Inside
◆ Council Notes - pg 2 ◆ Northern RACE Line - pg 3
◆ Peewee hockey - pg 5 ◆ Candlelight skate - pg 6
Published by Black Press Ltd at 150 West Columbia Street, Vanderhoof, BC V0J 3A0 Publications Mail Contract #: 40007759
WEDNESDAY, January 20, 2016
NEWS BRIEFS Chronic Pain: Education Series coming to Fort St. James It can be mild or it can be excruciating. It can be sporadic or constant. It can be inconvenient or completely debilitating. One in five Canadians suffers from chronic pain and it is especially greater in older adults. On Jan. 22, a Chronic Pain Education Series will be offered at Stuart Lake Hospital. Northern Health partnered with Occupational Therapy in Vanderhoof will be offering the series which includes 3-5 minute clips that offer a variety of opportunities for discussion. Joanne Alexander, a health nurse with Northern Health in Fort St. James, says that the program can really help those with chronic pain overcome many of their obstacles. “The series also explains how this type of pain can affect the brain,” Alexander said. Chronic pain can signal pain and remain active in the nervous system for months or even years. This can take both a physical and an emotional toll on a person. The education series offers ideas and suggestions on how to manage chronic pain and how to live a healthier life,” Alexander said. The series is formulated by Neil Pearson, a clinical therapist, educator, author, and renowned leader in pain management in Canada. The series will be held in the conference room at Stuart Lake Hospital on Jan. 22 at 1:00 p.m. To register call: (250) 996-7178. For more information on Neil Pearson and chronic pain visit: www. lifeisnow.ca
PHONE: 996-8482 www.caledoniacourier.com
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Scenic Fort St. James
A sunny, crisp winter’s day at Stuart Lake, Fort St. James. Photo by Barbara Latkowski
Nominations recognize 39 exceptional athletes from Northern B.C including speed-skater from Fort St. James BARBARA LATKOWSKI Caledonia Courier
The 2016 Fan the Flame Awards Banquet and Gala will celebrate both exceptional athletic achievement and contribution to sport in Northern B.C. for 2015. On that list of nominees is Fort St. James speed-skater, Jaimie MacDonald who is currently in Montreal preparing for the World Cup Championships taking place Jan. 15 and 17. “It’s very cool to be nominated and very exciting to be recognised,” MacDonald said. The 20-year-old moved to Fort St. James from Stuart in 2000. She began skating in 2001 and the rest is history. “My neighbours recommended it,” MacDonald said. “I fell in love with the sport and the speed.” Since 16, MacDonald has been residing in Calgary to undergo intensive train-
Speed-skater, Jaimie MacDonald is thrilled to be nominated for the Fan the Flame Awards as an exceptional athlete.
ing at the Olympic Oval twice a day. “Of course one day I want to compete in the Olympics. I want that international experience,” she said. MacDonald is also a student at the University of Calgary where she enjoys medical sciences and anthropology. She has been nominated alongside two other senior athletes, Sara Beaudry from Prince George for biathlon and Lavanna Laass, also from Prince George for her achievements in judo. The recipients of the awards will be named at the 2016 Fan the Flame Awards Banquet and Gala which will take place on Feb. 11 at the Prince George Civic Centre. The ceremony will feature Olympic gold medalist, Catriona LeMay who will deliver a keynote address, “The Power of Sport.” For more information about the Fan the Flame Awards visit:northern@pacificsport.com or call: (250) 960-5342.