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Lieutenant Governor Judith Guichon makes stop in Chetwynd
FRIDAY, OCTOBER 11, 2013
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Her honour, Lieutenant Governor Judith Guichon, along with Mayor Merlin Nichols and members of the viceregal party, is greeted by Peace River Regional District Electoral Area E Director Jerrilyn Schembri outside the Photo by Mike Carter Chetwynd and District Recreation Centre.
Chetwynd Post Office safe for now
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Fri day, October 11, 2013
C het w y nd Echo
Overall purpose to learn about every valley LOCAL NEWS
BY MIKE CARTER Chetwynd Echo Reporter –––––––––––––– CHETWYND – The honourable Judith Guichon, British Columbia’s twenty-ninth Lieutenant Governor made a stop in Chetwynd last Friday. The visit was part of a five-day northeast BC tour, in which Guichon made several stops including Fort St. John, Tumbler Ridge, Dawson Creek, Hudson’s Hope, Taylor and Fort Nelson before flying back to her ranch in the Nicola Valley. During her five-year tenure, Guichon wishes to see every corner of the province. “My overall purpose is to learn about every valley and the differences of the people and what British Columbians are doing in every valley in this province and I hope to take away more knowledge,� Guichon said. A meet and greet was held at the Aspen ballroom in the Chetwynd recreation centre where her honour, accompanied by members of the vice-regal party, was greeted by members of the general public and the district council. “It gives me great pleasure to welcome her honour to our
“ItĘźs a really energetic interesting community and I just love the carvings.â€?
Mayor Merlin Nichols presents Lieutenant Governor Judith Guichon with a hand made bowl as a gift from the District of Chetwynd to commemorate her visit. Photo by Mike Carter
home town,� mayor Merlin Nichols said. “As a community that was founded on the hard work of men and women who drew their livelihoods from the soil before ever there was a saw mill, a pipeline, a coal mine, its especially meaningful that her honour has such a rich background in agriculture and ranching and has been recognized for her outstanding contributions to the development of sustainable livestock raising.� Mayor Nichols led Guichon on a tour of the chainsaw carvings following formal meetings with council at town hall. Guichon also visited seniors at the Surerus Place care facility. “It's a really energetic interesting community and I just love the carvings,� Guichon responded when asked about her overall
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impressions of Chetwynd. “I think everybody in BC should be up here in June so, I hope I can get back and witness the incredible creations. What these folks do in 36 hours with a log and turn it into these master creations. I bet there is a lot of people down south that don’t even know these treasures exist.� In her mission to visit every corner of the province during her tenure, Guichon has made great pace. She has already visited the East Kootenay, the Gulf Islands and now the Northeastern parts of the province. The tour began immediately following the annual Conference of the Governor General, Lieutenant Governors and Territorial Commissioners held this year in Edmonton Sept. 30 –
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C het w y nd Echo
Fri day, October 11, 2013
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LOCAL NEWS
improved access to Recreation Centre officially opened
From left, Mayor Merlin Nichols, Scott Maxwell, District Manaager Ministry of Transportation and Infrastructure, Recreation director Randy Rusjan, MLA Mike Bernier, a representative of Calmar Construction, Paul Gordon, Manager of Public Works District of Chetwynd and Peace River Regional District Electoral Area E Director Jerrilyn Schembri cut the ribbon. Photo by Mike Carter
BY MIKE CARTER Chetwynd Echo Reporter –––––––––––––– CHETWYND- A significant improvement project to provide better, safer access to the Chetwynd and District recreation centre is nearly complete. A ribbon cutting ceremony, attended by members of district council, South Peace MLA Mike Bernier
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and representatives from the Ministry of Transportation and the Peace River Regional District was held this past Friday to officially open the right-in/right-out project which improves traffic flow in the area. “The PRRD was 100 per cent in support of the project and appreciated the working relationship with
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the District of Chetwynd and the Ministry of Transportation and Infrastructure,” PRRD director Karen Goodings noted. The District of Chetwynd and the Ministry of Transportation and Infrastructure, who contributed $105,000, funded the $735,000 project jointly. Colmar con-
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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 foror the latest road conditions in road British Columbia.
struction, based out of Kelowna carried out the work in conjunction with the ministry. The project was announced last spring in conjunction with additional repair and repaving upgrades near the West Pine Quarry. The cost of both projects was slated at $823,450. In May, council noted
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that additional geotechnical work had to be completed to negotiate the repairs to the highway in front of the recreation centre to prevent frost heaves. The additional work came through in time and the project’s timeline was not affected. The right-in/right-out provides improved traffic safety and access to the
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recreation centre and comes along with a host of other improvements made to the facility, including painting, sidewalk installations, a patio and new landscaping features. Mayor Merlin Nichols wished to thank local resident Betty Deck for her work on the flowers outPlease see "NEW ," page 13
Wednesday 9
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Use caution when passing Use caution when passing or encountering or e n cmaintenance o u n t e requipment. ing road road maintenance equipment.
Drive Safely! Drive Safely!
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C het w y nd Echo
Fri day, October 11, 2013
OUR VIEWS
Are you in support of the District of Chetwyndʼs new municipal hall?
Communication is a two-way street
Email editor@chetwyndecho.net or log onto our Facebook page. Your response could be included on page 5 next week.
T
NOTABLY NOMI :)
Naomi Larsen is Editor for the Chetwynd Echo. Contact her at by phone at 250.788.2246 or via email editor@chetwyndecho.net
he Peace River Regional District released the findings of their Communications and Engagement Audit this week and has concluded “all need to shift the emphasis of communication efforts from reactive to proactive...” I couldn’t agree more.
The PRRD is the largest of the province’s 27 districts with a size of 120,000 square kilometres. Despite the size it has less than 60,000 residents. Many of them live in rural areas outside of any municipal boundary. It’s those residents that seem to get lost in the communication process. This was heard loud and clear at the Community Conversation meeting held at the Cottonwood Hall earlier this fall. Many said they had no
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idea what was communicate going on at with those the PRRD folks? It’s a and had no conundrum. If you need a H o w e v e r , way of finding out due to subscription, call people can’t where they the and we can set blame lived. Some PRRD entirem e n t i o n e d one up for you. ly since comonly having munication d i a l - u p is a two-way Internet and street. or no Internet The bottom as well as some areas, such line is if you really want to as near Pink Mountain, be informed, you’ll make don’t have electricity and an effort to find out what run on generators. you need to know. Which So how does the PRRD may mean if you don’t
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An independent community newspaper established in 1959. Its main interests are those which best serve the Chetwynd area including Hudsonʼs Hope, Jackfish, Hasler and Groundbirch areas.
have Internet or only have dial up, the next time you’re in town you may have to pop into the PRRD office or to your local library or internet café to pick up or print and download the information you need. The PRRD also has their own Facebook and Twitter pages and they advertise in your local newspapers. (If you need a subscription, call and we can set you up.) You can also call your local area representatives anytime via telephone or
Naomi Larsen, Publisher/ Editor/Sales publisher@chetwyndecho.net editor@chetwyndecho.net sales@chetwyndecho.net
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plan to and attend the monthly meetings. Having said that, the PRRD also needs to be forthcoming with information and sometimes that may mean holding more open houses, community forums or town hall meetings where residents can speak with staff and area representatives face to face. It may mean stepping out of the box just a little bit and making time for Please see "ITʼS TIME," page 5
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The opinions expressed on the editorial page of the Chetwynd Echo are strictly those of the paricular writers involved and are not necessarily shared or supported in any way by Draper & Dobie Company Inc, itʼs management or employees. The columns of the Chetwynd Echo editorial page are open to letters to the editor of reasonable length dealing with current events or other concerns. All correspondence must include the name, address and telephone number of the author. The newspaper reserves the right to edit, condense or reject any submission or advertisements.
C het w y nd Echo
Fri day, October 11, 2013
Democracy ignored
To the Editor: Well here we are 19 meetings later and what I hear approximately one hundred thousand dollars less of our tax dollars that could have been put to good use. Such as money for water for rural areas, sewer for rural areas, and the list goes on. The regional Board decided to send out the messengers to bring back the message and that they surely did.(The four rural directors) My Question Is why if they had no intention of listening to the people if in fact (according to the Alaska Highway News Fri, September 27) the bureaucrats were going to run the show at the end of the day. Tell me why the 19 meetings, what a waste! I attended all the meetings, there were petitions at the
meetings to sign and 95/100 percent did just that in all but one which was held at Hudson Hope where 84 percent signed as it did not affect the people who live in the Municipality of Hudsons Hope. The petition was clear, it said to rescind Bylaw 1996/2011 in its entirety, there was no mention of revising this Bylaw on the petitions that were signed at these meetings and the showing of hands was 100 percent in most cases to rescind the Bylaw in it's entirety. My opinion is the regional board will be making a big mistake if they refuse to listen to their constituents, especially if in fact the way this Bylaw was implemented was illegal. I firmly believe this is the case. Look very close to the bottom of your applica-
tion for a building permit and read what you signed. You may not have realized it but you have signed your rights away. Remember when you get a Building permit from the PRRD you give then more rights to come on your property then the R.C.M.P. you are signing to give them access 24/7 and that my friends is something to think about. Makes me wonder what country these folks are working for. I believe that when you are coerced into believing that you have to obtain a application for a building permit you are being made to sign under duress by PRRD. Pay special attention to the last paragraph on this application. The PRRD is out of control and totally out of touch with their constituents. Number one I'd like to mention my
Itʼs time to work together Continued from page 4
residents and their concerns and questions. It may also mean holding PRRD monthly meetings in other towns (perhaps a rotating roster of communities?) and not just Fort St. John and Dawson Creek 90 per cent of the time. As well, the PRRD must remember that the rural residents have just as much to say as those that live in the municipal boundaries of the area and need to be
represented just as fairly. At the Chetwynd meeting, many rural residents stated they felt they were being ignored and thus they didn’t trust the PRRD. If there’s no trust in each other, governance becomes very difficult. It’s time to work together to overcome these communication difficulties. And in a time of technology and a world-wide connection, I would like to believe it shouldn’t be too difficult.
wife and myself have attained all nineteen conversation meetings held by the Rural regional directors and at all these meetings I picked up a bylaw 1996- 2011 and not one of these bylaws in my opinion are illegal every bylaw including the ones the public picked up and I'm talking hundreds of them have been tampered with. A message to all the people who picked up one of these bylaws, look at page 27, that page does not match the rest of the bylaw and appears to have been added ( the printing does not match. I believe this could be a problem for the PRRD Number two I have, and many others also have bylaw 1996-2011 with the adoption date January 24/2013 that are unsigned, how did that happen. My guess it was not signed on that day if so
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YOUR VIEWS
how could I or anyone else have one in their possession. Number three Up to March 18/2013 the yellow flyers handed out by the regional district requiring you to let the Building inspector know 48 hours in advance to have him come and inspect your work. These flyers where available after the bylaw 1996/2011 was implemented and then when you looked at the bylaw it says AT LEAST 72 HOURS, could be ten days or more who knows if there is any limit for him to respond. Then when you apply for a building permit it says 48 hours. I have the feeling Fred, Bruce and Myself have a good idea how that happened. Number four I questioned Bruce Simard at the trade show in Dawson Creek April
20/2013 why this bylaw was not advertised .He stated he was instructed not to by the board. Number Five The peace river regional board did not follow their own procedural bylaw, they never had public which are hearings required, also according to Bruce Simard the corporate stamp that is to be placed on all bylaws are not used anymore, it is stored in the safe. I'm sure that to the public, the bureaucrats can explain away all of these irregularities quite easily but would a Judge be so forgiving ? The people have spoken in great numbers rescind bylaw 1996/2011 in its entirety like all four of the rural directors said they would at the conversion meetings. Walter Stewart Charlie Lake B.C.
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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
Council gives go ahead for new town hall
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C het w y nd Echo
Fri day, October 11, 2013
LOCAL NEWS
BY MIKE CARTER Chetwynd Echo Reporter –––––––––––––– CHETWYND – Council gave its authorization to administration to proceed with the new town hall project. Council has contributed funds to a municipal hall reserve since 2009. On November 5, 2012 council authorized the project to proceed. A tender process was initiated
but tenders received in July, 2013 were significantly over budget. Costs of the project were reduced by eliminating or scaling down some elements, while retaining the core principles of the original design. Total funding for the project is $4.7-million. On August 12, 2013 council directed that a financial strategy be created for the new town hall building, and that a
public open house meeting be scheduled to gather input from the community regarding the project. An open house was held on September 24 to provide information and receive public feedback on the proposed project. Based on the positive results of the open house, council has now authorized administration to proceed with the new town hall project.
Coastal Gas updates council
BY MIKE CARTER Chetwynd Echo Reporter –––––––––––––– CHETWYND – Joe Zhou, project manager for T r a n s C a n a d a Corporations Costal Gaslink pipeline project presented an update to District of Chetwynd
Arthur “Art” Joseph Couturier April 9, 1928 – Sept. 22, 2013 Art passed away in Dawson Creek, BC at the age of 85. He will be lovingly remembered by his 3 children: Kathleen, Terry and Jimmy-Dean; his ex-wife Lorraine; many grandchildren, great-grandchildren and a greatgreat grandchild as well as 1 brother, Laurier Couturier; 5 sisters: Sister-Jeanne Couturier, Anna Roy, Therese Dube, Juliette McLellan and Marie Dubois; and many extended family members. Predeceased by his eldest son, Felix in March 2013, his parents, and many siblings. Art lived in Chetwynd for many years and later moved to Dawson Creek. He worked for Canfor as a sawyer in Chetwynd for 25 years. Art played guitar and was a part of many bands over the years. He also loved to dance which took him to all the seniors' dances in the area. A service to be held at Bergeron's Funeral Chapel in Dawson Creek, BC on Sat., Oct. 19th, 2013 at 2PM. A Celebration of Life will be held in the early Spring of 2014 and there will be an announcement in the newspaper with the details. Flowers welcome or donations in his name to Mizpah Transition House or BC Professional Fire Fighters’ Burn Fund. Condolences may be sent to the family by emailing Kathleen at: katper@shaw.ca
council. The presentation was in combination with an appearance at a Chetwynd Chamber of Commerce luncheon and an open house information session held at the Chetwynd and District recreation centre this past Monday, October 7. Zhou noted that significant changes to the corridor were made in the Chetwynd area following consultations with First Nations and local landowners. Extensive environmental studies have been ongoing in the pipeline corridor including implications of the pipeline for wildlife, fisheries, soil, timber, vegetation and wetlands, archeology, ecosystem mapping and economic impacts. Engineering studies to look at terrain mapping, water crossings, access to roads and utilities and geo-hazards have also been conducted in accordance with appropriate permits. The company says the project is proceeding on track and the company has contributed nearly $1-million to date in community partnerships throughout BC over the past five years including contributions to the Chetwynd Hospital Foundation. Preparations are underway for applications to both the BC Oil and Gas Commission and BC E n v i r o n m e n t a l
MLA Mike Bernier says Chetwynd constituency office coming soon
C het w y nd Echo
hope
BY MIKE CARTER Chetwynd Echo Reporter –––––––––––––– CHETWYND – In a few weeks, Mike Bernier, MLA for the South Peace hopes to be making an announcement about the opening of a second constituency office in Chetwynd. Sources close to Bernier say that the Chetwynd store front could be located next to Peace FM in the former Walter Energy office on the north access road, but details surrounding the lease have yet to be confirmed. A second undisclosed location is also being considered. The office was a campaign promise Bernier made during this past spring’s election. It will be the second office in the riding, with the Dawson Creek location at 1100 Alaska Ave. serving as the main constituency office. “I am going to have a storefront here,” Bernier said on Friday of last week. “I think it's important to have a place here in Chetwynd so when I come
Fri day, October 11, 2013
7
LOCAL NEWS
I think itʼs important to have a place here in Chetwynd... BERNIER
here for meetings or if people have issues, they know where to go to get some information. I am hoping within the next couple of weeks I will be announcing where exactly that will be.” During his campaign, Bernier said, “for a resident of Chetwynd, or Lemoray, or Garbitt, or West Moberly, or Saulteau to travel to Dawson Creek to discuss a matter of importance with his or her MLA, that can be a significant investment of time and money. Establishing an office in Chetwynd will help reduce obstacles for residents to access their
exciting for me,” he said. Some of the issues that Chetwynd residents have brought forward include the recruitment of physicians, which through a collaborative effort on the part of the BC government, the District of Chetwynd and the BC Medical Association, was resolved this summer. Chetwynd received two
new doctors at the end of July, bringing relief to frustrated residents, as well as burnt out physicians and staff. “That's been the rewarding part of it is when you can phone somebody back and say yes, I was able to deal with your issue,” Bernier said. The Peace River South riding is the eleventh
largest in British Columbia, stretching from Taylor in the north to the Alberta boundary in the east. It also includes the Kakwa Provincial Park in the south and the Pine Lemoray Provincial Park west of Chetwynd. Bernier opened his main constituency office in Dawson Creek on September 13.
provincial government.” Bernier wished to thank the residents of Chetwynd for bringing forward many of their concerns through phone, e-mail and via the website. The new office will give residents a place to bring forward any issues in the future on a face-toface basis with a member of his team. “We've been following through with a lot of issues that people in Chetwynd have. It's really interesting being on the provincial side of things now and not on the municipal, because the issues are so broad and vast that its really made it
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C het w y nd Echo
Fri day, October 11, 2013
LOCAL NEWS
CN Rail, District meet to discuss safety issues
Derailments not discussed
BY MIKE CARTER Chetwynd Echo Reporter –––––––––––––– CHETWYND – Last month, the District of Chetwynd sat down for a meeting with CN Rail to discuss some of the safety concerns mayor and council had regarding the speed of trains, the vibrations caused by passing trains and the security of trains parked within the town boundary. Yet, one major safety concern, derailments, was not discussed at length during the meetings.
A CN Rail train derailed in Hasler Flats, 24 kilomesouthwest of tres Chetwynd this past May, causing 12 cars carrying granulated sulphur to spill their contents dangerously close to Pine River. Derailments also happened 64 kilometres west of town in 2010, and in 2006, fourteen cars on a southbound CN Rail train jumped the tracks about 100 miles south of Chetwynd.
Please see "CN HAS," page 10
A sulphur dertailment near Hasler in May caused 12 cars carrying granulated sulphur to spill close to the Pine River. File photo
R E A D A LL A B OU T I T E V E RY W E E K ! PICK UP YOUR COPY AT THE FOLLOWING LOCATIONS: IGA Super Valu 7-Eleven Peoples Fas Gas Pomeroy Hotel Crowfeathers Store Chetwynd Home Hardware A&W
Days Inn Stagecoach Inn Tim Hortons Chamber of Commerce Red Lion Recreation Centre District of Chetwynd Margʼs Mini Mart Groundbirch Store
C het w y nd Echo
Fri day, October 11, 2013
9
LOCAL NEWS
BC Hydro funds career counsellor position for Peace school districts 59, 60 and 81
BY MIKE CARTER Chetwynd Echo Reporter –––––––––––––– FORT ST. JOHN – BC Hydro has provided the Ministry of Energy and Mines with $184,000 to support the creation of a school district career counselor position in three School Districts, including Peace River South School District 59. Bill Bennett, Minister of Energy and Mines and Minister Responsible for Core Review made the announcement Oct. 3 at the Fort St. John Energy Conference. “The opportunities in the north are substantial, particularly with projects on the horizon like Site C, liquefied natural gas plants and new mines,” Bennett remarked. “Trades training is a priority and this funding will help students get the skills they need to have a successful career.” The goal of career counselor position is to encourage students to stay in school by facilitating a
transition into university, trades and college training. The skilled labour shortage is not a new problem for the northeast BC region. A BC labour market profile, compiled by six of BC’s research universities and released in January, revealed that by 2016, British Columbia would reach a “tipping point” where the number of jobs requiring university, trades or college credentials will exceed the supply of graduates. Educators, like Andrew Petter, president of the Simon Fraser University say this debunks a common myth that tomorrow’s jobs don’t require a university education, and this is backed by the report’s findings. Petter made the comments to the Epoch Times in January 2013. By 2020, the report says up to 18,800 jobs could go unfilled. 8,400 requiring a university degree, 8,100 a college credential, and 2,300 in trades.
BENNETT
Funding for the school district career counselor position will be provided over a two-year period for School District 60 (Peace River North), School District 59 (Peace River South), School District 81 (Fort Nelson) and the First Nations Chalo School, located in Fort Nelson. BC Hydro is providing the funding so that largescale projects like the proposed Site C dam, which will create an estimated 10,000 direct jobs during construction and an estimated 33,000 jobs in total
through all stages of development, can employ skilled workers from the northeast region of the province. “BC Hydro understands the need for a skilled workforce in the northeast and we believe that funding a career counselor position will benefit both students and industry,” said Susan Yurovich, executive vice-president for BC Hydro’s Site C project. “Site C will require a large number of workers, and trades and skills training is needed to prepare students for these jobs.” Northern Opportunities will serve as a liaison for BC Hydro with respect to its future recruitment and training requirements in northeast BC. They are an innovative partnership of the Fort Nelson, Peace River North and Peace River South school districts involving the Northern Lights College, First Nations, industry and local communities. “The career counselor
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position is critical to the ongoing efforts currently underway by Northern Opportunities to increase awareness of career options for students,” said Doug Boyd, co-chair of Northern Opportunities.
“Ultimately, we want students to stay in school and get the skills they need to have career success within their local communities.”
10 Fri day, October 11, 2013
LOCAL NEWS
CN has commenced a train securement review Continued from page 8
On August 13, a CN train also derailed northwest of Taylor. Seven cars carrying lumber were involved. There were no injuries as a result of these derailments and as far as the evidence shows, no real harm to the environment either. After each incident, CN said it was investigating the cause. No public announcements were ever made regarding the results of their investigations. Mayor Merlin Nichols said there was “nothing substantive really about the derailments,” discussed at the meetings. The meetings between the town and CN come on the heels of two disasters involving trains: the wellknown events in LacMegantic, Quebec and the collision of a Via Rail train with a commuter bus in Ottawa. Both Canadian Pacific Railways and CN Rail announced shortly after the Lac Magentic tragedy that they were tightening their safety standards. “As part of its rigorous safety management approach, CN has already
commenced a review of all train securement measures in the aftermath of the Lac-Megantic tragedy to further strengthen its safety procedures,” CN spokesperson Mark Hallman told CBC News in July. The concerns of Chetwynd council mainly revolved around that type of situation – an unattended train rolling into town carrying petroleum - happening here. “My own concerns were more about the grades into town and the potential for a train coming into town uncontrolled,” Mayor Nichols said. “There are two grades coming into town here as you know, and both of them are slopped and Chetwynd is at the low point. And so they, the CN folks, assured us that a train parked out [north of town] by Lasser’s farm is not left with the engine attached. Apparently if the engine is disengaged then the brakes can't release. So a train left there is always blocked and they assured us that the hand brakes were thoroughly set.” Nichols says he and others representing the town
at the CN meetings were pleased with the responses they received in regards to their safety concerns. “I think we actually rightly or wrongly had a sense that at least they listened to the concerns that we did raise,” he said. “This is not the last conversation. I am quite sure.” During Nichols’ tenure as mayor, the District of Chetwynd has met with CN Rail on a yearly basis, and he hopes this can continue. Issues such as the whistling of trains were also not discussed at the meetings. Residents have raised concerns about the trains passing through town at 3 a.m., blaring their whistles for as long as 15 – 20 seconds at a time. Essentially waking the entire town. “We’d love to have a ban,” Nichols said. “So far, we've been stopped by their assurances that this is federally regulated, you have to talk to the government we can't do anything about it. But in fact I think there is something we can do about it. I am not sure just what it is.”
C het w y nd Echo
PRRD to discuss results of "Community Conversations" meetings on Building Bylaw Oct. 17
BY MIKE CARTER Chetwynd Echo Reporter –––––––––––––– DAWSON CREEK – The Peace River Regional District has completed its “Community Conversations” meetings in 19 communities throughout the peace to discuss the controversial Building Bylaw 1996, 2011 and will now hold a Committee of the Whole meeting October 17 in Dawson Creek to review the summary results. The regional board adopted the updated and revised Building Bylaw 1996, 2011 in January 2013 for implementation in March 2013. The purpose was to update and provide BC Building Code inspection service for new building construction and structural upgrade projects across the unincorporated jurisdictions of the regional district. The bylaw was met with significant opposition from local ranchers and farmers who took issue with the fact that the bylaw would add additional costs to maintaining their land with added costs for demolition and new construction, among other concerns. “At the last meeting the board referred the bylaw back to the electoral
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“It will be up to the
electoral area directors to bring a resolution back to the board for further discussion.” area directors to discuss the request from those attending the 19 meetings to rescind it,” Peace River Regional District chair Karen Goodings said in an email to the Chetwynd Echo. “It will be up to the electoral area directors to bring a resolution back to the board for further discussion. The meeting is scheduled for October 17th. in Dawson Creek at the office. All our meetings are open to the public.” Goodings added that although the public are welcome to attend, there will be little opportunity for further dialogue during the meeting. “We all heard the people state clearly
Please see "RURAL," page 11
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Fri day, October 11, 2013
11
LOCAL NEWS
No changes expected for the Chetwynd Post Office for now; despite national downsizing
BY MIKE CARTER Chetwynd Echo Reporter –––––––––––––– CHETWYND- Despite the recent news of a crosscountry downsizing at the national postal service hitting close to home in Dawson Creek and Pouce Coupe, Canada Post says there are no changes planned for the Chetwynd Post Office in the immediate future. “We're not planning any changes at this time to the Chetwynd post office,” a spokesperson for the national mail service Eugene Knapik said on Monday. “That doesn't mean there won’t be changes at some time in the future. But at this time there is no changes planned,” he added. The Dawson Creek Daily News reported on Sunday that the city’s downtown office would be cut from three full-time employees to just one under a plan to find cost savings within the organization. Union representatives say because their contracts
mail is on the decline, and parcel delivery is increasing. “People aren’t coming into our retail outlets as much as they used to,” Knapik said. “In some areas we're reviewing and we have been making adjustments in terms of when we're open and when we're not open in order to try and serve people when they need us and in some cases we may not have as many hours but we're trying to have the hours where we see people are coming in. But at this time there is no changes planned in Chetwynd.”
Canada Post says despite there being no changes for now, it doesn’t mean Chetwynd is out of the woods yet.
Photo by Mike Carter
stipulate job security, the staff reductions will be done by attrition, meaning that when someone retires or quits, nobody will be hired to replace them. Starting Oct. 19, smaller
offices such as in Pouce Coupe would see Saturday hours cut, and reduced overall operating hours. “The Conference Board of Canada in their recent report suggested that if we
don’t make changes now, we're going to be facing $1-billion per year deficit by the year 2020. So, we're looking at our whole business model and our whole operation to see where we
need to make changes and where we need to adjust to the changing ways that people are using our post offices,” Knapik said. The Conference Board of Canada reported that letter
Meetings held with local residents in Chetwynd this past spring to discuss their disapproval with the bylaw were filled with substantial levels of anger, frustration and resentment. An April 30 gathering was intended to serve as a speakers’ corner for residents to voice their concerns about the bylaw and
to decide what action they would take in bringing those concerns forward to the PRRD. At that meeting, Sukunka resident Jerry Franklin motioned for a vote to be held that would determine how many people in attendance wanted to encourage the PRRD to get rid of the bylaw all together. Practically every
hand shot up in support of this initiative. “What really gets me with part of this bylaw is the title search,” said one resident who was identified as a former building inspector. “Its nobody else’s business between the lender and the borrower. Why should the little civil servant by advised from
whom I have borrowed the money and who gave the money to me? This is dictatorship!” Since those meetings, a sub-committee of attendees at the meeting was established to go through the bylaw line by line and indicate where their objections were. Subsequent meetings were held giving residents
FUTURE CHANGES POSSIBLE Unlike postal workers in the Dawson Creek area, who are represented by the Canadian Union of Postal Workers (CUPW), employees at the Chetwynd post office are represented by the Canadian Postmasters and Assistants Association (CPAA). Please see "NOT OUT," page 13
Rural residents want the bylaw eliminated entirely Continued from page 10
that they want the bylaw eliminated. Following the discussion there will be a recommendation that will come back to the PRRD board as a whole. Discussion needs to happen and the process clearly defined for any future discussion put in place,” she said.
the chance to present their disapproval by delegations to PRRD board meetings. The Community Conversations were then initiated to further gather input. Residents voted again to repeal the bylaw at an Aug. 27 meeting in the Chetwynd and District recreation centre’s Cottonwood Hall.
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Fri day, October 11, 2013
Northern Lights Recovery Centre continues down fundraising highway
C het w y nd Echo
HEALTH
BY NAOMI LARSEN Chetwynd Echo Editor –––––––––––––– FORT ST. JOHN – The Northern Lights Recovery Centre (NLRC) continues to drive straight up the fundraising highway. The proposed treatment centre, which is scheduled to be constructed at a current price tag of more than $5 million with a $1.2 million yearly operational budget, is a non-denominational and alcohol and drug addiction treatment centre that will be located in rural northeastern British Columbia.
“I think that everybody has been touched by this problem by one way or another if they live in this are for more than five minutes,” Northern Lights Recovery Centre Society Chairman Bruce Lantz said at a Chamber of Commerce luncheon presentation earlier this month at the Pomeroy. To begin his presentation Lantz showed a short video made by a mother in Fort St. John that told the story of her son who died of an overdose on the steps of a recovery centre in the Okanagan because
PUBLIC NOTICE
there was no room for him. “Nobody though when he was born that he would die from an addiction,” Lantz said. “I think that all of us have a tendency that when we think of people with drug and alcohol addictions we think of people we may have seen on the street. Those sad people that are perhaps homeless, walking around with a bottle of wine in their hand, hiding in doorways or in treed areas. That’s not all. People who have problems with drugs and alcohol maybe mem-
Spectra Energy crews in Chetwynd area conduc ng pipeline maintenance work
Spectra Energy wishes to advise residents, motorists and land users in the Hasler Flats area we will be conduc!ng a ven!ng at one of our valve sites. The ven!ng will commence at about 9 a.m. on Wedn., Oct. 16 and will last approximately four hours.
The purpose of the ven!ng is to conduct rou!ne maintenance on our sweet gas pipeline. As a result of this work, you may hear noise that sounds similar to a jet engine. However, there is no health or safety threat to the public.
At Spectra Energy, safety is our highest priority. All of our maintenance ac!vi!es are focused on protec!ng the public, the environment and property, while maintaining an efficient and reliable pipeline system. We thank you in advance for your a"en!on, coopera!on and understanding. For more informa!on, please contact: Glenn Auger, Community Coordinator, Spectra Energy Phone: 250-788-4729 Email: gauger@spectraenergy.com
bers of your families. They may be your friends. They may be people you work with or work for. They may be leaders in your community who are struggling. Sometimes it’s not as visible as the fellow on the street corner. But it’s just as real and just as devastating.” Lantz and his team of directors, identified the need for the facility and launched the initiative a year ago by conducting extensive consultations with experts in BC and Alberta, and with potential funders. Funding from Shell Canada, four Peace River Regional District directors, Encana, Ferus Wellsite Cryogenic Services, the District of Taylor and Northern Health has already been approved. But there is still a long way to go. “At present people have to go elsewhere to get treatment once they realize they need treatment,” he said. “There is a facility in Grande Prairie and another in Prince George. Both of those routinely have waiting lists for more than a year.” The problem with that Lantz says, is that once a person realizes they need help – the need is immediate. “That may be the only time that person is willing to give it a go,” he said. “They may be lost after that.” The facility, the first of its kind in Northeastern BC, would house up to 10 men and 10 women in sep-
LANTZ
arate wings, with 28-day, 42-day and 60-day treatment programs available for as little as $125 per day, depending on funding support. Lantz said other facilities can cost $14,000/month for entry level programs. “If you can afford that, that’s great,” he said. “But not many can. We’re coming in at half of that. We are a not for profit society.” A youth wing is in the plans to be added later. Specially trained addictions counsellors will administer these programs as well as spousal and aftercare programs. The next step currently is finding property, preferably around 12 acres near Fort St. John. The choice of Fort St. John is simply because it’s central however he said they wouldn’t turn the offer away. To assist with fundraising, individuals can purchase a $20 membership in the society to show poten-
tial funders the grassroots, community support. Most of the major fundraising they expect to get from large corporations and industry. However Lantz hopes to have community businesses and residents play a role and allow for a line item in the yearly budget that would be supported at community level fundraising. This would allow someone who could not afford treatment to still receive treatment. “So we do not have to turn someone away,” Lantz said. “This is not going to be an elitist facility. I want it to run across every spectrum of society. But this means ongoing fundraising at the community level to top up that fund.” Lantz said they have also been in discussions with North Peace MLA Pat Pimm, South Peace MLA Mike Bernier and and MP Bob Zimmer with both Pimm and Bernier have offered their personal support. “The issue of course with senior government is that none of them have any money,” Lantz said, jokingly. “I’m surprised they can even keep the wheels turning around because they’re very poor if you listen to them. I did say to MLA Bernier that we would be quite happy with just getting the equivalent to the bonuses given to the executives of BC Hydro, ICBC and some other crown corporations.”
C het w y nd Echo
Not out of the woods yet Continued from page 11
Barb Lincoln, president of the CPAA could not be reached by press time. Her counterpart, John Bail, who is the national director of the CUPW did offer to comment on the Chetwynd situation. He says changes should be expected in the future for the Chetwynd post office. “The hours will probably be limited there and they will change,� he said. “In Kamloops they said that [there would be no changes] and then they came back and reduced the service to a kiosk. They had two retail outlets in Kamloops about five years
ago, now they're going to one kiosk.� Bail says the changes are happening with little public consultation. “The public consultation process is a charade. It's not really happening and they haven't changed one decision. Port Alberni they shut it down, the public were against it there. They had two offices there now they have one.� Bail says the Conference Board of Canada report, which was commissioned by Canada Post, was an attempt to “create a crisis� so that services can be privatized and deregulated. “The report is part of an overall drive by Canada
Post to give a rationale to reduce services. To me I think its the conservative government making deals with the courier companies because they can get rid of Canada Post, then the courier companies can have the entire market,� he said. Canada Post will continue to make changes across the country in its efforts to find cost savings. Changes are possible in the future for the Chetwynd office and will most likely come in the form of staff reductions by not replacing retiring workers. A reduction in store hours is also possible.
New right-in and -out will provide safe traffic flow Continued from page 3
side the centre. “It makes Chetwynd beautiful,� he said. “I want to acknowledge everyone who has had a part in bringing this project together,� mayor Nichols added. “I think that shows that when you get people cooperating with a vision, things do happen.� Peace River Regional District electoral area “E� director Jerrilyn Schembri noted that the improvements to the recreation centre over the last few years have brought it to a level on par with other facilities in larger communities. “The work that has been done on this recreation centre over the last few years has brought this facility to a point where any large city or community would be proud to have this as a gem within their boundaries,� Schembri remarked. “The right in and out will now provide a safer traffic flow and access to this treasure.� The project also meant improved drainage infrastructure was also com-
pleted, which District of Chetwynd manager of public works Paul Gordon noted will help prevent future frost heave issues. Scott Maxwell, District Manager with the Ministry of Transportation and Infrastructure says the mitigation of the frost heave is an important part of the project. “It will provide safe access to a number of essential community facilities and provided a great opportunity for us to do some work to reduce the incidence of frost heaves on the highway,� he said. Mike Bernier, MLA for the South Peace emphasized in his comments that the project would not have been possible without the collaborative efforts of all involved. “What we're seeing to have a project like this, its not about the province, its not just about the municipality or the regional district,� he said. “To be able to have something that is great like this today it’s about working together. With those partnerships that we keep forming, we can have these great projects.�
Fri day, October 11, 2013
13
Outdoor smoking ban
LOCAL NEWS
CHETWYND ECHO STAFF –––––––––––––– CHETWYND – Kerensa Medhurst of the Canadian Cancer Society made a presentation to council to raise awareness of radon gas and to promote the group’s initiative to have outdoor smoking bans in all public spaces throughout BC. Radon gas is a colorless, odorless, tasteless cancer-causing agent that occurs naturally as an indirect result of decaying matters in the ground. Radon gas can seep into homes without our knowledge. Medhurst urged all resi-
dents to purchase test kits and have their homes checked, handing a test kit to all council members. Medhurst continued her presentation with a push for council support for a ban on smoking in outdoor public areas such as all municipally managed properties including trails, plazas, parks, beaches and recreation facilities. She notes that several BC communities have already implemented or are contemplating implementing such bylaws that can help protect the health of residents.
CANADIAN FOREST PRODUCTS LTD.
Dra Timber Supply Analysis Informa(on Package Tree Farm Licence 48 Management Plan 5
No$ce is hereby given, under sec$on 6 (1) of the Tree Farm Licence Management Plan Regula$on, that Canadian Forest Products Ltd. (Canfor) is seeking public review and comment on the Dra Timber Supply Analysis Informa$on Package, rela$ng to Management Plan 5 (MP 5) for Tree Farm Licence 48 (TFL 48). MP 5 is being prepared in order to meet the requirements of the Tree Farm Licence Management Plan Regula$on. This regula$on includes content requirements, submission $ming and public review requirements for TFL Management Plans. These content requirements replace the Management Plan content requirements previously listed in the Tree Farm Licence document and reduce duplica$on with associated Forest Stewardship Plan results and strategies.
All interested par$es are invited to view and comment on the Dra Timber Supply Analysis Informa$on Package for MP 5, from September 3, 2013 through to November 4, 2013. Viewing appointments can be arranged by calling our oďŹƒce at (250) 788-2231, or by visi$ng h%p://www.canfor.com/responsibility/environmental/plans. Comments will be accepted un$l 4:00 pm November 4, 2013. For further informa on, please contact:
Darrell Regimbald, RPF Planning Coordinator, Canadian Forest Products Ltd. Forest Management Group, P.O. Box 180, Chetwynd BC V0C 1J0
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Fri day, October 11, 2013
C het w y nd Echo
Free English Practice Mondays 9:30 am at Northern Lights College and Wednesdays at 5:30 pm at the Chetwynd Public Library Call 250-788-2559 Chetwynd Breastfeeding Support Network meets every Tuesday at 9:30 a.m at the Chetwynd Public Library. Fun Darts at the Royal Canadian Legion Saturday’s 7 pm
Little Giant Air Cadets . Mondays at 6:30pm at the Royal Canadian Legion. Ages 12-18.
Taking Off Pounds Sensibly (TOPS) meets every 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 788-5838 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. Located at Kici. 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
Halloween Bash October 26 Royal Canadia nLegion 8pm to 1:30 am Call 250-788-5464 for tickets. All proceeds to go to Chetwynd chapter of Kids Sport BC. Stroller walking group. Thursdays 2:30-4:30. Meet at Recreation Centre main doors.
Chetwynd Community Arts Council Fall Arts Show and Gala. November 9, 6 pm. Pomeroy Inns & Suites. Contact members for tickets. Also for sale at the Chetwynd Echo, Peace FM and Chamber of Commerce
L OC A L S P O T L I G H T
OKTOBERFEST CHETWYND PUBLIC LIBRARY FUNDRAISER OCTOBER 19 ROYAL CANADIAN LEGION DINNER, LIVE & SILENT AUCTIONS. TICKETS AVAILABLE AT THE LIBRARY.
New in town? Between the ages of 19 and 35? Meet and Greet Friday Oct. 25 at the Chetwynd Public Library
Strong Start 9 am until noon daily. Located at Don Titus Elementary school.
Chetwynd Planning Society The Sukunka Group is looking for interested members of the community. Please attend their meeting Thurs. Sept. 19 7 pm at the Chetwynd Public Library.
Ca tod ll Th e eve ay w Ech i o pu nt an th yo bli sh d we ur f or it ’l FR here l EE !
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C het w y nd Echo
Fri day, October 11, 2013
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BUSINESS PROFILE
Fri day, October 11, 2013
to w e N d n y w Chet
Pay Les Welding & Safety Supply Store
Authorized Linde Bottle Depot C02 refills for paint guns Much more!
Open Monday to Friday 8 am to 6 pm 3794 Old Hart Wabi Road Across from Tumbler Ridge Turnoff Phone: 250-788-3376
THIS
LIONS RECYCLING DEPOT HOURS OF OPERATION
SPOT COULD BE
Please be advised that the hours of operation for the Recycling Depot are as follows:
YOURS !!! INCLUDES HALF
Sunday Mo nday Tues day Wednes day Thurs day Fri day Saturday
PAGE ADVERTORIAL TO RUN IN ROTATION ...
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ECHO DETAILS ! THE
FOR
Pay Les Welding & Safety Supply Store
• Authorized Linde Bottle Depot • C02 refills for paint guns • Much more!
Open Mon. to Frii. 8 am to 6 pm 3794 Old Hart Wabi Road Across from Tumbler Ridge Turnoff
Phone: 250-788-3376
Cl o s ed 10 am - 4 pm 9 am - 5 pm 9 am - 5 pm 9 am - 5 pm 9 am - 5 pm 9 am - 4 pm
788-1111
NORTH COUNTRY AUTOMOTIVE
• Preventative Maintenance • Winterization • Licence B.C. Inspection • Full vehicle servicing P: 788-9599 F: 788-7930
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Fri day, October 11, 2013
What’s coming up in Chetwynd this week? 17
COMMUNITY
that will keep you inspired. Bring a book or article you have enjoyed based on the week’s theme word, meet new people and join in for a casual chat. Be inspired to read others favourites. Can’t make the weekly meeting date? No problem! Participate in the discussion on the Chetwynd Public Library’s Facebook page. Each week’s theme will
BY MIKE CARTER Chetwynd Echo Reporter –––––––––––––– Here is what is going on in Chetwynd for the week of October 13 – 19:
SUKUNKA GROUP MEETING The Sukunka Group, Chetwynd’s Social Planning Society meets the third Thursday of every month at the Chetwynd and District recreation centre from 7 – 8:30 p.m. The group helps plan and provide social services for our community including addressing food security through its community food policy which hopes to educate and encourage residents about the local farmers market, the community gardens, backyard gardening, local entrepreneurism for organic food distributions businesses and community supported agriculture initiatives to raise nutrition awareness, especially for families and children. The group also takes on the task of raising awareness of other issues in our community such as housing, employment and education training, childcare and early childhood development, youth and youth issues, health and addictions services, crime and public safety issues and community development. For more information on the group, contact Kerry Silver at 250-788-3734 or Kim Slack at 250-788-1830. FINAL FARMER’S MARKET OF THE YEAR, OCT 11 The final farmer’s market of the 2013 season will be held this Friday, from 3 – 7 p.m. Don’t miss your
chance to stock up on local produce, artisan breads and canned goods before the dreaded “s-word” is upon us! The final farmer’s market will host a special showcase event, a pumpkin growing contest. Did you grow the most unique, largest or funniest pumpkin this year? Come to the farmer’s market this Friday to enter your pumpkin or vote on which pumpkin you think should take best in show. Judging will take place from 3-3:30 p.m. People’s choice voting will be held for the most unique pumpkin, the largest pumpkin and the funniest pumpkin of the year. Prizes will be awarded at 6:30 p.m. Any pumpkin entered must be grown and cared for by the contestant and only one pumpkin can be submitted per person. The contest is open to everyone. This all for fun and the bragging rights to the community for one year. The judge’s decision will be final. “If it look’s like a pumpkin, we will call it a pumpkin.” The contest is supported by the Chetwynd Community Gardens and
Greenhouses.
be matched by a display of books, magazines, CDs and DVDs in the Chetwynd Public Library. There is also a chance to win a prize! In each displayed item there is a ballot. Fill in the ballot by sharing a review of the item you borrowed and return the ballot to the library for your chance to win. Monthly prizes of a $10 gift card to the Chetwynd Bistro will be
OFF THE SHELF BOOK CLUB The Chetwynd Public Library is asking interested residents to consider joining the Off the Shelf Book club for a reading adventure. The adult book club began October 2, and will run every Wednesday from 1-2 p.m. Each week they will explore a new theme and discover new books
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available, as well as an undisclosed grand prize which will be drawn in June 2014. You can also fill out a ballot on the Library’s Facebook page. For more information call the library at 250-7882559.
OKTOBERFEST AT THE LEGION The Chetwynd Public Library is proud to present Oktoberfest at the Royal Canadian Legion Hall Saturday October 19 from 6:00 p.m. – 1:00 a.m. There will be a dinner, live and silent auctions as well as a dance and live music from local band Dark Horse. Tickets are $50 per person and are available at the library. All proceeds go to the many programs the library supports. For more information call 250-788-2559.
WWW. CHETWYNDECHO. NET
CHETWYND ECHO
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Fri day, October 11, 2013
C het w y nd Echo
THANKSGIVING 2013
Organize your Thanksgiving METRO EDITORIAL SERVICES
Filled With Our Gratitude at Thanksgiving
At this season of reflection, our hearts are full, as we count our many blessings including the friendship of people like you! We hope you enjoy a marvelous and meaningful celebration with the ones you love, and we look forward to serving you again, soon! 4809 51 Ave Chetwynd BC V0C 1J0 250-788-8857
–––––––––––––– A large meal is customary come Thanksgiving. Planning an impressive Thanksgiving menu can be enjoyable for many people, while others get a little nervous when tasked with such an undertaking. But getting a head start and staying organized can make planning a Thanksgiving meal much easier than it looks. Begin by jotting down ideas of which dishes you want to make this year. Traditional foods like turkey and candied yams may be expected, but it's perfectly acceptable to think outside the box as well. If you won't be host-
Help Yourself To Our Gratitude … We know there’s plenty of it to go around!
To our many good neighbors, friends, associates and customers, go our warmest wishes for a happy and healthy Thanksgiving celebration with all the trimmings good friends and family bring. For your support this past year, please accept our heartfelt thanks!
Chetwynd Echo 5016 50th Ave, Downtown Chetwynd www.chetwyndecho.net • 250-788-2246
ing a large crowd, you may want to serve more manageable Cornish hens in place of a larger turkey. Root vegetables and squash are seasonal foods that can add some autumn flavor to your Thanksgiving dinner table. Potatoes, corn, turnips and parsnips can be served baked or turned into soups and casseroles. Thanksgiving is a great time to celebrate local foods as well. If certain items are native to your area, such as grains or game, incorporate these foods into the planning. Once you have established the menu, you can make a list of what can be prepared in advance and what will need to be made shortly before the holiday or the day of. Separate your shopping accordingly. Any frozen or canned products can be purchased in advance of the holiday rush and stored until use. Frozen turkeys also can be bought weeks before and then thawed out when they need to be cooked. Any dairy products or fresh produce should be purchased a few days before Thanksgiving and freshly prepared for optimal flavor. Rather than spending all of your time cooking the night before the dinner, mashed potatoes and casseroles can be prepared and frozen, then reheated on Thanksgiving. Some foods actually taste better
when flavors have had an opportunity to meld. Even some baked goods can be made in advance and refrigerated or frozen until use. Think about preparing batters for cookies or cakes and then storing them in the refrigerator before finishing them on Thanksgiving. Any work you can handle in advance will save you time in the kitchen come the big day. Timing can be challenging on Thanksgiving. Whenever possible, free up your oven for side dishes and desserts so that you will have ample space inside. A turkey can take up valuable real estate in the oven, so you may want to consider investing in a rotisserie or a deep-fryer so the turkey can be cooked more efficiently elsewhere. Then you will have plenty of oven space for heating side dishes and desserts. Dense foods should be placed in the oven first to enable them to heat thoroughly. Finger foods and appetizers may only need brief heating. Do not underestimate the power of the outdoor barbecue for quickly heating up foods if you are short on space in the kitchen. Delegate some of the work to others on Thanksgiving so you and your family can better enjoy the holiday. Encourage guests to bring their favorite items to serve buffet- or pot-luck
style for Thanksgiving. This not only cuts down on the amount of work for the host and hostess, but gives guests an opportunity to showcase their culinary skills as well. Desserts are often laborintensive elements of entertaining. Precision in measuring and preparing helps guarantee success. If you do not have the time to bake this Thanksgiving, serve store-bought cakes and save yourself the hassle, or ask guests to bring desserts so you can focus your attention on the main meal. While prepping for the Thanksgiving dinner, keep the dishwasher empty so you can easily load items as they are used and keep kitchen clutter to a minimum. Increasing the number of finger foods can help reduce the number of dishes used while cutting down on post-holiday clean-up. When preparing for the meal, keep storage containers at the ready. Have guests fill up take-away containers with leftovers before the table is cleared so that no food goes to waste. Promptly refrigerate all leftovers so that they are safe to enjoy later on. Thanksgiving is a time when big meals are customary and a good deal of work is required. Breaking down the work into manageable tasks helps the holiday go off without a hitch.
DID YOU KNOW?
Thanksgiving Day in Canada has been a holiday on the second Monday of October since 1957.
Fri day, October 11, 2013
C het w y nd Echo
19
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Fri day, October 11, 2013
OPINION
Chetwynd has several defenses against water contamination
The Mayor’s Report
M
with Merlin Nichols
ost of you have heard of the land slide that temporarily blocked the Pine River just west of Hasler Flats last week. Tons of earth simply cut loose and slipped into the river taking with it hundreds of tall, straight, and beautiful aspen trees along with the understory. It’s an awesome thing to see what was supposed to be several acres of solid earth, having removed itself, simply park in a new location.
The day after the slide I visited the site with CAO Doug Fleming, Manager of Public Works Operations Paul Gordon, and MEP Coordinator Leo Sabulsky. We wanted a first-hand look at the potential for long-term effects on the District water supply. Because the water again was flowing clean and unrestricted, we were reassured that the immediate crisis was past and that in the long term the slide would not affect the water supply seriously. Of course we are not even amateurs in assessing slide impacts and longterm implications. At the site when we visited were two engineers from MoE in Prince George already on their second day of testing. They were using an
“Of course we are not even
amateurs in assessing slide impacts and long term complications.�
instrument that I had not encountered at any time in my previous life. A rather simple device, it inserts into the earth on the end of a shaft a four-blade tip about six inches in diameter. In this case the technicians drove it to a depth of six meters. On the top of the shaft a meter is mounted to read the tension on
HELLO! my name is
the blades. The degree of tension will allow the technicians to assess the stability of the earth on which we were standing a few meters back from the edge of the slide. As an untutored observer, I saw some conditions of interest. The soil consists of various layers of sand, silt, and clay. It
appeared to me that there was an impervious layer at the bottom of the slip which allowed the soils above it to become saturated with water. When the resistance to slipping was exceeded by the weight of the water-saturated soil above, it simply let go and moved south to block the river. Chetwynd’s Utilities Services Coordinator, Al Tricker, responded by promptly shutting down the pumps to avoid contamination by the riverborn silt. Once the river breached the slide a wave of muddy-brown silty water moved downstream. At this time of year the river is flowing more slowly than in the spring and it took about 36 hours for the wave to pass the pumping
station and the river to clear. Chetwynd has several defenses against primary water contamination. In the first place, good planning has allowed the District to prepare for emergencies and District employees are alert and quick to respond. Secondly, our settling ponds hold several weeks’ supply, and finally, the wells can be turned on when necessary. We are pleased and reassured with the way everyone responded to this inconvenience so that it did not become an emergency.
Disclaimer: The preceding is the opinion of Mayor Merlin Nichols and may or may not reflect the views and/or wishes of council.
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Notice to the Public
Additional Permissive Tax Exemptions
Please take note that pursuant to Section 224 of the Community Charter, Chapter 26, the District of Chetwynd will be considering Bylaw No. 987, 2013 cited as “Tax Exemption Bylaw No. 987, 2013 for the purpose of granting permissive tax exemption for the year 2014, for the following properties. Organization
Chetwynd Senior Citizen’s Housing Society, Surerus Place
Legal Description
Lot 1; Plan PGP17255; D.L. 398; P.R.D.; Except Plan 20928, 25395 & 25396
Reason for Exemption
Used exclusively for charitable or philanthropic purposes
Value of Exemption for 2013 $7,554.49
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DISTRICT OF CHETWYND ENGINEERING TECHNICIAN II
Ph: 250-788-2246 fax 250-788-9988
Chet wynd Echo
DISTRICT OF CHETWYND AQUATIC STAFF II DEPARTMENT: CLASSIFICATION: HOURS OF WORK:
Parks & Recreation AS II Minimum of 20 hours per week with varying shifts (including evenings & weekends)
STATUS: UNION: WAGES:
Regular, Part-Time CUPE Local 3052 $22.30 Ȯ $23.06 per hour plus benefits
Join us at the District of Chetwynd – we have openings for one (1) regular part-time Aquatic Staff II positions. Working under the direction of a designated supervisor, the incumbent(s) will ensure the safety, protection and enjoyment of all those engaged in Leisure Pool activities, including supervising activities, following safety and hygiene standards and providing instruction to users. The successful candidate(s) will have the following current certifications: National Lifeguard Service – Pool Option; Red Cross Water Safety Instructor; CPR Level C; and AED. Completion of a criminal record check is mandatory for this position.
DEPARTMENT: CLASSIFICATION: HOURS OF WORK:
Engineering & Public Works Engineering Technician II 37.5 hrs/week
STATUS: UNION: WAGES:
Regular, Full-time CUPE Local 3052 $29.60/hr - $30.91/hr
Chetwynd is located in the foothills of the eastern slope of the Rocky Mountains in the Peace River area. Chetwynd is currently experiencing strong industrial growth. Excellent recreation facilities, a diversified economy and being rated as BC’s most livable small community make Chetwynd a great place to live and work.
Join us at the District of Chetwynd – we have an opening for a full-time Engineering Technician II position. This position performs a variety of administration and technical tasks involving water and sewer services, the public works department, drafting and surveying. This position will also be involved with other duties within the Engineering & Public Works department.
The successful candidate will have certification as a Technologist or a Technician with the Applied Science Technologists & Technicians of BC (ASTTBC), including drafting and surveying courses; be proficient with GIS software with a two year diploma in a related field; be proficient with the use of AutoCad drafting software; possess skills and practical experience as an engineering technician, surveyor and draftsman or equivalent combination of training and experience; have a valid Driver’s License (in BC a Class 5); and be physically capable of performing the work assigned. Preference will be given to candidates with strong computer skills (specifically with Microsoft Office programs including Word, Excel and Outlook) and to those with survey skills or experience.
We offer employees tremendous opportunities to apply and enhance their skills in a positive environment. If you are seeking a challenging and rewarding career opportunity, please submit your application by 4:30 p.m. on October 15, 2013 to:
We offer employees tremendous opportunities to apply and enhance their skills in a positive environment. If you are seeking a challenging and rewarding career opportunity, please submit your application by 4:30 p.m. on October 18, 2013 to:
Posted on September 27, 2013.
Posted on September 27, 2013.
Human Resources Officer, District of Chetwynd 5400 North Access Road, PO Box 357, Chetwynd, BC V0C 1J0 Fax No.: (250) 401-4101 Email: d-chet@gochetwynd.com
Human Resources Officer, District of Chetwynd 5400 North Access Road, PO Box 357, Chetwynd, BC V0C 1J0 Fax No.: (250) 401-4101 Email: d-chet@gochetwynd.com
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Fri day, October 11, 2013
CLASSIFIEDS
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C het w y nd Echo
Chetwynd Echo
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Big ones, small ones, we want to see them all!
Email your photos to production@chetwyndecho.net (don始t forget to include your name and where you took down your prize) and we始ll print them each week in our pages. Great for scrapbooking. And bragging rights.
250-788-2246 TELEPHONE HOURS
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FAX
250-788-9988 Attn: Classifieds
Box 750 Chetwynd BC V0C 1J0
EMAIL ADDRESS: sales@chetwyndecho.net
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ONE WEEK: 10 words, $6.50/week + HST
Additional words 11垄 each + HST TWO WEEKS: third week free THREE WEEKS: two extra weeks free
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You can email your digital pictures (JPEG) to the Chetwynd Echo or bring them to us to scan. Pictures are an additional $5.
We make every effort to avoid errors. Please check your ad the first day it appears. Allowances can only be made for one incorrect insertion. If you find an error contact us immediately at 250-788-2246. An adjustment will be made and your ad extended another week. The Publisher reserves the right to refuse, revise, clarify or reject an advertisement. All classifieds must be prepaid.
ADVERTISING REGULATIONS
The Chetwynd Echo reserves the right to classify ads under appropriate headlines and to set rates therefore and to determine page location. The Chetwynd Echo reserves the right to revise, edit classify or reject any advertisement and to retain any answers directed to the Chetwynd Echo. The Chetwynd Echo cannot be responsible for errors after the first publication of any advertisement. Notice of errors on the first day should immediately be called to the attention of the appropriate advertising department to be corrected in the next available edition. It is agreed by the advertiser requesting space that the liability of the Chetwynd Echo in the event of failure to publish an advertisement or in the event of an error appearing in the advertisement as published, shall be limited to the amount paid by the advertiser for only one incorrect insertion for the portion of the advertising space occupied by the incorrect or omitted item only, and that there shall be no liability to an event greater than the amount paid for such advertising. Advertisements must comply with the British Columbia Human Rights Act which prohibits any advertising that discriminates against any person because of race, religion, sex, color, nationality, ancestry or place or origin or because age is between 44 and 65 years unless the condition is justified by a bondable requirement for the work involved.
C het w y nd Echo
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B IR T H S P l ace your baby’s birth announcement in the Chetwynd Echo classifieds! Add a picture of your bundle of joy for $5. Or. . . for an extra $25, turn your announcem ent i nt o a full two column display ad! S O C I A L S E n g a g e m e n t s , An n i v ers ari es , Weddi ngs, Grads, Bi rt hdays. . . m ake t he announcem ent i n our classified section. $10 per photo and $6. 50 for the first 10 words. 11¢ each additional word. HELP WA N TED Heavy dut y bush m echani c requi red for l oggi ng com pany i n Chetwynd area. S ervice t ruck provi ded. 250788-1845 t wpowell@paulpaquette. com Hel p want ed! Make $1000 weekly mailing brochures from home. No experience required. S t art i m m edi at l ey. www. t hem ai l i nghub. co m
Help Wanted - local people needed. Simple & flexible online work. 100% genuine opportunity. F?T & P/T. Internet needed. Very easy. . . No experience required. Income is guaranteed. www. ezcomputerwork. co m
Drivers wanted AZ DZ 5, 3 or 1 with airbrakes. Guarant eed 40 hour weork week + overitme, pai d t ravel , l odgi ng, m eal al l owance, 4 weeks vacat i on/ excel l ent benefi t s package. Must be able to have extended stays away from hom e for three months at a time. Experience needed: valid AZ DZ 5, 3 or 1 with ai rbrakes, com m erci al dri vi ng experi ence. Appl y onl i ne at w w w. s p e r r y r a i l . c o m under careers, fas t TR AC K ap p l i cation.
Int eri or Heavy Equi pm ent Operat or S chool. No simulators. In t he seat t rai ni ng. Real world taks. Weekly start dates. Job board. F unding options. S ign up onl i ne. i heschool . com 1-866399-3853 P ER S ON A L True pychi cs. F or answers call now 24/7 t ol l free 1-877-3423032. Mobi l e #4486 www. truepsychics. ca
Local Hookups Browse4free 1-888-6286790 or #7878 Hot Local Chat 1-877-2900553 Mobi l e: #5015 F i nd your favouri t e! C all Now! 1-866-7320070 1-888-544-0199 18+
CLASSIFIEDS
F OR S A LE Hot Tub S pa C overs. Best price, best quality. Al l shpes & col ours available. C all 1-8666 5 2 - 6 8 3 7 . www. thecoverguy. com/n ewspaper
40x100 foot i nsul at ed t ent shop on l eased l and. F ul l power and heat. 14x16 front door. Great for trucks located i n Indust ri al park i n C het wynd. C al l R on 250-401-1653 But cher suppl i es, l eat her and C raf suppl i es and Ani m al C ontrol P roducts. Get your Halfords 16 page F R EE C ATALOG. 1800-353-7864 or email order@hal fordhi de. com . Vi si t our webst ore www. hal fordsm ai l order. com
S t eel bui l di ngs/ m et al buildings. Up to 60% off. 30x40, 40x60, 50x80, 60x100, 80x100 sell for balance owed. C al l 1-800-457-2206. www. crowns t eel bui l di n gs. ca F OR R EN T Of f i c e s p ac e f o r re n t upstairs in medical cent re bui l di ng. Approxi m at el y 12x12. Available immediately. Call 1-778-389-5100
Retirement apartments, al l i ncl usi ve. Meal s, t ransport at i on, act i vi ties dailiy. short leases. Monthly S pecials Call 877-210-4130
F or Rent in downtown C het wynd. 750square feet of offi ce space. 604-859-4766 or 604866-4766
Fri day, October 11, 2013
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In With the New.
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C het w y nd Echo
The western red cedar — Tall and strong. Home to birds, squirrels and insects. Loves the moist climate of BC. It’s lived here for hundreds of years. It should live for hundreds more. And not make way for a pipeline. 70% of the Northern Gateway Pipeline route will use previously disturbed land, like old forestry roads, cut blocks and other disturbances. We have planned the route to minimize tree removal where possible and we will work to avoid old growth forests.
Find out more at gatewayfacts.ca