Inside
◆ Council Notes - pg 2 ◆ Gaming Grant - pg 3
◆ FSJSS Honor Roll - pg 5 ◆ Pink Shirt day - pg 6
Published by Black Press Ltd at 150 West Columbia Street, Vanderhoof, BC V0J 3A0
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WEDNESDAY, January 17, 2016
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VOL. 38 NO. 51 $1.30 inc. GST
NEWS BRIEFS Province toughens up drinking and driving laws VICTORIA - New regulations are in place to clarify and toughen the consequences of drinking and drug affected driving in British Columbia, strengthening the Province’s resolve to have the safest roads in North America by 2020. Under the new program, drivers with certain serious prohibitions for drinking and drug affected driving are now required to participate in mandatory remedial programs designed to prevent this high risk and irresponsible behaviour from reoccurring. Driving while affected by drugs or alcohol is a significant public health and safety concern of this government. In 2014, drinking and driving contributed to the death of 61 people on our roads - that’s 61 completely preventable deaths due to poor choices. Once a mandatory referral is made, drivers will be required to participate in the Responsible Driver Program (RDP), which focuses on education and counselling, and/ or the Ignition Interlock Program (IIP), for which a device is installed in the vehicle to prevent drivers from driving if they have consumed alcohol. Minister of Public Safety and Solicitor General, Mike Morris “These measures will help both deter and prevent unsafe drivers from getting back on our roads. There will no longer be financial or hardship considerations to exempt highrisk drivers from these remedial programs. See more on page 3
The Caledonia Classic in Fort St. James is the largest dog sled race event in B.C. Some of the mushers competing in last year’s Classic.
Caledonia Classic: ready to race BARBARA LATKOWSKI Caledonia Courier
Get ready and get set! The Caledonia Classic is back and it will be held on Feb. 26-28 in Fort St. James. Craig Houghton, event organizer is thrilled with what this year’s event has in store. “Because of the warmer weather this year, one of the highlights is that we will have more teams participate in the stage race as compared to previous years,” Houghton said. The Caledonia Classic has been a staple of the winter season in Fort St. James for about 18 years. It is the only race that combines sprint, middistance and long distance races into one exciting weekend. Houghton, along with co-organizer, Dianne Vinnedge, has helped organise the event since the
very beginning and he has seen many changes over the years. “There are three races in the province but we are the biggest,” Houghton says. The other two are in 100 Mile House and Fort Nelson, B.C. Mushers from all over attend the Classic. “We’ve had mushers from western Canada, the Yukon, the Northwest Territories, Montana and Washington take part,” Houghton said. So how does one become a musher? A good start is to become a handler for someone. You’ve got have a passion for sled dogs. If not, then don’t do it,” Houghton says. For Houghton, the Classic has been a passion for him since the beginning and he is grateful for all of the support received from the community, the snowmobile club and the District of Fort St. James over the years.
“And it wouldn’t be possible without our volunteers,” he said. Approximately 30-35 volunteers help with the Classic during the week and 10 dedicated volunteers help put it together leading up to the event every year. According to Houghton, the event is much more spectator friendly than in previous years. The stage race, which is the highlight of the Classic, takes place over three days, travelling 50 miles a day. The one musher with the best total time is the winner. Weather depending, the Classic is set to take place on Stuart Lake. And if you are planning to attend, you might even have the rare opportunity of being pulled by a sled. For more information about the Caledonia Classic visit: http://www.fsjcaledoniaclassic.com/