107th Year - Week 50
Wednesday, December 10, 2014
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VANCOUVER BOUND Lucky local to skate with Canucks.
SPORTS/A12
HIGHWAY OF TEARS Documentary win coincides with new report.
MUSIC TO WARM YOUR HEART
NEWS/A9
Telkwa Elementary School students sing Do You Want to Build a Snowman at the Carolfest event at Smithers Secondary School last Wednesday. Story, Page 25. Alicia Bridges photo
KISPIOX FESTIVAL Next year’s music fest on shaky ground.
THREE RIVERS/B3
INSIDE LETTERS A6 SPORTS A11 COMMUNITY A19 OUR TOWN A23 THREE RIVERS B1 CLASSIFIEDS B8
Feared tourism cuts raised Taxidermist at Smithers meeting illegally By Alicia Bridges Smithers/Interior News
Tourism stakeholders aired their concerns about proposed changes to Destination BC’s funding structure at an information session with the provincial tourism organization in Smithers last week. DBC announced in October it was planning a restructure to reduce duplication and align the work of regional tourism associations, such as Northern BC Tourism, with the provincial marketing strategy. After the announcement, Smithers tourism stakeholders voiced
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concerns the changes could downsize existing tourism groups and reduce access to funding for locallysupported projects. To provide more information about the changes, and its new marketing brand, DBC is holding information sessions at 15 different communities throughout the province. DBC partnership marketing director Peter Harrison, global marketing vice president Maya Lange and destination and industry development vice-president Grant Mackay travelled to Smithers for last Monday’s presentation at the Hudson Bay Lodge. Mackay and Lange started the presentation by
providing a summary of DBC’s marketing approach, both internationally and within Canada, with a campaign that aims to conjure emotion surrounding nature and wilderness in B.C. Harrison then presented the details of how the proposed new funding model would work. An application-based program, it would consist of two funding pools, one reserve and one open. Groups could apply to the reserve funding pool for projects that align with DBC’s three priority areas of skiing, Aboriginal tourism, and touring and exploring. See TOURISM on A5
Enter into our 12 Days of Christmas Draw. You could win a GIANT pallet of groceries!
No purchase necessary for tickets BUT if you make a donation to the BC Children’s Hospital, we’ll give you an extra entry! Start entering Dec.1, final draw is Christmas Eve.
shoots bear
By Chris Gareau Smithers/Interior News
A Smithers-area taxidermist pleaded guilty to two counts under the Wildlife Act in a Smithers courtroom Wednesday after admitting to shooting a grizzly bear on his Babine Lake Road property. Clint Moon, owner of Canyon Creek Taxidermy, shot the bear in October 2013. He was fined $2,500 for making a false statement on a license,
and $250 for unlawful possession of a grizzly bear. Moon was also handed a twoyear hunting license suspension. The rifle used to shoot the bear and the carcass were seized. The total Moon has to pay comes close to $3,300 when the victim surcharge is included. The two-year suspension allows Moon to accompany other hunters after one year, as long as he does not take part. See CONSERV on A10