Inside
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NEW CURRICULUM P. 4 LETTER P. 6
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COUNCIL NOTES P. 5 FLYING CLUB P. 7
E xpress OMINECA
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Wednesday, September 23, 2015
Flying school planes needs roosting space
VIVIAN CHUI photo
Vanderhoof Flying Club members recently purchased an airplane dated 1972 to launch a flying school in town.
Housing shortage deters incoming workers: report Vivian Chui Omineca Express Less young professionals are coming to Vanderhoof due to housing shortage, says a recent report. Conducted by UNBC’s Community Development Institute, the Vanderhoof Housing Assessment shows that not only are there not enough units, but the limited supply has also raised rental costs, said Marleen Morris, a CDI co-director. A two-bedroom basement suite in town, for example, can be $1,300 per month to rent— a price which rivals that of much larger urban centres, the report states.
In fact, Vanderhoof needs more housing for seniors, one or two-person households, low income individuals, and families — or everyone, the report explains. There are three variables that will affect the type of housing Vanderhoof needs in the future: an aging population, a post-mountain pine beetle downturn in the forest industry, and increase in mineral exploration nearby. From 2011 to 2026, the district’s number of seniors will increase by 86 per cent and represent more than a quarter of the population, and the possible change in forestry and mining work will affect the number of workers needing accommodation in the area. However, the cost to build housing is high in Vanderhoof,
as it is comparable to the costs to build in the Lower Mainland, Morris said. The report also states that current housing may also need upgrades in the near future, as most buildings were built in the 1960s and 57 per cent of the town’s housing stock is more than 25 years old. With the housing assessment, Vanderhoof’s council is looking to strategize and assess the available tools to address housing, said Tom Clement, the district’s Chief Administrative Officer. “It gives council a good understanding of housing needs in different scenarios,” Clement said. See HOUSING, page 2
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