Wednesday November 25, 2015 www.saobserver.net $1.25 GST INCLUDED
Dog ban decision Dec. 14 By Martha Wickett OBSERVER STAFF
Dogs on leash? No dogs at all? Dogs on Christmas Island? Come Dec. 14, the uncertainty surrounding dogs and the foreshore trail along Salmon Arm Bay is expected to come to an end. Following more than two hours of presentations Monday evening regarding dogs on the trail, Salmon Arm council agreed to make a decision at the Dec. 14 afternoon council meeting. There they will vote on a notice of motion proposed by Coun. Alan Harrison. The meeting starts at 2:30 p.m. Harrison, who was alone in urging an immediate decision at the Nov. 23 public input meeting, moved that the city bylaw currently governing the trail be given an opportunity to work. The bylaw states dogs must be kept on a leash Alan Harrison and under the control of CITY their owner. However, COUNCILLOR the Salmon Arm Bay Nature Enhancement Society, or SABNES, which has been the guardian of the trail and bird sanctuary for the past 25 years, has kept signs posted prohibiting dogs. The decision came before council when SABNES requested the city alter its bylaw to officially prohibit dogs from the trail. Sanctuary neighbour Peter Robertson also brought a request to council – that leashed dogs be given free access. In packed council chambers Monday night, about 20 people offered their views. Approximately 60 per cent asked council to put up signs allowing leashed dogs on the trail. Most also expressed appreciation for the sanctuary and the work of SABNES. Verbal confrontations were reported by some people who have walked their dogs on the trail. Proponents of no dogs warned of the See No clear on page A2
EVAN BUHLER/OBSERVER
First snow fun
Emerson Lawless, followed by her brother Bretton, enjoy their Monday Pro-D day by taking to the slope at South Broadview Elementary for some sled time.
City prepares for refugees Salmon Arm: Citizens, churches rally support to welcome families. By Barb Brouwer OBSERVER STAFF
Salmon Arm will be putting out the welcome mat for Syrian refugees. In early October, Brian Ayotte and Joyce Henderson held a meeting to see if there was support to bring between three and five Syrian families to safety and a new life in the Shuswap. Ayotte says many people had been talking about bringing refugees to Salmon Arm throughout the community so he and Henderson called a meeting and contacted
This week The Salmon Arm Ice Breakers host the fastest sport on ice and speed into the medals. See A17. It’s all about the ’do for the upcoming Shuswap Theatre production. See more on A23.
churches and non-church secular group includes individuals. individual citizens and ...We have to “It was like the penny make sure we Rotary. It’s quite a crossdropped; we started with don’t make them section.” 16 people at a meeting First United, St. Joon Oct. 4 and at the third victims – victims seph’s and several citimeeting, Nov. 15, we had of the terrorists zens have committed to and then victims Brian Ayotte 40 people.” take a family, says Ayotte. In the past month, sev- of “It is very likely the rest our own REFUGEE eral groups and individu- prejudice. of the members of the CO-ORDINATOR als have eagerly comgroup will collaborate on mitted to help make this two more families.” happen. Churches inHe says there has been clude First United, St. John’s nerstone Christian Reformed great input from Immigrant Anglican, St. Joseph’s Roman and the Mennonite Central Services Shuswap, who will Catholic, Lakeside Method- Committee. offer services to the refugees ist, First Methodist, Deo Lu“That’s phenomenal; evtheran, Broadview E Free, eryone is committed and enSee Accommodation on A3 Shuswap Community, Cor- thusiastic,” said Ayotte. “The
Index Opinion ....................... A6 View Point .................. A7 Life & Times ............... A8 Sports................A17-A19 Arts & Events ... A21-A23 Time Out................... A24 Vol. 108, No. 47, 48 pages