Inside
◆ FIREFIGHTERS P. 6 ◆ HISTORY MYSTERY P. 7
◆ COUNCIL NOTES P. 2 ◆ KILLER TO APPEAL P. 3
Published by Black Press Ltd at 150 West Columbia Street, Vanderhoof, BC V0J 3A0 Publications Mail Contract #: 40007759
PHONE: 996-8482 www.caledoniacourier.com
WEDNESDAY, August 19, 2015
VOL. 38 NO. 25 $1.30 inc. GST
Death Race lures local participants
Ten Fort St. James runners took part in this year’s Canadian Death Race in Grande Cache, Alberta. Photo supplied by Tim Dunkley
Tragic end for local man The search for a Fort St. James man who went missing near Fort Babine on Aug. 10 has ended in tragedy after his body was found last Thursday. A search and rescue operation was launched on Aug. 12 after family members of 49-year-old Mitchell Lazarre, Sr. reported him missing. Lazarre had not been seen since he walked away from a smokehouse in the Fort Babine area in the early hours of Aug. 10. His body was found about a kilometre from the smokehouse at 11:20 am on Thursday, Aug. 13. Smithers RCMP said foul play was not suspected and that the cause of death would be determined by the B.C. Coroner’s Service. Lazarre’s niece-in-law Bobbi-Lynn George told The Interior News that her uncle was a family man who would be dear-
ndar
ly missed. “He was a very loving caring man who would never hurt a soul that’s for sure,” said George. “He cared for his children very, very much. His grandchildren were very important to him.” His sister Rhonda Lazarre, who lives in Prince George, said yesterday her brother had been visiting Fort Babine to go fishing. She said when he walked away from the smokehouse on Aug. 10 he had told family members he was going to visit his son in Moricetown. However his son no longer lives there. Rhonda had been concerned that her brother had become lost. “He doesn’t even know that country . . . family and friends that live in that area—they said it’s all mountainous and my brother could take the wrong route,” she said. Smithers Interior News
ES ORT ST. JAM Fort St. James Own -FIntroducing unit y Cale
2015 Comm
The name alone says that the “Canadian Death Race” isn’t going to be a stroll in the park. Covering 125km, the course starts and ends on a 4,200 foot plateau, crosses three mountain summits, and includes more than 17,000 feet of elevation change and a major river crossing. The ultra-marathon race takes place every August long weekend in Grande Cache, Alberta, with competitors—either solo or as part of a relay team—given 24 hours to complete the course. “I’m not a soloist, nor do I want to be,” says Tim Dunkley of Fort St. James. Instead he ran as part of one of two teams of five from the Fort who took part, sponsored by Northland Automotive: Northland’s Rapid Thigh Movement (Cheryl Hodder, Tim Dunkley, Yvonne Gilbert, Lisa Spingle, and Chris Greenaway) and Northland’s Knee Knockers (Rhona Boyd, Jim Burck, Jasmine Lakusta, Anthony Boyd, and Tanya Kruisselbrink). Five of the ten Fort St. James runners were rookies doing their first Death Race, while the other five have taken part between two and five times each. The course is divided into five segments, each of a different length and with varying terrain, and each team member ran a different segment. Both teams were thrilled with their finishes, with Rapid Thigh Movement coming in 8th out of 162 teams in a time of 14 hours and 17 minutes, and the Knee Knockers winding up at 17th overall in 15 hours and 8 minutes. Dunkley says the recruitment for this year’s teams started last December, with anyone interested attending a potluck dinner and watching a video about the race. Once enough people had signed up, the teams registered, and training on local trails began. “We’re fortunate to have a fantastic network of trails at our disposal for trail runners and mountain bikers,” said Dunkley. “And a huge shout-out to the volunteers who built, and continue to maintain, this fantastic network.” The runners trained frequently on Mt. Pope, which Dunkley said was great preparation for the Death Race. “It’s rough, rocky, uneven, root-laden terrain that’s very similar to what you encounter on the Death Race,” he says. “And you have to be able to train uphill and downhill. We couldn’t ask for a better training area.” The runners often trained together, challenging themselves and each other. One of the initial registrants, Sandra Sulyma, had to withdraw before the race because of a nagging injury she couldn’t shake. She was replaced by Jasmine Lakusta, but was determined to experience the event, so went with the teams in order to take in the whole experience. Dunkley says her help was invaluable, and that See “Racers” on p. 9
COMMUNITY CALENDAR
featuring A CELEBRATION OF LIFE IN FORT ST. JAMES Fort St. James Community Calendar will be a celebration of what makesFort St. James and area special. Calendar Features: Printed on high quality book stock High gloss, full process colour cover If you would like to advertise with us please call: 250-567-9258 Caledonia you by the Brought to
Courier