EAGLE VALLEY
NEWS
Unplug and Play and Snow Days events a go Page 6
Eagles find no charity during difficult week Page 7
Wednesday, February 4, 2015 PM40008236
Vol. 60 No. 5 Sicamous, B.C., • 1.25 (GST included) • www.eaglevalleynews.com
District drops recreation co-ordinator Information: Employee uses district email to share news of job loss. By Lachlan Labere Eagle Valley News
Sicamous Mayor Terry Rysz says recreation programming remains a priority of council after the district’s program and events co-ordinator sent out an email announcing her termination. On Friday morning, the News received an email (as did other “undisclosed recipients”) from Jillian Alexander, the District of Sicamous’ program and events manager, announcing her job, which began last May, will end in March. “It is with a heavy heart I write you this morning. Wednesday night at the in-camera meeting, council and mayor decided to eliminate my position with the District, effective March 1st,” states Alexander. “Despite being advised Wednesday night otherwise, they decided at the in-camera the district couldn’t af- meeting, council and ford to have the posi- mayor decided to tion.” eliminate my posiAsked if this message, tion… Despite being sent through Alexander’s advised otherwise, District of Sicamous they decided the disemail account, was pre- trict couldn’t afford approved by municipal to have the position council and/or the dis- Jillian Alexander trict, Rysz had no comDistrict of Sicamous ment. He did respond to the matter with the following statement: “While deliberating the 2015 budget, we have decided to restructure our recreational programming by reallocating funds previously used for management wages to other activities within the community. Recreation is a priority to council and there are still funds allocated to this within the budget,” said Rysz. In her email, Alexander notes she’ll be tying See Council hears on page 2
Difficult time: The slowdown in the oil industry has hit Sicamous’ TA Structures, where up to 40 people have been temporarily laid off. Work is expected to pick up in about six weeks. Photo by Lachlan Labere
Oil price drop hits home with layoffs
Diversification: Businesses switching focus to serve other markets.
By Lachlan Labere Eagle Valley News
Layoffs have begun among Shuswap businesses feeling the strain of the slowdown in Canada’s oil industry. Sicamous’ TA Structures, which builds mobile living quarters for worksite camps, has had to lay off up to 40 employees in response to the sudden apprehension in the energy resource sector at home and abroad. TA Structures manufacturing manager Nigel Watson says the company isn’t alone – that other worksite accommodation providers are feeling the pinch, including Horizon North Logistics in Kamloops where 130 employees were recently served layoff notices. “It’s unfortunate, we have had to make some layoffs coming in to the new year
here,” said Watson. “Tradi- the Salmon Arm Economic they have other markets,” said tionally at this time of year, Development Society, have Cooper. it’s a little quiet for business- been in communication with Watson says this is the case es like ourselves and the oil some business owners in the for TA Structures, which is in patch. But I think there has industrial park, and confirmed the process of shifting back to been a slowdown somewhat, there have been a few layoffs houseboat construction. and I’m sure you’re aware already. But she’s also heard “Fortunately for us, we Northern (Logistics) got laid from businesses who are do- have three 60-foot houseoff a few weeks ago boats coming into and the price of oil is our plant and the obviously affecting first stages are in the industry somethe welding shop It’s a positive thing coming now, the first boat,” what regarding budout of it and hopefully that said Watson. “We gets and capital exdiversification will keep us have two housependiture.” working and keep the people in boats we’re buildThat slowdown is the community working too. also having an iming for Ontario and pact on businesses in we have one houseNigel Watson Salmon Arm’s indusboat we’re building TA Structures trial park. One ownfor California. So er, who declined to we’ve seen a little have his name used, said his ing OK because they didn’t shift in the market. company is “hurting hard,” have all their eggs in the oilWatson said the company and that he may be consider- sector basket. hasn’t built houseboats on a ing layoffs in the near future. “My understanding is there large scale since 2010, but Salmon Arm Mayor Nancy would be some (layoffs) but, having this ability gives TA a Cooper says she, along with because of the diversification, See Mayors optimistic on page 3