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ECHO Gov’t appeal teacher’s ruling
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Year of the
Nominee
CELEBRATING 55 YEARS IN 2014
Tembec sold to Paper Excellence Canada
a press release Monday. "Resource industry jobs are good jobs." The sale of the Tembec mill to Paper Excellence Canada Holding Corpora-
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MIKE CARTER Chetwynd Echo Reporter –––––––––––––– CHETWYND – This Valentines Day: be sexy, be spontaneous, but be safe. That is the message the Chetwynd Harm Reduction Committee will be delivering through a unique campaign to raise awareness in the community about steps we can all take to reduce our chances of injury, illness and disease during highrisk activities. In the bathrooms of
Murray’s Pub, the Red Lion and the Royal Canadian Legion this Valentine’s weekend you will find free condom grams containing a condom, some lube and some candy. “Some people are embarrassed about going into places to get condoms so, if they're in the bathrooms than its discrete,” Chetwynd public health nurse Laura Gallacher said. “It will be cool because, I think people will go into the bathrooms and see them and they will bring them out
BY
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tion (PE) is expected to be complete in the spring of 2014. Following the sale the mill will start up again, creating 110 good jobs in the community. Unifor
was able to negotiate a new collective agreement with PE that approximates the industry pattern for wages and benefits. "BC's pulp industry has
been decimated by the BC Liberals. Hopefully, this will be an example for the industry to follow," said Doherty. Unifor has been assured that Paper Excellence is committed to running this mill, a welcomed change from Tembec's style. Unifor was founded Labour Day weekend 2013 when the Canadian Auto Workers and the Communications, Energy and Paperworkers unions merged. With more than 300,000 members, Unifor is Canada's largest union in the private sector. Unifor Communications Representative Ian Boyko could not be reached for further comment prior to press time.
Condom-grams to make an appearance in local bars this Valentine’s weekend
Bernier to V-Day speak after deals speech from Page 7 the throne Red Hot
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u P s ’ y a Murr
Unifor representatives say they are proud to get people back to File Photo work.
CHETWYND ECHO STAFF –––––––––––––– CHETWYND – Unifor Local 448 is celebrating the planned activation of the pulp mill in northern British Columbia town of Chetwynd. "We're proud to have been a part of the negotiations to get people back to work," said Scott Doherty, Unifor Western Director in
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Chetwynd pulp mill to re-open in spring
FEBRUARY 12, 2014
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and show their friends what they got.” A Northern Health Imagine grant, and Positive Living North supplied funding and support for the condom grams, Gallacher explains. The Chetwynd Harm reduction Committee is a new group that formed in late 2013. Similar groups have popped up across the province. They draw support from the Northern Health Authority and
Please see "CONDOM," page 2
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Bernier will make his speech today, Feb. 12, officially seconding the motion to accept the throne speech. “It's an amazing honour,” Bernier said. “After the house opens I have about a 3035 minute speech that I have to present on behalf of government seconding the speech from the throne. More importantly it gives me the opportunity to highlight and showcase what is happening in my region.”
Chetwynd Echo Reporter –––––––––––––– CHETWYND - South Peace MLA Mike Bernier got some big news late last week. The junior representative from Dawson Creek received a call from the premier’s office in Victoria, informing him that he would be the first member of the legislative assembly to speak following the speech from the throne that details the governments plan for the upcoming session, ending May 29. Please see "BERNIER," page 2
Dozens of ways to say
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BY MIKE CARTER
Look what’s in this weeks flyer at your local
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Wednesday, February 12, 2014
Chetwynd Echo
Bernier not sure when heĘźll be back in Chetwynd Continued from page 1
The appointment puts him in a high profile to start his second session sitting with the government. After the spring 2013 election, a rare summer session was held in which Bernier got his first taste of action within the provincial legislature. The 2014 speech from the throne, which was read by Lieutenant Governor Judith Guichon on Tuesday, Feb. 11., reiterated points from the first speech from the throne on last June. The Clark government, after twice watering down provisions in the balanced budget law to accommodate the provinces huge deficits, is claiming it will present a balanced budget. Finance minister Mike de Jong will present the budget next week, Feb. 18. During the June 2013 speech from the throne,
Bernier celebrated the fact that every discussion held about the development of the provinces natural resources was centered around northern BC, and most importantly, the South Peace. It is no secret that there are several liquefied natural gas terminals planned for the north coast of the province. If these projects do get approval, it is also no secret that it will be the shale gas basins in the north and the south peace that will be providing the resources for those ports to export. That means pipelines, and development. Speaking on anonymity, real estate experts peg the current combined population of Dawson Creek and Fort St. John at about 31,000. Those same housing investors predict that the population of these two cities combined will grow to 64,000 in the next six years.
Mike Bernier speaks in the house during the summer session of 2013. Bernier has been chosen by the Premier to stand before the house today and second the motion to accept the speech from the throne, made yesPhoto submitted terday, Feb. 11.
And that is what Bernier will likely talk about later today when he stands to speak to the rest of the house. “It gives me the opportu-
Central Mountain Air cuts flights from Dawson
ENERGETICCITY.CA –––––––––––––– Central Mountain Air cuts twice daily flights from Dawson Creek to Vancouver. In an announcement earlier this week, CMA said due to low ridership they have to cancel the new service. In November, CMA started flying twice a day to Vancouver from Dawson Creek. Central Mountain Air will still fly once a day to Vancouver. The expansion was the result of collaboration between the City of Dawson
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rounding areas. “I can’t give an exact date because I have also been asked to take over and help as much as I can with this Buy BC program and so, a lot of days that I am not going to be in session I am also going to be travelling around communities in northern BC talking about the opportunity with jobs and procurement with companies as we go forward with natural gas expansion.� Buy BC is a program that will try to make it possible for local service companies to be linked up with the large multi-national corporations coming into the region to explore LNG opportunities. “We can't tell a company who to hire. But we can go to them and say make sure that British Columbians the people and the companies – have been given an opportunity to at least bid on the jobs,� Bernier said.
Creek, the Dawson Creek & District Chamber of Commerce, Central Mountain Air and its partner Hawkair. The Chamber posted the following message on their Facebook page. “We are very disappointed as the Dawson Creek & District Chamber of Commerce and the City of Dawson Creek worked very hard to bring this service to our area. We appreciate the dedication of City and Airport Staff and look forward to working with them on new projects.� The change will take affect starting March1, 2014.
Members of the Chetwynd Harm Reduction Committee assemble the condom baskets last week. Clockwise, Cheryl Widdicombe, Julie Shaw, Jason Farquharson, Photo by Mike Carter Laura Gallacher and Nicole Peterson.
Condom campaign groupĘźs first initiative
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nity to highlight some of the things that are happening up in our region to the provincial audience.� He says he has no idea why he was given the ho-
nour of seconding the speech from the throne. “I have no idea,� he said. “I mean it’s a great honour to be high profile right at the beginning. It's always somebody from the government side of the house that is chosen to do this and it’s a tough decision because you look at anybody in that room and they would be able to do it.� CHETWYND MEETING Bernier was in Chetwynd Thursday, Feb. 6 to meet with constituents and hear any concerns. He met with just three people, however he declined to say what was discussed citing it was “personal.� The opening of the office and the commitment to be there to hear concerns was a promise Bernier made during the last election. However, Bernier is not yet sure when he will be back to the office to hear from residents in Chetwynd and the sur-
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other organizations like the British Columbia Centre for Disease Control. The condom-gram campaign is the first initiative the group will be bringing to the community. Right now, they are really in the beginning stages of assessing the needs in the community and figuring out what kind of services they could provide. “Currently at the Library and the Tansi Friendship Centre, they do hand out condoms and at the health clinic. We are just making this available free for the whole community,� said Julie Shaw, Healthy Communities Coordinator with the District of Chetwynd and member of the Harm Reduction Society. But the group doesn’t exist solely to promote the benefits of practicing safe sex. Harm reduction aims to keep people safe and minimize death, disease and injury from high-risk behavior. That could be anything from wearing a hel-
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met while skating or riding your bike to the responsible use of alcohol, and everything in between. The provincial goal for BC Centre for Disease Control harm reduction covers a wide range, and includes increasing activities to reduce stigma and discrimination against people who use drugs, and raise public awareness and understanding of harm reduction principles, policies and programs among professionals in the health, social and criminal justice systems, officials in all levels of government and the general public. The Chetwynd committee will have a booth at the upcoming trade show March 28-30. “We're going to have hopefully a questionnaire done up and then once they fill out the questionnaire they can enter a prize draw,� Gallacher said. “Do you know what harm reduction is? What kind of things do you know of in town that are available... that kind of thing is what we are aiming for. It's assessment of the needs of the community.�
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Christy Clark’s government plans to appeal BC teachers court ruling
Wednesday, February 12, 2014
Chetwynd Echo
3
Contract negotiations continue, but a 2014 BC teachers strike is still possible
and in the court ruling, Justice Griffin said the 2012 law was “virtually identical” to the one previously struck down by the court. She made the decision after examining cabinet documents which are not being released to the public. Under the law they are confidential, but the judge has the power to order the government to hand them over. The New Democrats called for the government to release the cabinet documents related to the negotiations so that the public could see if Clark herself was involved in the decisions that the judge ruled were made to provoke a strike. NDP education critic Rob Fleming said the government is going on the attack when it should be seeking peace in negotiations and working with teachers instead of fighting their constitutional bargaining rights. “They have been found by the court to have essentially conspired against the union to provoke a strike,” Fleming said. “Those aren’t the NDP’s words, those are the judge’s. And [the government was found] to have engaged in unconstitutional law making, abusing the legislative assembly essentially.” Education minister Peter Fassbender preferred to leave detailed responses on the government’s decision to appeal to lawyers, but in an interview with the Canadian Press, he did say he wanted to “correct” the perception that the province attempted to incite a teachers strike. “This government’s policy is not to provoke disruptions and disunity – it’s about collaboration and cooperation,” he said. On Feb. 4, the BC School Trustees Association said in a statement that it would consult independ-
Peace River Teachers marched in protest through the downtown in Chetwynd on March 9 2012.
MacKAY
ent legal counsel about the government’s decision to appeal and share the results with boards of education around the province. The association said boards of education need clarification about their obligations over local class size and composition. BC Teachers Federation president Jim Iker said the government’s decision to appeal the court ruling was disappointing, but predictable. “It’s about priorities,” he said. “It’s about determining what is important. [We think] our students are important. I want to believe that [minister Fassbender] wants to come to the table and negotiate in good faith, but he’s also part of a government that has broken the law twice.” Peace River South Teachers Association (PRSTA) president Lorraine MacKay said the govern-
ment has a choice, they can continue to fight with teachers or they can work with teachers to find a solution and work towards a new collective agreement. The last agreement expired June 30, 2013. Teachers and parents want to avoid another strike, like the one in 2012. “The government has to make a decision and the decision is whether they are going to rebuild the education system and follow the directions of the court or whether they are going to continue to fight with teachers and underfund education,” MacKay said in an interview. “The teachers are impacted as well, but the true impact hurts the kids because they are not receiving the services that kids all across Canada are re-
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because we are a rich province - rich in resources. It's really unfortunate that our kids are suffering as a result of that provincial decision.” MacKay added, “They have a choice and what they should be doing is looking at funding our students who are going to be our future citizens who will contribute to our economy and to our province.” The government is saying it will announce a “balanced budget” on Feb. 18 as the first session of the 40th parliament gets underway. BCTF president Jim Iker hinted that a balanced budget could mean the underfunding of the public education system will continue.
FASSBENDER
ceiving. They have to consider that BC students have actually about $1000 less per student in the education system in BC. The only province that has less funding is Prince Edward Island. All the other provinces have a higher With files from the Canalevel of funding than BC does, which is unfortunate dian Press.
DAWSON CREEK/CHETWYND AREA TRANSMISSION PROJECT CONSTRUCTION Public Safety Notice—Foundation Anchors in Transmission Right-of-Way Construction of the Dawson Creek/Chetwynd Area Transmission (DCAT) Project is underway. Over the next few months, crews will be installing foundation anchors in the cleared transmission line right-of-way. The foundation anchors are clusters of large metal pipes sticking out of the ground between two feet and five feet from the ground. These anchors will be marked with flags and temporary fencing, but with snow and wind these markings may not always be visible. Please use extra care when traveling on snow machines around rightof-way areas as foundation anchors pose a public safety hazard and may not be visible when covered in snow.
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The DCAT project will help meet the rapidly increasing need for electricity in the South Peace region. The project includes a new 230 kilovolt, double circuit transmission line that will be installed between the new Sundance and Dawson Creek substations. For more information on the project please visit: bchydro.com/dcat. If you have any questions, please contact BC Hydro stakeholder engagement: 1 866 647 3334 or send an email to stakeholderengagement@bchydro.com.
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MIKE CARTER Chetwynd Echo Reporter –––––––––––––– VICTORIA – Christy Clark’s government plans to seek an appeal on a court decision that concluded the province violated the bargaining rights of teachers and attempted to provoke a strike. The decision to appeal will effect ongoing contract negotiations, the opposition New Democrats have said. Last week, unions representing the government employers and the teachers had set bargaining dates but, they were then delayed until later this week. The government said with this latest news of the ruling and their decision to appeal, that it would like to have a facilitator at the table. Mark Brown was appointed and will be available for bargaining talks this week, later this month and in March. Education Minister Peter Fassbender announced Feb. 4 that his government will appeal a late January court ruling that awarded the BC Teachers Federation $2-million and struck down a law related to their collective agreement. He insisted the prolonged court battle wouldn’t impose on contract negotiations with teachers. “I’m not declaring war,” Fassbender told the Canadian Press last week. “The premier is clear: we want to work together. We want to find a solution.” The late January ruling from Justice Susan Griffin ruled that legislation introduced in 2012 that removed class size and composition from contract negotiations was unconstitutional. The law was introduced during heated negotiations with teachers in 2012. A very similar law was struck down a year earlier, BY
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Wednesday, February 12, 2014
Chetwynd Echo
Liquor changes are a refreshing break
H
ere's one way to judge whether the big liquorpolicy reform will be an Vancouver overall benefit to B.C. Courier Picture all the changes in place - relaxed licences, freedom to move around holding a drink, more hard liquor at public events, happy hours. Then imagine the Vancouver Canucks losing Game 7 of the Stanley Cup finals at home. Would there be a disgusting descent into madness by thousands of drunken goons, like last time? Or would presuming people are responsible adults become a self-fulfilling prophecy, easing the threat of a mass meltdown of civility? Most would pick the first scenario as more likely. Booze plus huge, excited crowds equals trouble. More booze, more easily available equals more trouble. It takes an optimistic person with a sunny outlook on human behaviour to imagine that relaxing liquor laws would improve 100,000 surly hockey fans' dispositions after a big loss. So the Liberals are rolling the dice with the changes confirmed Friday. But that gamble will only come up very occasionally. Riots like the Stanley Cup one are few and far between. In routine daily life, the changes will be a refreshing break from the institutionalized headaches that current liquor policy creates. Special-occasion licences are one example where common sense appears to have broken out. The government issues 25,000 a year, for everything from weddings to sports tournaments. Applicants have to apply at a government liquor store, then go to the police station to get their approval. Some then have to go to city hall, then back to the liquor store to pick up the licence and the booze. You can't legally serve homemade beer or wine at the event. And if it's a multi-day, multi-venue event - like the Okanagan Wine Festival - organizers need SOLs for every event, on every day. The changes include an online application process and one annual SOL for outfits that hold more than one event a year. Big events will require only one licence. Police will have to be notified, but won't likely play much of a role in approvals. The regulation that requires non-profits to apply for licences for concerts and events will be removed, so the promoter who manages the event will be responsible for the licence. Hobby brewers and vintners can get SOLs to host competition events, allowing their products to be sampled by judges and the public. The most obvious change is that the practice of herding drinkers into corrals at special occasion-licensed events will be dropped. Drinking will be allowed over the whole site. No more beer gardens. One of the thousands of submissions to the review said: "Fenced in, blocked off beer tents are mocked by tourists and rightfully so. They imply that residents are not to be trusted and need to be kept penned up. We can be trusted, I promise." The new regime will likely work well day-to-day. But brace yourself if it gets out of hand during the playoffs.
Guest Editorial
LETTERS TO THE EDITOR
Make the wise decision come byelection time To the Editor: There is a relentless attack on farmers, ranchers and rural land and property owners. The latest is a motion put forward to give PRRD directors more control over the rural residents and farmers of the area. The latest motion in this direction was seconded by Chetwynd’s Mayor, Merlin Nichols. Are these City Directors in any position to make good or wise decisions for farmers or rural people? The answer is no!! These Mayors and City Directors are simply on a paid trip!! They want to have their nose in everybody’s business. Their motives are much less than fair. The question is who is goading them on this course of action. What corporate schemers are behind them?
We have a new schemer coming to the board of directors in Area D. The Area was vacated by former Area Director Mr. Wayne Heibert. His substitute, a man with the same last name is now the interim Director until the election is held on February 22 2014. A former member of City Council and Acting Mayor of Dawson Creek has put his name in the ballot box. This man is a strong proponent of bylaw 1996 2011. Somewhat convenient wouldn’t you say? He makes the statement “I can deal with the Government officials and M.L.A.s etc. He states that he will do what’s best for the people. If you will notice he did not state his ability to work with the farmers and rural people. What does he mean, he will do what is good for
the people??? In who’s opinion, his own? On the other hand the replacement, Director Mr. Heibert is by all appearances an honest and decent man. He may not be polished in his speech or may not be able to hold his own with a seasoned politician in political rhetoric or verbal sluicing but is genuinely on side with his constituents. Isn’t that the kind of person you want in this position? Do you want another smooth talking, oily, typical politician as a director?? Or do you want someone who is genuinely concerned with the well being of his constituents? You will have to live with the results!! Make the wise decision!!!
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Published each Wednesday by Draper & Dobie Company Inc. P.O Box 750 • 5016 50th Ave. Chetwynd, BC • V0C 1J0
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Wednesday, February 12, 2014
Chetwynd Echo
5
How does PRRD and Chetwynd work together? The Mayor’s Report
T
with Merlin Nichols
he relationship between the District of Chetwynd and the Peace River Regional District is probably a little vague to most of the intown dwellers. As it should be. Much activity out in the boonies goes on without your notice. That said, I don’t want you to suppose that what happens out there doesn’t matter. It matters a lot and the PRRD Board and Administration are working hard to make things work
in the best interest of all of us. Given the controversy that raged for months over the building bylaw, you might be forgiven for thinking that the allegations flying about were true. I’ll forgive you. Not to say that some mistakes were not made (I haven’t met any super humans in the Board or Administration), but nothing was done with malicious intent and, in the end, those who don’t want and those who do want have their needs met. In a democratic society it is not the majority who must always get its way. Solutions must always be found for accommodating the legitimate needs of minorities. For now we have
If you happen to live on an acreage where you have the freedom to feed your chicks and tickle your piggy every morning...
a workable solution. No doubt improvements to the means will come to light in months and years ahead. That’s why a Board always endeavours to engage the services of the
a serious health issue
T
Chiro Health
most experienced, intelligent, and honest Administration as we have. With that episode behind us we are now free to get on with the business at hand. For some reason, the most popular business in the Regional District has to do with land-use issues. Next to bylaws, land use probably carries the greatest potential for dispute – between neighbours, between developers and the PRRD, between land owners who want to keep the status quo and those who seek financial opportunity in change. Through developing comprehensive Official Community Plans, zoning and building regulations, and, dare I use the word,
bylaws, the PRRD seeks to serve as far as possible the best interests of all area residents. A daunting task! There is a significant working relationship between the PRRD and the District of Chetwynd. The PRRD owns a number of facilities within town and funds others. This means that if you happen to live on an acreage where you have the freedom to feed your chicks and tickle your piggy every morning before work you are also contributing through your taxes to facilities within town – that you might never use. Sorry; that’s life in century 21. But it’s appreciated in town. A good relationship example is the Chetwynd
“The Ministry of Children and Family Development didn’t act.” - BC Representative for Children and Youth Mary Ellen Turpel-Lafond
and District Recreation Centre. Owned by the Peace River Regional District, managed by the District of Chetwynd, and funded by everyone even if everyone doesn’t use it. It’s a magnificent facility. If you haven’t dipped in its pool, tested its weights, bladed its ice, or swept before the rock, you owe yourself a treat. Test it out. Other very important areas of overlapping interest include the Fire Department, Cemetery, Landfill, and Museum. Try living or dying without those services.
Disclaimer: The preceding is the opinion of Mayor Merlin Nichols and may or may not reflect the views and/or wishes of council.
EEK
QUOTE OF W
with Dr. Gary Squires
he 21st century is being shaped by drastic changes in technology. Even in the last five years, the percentage of Canadians using smart phones as a major communication and information tool has risen sharply. Although these gadgets can make simple, everyday tasks easier and quicker they do come with their drawbacks. The most obvious being the amount of time we dedicate to these technological marvels. More and more people are finding themselves playing games, texting, using apps and surfing the web, often losing track of time. Add this to the increasing number of hours sitting at a computer desk for work or school, driving, eating meals and “relaxing” at the end of the day – it adds up quickly. Current research is showing that prolonged sitting on a regular basis is a strong risk factor for a variety of chronic diseases. Previous studies have shown links between prolonged sitting and the risk of heart attack, stroke and a variety of metabolic syndromes. A study published in the Archives of Internal Medicine in 2012 looked at the correlation between the amount of time spent sitting and the risk of mortality. This study was unique in that it gathered information from over 220,000 subjects and the results were quite startling; the most important finding was that sitting for 11 or more hours each day increased the risk of death by 40 per cent compared to sitting less. Now, lets stop and think
Previous studies have shown links between prolonged sitting and the risk of heart attack, stroke and a variMetro photo ety of metabolic syndromes.
about that for a second. Eleven hours may sound like a lot of sitting, but when you take into consideration the eight hour (or more) work days, driving to/from work, meals, reading or watching tv, etc, you see that it’s not that far fetched. Also interesting was that the results were independent of the subjects’ activity levels. In other words, you may still be at a higher risk of mortality even if you are a highly active individual. Another study published in 2011 in the Journal of the American College of Cardiology compared groups sitting down to watch television less than two hours per day with those watching more than four hours per day. They reported a 48 per cent increased risk of mortality and a 125 per cent increased risk of cardiovascular disease events in the group sitting and watching more than four hours per day. I don’t think it comes as any surprise that sitting too long is not good for our health. What theses two newer studies do show, however, is the magnitude of the effects of living this sedentary lifestyle. As mentioned earlier, the results were also independent of the amount of physical activ-
Everybody should still be getting a minimum of 2.5 hours of moderate - vigorous exercise per week.
ity (aerobic exercise) performed during the week. Of course everybody should still be getting a minimum of 2.5 hours of moderate-vigorous exercise per week (no, this does not include “being on your feet all day at work”). However, we must now also be conscious of how we are physically spending the rest of our days. Some tips for those whose routines rely on sitting: take “micro-breaks” every half-hour, getting up from your seat and walking or stretching for one to two minutes; if possible, use a convertible work station that allows you to stand; make time to exercise at the end of the work day or during lunch break. Small daily changes can have big impacts on your health.
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Chetwynd Echo 5016 50th Ave • 250 788 2246 www.chetwyndecho.net
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
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Wednesday, February 12, 2014
Chetwynd Echo
BC Emergency Health Services briefing municipalities on changes service dispatch
MIKE CARTER Chetwynd Echo Reporter –––––––––––––– CHETWYND – Changes to the way ambulances and first responders are dispatched faced criticism this week from some BC municipalities, prompting the BC Emergency Health Services (BCEHS) to reach out to communities asking if they would like to meet to be briefed on the way these changes would impact them. There is no word yet from District of Chetwynd council on whether or not they will be requesting such a meeting. BY
After a review of the system, president Michael MacDougall announced changes to the health services Resource Allocation Plan in November 2013. Since then, some municipalities have spoken out against the changes fearing that they would cause delays in the dispatch of ambulances and increase demand for fire services to attend emergency calls and remain at them for extended periods of time. Others have said the changes are an attempt to reduce calls made by the BC Ambulance Service (BCAS) by offloading
calls to fire departments. Chetwynd Fire Chief Leo Sabulsky and Mayor Merlin Nichols did not respond to a request for comment by press time. “The evidence-based review was undertaken to ensure that the right resource, responds to the right patient, at the right time and the public isn’t exposed to unnecessary risk,” BCEHS board chair Wynne Powell wrote in a letter to Chetwynd mayor and council. The results of the review reduced the number of call types requiring lights and siren re-
sponse and the need for advanced life support ambulances to attend. The review also found that first responders were not required to attend 35 per cent of the medical calls that they were notified of by BCAS because the patients do not require their medical services. “Additionally,” Powell wrote, “if a first responder is assigned to a lower priority medical call, there is an increased risk that they are not available to respond to calls of a critical nature where they can have the greatest impact on a patient’s
outcome.” The changes have already been implemented. But in response to the concerns they have received from municipalities all across the province, the BCEHS has taken a step back and is looking to communities for guidance on how to proceed. BCEHS has already met and consulted with several delegates at the Union of British Columbia Municipalities convention last September, the Fire Chief’s Association of BC, and the Greater Vancouver Fire Chiefs Association.
Chetwynd provides $1,000 Grant-in-Aid to "Hungry For Your Ideas" dinner series
MIKE CARTER Chetwynd Echo Reporter –––––––––––––– CHETWYND – The District of Chetwynd announced it will be providing a $1,000 Grantin-Aid to support a second series of “Hungry for Your Ideas” dinners. The “Hungry for Your Ideas” initiative is aimed at actively engaging youth and the community in the planning and decision making process, resulting in a unique way to implement community initiatives that will encourage active and healthy lifestyles. BY
Community groups present their ideas at the dinners for a chance to win a $500 grant. For the cost of five dollars, participants at the event are fed, and are given a chance to vote on what they think is the best idea. Four dinners were hosted last year with the help of various community sponsors, including the Chetwynd Internet Bistro, the Society for Community Living, and others. The first meal of 2014 will be held Feb. 23 at a yet to be determined location.
The dinners will be held on the last Sunday of the month in February, April, September and November. The challenge is now out to the community to come up with a project that will focus on health and wellness by promoting healthy lifestyles in the community. The deadline for submitting ideas is one week before the meal, meaning that February’s deadline will be Feb, 16. An evaluation team will select four ideas to advance to presentations at the dinner. Winning ideas are required to report back to the
community at the next Hungry For your Ideas meal. Forty five people attended the first meal, while about 30 attended the second. The third was held in Moberly Lake with only about 13 attending and 52 attended the fourth and final dinner on Sunday Nov. 24. Each meal had two winners. Initiatives that have been funded by the meals include the Little Prairie Elementary outdoor classroom, Zumba in the Park for Canada Day, Art for Health, the Chetwynd Secondary School “Me to
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We” group, yoga programs at CSS, Windrem Elementary “Helmets for Health” and Don Titus Elementary indoor garden “growing lab” designed for classroom use. Organizer Marcie Fofonoff said last year that the dinners have all been extremely successful. In addition to the funding from the District of Chetwynd to support the groceries for the dinner, Hungry for You Ideas has received $2000 from the Chetwynd Social Planning Society (Sukunka Group) for the four $500 prizes. To date the District of
Chetwynd has given out $72,828 of their $77,850 Grants-in-Aid budget. In 2013 the largest recipients were the Chetwynd Chamber of Commerce ($25,682) and a $22,000 “recreation grant”. The Chetwynd Community Arts Council received $4,000 in 2013 and a $1000 bursary was given to the Chetwynd Secondary School. For more information contact Marcie Fofonoff at marciefof06@gmail.com. The first meal of this series will be held on Feb. 23 at the Chetwynd Public Library Bistro.
At a Glance
2013 District of Chetwynd Grants•in•Aid
PROGRAMS • Chetwynd Chamber of Commerce: $25,682 • Recreation Grant: $22,000 • Community Arts Council: $4,000 • Chetwynd Secondary Bursary: $1,000 • RCMP Crime Stoppers; $506 • On Our Way Home Society: $750 • Chetwynd Social Planning Society (Circus North): $2,000 • Saulteau Rodeo Club (Dance Sponsorship): $1,000 • Chetwynd Fire Department (Canada Day): $1,000 • Royal Canadian Legion (Legion Bus, Remembrance Day): $2,065 TRAVEL GRANTS • Edge Ladies Slo Pitch Team (Nationals): $750 • Chetwynd Secondary School Golf (Provincials): $400 • CSS Girls Volleyball (Provincials): $400 • CSS Girls Volleyball (Nationals): $750 • BC Junior High School Rodeo (Nationals): $375 • Pine Valley Seniors (Provincial): $400 • Chetwynd Electric Eels Swimming Club (Provincial): $800
Wednesday, February 12, 2014
Chetwynd Echo
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Wednesday, February 12, 2014
Chetwynd Echo
Slopes for Hope; Canadian Cancer Society event to be held in March at Powder King The challenge is on to all Chetwyndites and those beyond: Can you ski the height of Everest?
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BY MIKE CARTER Chetwynd Echo Reporter –––––––––––––– CHETWYND – The Canadian Cancer Society has high hopes for the Powder King slopes. A new annual spring festival is about to dawn on the “Whisper of the North”. The first ever “Slopes for Hope” will take place March 22, 2014 and will feature a family festival atmosphere. The purpose of the event is to raise funds to assist the Canadian Cancer Society in the pursuit of their mission to eradicate cancer and enhance the quality of life for those living with the disease. “The Canadian Cancer Society is thrilled to be partnering with powder King for the first ever northern Slopes for Hope,” said the society’s regional health promotion coordinator Kerensa Medhurst. Because of its location, organizers are hoping to draw participants from Prince George and across the north. “We are hoping people will come from communities across the north to participate in this great event.” Prince George’s Ruckus Skis Boards and Bikes and Northland Nissan are sponsoring the event. The main event will be the “Ski Everest” challenge. The goal for participants is to make their way down the ski hill as many times as it would take to
This is the first time PowderKing has hosted this event. Organizers say Photo submitted the day long event will be a family atmosphere.
cover the vertical height of Mount Everest. There will be different levels for kids, adults and the real ski fanatics. Money will be raised through participant fundraising. Participants are asked to raise a minimum of $100 in advance pledges, and in exchange they will be charged a nominal registration fee and will receive half-price lift tickets for the entire day. While skiers are making their way up and down the hill, a number of family events will happen at the base of the hill. There will also be an opening breakfast, live entertain-
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ment to-be-determined, a barbeque dinner and a pub night. “Powder King is excited to be teaming up with the Canadian Cancer Society to host this event,” said Adrianne Johnston, Marketing manager for the resort. “Powder King is expecting Slopes for Hope to become an annual event, with a growing number of participants each year.” The Society estimates in 2014, almost 24,000 British Columbians will be diagnosed with cancer. Funds raised at this event help the Canadian Cancer Society to invest in cancer research, and pro-
vide support for their ongoing advocacy programs to promote healthier environments and help individuals reduce their risks of cancer. With this funding, the society will also continue to provide support programs for people living with cancer, including family members and caregivers. “It’s going to be a fun day,” Medhurst exclaimed. “Participants can register as individuals or teams. We encourage fun costumes and themes. We are super excited about this amazing event. People can do what they love for a good cause.”
MIKE CARTER Chetwynd Echo Reporter –––––––––––––– FORT ST. JOHN – The Chetwynd 3NV Midget Giants hockey club took home second place at the Fort St. John Midget Rep Flyers tournament this past weekend, Feb. 8-9. The six-team tournament saw the host Fort St. John Flyers finish dead last. Both Chetwynd and Sexsmith were tied for first place after the three-game round robin, sending them to the final. The first of three round robin games got under way Friday night versus the team from Hobbema, Alberta. Goalie Brice Vossler played the entire game. Liam Beattie tied the game up for the Giants midway through the first period after Hobbema jumped out to an early 1-0 lead. In the second, Cordell Llewellyn and Kain McMaster scored two goals that bookended a goal from Hobbema’s George Montout. After two, the Giants led 3-2. The giants struck early and often in the third period, with Casey Norris opening the scoring under ten seconds in. Liam Beattie added another, Cordell
Llewellyn scored two to complete his first hat trick of the year and Regin Walker added some insurance as the Giants went on to a convincing 8-2 victory. The second round robin game Saturday night was against Sexsmith, a team the Giants would later face in the final. Reilly ElderCherry played the entire game in the net for the Black and Red. The Giants looked like they were going to run away with the game when after the first period of play, they were up 3-0 on two goals from Colton Golder and a third by Jeremy Franklin. But, in the second period the game got a little closer as Justin Faucher and Casey Moskalyk scored from Sexsmith, making it 3-2. Kain McMaster restored the two-goal lead for the Giants not long after this but Moskalyk added another goal, to make it 4-3. Less than five minutes after the team from Sexsmith tied the game up, and that is how it would end, 4-4. The Giants took out some pent up frustration on Midget “B” team from Grande Prairie earlier in
Giants take second in FSJ tourney BY
Please see "CHETWYND," page 9
Chetwynd is in third place
Wednesday, February 12, 2014
Chetwynd Echo
Continued from page 1
the day on Saturday, beating them handedly, 9-0. It was the Jason Kearns, Liam Beattie show with Kain McMaster in a supporting role. Kearns scored a hat trick and Liam Beattie had four goals. Cordell Llewellyn and Ross McMeekin added some secondary scoring. Kain McMaster had three assists. Beattie finished the game with seven points in total, Kearns with four. The final was held Sunday at the Pomeroy Sports Centre in Fort. St. John between Sexsmith and Chetwynd. Both Giants goalies saw action, as Brice Vossler came in to replace Reilly ElderCherry in the third period. Jason Kearns got thing started with a goal at the 13:44 mark of the first period. Sexsmith’s Casey Moskalyk quickly responded to tie it up. Before the period was over, Regin Walker netted a goal and the
Giants carried a 2-1 lead into the second. It was all Sexsmith after that, as they scored three in the second and one in the third to take the championship 5-2. Final Standings were as follows: First Sexsmith; second Chetwynd; third Hobema; fourth Wembley; fifth Grande Prairie; sixth Fort St John. The Giants have a big home game weekend coming up, with three games at the Chetwynd and District Recreation Centre arena. These games will be huge for the Giants. All three games are the last regular season games of the All Peace Hockey League’s season. The will determine the final placement for the APHL playoffs. Only the top four midget Tier 1 teams will make the playoffs. Chetwynd currently sits in third. Here is the weekend schedule: Friday, Feb 14 at 8 pm vs Dawson Creek; Saturday, Feb 15 at 6 pm vs Peace River; Sunday, Feb 16 at 1:30 pm vs Grande Prairie.
Healthy snacking
Metro Editorial –––––––––––––– Medical professionals often warn that snack foods can be unhealthy, upsetting dieting plans and causing a person to consume more calories than is recommended. While a number of snack foods, particularly snacks that are laden with saturated fats, sodium and many calories, can be detrimental to your health, there are plenty of healthy snacks available to men and women who know where to look. "Self" magazine reports Americans consume 26 percent of their calories at times other than breakfast, lunch and dinner. Many fitness plans actually recommend regular snacking as part of a "grazing" mentality. Grazing, or eating several small meals per day rather than three large ones, can help keep metabolism primed and ready to burn calories. Grazing also enables a person to avoid overeating at any particular meal. But grazing on the wrong foods can be counterproductive. That's why selecting the right snacks is important. * Aim for snacks that are
Introducing your cyberlink to the
100 calories or less. Onehundred calorie snacks can help you fill you up and stave off hunger pangs. While there are plenty of prepackaged 100-calorie snacks available, you can easily make your own snack packs by being conscious of nutrition labels. Measure serving sizes of healthy foods into separate containers so you're less likely to eat more than is necessary. * Fill up on fruits and vegetables. Produce can make a healthy snack because it is generally low in calories, which means portion sizes will be larger than other high-calorie foods. Many fruits and vegetables are packed with vitamins and other nutrients, which are needed to keep a body healthy. Many also make good sources of fiber, which can help you feel satiated longer between meals. * Choose foods with healthy fats. Not all fats are bad. Monounsaturated and polyunsaturated fats lower total cholesterol and bad cholesterol in the blood. Sources of good fats include nuts, olive oil, avocado, salmon, soy, and sunflower oil. Skip foods
that have high levels of saturated fats, which are mainly found in animal products. Trans fats are perhaps the worst fats to eat, as they are produced by hydrogenation to give them a longer shelf life. Avoid foods that contain hydrogenized oils. * Opt for snacks that mimic the texture of unhealthy snacks. Sometimes you may crave something crunchy or a particular comfort food. Choose a crunchy whole grain cereal over potato chips. If you desire a cool, creamy treat, frozen yogurt has much fewer calories than ice cream. * Pack on the lean protein. Lean sources of protein, such as slices of turkey, egg whites and soybeans, will fill you up and keep you feeling full longer than many carbohydrates. A snack of sushi can fill you up quickly. One piece of aCalifornia roll is just 30 calories and has less than a gram of fat. * Keep healthy snacks handy. Always have a bag of healthy snacks handy in the event you get hungry. This way you avoid a trip through the drivethru or a pit stop for a doughnut or another snack.
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PUBLIC NOTICE
Parcel Tax Roll Review
TAKE NOTICE THAT pursuant to section 204 of the Community Charter, the Parcel Tax Roll Review Panel appointed to consider and review complaints respecting the Water and Sewer Parcel Tax Rolls will be held on Monday, February 17, 2014 at 2:30 p.m., in the Council Chambers, District Office, 5400 North Access Road, Chetwynd, B.C. The Panel will review the Parcel Tax Rolls prepared for the following bylaws: (a) (b)
District of Chetwynd Water Parcel Tax Bylaw No. 975, 2012; and District of Chetwynd Sewer Parcel Tax Bylaw No. 976, 2012.
A property owner may make a complaint only on the grounds of an error or omission in the rolls. A complaint shall not be heard by the Parcel Tax Roll Review Panel unless written notice of the complaint has been made to the Director of Financial Administration, PO Box 357, Chetwynd, BC, V0C 1J0 or by e-mail to d-chet@gochetwynd.com at least 48 hours prior to the time appointed for the Parcel Tax Roll Review Panel (2:30 pm, February 17, 2014). The Panel shall hear complaints respecting the rolls on one or more of the following grounds: (a) (b) (c) (d)
there is an error or omission respecting a name or address on the parcel tax roll; there is an error or omission respecting the inclusion of a parcel; there is an error or omission respecting the taxable area of a parcel; an exemption has been improperly allowed or disallowed.
If no complaints are received, the Parcel Tax Rolls will be considered to be authenticated.
The Parcel Tax Roll is available for inspection at the District Office, 5400 North Access Road, Chetwynd, BC, during regular office hours, for at least ten days immediately preceding the day appointed for the first sitting of the Parcel Tax Roll Review Panel. Any questions regarding the above information or in relation to the complaint process should be directed to W.J. (Bill) Caldwell, Director of Financial Administration, at 250-401-4106. Carol Newsom Director of Corporate Administration
10
Wednesday, February 12, 2014
Chetwynd Echo
Latest production feeds high school drama students appetite for acting
MIKE CARTER Chetwynd Echo Reporter –––––––––––––– CHETWYND - This past week spelled success with a capital “S” for the Chetwynd Players Drama Club and the Chetwynd Secondary School. The team, along with proud director/producer Gus Ruiter, pulled off a successful production of Nancy Manera and Simon J. Donoghue’s full-length play, “Mixed Nuts”. Ruiter could not have been happier with the way his six actors, Shyanne Davis, Shanaia Davis, Jayme Fournier, Kayla Sanford, Trisha Fournier and Robert Rashke, pulled this performance off. The school has had the club on and off over the years as enrollment has allowed. Two showings were held last week on Tuesday and Wednesday evening. “We didn’t have a lot of people come to the first show, I think possibly because of a need for a bit more advertising but we'll chalk that up to a learning curve for next year,” said Ruiter, who is an English teacher at the school in addition to his role as director/producer. It was a near packed house for the second night, he says. Admission was by donation and the group was able to raise $240 that they are hoping to use to purchase a new curtain for their stage. “For me it was really rewarding to see how the students kind of grew in their confidence levels between the first show and the second show. I cerBY
CS S ’ Mixe d Nuts
Michael (played by Trisha Fournier) and his alter ego Mike (played by Robert Rashke) tackle this complex charPhoto by Mike Carter acter’s battle with bashfulness and his will to succeed as a writer in New York City. tainly noticed that the students were much more confident [the second show] and it was really gratifying to see how they really stepped up, took a few more risks.... and I heard a lot of positive feedback from parents and from people that attended the play so that was really rewarding as well.” The play was a comedy that explores the pressures of family and finance, artistry and agony, in one young man's struggle to make it on his own despite the antics of his rather nutty friends. It deals with some very human themes. A writer,
It was really rewarding to see how the students kind of grew in their confidence RUITER
travels to New York from Dayton, Ohio to make it big in sin city. Ruiter says it details the main characters battle with some im-
portant questions. In a city that is constantly dragging you down, is it possible for an artist to succeed? Through all the insur-
ELLA MCMILLIAN, LITTLE PRAIRIE ELEMENTARY "I read The Lucky Skates. It was a good book to read and relax with."
KIEFER KROEKER WINDREM ELEMENTARY
mountable odds, and constant work interruptions from crazy neighbours, is it possible for this artist to believe in himself and make it big? Themes of betrayal, and love also permeate the script. The script offered a lot of opportunity for the young actors to explore different roles. It has become clear to Ruiter that there is a clear ambition within the group to keep the club active, and that is good news for this English teacher. “Typically we tend to skip over drama as it serves that little sprinkle that we add to
the curriculum and I think it's really an opportunity for hands on learning for kids,” Ruiter said. “Students get to step out of their shell and really take on a persona that can really be useful for students in their growth as young adults, they really develop confidence and experience in different kinds of roles.” The Chetwynd Players Drama Club is hoping now to plan a trip to Grande Prairie in March for a unique event hosted by the Grande Prairie Regional College. The event, to be held March 1, is called the “Play in a Day Challenge”. It forces budding actors and their directors to write, direct, rehearse and perform a 10-minute play in just 24 hours. “After the second show I mentioned it to the kids and to my surprise they were asking, ‘what play are we going to submit?’ I was just thinking of taking them as spectators but now they are already thinking about making their own play.” Ruiter, in his first year as director after previously serving as assistant director, says putting on this production was both a rewarding experience for himself and a chance for the actors to grow personally and professionally. “I was laughing and I was having fun, because we are all trying to work hard to better ourselves as actors and as directors. You want to give more when they are giving more. That growth is on a personal level but also on a professional level for them as actors.”
The Amazing Book Challenge: Week 2
ANNA HUDSON, PEACE CHRISTIAN GRADE 6
I like reading Dear Canada books because I learn what happened in the past.
DYLAN SHANKEL PEACE CHRISTIAN GRADE 5
My favourite character in the Hobbit is Bilbo Baggins.
My favorite book to read is Star Wars. My favorite author is Jim Smith.
RHYS ROSE LITTLE PRAIRIE ELEMENTARY
"I read a Goosebumps book. I I liked it when he got swallowed by the monster blood."
TRYSON WOOD WINDREM ELEMENTARY
My favorite book to read is Haunted Canada. I love reading funny stories!
Total amount of books read so far:
374 Winner of the smoothie from the Chetwynd Bistro is:
Abagael Walker
KACY PARADIS, GRADE 2, DON TITUS ELEMENTARY Kacey's favourite book is Press Here.
PHOEBE LUNN GRADE 3, DON TITUS ELEMENTARY Phoebe is enjoying Charlotte's Web
AHMED MAHMOUDGRADE 1, DON TITUS ELEMENTARY Ahmed likes anything by Dr. Seuss.
The Weekly Book Challenge is sponsored in part by the Chetwynd Echo
Wednesday, February 12, 2014 11
Chetwynd Echo
Report finds systematic shortfalls to blame in suicide of 14-year-old First Nations Girl
MIKE CARTER Chetwynd Echo Reporter –––––––––––––– VICTORIA –The province’s child protection system under the Ministry of Children and Family Development is “dysfunctional” and not reaching those who need it most, a report released Feb. 6 from an independent officer of the provincial government says. The officer’s account asserts that the repeated failures to report, intervene and protect a young 14year-old girl living in rural a British Columbia First Nations community who took her own life amounted to a complete failure of BC’s child protection and mental health services. The name of the 14-yearold girl whose short life was examined in this report is being withheld to protect the privacy of her family. She died in May of 2011, after hanging herself in the yard of her grandparent’s home on a rural BC First Nations reserve. Staffing shortages and workload pressure in the Ministry of Children and Family Development were major contributing factors. BY
Most...will find it unbelievable that what happened ... could be allowed to occur TURPEL-LAFOND
“Most British Columbians will find it unbelievable that what happened to this girl could be allowed to occur in our province,” British Columbia’s Representative for Children and Youth Mary Ellen Turpel-Lafond said. “There were a great number of services and supports this girl did not receive during her short life, which likely contributed to her death. This is a story of a virtual collapse of our system, which resulted in a loss of hope and tragic consequences for this girl and her family.” The report “Lost in in the Shadows: How a Lack of Help Meant a Loss of Hope for One First Nations Girl,”
was submitted Feb. 6 to the Legislative Assembly of British Columbia, in accordance with the Representative for Children and Youth Act, which makes Turpel-Lafond responsible for reporting on reviews and investigations of deaths and critical injuries of children receiving child protective services. “[This is] a story of the shadow cast over the lives of many girls and boys onreserve [where] there is no opportunity to bring out what is going on in their lives in a way that connects them to supports or services,” the report states. The unidentified girls mother was schizophrenic and physically abusive to her. She would hear voices
instructing her to “snap” her daughter’s head. The girl also struggled with her own cognitive disabilities, which were identified early in her school years, yet were never fully investigated. “The Ministry of Children and Family Development didn’t act,” Turpel-Lafond said. “At a critical time, it decided not to investigate concerns onreserve and vacated its duty to this child and others.” The BC Government and Service Employees Union (BCGSEU), who said they are committed to supporting and assisting the ministry in an urgent, comprehensive assessment of staffing and safety issues, endorsed the report. The legislative assembly got underway Feb. 11, meaning that such a review may not take place until the spring at the earliest. “The safety and wellbeing of vulnerable children is being compromised because the government is not committing the resources required to protect vulnerable children with desperately tragic consequences,” said BCGSEU president Darryl Walker.
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Land Act: Notice of Intention to Apply for a Disposition of Crown Land
Take notice that Chad & April Bordeleau of Fort St. John British Columbia, has made applications to the Ministry of Forests, Lands and Natural Resource Operations (MFLNRO), Peace Region, for a Crown Grant for recreational residential purposes covering approximately 0.2811 hectares situated on Provincial Crown land in the vicinity of Moberly Lake, Peace River District.
The Lands File Numbers that have been established for this project is 0263520. Written comments concerning these applications should be directed to Annette Bailey, Authorization Specialist at 370, 10003 – 110 Avenue, Fort St. John, BC V1J 6M7, (250) 787-3435. Comments will be received until March 23, 2014. MFLNRO may not be able to consider comments received after this date. Please visit our Applications and Reasons for Decision website at www.agf.gov.bc.ca/Application Posting/index.jsp for more information. Be advised that any response to this notice will be part of the public record and is subject to the Freedom of Information and Privacy Act.
Tumbler Ridge Dental Services 250-257-1378
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NORTH COUNTRY AUTOMOTIVE
If you want professional, quality and trustworthy vehicle repairs, head to North Country Automotive. With more than 25 years of service in Chetwynd, you know you will be satisfied with their dependable service with every visit. Give them a call at 250-788-9599 or see their facility located minutes from Chetwynd on Jackfish Lake Road, first driveway on the left. Don Lasser has more than 33 years of experience in the mechancial field. Wade Collins brings his 35 years of experinece as a certified technician and authorized inspector. Alisha Moorcraft, a fourth year apprentice is in the office as a service advisor. With all of their experience you can count on North Country Automotive to look after you and your vehicle all year round. Each year they expand with new equipment, services and products to serve you better. North Country Automotive offers a wide variety of services for your gas or diesel vehicle such as engine oil and driveline fluid service, transmission flushes, engine
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tune ups, 4x4 repairs, brake repairs, steering and suspenion repairs, two and four wheel alignments, new tire sales, tire change overs, fly wheel grinding, head resurfacing, exhaust manifold resurfacing, exhaust repairs and much more. North Country Automotive also has access to a large amount of aftermarket parts and accessories for your vehicle. Whether you are looking for trailer hitches, mud flaps, lights, vent visors, bumpers or just something to set your vehicle apart, North Country Automotive can help you create the custom look you want. North Country Automotive is a customer driven company and to prove it they offer free pick up and delivery of people or their vehicles in Chetwynd. You can also sit back and relax in their waiting room equipped with satellite tv, coffee, tea, comfy couches and the latest magaziens. Let North Country Automotive take care of you and your vehicle today. Call 250-788-9599.
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Wednesday, February 12, 2014
SUBMITTED –––––––––––––– Steven Tober, BA'97, BEd'04, isn’t one to let the grass grow under his feet. At 51, the educator has bicycled the equivalent of the earth’s circumference and he’s completed six marathons. He’s climbed more than 150 mountains in North, Central, South America and Africa, and was the first person to complete all 102 climbs in the Scrambles in the Canadian Rockies guidebook. And he’s created his own opportunities to teach in South America, Africa, and China. It’s pretty clear Tober likes seeing the world. So what could possibly make him come home to Canada? “We decided to come back to Calgary to be closer to my family after being close to my wife Maria's for
Chetwynd Echo
six years in Colombia and Ecuador," he explains. “We’re introducing our kids to Canadian culture and winter, which they love so far. And we are reexperiencing Calgary through our kids’ eyes now. “It seems like a whole new adventure.” Tober spent his early years in Port Coquitlam, where he got his first job delivering the local paper by bicycle. “That started the habit of being a morning person,” he says. “I loved having the world to myself to explore in the wee hours of the morning.” It seems as though these solo adventures served to spur his interest in getting out and seeing the world. Upon graduation from high school, he skied his way from Whistler to the mountains of Banff and Lake Louise; he wind-
CSS honour roll
SUBMITTED –––––––––––––– CHETWYND – The first semester ended at Chetwynd Secondary School on Jan. 30. One hundred and forty-five, grade ten through twelve prepared for and wrote Provincial exams. Report cards were distributed on Friday, February 7,
: Steven Tober, Grad 1980
surfed in Mexico and worked in Las Vegas making pizzas. He even spent a year as a bricklayer in Australia. Nearly two decades later, Tober received his BA from the University of Calgary, but not before taking a year off to teach English in Colombia. While there, he met his wife and they returned to Calgary, where he enrolled in the elementary stream in the undergraduate program in education. And then he hit
2014 along with Honour Roll and attendance certificates. One hundred and twenty-nine students received attendance certificates meaning that they had no more than nine absences and no more than five lates in the semester. Forty-one students received “A” Honour Roll certificates and fifty-six students received “B” Honour Roll certificates. Congratulations to the following honour roll students. “A” HONOUR ROLL STUDENTS: Grade 8: Ryan Aird, Raquel Anderson, Hannah Beamish, Zoe Boudreault, Andraya Gayse, Emma Peasgood. Grade 9:
the road, teaching the British National Curriculum at schools in Colombia, Ecuador, China, and Libya. Some of the stories Tober tells couldn’t be made up. While working at the British School of Benghazi, Libya, he taught a Grade 2 class including one of Moammar Gadhafi's nephews; he helped to get the boy, who was struggling to learn, diagnosed with ADHD. In Colombia, he saw many of his students—the children of for-
Trevor Andres, Katie Dufresne, Kyle Eckel, Sara Eddy, Elizabeth Lee, Liam Movold, Jillian Newman, Kieran Pruden, Brianna Young. Grade 10: Ashley Burgess, Taylor Chuckree, Jason Kearns, Brooke McMeekin, Reagan Neuls, Casey Norris, Nadine Young. Grade 11: Cameron Aird, Zachary Aird, Kelsi Cupples, Tim Kirschbaum, Hannah Movold, Ryan Pshyk, Cameron Roland, Kayla Sanford, Patience Terkper, Dayton Waldie. Grade 12: Lucas Kirschbaum, Elise Lamoureux, Chelsea Millsap, Randy Milner, Sara Norris, Alysha Olson, Ty Proulx, Ashley Reeves, Jenny Tse, Cam
eign diplomats—chauffeured to and from school in bulletproof vehicles. He once had his car stolen at gunpoint in Libya and he was robbed by a machetewielding bandit in Bogota. Somehow, during this time, Tober also managed to bike through about 40 countries and he continued to climb. His wife and two young children joined on many of his side-trips. But it’s the journey of life and planning for his children’s future that has him
Astleford, Skler Neuls. “B”HONOUR ROLL STUDENTS: Grade 8: Jamie Buckley, Chantel Cairn-Duff, Dani Christie, Taeler Davis, Ester Hur, Dylan Joyce, Reece Mosher, Kennedy Peats, Logan Richter, Evan Syrnyk, Amberlynn Smathers, Sharidin Townsend. Grade 9: Tanya Bazinet, Kelsey Drinkall, Courtney Hein, Julie-Ann Hermans, Brett Folster, Stephanie Lamoureux, Tyler Saunier, Bryce Tschritter, Garyn Waldie. Grade 10: Courtney Auger, Kenna Fowler, Kelsey Hallaert, Dakota Lefebvre, Taylor Lindsay, Robert Rashke, Mercedes Relph. Grade 11: Hannah Beers,
grounded and returning to Calgary. “International contracts are for two years and although they can be renewed, there are restrictions depending on the country,” he says. “We’ll still go back to Colombia every couple of years and I would love to do a few trips with the kids on tandem bikes.” And while Tober says being back in Canada will mean better opportunities for his family, he’ll most likely always have a case of wanderlust and a hunger for learning more about the world. Tober’s teaching philosophy is to “teach who we are; warts and all” and having lived as a global citizen, he hopes to be an inspirational, if slightly eccentric, role model for his students in the multicultural setting of Calgary.
Mari Davis, Shanaia Davis, Lewis Donkersley, Kaylee Gerstel, Brooke MacMillan, Katelynn Marshall, Evan Quintana, Taelor Warncke, Carlee Westgate. Grade 12: Brittany Andres, Austen Beamish, Jake Caven, Mikayla Doucet, Cordell Edwards, Trisha Fournier, Kase Gansevles, Chandler Grendus, Tessa Gustavsson, Kierra Hallaert, Willie Kurjata, George LePretre, Ross McMeekin, Zoe Nairn, Sheldon Newman, Cain Rose, Kaitlyn Scott, Murray Swanson. A reminder to all, that there is after school help on Tuesday, Wednesday, and Thursday.
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Wednesday, February 12, 2014 13
Chetwynd Echo
Crowd rallies to support ALR; Farmers, labour among 50 groups backing agricultural land protection
Times Colonist –––––––––––––– VICTORIA – About 1,000 people were on the lawns of the B.C. legislature on Family Day Monday for a "food for the future" rally, seeking to preserve the province's agricultural land reserve. The rally was put together by the Farmland Protection Coalition and endorsed by about 50 organizations - from the National Farmers Union to the B.C. Federation of Labour, organizers said. The noon-hour rally attracted several NDP politicians and a diverse group of citizens waving placards that included the phrases: "Protect Agricultural Lands Against Oil Pipelines"; "Maintain B.C.'s Food Security"; "Getting Rid of the ALR Is Not the Answer"; and the "ALR is awesome," held by a young girl. "British Columbians from all walks of life are coming together to demand that Premier Christy Clark and her government respect the autonomy of the Agricultural Land Reserve, strengthen the Agricultural Land Commission [an independent Crown agency] and uphold the spirit and the letter of the Land Com-
Site C power project is already being excluded from the ALR Core Review. CHAMBERS
mission Act," Nathalie Chambers, a Saanich farmer and co-chairwoman of the Farmland Protection Coalition, said prior to the event. The movement to protect farmland picked up momentum in November when leaked cabinet documents suggested B.C. Agriculture Minister Pat Pimm was proposing to restrain the Agricultural Land Commission and give more power over farmland to the B.C. Oil and Gas Commission. "Site C power project is already being excluded from the ALR core review," Chambers said to the crowd. "Our voices are not being heard. Why? Why? "We write letters, and we're
not being heard, so we had to put billboards on the Pat Bay Highway north and south so when the elected officials leave [today] after the [speech from the throne], they will see what British Columbians want as they race to the ferry," Chambers told cheering crowd. The ALR protects agricultural land in the province. NDP Leader Adrian Dix charges the government is out to dismantle the land commission. Farmers need to be able to grow food for the future,
Chambers said. She introduced a long list of speakers. One of them was Cowichan Valley farmer Dan Ferguson, vice-president of the Cowichan Agricultural Society and a member of the executive of the National Farmers Union. He said British Columbians should be outraged the province is trying to dismantle the ALR. "Farms on Vancouver Island are the lifeboats for our communities," Ferguson said. "Currently, we are importing 97 per cent of our food. If there is ever a disaster, there is only three days of food at any given time on this Island. Very few people are growing any of our needs," he said. Ferguson said strengthening the commission and expanding the Agricultural Land Reserve is fundamental to food sovereignty for the province and Vancouver Island and its future generations. Ferguson said he was buoyed by the large size of the crowd: "I'm proud of British Columbians."
LAND FOR SALE Mobile Home Lot for sale.
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Contact: Bill Caldwell, Director of Financial Administration for details at (250) 401-4106 Email: bcaldwell@gochetwynd.com
COMMUNITY CALENDAR
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 788-2307 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. Located at Kici. Alanon meetings 6:30 pm Tuesdays Mickey’s Place (behind AandW) 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
Peace Christian School Valentine’s Banquet February 16. Tickets available at the school or the Health Food Store. Muskoti Learning Centre Homework Club Mon-Thursday 3 - 4:30 pm
Boralex Inc. is proposing two 15 MW wind energy projects of approximately 5 to 7 wind turbines each. The Moose Lake Wind Project 24 km northwest of Tumbler Ridge and adjacent to Gwillim Lake Provincial Park. The Babcock Ridge Wind Project 16 km southeast of Tumbler Ridge. Development Plans for both projects are under review by the Ministry of Forests, Lands, and Natural Resource Operations.
Valentine’s Dance Royal Canadian Legion Feb. 14 9 pm.
Chetwynd Midget Giants All Peae Hockey League upcoming games: Friday, Feb. 14 @ 8 pm vs Dawson Creek Midget Canucks; Sat. Feb 15 @ 6 pm vs Peace River Warriors and Sunday, Feb 16 @ 1:30 pm vs Grande Prairie Knights
Boralex Inc. would like to hear from you. We will be presenting to the Mayor and Council of Tumbler Ridge on
Tuesday February 18 at 6 PM 305 Founders St, Tumbler Ridge BC Presentation will occur during the regular Council meeting, taking place in the Council Chambers at Town Hall, and is open to the public. Your questions, comments and feedback are important to us. Please contact: Carlie Smith, Project Manager carlie.smith@boralex.com Tel.: 604 787-0172
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Wednesday, February 12, 2014
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Chetwynd Echo
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.
FOR THE WEEK OF FEB 9-15
ARIES - Mar 21/Apr 20 Aries, strange forces seem to be working against you, but fortunately you are prepared for anything that comes your way. Allow for some time to get things settled.
TAURUS - Apr 21/May 21 Taurus, keep a firm hand on your wallet so you can avoid spending well beyond your means. It is best if you avoid making any impulse purchases in the near future. GEMINI - May 22/Jun 21 Gemini, listen carefully when a family member comes to you with some sage advice. Even a seemingly relaxed conversation may prove fruitful.
CANCER - Jun 22/Jul 22 Cancer, you may seem rushed this week, but resist the temptation to go faster than is comfortable for you. Take your time so things are done right the first time.
LEO - Jul 23/Aug 23 Leo, you may have so much fun this week that you don't realize you have been getting work done in the process. Your attitude is even inspiring others around you.
VIRGO - Aug 24/Sept 22 Take a step back when you don't see eye to eye with a colleague, Virgo. Disagreements can quickly escalate, so keep a level head and take all things into consideration. LIBRA - Sept 23/Oct 23 Libra, your intuition and ability to work with people closely will make your life much more enjoyable. Make use of these talents as you pursue a new career path. SCORPIO - Oct 24/Nov 22 Falling into a slump just isn't your style, Scorpio. Even if things don't seem to be going your way, your attitude and work ethic will make the most of the situation.
SAGITTARIUS 23/Dec 21
-
Nov
Sagittarius, playing games with someone can be fun, but don't let things turn into a serious rivalry. Focus on being lighthearted this week. CAPRICORN - Dec 22/Jan 20 Capricorn, your responsible nature helps those in your care to feel safe and secure. It is good to show others how much they mean to you, and you have been doing it correctly. AQUARIUS - Jan 21/Feb 18 Some well-hidden information could come to the surface, and you will have the ability to put it to use, Aquarius. Just don't let the power go to your head.
PISCES - Feb 19/Mar 20 Pisces, you must deal with a potentially delicate matter in the days to come. Keep a cool head and remain confident.
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ENGINEERING TECHNICIAN II
DEPARTMENT Engineering & Public Works STATUS Regular, Full-time CUPE Local 3052 CLASSIFICATION Engineering Technician II UNION HOURS OF $30.19/hr - $31.52/hr 40 hrs/week WAGES: per hour WORK:
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 February 14, 2014 to: 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
Posted on January 15, 2014.
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Great 2014 so far
T
changes are expected to be in effect by mid-to-late February. I recently attended the Premier's BC Natural Resource Forum in Prince George with Premier Clark and my caucus colleagues. It was a very informative and well attended conference with presentations by leading experts from First Nations communities, Governments, the oil &
MLA Report
with Mike Bernier
he first month in the New Year has flown by. I hope everyone had a very Merry Christmas and a Happy New Year. 2014 is definitely ramping up to be a very busy year in the South Peace and the entire province. I was pleased join the Minister of Transportation and Infrastructure for the announcement of the change to the maintenance classification for Highways 16 and 97 in northern B.C. to a Class A level. These highways are critical corridors supporting natural gas development and other industrial growth in the North. Currently Highway 97 North has a classification level of B for the portion between Prince George and Chetwynd. After the change, the entire northern section of Highway 97 from Cache Creek to the end of provincial jurisdiction for the highway north of Fort St. John, will be Class A. These changes represent a significant increase in the maintenance commitment for both highways and will result in more frequent patrols, quicker response times, and more plowing, snow removal, and salt and sand applications. The
BERNIER
gas, forestry, minerals and mining, natural gas sectors and service and supply sectors. This Forum was a great reminder of the importance of our resource sector to British Columbia's economic future. I was honoured to be asked to chair one of the sessions during the forum around the natural gas sector as well. Here is our chance to recognize the great people of the South Peace. Nominations for the province's highest recognition of excellence and lifetime achievement -the Order of
British Columbia for 2014 are being accepted until the first Friday in March. Any person or group is welcome to nominate a deserving individual as candidate for appointment to the Order of British Columbia. Request a nomination form by email at orderofbc@gov. bc.ca (250 387-1616), or submit online a t : www.orderofbc.gov.bc.ca/nom inations. On Thursday, February 6th I hosted a "Meet your MLA" event at my secondary constituency office in Chetwynd. This type of event is something I hope to do on a fairly regular basis in Chetwynd, Dawson Creek and Tumbler Ridge. Watch for dates to be advertised on my Facebook page for future dates. If you do not wish to wait for one of these dates you can always contact my Dawson Creek constituency office to arrange a meeting with me. Finally, we will be holding our 2014 Spring Session from February until the end of May so, while I will be in Victoria a great deal during that time, I am going to make sure I am available for constituents via telephone, email or Facebook and I am hoping to be in the riding most Fridays and Saturdays. Please be sure to contact Cindy at the office (250-782-3430) to arrange a time if you would like to meet with me or have me attend any function.
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Chetwynd Echo 5016 50th Avenue Chetwynd, BC 250-788-2246 www.chetwyndecho.net
Wednesday, February 12, 2014 15
KidsSport
MLA Mike Bernier met with members of the local KidSport Chapter (Tara Mayoros, Tammy Schmidt, Erin Oliver) to present them with a $1000 Provincial Government Grant from ViaSport. These funds continue to help with registration fees for local children to join organized sports and clubs.
Photo submitted
BC Government says yes to dozens of liquor law changes including Happy Hour 16
Wednesday, February 12, 2014
NAOMI LARSEN Chetwynd Echo Editor –––––––––––––– CHETWYND – The B.C. government has given it’s support to 73 recommendations in a liquor policy report that includes allowing grocery stores to sell alcohol, bringing back Happy Hour and allowing kids in pubs until 9 pm. Following several changes over the past several months, the government said on Friday that it fully supports suggestions made by British Columbians during a liquor policy overhaul. Justice Minister Suzanne Anton didn't say when the BY
Home sales down 50 percent in 2013
recommendations would be implemented. But some of the other changes, such as doing away with fencing at beer gardens and increasing alcohol variety at sporting events, could be put in place as early as the summer, she added. "At family-friendly events, like most music festivals, for example, parents should be able to wander the grounds with their kids and watch the band rather than be caged off in the corner just so they can enjoy a pint," Anton told reporters. "This not only enhances convenience for families, it also saves money for the
Chetwynd Echo
non-profit groups that run many of our province's unique festivals and special events." Liquor sales in grocery stores - something already allowed in Quebec, Ontario and Nova Scotia was the most popular recommendation. Anton said she is considering a "storewithin-a-store" model, but specific details still need to be worked out. "We promised British Columbians we would overhaul B.C.'s outdated liquor laws -and we are keeping that promise," said Anton. Local pub Rob Link who owns and manages Mur-
ray’s Pub told the Chetwynd Echo they personally don’t agree with some of the changes – in particular the suggested Happy Hour. “Happy Hour sounds great for some customers, but in fact I think it does nothing but encourage binge drinking,” Rob said. “Sure it’s nice to save a few bucks but in reality with the new drinking and driving laws you probably shouldn't be pounding down as many drinks as you can and then going home.” Rob is also not a fan of allowing children in pubs either - a practice that is
very much the norm in Europe. “I for one don't think children need to be exposed to that type of environment,” Rob said. “But on the other hand it is convenient for the family that finds the pub to be one of the few good food choices when in town.” Rob says there’s nothing wrong with parents having a beer and burger and the kids having burgers and pop, like they already can in licensed food primary businesses. “We've had to turn away dozens of customers in the past because of the law,” he said.
Realty board says itʼs simply due to economics
TUMBLER RIDGE NEWS –––––––––––––– PEACE REGION – Despite there being about 39 dwellings for sale in Chetwynd during the 2013 calendar year, only 30 of them ended up with sold signs on the front lawn. In Tumbler Ridge, out of 184 only 47 sold. Brenda Banham, vice president of the South Okanogan Realty Board (SORB) and local realtor says all across northern BC in 2013, property sales were down. “2013 was very slow in the north, period,” says Banham. “We were a lot slower than 2012. Tumbler Ridge was specifically 57 percent lower, that’s huge.” Dawson Creek home sales were also down in 2013 compared to 2012, but were far beyond the scope of Tumbler Ridge or Chetwynd. In 2013, there were 214 dwellings sold in Dawson, totalling just under $60,000,000. This falls short of the $62,227,126 in home sales for 2012 from 238 dwellings. “I think it’s just economics. It was a little harder to get lending in 2013 because the federal government put a lot more restrains on banks for lending. I had the CMHC [Canada Mortgage and Housing Corporation] call me, in about October or November. Asking why 2013 was so slow. Nobody can really figure it out,” explains Banham. In December BC Assessment forecasted there wouldn’t be much uplift to the market for 2014, keeping house sales about the same as 2013. Banham says, “I hope that’s not true.
Lung purifier prank causes “four hellish hours” for woman
TUMBLER RIDGE NEWS –––––––––––––– TUMBLER RIDGE – A Tumbler Ridge woman wants to warn others of a new way of taking cannabis that is being used as a prank. The woman, who wishes to remain anonymous, says that she was a victim of the prank, and wants to warn others in town. “I was tricked into taking drugs,” she says. “They told me that it was a lung purifier especially for cigarette smokers. They said to inhale deeply. ‘It might make you cough but that's just cleansing out impurities.’” But instead of a lung purifier, the device they handed her was a vapourizer, a device used to vapourize the active materials of plants, including tobacco and cannabis. In her case, it was cannabis. “It looks like a gimmick from drugstore but it was actual drugs. I was told after that it was pure THC in vapour form.”
There are a variety of vapourizers on the market, which, in and of themselves are not illegal. In fact a form of vapourizer—the E-cigarette—is used in helping people give up smoking. The vapourizer that was used in this case was “a cylinder-shaped thing,” says the victim. “Kind of like the metal case that skinny little bi-focals are sold in, only shorter in length.” The victim says “They told me that it’s just a lung cleanser and you inhale deep three times. ‘It might make you cough but it’s making you cough out impurities.’” She says there’s no smoke, no vapour and none of the tell-tale skunklike odour to give it away. While the version of the vapourizer she saw looked like a bifocal case, there are dozens on the market, from ones that look like puffers for asthma to ones that look like radios, to others that just look like random electronic devices.
Lesley Smith with the RCMP says she hasn’t heard of this type of prank before. “You have to look at the reasoning behind it,” says Smith. “Is it to harm someone; is it just as a joke?” Smith says that giving someone drugs under false pretenses falls under the criminal code under “Administering noxious things,” which says that “Everyone who administers or causes to be administered to any person or causes any person to take poison or any other destructive or noxious thing is guilty of an indictable offence.” The charge carries with it a jail term of up to two years if the person only attended to aggrieve or annoy that person, and up to 14 years if the intent is to harm. Smith says that offering a narcotic to someone under false pretenses can be extremely dangerous “You don’t know how someone will react, and you will be responsible for that outcome. Practical
joke or not, you’re administering an obnoxious substance to someone, and that’s illegal.” In this case, the victim had a particularly bad reaction. “It was this last weekend. It was not in the least pleasant. I had extremely delayed motor skills. It made me cry hysterically. It made me very noxious, and I felt like vomiting. I had a hard time moving which raised my anxiety. It lasted four hellish hours! I don't do drugs ever so it was pretty intense! People think it is a mild drug but I reacted very violently on it. I went to the hospital that night so I could get a drug test. I wanted to know what they gave me. I called 911 that night. “I was very upset that I was stoned when I didn't want to be or knowingly choose to be. I had just told these people that I don't partake in any form of pot because it makes me sick. And they did that to me anyway. I felt so deceived and violated.”
Other changes that will come as part of the reform is removing the requirement for the segregation of beer gardens and fenced off areas at festivals and entertainment venues. "This will allow families to stay together at events, reduce costs for festival organizers and make the festival experience that much better for all fans of live music," said Bob D'Eith, executive director of Music BC. "We are optimistic that this and other positive changes announced today will help to keep B.C. venues and festivals going strong for years to come."
Real estate down for Jan. 2014
SUBMITTED –––––––––––––– VICTORIA – Housing starts in British Columbia's urban areas were trending at 27,077 units in January 2014 compared to 28,005 in December 2013, according to Canada Mortgage and Housing Corporation (CMHC). The trend is a six-month moving average of the monthly seasonally adjusted annual rates (SAAR) of housing starts. "The trend level of housing starts edged lower in January," said Carol Frketich, CMHC's Regional Economist for British Columbia. "The trend levels of single-detached, semi-detached and row housing starts edged higher in January compared to December, while apartment housing starts trended lower." CMHC uses the trend measure as a complement to the monthly SAAR of housing starts to account for considerable swings in monthly estimates and obtain a more complete picture of the state of the housing market. In some situations, analysing only SAAR data can be misleading in some markets as they are largely driven by the multiples segment of the markets which can be quite variable from one month to the next. The standalone monthly SAAR was 25,591 units in January, compared to 30,779 units in December. As Canada's national housing agency, CMHC draws on more than 65 years of experience to help Canadians access a variety of quality, environmentally sustainable and affordable housing solutions. CMHC also provides reliable, impartial and up-to-date housing market reports, analysis and knowledge to support and assist consumers and the housing industry in making informed decisions.