Smithers Interior News, March 18, 2015

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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The Interior News

Wednesday, March 18, 2015

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Smithereens join national terror bill protest

By Chris Gareau

or industry’s decision,” said Cullen, who does not believe the bill is needed after several arrests of alleged terrorists in Canada.

“No one’s justified that, and... how ruining so many of our cherished rights of freedom of speech and assembly is good for the Canadian people; and stoking the fears of terrorism and invoking the Holocaust, which both Liberals and Conservatives have done to justify their arguments, is both offensive to me and many Canadians,” said Cullen.

“The way to get out of this is to just talk to your neighbour and to reduce inequalities... you do not fight violence with violence,” said Wier, who gathered 33 signatures for a petition to stop the bill.

Smithers/Interior News

Protestors gathered outside the Smithers Curling Centre on a wet and blustery Saturday morning to voice their opposition to the new federal Bill C-51, dubbed the Anti-Terror Act. Organizer Josette Weir said she was trying to “put Smithers on the map” on the national day of protest against the bill. Smithers was the only community in the Northwest to officially take part in the movement that saw demonstrations from Victoria to St. John’s and Yellowknife.

“We feel that we’re a part of the Canadian scene, that we’re not a little outpost and our voice counts,” said Wier.

Over a dozen

Bill C-51 demonstrators battle the weather in Smithers Saturday to battle the new Anti-Terror bill as part of a nation-wide protest.

Chris Gareau photo

protestors fought the wind, snow and rain to remind people of their concerns.

“It’s an erosion of democracy, it’s bringing fear into people’s life. It’s so against Canadian values; it’s a Canada I don’t recognize,” said Wier, who moved here 38 years ago from France.

A big concern

opponents voice is that the new policing and information gathering powers for the RCMP and Canada’s spy agency CSIS would unfairly target protestors. The bill does allow exceptions for art and “lawful” demonstrations.

Wier described herself as an intervenor against the Enbridge Northern Gateway

pipeline proposed to cross northern B.C. “I very likely will be on the list of future what’s called terrorists,” said Wier.

S ke e n a - B u l k l e y Valley opposition MP Nathan Cullen echoed the protestors concerns last week. “[It] seeks to criminalize people who oppose a particular government

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The Interior News

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Wednesday, March 18, 2015

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March remembers missing women

By Alicia Bridges Smithers/Interior News

The heart of Smithers swelled with the sound of a Wet’suw et’en womens’ warrior song on Friday, when a procession of 50 marched down Main Street to honour missing and murdered aboriginal women.

Local First Nations women, some wearing traditional button blankets, sang and drummed to a steady rhythm as they led the Stolen Sisters Memorial March last week.

The march began at the junction of Main Street and Highway 16, the latter a notorious stretch of highway at the centre of 18 unsolved murders and disappearances.

Among the victims are women from the Hazeltons, Gitsegukla, Terrace, Prince Rupert and Smithers.

The families of some of those victims attended the march, some carrying photographs of the mothers, daughters, sisters or wives who vanished from their

lives.

For people close to the victims, the second annual march was a chance to keep their memory alive, but it was also a call to action.

According to a 2014 report by the RMCP, the number of missing and murdered aboriginal women in Canada totals more than 1,180.

The same report says aboriginal women are over-represented among the country’s missing and murdered women, and that most of those homicides were committed by men known to the victims.

Maddy Wilson’s 16-yearold daughter Ramona disappeared near Smithers in 1994. Her body was found near the Smithers Regional Airport in 1995.

Speaking after last week’s march, Wilson added her voice to the call for a national inquiry, something Prime Minister Stephen Harper has repeatedly rejected, saying studies have already been done.

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The Interior News

Wednesday, March 18, 2015

N EWS

March brings hope for families From MISSING on A3 Wilson also emphasized the need for increased scheduled transportation between communities along Highway 16, widely known as the Highway of Tears.

“There’s so many isolated areas like Kispiox, Kitwancool, Gitsegukla, Babine and all these areas,” she said.

“Some of them are way out in the bush and you need some kind of schedule for the weekend, even a small little bus that can take them wherever they want to go every weekend, that would be the answer.”

A shuttle bus service was a recommendation of the 2006 Highway of Tears Symposium Recommendations Report, but the provincial government has abandoned the concept because it said it would not help.

Despite the challenges to finding solutions, Wilson said attitudes towards aboriginal women had changed for the better since her daughter was killed.

First Nations women sang a womens’ warrior Although she believes the federal and song at the march.

Kendra Wong photo provincial governments should be doing more, locally, events like the march gave her hope that more women could be protected in the future. that our missing moms, our missing sisters, our “It gives us more strength to carry on and to missing cousins, they’ll still live on,” she said. avoid another person to be missing because these “They live on in you. They live on in [my people, these murderers figure that we would have daughter] and I cried when I did the march with you just forgotten about this.” today and I sang the womens’ warrior song and I “This is going to keep on happening every remembered mom. year and we’ll be standing, if not me it will be my “This is part of my healing, part of your healing, children, grandchildren and my supporters and part of our healing as a community.” this will never end.

Smithers Mayor Taylor Bachrach, who has “As long as we have this, these murderers will been an outspoken advocate for increased know that we are not going to stand for it, no.” public transportation on Highway 16, spoke Donalee Sebastian was 16 when her mother at the march.

Elsie went missing from Vancouver’s Downtown He said recognition of the need to find Eastside in 1993. solutions was growing across Canada.

Sharing her story with a crowd at the Dze L “This is not something in our past, K’Ant Friendship Society Hall after the march, this is very much a tragedy that is created Sebastian said her mother’s disappearance was by circumstances that we still see in our not taken seriously by investigators for many communities every single day,” he said. years after her death.

“It’s time that we create communities “Because she was an aboriginal woman who and a society that is free from the kind of lived with addiction, she was marginalized, she discrimination that we’ve seen where all was judged and she was pushed out of society,” people from all walks of life look out for each she said. other and recognize each other’s humanity But Sebastian also spoke of the hope instilled in and create safety for each other.” her by last week’s march.

Pointing to her one-year-old daughter, she spoke of the need to remember that missing and murdered women lived on in their children.

“I hope that each family member who did this walk today find hope in their heart too, to remember Give your smile

Request for Proposals Chandler Park Field Upgrades

Proposals for the Chandler Park Field Upgrades will be received by the Town of Smithers up to 2:00pm Thursday, April 2, 2015.

The Town of Smithers (“the Town”) is seeking an experienced consultant to complete a detailed soccer field design, redevelopment plans and maintenance plans for Chandler Park.

Terms of Reference for the RFP are available at the Town Office or electronically on the Town’s website or on BC Bid. All proposals will be examined as to their sufficiency and submitted to Town Council for selecting a consultant. The Town reserves the right to waive informalities in or reject any or all proposals, or to accept the proposal deemed most favourable in the interest of the Town. The lowest fee, or any proposal, may not necessarily be accepted. In no event will the Town of Smithers be responsible for the costs of preparation and submission of a Proposal. The Town’s Purchasing Policy applies.

Questions with regard to the tender documents shall be directed to: Mark Allen, P.Eng. Director of Development Services Town of Smithers 1027 Aldous Street, P.O. Box 87 Smithers, B.C. V0J 2N0 Phone 250 847 1600 Fax 250 847 1601

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The Interior News

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Wednesday, March 18, 2015

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Event benefits ski hill From ECONOMY on Front She noted that in the past events as large as this have had positive impacts on the local economy, with spectators roaming Main Street, eating at restaurants and hitting the night spots.

“It gives exposure to the community in many ways for these skiers to talk positively about it and other people could be persuaded to come back,” said Gallagher.

Hudson Bay Mountain is also feeling the positive effects of hosting the last-minute event.

“It’s a really big honour for something like this to happen at Hudson Bay Mountain,” said Chrissy Chapman, resort services manager.

“I really hope that the community comes up and really supports it and supports the mountain to put on an event like this, so that we can show the media and people that are coming just how awesome it is so that we can hold future events like this.”

Bernier believes the town is equipped to handle the sudden influx of athletes and spectators.

If all goes well, he also hopes it could put Smithers on the map as a destination for future large-scale sporting events.

“In the future, when they’re building their calendars for the upcoming year, maybe they’ll think of Smithers as a location to host either NorAms or the Canadian championships again,” said Bernier.

RDBN tax hike passed

By Flavio Nienow and Chris Gareau Black Press

Prepare your pockets. Taxation on region-wide services will increase by 15.5 per cent, and regional rural services will increase by 22.4 per cent.

The board of directors of the Regional District of Bulkley-Nechako (RDBN) approved a draft of this year’s budget Thursday.

Tax rates for $100,000 residential properties went from 1.03 to 1.23 for rural taxpayers; and from 0.8 to 0.92 in 2015 for municipal taxpayers.

Hans Berndorff, financial administrator for the RDBN, explained that the reason tax rates have been kept relatively low over

the past years is because the regional district has been relying on surpluses from previous years.

In 2014, the RDBN had a reduction of $452,000 in their surplus, and as a result, taxpayers are paying the price.

Smithers mayor and district director Taylor Bachrach said he struggles to accept that the RDBN relies on previous years’ surpluses to fund their current budgets.

“The surpluses [in Smithers] usually go into a reserve, and it’s supposed to be used only for special projects,” he said.

Bachrach asked board directors and staff if there was a way they could transition into linking tax increases to changes in service levels.

See BACHRACH on A20

Information Night

Join us in the Fight against Cancer.

Come to the Alpenhorn Thursday March 19th from 5pm to find out more about this fun family event.

Daffodil Dash Challenge April 26th 12-4pm Heritage Park 3 or 5k walk with fun activities & challenges along the way Silent Auction Family Fun Barbecue cancer.ca/daffodildash

Team Registration packages at: The Twin Valley Inn, Hetherington & Hooper, Heartstrings, Pharmasave and the Bulkley Valley Credit Union.

Ground to Griddle Neighbourhood Kitchen

FOOD CHALLENGE For our last challenge we asked people to share movies that had inspired them to cook something. Here are some food-related movies that they recommended. You can see all our challenges on the Ground to Griddle blog on the SCSA website (www.scsa.ca).

Call for BC Artists and Cultural Workers

Photo: Sara Machtaler

Are you an artist or cultural worker active in promoting arts and culture in your community? If so, BC Culture Days invites you to apply to be the next BC Culture Days Ambassador!

The top finalist will win a trip to the National Congress on Culture in Edmonton, May 7 & 8, 2015 and $2,500 towards the production of their Culture Days event, September 25-27, 2015! In addition, up to 10 finalists will be awarded $1,000 towards production of Culture Days events in their community.

Deadline: April 13, 2015 For submission criteria and guidelines or details on upcoming Culture Days information sessions, please visit BC.CultureDays.ca

Questions?

Contact: Kimberly Lipscombe 250-847-9515

To register your 2015 Culture Days event visit CultureDays.ca We gratefully acknowledge the financial support of the Province of British Columbia.

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A6

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2010

O PINION

The Interior News

Wednesday, March 18, 2015

CANADIAN COMMUNITY NEWSPAPER AWARD 2012

CANADIAN COMMUNITY NEWSPAPER AWARD 2013

I do care about who might be next, but do we all?

F

ollowing the first-ever national round table on missing and murdered indigenous women, it is with a heavy heart that I am writing about this ongoing tragedy — a national epidemic of violence that persists in devastating ever more families each year, prompting a growing number of aboriginal women to ask: “Am I next?”

UEST IEW According to the RCMP, the tragedy has made about 1,200 Sen. Sandra Lovelace Nicholas victims, on and off reserves, between 1980 and 2012. A stark reality of poverty, unemployment and violence can be summarized in one disturbing fact: aboriginal women are five times more likely to be murdered than non-aboriginal ones!

Action must be taken on several fronts: Justice, support, protection and prevention. It must be championed at the community, municipal, provincial and federal levels.

While the renewed calls by premiers for a public inquiry are strong indicators of their commitment, the federal government has been sending half-hearted signals. It speaks

G

V

about action, but its so-called plan is nothing more than a laundry list of existing piecemeal initiatives — many of them a mere continuation of inadequate efforts not even specific to aboriginal women.

More troubling is the prime minister’s and his ministers’ view of this tragedy. They are not only dismissing calls for a public enquiry, but deny that this is a social phenomenon.

For them, it is rather a series of isolated, family-based crimes that are best addressed through police investigations.

This approach is truly disturbing.

• Why do they persist in making the issue solely a First Nations one and in believing that the only valid solutions should focus on changing behaviors of aboriginal men on reserves?

• Who believes there is no correlation between the crisis and generalized gender- and race-based discrimination, continued impoverishment or economic marginalization?

• Rather than focusing on police investigations, shouldn’t we be proactive and do something BEFORE people go missing?

• If everything is known about the issue, why is it continuing and why are 20 per cent of the cases still unsolved?

We need to understand how to bring the perpetrators to justice, provide closure to the families, and protect women from criminals walking free in their communities.

In a strongly worded report released this month, the UN

InteriorNEWS THE

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expert committee on the Elimination of Violence against Women concluded that Canada was responsible for “grave violations” of human rights due to its “protracted failure” to take sufficient action to stop violence against indigenous women and girls.

As a direct result of this government’s inaction, we are now dealing with frustrated aboriginal communities that feel ignored. And, more importantly, we are no closer to ensuring that aboriginal women are treated the same as any other Canadian woman when it comes to being protected against violent crimes.

Is another one day round table in 2016 really the solution to this horrific tragedy? I hope not!

The government needs to do much more. The conditions for a larger national conversation must be created to send a strong signal to aboriginal women that they are not “invisible.” A national inquiry would provide an opportunity for a “foundational” look at the issue and form the basis for coordinated national action. Information, education and action need to go hand- in-hand to prevent this human crisis from persisting.

There is no alternative. Ignoring the calls of experts, organizations and citizens pleading for such conversation is not only disrespectful but indicates — not only to aboriginal communities, but to all Canadians — that we are indeed indifferent as to “who is next”!

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The Interior News

www.interior-news.com

Wednesday, March 18, 2015

L ETTERS Affordable housing project still a work in progress Editor: Re: Dik Tiy Housing Society Project We wish to thank you for your article in (the March 4) edition. We are appreciative of your efforts to bring greater understanding to your readers about the vital need for affordable housing. Even though, we as a Society, have been working on this project for the past seven-plus years, it is particularly important to communicate to your readers that our venture is still in its early days of development with BC Housing; and will be subsequently evaluated for its viability and long-term sustainability.

We have no commitment from BC Housing but hope that as we progress, we will be able to provide the essential housing options of affordability to the Bulkley Valley. We value the dedication of our community and government in this pursuit.

Murray A Hawse Board president Dik Tiy Housing Society

Concerned for Telkwa’s democratic process Editor: I’m writing this letter with concerns for the democratic process being subverted by Telkwa’s new “transparent” and “open” Mayor Darcy Repen.

Our village is now entering the budget phase of the year, the single most important thing elected officials are entrusted with; the reason we vote, and the reason why most people put their name forward for office.

We entrust a council to have our best interests at heart and to bring their experience and expertise to this most important part of democracy. At a recent meeting

FASSBENDER LOOKS INTO BALANCED LEARNING B.C. Education Minister Peter Fassbender tests his coordination at Lake Kathlyn Elementary Monday morning. Fassbender visited the Bulkley Valley to see some of the innovations of the Bulkley Valley School District, including student self regulation and Smithers Secondary School’s bio-dome.

Chris Gareau photo

Mayor Repen tried to bully the new council and staff into forgoing this democratic exercise and instead allow him to start a finance committee with people appointed by him and him alone. His reasoning for this was these volunteers that he will appoint have more expertise and a bigger skill set than elected officials or staff for that matter, never once saying how he came to these conclusions.

Thankfully there are strong councillors who vigorously opposed this and the mayor was forced to back down. There is no transparency in this, there is no openness either. And I suspect it won’t be his last attempt to do something like this.

Google his name and you will see he’s been railing against “the system” since university. He cares not about being mayor, he stated it on more than one occasion. He cares about a twisted anti-government agenda, period. His new facebook page is heavily edited by him and he will not allow any dissenting views or opinions.

Those who offer them are

Your

Grant Harris Publisher

TO:

T HE E DITOR

Letters to the editor policy

Letters are welcomed up to a maximum of 250 words. Letters are subject to editing for clarity, brevity and legality. All letters must include the writer’s name, daytime telephone number and hometown for verification purposes. Anonymous, or pen names will not be permitted. Not all submissions will be published. Letters may be e-mailed to: editor@ interior-news.com.

promptly blocked and their posts deleted. Once again no transparency, just someone trying to control the public’s views of him and not allowing any discourse that displeases him. The proof’s in the pudding. I encourage anyone to try criticizing the new “un-mayor” as he calls himself, and see what happens.

This mayor needs to remember that he received less than one-third of the registered voters’ support, and some of that support came from a spurious article by this paper. He claims he will go door-to-door to talk to citizens, but... once again, very democratic of him... will make his decisions based on people who support him and disregard the rest, I guess.

TEAM

Chris Gareau Editor

Laura Botten Front Office

It’s time he start representing everyone in Telkwa, not just the people who voted for him. And time for him to close his mouth and listen for a change.

It gives me no pleasure to write this letter. But Mr. Repen needs to be shown that he isn’t all powerful in his position as mayor, and he ain’t the smartest guy in the room!

I won’t hold my breath waiting for him to do so.

Rick Fuerst Telkwa

Fish fit for food Editor: I was recently happy to see Kuterra Land Based Fish Farm Atlantic Salmon

for sale at our local Safeway. This is big time, and for any followers of the open net cage fish farming controversy, to be able to support the land-based solution should be on everybody’s must buy list. Kuterra is a fully owned Namgis First Nation landbased fish farm located at Alert Bay, Vancouver Island. They are the first land -based fish farm in North America to grow Atlantic Salmon. Atlantics are the choice of the market place and Kuterra wants to lead the way in meeting the demand for these fish in a sustainable way. And they are proving that it’s profitable to do, plus the health benefits to humans are surprising.

Open net cage farming of Atlantic salmon is associated with chemicals, hormones, waste, parasites, pathogens, antibiotics, marine pollution, escapes and disease transfer. Kuterra land-raised Atlantic salmon come from tanks completely separated from the environment. They get their water from the ground aquifer and return 85 per cent back completely filtrated. There

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are no chemicals or antibiotics needed for this stress-free environment for the fish to grow at higher rates using 30 per cent less feed. As a result this new land raising technology is fast spreading around the world as a viable way to produce healthy choice food to a growing world population. Compare that to the open net cage industry which seems to be creating an unhealthy marine environment and an unhealthy food product. And now we can go to our local Safeway to purchase Kuterra, I have twice now and the quality was surprisingly excellent.

The Namgis owned land base facility is first rate with all kinds of amazing technology that is proving to produce one of the healthiest fish products on the planet, a made in B.C. solution to the problems associated with open net cage farming is now open for all to see. And what is the reaction of the B.C. and federal governments?

Open up more opportunities for new open net cage farms on the B.C. coast! And our north coast is next for this madness if we don’t support Kuterra and demonstrate as a market that we don’t want the crap that our own government is so sold on. That kind of sellout is not a solution. Kuterra is a solution that should be supported and spread throughout B.C., and the open net cage industry should be given the opportunity to convert to this new technology before our wild salmon and many other marine resources are severely compromised. The marketplace can change the equation.

Kuterra is premium priced because the flavour and health quality are exceptional. I prefer meat over fish any day even though I have guided for fish for many years. But Kuterra surprised me and I want more. And it’s sad that our own home waters are not as healthy as they could be. Something is wrong with that picture but we could send a message to the fish managers.

Pierce Clegg Smithers

THE INTERIOR NEWS, P.O. Box 2560, Smithers, B.C. 3764 Broadway Ave. • Phone 847-3266 Fax 847-2995 NEWS: editor@interior-news.com • ADVERTISING: advertising@interior-news.com

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BVCS Royals finish 9th at provincials

By Kendra Wong Smithers/Interior News

home.

“I think it’s pretty awesome that they chose Smithers just to host it,” said Liam Huxtable, adding that he plans on attending as many races as he can.

“I want to see all the races,” said the 12-year-old.

According to Philippe Bernier, co-chair of the event, it’s valuable experience for up-and-coming ski cross athletes to see professionals compete.

The Bulkley Valley Christian School’s senior boys’ basketball team finished provincials in Langley with the best results they’ve had in years.

The Royals went 3-1 over the weekend to capture 9th place against 16 teams in the 1A tier.

“We performed above expectations,” said head coach Chris Steenhof. “Our guys came ready to play and it was a great end to the season for them.”

Heading into the tournament, the Royals were ranked 12th.

First up, they were matched up against the Kelowna Christian School (who would go on to win provincials this year).

But the team did not start the tournament the way they had hoped.

According to Steenhof, the team managed to stay in the game until the third quarter when they got into foul trouble. Kelowna managed to pull away in the fourth quarter and defeated the Royals 63-40.

“That was disheartening for the boys to lose their first game,” said Steenhof. “After you lose the first game the best you can do is 9th. But we were resilient and came back in our other three games and played very well.”

Despite their first game loss, the team remained focused on the upcoming games and improved their on-court play.

In the next three games, the team came out strong, establishing substantial leads in the first quarter.

“Just by using full-court pressure defence and our guys worked really hard and we got lots of points off turnovers,” added Steenhof.

In the second game versus Fernie, senior Caleb Groot stepped up his game, scoring seven three-pointers in one half to help lift the team to a 72-37 win.

“He was definitely our best three-point shooter,” said Steenhof.

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CONQUERING EVEREST Roughly 125 people participated in this year’s Extreme Everest Challenge on Hudson Bay Mountain last weekend. As part of the 24-hour event, individuals climbed up and down the Skyline chairlift 18 times or 8,848 metres, the distance to the summit of Mount Everest. All proceeds go towards the Live It! Love it! Foundation.

For more photos, visit www.interior-news.com Kendra Wong photo

Local ski cross athletes get opportunity to see pros compete

By Kendra Wong Smithers/Interior News

With the National Ski Cross Championships already underway this week, many young local athletes are excited to see their heroes in action and will use the experience to perfect their own skills on the hill.

“I think it’s cool to know that our hill is suitable to have a national event,” said Chantel Wickson, a 15-year-old ski cross racer with the Smithers Ski

and Snowboard Club.

Wickson, along with fellow racers Kalum Huxtable and Kaillian Smale, are hoping to volunteer with the event, either working bibs or video-taping the finishes.

“I’m really excited. All my favourite athletes are going to be there,” said Huxtable, adding he hopes to catch national ski cross racers Brady Leman and Marielle Thompson while they compete on Hudson Bay Mountain.

Other athletes are also excited to see national-level competitions so close to

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To list your nonprofit coming events please drop off your listing at The Interior News, 3764 Broadway Ave., fax us at 250-847-2995, or email laura@interior-news.com. More information is available through our Online Community Calendar at www.interior-news.com. Deadline for submissions is Fridays at noon. Maximum 25 words. Limited space is available. We regret we cannot accept items over the phone.

Northern Saddle Club Bingo, 7 p.m. at The Old Church. Thursdays, March 19, April 2. Doors open at 6:30 p.m. Prizes up to $1,400.

Smithers Spring Home-based Business Show Saturday, March 21, 10 a.m. to 2 p.m. at the Dze L K’ant Friendship Centre Hall. Angela or Nakita 250-847-5211.

Free Senior Income Tax Clinic Saturday, March 21, 1-4 p.m. at Pioneer Activity Centre Senior Hall.

Staffie 250-847-2380 for apt. Some restrictions may apply.

Divas & Friends Variety Show presents Songs from the Silver Screen Saturday, March 21, 7:30 p.m. at the Della Herman Theatre. Showcasing an amazing range of talent. Tickets at Mountain Eagle Books, Interior Stationery, and at the door. Proceeds to the Art Gallery.

BV Toastmasters International Speech Contest Monday, March 23, 7 p.m. at NWCC, Room 109.

GETTING A LIFT Roughly 86 people from all over the North participated in this year’s annual Trix in the Stix competition at the Rayz Terrain Park on Hudson Bay Mountain on Sunday. Winners include Elsa Nisbet, Katie Peterson, Toan and Tosh Krauskopf, Kevin Whitecotton, Thayna Healey, Tyler Anderson and Quin Hill.

Kendra Wong photo

The foundation of my Community starts with you and me.

EDUCATION

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COMMUNITY MAKES YOU. YOU MAKE YOUR COMMUNITY. Because of endowment funds such as the Sports Legacy Fund the Bulkley Valley Community Foundation has been able to provide grants to organizations for projects that support community development through sports including recent grants for ski equipment for the Morice Mountain Nordic Ski Club and to the Smithers Saltos Gymnastics Club to assist with the purchase of new matting.

BV Community Foundation bvcf.ca • 250.847.3310

communityfoundations.ca

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RECREATION

Snack and refreshments, info about club. Linden Buhr 250-847-1951 or Lar Hobenshield 250-8459184.

Balancing the Head and Heart for PEace of Mind with Philip Ponchet Tuesday, March 24, 1 p.m. & 7 p.m. at Capri Motor Inn. www.innerpeacemovement.ca.

250-842-3355.

Helping Canadians Live with Mental Illness Wednesdays March 25 to May 27. For anyone in a caring relationship with someone who has a mental illness. Clara Donnelly 250-847-9779.

Smithers Film Series TBA Sunday, March 29, 7:30 p.m. at the Roi Theatre. No title announced yet, watch for details.

Free Computer Tutoring at Smithers Public Library.

Lost on the Information Highway? Book a free oneon-one apt ongoing to March 2015: Wednesdays to Fridays 1-5 p.m., Saturdays 10:30 a.m. to 2:30 p.m.

250-847-3043.

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S PORTS Strengthening Young ski cross racers hope to Families pick up tips, tricks from pros

British Columbia Schizophrenia Society

From OPPORTUNITY on A8 “We’ve embraced ski cross as a club and now we have the ability to show our young athletes what it takes to be a world cup athlete,” said Bernier.

“It also gives us the opportunity to have our young kids meet world cup athletes and maybe aspire to be world cup athletes.”

In an effort to upgrade the current ski cross track on Hudson Bay Mountain, they have brought in a driver from Tabor Mountain in Prince George, where nationals were originally slated to take place.

“Essentially what we’ve done is we’ve extended it up the hill another 100 metres and we’ve made the banks bigger

and wider,” said Bernier.

Wickson, Smale and Huxtable plan on being up on the mountain as much as they can and hope to pick up some tips and tricks from the pros on the new terrain.

“You actually get to see the techniques that your favourite skiers do in person, which is amazing,” said Smale, adding that she will pay close attention to racers’ starts and their air time.

Wickson hopes to pick up tactics on passing and knowing what is the proper angle to be on a bank.

“Then you can change the way you ski,” she said.

Huxtable wants to see how competitors use the terrain to their advantage.

“I want to see how they’re

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Brady Leman coming around the banks and watching their edges to start their turns because we need to work on that,” he said.

The championships end on Thursday, March 19 with ladies’ and men’s ski cross, followed by an awards ceremony at Bovill Square at 4 p.m. to give people in the community a chance to meet the athletes.

Healthy Living Centre • 1071 Main Street • Smithers For Information and to Register : Clara 250-847.9779 bulkleyvalley@bcss.org

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3980 Railway Ave

New head golf pro brings fresh ideas to country club

By Kendra Wong

Fully Certified Auto Glass Technician and Glazier 24 Years Experience

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The Smithers Golf and Country Club has introduced a new member into its ranks.

Dave Belling is the new head professional and general manager and he already has big plans to modernize the club.

“I’m trying to make it more of a 12-month facility, trying to keep the golf club itself in everybody’s minds 11 or 12 months a year,” said Belling.

“I realize that Labour Day hits and this is a big hockey town, and what tends to happen is kids go back to school, parents go in other directions and kids go to hockey or soccer and golf becomes secondary again . . . We still have a club house facility that can be used or rented.”

Belling came to Smithers in February and has roughly 35 years of experience in the golf business, working at both public and private facilities around North America.

He has worked at Fountain of the Sun Country Club in Arizona, Oak Island Golf Resort in Manitoba and St Clair Parkway Golf Club Mooretown

Looking for Something?

The 2014 Smithers Homeless Count Report

Dave Belling, the new head pro and general manager of the Smithers Golf and Country Club, hits a few balls at the club.

Kendra Wong photo

in Ontario.

“I was always looking for the opportunity to come home. B.C. has always been home for me,” said Belling, who grew up in Vancouver.

Belling is hoping to transform the club into a year-round facility.

“My vision for the club is that two or three years down the road, we are an 11-month season, we’re active with both seasons — summer and winter,” he said.

Some of his ideas also include reinventing the junior program, hosting theme nights, Christmas and New Year’s Eve parties and establishing a winter golf school.

He has already put up an indoor hitting cage in the club restaurant that golfers can use until April.

“I want this to be a happening place to be. I want people to want to come here, whether it be for lunch, whether it be for dinner, for nine holes of golf, or to watch their kid be a part of the junior program,” he said.

Belling has also created a new program called Swing into Spring for golfers to take indoor lessons.

The club will host an open house later this month as well.

To book lessons call 250-8473591.

Everyone is welcome to attend the release of the report.

• Thursday, March 26th • Old Church - Smithers • Presentations - 3:00 and 7:00 pm • Open House & Information Sharing - 3:30 to 6:30pm Come learn about about homelessness in our community space donated by the Interior News

2015 Bulkley Valley Soccer Registration Dungate Community Forest Limited Partnership is holding the

www.bvsoccer.ca Houston/ Smithers/ Telkwa/ Hazelton

Annual Information Meeting at 7:00PM on

March 24th, 2014 Check out

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847-3266

at the District of Houston Council Chambers, 3367 12th Street, Houston, B.C. The agenda will include a review of harvesting to date, planned harvesting for the near future as well as financial statements.

Everyone is welcome to attend Smithers Junior Softball Association

softball REGIstRatIoN T-Ball / Softball age 5 to 18 Registration and payment can be done at Dan’s Source for Sports.

THINK OF IT AS ‘911’ FOR CANCER. Our Cancer Information Service can help you make informed decisions about prevention, diagnosis, treatment & more. Talk to someone you can trust.

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Registration Deadline: May 1 st

Save on late fees if registered by April 24 th For information call: Scott Groves 250-877-8431

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Course info available online.

Registration Deadline April 1st Soccer Season: Early May to late June Ages 5-18 (Time & locations on the registration form)

Info available at: www.bvsoccer.ca Or Contact: bvsoccersociety@outlook.com

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Royals’ Caleb Groot (left) and Daniel Ripmeester keep the ball away from a Kelowna Christian player during the B.C. High School Boys’ 1A Basketball Provincial Championships at Langley Events Centre on Wednesday.

Jenna Hauck photo

Royals close out season From ROYALS on A8 Steenhof noted the Royals were able to adapt well to the teams they played.

In the third game, they tipped off against Osoyoos, the eighth-ranked team.

“We knew it was going to be a tough game. We just knew we had to come out strong,” said Steenhof.

But they managed to hold on to the lead, winning by a close score of 83-80.

In the final game versus Duncan Christian, the Royals won 67-45.

“This is one of our better finishes in the school’s history,” said Steenhof.

“I think we represented our zone quite well. They performed above

expectations.”

Ty Goodson was named to the second all-star team for the tournament.

“He had a very good tournament,” said Steenhof.

“His defence was really good and he just finished well at the basket.”

But Goodson was quick to point out that their success was a team effort.

“I think we played really well as a team, probably the best this year,” said Goodson.

But next year, the team will lose some of its top players because seniors Groot, Aaron Steenhof, Daniel Ewald and Daniel Ripmeester are graduating at the end of this year.

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Alexis Melissa Williamson Lloydsmith

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The local Safeway hosted a healthy eating day for A to Z Montessori and Muhiem Elementary Schools. With the teachers introducing healthier snack options using the FoodShare approach with the kids ”The whole project was very good for our community and proved to be a great developing experience for my assistant managers. We were all happy to be a part of the project and we are all thinking of great new ideas to incorporate healthier eating in the future with our community.”

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C OMMUNITY Wednesday, March 18, 2015

www.interior-news.com

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Documentary sheds light on violence against women

By Kendra Wong Smithers/Interior News

Mz. Beeni Wello performs during the talent portion of the 2014 Mz Judged pageant at the Hudson Bay Lodge last year.

Kendra Wong photo

A local videographer is turning one of the most popular fundraising events in town into a documentary to shed light on violence against women.

Jason James has spent the last few months editing footage that he filmed during last year’s Mz Judged contest.

Mz Judged is a pageant organized by the Northern Society for Domestic Peace where men from the community dress up as women and participate in talent shows in front of sold-out crowds. All the proceeds from the fundraiser go towards the society.

“What struck me was that there was way more to it than a bunch of guys dressing up as women and I knew it was for a good cause. Everyone took it seriously and they had fun doing it,” said James.

“Some of the contestants and the effort they put forth was mind-blowing, especially Mz. Matriarch . . . All that effort being put forth, it’s gone in one night. I thought it’d be nice to carry this forward and make it live a little longer since it only happens every two years.”

The film, which will be roughly one hour to an hour-anda-half long, includes backstage footage, scenes from the talent

show at Hudson Bay Lodge and interviews with contestants.

James was originally approached to be a contestant this year, but he turned it down and instead agreed to film the event. He even dressed up like a woman while he was shooting, donning a red wig, fishnet stockings skirt and went by the name Mz. Tape.

But it was not until the talent show portion of the evening when James realized how unique the event was.

a big part of the message of the documentary,” he said.

“Communities can stand up, other men can stand up and take the lead and show the proper respect and behaviour.”

He also hopes other communities will host similar events to raise awareness of violence against women.

George Whitehead a.k.a. Mz. Calculated during this year’s pageant said every little bit helps to raise awareness of violence against women.

“There is help out there, that’s a big part of the message,” -Jason James Videographer

“As soon as I saw Travis [Mz. Matriarch] up there doing his thing and the lyrics he came up with. That tied it all together for me. This is a serious issue,” he said.

James has since taken on the documentary himself at no cost to the society.

He described the film as a mix of entertainment, while simultaneously bringing serious messages to the forefront.

“There is help out there, that’s

“Hopefully it will make an impact on people, get people talking, raise more awareness and get people to seek help if they need it,” he said. “Every little bit helps.”

James said he does not have a release date set for the movie yet, but there will a chance to see the rough cut footage on Thursday, March 26 at the Roi Theatre at 7 p.m.

Tickets will be available just before the show.

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Wednesday, March 18, 2015

C OMMUNITY Daffodil Dash details released

Presents:

$3500 each or 3 lessons for $9000 tax included Don’t Delay - Book Today!! Call: 250-847-3591

Smithers Golf Club March 28th, 1-4pm OPEN HOUSE Debbie Courtliff and Jane Hoek from the Canadian Cancer Society Smithers unit.

• • • •

Meet the NEW Golf Pro! Review the new 2015 rates Accepting Memberships Food & beverages available

ER

UB

Alicia Bridges photo

H

In accordance with Section 26 of the Community Charter, the Town of Smithers intends to dispose of the following lands to Hawkair Aviation by way of a 5 year lease agreement at a monthly rent of $817.24 in the first year, $841.76 in the second year, $867.01 in the third year, $893.02 in the fourth year, and $919.81 in the final year, plus applicable taxes, for the purpose of Airline Operations.

Commonly known as 22.83 sq meters in the Smithers Regional Airport Terminal Building, consisting of checkin counter space, operations office, and a baggage area.

This is not a tender nor a request for offers. Further information can be obtained by contacting Susan Bassett, Director of Corporate Services at (250) 847-1600, 8:30 am to 4:30 pm, Monday through Friday.

~ Indoor Golf Lessons ~

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Public Notice

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Thurs. & Fri:10am-7pm Sat.: 10am-5pm

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engrain Golf Academy

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Organizers of the Daffodil Dash Challenge have released more details about the inaugural event, which will replace the Relay for Life as a fundraiser for Canadian Cancer Society (CCS).

Last November, the local branch of the CCS announced it was launching the smaller, more family-oriented Daffodil Dash Challenge to encourage greater community involvement in its annual fundraiser.

The Relay for Life, which it will replace, had been held in the Bulkley Valley since 2002 however participation had dropped over the last three years.

The first Daffodil Dash Challenge will be held at Heritage Park on April 26, starting at noon and ending about 4 p.m.

Designed to cater to participants of all ages and interests, the new event will consist of a 3-5 km route with a series of six fun challenges to complete along the way.

People who complete all six challenges will have their names entered into a prize draw.

A Survivors Lunch, which is also open to caregivers, will be held at noon and there will also be a barbeque for participants.

People will be able to honour survivors or loved ones who lost their lives to cancer by writing their name on a balloon, which will be displayed on an arch.

Smithers CCS unit president Debbie Courtliff said the new event was accessible to a wider cross-section of the community.

“We don’t want it to be a race, we want it to be a fun thing for families to do,” said Courtliff.

People can run or hike the challenges depending on their fitness level.

Money raised from the event goes to cancer research, prevention and support services, such as lodges in Prince George and Vancouver where families can stay for a low price when they need to travel for treatment.

Registrations for teams or individuals can be made online at www.cancer.ca/daffodildash, or by picking up forms from the Twin Valley Inn, Hetherington & Hooper, Heartstrings, Pharmasave or the Bulkley Valley Credit Union in Smithers.

The cost is $20 for adults and $10 for children.

Smithers woman A.J. Dixon is trying to raise $3,000 for the Daffodil Dash by agreeing to shave her head for the cause.

To help her reach her fundraising goal, donations can be made at a stall she is running at Extra Foods on Saturdays.

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• March 17, 2015 - Ladies’ and Men’s Ski Cross (FIS) • March 18, 2015 - Ladies’ and Men’s Ski Cross (JUN) • March 19, 2015 - Ladies’ and Men’s Ski Cross (NC) Awards and autograph session 4pm Bovill Square

M I T H E R S

The Interior News

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Wednesday, March 18, 2015

C OMMUNITY Driver’s licences for isolated communities focus of program

By Alicia Bridges Smithers/Interior News

Moricetown will be the first community to access a new Northwest Community College program aimed at helping post-secondary students from remote communities get their driver’s licence.

The NWCC last week announced it had used a one-off donation from TransCanada to purchase a NWCC president Ken Burt (left) and TransCanada specialized Toyota Corolla representatives Bruce Wells and John Dunn with the new car.

Alicia Bridges photo to deliver driver training at Northwest communities. having [people] mobilized ... to that is integral to the success The first cohort of students get to training wherever it may of such a complex project,” in Moricetown will also be be,” said Glaim. he said. funded by TransCanada, which “I think it’s really important “That skilled pool of labour donated a total $250,000 to the that we support this type of is going to be critical to the college. thing to continue.” success of every large NWCC president Ken In some cases the driver infrastructure project here in Burt said the program would training will be incorporated northern British Columbia. give NWCC students in those into other courses, such as the “Over the next few years communities more mobility and labourer program, as an up- thousands and thousands make them more employable. skilling provision. of jobs will open up here “It is a significant hurdle Communities where the in northern B.C. and many for individuals trying to get program is offered will be of them will be connected education and there are 34 in locations where there is a with the burgeoning LNG ... communities around in this campus in the area. sector.” region and we only have It will not be offered in larger Speaking at last campuses in nine of them,” communities like Smithers and week’s announcement, said Burt.

Terrace, where driver training Mayor Taylor Bachrach said “If you are going to get from is more readily available. access to a driver’s licence a community where you live to John Dunn is the project was one of the most coma community where there is a vice-president for the Prince mon barriers to getting a job college campus you are going to Rupert Gas Transmission in this region. need vehicles or transportation (PRGT) project, one of two “It may be a small step but in some sense.”

TransCanada LNG projects I think it’s probably a very Moricetown Band economic slated for the northwest region. important one and when we officer Darlene Glaim spoke at He said employing local are looking at the amount of last week’s announcement at and First Nations workers activity that’s currently being the college’s Smithers campus. would be a priority for the planned I think everyone in She said mobility was company if the projects were this room agrees that the real a major problem for her approved. opportunity is to ensure that community, which is on a First “It’s absolutely critical for as many people as possible Nation reserve. the PRGT project to develop throughout our communities “Some of our difficulty is in a large pool of skilled labour, benefit from that,” he said.

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Help Inform Council’s Priorities

Participate in a Council Table Talk Session!

Council would like to hear from Smithers residents about their values and perspectives.

How the Table Talk Sessions work: 1. Find 6 – 10 of your friends, neighbours or coworkers, pick a time and place that works best for the group, then email us at general@smithers.ca to request a Table Talk.

2. Town Council will appoint 2 councillors to attend and guide the group through a set of structured questions.

3. Notes from the sessions will be compiled into a final report, which will be shared with the community.

4. Each Table Talk Session should take approximately one hour to complete.

Visit the Town Office or www.smithers.ca for more details 250-847-1600 · general@smithers.ca TOS 3973d (Let's Talk ad).indd 1

26-02-15 4:36 PM

Notice of Memorial/Celebration of Life in Honour of Rocky (Bernard) Rokstad March 20, 1924 – February 16, 2015

Rocky was born in Tromso, Norway moving to the City of Vancouver, B.C. with his parents Halfdan and Anna at three years of age. His family later moved to property on Otter Road, Aldergrove where he attended school at the South Otter School. Rocky was born with music in his blood, at a young age he would visit neighbours and listened to music on the radio, returning home to practice playing the harmonica and later the accordion, he eventually played up to seven instruments. The band leader with his first professional musician’s job bought him a Hohner piano style accordion. Rocky was a proficient musician who developed his own unique accordion style, he later formed a band called Rocky’s Rhythm Ramblers. This band played for many of the numerous small hall dances in the Fraser Valley and later in communities throughout B.C. where he lived.

Rocky had an adventurous spirit. As a teenager he worked as a deckhand on a fishing trawler where he travelled from Vancouver to the QC Islands, he later tried his hand as a logger on Vancouver Island. He landed a job with the Boundary Commission surveying the International boundary between Canada and the US. He travelled to Alaska aboard the ocean liner SS Princess Louise, playing in the lounge along the way. His stint in Alaska was spent in Haines where he played in the local music hall.

Upon returning to Aldergrove, Rocky met the love of his life, Lillian, they married in 1948. Their 61 years together brought many life adventures in the Cariboo area of B.C. where most of their nine children were born. They made their way up the Fraser Canyon where Rocky worked as a construction worker building the railway tunnels. Once in the Cariboo, Rocky logged with horses and ran a small sawmill for many years until he began his career as a faller with BC Hydro survey department falling “right of way” on most major transmission lines in B.C. as well as constructing some of the hydro stations. When you look at seemingly impossible sites for transmission power lines Rocky has traversed most of them multiple times. Hydro re-located him to Smithers where his family lived for many years while Rocky continued to work around B.C. Rocky was blessed with a long healthy life and clear mind, passing one month short of his 91st birthday. Predeceased by his wife Lillian, April 2010, Rocky is survived by his family Barb (Wilf), Gloria (Randy), Donna (Tom), Bernie (Jeanne), Vicky, Sherry (Rob), Colleen (Stubbs), Chuck (Lori) and Bonnie (Rick), 19 grandchildren and 10 great grandchildren.

A memorial service will be held at the Clinton Community Hall on April 4, 2015 at 2 p.m. followed by an afternoon gathering and later a Celebration of Life to include both live and recorded music as a fitting family tribute to Rocky in honor of his love of music. For further information please visit the Facebook event “Rocky’s Celebration of Life.”

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C OMMUNITY

ICBC to talk seniors driving the generous support of Nature’s Pantry!

Closing with: Keep away from

people who try to belittle your ambitions.

Small people always do that, but the really

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great make you feel that you, too, can become great.

— Mark Twain

The mother of all deals.

VIEW FROM THE PORCH Lorraine Doiron Andrea from ICBC will be at Seniors’ Activity Centre on Friday at 10 a.m. to speak to seniors about driving and the requirements for driving after 80 years of age. Hopefully she will speak about the driveASSESSable test where seniors have to do a computer test, available only in Terrace or Prince George.

Earth Day, Apr. 22.

You are encouraged to clean your commute and reduce your environmental footprint.

Go to www.earthday. org to download helpful resources: fact sheets, posters, newsletter, and social media tools.

Calling all felting artists: Salmon Journey with artist Lori Knorr. The vision for this exhibit is for the viewer to step into the river and swim with the salmon as they journey to their spawning grounds. Be a part of the salmon’s underwater world.

This texture-filled installation will cover the walls of the art gallery in August. Email lori_ knorr@hotmail.com or call 250-847-9969.

You will need an artist statement, a visual of your felted piece, and a description of how your piece fits into the river. Submissions by June 30.

Spring is coming.

Registrations are now open for Spring Art Workshops for adults and older youth (16+ years), any experience level. Full course details at www.smithersart.org. A print copy is available at the gallery.

Register at the gallery or by phone at 250847-3898 with a credit card. These workshops are brought to you at a reduced cost thanks to

The Interior News

Wednesday, March 18, 2015

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The Interior News

O UR T OWN

www.interior-news.com

Wednesday, March 18, 2015

Winter Clothing on sale for half price at The New To You Thrift Store. (excluding white tags) Proceeds will go to the Smithers Hospital for needed equipment.

Domestic violence fundraiser hits close to home for organizer

By Kendra Wong Smithers/Interior News

When Alicia Baribeau moved to Smithers from Ontario late last year, she never realized what she would be leaving behind.

It was only a month ago that she was told her older sister and three children had been victims of domestic abuse for the past 10 years.

“To me, it’s emotional because I’ve been there for 11 years. To not know what’s going on and to feel like if I had known, I could have done so much more for her,” said Baribeau.

“But she kept it a secret from all of us.”

Baribeau said her sister originally told her over the phone what was happening “I was crushed and I was really scared for her,” she said.

Baribeau said she had always been close with her sister, but noted that her brother in-law always made

her uneasy.

“The way he treated my kids, he would tease them to the point of tears. Even when playing, he would be rough enough to hurt them,” said Baribeau.

“I would never let my kids be alone with him even before

Now, Baribeau has started the process of moving them to Smithers.

To start, the family will live with Baribeau, her husband and four children.

But they will need help getting back on their feet.

To help, Baribeau

“It’s not just to raise money for my sister . . . but for anybody in this situation,” -Alicia Baribeau Organizer of the Domestic Violence fundraiser

I knew that he was [allegedly] abusive.”

Her sister and her three children have since left the relationship and have been living in a shelter in Ontario for the past month.

According to Baribeau, the husband has abandoned the family, leaving them with nothing.

is organizing a domestic violence fundraiser.

The event will include a silent auction, live music and a presentation by a woman who was also in an abusive relationship.

“It’s not just to raise money for my sister and her family, but [to raise awareness] for anybody in this situation,”

A17

she said.

“If more people know that there are resources out there and people that are actually out there who will do something, then they won’t stay in these situations.

“I think there’s a lot more that can be done to show people what’s out there and what can be done.”

All proceeds from the fundraiser will go towards helping the family build a new life in town.

Baribeau said the Northern Society for Domestic Peace has already offered resources for the family, they’ve received a donation from the Smithers Lions Club and people have been donating items for when the family arrives.

“Seeing how much the community steps up and supports people they don’t even know is amazing,” said Baribeau.

The fundraiser will take place on Saturday, March 26 from 6-9 p.m. at Pioneer Place.

3688 Broadway Street 10 a.m. to 4 p.m. • Monday to Saturday Advertising space donated by The Interior News

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Smithers

Spotlight

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Interior News Publisher Grant Harris presents Tina Daye of the Northern Society for Domestic Peace a $570 cheque. Funds were raised as part of the Pink Shirt Day feature. The Interior News wishes to thank all their clients who participated in support of this initiative.

Thanks go to Billabong, Bulkley Valley Home Centre, Bulkley Valley Credit Union, Bulkley Valley Insurance, Bulkley Valley Teaches Union, Canadian Tire, Canadian Union of Postal Workers Local 828, District of Hazelton, Driftwood Dental, Hoskins Ford, Kitchen Works, Royal Bank of Canada, School District 54, Smithers Lumber, Smithers Physiotherapy, Steakhouse on Main, SpeeDee Interior Stationery, Tatlow Tire and Total Floors

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The Interior News

Wednesday, March 18, 2015

Welcome to the driver’s seat

Visit the Ex Expedition gallery at DrivewayCanada.ca

The all-electric Nissan LEAF tells white lies!

by Keith Morgan

Ford an Expedition to elegance In The Cab: As you open the door, you are greeted by ambient lighting that can be customized with a selection of colors. The Platinum has Looks: leather seats, leather door A completely updated front trim and console accented The featured end aligns itself with the by wood inlays. The dash is Super-Duty and the new hand warped and stitched projector style F150. giving this cabin a very headlamps with I like the look of the grille, upscale look.

LED fog lights made The front bucket seats are large and in charge. The the front end of the heated and cooled. The featured projector style second row folds flat along headlamps with LED fog Platinum Edition with the third row, which lights made the front end tester look like a drops at the touch of a of the Platinum Edition piece of jewelry. button. tester look like a piece of The command center jewelry!

Ian Harwood controls everything from A raised power dome entertainment to climate. hood and nice bodylines certainly give Speaking of entertainment, the sound this Expedition some class. The power system is a Sony premium audio system retractable running boards are standard that features 12 speakers and 390 watts on this edition but I find they react too of power. slowly for me when the door is opened.

Safety first: No doubt for some the boards would Front seat mounted side airbags, safety be a great addition while others might canopy system with three row-side curtain think of them being in the way. airbags and rollover sensor. Advance-Trac When you design a sport utility vehicle, with roll stability, tire pressure monitoring it is always tough to give the back end system, and trailer sway control are just some shape. As an engineer, you’re worsome of the standard features. ried about aerodynamics but in this case Roadworthy: the designers still managed to match The Expedition delivers on space, comthe back’s elegance to that of the front. fort and functionality while driving like The popular Ford Expedition gets a makeover this model year, bringing this 2015 version into a different class of elegance.

‘‘

’’

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Power: This vehicle comes standard with a twin turbo 3.5L EcoBoost V6 engine that puts out 365 horsepower and 420 lb ft of torque. The transmission is a six-speed select shift. 4.10 gear ratio. Towing is made easy by the transmission tow/haul mode, which helps keep you from gaining too much speed when towing downhill. The engine maintains its power band while towing up a hill keeping the speed and momentum constant.

Pump frequency: 1w6.2 / 11.8 L/100 km (city/highway) Warranty support: Basic, 4 years/80,000 km.

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Powertrain, 6 years/110,000 km.

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Sticker price: XLT $49,299, Limited $63,399, Platinum $65,399.

The Nissan LEAF miraculously cut a journey in half this week.

I’ll explain. I took the plug-in sedan on a 43-kilometre trip from Vancouver to Driveway HQ, on 152nd Street, in Surrey. When I set out, the screen display showed that I could drive emission-free for 146 kilometres.

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But that’s not me. Spurred by my ecofriendly driving the previous day, the clever car had decided earlier in the day that I could do 156 kilometres on a full charge.

Not boasting but that’s easily more than 20 kilometres better than the average driver can expect to achieve. Okay, maybe my head

is swelling. The big 1-4-6 winked at me. I threw the stick into ECO mode and with two flicks of the wrist pushed it into the enhanced B-mode, which puts the braking power regeneration into overdrive, so to speak.

I glided silently down the road, picking up pace ever so gradually in the busy city traffic. Rolling down the hills to Marpole, I could feel the juice from the brakes topping up that battery.

On the freeway, I hit the posted speed limit and 40 minutes later pulled into HQ. The display flashed 126. I had covered 43 klicks with the power required to move the car just 20!

Such fun.

Next week: More on the joy of driving electric.

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The Interior News Wednesday, March 18, 2015

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The Interior News

Wednesday, March 18, 2015

C OMMUNITY

Bulkley Valley

FINDING THEIR FIT

CREDIT UNION

Students test their electrical skills at WorkBC’s Find Your Fit at Smithers Secondary School Friday. The tour is meant to connect people of all ages with careers in demand in B.C. Contributed photo

Bachrach opposes budget

50

¢

from every Pharmasave Brand Product purchased will help build the Smithers Public Library’s collection of books for Beginning Readers.

people

growth talent

SOCIAL partnership investment The Dze L K’ant Friendship Centre Society’s Urban Partnership Program will be holding info-sessions in Smithers and Telkwa regarding the social enterprise initiative taking place in these communities.

ideas

• Wednesday March 18th at Centennial Hall in Moricetown • Thursday March 20th at The Telkwa Hall 11am and 2pm with catered lunch at noon.

There will be a draw for 1st, 2nd and 3rd prizes for everyone attending our workshop and all who participated in filling out a survey.

Monday – Friday 9 am – 9 pm • Saturday 9 am – 6 pm • •Sunday & Holidays 10 am – 5 pm • Seniors’ Day every day • 10% off 3752 4th Avenue • Smithers •250.847.4474 (some exclusions may apply)

profit

of March

Information Sessions

Enterprise

For the Month

In the days to come, Bulkley Valley Credit Union will be once again celebrating spring and the successes of 2014!

We would like to thank our members for their continued patronage and announce that we are sharing our profits by distributing over $598,439 to our members this year!

• Hazelton • Smithers • Houston • Burns Lake community

reasonable to ask staff to change the budget now,” she said.

Vanderhoof Mayor Gerry Thiessen said that sometimes the board of directors does not fully comprehend the financial implications of the decisions they make.

“What this [budget] has highlighted is a need to think about these financial implications,” he said.

The 250-page budget can sometimes be “extremely difficult” to break down so that the directors can visualize its details to make informed decisions, explained Berndorff.

Jerry Petersen, director of Electoral Area F, said that when the directors had their first meetings about the budget, they could not see all the final numbers, and therefore take action.

“This is the first time we [directors] are seeing this bottom line,” he said.

“If we had known this before, we could have done something about it.”

A motion was carried to accept the draft of the 2015 budget. Only two directors voted against it: Smithers Mayor Taylor Bachrach and Coun.

John Illes, representing Burns Lake.

trust

From RDBN on A5 Berndorff answered by saying that this transition could result in even more taxation.

“Once you’re in the mode of using prior years’ surpluses, like all regional districts do, it’s very difficult to transition out of that,” he said.

Bachrach asked RDBN staff if it were possible to go back to the drawing board and come up with scenarios that would cost less to taxpayers.

Bill Miller, director for Electoral Area B, said asking staff to go back to the drawing board at that point was not realistic. RDBN staff had been working on the budget for the last six months, and the bylaw of the budget has to be done by March 18.

“Then why are we having this conversation,” asked Bachrach.

Eileen Benedict, director of Electoral Area E, said the directors should take more responsibility for decisions made throughout the year.

“There are a number of decisions this board has made that influences the budget, so I don’t think it’s

The Interior News

A&E

www.interior-news.com

Wednesday, March 18, 2015

A21

Local artist brings beat back to drum As James Madam sits at his areas of education within the a weeks time and, true to his desk, a plain, unadorned drum Smithers campus.” word, Madam has completed the is set to one side. Sketches and The project has also been a drum and embellished it with the hastily scribbled designs lay group effort. singing colours of the medicine scattered chaotically amongst Students from many walks wheel. pencils, coloured crayons and of life and elders from the First The final design encompasses scraps of research. It is the Nations community helped build four separate symbols divided by familiar riot of unruliness which the drum and contributed design a cross denoting direction, like the every artist knows: the studio ideas. arrows on a compass. desk. Ideas rise up from it to Back at Madam’s desk, there is A building, modern in structure, be noticed, only to be quashed a brief pause as his eyes drift over represents the new Smithers again in the constant struggle of the mass of drawings. campus and its eye to the future. creative rebellion.

“I have enough material here A black circular saw blade speaks This is a challenging project for for 10 drums,” he says with a of trade programs, enterprise and Madam, a longtime resident and smile. self-sustaining communities, while prolific artist from Moricetown Madam picks up the drum and a tree, forever green, reminds us of and the Bulkley Valley. turns it over in his hands, pointing our environmental responsibilities.

Bulkley Valley Credit Union July 2007 “I have been commissioned by out the thickness of the hide The red hand of our First Nations EPS Logos to be supplied to Newspapers the college to interpret, design whilst explaining the difficulty in peoples holds out a flower of and paint a drum for the Smithers stretching this particular drum. peace and reconciliation. The 287 several Blue attempts NWCC Raven stands guard in campus,” he says.Pantone colours: He Pantone says it took “It’s one of those situations to get Pantone it right.356 Green brilliant blue.

Pantone when I have almost too much “But that’s139 whatHarvest you’d expect NWCC First Nations access information to work with. when using elephant hide,” co-ordinator Katie Humphrey “I am trying to incorporate suppressing his laughter just congratulated Madam on his the colours of the medicine wheel long enough for the look of design, recognizing this as a which signifies the spiritual, astonishment to register on my community project. emotional, mental and physical face.

“A drum isn’t something that elements of our existence into “Very funny,” I say, enjoying we just drag out for festivals or Black/Grey Logo file the joke at my expense.

Colour Logoshe File said. a four stage design depicting events” symbols which represent key We agree to meet again in See MADAM on A22

Bulkley Valley CREDIT UNION

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INSURANCE SERVICES The only locally owned Insurance Brokerage in the Valley.

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James Madam was commissioned by Northwest Community College to paint drums for the Smithers campus.

Contributed photo

Bulkley Valley

CREDIT UNION Business Directory

Bulkley Valley • ICBC Express Repair Facility • Experienced Staff

INSURANCE SERVICES • •

All Makes & Models Hoskins Ford Body Shop

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Tool, Die ARCUS & Machine • Custom manufacturing • Computer Controlled Milling • Shop press • Surface grinding • Sand blasting • CAD-CAM • Lathe turning Frank Hartmann • infoarcus@yahoo.ca Cell 250.847.1048 • 1283 Morgan Road • Smithers

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The Interior News

Wednesday, March 18, 2015

A&E

Domestic Violence colours everything . pioneer place from 6-9 march 28th

Student art auctioned off

By Alicia Bridges Smithers/Interior News

Images of the Bulkley Valley as viewed through the eyes of local teenagers were auctioned at a fundraising gala in Smithers last week.

The Smithers Secondary School Click Student Photography Art Show Gala was held at the Smithers Public Library last Monday.

The event was the culmination of an exhibition of student work held at locations throughout Smithers.

More than 20 photographs by teens were displayed at local businesses with silent

auction forms, then moved to the library for the final auction and gala.

Recognizable local landscapes, digitallyenhanced abstracts and imaginative close-ups of everyday objects were among the images captured by the young photographers.

The auction raised a total $1,345, which will be split between the school and the Friends of the Smithers Public Library.

Friends’ treasurer Wally Bergen said the project began as a way to connect teenagers with their local library.

“One of the things that the library is always trying to do is appeal to the broadest

range of the community,” he said.

“About three or four years ago we realized we don’t have too many teens coming into the library.

“We thought this was a really good way to get some exposure and at the same time raise a bit of money for the student art program at the high school and also to raise a bit of money for the library.”

Bergen said he received positive feedback about the project from some of the teens at the gala.

Friends of the Library fundraises and coordinates programs, purchases, special collections and specific projects like the library patio.

Join us as we help a family in need after living with domestic violence for over a decade.

Saturday March 28th 6 to 9pm Pioneer Place

Drums help bring Madam home From DRUMS on A21 “The drum and its pounding rhythms are the very heartbeat of our culture. Every time I hear the drum I know I am home.”

I ponder this for a while and think about Madam and his creative battle to bring so many ideas into one design. I think about his cluttered desk and the

SMITHERS UNITED CHURCH

Rev. Alyssa Anderson Sunday 10:00 AM Worship & Children’s Program

At the corner of Queen St. & 8th

250-847-3333

Bethel Reformed Church Welcomes you to worship with us 10 am & 2:30 pm every Sunday

Pastor Lou Slagter 3115 Gould Place Smithers

250-847-2080

CHRISTIAN REFORMED CHURCH Sunday Worship Services temporarily at 11:15 a.m. at St. Joseph’s Catholic Church (4023 First Ave.) Sunday School for ages 3-6 during the morning worship service.

Pastor Ken Vander Horst

smitherscrc@telus.net Phone 250-847-2333

“Groundwork” on The Peak at 9:30 am Sundays

chaos of the artistic mind and it reminds me of the muddle of First Nations politics here in Canada.

Amongst the distraction of misunderstanding and half-truths, lies a wonderful thing, a beating drum of an indigenous nation whose cultural wealth we can all enjoy.

• Auction of items donated by generous local businesses and individuals.

• Live music to be provided by The Nameless.

• Refreshments and finger food • Presentation regarding Domestic violence.

• All proceeds will go directly to this family in need.

• Admission by donation.

Silent Auction / Fundraiser for Domestic Abuse

— Submitted story, by Mark West

Come worship with us at

Main St. Christian Fellowship

FAITH REFORMED CHURCH OF TELKWA Pastor James Folkerts (URC-NA) 1170 Hwy 16, Telkwa

Sunday mornings 10:30 a.m.

Pastor Rick Apperson

Services at 10 am & 2:30 pm

1065 Main St., Smithers Phone: 250-847-1059

Faith Alive Christian Fellowship Upper floor Fitness Northwest Centre, Broadway Ave. 10-12 noon Sundays Youth meeting Fridays at 7 pm

Listen to “Whitehorse Inn program” Sundays at 9 am on The Peak 870 am

Join us for Services.

Renew your FAITH! We welcome visitors and new members.

ST. JAMES ANGLICAN CHURCH

FELLOWSHIP BAPTIST CHURCH

Rev. Jacob Worley

Morning Worship 10:45 am with Junior Church and Nursery

1636 Princess Street

Sunday 10:00 am - Service and Sunday School

4th Sunday

2:00 pm service at St. John the Divine, Quick

Rev. Don Mott, Phone 250-847-3864

250-847-6155 • Quick 250-847-9881 • Smithers

on the corner of Queen St. and 7th Ave.

Pastor Chris Kibble www.smithersbaptist.ca

250-847-3725

This proof has been carefully prepared by THE INTERIOR NEWS

according to our understanding of your specifications. It may contain CANADIAN Mount Zion errors, please check for proper spelling of names, prices and phone numbers. Fax changes to us at 847-2995 REFORMED CHURCH Lutheran Church Sunday Worship Services

Meeting in the Historic St. Stephen’s Church

10 a.m. and 2:30 p.m.

1620 Highway 16 in Telkwa

Pastor James Slaa 2788 Upper Viewmount Rd. All welcome to attend!

Contact number 250-847-5879 www.smitherscanrc.org

Sunday Morning Worship 10 am

For information e.mail mtzionsmithers@yahoo.ca

Saturday Service • Everyone Welcome •

EVANGELICAL FREE CHURCH

Welcomes You! Sunday Celebration Service 10:30 a.m.

Children’s Ministries during service Corner of Viewmount Rd South & Hwy 16

250-847-2466 www.mvachurch.com Affiliated with the PAOC

Seventh Day Adventist Contact 250-847-5983 3696 4th Avenue

Rev. Dwayne Goertzen Pastor Trevor Brawdy 250-847-2929 Email: efree@uniserve.com Website: www.smithersefc.org Services at 9 & 11:15 a.m.

Sunday School 10:15 a.m.

1838 Main St.

space donated by The Interior News

A22

Employment

Employment

The District of Port Edward Clean, Neat and Green

YOUTH SUMMER EMPLOYMENT OPPORTUNITIES The District of Port Edward will be looking to hire two summer students for casual labour. This position requires a valid class 5 BC Driver’s License, an “N” is also acceptable, with a clean driving record. Applicants should be physically fit and be willing to work outdoors, rain or shine.

Resumes with cover letter may be dropped off at the District Office, 770 Pacific Avenue, Port Edward, BC or email: ppereira@portedward.ca Closing date: March 27, 2015

We need help!

The Turtle Gardens Society and The Hazelton Animal Care & Control Committee needs dog food and some cat food on an ongoing basis to help with the feeding care of animals in foster care.

Drop off location is at Smithers Feed Store and Feeds & Needs in Burns Lake.

Any donation would be greatly appreciated.

We’re looking for a Full Time Aquatic Leader Min. Qualifications: NL, WSI, LSI, CPR, & SFA $20.45-$22.11/hour and an appealing benefit package View the full posting at: www.bvpool.com/about-us/career-opportunities Posting closes March 25, 2015

Continuous Aluminum Gutters 250-846-5509 w_vh@hotmail.com

Bulkley Valley Eavestroughing

A28

www.interior-news.com

C OMMUNITY

Stay well and keep stretching

Aging backwards! I wish! There it was right on PBS, a show that said that very thing. Aging Backwards, a new book and PBS special by Miranda Esmonde-White.

I am not a TV kind of person but I did see enough to piqué my interest. Like many health gurus she does give us all the positive aspects of an active life. She was well aware that many of us as we age have the aches and pains we associate with the aging process, arthritis being the big one. The special had testimonials from people in their 80s and beyond. They told all of us how much better they are doing after working with this program. We

SPICE OF LIFE Brenda Mallory

Real Estate

The Interior News

Wednesday, March 18, 2015

Real Estate

Real Estate

are told that the basic action of stretching many parts of our body will help us in so many ways. This process called positive stretching will increase our flexibility, release tension in our muscles, improve our posture and range of motion.

I know this sounds a lot like the programs offering somatics, yoga and other stretching actions.

All good I know. Still it is to our advantage to rise up from our chairs and get with the program — any program! You will find a brief session for aging backwards on YouTube. It was certainly enough for me to deal with.

It would be a good thing if we could all feel and

Real Estate

Real Estate

look better because we have better posture. Let me add one of my own solutions about the posture issue. So many older folks go about with walkers that are too low for them or a cane for a shorter person. What do I do? I use a long ski pole when I walk for good posture position.

I would say more about this but I am off to the great outdoors to shovel water into a big bucket and pack it away from the gate to my dog compound.

Surely that must count for stretching and weight lifting. Stay well and keep stretching!

Let me know if you give this idea a try when you call 250-846-5095 or email mallory@bulkley.net.

Real Estate

Bulkley Valley Real Estate

Real Estate

Real Estate

Email: remaxbv@telus.net Located in the Log Office at 3568 Hwy. 16 Each Office Independently Owned & Operated

250-847-5999

Pick up your FREE copy of our Real Estate Flyer and our map of the Bulkley Valley. View more of our listings online at www.remaxsmithersbc.ca or on Facebook.

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Peter & Donna NEW PRICE

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Spacious 1164sf open concept, 2bed Quiet west facing ground floor unit Large kitchen, gas fireplace in living Lots of custom extras

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2 bedroom condo in Alpine Village Bright, clean and move-in ready Attached garage, nat gas fireplace Updated flooring, 4 appliances

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3524 Fifteenth Avenue

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Lot H Coalmine Road, Telkwa

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4 bedroom, 3 bath, 2 storey + bsmt Shop, paved drive, fenced yard Family room & rec, f/p, ensuite www.realestatesmithers.com

Leo Lubbers

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New “saferhome”, 1 level rancher 2/3 bedrooms, 2 full bathrooms Tile and hardwood flooring Ridge location, garage, concrete dw

Donna Grudgfield

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Donna Grugdfield

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5 acre Industrial zoned Caretakers residence allowed Cleared, level, ready to build on Located in Telkwa Industrial Park

Donna Grudgfield

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1.19 acres, close to town 3 bedrooms, 2 bathrooms Detached barn/workshop 20’x60’ Mountain view, nicely landscaped

Donna Grudgfield

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Lot B Hislop Road

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Leo Lubbers

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T HREE R IVERS R EPORT

The Interior News

www.interior-news.com

Wednesday, March 18, 2015

A29

THE SHOW MUST GO ON There was no ice to be seen but members of the Hazelton Skating Club, forced to cancel its Spring Show due to the sudden closure of the Ken Trombley Memorial Arena for safety reasons, were determined to celebrate the end of their season.

About 50 skaters, who spent about a month preparing for the show, gathered for a barbecue in the arena parking lot on Friday.

Skaters picked up their performance reports at the event.

Lois Aylen photo

Arena closure impacts local clubs From ICE on Front “We’re quite worried about what’s going to happen for next year just in case this can’t be fixed in time for next year,” he said.

“Then we’ll be looking at a season with no minor hockey here in the Hazeltons.

“That would be really, really devastating.”

The Hazelton Skating Club had to cancel its Spring Show, an end of year showcase which would have been attended by about 50 young skaters.

Coach Stacey Brown said club members had been practicing their

routines for about a month.

She said the club was in shock after the sudden closure.

“We knew there was going to come a time when we were going to need a new arena but to have it so suddenly snatched is just really hard on a lot of the kids,” she said.

“As a coach I’ve put a tonne of energy in over the past six years building the club up again and the work from parents of skaters has been incredible.”

With the arena closed the club moved its celebration outside, presenting end-of-season certificates and awards at

a barbecue in the arena parking lot on Friday.

She said logistically it would not be possible to move the Spring Show to Smithers but the club would consider transporting skaters there next season.

“It would be very sad to not continue in Hazelton at this time but if we have to we’ll rent some ice in Smithers and take our kids over there so they can skate there and keep some of the momentum going for the skating so we can get our seat back under us and get a program going,” she said.

“It serves a huge need in our community to keep

kids going and to keep kids physically active.”

Town of Smithers director of recreation, parks and culture Andrew Hillaby said ice time at both Smithers arenas was limited but suggested clubs and associations could work together to help accommodate Hazelton.

Although last week’s closure was abrupt, it was not without warning.

A 2007 Structural Condition Report recommended that the ailing facility, built in 1971, should be decommissioned within three to five years.

With that in mind,

the Skeena Ice Arena Association has been campaigning for funding to build a new arena and recreation centre for the cluster of communities known as the Hazeltons.

President Vivienne Spooner said the association had called an emergency meeting and would be seeking advice from engineers about how to proceed.

With the arena closed, she hoped it would help increase pressure to hasten the construction of a new arena.

“We won’t know any more until we actually have meetings with those

appropriate people,” she said.

“It’s a very, very sad thing but [I hope] that our new arena comes along faster than what it has originally been thought of doing.”

Village of Hazelton Mayor Alice Maitland was saddened by the arena closure but said the village would work with the association to help find an interim solution.

“It will be a huge loss to our community and we are hoping that we can mitigate that until we get the new ice arena,” said Maitland.

Planning for success requires succession planning.

/localwork-bc

1.855.678.7833

@localworkbc

A30

www.interior-news.com

The Interior News

Wednesday, March 18, 2015

T HREE R IVERS R EPORT

Have a Story?

Highway 16 victims’ families hope new movie helps save lives

By Alicia Bridges Hazeltons/Interior News

The sister of a 16-yearold woman murdered along Highway 16 hopes a new documentary about the Highway of Tears will help raise awareness about the dangers facing aboriginal women when it screens in Hazelton today and Smithers tomorrow.

Brenda Wilson’s sister Ramona was last seen hitchhiking along Highway 16 in 1994. In 1995, her body was found near the Smithers airport.

Her case is one of 18 unsolved murders and disappearances along the stretch of Highway 16 between Prince Rupert and Prince George, known as the Highway of Tears.

Last March, L.A.based Canadian director Matt Smiley and producer Carly Pope premiered their documentary, Highway of

Tears, at the TIFF Human Rights Watch Film Festival in Toronto.

Through interviews with family members of victims, First Nations leaders and the RCMP, the film tackles the connection between missing aboriginal women and issues such as generational poverty, residential schools, systemic violence and high unemployment rates on reserves.

The film has won a series of awards including Best Documentary at both the Malibu Film Festival and the Women in Film + Television Festival in Vancouver.

Now, almost a year after its premiere, the film is touring northwest British Columbia.

Wilson, who is also the Highway of Tears co-ordinator for Carrier Sekani Family Services in Prince George, said people had been asking her when the film would screen locally on almost a daily basis.

She hopes when it screens it will help remind local people to be aware of the dangers facing aboriginal women.

“A lot of these cases happened between 10 and 20 years ago and it just brings awareness about what has been going on in the North so that people can be safe, to watch what they are doing,” she said.

“Also, to bring awareness to the systemic issues that are happening in our society.

“People don’t understand why it’s happening.”

Wilson, whose family is originally from Hazelton, said she liked the film.

“It’s very real, he stuck to the truth and he kept in mind the families’ privacy and was very strong on the message that needed to be put out there, what’s really going on in the North,” she said.

In addition to making more people aware of the Highway of Tears, she said it would give people in

northern B.C. a glimpse of how women are vulnerable in cities as well.

“A lot of people are attracted to the cities when they don’t find the issues or the resources that they need in their home towns,” she said.

“They move to the city believing that it’s going to be everything that they need but at the same time the systemic issues are still there.”

It also helped to ensure older cases, such as her sister’s, were not forgotten.

Director Matt Smiley previously told The Interior News he wanted to give a voice to some of the powerful women in the affected communities.

Smiley, who is originally from Montreal, was on a family trip to northern B.C. when he first heard about the disappearances along the Highway of Tears.

See DIRECTOR on A31

Let us know

250-847-3266 Email editor@interior-news.com Find us on Facebook at Smithers Interior News flyers. coupons. deals. savings tips. flyers. coupons. deals. savings tips. flyers. coupons. deals. savings tips. flyers. coupons. deals. savings tips.

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WHAT’S IN IT FOR B.C.?

A SPECIAL SERIES ON LIQUEFIED NATURAL GAS

LNG could provide thousands of jobs and billions in revenue for decades to come.

Here’s what a mid-size LNG plant could mean to B.C.

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From construction workers and plant operators in the North to suppliers and support service providers in the Lower Mainland, the positive economic impact of a successful LNG industry will be felt across the province and Canada. LNG: There’s a lot in it for B.C. The BC LNG Alliance is the voice of British Columbia’s new LNG export industry. Our mission is to foster the growth of a safe, environmentally responsible and globally competitive LNG industry in British Columbia and Canada.

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The Interior News

T HREE R IVERS R EPORT

Highway of Tears director Matt Smiley with Ramona Wilson’s brother, Louis.

Contributed photo

Director wants inquiry From VICTIMS’ on A30 He said last year he hoped the film would help bolster the push for a national inquiry into missing and murdered aboriginal women in Canada.

“I think my biggest challenge to tackle is, with regards to the national inquiry, getting all the various different First Nations and non-First Nations and nongovernment groups to all agree to the right action plan and for everybody to work together.”

Prime Minister Stephen Harper has expressed his opposition to an inquiry, saying the issue has already been researched.

Skeena-Bulkley Valley MP Nathan Cullen said last week the decision not to hold an inquiry made “no ethical sense.”

“I hear from as many non-native people about this as I do from First

Nations who just want some basic sense of justice, and the feeling is that it’s somehow because it’s native women and girls who have been murdered and missing that the government doesn’t place as much importance as if it were some other identifiable group in Canada, and that’s a shame,” said Cullen.

He added that an inquiry would help identify the root cause of the issue.

“It frustrates many of us that he’s refusing to just take an attempt to get to the root causes of this; find out what’s going on in our policing, what’s going on in our social system, that is leading to so many families looking for their daughters and wives and moms.”

Highway of Tears screens at the Tri Town Theatre in Hazelton at 7 p.m. tonight and at the Roi Theatre in Smithers at 7 p.m. tomorrow.

Request for Proposal The Ministry of Energy and Mines, Mining Association of BC and Town of Smithers are co-hosting the 60th Annual Provincial Mine Rescue and Three Person First Aid Competition and are looking for proposals to provide lunches for competitors and other participants on Saturday, June 13th, 2015.

For more information and details please call the Ministry office at 250-847-7383

www.interior-news.com

Wednesday, March 18, 2015

A31

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Drop by our Main Street office today!

A32 www.interior-news.com

The Interior News

Wednesday, March 18, 2015

March 18-24, 2015

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