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www.northernsentinel.com
Volume 62 No. 07
Kitimat left with no cabs, public safety questioned
Wednesday, February 17, 2016
1.30 INCLUDES TAX
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By Todd Hamiltlon Kitimat Northern Sentinel A series of events left Kitimat without taxi services earlier this month, which triggered concern for public safety, a rare temporary licence granting and calls for additional providers. Valley Taxi, the one-vehicle operation run by sole proprietor Chris Knight, was forced to shut down when Knight was admitted to hospital for major surgery. At the same time, Coastal Taxi owned by Kevin Berry, Kitimat’s only other approved cab company, failed to adhere to the mandated sixmonth inspection requirement for all cabs. “Mr. Berry’s licence wasn’t pulled ... that wasn’t the issue,” Don Zurowski, Passenger Transportation Board chair, told the Northern Sentinel on Friday. “All [taxis] need to be inspected every six months and [Berry] did not have his vehicles inspected as scheduled, so an enforcement order was issued and [the taxis] were pulled off the road until they were inspected. Zurowski said Coastal Taxi is approved for four vehicles but of those vehicles submitted for inspection, three failed and required repairs before being allowed back on road. Continued on Page 2
Nerds rule at Nechako Elementary
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Marlins set to make big splash at provincials Page 11
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A mummified Leo Gaumont, 6, really got wrapped up in the Kitimat Public Library’s Archeology Day. Activities at the library also included fossil digging and pyramid building. Virginia Charron photo
Rio Tinto launches $2 million program By Todd Hamiltlon Kitimat Northern Sentinel Rio Tinto announced on Thursday that they are teaming with Indspire to launch a $2 million award program for Indigenous students in Canada. Rio Tinto is putting up $1 million of its own money that will be matched by the Canadian government to establish the Rio Tinto Award for Indigenous Students. “We are very proud to establish the Rio Tinto Award for Indigenous Students through our partnership with Indspire, an Indigenous-led charity that invests in the education of Indigenous people in Canada,” Alf Barrios, chief executive of Rio Tinto’s aluminium group, stated. “Rio Tinto has been invested in
Canada for more than 100 years and we have a long history of working closely with Indigenous people across this great country. At Rio Tinto, we know just how critical education is to the success of the communities in which we work and to the success of our business.” The announcement was made in Vancouver, at Indspire’s Soaring: Indigenous Youth Career Conference, an event where Indigenous high school students gather to learn about career and post-secondary education options. The Rio Tinto Award for Indigenous students is designed to offer financial support to Indigenous students who are enrolled or would like to enrol in postsecondary studies. It gives young people the chance to obtain a diploma, degree, certificate, academic upgrading, or apprenticeship
program with financial assistance. The award prioritizes students in science, technology, engineering and math disciplines but is also available more broadly to students in any discipline including trades and is available to students of any age pursuing post-secondary education including adult learners. There are three application deadlines for the award: Feb. 15, June 1 and November 1, 2016. Successful applicants are eligible for the funding upon completion of high school. “Through our partnership with Indspire, we aim to provide the chance to all Indigenous youth in the areas we operate to pursue further training and/or studies after high school so that they are equipped for leadership positions in the future,” Barrios said.