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West Kelowna customers offered special payment plan
BC Hydro has announced a special plan to let Westside residential customers spread out the big power bills they racked due to the recent colder-than-usual weather over a six-months period. The 2016/2017 Winter Payment Plan option is BC Hydro’s way of helping customers deal with higher than normal electricity bills they are likely to see between now and the end of March says the company.
“Given the unusually cold weather we anticipate that many of our customers will receive higher than normal bills” said Jessica McDonald president and CEO of BC Hydro. “We recognize that some customers may need the option to manage the costs over a longer period of time. This program allows them to do that.”
The extra time to pay will only affect residents living in Westside and on the west side of Okanagan Lake as residential electricity in Kelowna and on the east side of the lake is provided by FortisBC. With the colder than average temperatures this seasonBC Hydro is seeing electricity consumption reach record levels. On Jan. 3 it reported that a 10-year record was broken for peak electricity demand.
The special payment plan provides residential customers with the option to spread out payments of winter bills over a six-month period. The winter billing period runs from Dec. 1,2016 to Mar. 31, 2017. B.C. Hydro is encouragng anyone interested in using the payment plan to call it after receiving their next bill so arrangments can be made without incurring late payment fees. There is no deadline for joining the plan. Customers who want to participate in the 2016/2017 Winter Payment Plan can call BC Hydro’s customer service team at 1-800-BCHYDRO for more details and to enrol.
❋ January 27, 2017 | What’s Up Westside X3
Form a Block Watch and help fight crime
A simple concept with a little organization can help reduce crime and criminal activity in your neighbourhood. The Regional Crime Prevention Coordinator says it’s called Block Watch and has for almost a decade helped residents in over two dozen neighbourhoods reduce crime throughout West Kelowna, Peachland, Lake Country, the two
how to be more aware of their neighbourhood surroundings, but also how to make their homes less inviting to thieves, how to prevent auto theft and how to recognize and report suspicious activity. Morgan adds, “It’s easy to organize a Block Watch area and helps to bring neighbours together for a common goal.” Anyone living in the Central Okanagan East and Central Okanagan West Electoral Areas or the municipalities of Lake Country, Peachland and West Kelowna that might be interested in receiving more information or a presentation on the Block Watch program are welcome to call 250-707-8021 or email crime.prevention@cord.bc.ca. For more information on the Block Watch program visit the Crime Prevention pages in the Police Services section of Regional District website www.regionaldistrict.com.
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electoral areas and on Westbank First Nation reserves. Roy Morgan adds the most recent addition to the program involves dozens of neighbours throughout Joe Rich, who came together to form a Block Watch area last year. He says the success of the Block Watch is in its simplicity. “It’s designed so that neighbours watch out for each other and get involved in discouraging and preventing crime at the street and neighbourhood level.” He adds, “Neighbours are aware of the normal comings and goings in their area. As a result they may be the first to know when someone or something suspicious and unusual is going on and then report it to the RCMP. By working together, neighbours can actively prevent crime in the most effective way – before it happens.” Block Watch participants not only learn
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X4 What’s Up Westside | January 27, 2017 ❋
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Business grad reaps rewards of well-rounded College experience When setting off to pursue a career change, business student Hannah Griffin was surprised by the opportunities that came knocking during college. Griffin thought she would have to wait to finish a diploma before embarking on a new career path, but a series of opportunities to enhance her education presented themselves the minute she became an Okanagan College business student. Griffin is one of 369 students who will receive credentials at the college’s first convocation ceremony of 2017 and will graduate with a Post-Baccalaureate diplo-
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ma in Accounting from the Okanagan College School of Business. While still in the first semester of the business program, Griffin was offered a position as a financial administrator with local tech success Vineyard Networks and jumped at the chance. “Working during my studies has taken me longer to complete my diploma, but it was a win-win,” she explains. “I took distance courses part-time and gained experience in private and public accounting while being able to support my daughter.” Born and raised in West Kelowna, Griffin completed a Bachelor of Fine Arts at UBC Okanagan. While making a living as an artist, the economic recession hit and she sought out a more stable career. The reputation of the College’s School of Business enticed her to enrol in the two-year Post-Baccalaureate diploma program in 2011. Following the sale of Vineyard Networks and subsequent relocation of the company’s accounting office in 2015, Griffin took the opportunity to accelerate her education by continuing at the college on a full-time basis. “One of the highlights of the program was the accessibility of my professors,” she says. “I knew I could go to anyone in the department and they would happily take the time to help me and answer questions.”
HANNAH GRIFFIN WITH CAP AND GOWN IN THE CENTRE FOR LEARNING, KELOWNA CAMPUS. With the encouragement of her professors, she stepped outside of her comfort zone and joined the School of Business’s debate team and Enactus Okanagan College, where she co-founded CANsave, a financial literacy program for elementary school students. Her involvement in the two groups brought about regional and national travel and industry networking opportunities. In January 2016, Griffin competed at the finals of the prestigious Inter-Collegiate Business Competition (I.C.B.C.) at Queen’s University in Kingston and in May 2016 she flew to Toronto for the Enactus National Competition, where CANsave earned the title of Canada’s second-best Financial Literacy program. When Griffin completed her studies in August, a connection from one of the college’s networking events led to a full-time position as an articling student at Crowe MacKay. She is concurrently pursuing her CPA designation. Griffin’s three-year-old daughter Lucia watched
her don a cap and gown to receive her diploma. “Balancing my education with providing the best life for Lucia has been a challenge, but also very rewarding,” says Griffin. “She will be able to look at me and see what a single mom is – a hardworking woman who can give back to others and be ambitious in chasing her dreams.” Winter Convocation is the first of the College’s seven convocation ceremonies that take place this year. Students from all four campuses will cross the stage at the Kelowna campus to receive their credentials. The College will confer 60 bachelor’s degrees, 17 associate degrees, 191 diplomas and 101 certificates. The morning ceremony will begin at 10:30 a.m. on Saturday, Jan. 14 and will stream live on the College’s Facebook page. In 2016, Okanagan College graduated more than 2,100 students from its programs. Watch the ceremony live on facebook.com/okanagancollege.ca
❋ January 27, 2017 | What’s Up Westside X5
www.kelownacapnews.com
Potential to self-govern examined BY RICHARD ROLKE The North Westside could be one step closer to looking at how it's governed. Regional District of Central Okanagan board has agreed to ask the Ministry of Community Development for $20,000 for a governance review study for the area from La Casa to Westshore Estates. “We’ve turned a major corner here,” said Wayne Carson, North Westside director. “I’m absolutely thrilled the application is going in. The amount being sought should be enough to do what we want to do.” However, Carson is concerned about the remainder of the board motion which states the proposed study would ex-
plore issues within the existing regional district electoral area structure, blending a service analysis and a community issues assessment. “That’s making a conclusion but we have an understanding with the minister (Peter Fassbender). He has said the scope of the study is up to him and staff,” said Carson. Carson added that the study shouldn’t preclude what form of governance the North Westside follows. “There are only two choices. You either are an electoral area or you are a municipality. We want to look at whether there’s an ability to self-govern. Nobody has said we need to incorporate. We just want to see what it would look like
and if it’s financially viable.” Opposition to applying for the $20,000 came from three Kelowna directors, Colin Basran, Tracy Gray and Luke Stack. “This is a futile effort that will solve nothing,” said Basran. Both Stack and Gray expressed concern that there’s a difference of opinion between the community and RDCO on the focus of a study. “It (the motion) doesn’t achieve the objective of the North Westside Communities Association,” said Gray, adding that governance concerns could be addressed by having advisory committees for various services. Support, though, for the
$20,000 application came from the remainder of the board. “I want to be hopeful that we can come to a better place at the end of this process,” said Gail Given, board chairperson. James Baker, Lake Country director, insists the grant application simply starts the process and governance options can be considered later. “All of the details that will come afterwards will come once you have funds,” he said. Carson expects a ministry decision on the grant soon, and believes the study could start this spring. “I’m confident the ministry will put a fair process before us,” he said.
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X6 What’s Up Westside | January 27, 2017 ❋
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2016 was a remarkable year for British Columbia, and for the Westside For me, one of the greatest highlights was the honour of joining the Duke and Duchess of Cambridge for the dedication a new aboriginal art installation at UBCO – the perfect way to celebrate UBC’s centennial, and the 10 year anniversary of the Okanagan campus. Afterwards, the royal couple enjoyed some of the best food and wine in the world at Mission Hill Winery. 2016 gave us a lot to be proud of. We’re leading the country like never before, first in economic growth and creating jobs, with the lowest taxes for middle class families – and that’s before you take into
account our unmatched weather and lifestyle here in the Okanagan. We’re in this position because we’ve controlled government spending, and stuck to our plan. It means we’re able to invest in people, and make sure we put British Columbians first. What does that mean? For example, in less than a year, we’ve committed $855 million to create close to 5,000 new units throughout B.C. – the largest single-year investment in affordable housing in Canadian history. $18.4 million of that is being in Kelowna, creating more than 130 new housing units.
We’re also making record investments in education, healthcare, transit, and skills training. In Kelowna, we invested $28 million to expand and renovate the trades training facilities at Okanagan College. The new complex Christy Clark
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opened in September, accommodating up to 2,408 students and apprentices. As record numbers of Canadians move to B.C., we need to ensure vital services keep pace with growth. That’s why we invested $2.7 million to open the new IHA Community Health & Services Centre in Kelowna, bringing Central Okanagan health services together in one centralized location, and invested $3 million in Foundry Kelowna, a new integrated youth-service
centre for kids and teens in need of mental health care and social services. 2016 also saw major investments in infrastructure. In Kelowna, that means new buses, new technology for safety and efficiency, expanding the transit hub at UBCO to relieve wait times, and starting this spring, major upgrades to Highway 97, with a new intersection at Boucherie Road and two other major safety improvements. This builds on the $46 million RapidBus BC project, which has connected West Kelowna with downtown and UBCO since 2014. And as our economy and population continues to grow, it’s up to us to ensure we leave our province to future generations as beautiful as we found it. In December, we released the new BC Parks Future Strategy. It means 1,900 new campsites, more park rangers, and giving British Columbians more ways to experience nature and contribute solutions to keep them thriving for generations and generations to come. That’s why we keep working hard, together, to grow Canada’s leading economy – so we can invest in the services we all depend on, and give people a hand up when they need it most. In 2017, I look forward to continuing to serve the Okanagan as best I can.
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❋ January 27, 2017 | What’s Up Westside X7
www.kelownacapnews.com
Roundabouts of interest in the potential upgrade of Boucherie Road After a presentation late last year that resulted in some West Kelowna council members blasting a city-hired consultant for his conceptual plans for the second phase of an upgrade to Boucherie Road, council has approved elements of the plan following support by members of the public at an open house to review the concepts. At the first presentation in October, Coun. Rosalind Neis was the most vocal opponent of what was presented, telling engineer Peter Truch of Stantec Consulting she was “appalled” by what he had proposed, and even though she is not an engineer said she could do a better job designing an upgrade to the road herself. Truch was back before council earlier this week looking for support for five
elements of the proposed concept for the upgrade that came out of the public open house in November: • a roundabout for the Hudson intersection • two separated cycling lanes, one on each side of the twolane road • designing a roundabout for the Anders Road intersection • closing access to Boucherie Road from Skyline and Stevenson Roads • sidewalks on one side throughout and on both sides where fronting development While supporting the concept of the roundabouts at Boucherie and Anders Roads, council will hold off making a decision on whether to install the Anders one, or a turning lane instead, until costs are determined. Council also directed city
staff to proceed with the design of phase two of what is being called the Wine Trail Upgrade to Boucherie Road after being presented with the conceptual plans for the project. The plan calls for a balance to address the needs of all users of the multi-modal corridor. The plan was developed based on input from council, staff, and the public. The public open house Nov. 3, followed by an online survey, presented options for the public to comment on, including intersection improvements. The roundabout at the Hudson Road and Boucherie Road was the preferred option by 80 per cent of respondents, said Truch. But last year, council was cool to the idea of round-
abouts, with some councillors and outright opposing them. Truch said roundabouts at both Hudson and Anders would be more effective at moving traffic, and safer0 than traffic signals. Council did not approve all that was presented to it however. It was told BC Hydro estimates the cost to relocate overhead wiring underground from Stuart to Ogden Roads on Boucherie Road at $2.2 to $3.3 million and it is the preferred aesthetic option. But council rejected the option, opting instead to focus municipal funding on safety and traffic flow improvements. Council’s 10-Year Capital Plan includes just over $5 million for construction of the phase two upgrade.
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X8 What’s Up Westside | January 27, 2017 ❋
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2016: Challenging, frustrating and surprising
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West Kelowna Coun. Rick de Jong summed up 2016 in three words — challenging, frustrating and surprising. According to de Jong the biggest challenge for the city was the drawn-out water quality advisory for Lakeview water utility customers after high turbidity levels and algae were found in the water coming out of the Rose Valley reservoir. The advisory covered thousands of residents in areas such as Rose Valley, Lakeview Heights, West Kelowna Estates and Shannon Lake. The advisory lasted for the better part of three months, from the later part of the summer into the early fall
and even prompted the city to open its bulk water station in Shannon Lake to provide the public with free treated water. “That was difficult,” said de Jong about the effect of the water advisory, noting the city has now applied for a federal-provincial grant that, if successful, could provide as much as 83 per cent of the estimated $54 million cost of a water treatment plant for the Lakeview system. The plant would be similar to the one that treats water in the Glenrosa water system at the other end of the city. The water issue was not the only headache for West Kelowna in 2016. CONTINUED PAGE 13
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support healthy aging Opportunities to socialize and a sense of connection are important for mental health and healthy aging. Unfortunately, many seniors in our community struggle with isolation and loneliness, increasing their vulnerability to depression and disability. The Canadian Mental Health Association, Kelowna (CMHA Kelowna), has teamed up with Kelowna Community Resources and several other organizations in the central Okanagan to provide outreach for older adults. “Our goal is to provide mental health education training to 100 staff members and volunteers at key
agencies who will be able to match at least 60 older adults with a trained outreach volunteer,” says Alison Kyte, Wellness Programs and Education Manager at CMHA Kelowna. “Wise & Well: Building Mental Fitness for Older Adults” is an 18-month project that will provide volunteers, including a team of UBC Okanagan Master of Social Work students, with the knowledge and training they need to effectively support seniors in a way that is sensitive to age and culture. Volunteers will take courses such as Mental Health First Aid, Mental Fitness, and ASIST or safeTALK suicide
intervention trainings. “We are proud to participate in the Wise & Well project,” says Dr. John Graham, Director of the School of Social Work at UBC Okanagan, “this will be a great opportunity for our students to receive professional development and experience while making a difference locally.” Partners from Peachland, West Kelowna, Kelowna, and Lake Country will then match the volunteers to older adults. Together, they will look for opportunities to attend local social groups to build meaningful connections and social networks that can continue long after the project ends.
If you are interested in becoming a volunteer, or if you know (or are) an older adult who would be interested in receiving support, please contact one of the following agencies in your community: Peachland Wellness Centre: 250-767-0131 Westside Health Network: 250-768-3305 Seniors Outreach Services (Kelowna): 250-861-6180 Kelowna Community Resources, Immigrant Services: 250-763-8008 Lake Country Health Planning: 778-215-5247 The Community Action Initiative has provided funding for this project.
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X10 What’s Up Westside | January 27, 2017 ❋
www.kelownacapnews.com
Highlights from West Kelowna City Council JANUARY 20, 2017
es for the 52 hectare property close to Pinot Noir Drive, Vineyard View Drive and Vineyard Drive. Approximately 36 hectares would be developed with the remainder designated as park or natural area. Vineyard Drive would be extended and act as the primary access to the development and traffic analysis has indicated the road is adequate to handle the increased traffic. However, Council was advised that a second access is desirable, particularly for fire protection. The proposed bylaws will now be scheduled for an upcoming public hearing.
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West Kelowna Warriors attend the Westside Board of Trade's Annual General Meeting The Westside Board of Trade held its Annual General Meeting at the Cove Lakeside Resort. Presentations included The Next 100 Days, put on by BC Chamber of Commerce executive Val Litwin and special guests included members of the West Kelowna Warriors.
❋ January 27, 2017 | What’s Up Westside X11
www.kelownacapnews.com
A new generation of private investments BC-based nutraceutical health company SomaLife Consulting out of West Kelowna has raised an initial $1 million capital investment, led by SomaLife Ventures VCC – a venture capital corporation targeting growth in life science development. With representation spearheaded by Robson Financial Group, SomaLife Ventures VCC is pioneering a new generation of private investment in an initial capital funding round that will see SomaLife expand its nutraceutical and sports nutrition products and markets. “Our products are in every locker room across Major League Baseball and in the homes of our families and neighbours,” says Weston Frontin, Chief Operations Officer. “SomaLife is thrilled to be raising this first million in our own backyard and so quickly. It speaks to the confidence our own community has in the next phase of our company’s expansion.” SomaLife was established in 1998 in West Kelowna to develop products based on the medical research of the late Dr. Philip A White, a highly
regarded family physician and Chief of Staff at Kelowna General Hospital. He was the product creator and co-founder of SomaLife. His patented formula of an easy-to-digest amino acids stack stimulates the pituitary to naturally release human growth hormone in quantities similar to that of people in their mid-twenties. The company’s flagship products, SomaLife’s Youth Formula and gHP Sport, help the body with accelerated recovery, cellular repair and regeneration, more energy and better sleep. The capital raised will allow SomaLife to expand its product line here and in the United States, and bring a new line of nutrient bars and drinks onto grocery and pharmacy shelves. SomaLife Ventures VCC is qualified as a Venture Capital Company under the BC Small Business Venture Capital Act providing individual taxpayers or corporations the opportunity to receive a 30% tax credit on their 2016 tax return for investments up to $200,000, resulting in a refundable tax credit up to $60,000. In 2015, the Small Business
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X12 What’s Up Westside | January 27, 2017 ❋
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Central Okanagan’s primary resource for business launches new website The Central Okanagan Economic Development Commission (COEDC) announced the launch of its new website. As the Region’s Primary Resource for Business, InvestKelowna.com is the chief marketing and informational tool used in the Commission’s activities to attract businesses and investors from around the world and support local businesses. The new site design was funded with 50 per cent matching dollars from Invest Canada Community Initiatives, a federal program
focused on the attraction, retention, and expansion of foreign direct investment. Along with a visually rich
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Planned water hike rate given initial approval West Kelowna council has given initial approval to a plan to hike water rates in the city. Council gave first three readings to an amendment to its Fees and Charges Bylaw to increase fees for all water utility users due to what the city calls “significant cost pressures.” The amendment bylaw proposes a 15 per cent increase for the Pritchard, West Kelowna Estates, Sunnyside and Lakeview water systems users and a 10 per cent increase for Westbank water system users. The increased cost per year to a resident in a single-family home will be: • $54 for Westbank users • $58 for Pritchard, West Kelowna Estates and Sunny-
side users • $49 for Lakeview users The Lakeview system requires a $54 million treatment plant and the city has applied for federal infrastructure grant to help pay for it. If successful, the could provide as much as 80 per cent of the cost and help advance construction of the plant by two years. A water rate study, nearing completion but now on hold as the West Kelowna awaits word on the grant application, is expected to propose rates to meet the capital requirements. In the meantime, council supports increasing rates that have not been increased since July 2015. The rate increases are proposed to be effective retroactive to as of Jan. 1, 2017.
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Amphitheatre named after its late recreation manager Annette Beaudreau West Kelowna will name it’s new outdoor amphitheatre in Memorial Park in Westbank after it’s late recreation manager, Annette Beaudreau. Beaudreau, who passed away last year following a long battle with cancer, was one of the city original employees who transferred over from the regional district when West Kelowna incorporated in 2007. Mayor Doug Findlater made the announcement about the naming prior to Tuesday’s council meeting, saying it was fitting the new amphitheatre be named after Beaudreau because it is home to several events she either helped initiate, organize or champion during her time with the city. Some of those events include
Music In The Park and Westside Daze. “She made a big contribution by championing our community,” said Findlater, noting Beaudreau took on the task of organizing the city’s Communities in Bloom effort, a national title West Kelowna won under her watch. Findlater described Beaurdreau, who was just 46 when she died, as a strong advocate for the city and said her high energy and vibrancy are missed at city hall. A ceremony to officially name the amphitheatre, located just below the Johnson-Bentley Memorial Aquatic Centre in Westbank as the Annette Beaudreau Amphitheatre, will take place later in the year.
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2016 a challenging year CONTINUED FROM PAGE 8
It’s bid to build a new city hall/civic centre was rejected, not once but twice, by residents this year. First, more than the required 10 per cent of voters signed up to oppose the $14-million plan in an alternate approval process and then, in a paper-thin referendum decision in September, the proposal was rejected by a mere 27 votes. “That was both frustrating and surprising,” he said of the AAP and referendum results. And it leaves the city with the problem it had going into the plan — how to house the growing staff needed to the run a growing city. Like other municipalities in the area, the demand for
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services and amenities in West Kelowna is growing and de Jong said the council will be mindful of that as it heads into its 2017 budget deliberations in early January. With a three per cent tax hike proposed for 2017, the city plans to add four more staff and two more police officers but is likely to hold off on a request for eight more firefighters until next year. Still, de Jong said the young city did do more road rehabilitation work and build more sidewalks in 2016 as it tried to catch up in dealing with a road system de Jong said was not in great condition when West Kelowna incorporated in 2007.
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All about regional parks in the Central Okanagan It's everything you need to know about regional parks in the Central Okanagan. CORD has released the new Winter-Spring edition of Your Guide to Regional Parks 2017. “We’ve given the Parks Guide a new look but inside the 12-page colour foldout you’ll still find everything you need to know about all the activities, events and programs in our Regional Parks during the first five months of the year," said communications officer Bruce Smith.
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"We’ve revamped our At a Glance program calendar and we have a map showing Regional Park locations along with short descriptions of their amenities. “Our free ‘Wild Walks’ program offers a monthly Saturday morning and Thursday afternoon opportunity to join a park interpreter and learn about special features of the park that’s being visited. These outings are available for everyone thanks to the volunteers from the Community Recreational Initiatives Society, who provide barrier-free access to our parks. To discover more about or request CRIS services, check out adaptiveadventures.ca.�
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The guide is available online at regionaldistrict. com/ parksguide, or you can pick up a printed copy at the EECO in Mission Creek Regional Park; at the Regional District office (1450 KLO Road) in Kelowna or over the next few weeks at other local government offices and visitor information centres. “While most of our programs are offered for free, we do encourage people to pre-register by contacting the staff at the Environmen-
tal Education Centre for the Okanagan or EECO at 250469-6139 or email eeco@ cord.bc.ca," added Smith. "During the winter months, please make sure you’re properly prepared for the conditions with appropriate clothing, sturdy shoes and traction or anti-slip devices. Some participants find poles help with their balance and stability and provide an additional workout.�
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