Chorneyko as the passenger, the the truck lost control at the bottom of the track on a steep descent. The B.C. Coroners Service and the B.C. Inspector of Mines continue to investigate these deaths.
COURTESY KAREN CLARK
We are having a wonderful and awesomely successful Tim Horton Smile Cookie Campaign this week. We, the Cranbrook Health Care Auxiliary, and the East Kootenay Foundation for Health, together with both Tim Horton locations are hoping to raise $15,000 to purchase a Glidescope for our very own HART team here at the EKRH. Pictured above are: CHCA President Bonnie B. Close; Odette Rouse, Senior Convenor; Jean Motherwell, Treasurer; Ericka Phillips, E.K. Acute Health Services Administrato; Ann Sakowitz, CHCA Life Member; First Vice President Melanie Dodgson.
Canada Post changes could have financial implications for city, councillor says A R N E P E T RYS H E N Townsman Staff
Canada Post’s decision to end door-to-door delivery and switch to community mailboxes could have bigger issues at stake, says one Cranbrook councillor. Coun. Sharon Cross said the Crown corporation maybe has not taken into consideration the direct impact to local governments in terms of land use policies, rights of way, infrastructure for paving, lighting, waste management and public safety. “Then they go on to say in this letter from Canada Post: ‘with respect to mail theft we work with local police to fully investigate any incident and we continually strengthen the security features of our CNBs
to keep mail secure.’” Cross said at the Sept. 14 council meeting. “Well, Canada Post doesn’t pay for our police services. We do. And by going to these boxes I just think that keeping our mail secure is going to be a real issue.” The letter from Canada Post talks about the conversion of community mailboxes as the cornerstone of the plan to develop its business. Stetski noted that originally the city had asked Canada Post representatives to come to council to address concerns and answer questions. Canada Post responded that they would come at the appropriate time. That likely would be when the actual phase out is occurring. Canada Post mentioned a
package that is going out to for residents who request accommodation in order to help the company ensure that those with disabilities and seniors can still access mail. Coun. Gerry Warner suggested that city staff should request copies for council. “I’d like to see what’s in that package and know what their concept of providing us with a great new service,” Warner said, adding: “though I really don’t think it will be anything of the kind. Canada Post has said that the move away from door-todoor is a necessity. “Digital alternatives are replacing traditional mail and that trend will accelerate,” wrote Susan Margles, from Canada Post. “We had to
transform our business in the face of rapidly declining mail volumes that have put the national postal service at risk. “It is our aim that we remain an efficient, modern postal service that protects taxpayers and is aligned with the choices consumers are making.” Margles noted the concerns about access to the community mailboxes, saying the issue accessibility issue has been the subject of a great deal of consideration. She also noted a program to help individuals who may have difficulties accessing the mailboxes. Residents who need special accommodation to access the mailboxes can call Canada Post at 1-844-454-3009.