Smithers Interior News, March 18, 2015

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108th Year - Week 11 PM 40007014

RDBN TAX HIKE A regional district tax hike was passed.

Wednesday, March 18, 2015

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Hazeltons ice arena shuts doors By Alicia Bridges Hazeltons/Interior News

NEWS/A5

NEW FACES Golf club welcomes new golf pro.

SPORTS/A11

HOME STRETCH Highway of Tears film screens locally.

THREE RIVERS/A30

INSIDE LETTERS SPORTS COMMUNITY OUR TOWN A&E CLASSIFIEDS THREE RIVERS

A7 A8 A13 A17 A21 A23 A29

The only ice arena in the Hazeltons has been closed indefinitely after a safety issue with the roof brought the skating season to an abrupt end last week. The 44-year-old Ken Trombley Memorial Arena was evacuated suddenly at about 4 p.m. last Thursday immediately after a structural engineer inspected the building and deemed it unsafe. The engineer had found a beam that was at risk of falling on the ice. The Village of Hazelton, which is the municipality responsible for the building’s safety, decided to close the arena immediately. “The structural engineer’s concerns were such that he recommended the immediate closure of the building,” said chief administrative officer Tanalee Hesse. “The Skeena Ice Arena Association (operators of the building) and the Village of Hazelton as the municipal authority responsible for the building safety were informed. “In the interest of public safety I chose to take the recommendation of the engineer and close the building immediately.” Skaters with the Hazelton Minor Hockey Association had just started their last practice for the season when the evacuation took place. Association president Ryneld Starr said it was disappointing for the team. “It was really disappointing for them because it was the last day of hockey practice to be told to get off the ice is really tough,” he said. “The [arena] worker came and told us to get off the ice and then there was quite a bit of confusion because we didn’t quite understand what was going on.” He said it was lucky the closure happened at the end of the season but he was concerned the building might still be closed next winter. See ARENA on A29

STANDING STRONG More than 50 people marched from Main Street to the Dze L K’Ant Friendship Society Hall to honour missing and murdered aboriginal women as part of the second annual Stolen Sisters Memorial March last Friday. For the full story and photos, see page. A3. Kendra Wong photo

Ski cross championships to boost local economy By Kendra Wong Smithers/Interior News

With roughly 30 national athletes and countless spectators descending on Smithers for one of the highest-calibre sporting events the town has ever hosted, organizers believe it will also bring an unexpected boost to the town’s tourism economy. Last week, Alpine Canada announced that due to poor weather conditions the National Ski Cross Championships would be relocated from Tabor Mountain in Prince George to Hudson Bay Mountain from March 17-19.

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Since then, the Smithers Ski and Snowboard Club, staff on Hudson Bay Mountain, the Town of Smithers and many volunteers have been furiously planning and organizing the last-minute event. “Having such a high-calibre event gives us an opportunity to show athletes across the country and Alpine Canada what we can do here on our ski hill, as part of the Smithers Ski and Snowboard Club and also as a community,” said Philippe Bernier, co-chair of the event. “It will be the highest calibre event that we’ve ever hosted.” Because ski cross is a relatively new sport, Bernier estimated

there will be 30 to 35 athletes competing. Heather Gallagher, manager with the Smithers Chamber of Commerce, expects the event will draw people from across the northwest region as well. “There’s all sorts of people who would want to come and be involved in watching a race of that magnitude,” she said. “We have Houston close by, Terrace, Prince George, who are the original hosts, and I’m sure there were a lot of people who were excited about the event and would come down as well.” See SKI HILL on A5

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