SLOW DOWN PAGE A4
NEW AUTHOR PAGE A10
CALLING ALL CURLERS PAGE A13
VOTE
November 15 th Voting Times - 8am to 8pm
Friday, November 14, 2014
VOL. 101 NO. 22
www.quesnelobserver.com
PM 40005365
1
$ 30
includes GST
Shelter receives funding for extreme weather beds AUTUMN MacDONALD Observer Reporter The B.C. government is funding 10 extreme weather shelter spaces at Seasons House this winter. “We always have overflow,” Seasons House Executive Director Melanie MacDonald said. “We never turn anyone away, unless they’re a risk.” Funding for the spaces begins now until March 31, 2015 as communities issue extreme weather alerts for their area. “Extreme weather shelter beds aim to support homeless people that might be turned away due to a lack of bed space,” Cariboo North MLA Coralee Oakes said. “The extreme weather shelter beds are made possible by funding from the provincial government working with community partners on how and when these beds are best utilized. With the minus temperatures we receive in Quesnel it is an important addition to the services provided at Seasons House through the winter months.” Each community decides what weather conditions warrant an alert and how many spaces to activate on a given night, depending on the capacity of existing shelters and the estimated need. “We have 10 – 20 in our overflow every night,” MacDonald said, pointing out the “extra” beds are always provided but during the extreme weather months they are funded for them. “Housing and homelessness is a huge issue in our community.” MacDonald also spoke to the centre’s drop-in program which provides showers and laundry services, as well as a food program where they feed “hundreds a month.” “We get in between 40 and 50 for breakfast, and up to 60 for evening snack,” she said, noting those numbers do not include the drops-ins throughout the day for coffee or sandwiches. Throughout the province, the B.C. government is providing up to $1.6 million this winter to make more than 1,100 temporary emergency shelter spaces serving more than 90 communities.
QUESNEL CHIROPRACTIC
Dr. Michael Duperron ( Accepting ICBC Patients )
&
Sarah Honey RMT Open
- Mon, Tues, Thurs & Fri
274 Reid Street 250-992-5110
Lest we forget Cadets stand guard at the Cenotaph during the laying of the wreaths. For more Remembrance Day coverage see pages A2, A3, A5, A8 and A9.
ChiropraCtiC help
Annie Gallant photo
Good day, Quesnel. Thanks for reading — and that includes loyal subscriber M. Cormier! To join the Observer family, please call 250-992-2121 and ask for circulation.
Bringing Our
Community
TOGETHER Re-Elect MARY SJOSTROM for Mayor Authorized by Financial Agent Bev Haluschak - 250 255 6350
www.maryformayor.ca