Chetwynd Echo June 4, 2014

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3,000 jobs projected

Reclaim in g the land

Worlds largest renewable hydrogen and world-scale methanol production plant planned for Chetwynd

BY MIKE CARTER Chetwynd Echo Reporter –––––––––––––– CHETWYND – Blue Fuel Energy, a Victoria-based company, is proposing to build a world-class renewable hydrogen and methanol production plant near Chetwynd.

The project would bring 3,000 jobs over the projected three years of construction, and would result in 150 fulltime high paying jobs once it is up and running.

The company owns 410 hectares, or roughly 1,015 acres of land next to the Paper Excellence Pulp Mill on which, it hopes to build the world’s largest array of electrolyzers for producing renewable hydrogen, and an oxy-burner for generating electricity.

Electricity generated will offset the company’s costs by feeding back into the grid.

The site will also host Canadian Methanol’s worldscale natural gas-based methanol plant, as well as an extensive complex of greenhouses and fishponds that can utilize waste heat and carbon dioxide from the facilities to enhance the land’s agricultural productivity.

The company hopes the food produced on site will become a significant source of food for the region and beyond.

Blue Fuel Energy has yet to release any composite drawings of what the plant would look like.

The company has already signed a Memorandum of Understanding with the West Moberly First Nations, members of the Treaty 8 Tribal Association on whose land the project sits.

It has also reached an agreement with Siemens Canada Ltd. for the supply, delivery and commission-

Aboriginal drummers play a song to celebrate the opening of the Twin Sisters Native Plant Nursery near Moberly Lake. Photo by Mike Carter

Twin Sisters Native Plant Nursery aims to reclaim land disturbed by mining and other industrial development MIKE CARTER Chetwynd Echo Reporter –––––––––––––– CHETWYND – Last week, two local First Nations marked the opening of an important greenhouse project that will play a key role in the reclamation of their lands that have been disturbed by mining, natural gas and other developments.

The Twin Sister’s native plant nursery, located near Moberly Lake, is a joint project of the West Moberly and Saulteau First Nations, with major sponsorship from Walter Energy. Agriculture and Agri-food Canada are also involved to a lesser extent.

Royal Roads University, based out of Victoria, was also a key contributor to the project, which conBY

Please see "WASTE," page 2

sists of two state-of-the-art, 700 square- foot greenhouses. The project site sits on 25 acres of land, with room for expansion.

At present, one of the greenhouses is fully functional, growing plants that are native to the areas that Walter Energy has mined. The greenhouse employs six people from the two Aboriginal communities.

The potential for the project is virtually unlimited in its role to grow, plant and thus reclaim lands that were used for capital gain. “The whole general idea is to reclaim disturbed land in the Treaty 8 Nations,� said head grower Vanessa Adams.

Adams was hired for her specialized knowledge in the area, and has been doing similar reclamation

work for 19 years. She previously specialized in propagation in floral culture, and vegetables. She is a grower by trade. “We do it start from finish, so, we go out to site and collect seed.

After we collect seed and bring it back we stratify, treat the seed, store the seed and then plant the seed when it is required to be planted. After it is planted, we grow it in the greenhouse and then we send it out to be planted on site, wherever the seed has been collected from. It's complete reclamation.�

Reclaiming the land in this way is something that has become more prevalent over the last number of Please see "ROYAL," page 3

BC train derailments jump by 20 per cent MIKE CARTER Chetwynd Echo Reporter –––––––––––––– CHETWYND – According to a federal Transportation Safety Board report released last month, train derailments in British Columbia were up 20 per cent last year, peaking at a new five-year high.

The two largest incidents in 2013 happened right here in the South Peace.

A 12-car Sulphur carrying train derailment near BY

INSIDE

Hasler Flats, about 45 kilometres from Chetwynd happened last May, and 15 ore carrying cars derailed near Tumbler Ridge on August 1, 2013.

The largest spill related to a train derailment occurred in Prince George, when 3,000 litres leaked from a punctured fuel tank of a CN locomotive.

The majority of derailments occurred away from major industrial centres, but rail companies

are required to report such occurrences to the federal Transportation Safety Board of Canada.

An explanation for the 12-car Sulphur train derailment near Chetwynd has never been offered by CN. The increase in derailments in BC in 2013 happened during a year in which railway safety was a hot button political issue following the Lac Megantic disaster. They also happen at a time when rail transportation of oil and

gas are on a sharp increasing slope.

Chetwynd mayor Merlin Nichols noted that this should be the safest possible time to transport anything by rail, with the industry under such scrutiny but the numbers are showing that there is much work to be done by rail companies such as CN, to ensure that the safety of the environment and the public are protected.

Earlier this year, trans-

portation minister Lisa Raitt announced regulations that were aimed at tightening safety on Canada’s railways, including the removal of older tank cars considered to be at a greater risk for explosion in an accident.

Minister Raitt also rolled out new rules governing speed limits in urban and rural areas, route assessments and emergency response plans.

More than 65,000 rail

CSS Students planning walkout Wednesday

Emporer’s Challenge sold out already

Page 3

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Prices in effect from Friday June 6 to Thurs. June 12

cars will be removed or refitted to ensure safety in the coming years.

Transport Canada estimates that almost 1,200 carloads of crude oil and petroleum products were sent to BC in 2012, up from fewer than 50 in 2011. 2013 numbers have not yet been released.

Other derailments in BC throughout 2013 include shipments of wood chips, lumber, sulphur oxide, sulphuric acid, sodium and grain.

The RCMP are watching...

Page 6

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Wednesday, June 4, 2014

Chetwynd Echo

Waste heat from the plant will be collected to heat greenhouses on site, with the goal to produce fresh foods for the Peace Region Continued from page 1 ing of 16-SILYZER 200 (1.25 megawatts each for a total of 20 megawatts installed capacity) PEM systems and associated electrification infrastructure to be used for the proposed project. “We’re just making our presence known here now, we have been scoping this site out for six years,� Alan Bryce, director of communications with Blue Fuel Energy said. “The essence of our project is to incorporate renewable energy into conventional methanol production using natural gas. That is what makes this project so distinctive, exciting and groundbreaking. Turning renewable energy into conventional methanol production, and then the conversion of that methanol into a drop-infuel, gasoline, that can used to meet British Columbia's low carbon fuel standard.�

The Renewable and Low Carbon Fuel Requirements Regulation aims to reduce British Columbia's reliance on non-renewable fuels, help reduce the environmental impact of transportation fuels and contribute to a new, lowcarbon economy.

The regulation enables the province to set bench-

marks for the amount of renewable fuel in B.C.’s transportation fuel blends, reduce the carbon intensity of transportation fuels and meet its commitment to adopt a low-carbon fuel standard. This legislation supports British Columbia’s goal to lower provincial greenhouse gas emissions by 33 percent by 2020.

Bryce explains that the proposed plant begins with electricity, drawn from the future BC Hydro

AGM

Sundance Lake substation that is currently under construction.

By conducting electrolysis of water, the H2O is broken down into its two elements, hydrogen and oxygen. From there, the hydrogen and oxygen are combined into the conventional methanol production process that involves reforming natural gas into synthetic gas.

The resulting synthetic gas is then combined with carbon dioxide and hydrogen over a catalyst, which produces methanol.

Methanol is used to manufacture plastics, and is a fuel itself. It is widely used in camping and boating stoves.

Methanol is also used as an energy carrier. It is easier to store than hydrogen, burns cleaner than fossil fuels, and is biodegrad-

Community Consultation

Proposed Chetwynd Medical Clinic & Wellness Centre The Council of the District of Chetwynd is proposing to construct a Medical Clinic and Wellness Centre, working with Northern Health and local physicians to improve health care services in Chetwynd.

Come joing Council members for a discussion on its proposed plans for construction of a new Medical Clinic and Wellness Centre.

The Community Consultation will be held on Monday, June 9, 2014 at the Please attend the meeting Chetwynd Recreation Centre in the to sheare you views with Aspen Room from 4 pm to 5 pm and a second session from 6:30 pm Council members to 7:30 pm same evening.

Coffee and light snacks will be available

We? re just making our presence known here now ...

BRYCE able.

Methanol produced at the proposed plant could produce dimethyl ether, which is a diesel fuel substitute that is gaining market share value. Further still, dehydrated methyl ether produces gasoline. “All of the renewable industries around the world will be focused on this Chetwynd project because it is going to be the first of it's kind in the world. All the technology is mature; it's just the scale at which we are doing this which makes it so remarkable.�

Juergen Puetter is the president and CEO of Blue Fuel Energy. He founded the company in 2008 to produce renewable, low-

carbon fuels such as Blue Fuel Methanol, Blue Fuel DME, and Blue Fuel gasoline from renewable energy and carbon dioxide emissions.

According to estimates, British Columbia currently emits roughly 69 million tonnes of CO2 each year.

Puetter says Blue Fuel is working towards recycling the CO2 emitted from northeastern British Columbia to produce clean burning renewable, and low-carbon methanol based fuels.

Puetter first looked at locating the plant near Fort St. John, but says the Chetwynd location was selected because of its proximity to new LNG

developments and because it is serviced by a rail link, and is adjacent to BC Hydro 230 kilovolt facilities and other required infrastructure. “We looked at land south between the Pine River and the Moberly River. That’s the plateau where Site C is supposed to be built across the river.

It's flat, there is a rail line there and there is power and that seemed good.�

But, further investigation revealed this land was prime First Nations hunting ground. “[That] was not well received by a potential investor,� Puetter said. “Then the next place turned out to be adjacent to the existing pulp mill, which up until recently was Tembec, now its Paper Excellence, so when we recognized that would be the most suitable site, we started working with CN, and looked at transport capacity.�

The methanol plant would have an output that would require 62 railcars of methanol a day. The gasoline plant would produce about 2,400 tones of gasoline per day, requiring almost 30 railcars.

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Wednesday, June 4, 2014

Chetwynd Echo

Royal Roads University has developed a training curriculum to encourage development of similar projects grow native plants for reintroduction onto the reyears. With this project, claimed ground at the there are now four green- mine.

“It wasn't very long behouses doing this work in various parts of the fore we realized the real expertise and passion was province.

In particular, the Tipi with the Nations. And it Mountain greenhouse, lo- wasn’t very long after that cated in Cranbrook, BC, when we realized the pooffered some valuable ad- tential to develop a 100 per vice to the First Nations cent First Nations owned and their partners in set- and managed commercial ting up the Twin Sisters business developing and growing these plants,” Nursery.

“They were a big help, Cartwirght said.

“We said look, if you'll advising us in the establishment of this nursery,” come together and do the business said Naomi plan, come O w e n s , up with the Lands Dicommercial rector for plan to be the Saulable to make teau First Nations.

The community this work “They were has wanted to see and get that through, we very helpthis for a long will donate ful in gettime. the investting us ment that going on we have in this prothis to the gram.” commercial Adams venture. says alAnd the ret h o u g h these projects are becom- sult is what we see today. ing more common in re- As far as we know, it is the cent years, the greenhouse only 100 per cent owned at Moberly Lake has its by First Nations venture of this kind growing and own unique elements.

“This project is unique selling native plants.”

There were significant in the sense that it is using native stock straight out cost overruns for Walter of the bush and we bring Energy. The original it in, clean it, scarify it, budget for the project in treat the seed an go right 2010 was $30,000. In the end, the project ended up from there,” she said.

“Usually you order the costing Walter Energy seed from the seed com- $1.4 million.

Royal Roads University pany. We go out into the wilderness and get the in Victoria, BC has been seed that Mother Nature working closely with the provides. We go out into two First Nations and the bush out on to the coal their partners to develop a mine site, or if they are curriculum training progoing to do a dam, we go gram, so that if and when collect seed on the dam other First Nations want site, wherever the destruc- to develop a similar projtion to the land is going to ect there is a road map in be we go collect to plant place for them to use.

Glen Zelinski is the dion that site.”

Dan Cartwright, Walter rector of Aboriginal affairs Energy’s president of for Walter Energy. He says Canadian operations was the project is the most adon hand for the official vanced greenhouse nursopening ceremony. He ery project of it’s kind in touted the endless poten- the entire country.

Zelinski notes committial of this new commercial business that now ments have been made to supports six paying jobs fill the second greenfor the two Aboriginal house, and the two Nations are hoping to get communities.

Cartwright explains that resources for expansions his involvement began to the head house, and the two years ago, but the main office. There are also project itself goes beyond other pieces of equipment 2010, when Walter Energy they need to fundraise for.

“We’re still working on began consultations with the two First Nations on these different pieces of the Willow Creek mine the puzzle,” said John Lewis, director of operaoperations.

The nations expressed a tions and economic develdesire to come up with an opment for the West experimental program to Moberly First Nation.

Continued from page 1

Parent’s strike?

Frustrated parents considering pressure tactics to end teachers' dispute Wednesday 4

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Thursday 5

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Above, Mayor Merlin Nichols and PeaceFM/ChetTV’s Leo Sabulsky tour the greenhouse. Below: Sevral native plants are near ready to be transplanted to disturbed Photos by Mike Carter lands.

“We know there is a lot of opportunity in northeast BC, there’s oil and gas operations, mining, forestry. There are a lot of different avenues out there that we can tap into.

Instead of just putting back alfalfa and things like that, we can come in and take the original indigenous plants that were there, get the seeds ready and when the development is done, we can come back a refinish the land

with the natural fauna that was there before.”

Chief Nathan Parenteau of the Saulteau First Nations says this project is a step in the right direction for the proper environmental restoration of disturbed lands.

Chief Roland Willson of the West Moberly First Nation echoed this sentiment.

“The community has wanted to see this for a long time,” he said. “This is the bread basket of the

province. And one of the things that the province fails on is cleaning up from the messes that are generated through [economic] activity.

“We are often toted as the bad guys who are opposed to development.

What we are looking at here with the greenhouses, we are going to take the steps towards cleaning up the land and bringing it back to natural state.”

THE PROVINCE –––––––––––––– RICHMOND, B.C. Disruptive job action and hostile clashes between the government and British Columbia's unionized teachers are starting to irk the parents of halfa-million schoolchildren to the extent that their representatives are considering exerting their own pressure tactics.

"A parents' strike? I don't know. All I can say is the bear is stirring,"

said Terry Berting, president of the B.C. Confederation of Parent Advisory Councils.

"We, deep down, are approaching a tipping point where perhaps parents are going to have to do something on our own if this doesn't get settled soon."

More than 100 parents gathered Friday in Richmond for the confederations' annual general meeting, where exasperation and rising fatigue

were evident over hampered contract talks and the teachers' job action.

"All of this has been hard," said Heather Hamlin Gravells, whose two children in grades four and seven attend school near Salmon Arm. Her 14-year-old son needs extra attention, she said, but repeated cuts to specialist teachers has meant children with more pressing developmental issues almost always take precedence.

Friday 6

High: 19 Low: 4

Saturday 7

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prepared for driving winter driving conditions.

BeBe prepared for seasonal conditions.

Check www.drivebc.ca

Check www.drivebc.ca or phone 1-800-550-4997 phone 1-800-550-4997 for the latest conditions in BC fororthe latest road conditions in road British Columbia.

Sunday 8

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Monday 9

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3

CSS students to walk out in support of the teachers

BY NAOMI LARSEN Chetwynd Echo Editor –––––––––––––– CHETWYND – When students walks out of class tomorrow to protest being caught in the centre of BC’s teachers and the provincial government dispute they’ll be supported by thousands of other students province wide.

In an email to the Chetwynd Echo, Chetwynd Secondary School senior student Ty Proulx said the group of students are planning to do a peaceful sit in and March “to protest against the government and teachers.”

“We feel like we always get stuck in the middle of the dispute between them, and we agree on smaller class size, more prep time and higher wages for our teachers,” he said. “By doing this we will improve that quality of our education that is so valuable in today's society.”

Proulx said the one thing the students do not agree on is how the government does not take a second look of how the education system is failing and how each and every budget cut is affecting the students.

“We are the future of this country and we deserve a say in our education,” he said. “We want our voices heard.”

Proulx has been planning the walkout with the help of other students and a Facebook page entitled “chetwynd Secondary Sit in” (sic).

A petition has also been started at Change.org called Save Our Students, which asks the B.C. Teachers Federation and the B.C. Public School Employers Association to "resolve this issue as quickly as possible."

But as of Tuesday evening, there were fewer than 650 names on the petition.

"Happiness should not be underrated, and he's not experiencing a lot of that right now at school," Hamlin Gravells said.

"He's stressed out, based on the strike and job action. He cares about his teacher and he sees she's not able to do what she should be able to do, and he doesn't want that."

The conference kicked off with a keynote address from Education Please see "SOLUTION," page 6

High: 17 Low: 9

Tuesday 10

Use caution when passing Use caution when passing or encountering or encountering road maintenance equipment.road maintenance equipment.

Drive Safely!

Drive Safely!

4

Wednesday, June 4, 2014

Chetwynd Echo

How to start fixing the foreign-workers program

I

t remains unknown how effective, or necessary, Canada's temporary foreign worker program is, but bolstering Ottawa Citizen the financial disincentive to cheat the system is a good place to start fixing the problems we do know about.

To that end, the federal government met with stakeholders recently to pitch a couple of ideas: implementing a higher wage floor for foreign workers that could theoretically make it too costly for employers such as fast-food restaurants to have easy access to the program, and increasing the fees businesses pay to use the program.

The latter option appeals to us for its simplicity and predictability.

Businesses pay just $275 per job application, and as the C.D. Howe Institute pointed out in its analysis of the program, that fee "is hardly large enough to prove a strong incentive for employers to search for domestic workers to fills job vacancies; it is far lower, for example, than the cost of relocating a domestic worker from another province."

Access fees similar to those charged in the United States (up to $2,325, which covers administrative, fraud prevention and training for domestic workers) would prompt businesses to improve efforts to find (and pay for) qualified employees while furnishing the government with more tools to administer the program effectively.

The money could even be used to get a clear picture of employment needs in this country. As the C.D. Howe report noted, that alone could increase compliance and help determine whether labour shortages are temporary or structural.

The temporary foreign worker controversy serves as a larger lesson to government: when you reduce the amount of good data available, you're more likely to make bad decisions. The decision to scrap the mandatory long-form census and massive job cuts at Statistics Canada are but two example of the Conservatives' spotty record on data collection and usage.

The argument in favour of a massive expansion of the temporary foreign worker program was underpinned in part by numbers compiled by an outside contractor that tracked job vacancies posted for free on sites such as Kijiji. Problem was, Kijiji had the same job posted in several different places, which artificially inflated the job vacancy rate.

Perhaps the government's well-respected, in-house data department could be furnished with the resources to do a proper market survey.

When it comes to the temporary foreign workers program, Job 1 is putting a reasonable financial safeguard in place to stop abuses already taking place. Job 2 is figuring out to what extent we even need it.

Guest Editorial

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Email editor@chetwyndecho.net or log onto our Facebook page. Your response could be included in our pages next week!

see what’s brewing on the

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The Chetwynd Echo News Jobs Section chetwyndecho.net See Page 15

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LETTERS TO THE EDITOR Offering some clarification on the situation To the Editor: Well, here I am again; I had decided to just stand back for awhile and see what happens. I just couldn’t keep quiet after reading the article in the local newspaper. There is a possibility that I am misunderstanding what Mr. Wakefield wrote, I don’t think so, but if I did, then I am sure many others will also misunderstand and believe misleading information.

I will not start at the beginning of this fiasco but take points in the order that they appeared in the story.

(1) “then rescinded last fall”.

Building Bylaw 1996 2011 was not rescinded, they promised that it would be, but after three readings of the bylaw needed to make this legal, they “reconsidered”. This was after a Dawson Creek Contractor came to a meeting and demanded that they reinstate the disputed by law.

(2) It was not “readopted a few weeks later in a limited form”. There

was absolutely nothing changed, added too, or deleted from the bylaw. They “reconsidered”, kept the bylaw as it was, and “said” it would be voluntary. Nothing in writing, no amendments, no guarantees that they would not enforce bylaw 1996 2011 tomorrow.

(3) “since a new bylaw was first discussed several years ago the region has held dozens of public meetings” There were no public meetings before the bylaw was enacted. The meeting on record before the bylaw was made public was with the “stakeholders”. These were the elite group who would benefit from this bylaw, A few Contractors, Real Estate agents etc. The public meetings were called after the fact to try to brainwash the people into thinking it was okay. This did not work, the vast majority, 96 to 100% were against it.

(4) “the police have been called in to control unruly crowds”. The

police did arrive at one meeting but as I recall that person had other issues than the building bylaw. Chairperson Goodings gave the impression that she knew what the “issue” was. The gentleman didn’t seem to understand that though it was a public meeting, the public was not allowed to speak unless they were on the agenda. The former head of Administration did not “offer to resign” because of this, he had already, at an earlier date handed in his resignation.

(5) I in no way wish to cause any embarrassment to the writer of the article in question. I only wish to point out that he needs to be a little more careful where and how he gets his information. This is a very important issue and there are many rural residents who rely on news as reported in the papers and on radio.

Alva Stewart Charlie Lake, BC

Love all, trust few, do nobody wrong To the Editor: 'All's well that ends well' (by Billy Shakespeare) At the end of the day, the rural directors did the right and just thing and voted to return to the status quo.

Folks, the battle for our 'rights and freedoms ' as rural residents is not over even if this is upheld

by the 'C of the whole'.

The Mayors have hired( some say) a slippery 'professional manipulator' as they continue to plot to extend their power (meaning taxation) into the countryside.

I assume that they may try to hold the rural directors to ransom with the 'fair share' dollars

which are rightfully ours.

Unlike the City of Fort St John where the streets look like a Kosovo war zone and the new fire hall is millions of dollars overspent, the rural directors have managed our monies and resources prudently.

I call on the Mayors to openly confess (nobody

feels right being sneaky) their intentions. Are you in anyway plotting to extend your boundaries to the rural areas and destroy our lifestyle?

Signed, Buck Farmer, highly suspicious !

"Love all, trust a few, do nobody wrong" Bill Shakespeare Mike King Montney, BC

Let us keep British Columbia open for busiTo the Editor: Although much of the economic focus in our province has recently been on BC’s energy resources, renewable and non-renewable alike, we should never lose sight of the important role mineral exploration and mining play in our provincial economy.

Not only do BC’s mineral exploration and development companies support prospecting activities that uncover commercially viable mineral deposits, they also contribute significantly to Metro Van-

couver’s urban economy and support a wide range of technical jobs in the geosciences, engineering and environmental sciences and jobs in the financial, legal and other sectors.

In fact, the highest concentration of mineral exploration and development companies in the world is right here in British Columbia, with many of these companies occupying tens of thousands of square feet of office space in Downtown Vancouver.

It would therefore be short-

sighted if our public lands were ever closed off to low-impact mineral prospecting as some in this province would like to see.

Not only would this hurt people in rural BC and hurt the provincial economy, it would also have a devastating impact on the economy of Metro Vancouver and in particular on Vancouver ’s Downtown. Let’s keep BC open for business and for jobs, and open to prosperity.

Pamela Gardner Burnaby, BC

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Wednesday, June 4, 2014

Chetwynd Echo

5

Health care delivery is top priority on our minds MAYOR? S REPORT

S

econd-to-none, quality health-care delivery is much on our minds and in our conversations among Administration, Mayor, and Council. We want it to be on your minds, too.

Health care is a big issue and, as we mature, it seems to be even more important to us as individuals and as a community of maturing citizens. Your Mayor, Council, and Administration (hereafter called the Team) of the District of Chetwynd could be

rightly criticized if we did not explore every option to ensure that Chetwynd has a stable complement of physicians and other health-care professionals working from facilities that represent the best that Chetwynd can offer at a I am going to push cost that is affordable to for this goal as long the citizens. as I am in office.

The Team does not want to be criticized on this issue – though that is not a motive in our vigorously pursuing the route we think is best. We sincerely want the best for healthdelivery services for Chetwynd, and, as Mayor, I am going to push for this goal as long as I am in of- wouldn’t do it alone even fice. if we could.

The Team has explored a But we don’t intend to do this alone. In fact, we number of options that

looked promising. So far, no option involving the private sector or any combination of public and private sectors will bring this dream to reality within the deadlines that we believe are crucial to health care in Chetwynd. Time will not wait for us so we must move ahead with the option that appears to have success built into it.

As for your role in moving the project from concept to completion, it is more important than you might think. Without community buy-in Council will not have the social license or the right to pass the bylaws that legally allow the various actions that end in a finished product that will be an

asset to the community and a beautiful complement to that part of town.

To facilitate your sharing your thoughts on this project, the District has organized a public open house on June 9. A late-afternoon session and an earlyevening session at the Rec Centre will allow most of you to meet with the Team and view concept drawings and the business plan.

Please mark your calendars as we very much wish to meet with you.

As you will be learning, if you haven’t already learned, the District of Chetwynd owns attractive property opposite the Post Office that is ideally situated to serve as the site of your new Health Services

Centre. This preferred site for the comprehensive health services facility we envision can be subdivided and serviced by the District at a reasonable cost to the project.

Imagine the finished product: nestled against a backdrop of trees that borders Windrem Creek, the facility itself will contribute to the health of the community. No kidding!

Trees, flowers, green grass – all of these created and beautiful things reduce our tensions and stress and elevate our health-giving endorphins.

Disclaimer: The preceding is the opinion of Mayor Merlin Nichols and may or may not reflect the views and/or wishes of council.

Kudos “All of the renewable industries aroudn the world will be focused on this Chetwynd project.�

&

Kicks

EEK W F O E T O U Q

KUDOS ... to all the people responsible for the maintenance work on the Mount Baldy Trail -- much appreciated! - Marcie and Kathy

- Alan Bryce, Blue Fuel Energy Front page

hope

KUDOS ... To Rhonda at NIS for great customer service! Our home and RV are much safer thanks to your knowledge.

KUDOS ... to the folks involved in the Chetwynd Community Theatre group - it’s been a long time coming - Congrats!

For every question there is an answer.

KICKS... To whoever is keying cars around town.

Shame on you! You will be caught!

We’re here.

Do you have a kudos or kick for someone? Email them to EDITOR@CHETWYNDECHO.NET or drop them off at our office in beautiful

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You can email us at editor@chetwyndecho.net; mail to Box 750 Chetwynd B.C. V0C 1J0 or drop of your letter at 5016 50 Avenue. All letters submitted must be signed with a return address and daytime telephone number so we can confirm that it came from you. The Echo reserves the right to edit letters for clarity, legality, length and to refuse publication of any submitted material. We may also choose to use a letter as the basis for a story. So, be sure to keep your letters brief and to the point. Letters originating from the Peace region get priority. We encourage new contributors as we attempt to publish a cross- section of public opinion.

- Naomi Larsen, Editor

6

Wednesday, June 4, 2014

ADOPT A DOG

The District of Chetwynd Animal Control department is offering

stray dogs for adoption.

Please pick up an application form at the District office. Office hours are Mon. - Fri., 8:00 am to 4:30 pm.

The District does not promise to provide a dog that meets your specific wishes but we do expect to offer a dog that you will like.

Please consider this option for the care and protection of innocent animals.

Thank you.

District of Chetwynd

Don’t Break the Chain When someone stops advertising. .

Someone stops buying. .

When someone stops buying. .

Someone stops selling. .

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Someone stops making.

When someone stops making. . some stops earning.

When someone stops earning. . no one can buy, sell or make, or even advertise!

Some advertising greases the wheels in the chain of events that enable our making a living and that spells out the progress of this community

ADVERTISE! Don’t break the chain.

And do it regularly.

Chetwynd Echo

We know who you are

BY MIKE CARTER

Chetwynd Echo Reporter –––––––––––––– CHETWYND – The Chetwynd RCMP presented their annual performance plan to the District of Chetwynd Council on June 2, 2014.

Targets of chief concern for the detachment in the upcoming year remain drug trafficking in the community, impaired driving, traffic offences and prolific offender property crimes.

“In town we have got a lot of transient population,” said Cpl. Brian Hromadnik, of the Chetwynd RCMP. “We have got some pretty young members here in town that are gung ho with developing sources which obviously gives us information on where these drugs are being sold from, who is selling them.”

Hromadnik says in the last three to four months, Chetwynd RCMP has carried out a number of Controlled Drugs and

Substances Act search warrants.

“We didn't see a whole lot of drugs coming out of it but we stopped them for the time being and I am sure we will be picking up,” he said.

Hromadnik mentioned that the detachment is currently short staffed for reasons beyond its control, but expects to be in full force by July.

That month, a First Nations Police officer will be arriving to the detachment form the Lower Mainland, and others will be coming back online after extended leave.

Hromadnik says they have identified a number of drug sources in the area.

“Hopefully when the number of bodies gets up we get to do more surveillance on these drug houses because we know where they are at, and its just trying to get that concrete evidence to pursue a charge,” he said.

“Criminal code is very

they are gone.

“It could be just an 8-ball, very, very small amount. By the time we catch up to them they have either chucked it away, swallowed it, or stepped on it.”

In order to get into a house, proper surveillance has to be conducted, he notes.

“It's a lot of work. But, when we get back up to the membership then we will have more [opportunity]. A guy will come in on his day off to sit on a house and he is not burnt out from working three night shifts in a row. We have identified them for the most part. So Cpl. Brian Hromadnik of the Chetwynd RCMP pre- its just matter of collecting sented the detachments annual performance plan in that information and writbrief to mayor and council June 2. Hromadnik says the ing the search warrants.”

The RCMP will be stepRCMP are keeping an eye on local drug dealers, and ping up its presence in the increasing their presence on the streets of Chetwynd. community in the coming Photo by Mike Carter weeks, targeting darker areas of town in the early technical, especially for a cell phones. They'll text, morning hours, such as the drug [arrest]. We can’t just they will get a runner to get parking lot behind the 7-11 go into dwelling house. on his bike and meet some- and the alleyway behind They are quite slick with the body. When they see us People’s Drug Mart.

MIKE CARTER Chetwynd Echo Reporter –––––––––––––– CHETWYND – District of Chetwynd Council awarded two paving contracts in mid-May to Peter’s Bros. Construction at a cost of approximately $584,420.

The two projects will cover the resurfacing work, some of which has already begun, on BY

Paving work has begun

45th Avenue northwest and the rehabilitation of Hillside Drive from 47th Avenue northwest to the top.

Mayor Nichols explained that the district had set aside $600,000 for paving in the current years budget.

“The bid for the 45th Avenue project came in at $368,000, leaving approximately $215,000. In

discussion with the contractor, the district was able to extend that project to 47th Avenue at the same price per unit, so we want to congratulate the staff and administration for being able to take advantage of this,” he said.

The projects are expected to be completed before the end of the summer.

Solution must be achieved within the reality of economic constraints: Fassbender that's good for everyone.

But he said a solution must be achieved within Minister Peter Fassbender, who told parents he's the reality of economic committed to a resolution constraints.

Continued from page 3

"I stand before you believing that teachers deserve a raise, teachers deserve stability," he said.

"But you know what?

WorksafeBC – Workers’ Compensation Board of B.C. hereby gives notice of proposed amendments to the Occupational Health and Safety Regulation (BC Reg. 296/97, as amended) The proposed amendments to the Occupational Health and Safety Regulation (“OHSR”) being taken to public hearings pertain to the following items: • General Conditions, section 4.1.1 Snow avalanche assessment – Resolve the implementation issues with the avalanche risk assessment regulations • General Conditions, section 4.69 Emergency lighting – Update the reference to the BC Fire Code

Public Hearings You are invited to provide feedback on the proposed regulatory amendments. Your views may be presented orally at the public hearings and/or submitted in writing. Please register if you wish to make an oral presentation at the public hearings by telephoning 604.232.7744 or toll free in B.C. 1.866.614.7744 prior to the hearing.

• Chemical Agents and Biological Agents, sections 5.3 Application and 5.27 ignition – Update references to repealed Acts

Information on the proposed amendments and the public hearings, including details of registration/participation procedures, are on WorkSafeBC’s website at worksafebc.com/2014publichearings

• Tools, Machinery and Equipment, new sections – Adopt ANSI standard and add requirements for the safe use of roll on/roll off containers

Public Hearing Details

• Ladders, Scaffolds and Temporary Work Platforms, section 13.32 Work in high risk situations – Update the reference to CSA Standard Z271

Date

Location

June 3, 2014

Coast Victoria Harbourside Hotel & Marina 146 Kingston Street, Victoria, B.C.

June 5, 2014

Best Western Kelowna Hotel & Suites 2402 Highway 97 N, Kelowna, B.C.

June 5, 2014

Via video conference Community Futures 110A Slater Road NW, Cranbrook, B.C.

June 10, 2014

Coast Inn of the North 770 Brunswick Street, Prince George, B.C.

June 12, 2014

Executive Airport Plaza Hotel & Conference Centre 7311 Westminster Highway, Richmond, B.C.

Session Times:

3:00 pm to 5:00 pm 7:00 pm to 9:00 pm

• Ladders, Scaffolds and Temporary Work Platforms, section 13.5 Position and Stability – Review the safe positioning and stability requirements of portable ladders • Construction, Excavation and Demolition, section 20.26 Inspections – Clarify when a professional engineer must inspect and certify a gang form • Construction, Excavation and Demolition, section 20.112 Hazardous materials – Clarify the responsibilities of employers, owners and qualified persons for the safe containment or removal of hazardous materials • Diving, Fishing and Other Marine Operations, section 24.40 Minimum crew – Clarify the conditions that must be met for a surface supply diver to serve as a standby in the water • Forestry Operations and Similar Activities, section 26.65 Bullboards – Add new construction, inspection, removal and return to service requirements • Agriculture, section 28.12 Biohazards exception – Remove an obsolete provision • Rope access, new Part 34 – Ensure comprehensive requirements The proposed Respirable Crystalline Silica (“RCS”) regulation will not proceed to the 2014 public hearing. It is intended that WorkSafeBC will work with industry stakeholders to develop acceptable compliance tools, and that the proposed RCS regulation will be introduced at the next scheduled public hearing.

Written Submissions The deadline for receipt of written submissions is 4:30 pm on Friday, July 11, 2014. Written submissions can be made online or via e-mail, fax, mail, or delivered at the public hearings during the session times.

Online: via the WorkSafeBC website at worksafebc.com/2014publichearings E-mail: ohsregfeedback@worksafebc.com Fax:

604.279.7599; or toll free in B.C.: 1.877.279.7599

Mail:

OHS Regulation and Policy Policy, Regulation and Research Division WorkSafeBC – Workers’ Compensation Board of B.C. P.O. Box 5350, Station Terminal Vancouver, B.C. V6B 5L5

Notice of proposed amendments to the occupational health and safety regulation. And Notice of Public Hearing Pursuant to sections 225 and 226 of the Workers Compensation Act of British Columbia.

Communities deserve that as well. And the government has a responsibility to taxpayers and finding that balance."

A wide gulf remains between the parties based on cost, Fassbender said.

The cost of bringing classroom sizes back to what they were in 2001 and the teachers' union's current wage demands would cost the government $2 billion annually, or $1,100 per taxpayer, he said.

Regardless of the sticking points, the minister said the government is available to bargain 24/7, and although it's aiming to settle before the end of the school year, it's fully prepared to bargain throughout the summer.

After Fassbender's speech, Berting said the provincial education system has become an embarrassment. He said the confederation's members, who represent 1.3 million parents, would meet over the coming weekend to discuss their options because everyone's patience is wearing thin.

He noted some parent groups have already mounted small demonstrations in their own districts.

"Even though we're a diverse lot of all political stripes, we all care passionately about our children and we all care about the system," he said.

"We're trying to keep the high road, but again, at some point we've got to say something."

Orra Storkan, whose 18year-old is set to graduate this year, said the situation for her son and his

classmates is frightening.

"They don't have another kick at this, they don't have another chance, they have to go on to post-secondary. If you screw up their deadlines, if you screw up their ability to complete provincial exams on time, it does really have a huge impact on them."

But the mother from Lillooet said she honestly believes the government is committed to getting the problem resolved fairly.

"From the outside looking in, I think it's pretty hard to ask for such an extravagant wage increase," she said. "No one is more deserving or less deserving, but ... if we stall out over salary and wage, I don't think (teachers) are going to have much sympathy from parents."

The B.C. Teachers' Federation has demanded a 13.7-per-cent pay hike over four years, while the government is offering them 7.3 per cent over six years. Teachers also want class size and composition to be bargained, in accordance with two B.C. court rulings that said the government had illegally stripped the issue from their contract more than a decade ago.

Teachers have headed into a second week of rotating strikes except for Wednesday, the same day the provincial Labour Relations Board delivers a labour provision ruling.

The union argued before the board that the employer has no authority to dock teachers' pay by 10 per cent during the dispute.

Wednesday, June 4, 2014

Chetwynd Echo

7

Treaty 8 commissions study questioning Joint Review Panel on Site C ALASKA HIGHWAY NEWS –––––––––––––– FORT ST. JOHN – A study commissioned by the Treaty 8 Tribal Association is questioning the Site C Joint Review Panel's recently announced conclusion that Site C would be "the least expensive of the alternatives" for new energy and capacity within B.C. "When compared to portfolios that make use of alternative resources, Site C is in fact the most expensive of the alternatives studied," said Philip Raphals, of the Montrealbased Helios Centre, in a statement. The Helios Centre is a nonprofit research group aimed at fostering strategies for "a sustainable energy and climate future."

They were commissioned by the Treaty 8 Tribal Association to examine the energy scenarios discussed by the panel.

According to a release put out by Treaty 8, Raphals' study compares the long-term costs of meeting future energy demand with and without Site C. In his analysis, Site C turned out to be the more expensive option.

Treaty 8 claimed that Raphals' study, unlike BC Hydro's "explicitly took into account the losses that would occur in all the years when electricity from Site C would be exported at a loss."

Raphals also said that he took into account a more aggressive "demand-side management" than BC Hydro.

Under demand-side management, it's "about using less energy throughout the year," he said. This strategy could include changes for industrial users in the province.

"Using a few more re-

sources that BC Hydro didn't use, one can meet the same level of demand," said Raphals. "Essentially, they said in the very long term it's the cheapest. I have some problems parenthetically, because there wasn't any very serious evidence about the very long term."

He also analyzed different scenarios for growth.

In a low-growth scenario, where not a lot of future energy needs would come online, Site C would cost BC tax-and ratepayers more than $1.1 billion in additional costs.

According to Raphals, this is because they would have to export this electricity, and this exported electricity would be sold at a lower price than they would have obtained in a domestic market.

In a more high-growth scenario, new renewables such as wind could allow BC Hydro to meet its demand throughout its planning period, for $300 million less than if Site C is built. "(The panel) should have reminded one here in that conclusion that in the years when it's not needed, it will produce significant losses paid for by ratepayers," he said.

"It's not wrong, but it's somewhat misleading."

He also questioned another point in that same conclusion, that B.C. "will need new energy and new capacity at some point."

"It's true that they will need capacity at some point, but how much and when?" he asked. "There are a lot of things that were said in passing (to the panel) that aren't in the conclusions or the recommendations."

He also questioned the assertion made by some

When compared with portfolios that make use of alternative resources, Site C is in fact the most expensive of the alternatives studied

RAPHALS that Site C was needed to pay for future needs placed upon it by a possibly expanding liquid natural gas industry. Raphals said that currently, BC Hydro's integrated re-

source management plan allows for seven per cent non-clean resources. They also have "headroom" extra room within this seven per cent.

In his view, BC Hydro

has not used this headroom to save it for other unexpected needs. But according to Raphals, that demand could be met without the use of Site C while still respecting the headroom requirements.

Many of these issues were raised during the panel hearings. In its response at the time, BC Hydro said that "industrial load curtailment and capacity-focused (demandside management) initiatives are not viable alternatives" to Site C. "The consequences of capacity shortfalls are more severe than energy shortfall," Hydro wrote.

It said that programs designed to ask industrial users to simmer down their electrical use "have usually not been success-

ful in B.C." The utility also questioned how successful other customers would be in demandside management, questioning how much demand customers would reduce their service to earn potential economic benefits.

"BC Hydro has not had the opportunity to assess how likely and consistent any response would be and how that would be combined with system operations including market trade and integrating renewable resources," its response stated.

They also said that the percentage of Site C output that was surplus to the utility's needs would go down from 100 per cent in 2024 to zero by 2033.

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Wednesday, June 4, 2014

Chetwynd Echo

“Our project will add over $4 billion into the B.C. economy.

Think of what that will mean for our schools, hospitals and social programs.”

- Janet Holder, Leader of Northern Gateway

businesses will benefit from over $800 million spent locally on goods and services like transportation, equipment, food and hospitality.

Partnering in the Project’s prosperity

Janet Holder: Janet Holder is responsible for the overall leadership of the Northern Gateway Project. With over 20 years of experience in the energy sector, she has held a variety of senior and executive roles in liquids pipelines, energy efficiency and energy distribution. As a proud British Columbian, Janet works hard to ensure Northern Gateway will be a safer, better pipeline with lasting benefits for B.C. Over the past several months, I have shared our priority to ensure we protect what matters most to all of us – our beautiful coastline and environment. Our world-class safety and response measures are vital for the approval and success of the Northern Gateway Project — a project that will pave the way for significant economic benefits to help us build a stronger future for B.C. A long-term revenue stream We estimate that over the next 30 years, our project will add over $4 billion into the B.C. economy. Think of what that will mean for our schools, hospitals and social programs. Increased long-term revenue for these programs and services will ensure our standard of living is not just maintained, but enhanced for years to come.

A boost for Northern communities The B.C. economy will benefit from salaries, contracts and goods and services directly related to the Project.

During the construction phase alone, Northern B.C.

Ensuring that the economic benefits of the Project are also shared with Aboriginal communities is hugely important to us. In discussions with First Nations and Métis communities, we have offered a 10% equity stake in the pipeline. Additionally, there will be an estimated $300 million in Aboriginal employment and contracts, plus related economic activity, adding up to nearly $1 billion in total long-term benefits for First Nations and Métis communities and businesses.

Jobs and opportunities for families To build this Project, we will create employment that will especially benefit communities along the pipeline’s route. In fact, we are already helping to connect local residents to future employment and business opportunities, and offering education and skills development. There will be 560 long-term jobs created in B.C., and our plans call for the hiring of 3,000 construction workers. These jobs will create new sources of income for the workers’ home communities. It is expected that each year $32 million in income will be earned, which will have a profound and lasting impact on B.C. families.

An investment in the future while protecting what matters to us most As a proud British Columbian who was born and raised here, I am motivated every day to ensure these economic benefits never come at the expense of our incredible environment. Let me assure you that my team and I are working hard to meet all of the 209 conditions for Project approval set out by the Joint Review Panel, to ensure we build not only a safer, better pipeline, but a stronger, better B.C.

Learn more at gatewayfacts.ca

Working in partnership with B.C. and Alberta First Nations and Métis Communities, and leading energy companies in Canada

Wednesday, June 4, 2014

Chetwynd Echo

9

The event is so world reknown the race filled up entirely in 36 hours crashing the website. This year caps out at 1,000 competitors. Above, Chetwynd resident and marathon runner Julia Nelson makes it to the peak of Babcock Mountain 2013.

File photo

The Emperor’s Challenge: the Stats for 2014’s event TUMBLER RIDGE NEWS –––––––––––––– TUMBLER RIDGE – Charles Helm, Wolverine Nordic and Mountain Society This year the Emperor’s Challenge, the biggest off-road running event in British Columbia, filled up in 36 hours, so fast that websites repeatedly crashed.

The 2014 field is capped at 1,000 participants. The 20 km circular run over Babcock Mountain takes place on August 9th, and is billed as “the toughest and most beautiful half marathon in the world�. Knowing in advance who has entered enables us to have a sneak preview of the race demographics and statistics.

There are almost twice as many female athletes (64 per cent) as male athletes (36 per cent) in the adult race. Why this is so remains a matter for debate, but this ratio has stayed pretty constant down the years. Forty-seven percent of participants are novices, who will be taking part for the first time.

Once again Fort St John has the biggest contribution, with over 35% of entries followed by 18% from Dawson Creek, 9% from Chetwynd, and 8% from Grande Prairie and Tumbler Ridge. Eighty percent are from the Peace Region.

Expressed as a percentage of population, Tumbler Ridge leads the field, if the census numbers can be believed, with about one in forty residents entering.

Imagine if a similar proportion of Vancouverites turned up for the Sun Run! As for age breakdown, six percent are 18 or under, 44 percent are 19–34, 35 percent are between 35 and 49, 14 percent are 50–64, and 2 percent of the entrants are 65 and over.

While the adult race is full, the kids’ race has no cap, and entries are still welcome.

As soon as the snow is off the course work will begin getting the route ready for this year’s event.

Visit www.emperorschallenge.com for details.

Chetwynd Minor Ball

Team of the Week

CHETWYND INTERNATIONAL

The Chetwynd Visitor Center is excited to have Ryan Cook carving at the Chetwynd Visitor Center on June 6, 7 & 8. He will be selling his creations and making custom pieces for those who want something unique.

R

yan Cook, “The Apprentice� from the television series "SAW DOGS", has quickly become one of the top carvers and most recognized names in the world of chainsaw sculpting.

Ryan carves full time out of Britannia Beach, British Columbia, and has competed all over the world. He turned pro in the summer of 2013 at the Campbell River, shoreline arts competition, where he took first place.

Having only been carving for three years, he has been fortunate enough to be invited to the English Open, The Dutch International and this years Invitational World Championships in Chetwynd, BC, just to name a few.

Initially, Ryan was an actor hired to play the role of “The Apprenticeâ€? on SAW DOGS. Never having actually carved a day in his life before the show; ItĘźs safe to say he has come a long way. In his spare time he really likes talking about himself in the third person.

Ryan has just signed on to be the 1st Canadian carver to be sponsored

by Echo Canada. Way to go Ryan!

Follow Ryan on www.facebook.com/SawValley www.sawvalley.com www.twitter.com/RyanCookers Instagram: RyanCookers Contact Ryan@sawvalley.com

MITES DIVISION - SILVER BULLETS JERSEY COLOUR - GREY Coach & Team Mom Info: Coaches Carlene Smith and Josh & Candice Crantz are all brand new coaches that stepped up to help in Chetwynd Minor Ball this year.

Coach Smith also plays on the Ball Fockers in the Chetwynd Adult Mixed Slopitch League. Team Mom Jaunita Deck has been volunteering in this position for a number of years.

Player Info: Players - Paige Scott, Leland Smith and Logan Fowler (9 yrs old), Owen Kraus and Hayden Smith (10 yrs old)& Alexis Anderson (11 yrs old) are all brand new players to Chetwynd Minor Ball.

Joshua Deck (9 yrs old), Gabe Kobasiuk and Draidin Ritter (10 yrs old) have been playing in the Mites Division for the past few years now.

Michael Deck & Keegan Smith (12 yrs old) are baseball ringers in their last year of Mites & will be moved up to the Pony Division next year.

For more information contact: Chetwynd Chamber of Commerce Ph: 250-788-3345 • Fax: 250-788-3655 manager@chetwyndchamber.ca www.chetwyndchainsawchampionship.com

10

Wednesday, June 4, 2014

Chetwynd Echo

KidSport Chetwynd to host major fundraiser with athlete ambassador Derek Engelland MIKE CARTER Chetwynd Echo Reporter –––––––––––––– CHETWYND – KidSport Chetwynd is planning to host a major golf tournament fundraiser on July 26, with special guest and athlete ambassador/hometown hero, Pittsburgh Penguins defenseman Deryk Eneglland set to make an appearance.

Since it’s inception in September, KidSport Chetwynd has been building its capacity to help BY

youth in our community participate in sports and lead an active, healthy lifestyle.

“There are a huge amount of children who are not able to participate in sports because of the financial barriers, so we're just hoping that we can help remove those barriers,” KidSport representative and mom Ana Peasgood said.

“We are all new to this, really. We're just sports moms who have come to-

National Health and Fitness Day Chetwynd Mayor Merlin Nichols and Recreation Manager for the District of ChetwyndTyria Plamondon officially declareMay 27 as National Health and FitPhoto submitted ness Day in the community.

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gether to work on this."

The group provides up to $300 to qualifying families for sports registration fees.

Since September, KidSport Chetwynd has sent a representative to a provincial meeting, where they were able to network with other KidSport chapters across the province and bring back ideas on best practices to Chetwynd.

During the Chainsaw Carving Championship, KidSport volunteers will be doing parking control and will work the concessions for the Chetwynd youth soccer association.

But their big fundraiser will take place on July 26 when Pittsburgh Penguins Defenseman Deryk Engelland will take place in a golf tournament in the

ENGELLAND morning, followed by a meet and greet that afternoon from 3 p.m. – 5 p.m. in the parking lot of the Chetwynd and District Recreation Centre.

Entry fees for the tournament are $225 per team, and they are asking that each team have at least

one junior member. If you don’t know one, they will help you find one.

“We are really excited that [Deryk] is coming home,” Pam Engelland, Deryk’s mother said. “It’s really nice to have somebody that is proud of Deryk besides his Mom and Dad.” Peasgood hopes the visit will inspire youth to work towards their goals and dreams.

“He is one of those Chetwynd citizens that has really taken his passion and really succeeded with it,” she said. “We're hoping that the young members of our community will be able to come out and meet him and see that with hard work and success they too can achieve their dreams.”

Wednesday, June 4, 2014 11

Chetwynd Echo

PRRD calls government District releases 2013 out for not involving financial information BCUC in Site C review MIKE CARTER Chetwynd Echo Reporter –––––––––––––– CHETWYND – The District of Chetwynd has released financial information for the year ending December 31, 2013.

The statements show a schedule of payments that the town has made to its suppliers in the past year.

Of the largest transfers, $1.7 million BY

BY MIKE CARTER Chetwynd Echo Reporter –––––––––––––– DAWSON CREEK – The directors of the Peace River Regional District are calling on the BC Liberals to involve the British Columbia Utilities Commission in the review process for BC Hydro’s proposed Site C dam.

In a meeting on May 15, the board of directors discussed the recently released Joint Review Panel report on the proposed project, and passed a resolution that the a letter be forwarded to the premier of BC, and copied to all BC cabinent ministers, leaders of opposition parties, Member of Parliament Bob Zimmer, South Peace MLA Mike Bernier, North Peace MLA Pat Pimm and all Union of British Columbia Municipalities members.

PRRD Director Arthur Hadland forwarded the letter addressed to Premier Christy Clark, dated May 26, to all media last week.

In the letter, the regional district states that it has reviewed the Joint Review Panel report on the hydroelectric project and has passed a resolution to encourage the government to include the provincial energy watch dog -BC Utilities Commission (BCUC) – in the approval process of the dam.

... all recommendations will be looked at ...

was given to the Minister of Finance, and $1.5 million to the Peace River Regional District.

Included in the financial information, are the wages paid to mayor and council.

The top earner, mayor Merlin Nichols earned just $30,895.

A record of mayor and councilor expenses is also included. Full info can be viewed at the District website, www.gochetwynd.com

BERNIER “We believe the public’s interests will be best served if, prior to any final decision being made, the Site C project is referred to the British Columbia Utilities Commission for public hearings and Commission review of the project’s costs and impacts on ratepayers,” the PRRD directors wrote.

The letter is signed by Peace River Regional District chair, Karen Goodings.

The PRRD calls on the government to endorse recommendations 47, 48 and 49 of the Joint Review Panel report.

Recommendation 47 stipulates that BC Hydro construct a reasonable long-term pricing scenario for electricity substitutes, and update the associated load forecast, including Liquefied Natural Gas (LNG) demand, and that this be exposed for public

comment in a BCUC hearing before construction begins.

Recommendation 48 asks BC Hydro to conduct studies on diverse renewable resources, conservation techniques and climate-induced changes to hydrology and that an allowance in its revenue requirements for this be approved by the BCUC. Recommendation 49 states that, if the project proceeds, both the federal and provincial government may wish to consider referring the load forecast and demand side management plan details to the BCUC. South Peace MLA Mike Bernier had little to say about the PRRD’s request, saying only that “all recommendations will be looked at before a final decision is made on whether or not the project can or will proceed.”

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Wednesday, June 4, 2014

Chetwynd Echo

Funding supports prostate cancer patients to help manage their care SUBMITTED –––––––––––––– The Province is providing $1 million to VGH & UBC Hospital Foundation to support men’s health through the Prostate Cancer Supportive Care Program, which offers support to prostate cancer patients and their partners for physical and emotional side effects of the disease.

“The good news is that the average life expectancy of men diagnosed with prostate cancer has increased significantly in the past three decades,” said Health Minister Terry Lake who made the announcement at the official launch of the Canadian Men’s Health Foundation in Ottawa. “But battling the disease takes a tremendous toll on patients and their families. This program will help them access support and services that will help improve their quality of life and guide them through the process of managing their care.”

The Prostate Cancer Supportive Care Program is being developed by the Vancouver Prostate Centre and will include up to ten modules that, once completed, will be distributed to centres throughout the

province in order to benefit the greatest number of men and families. The goals of the program include support for treatment decision, improved quality of life, reducing cost per patient and improving long-term health outcomes for patients.

“We have come a long way in the treatment of prostate cancer with more men getting diagnosed early and living longer than ever before,” said Dr. Larry Goldenberg, director of development and supportive care at the Vancouver Prostate Centre and founder and chairman of the board of the Canadian Men’s Health Foundation, Dr. Larry Goldenberg. “With more patients living longer, we now have a greater responsibility to help them and their families’ access services and information that will ensure they are living cancer-free for longer.”

This funding provides more support for men’s health in British Columbia.

In April, 2013, the Ministry of Health announced $5 million to help develop research and health promotion that supports the well-being of men and their families.

BC government launches elder abuse awareness social media campaign SUBMITTED –––––––––––––– VICTORIA - West Vancouver-Capilano MLA Ralph Sultan, was joined

by Seniors Advocate Isobel Mackenzie, Dr. Art Hister and key seniors advocacy representatives to launch a month-long elder abuse awareness social media campaign at the grand re-opening of the West End Seniors’ Network “Kay’s Place” information centre for seniors.

“B.C. seniors helped build this province,” said Sultan, who attended on Health Minister Terry Lake’s behalf.

“This month-long awareness campaign is a call to action for all British Columbians to take a stand against elder abuse and work together to ensure seniors feel safe, respected and welcomed to participate in and be active members of their communities.”

Elder abuse often goes unreported and can be difficult to detect. The most common forms of elder abuse are financial, physical, emotional and sexual abuse, and neglect and may be obvious or more discrete. For example, emotional abuse could range from a cashier rolling their eyes or making a humiliating comment to others in line

as a senior counts their change or something more obvious, like name calling, yelling or coercion.

“Sadly, many seniors have told me that they have experienced some form of ageism,” said Mackenzie. “Seniors deserve to feel appreciated and safe where they live and that starts by raising awareness amongst all generations about the valuable role seniors play in our communities.”

Using the hashtag # RespectSeniors and the BC Centre for Elder Advocacy and Support handle, @BCCEAS, British Columbians of all ages are encouraged to take a stand and to show their support for seniors by spreading the word about the Seniors Abuse and Information Line, and other available resources, to help ensure every British Columbian knows how to better recognize and respond to elder abuse.

The Seniors Abuse and Information Line is supported by the Ministry of Health and operated by the BC Centre for Elder Advocacy and Support, and provides a safe and confidential place for seniors and those who witness elder abuse to get support and valuable information.

“Far too often seniors

suffer from social isolation, which can have significant negative health impacts,” said Dr. Art Hister. “It is important that all seniors feel welcome and are included in their communities.”

“No one government body or organization can solve this problem,” said Martha Jane Lewis, executive director for the BC Centre for Elder Advocacy and Support. “Over the next 20 years, the number of British Columbians over the age of 65 will almost double.

There must be a culture change that sees elder abuse as a thing of the past.”

Supported by nearly $1 million, the provincial plan, Together to Reduce Elder Abuse - B.C.’s Strategy, is founded on collaborative actions that work to leverage resources and information sharing.

Some of the actions in the plan include expanding the hours of the Seniors Abuse and Information Line, creating and distributing information kits (also available online), establishing a multi-sector Council to Reduce Elder Abuse and supporting training and awareness building initiatives for health professionals and others to improve their ability to recognize abuse and to take appropriate

action.

“Elder abuse is everyone’s business,” said Sherry Baker, executive director of the BC Association of Community Response Networks. “We believe in working together and in the importance of sharing information in order to create a co-ordinated community response to older adult abuse, neglect and self-neglect.”

The launch of the social media awareness campaign took place at the grand re-opening of Kay’s Place information centre for seniors operated by the West End Seniors’ Network. Kay’s Place serves as a hub for seniors and their families to go to access valuable information, programs and resources that benefit seniors.

“We are very happy to see the province making these kinds of investments in tackling the issue of elder abuse,” said Susan Moore, manager of Kay’s Place. “We know that abusers target those who are most vulnerable.

Shame is just one barrier that victims face to accessing support. The more we can do to educate and facilitate access to support services, the easier it will become for seniors and their supporters to stop abuse from continuing.”

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Chetwynd Echo

COMMUNITY CALENDAR

HD at least two years away from opening TUMBLER RIDGE NEWS –––––––––––––– TUMBLER RIDGE – HD Mining is still at least two years out from making a decision on the Murray River Mine said Blair Lekstrom at a recent presentation to town council.

The former MLA was joined before council by Norm Johnson, Mine Manager and Jody Shiumkus, VP of Environment and Regulatory Affairs for the company to provide an update and answer questions.

Lekstrom says that the the miners are about 350 m down with the decline portal, on their way to the deepest underground in North America. But first, they have to do their 100,000 tonne bulk sample.

“Once that is complete we will decide whether it is economically viable,” he says. “It is a pretty amazing operation out there.

We don't have a long history in this province with underground mining.”

Lekstrom he’s heard a lot of concern about the training program. “Chairman Yan has committed to training Canadians and hiring Canadians to do the work,” he says. “People have asked why don't we train them now, but there's no reason to do that without the knowledge that there will be work at the other end…and it will be 18 to 24 months before we reach that point.”

Lekstrom says once the bulk sample is done, the company will decide whether to go ahead or not with the mine and with the training. “Northern Lights College (NLC) won't invest the capital if there is not going to be a mine,” he says. “We have a MOU with them to create a curriculum, but this is a business. If the federal government or the provincial government wants to begin training people, I say have at it. Fill your boots. But as a business, we can't make that investment. I don't know that there's any company that would train people to do a job that doesn't actually exist.”

He wonders how many people are interested in working underground. “I hope we can find enough people,” he says. “I think it’s a very safe operation, but I talk to a lot of people who say ‘underground is not for me.’” This is why, says Shimkus, that the company is aiming at transitioning away from the TFWs at a rate of ten percent per year.

Lekstrom acknowledges that will be a challenge once HD decides to go ahead, as there will still be no Canadians who are trained to do this work.

Part of the issue is the cost of the training simulators, which can run into the millions of dollars to buy. “To ask a company to invest in that without an approved environmental certificate,” says Jody Shimkus. However, after eight months of trying to line up visas for the trainers who train the

Chetwynd Christmas Bureau Society AGM Wednesday, June 11 6:30 pm Chetwynd Public Library Sweetwater905 Arts and Music Festival June 13,14,15 To fifin nd out more, visit the festival website www.sweetwater905.com Little Prairie Heritage Museum July 1 Canada Day Event. 12:30 to 1:30 5633 Westgate Road Chetwynd Community Theatre Group Meet and Greet June 18, 6:30 pm Library Multipurpose Room Minsers are about 350m down with the decline portal on their way to the deepest unFile photo derground in North America

I believe it is the future of mining not only in BC but in North America.

LEKSTROM current crop of workers, HD was able to get the permits to bring them over last week. “NLC has gone down to the states to look at their training, and one of the things they’ve found is the type of equipment is critical to the training,” she says. “Those are company specific. They’ve discovered they can't go to Virginia and just pull the curriculum off the shelf.”

The training program will have to be developed specifically for the equipment that is being used, says Shimkus. As to when that program will be ready, says Shimkus, that is something that needs to be asked of Northern Lights College, but with the trainers getting Visas, she expects that discussions will start happening in the next few weeks to “tease out what they know.”

“You can simulate an underground coal mine as much as you want,” she says, “but until you are down there in the mine, you don’t truly know what you will face.”

While preliminary discussions had the mine training facility in Tumbler Ridge, more recently Northern Lights College has hinted that it might be located out of Dawson Creek when it does get built. When asked directly where HD would prefer the training, Lekstrom can’t give a direct answer.

“I think the preference is to have it where the best training takes place,” he says. “It's the job of town council to do what they can to secure things here.

We won't go in and say ‘we don't want it there’. It needs to work for all parties involved. We will have a voice at the table, but we won't have a vote when it comes to where the training is located. We're hearing Tumbler Ridge loud and clear that they want

the training here, but the college is going to be looking at the best and most economical way to get this training happening.”

Recently, the mine schematics have been redrawn to send the coal to the wash plant and rail loadout via an underground portal. While HD has the ability to bring in 201 temporary foreign workers, right now they have 51. “You will see the men walking around town,” says Lekstrom.

“They continue to work on the decline.”

He says they are only allowed to have groups of nine people underground at any one time right now, so the workers are working in shifts. Because of this, and because of the redesign, there are currently no plans to bring any new workers over.

“When you look at the footprint that a mine of this size has, the ecological footprint is so small, I believe it is the future of mining not only in BC but in North America.” Lekstrom says the mine, should it move forward, will produce about six million tonnes a year and create about 600 to 700 direct jobs. “The company is here to support Tumbler Ridge, When Tumbler Ridge is busy, it is felt by all the communities around, too.”

Lekstrom also commented on the houses in Monkman Commons. He admits that the construction didn’t go as smoothly as planned, and the company will be discussing issues around the landscaping with the District soon. “We've got some good looking homes but there's a lot of work to be done still.”

Councillor McPherson says for HD to wait until they have a mine before they start to train people

seems “ridiculous.” In two years, he says, “you are going to have the same problems. There will be no trained Canadians.

In two years you’re going to say we're going to bring over a bunch more foreign workers.”

Lekstrom says they are using the workers because they know what they are doing, and not because it saves money. “It's a higher cost to bring over temporary foreign workers,” says Lekstrom. “Some people say we are doing it to save money that is not the case. It's a good project with great potential. Already, there have been hundreds of jobs created for Canadians and many more if it proves to be viable.”

In addition to the 51 TFWs, Lekstrom says there are about 30 Canadian contractors who are on-site regularly.

When the mine is finished, says Norm Johnson, it will be the deepest in North America. “This is outside the box,” says Johnson, which is another reason that TFWs are being used on the decline shaft. Traditionally, what happens is the shafts are blasted and cleared out, but because the shaft is so steep and the ground is so soft, they are basically mining their way down using the equipment that will be used for the final mine.

However, there is a chance, says Johnson, that a second, vertical shaft that needs to be constructed, would be constructed in a more traditional manner and could be constructed by Canadian contractors.

Lekstrom says that, while some people might say HD is dragging their feet around the mine opening and around the education, he says the company is just making sure everything is being done properly. “You can't just transition an open pit miner to a longwall miner,” says Lekstrom.

“I'd rather face the challenge that we are taking the time and doing it right than facing another meeting where we didn't take the time. There has been $90 millions spent to date, and we’ve created hundreds of jobs for Canadians. Already there has been a very positive im-

Free English Practice Mondays 9:30 am at Northern Lights College and Wednesdays at 5:30 pm at the Chetwynd Public Library Call 250-7882559 Chetwynd Breastfeeding Support Network meets every Tuesday at 9:30 a.m at the Chetwynd Public Librar y.

Taking Off Pounds Sensibly (TOPS) meets ever y Wednesday at 6 p.m. at the Pine Valley Seniors Centre Call 250-788-3306 Pine Valley Seniors Hall weekly activities including Cribbage, Whist, Bingo and Carpet Bowling. Call Anita at 788-2307 for info.

Pine Valley Seniors Hall Carpet Bowling Tuesdays @ 1:30 pm.

FREE Cree Lessons Wednesdays 5-6 pm at Tansi Friendship Centre Baby’s Best Chance Pregnancy Outreach Program Drop in : Mondays 10am to Noon. Weekly Group Sessions Tuesdays 11 am-1pm.

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Alanon meetings 6:30 pm Tuesdays Mickey’s Place (behind A&W) Chetwynd Society for Community Living Board Meeting. First Monday of each month. 4699 Airport Road Ph: 250-788-4889.

Homeschooling Network Thursdays 1 pm - 2 pm at the Chetwynd Public Library Muskoti Learning Centre Homework Club Mon-Thursday 3 - 4:30 pm Quintessentials Quilters Guild. Meetings held every third monday at 7 pm at the Shared Ministry Church. Contact Joan at 250-788-2714 for more information.

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Production, revenue and consumption of natural gas on the rise in Canada

BY MIKE CARTER Chetwynd Echo Reporter –––––––––––––– OTTAWA – According to the latest Statistics Canada data, revenue, consumption and production of natural gas in Canada are on the rise.

Canada’s sales of natural gas generated $2.4 billion in revenue, up 31 per cent from March 2013. Consumption was up 8. 7 per cent to 9.9 billion cubic metres, and prices also rose by more than 20 per cent in march.

Canada extracted 13.4 billion cubic metres of natural gas in March, up 8.9 per cent from the same month in 2013. Unseasonably cold temperatures during March partly contributed to the higher demand.

Alberta, the country’s largest producer of natural gas, led the way, with extraction up 10.9 per cent from March 2013 to 10.1 billion cubic metres.

Total demand by gas utilities in Canada continued to rise in March, up 2.9 per cent from March 2013 to 19.4 billion cubic metres.

Ontario had the highest demand on gas utilities in the month at 7.1 billion cubic metres, up 9.1 per cent from March 2013.

Also in March, Manitoba received larger transfers of natural gas from other provinces to meet increased demand and posted the highest year-over-year percentage increase, up 87 per cent to 1.2 billion cubic metres.

However, exports to the United States declined 2.9 per cent to 6.7 billion cubic metres. Saskatchewan, the largest exporter of natural gas to the United States, saw deliveries decline 10.3 per cent to 2.8 billion cubic metres.

Canada’s imports of natural gas from the United States increased 1.2 per cent from March 2013 to 2.7 billion cubic metres. Ontario, which is the largest customer, imported 2.6 billion cubic metres, up 8.5 per cent from March 2013.

Ontario was the largest provincial customer of natural gas in March and accounted for the most generated revenue, up 10.4 per cent from a tear earlier to $920 million.

Meanwhile, Alberta posted the largest increase in revenue in March, up 74 per cent from the same month a year earlier, to $776 million.

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BC leads the way in electricity imports M IKE C ARTER Chetwynd Echo Reporter –––––––––––––– OTTAWA – Data released by Statistics Canada last week shows the British Columbia imported more electricity than any other province last year, up 90.8 per cent from March 2013, to over 1.3 million megawatt hours (MWh).

Canada’s total electricity imports from the United States more than doubled, increasing 112.6 per cent from the same month a year earlier to 1.9 million MWh in Match.

Conversely, Canada’s total exports to the United States declined 1.1 per cent to 4.9 million MWh in March.

Quebec exported more electricity than any other province, BY

tion in Canada. Quebec produced 20.1 million MWh of electricity in March, up 4.4 per cent from March 2013.

Hydro generation accounted for 19.9 million MWh, up 4.3 per cent from March 2013. With consumption higher than usual during March, all types of electricity generation posted increases except steam, which was down 10.8 per cent.

Electric power generation in Ontario edged up 0.6 per cent.

Nuclear generation continued to rise, up 11.1 per cent to 7.9 million MWh in March, and is now Ontario’s primary source of electricity generation. Offsetting the gains in nuclear generation in March were declines in electricity generation by hydro and steam.

sending 22 million MWh to the United States in March, down 8.5 per cent from March 2013.

Electric power generation in the country rose 3.1 per cent from the same month a year earlier to 55.9 million MWh in March.

Hydro power, the largest component of generation, edged up 0.2 per cent from March 2013 to 35.9 million MWh. In March, electricity consumption in Canada increased 5.4 per cent from March 2013 to 52.8 million MWh. Generation by utilities was up 3.8 per cent in March to 52.4 million MWh. However, industrial generation fell for the second consecutive month, down 6.8 per cent to 3.5 million MWh. Quebec and Ontario account for the bulk of electricity genera-

NDP Horgan tours the north MIKE CARTER Chetwynd Echo Reporter –––––––––––––– FORT ST. JOHN – Provincial NDP leader John Horgan toured northern BC last week to bring the New Democrat message to the Peace Region.

In an interview with press on Tuesday, May 2, Horgan admitted he doesn’t have enough friends in the north to win an election, but hopes to change all of that in the future.

“It is a comfortable place for me,” Horgan said of northern BC, “I've got friends here, not enough to win an election but, I am here to change that.”

In the brief ten minute conference call, Horgan faced questions about the teachers strike, the closure of the Wolverine, Brule and Willow Creek mines by Walter Energy leaving 400 immediately unemployed, and about the potential for liquefied natural gas development.

Horgan met with representatives in Tumbler BY

Ridge and Northern Health on the first day of his tour.

He took aim at the BC Liberals for failing in the north in terms of jobs and health care.

It was announced earlier this year that seven doctors in Fort St. John would be closing or modifying their practice on July 1.

“That will put somewhere in the neighborhood of 20,000 residents without access to family doctors,” Horgan said.

“It’s my view and it's the view of the opposition that you need to address growth in the economy by ensuring that you're growing social infrastructure to meet the needs of those growing communities.”

In Chetwynd, two doctors will be leaving in 2015.

The shortcomings of premier Christy Clark’s jobs plan were also a target for Horgan. “[Clark] said that we would be number one in job creation, we're number eight. She said that we

HORGAN were going to grow the economy and we were going to see jobs everywhere, 400 people in a town the size of Tumbler Ridge, approximately 3,000 people at its peak, is massive. And the dislocation to the community is going to be felt for a considerable period of time.

“At the same instance that we see 400 people losing their job in Tumbler Ridge, we see that the Tumbler Ridge satellite campus of Northern Lights College, reducing its staff down to just two people. So, there are no training opportunities in

the community, there are 400 fewer jobs and the government has not taken any immediate action to this point and it's my view as leader of the opposition I should be here making the case that the government has more to do, even in boom times,” he said.

Horgan commented on the teachers strike, saying that it appears the government is again provoking teachers into a strike.

“I don’t know what kind of a negotiation strategy it is to say we'll give you a bonus but if you don’t take it, we are going to cut your wages... in public. That again doesn't strike me as a government that wants an agreement, it wants more controversy and conflict and I don’t believe that most people in British Columbia want their children used as a political football,” he said.

Horgan wrapped up his northern tour on Wednesday May 21, 2014 with a tour of the Pacific Western Brewing Company in Prince George.

Online petition to deny David William Shearing parole More than 7,500 petition signatures TUMBLER RIDGE NEWS –––––––––––––– TUMBLER RIDGE –A hearing has been set for Sept. 4 to give consideration for day parole and/or full parole for David William Shearing.

In August of 1982, Shearing murdered George and Edith Bentley and Bob and Jackie Johnson at their campsite in Wells Gray Park. He then took the Johnson’s daughters, Janet age 13 and Karen, age 11, and held them for about a week, sexually molesting them before murdering them as well. He then put the bodies of the victims into the trunk of the family car and set it on fire.

More than a year later, Sheering was arrested here in Tumbler Ridge,

SHEERING ending one of the biggest manhunts in the Canadian history.

An online petition at www.change.org has been started to deny Shearing, now going by the name David Ennis, parole or day parole.

“We, the undersigned, feel that the release of David Ennis, formerly David Shearing, into the community would jeopardize the safety of all citizens, but more importantly our children,” reads the petition. “As well,

Be the first to add to the story or read what your neighbour thinks.

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the heinous nature of his crimes should preclude any possibility of release. We strongly urge the Parole Board of Canada to once again deny parole and full parole to this murderer at the upcoming hearing scheduled for September 4, 2014.”

If day parole were granted, Shearing would be allowed to live in a halfway house. If full parole were granted, he would be allowed to live in the community.

This will be the third time Shearing has been up for parole. He was denied parole in 2008 and again in 2012.

At the latest hearing, The National Parole Board ruled Shearing still has violent sexual fantasies, hasn't completed sex offender treatment and is not ready for freedom. Even his parole officer argued against his release.

At press time, the petition had already received more than 7,500 signatures.

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16

Wednesday, June 4, 2014

Chetwynd Echo

Lights, camera, satisfaction

Chetwynd Community Theatre group hopes to satisfy the hunger for live theatre MIKE CARTER Chetwynd Echo Reporter –––––––––––––– CHETWYND – Live theatre is something that is near and dear to every member of the Chetwynd Community Theatre group, and soon they hope to start sharing their passions with the community and enhancing Chetwynd’s cultural amenities.

The group had their first meeting on May 28, 2014, and were able to piece together some of their core values and objectives.

Their next meeting: “Meet and Greet Act I, Scene II” is going to be held June 18, 6:30 p.m. at the Chetwynd Public Library Bistro.

“I have this belief that everybody benefits from live theatre,” said cofounder and Chetwynd Secondary School (CSS) English teacher Gus Ruiter.

“When you go to a play and you can suspend your belief that you are in a staged environment as an BY

BRONS audience member - that is a magical experience.”

The group is the brainchild of Kaelin Brons.

Brons approached Ruiter after learning of his involvement with CSS drama productions.

A student of the performance arts, Brons and Ruiter both recognized that the town needed a community theatre group.

“I had noticed for some time that it would be nice for Chetwynd to have a community theatre group,” Ruiter said. “We thought maybe we're the ones to get it started.”

The Chetwynd Community Arts Council stepped forward shortly after the group was formed to offer monetary support and additional organizational capacity.

There are no firm dates set for future plays in Chetwynd, however the group has many forks in the fire in regards to projects large and small that may help the group grow.

They have identified a number of scripts and, in conjunction with the arts council, may participate in the council’s proposed “Arts in the Park” night planned for September.

Dinner and desert theatre was also an idea brought up at the last meeting.

Ruiter explains that as word of mouth spreads about what the group is trying to do, there is hope the capacity they have to pull off events will increase.

“We know that a number of the people that we've identified as possibly joining the group that are actually registered ac-

RUITER tors,” he said. “But, there could be a person that comes out of the blue that wants to direct a play because they have done it before, and we would be prepared to change direction. We have that ability to be flexible like that because it really is the will of the group.”

Last months meeting, and the planned meeting for June 18 will be the first of many he says.

The group realizes it is valuable to be open to both those that want to be involved and are interested in the organizational

structure of the group, and those that want to “put on a fun hat and have a fun time.”

There are a number of options for rehearsal spaces that the group is hoping to take advantage of.

A local artist and volunteer has graciously offered her backyard to the group of actors and directors as a place to come hang out, and practice their craft in an informal setting.

What direction the Chetwynd Community Theatre group will take is as of yet, undefined.

But, what the current members of the group realize is that there is plenty of hunger for live theatre performances to enhance the cultural amenities in a town like Chetwynd.

“The group is really in its infancy but we're already starting to see people coming out of the woodwork,” Ruiter said.

“We have a lot of creativity to draw from, we have a strong musical background in this town and we have a lot of artists

and I think all levels of artistry kind of feed into live theatre.”

In the short term, the group will be working towards organizing skits and plays for the relatively near future. While for the long term, the general plan is to have something in place that will last beyond the next play.

“We recognize the need to build capacity, and as more people get involved we could look at future events, regular meet and greets, and possibly socials and barbecues. Perhaps we could go together to events at the North Peace Cultural Centre in Fort St. John,” Ruiter added.

“There are small and big ideas brewing. We've had lots of people reach out to us through our Facebook page and we've had others off the grid come up to us and give their contact information. I have a feeling that there is a hunger for this in the community and it's going to be a natural progression from here on.”

District of Chetwynd to dispose of surplus equipment

BY MIKE CARTER Chetwynd Echo Reporter –––––––––––––– CHETWYND – Do you need a used 1997 F150, a 1998 GMC 1500 or a 1990 Case 580K Backhoe?

You are in luck, because the District of Chetwynd is looking to get rid of some of its surplus equipment at an upcoming “sealed bid” auction.

This type of auction process has all bidders simultaneously submit sealed bids to the district, so that no bidder knows how much the other auction participants have bid. The highest bidder is usually declared the winner.

Items not sold by sealed bid, will be sold at a public auction later on.

The items will soon be on display for the public at the Airport. The District of Chetwynd will notify by advertisement in this newspaper well in advance of the date of the auction.

“We usually have an auction. We didn't do anything last year but the list is starting to get a little long so we wanted to start disposing of stuff this year. It is typical,” said Director of Public Works Paul Gordon.

“Usually we have auctions on our own but we decided on a better approach the last couple of years is to put it out on a sealed bid. We've got a couple of rather valuable items, I don’t anticipate we are going to sell them by sealed bid; I anticipate they are going to go to auction.”

Administration and staff will work together to place a value on the items up for bid and advertise them for sale with an upset value

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