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Vol. 120, Issue 22
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Exercise and Parkinson’s Page 2
PROUDLY SERVING THE COMMUNITIES OF ROSSLAND, WARFIELD, TRAIL, MONTROSE, FRUITVALE & SALMO
Construction decline has RDKB reviewing building service BY SHERI REGNIER Times Staff
Comparing commercial to residential construction is like comparing apples to oranges. But a downward trend of big builds over six years means much less green in the regional district's building permit basket. During the years of boom, the Regional District of Kootenay Boundary (RDKB) built up reserves when the service's building inspectors were occupied with engineering or architectural plans, and on the road field checking industrial and commercial sites stretching from Ross Spur to Big White. With that money stream drying up, save for mostly homeowner renovations, the regional district is looking at ways to sustain its building inspection service. The department provides building inspection services to all five electoral areas and on a contract basis, to six municipalities. Two RDKB building inspectors are based in Grand Forks, and three in the Trail office. The regional district is contracted by each municipality to ensure that all buildings conform to the B.C. Building Code and applicable bylaws. “A sizeable revenue reserve was established to offset taxation when construction activity was very high at Big White and elsewhere in the region,” explains Mark Andison, RDKB's general manager of operations. “But, with lesser building activity over the past few years (since 2008), that reserve has been depleted.” The service's year-end report shows a decrease of 50 permits since 2013. The combined total construction value amounts to $16.6 million compared to $33.8 million the year previous, within RDKB's rural areas and municipal participants in Fruitvale, Montrose, Trail, Warfield, Greenwood and Midway. While that number appears dramatic, locally there's more to the service than dollar signs. “It’s difficult to compare the year-to-year overall building value for Trail,” says Michelle McIsaac, the city's corporate administrator. “As the building value is heavily influenced by projects at Teck and the construction undertaken there in any given year.” According to the RDKB's building summary, there were zero building permits issued for the industrial, commercial and institutional markets in the city last year. Total building values for Trail in 2013 topped $13.9 million compared to $4.1 million in 2014. See TECK, Page 3
SHERI REGNIER PHOTO
Excitement was palpable and giggles abundant Wednesday night in the Rossland Summit School, during the first dress rehearsal for the cast of Anne of Green Gables. The 1908-inspired garments were constructed by costume mistress Shirley McLim. The Rossland Light Opera (RLOP) production of the Canadian literary classic takes centre stage in the Charles Bailey Theatre Feb. 20 and 21 at 7 p.m., and Feb. 22 for a 2 p.m. matinee. The show moves back to the Rossland Summit School on Feb. 27 and Feb 28 for 7 p.m. performances. RLOP actors (front to back) Sasha Leithead as Ruby Gillis; Julia Halbert, Anne; Brooklyn Donovan as Tillie; Kai Kruus, Gertie Pye; Hannah Flick, Diana Barry; Hollie Arsenault, Josie Pye; and Delaine Bowlman as Prissy.
Rossland Light Opera Players present Canadian classic BY ALICIA WALLACE Rossland News
It has been half a century since Anne of Green Gables first opened in a Charlottetown theatrical performance and now, for the first time this February, the play will be performed by the Rossland Light Opera Players (RLOP) in venues located in Trail and Rossland.
The RLOP have not performed a major musical in the previous two years and since the fall of 2013, have been working towards this Canadian classic based on the 1908 novel by Lucy Montgomery. Marnie Jacobson of RLOP has always wanted to bring the Prince Edward Island story to life in Rossland and presented the idea to the RLOP executive
committee over two years ago. Back then it was considered too expensive due to the royalty fees. Since then, RLOP member Karen Yamazaki was able to negotiate royalties, cutting them in half to bring a little piece of Canada’s operatic history to the Kootenays. “It just made sense to do a Canadian play,” said Yamazaki. See FULL, Page 3
The Waneta Terrestrial Compensation Program is now accepting applications for 2015.
Contact the Times: Phone: FineLine250-368-8551 Technologies 62937 Index 9 Fax:JN250-368-8550 80% 1.5 BWR NU Newsroom: 250-364-1242 Canada Post, Contract number 42068012
Visit columbiapower.org/WTCP to learn more about this program and to find the application package.