The Hope
Standard
Golfers and paddlers bring home medals 19
Office: 604.869.2421 www.hopestandard.com
THURSDAY, SEPTEMBER 25, 2014
news@hopestandard.com
4 TRADITIONAL
TALES LAUNCHED
Support group aims to promote learning for beginner readers
17 NEW ART DISPLAY
AT LOCAL GALLERY
The October backroom exhibit will feature the work of Dagmar and Bill Lucak
KERRIE-ANN SCHOENIT / THE STANDARD
2 RECORD TURNOUT
Coquihalla Elementary School students line up for their busses after the first full day back at school on Tuesday. Teachers ratified a six-year contract last week, signalling an end to their five-week strike which started in June. With school back in session, drivers are reminded a 30-km/h speed limit is in effect in school zones from 8 a.m. to 5 p.m.
About 800 people visited the Nestlé Waters plant in Hope last Saturday
Students back in school this week
AT OPEN HOUSE
INSIDE
Opinion . . . . . . . . . . . . 8 Community . . . . 10 Sports . . . . . . . . . . . 19 Classifieds . . . . . 21 $
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Kerrie-Ann Schoenit and Tom Fletcher Black Press
Students returned to class on Monday, after B.C. teachers voted strongly in favour of ending their strike and returning to work. B.C. Teachers’ Federation members voted 86 per cent in favour of a six-year agreement negotiated with the help of mediator Vince Ready last week. About three out of four of the province’s 40,000 teachers voted. “I’m happy with this deal,” said BCTF president Jim Iker. It gives the province’s teachers raises totalling 7.25 per cent over six years, improvements to benefits and
WATER CONSERVATION TIP
07/14H_DOH31
USE A BROOM, NOT A HOSE, TO CLEAN DRIVEWAYS AND SIDEWALKS
a fund to hire hundreds of new teachers each year. Iker said the turnout for the vote was higher than the union’s last two ratification votes. Education Minister Peter Fassbender congratulated teachers on the settlement, which ends a bitter strike that shut schools for two weeks in June and another three weeks this month. “We can now focus on the path forward,” Fassbender said. “This long-term agreement is a historic opportunity to work together for students – to enhance their education experience and to support their achievements.” Premier Christy Clark added
her thanks on Twitter. “This is a fair, affordable deal that will let us focus on putting students first,” Clark said. Most school districts in the province reopened on Monday, and the ministry has notified superintendents that the school year will not be extended to make up the days lost to the strike. Provincial exams scheduled in November will proceed as scheduled and students who were not able to write some elements of their English 10 and Social Studies 11 exams due to the strike last June will be able to write those exam elements in November. For students on an adjusted se-
mester schedule, the Ministry of Education will schedule an additional set of provincial exam dates in the first week of February so that students can write their exams with equal number of instructional days. Fraser-Cascade school district superintendent Karen Nelson also said teachers will review and adapt the curriculum to best to meet the needs of students. The finance ministry is preparing to send out compensation of $40 per lost student day to parents of students up to age 12. One-time payments are expected to be sent out in October to eligible parents who registered at bcparentinfo.ca
STAGE TWO
WATERING RESTRICTIONS IN EFFECT As per District of Hope Water Regulation Bylaw No. 1271, 2009. Watering is permitted on alternate odd or even calendar days based on civic addresses during the hours of 5:00 a.m. until 9:00 a.m. and 6:00 p.m. until 10:00 p.m. until September 30, 2014. Hand watering is still permitted on any day of the week. Any concerns should be directed to Mr. Vince Coles, Utilities Foreman, at 604-869-2333.