S TANDARD TERRACE
1.30
$
$1.24 PLUS 6¢ GST
VOL. 27 NO. 20
www.terracestandard.com
Wednesday, September 9, 2015
Hotel company eyes big project By JOSH MASSEY THE COMPANY that owns the Chances gaming centre here has set its sights on moving it to a new location where it would be combined with an executive-level hotel and conference centre. The location could either be in Thornhill or in Terrace, said Pomeroy Lodging vice president Jackie Clayton. To date, within Terrace, Pomeroy has been looking at land along Keith Ave. west of Kenney which was once part of the Skeena Cellulose/ Terrace Lumber Company complex. A portion of that property is owned by the city. “There is real need for an executive hotel in Terrace,” said Clayton last week from Alberta. But the multi-stage plan, which would be similar to a convention centre, hotel and casino complex owned by Pomeroy in Fort St. John, hinges on first expanding the number of slot machines at the current location, a move already turned down in 2012 by the city council of the day. “If council were to approve our growth then we would take the grown facility and grow it even more in a new location with convention centre and hotel,” said Clayton. Pomeroy has also been looking at locations in Kitimat. Clayton and other Pomeroy representatives held a meet-and-greet this summer at the Bavarian Inn, attended by city officials from both Terrace and Kitimat and they are planning a second later this month. The city recently committed to doing an environ-
mental assessment of three properties west of Kenney and along Keith which is the same area Pomeroy has been investigating. Although the company has also been looking in Thornhill, Clayton said current infrastructure restrictions such as a limited sewer system pose a problem. Pomeroy will be submitting a proposal to council some time this fall to increase the number of slot machines and other existing games at Chances, she said. The company has yet to figure out how many new ones it wants, Clayton added. Municipalities gain from a portion of gaming revenue,
and must approve slot and bingo expansion. When the previous owners of Chances applied in 2012, the Terrace council defeated the request with a 4-3 vote. Lynne Christiansen, James Cordeiro and Stacey Tyers, who were on council then and are on council today, voted against the expansion along with Bruce Bidgood who is no longer on council. Brian Downie, who was on council then and who is on council today, voted in favour along with formermayor Dave Pernarowski and former councillor Marylin Davies supporting increased slot machines.
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City shakes off quake plan TERRACE CITY council has decided not to follow up on one suggestion by the local Catholic school and parish to back early-warning system for earthquakes in local schools. Early warning systems use new technology devices called P-sensors which provide up to a minute warning before an earthquake so evacuation can be done more efficiently. The Vancouver Catholic school board is working on a pilot program using the new technology developed at UBC. In Terrace both the Sacred Heart Catholic church and Veritas Catholic school are considering doing so as well. A connection to a central network would cost Veritas approximately $60,000, al-
lowing other schools to then connect at a cost of approximately $30,000 each. Father Terry Brock, who has since moved to Prince Rupert, asked city council on June 23 to request support for a plan to connect all local schools. Early detection systems were said to have lowered the death toll following Japan’s most recent major earthquake in 2011. However fire chief John Klie came back with research that disagrees with the research that Brock presented to council, and council voted Aug. 24 not to involve itself with an early warning system for earthquakes. Klie said the emphasis should be placed on other ways to be prepared.
JOSH MASSEY PHOTO
■■ Welcome back SUWILAAWKS KINDERGARDEN teacher Emma Fitz prepares for class late last week. Today was the first full school day of the year for most students, however kindergarden doesn’t start until next week after the ongoing parent meet and greet.
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Riding country
Oil debate
Derby for youth
Three woman cruise from coast to coast in two wheel style \COMMUNITY A10
Local candidates wrestle over what to do about soaring prices \NEWS A5
Local group wants to get girls started young in growing sport \SPORTS A21