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The Chilliwack Chiefs move on to the second round.
Low snowpack prompts concern.
Honours for young playwright.
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Line of duty funeral planned for volunteer firefighter
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Jessica Peters The Progress A full line of duty funeral is being arranged for Columbia Valley volunteer firefighter Brian Smyth. The 57-year-old suffered a cardiac arrest while fighting a fire on Iverson Road near Cultus Lake on March 4. He had been a member of the Columbia Valley Volunteer Fire Department for seven years. The fire had started at about 5 p.m., and the lone occupant of the home exited safely. At about 9:20 p.m., the regional district said Smyth sought medical attention and was treated on scene. He was then flown to Royal Columbian Hospital, and remained on life support for two days. The FVRD’s Jennifer Kinneman said Smyth “passed away peacefully in the presence of family and friends.” “Smyth continues to give back to others in death, as he donated his organs to save the lives of others,” she added. Smyth is survived by a sister, nephew, grand niece and many friends and neighbours, the FVRD noted. The Fire Chiefs’ Association of BC has sent its condolences to Smyth’s family, to Columbia Valley’s Fire Chief Mike Soth and to the entire fire department. “Events like this remind us all of the dangers firefighters face on a regular basis in service and protection to their communities,” said Continued: MOURNED/ p5
Brian Smyth
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People bask in the sun on a dock at Entrance Bay in Cultus Lake during a warm winter afternoon on Saturday. Temperatures over the weekend reached nearly 17 degrees on both days. JENNA HAUCK/ PROGRESS
Aevitas counters critics with new video Jennifer Feinberg The Progress A controversial waste recycling plant is still in limbo, but a fresh web look for Aevitas Inc. tries to blunt some of the criticism levelled at the proposed project at 7582 Cannor Road. While the Ontario-based proponent awaits word on technical reviews by B.C. Ministry of Environment, and to see if an environmental assessment process will be required, it has released a new video that takes direct aim at criticisms of the proposed location near the Fraser River. In the video, Aevitas president Byron Day is featured in a Q&A style conversation, explaining why the Chilliwack site on Cannor Road in the Cattermole Park is
best for the proposed hazardous waste recycling and transfer station. There is also a 3D look at the architectural drawings for the plant. “For us it’s the best site,” said Day, underlining it was not a “random” selection of Chilliwack, but rather it took a year of exhaustive searching to find the best location for a plant to safely remove mercury from CFC lamps and oil from transformers, among other goals. “This site checked off all the boxes,” he said. It had to be far from residential neighbourhoods, southwest of Hope, well positioned for transport, and “as far away from water as possible.” Every voice opposed to this project has said the location is
wrong because of the proximity to the river, including some Sto:lo leaders, but Day disagrees, providing an online map of local streams, creeks and waterways to show the inherent connectivity. “Look at the Lower Mainland. It’s pretty hard to get away from waterways. “We’d have this problem no matter where we were.” The dike around the Cattermole lands protects to one-in-200 year flood level. Aevitas officials asked for alternate suggestions, and got a couple they looked at and rejected. “But this is the best site that we could choose by far.” What about those who are concerned it’s too close at 200 metres from the river? “Some people are saying we’re
on the Fraser River, but we’re not actually on the river. We’re set back 200 metres and we’re well protected,” he said. There’s the dike, two other lots, an access road between the water and the site. There are also plans for 10 levels of containment, including a clay liner and impervious geomembrane. It would be the 10th facility for Aevitas, a company that considers itself “an industry leader in providing environmentally responsible” waste solutions. See more including the video at http://aevitasweb.wix.com/ aevitas jfeinberg@theprogress.com twitter.com/CHWKjourno
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