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The eagles descend on the annual Harrison Eagle Festival.
Helping hungry students.
Chiefs pound Prince George.
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RCMP recognized for bravery Four RCMP members who helped rescue a young woman from an icy, water-filled ditch nearly two years ago in Chilliwack were recognized in Victoria on Thursday. Corporals Lee Dyson and Layne Penner (currently with Surrey detachment), and Constables Kevin Morris and Matt Wright were among 68 police officers who received meritorious service awards for “exemplary performance that exceeds expectations and enhances the public image of police officers.” Another 19 officers received the award of valour, the highest award for a police officer in B.C. The four Chilliwack members responded to a desperate 9-1-1 call on a snowy December morning in 2012. An 18-year-old woman had lost control of her vehicle; it was in a ditch and filling with water – fast. RCMP descended on the area and finally located the vehicle on Gibson Road. Knowing time was running out for whoever is inside, several police officers jumped into the water and tried to lift the car up high enough to expose the back window, while another officer tried to break it with a window punch. When that didn’t work, the officer began punching the window with his bare fist until it broke. He then crawled inside the water-filled car and pulled the woman to safety, handing her off to another officer outside who swam her to the edge of the ditch. A waiting ambulance took her to Chilliwack General Hospital where was treated for Stage 1 hypothermia. “By the time police reached me, the water was up to my neck,” the young girl later recalled. “A bunch of the officers went in the water to lift the car, and the next thing I knew I was being pulled out,” she said. “(Then) we had to swim.” “I am just so grateful to everyone who was there yesterday to help me.” At the time, Chilliwack RCMP called Continued: HEROIC/ p10
Mayor Sharon Gaetz prepares to make the first donation to the Salvation Army’s annual kettle campaign at City Hall on Wednesday. With her are (from left) Salvation Army Captains Tracy and Orest Goyak, and volunteer coordinator Hank Pilotte. JENNA HAUCK/ PROGRESS
Filling the kettles starts this weekend Jennifer Feinberg The Progress Get ready for those iconic red kettles to make their annual debut in Chilliwack this weekend. Christmas Kettle volunteers will be ringing the bells at 14 separate locations, including outside some grocery stores, pharmacies and liquor stores. Chilliwack Salvation Army captains Orest and Tracy Goyak are the new pastors, who joined Mayor Sharon Gaetz and Kettle campaign coordinator Hank Pilotte for the 12th annual Christmas
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Kettle Campaign launch at City Hall this week. “Being new to Chilliwack, it’s been amazing for us to see such support for the community,” said Captain Orest Goyak. “People really have a heart for the Army here.” The local Sally Ann will be looking to fill a whopping 3800 hours with volunteers in twohour kettle shifts throughout the pre-Christmas season. That’s in order to meet the 2014 aim of raising $140,000 in Chilliwack, in their biggest fundraising effort of the year. “It’s tremendously important that we achieve our goal,”
said campaign coordinator Hank Pilotte. They’ll be out this weekend and next. As of Nov. 27, they’ll be on duty Monday to Saturday until closing with the kettles. The funds stay in Chilliwack, and go to fund Sally Ann food banks, family services, hampers, clothing and household vouchers, emergency services, housing assistance and more. “I am just so thankful for the people who get out there in Chilliwack and actually do this,” Mayor Sharon Gaetz said about kettle volunteers. “It cheers me up and touches my heart when the little kids
come over to put something in a kettle. What a wonderful thing for people to teach their kids.” With the public’s generosity, The Salvation Army last year in Canada: • provided 6,035 shelter, addictions, detox and mental health beds each night for vulnerable men, women and families in Canada. • ser ved 2.6 million free meals. • assisted 1.35 million people with food, clothing or practical assistance. jfeinberg@theprogress.com twitter.com/chwkjourno