Page A6 Thursday, April 5, 2018
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Press Council, PO Box 1356, Ladysmith, B.C. V9G 1A9 Established in Fernie, B.C. in 1898 and published weekly each Thursday by The Free Press, a division of Black Press Group Ltd. and distributed throughout the Elk Valley and South Country. Free circulation 6,000. Reproductions of any material contained in this publication is forbidden without the prior consent of the publisher.
Editorial by Kimberley Vlasic
Mining is a lifeblood industry of the Elk Valley. Teck Resources operates five steelmaking coal mines in the region and is inarguably its biggest employer, supporting hundreds, if not thousands, of families. In recent years, the mining giant has come under scrutiny over water quality issues. Last year, Teck copped a $1.425 million fine for polluting a tributary of the Elk River, which caused fish to die off and prompted an Environment Canada investigation. Teck is once again in the spotlight after well sampling found elevated levels of selenium in Well #3 in the District of Sparwood and four private wells along the Elk and Fording rivers. Selenium is a trace element necessary for cellular function in many organisms, including humans, but excessive amounts can have harmful effects. Teck has provided bottled drinking water to users of the four private wells and continues to work with the Sparwood council to monitor Well #3, which is taken offline during periods when selenium levels exceed provincial water guidelines. Last week, the mining company published a public notice advising residents of the well sampling results but kept details to a minimum. It has drawn criticism from a local environmental group for a lack of transparency. The Elk River Alliance has invited residents to share their views on water resources and urged Teck to continue making changes to current mining operations to reduce selenium loadings to the Elk River system. Teck has learnt from its mistakes and is in the process of implementing the Elk River Water Quality Plan, which aims to stabilize and reverse the trend of selenium and other mining-related substances in the watershed. However, it could be doing more to communicate well sampling results and its efforts to restore water quality with Elk Valley residents. Open and honest discussion, and the sharing of information will only go further to strengthen ties between the company and community. It is imperative that Teck finds a long-term solution to its ongoing water quality issues to ensure continued, sustainable mining in the region and the future of an important industry.
Jennifer Cronin
Phil McLachlan
Kimberley Vlasic
Roxanne Belzile
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Re: Sculpting tourism to accommodate Pride community
Letters to the Editor
I read the above article with interest and felt that I should respond to some of the assertions made and presumptions voiced. If for no other reason than oftentimes silence can be construed as consent or a lack of challenge as agreement. The assertion is made that ‘embracing diversity and inclusion benefits everyone’. This is not so obviously true as the writer would seem to believe. It is necessary in any civil society to exercise discretion, use critical thinking as well as common sense. We use these faculties to make value judgements that help our society to work. I would suggest that there necessarily limits on all of us as human beings in terms of behaviour. I would further suggest we all exclude and include in every part of our lives everyday. Who our friends are, who our partner is, who we like and don’t like. As an aside I would say naming a group Fernie Pride is in and of itself a grossly exclusive name (if I follow the accepted ideology). With regard to pronouns ‘and the correct use of them’ I would say that in spite of the passing of Bill C16 which seeks to impose compelled speech, there are many many people who do not believe this to be a legitimate use of language but rather the wholesale hijacking of the English language to normalize a well-documented psychiatric disorder. As for diversity and inclusion training, this is unscientific ideological propaganda and should be rejected for the nonsense it is. There are two biological sexes. Period. This is not a matter open to serious debate. I would advise extreme caution against going down this ideological rabbit hole as the ideology of the left leads to logical absurdity. Sincerely,
Karl K. Leathley, Fernie
Youth donates birthday money Phil McLachlan editor@thefreepress.ca
F
or his 10th birthday, Adam Hayden asked all those attending his party to donate money towards the Summer Program for Children with Special Needs, one of many programs put in place by the Elk Valley Society for Community Living (EVSCL). Hayden and friends raised $337 for the program. Asked what prompted this generous gift, he said, “Because everyone likes to go to camp.” Hayden, together with his family, met with Reid Mende and his mother Angela Wallin at the Fernie Aquatic Centre this past Saturday to present them with the donation. Through the EVSCL, 17-yearold Mende has been participating in summer camps and other programs since the age of six. Fernie, Sparwood youth aged 6-17 participate in programs put in place by the EVSCL, specifically designed to help youth with disabilities. These groups often collaborate and participate in programs together. “It’s wonderful for the kids,” said Wallin. “They do a lot of activities, they travel a lot.” Wallin says she’s grateful for the program, as it allows Reid and other
Adam Hayden (middle right) presents Reid Mende with a donation of $337 which will go towards the Summer Program for Children with Special Needs. Phil McLachlan/The Free Press youth with disabilities to get out and enjoy their summer. The Elk Valley Society for Community Living is a charitable, non-profit organization. They believe that, “…regardless of their abilities, all individuals should be given the opportunity to live with dignity as independently as possible within their own community.” Since 1971, the EVSCL has focused on advocating for the rights of persons living with physical or mental challenges and their families. They continue,
through various fundraising activities in the community, to provide a summer program for mentally and physically challenged children, educational seminars for members and families of persons with special needs, and advocacy for the rights of those with specials needs through public awareness and education. To join the society, or help with fundraising efforts, contact Coleen Pelletier 250-423-7635 or Gayle Vallance at 250-423-6473.