Smithers Interior News, December 23, 2015

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InteriorNEWS THE

108th Year - Week 51 •

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Wednesday, December 23, 2015

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Muheim Elementary School students belt out Quand le pere noël during their concert A Caroling Christmas last week. More Christmas concert photos and letters to Santa on pages B1-2 and B6-7. Chris Gareau photo

Telkwa geologist honoured Leaders react to Hwy 16 safer transport plan

By Chris Gareau

Telkwa/Interior News

A local legend in the world of mining, Hans Smit has been recognized for his over three decades of contributions to the mineral industry by the Association for Mineral Exploration (AME) British Columbia. He will be presented the award at The AME BC Awards Celebration of Excellence Gala on January 27 during the Mineral Exploration Roundup 2016 conference in Vancouver. The award is chosen by all the past chairs and presidents of the AME. Current chair David McLelland did not get to vote, but was not surprised at Smit’s winning. “He’s very widely known in our community, and he is very prolific in his advocacy and in his example at mentorship,” said McLelland. He recently returned from Mexico, where most of his work has been the last ten years. Smit does still believe strongly in creating local jobs with local projects in northern B.C. “I believe strongly the mineral industry can help communities economically and socially, because

it’s providing jobs. But it doesn’t work if all those jobs are all filled by people from somewhere else or if all the commodities are being bought from Vancouver and being trucked to Smithers, that doesn’t help as much as if people buy stuff in Smithers,” said Smit. The current president of Minerals North for a couple decades, Smit is bringing the annual event to Smithers and his hometown of Telkwa in May. Smit had a hand in shaping the industry’s past, is shaping the present, and is helping shape its future as the chair of the an advisory committee to the School of Exploration and Mining at Northwest Community College in Smithers. “Should that course be taught, how we connect with companies; the idea being that if the college teaches things that industry needs people for, it works really well because people get hired,” explained Smit, who still likes getting his hands dirty. “The fun part of this job is I get to go to Toronto with a suit and tie, but I also just spent three days in the field with a Mexican geologist and the helper and ranchers sitting out and eating barbecued meat on a little ranch,” said Smit.

By Alicia Bridges Smithers/Interior News

Northern mayors have welcomed the Ministry of Transportation and Infrastructure’s $3-million plan to improve public transportation along Highway 16, but cautioned it should be the beginning, not the end, of actions to make the route safer. On Dec. 14, Transportation Minister Todd Stone announced a five-point plan to improve public transport between Prince Rupert, Prince George and communities along Highway 16. The plan included $1.6-million in funding for the expansion of existing B.C. Transit services,

and possibly the creation of new ones, on a cost-sharing basis with communities. The Ministry also created a ten-person advisory council to develop a process through which communities can apply for the funding. The mayors of Burns Lake and Houston are among those on the committee, as well Highway of Tears initiative representative Mary Teegee and Gitanyow deputy chief council Wanda Good. Smithers Mayor Taylor Bachrach said he was not invited to join the advisory council, but would have if given the opportunity. See START on A5

SMITHERS HOME A TIMBER KING A luxurious log home on Hudson Bay Mountain gets its TV debut.

BRINGING SYRIANS TO THE HAZELTONS Upper Skeena Refugee Sponsorship Group applying to bring Syrian refugees to the Hazeltons.

LESSONS FROM CHINA Bulkley Valley kids come back with a greater appreciation for education.

A&E/A11

THREE RIVERS/A13

OUR TOWN/B10

Visit bulkleyvalleywholesale.com for flyer information


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