Free!
www.therockymountaingoat.com
The
Rocky Mountain Goat Tuesday, June 08, 2010
Your best source for weekly news and views from the Robsons Valley
Volume 1 Issue 1
Vavenby enjoys first spring train whistle free Other communities still mired in dense process to remove it Laura Keil lkeil@therockymountaingoat.com The clinking and clattering of train trains passed through the commucars still lulls Vavenby residents nity each day. to sleep, but their rest is no longer “There’s still that many now, but disturbed by the piercing whistle of honestly you don’t even notice half trains approaching the crossing. the time a train goes by because Trains no longer have to sound they don’t honk,” Chris Vollans says. their whistles when passing through For years residents had complained Vavenby, a community of 700 resi- of disturbed sleep and the hourly dents between Blue River and Kam- nuisance that interrupted conversaloops. Train engineers still use the tions, TV shows and phone calls. whistle at their discretion and in The rail line runs right through emergency situations. town, intersecting the main road The Vollans have lived 26 years in that funnels traffic from the higha house that backs onto the rail line. way across the tracks to the south “Most of the kids can play out here end of town. now and it doesn’t bothLarry Frisk used to er them,” Gord Vollans “It was just heaven cross the tracks each day says. to get to work. He diswhen they quit.” His son Chris Vollans agrees with the decision Judy Alexandre says the grandchildren to eliminate the whistle would sometimes fling and says not everyone in themselves on the ground when a the community was consulted. train came. “What happens if these lights and “It would scare the crap out of the bars don’t come down and the whiskids,” he says. tle doesn’t sound and a kid is com“They’d scream in the middle of ing down on his bike?” the night.” Frisk does not live near the tracks, The whistle blew right behind but he says the whistle is a small their house. When they inquired price to pay for protecting the lives about stopping the whistle several of residents. years ago, the Vollans learned 32 “Vavenby Stops Whistle” cont’ A3
TransAlta Harnesses Bone Creek
Photo: Laura Keil Vavenby resident Judy Alexandre initated the campaign to stop the whistle in 2004. CN rail had already installed lights, bells and arms to the crossing, so few upgrades were needed and the regional district paid for the safety assessment.
Laura Keil lkeil@therockymountaingoat.com Harnessing the spring run-off: not always as easy as dipping your hand in a creek. Construction began on the Bone Creek hydro project in March which will have the capacity to power 8200
any water, but rather diverts part of it into a pipe buried parallel to the creek. The water barrels down the 6-kilometre tube into the power house. After it passes through the power house, the water returns to Bone Creek, which is kept at a minimum height by forcing some water not to flow into the tubing. Fish are
Project to power 8200 homes at peak
More Inside:
homes at its peak. It is slated for completion next spring. The project is employing about 200 people: equipment operators, carpenters, and skilled labourers. Project Manager Doreen Johnson says they are still looking for skilled labourers for the project. The operation does not remove
Valemount graduation evening photos
kept out of the creek by a natural barrier. The project will sell its power into the grid, not on contracts, as it is not a continuous power source. The water fluctuates between the seasons, and is at its highest with the spring runoff. “Hydro” cont’ A4
The Goat, one on one with Jeannette Townsend
A2
www.therockymountaingoat.com
Tuesday, June 08, 2010
On The Move
Yellowhead Helicopters expands fleet, adds another base
Above: One of three Bell 407’s. This new generation of Bell Helicopter is fast, technologoically-savy and looks very good on the top of local mountains. Left: Garry Foreman takes delivery of his first helicopter in 1975 in Texas. The helicopter, which has racked up18,644 flying hours, is still used today. Photos courtesy Yellowhead Helicopters
Joseph Nusse jnusse@therockymountaingoat.com
The two 205’s were originally purchased by the Omanian Police Department and It has been a long flight since local entrepreneur Garry Foreman purchased served in an enforcement role in Oman for 33 years. After this, they were purchased by an Australian company which then turned around and sold them off his first helicopter in 1975. Today, his company, Yellowhead Helicopters, is a growing industry name. fairly quickly. They both have very low hours, only 6,000 each, but have required Along the way, his fleet has shuttled celebrities such as Gene Hackman and Cana- many upgrades. Foreman says Oman is a very humid, highly corrosive environdian politicians such as Prime Ministers Pierre Elliot Trudeau and Jean Chrétien. ment for a helicopter, so some airframe parts had to be replaced. The equipBut at the heart of the family-run company still lies small-town Yellowhead Helicopters: A Timeline ment requirements of Canadian jurisdictions are also unique, and moving a helicopter from one country to another requires values for quality of life and community involvement. Recently many retrofits. The Rocky Mountain Goat sat down with Operations Manager 1968 Garry Foreman completes his The Bell medium-life helicopters may be very old, but they Jacob Foreman, one of Garry Foreman’s sons, to get an update first hover solo in C-FKGS, a Bell 47. Late 1960s to early 1970s, Garry Forestill have a bright future, Foreman says. The Canadian operaon significant developments that have created a buzz around man pilots helicopters in and around the tions of Pratt & Whitney are in the process of developing a new the hanger. Foreman says the company is working on opening a new base Valley including many of the very first generation of engine designed for the Bell 205. This new engine scouting missions with Mike Wiegele. will consume 20 per cent less fuel with a 50 per cent increase in in Kamloops. As a result of the much-publicized 2008 crash of 1975, Garry Foreman puchases his a Bell 206 carrying BC Hydro crews into a residential street in first helicopter C-GYHL, a Bell 206 Jet Horsepower. If this program is successful it will keep the Bell Cranbrook, B.C. hydro initiated an audit of all helicopter car- Ranger. Yellowhead Helicopters is born. 205 series mediums in the market well into the 21st century. Yellowhead has a deposit on this engine, and if the engine gets rier companies they commission. The result was a much shorter Mid 1980s, Yellowhad Helicopters approved, Yellowhead will be the very first in Canada to outfit list, Forman says. Yellowhead was one company that passed the adds an Aero-spatiale AS350D to its fleet of several Bell 206 Jet Rangers. The with this newer engine. audit. “It will completely transform that aircraft”. But he says there are other factors at play in this expansion. company soon after decided to remain only an operator of Bell helicopters. Yellowhead has considered expanding into the twin engine The air operations divisions of B.C. Forestry has been moved 1989 Bell 204 medium lift machine is market. At one point an order was placed for a Bell 427. The from Victoria to Kamloops this year and there are advantages added to the fleet. to having bases in larger centers. Clients such as mining compa- 1992 A Bell 206 L-3 Long Ranger is program was cancelled, however the order has rolled over to the Bell 429 program which, according to Foreman looks like it nies will fly their managers and investors into a larger regional added to the fleet. More followed. airport like Kamloops, and expect a helicopter pick-up right 2001 Expansion of the medium fleet will be a success. Despite this, Foreman does not see the comwith one Bell 205A-1. pany taking delivery of such an aircraft soon. on-site to transport to remote locations. 2005 The new generation of Bell heli“Yellowhead is conservative. We will let others go through the Purchasing a brand-new helicopter is no small task. The copters arrives, the first of three Bell 407 teething pains.” company recently purchased another Bell 407. Originally Yelintermediate helicopters. The 429 twin-engine helicopter costs roughly $5,500/hour to lowhead placed a deposited order for a Bell 417, a higher per- Total Fleet as of 2010: keep in the air, about twice as much as a 407, and only offers a formance helicopter based on the same airframe as the modern 3 Bell 205A-1’s, larger cabin and the safety precaution of having two engines. 407, but when the program was cancelled, the order was trans- 3 Bell 407’s, But Forman says single engines also have a great safety record. ferred, and a third 407 has now been added to Yellowhead’s 2 Bell 206L-3 Long Rangers 1 Bell 206L-4 Long Ranger In Yellowhead’s history, there have only been two engine failfleet. 7 Bell 206B3 Jet Rangers ures both with successful auto-rotations. Both were caused by Foreman says compared to its 206 Jet Ranger and Long foreign objects, not mechanical failures. Since these incidents, Ranger predecessor, the 407 is significantly faster, and has at least double the payload capabilities of the 206 Jet Ranger. The machine is very all the company’s helicopters have more filters to prevent air-borne debris from popular with the mining and heli-skiing communities, and it seems to be gaining entering the engine. Yellowhead Helicopters has remained a private family company based in Valepopularity within the forest industry as well, Foreman says. Modern safety requirements are part of the reason behind the growth in demand for larger aircraft mount since the time it was founded, which reflects its values. “In a private company, profit is not the only consideration. It is nice not being since they demand a certain total airframe weight. Today a Jet Ranger is almost 200 lbs heavier than 30 years ago simply because of higher requirements when it driven by shareholders who live on the moon.” Foreman says there are many quality of life decisions which have led to Yelcomes to carry-on emergency equipment, and even things like modern seatbelts. lowhead remaining in Valemount. However, they do come at a price. “They all add up. Also, people are getting bigger.” “Some costs are higher when you are not located in a larger center. But this is Besides a new base and purchasing of brand new aircraft, Yellowhead is also up grading and expanding their medium-lift fleet. Yellowhead has moved quickly to home. We could outsource the head office to New Delhi if we wanted, but we all replace their 204’s with two 205’s recently acquired from an Australian company. like the view here.” “Yellowhead Buzz” cont’ A5
www.therockymountaingoat.com
Tuesday, June 08, 2010
A3
Vavenby stops whistle cont’ A Regional Glance Edson
No Whistle Twin tracks 2 Crossings Arms, bells, lights Runs through town
Hinton
Whistle – upheld by community Single track 1 Crossing, Arms, bells, lights Runs through town
Jasper
No Whistle 2 Tracks 1 Crossing. Arms, bells, lights Runs adjacent to town
McBride
Whistle Twin tracks 1 Crossing, No arms Runs through town
Vavenby
No Whistle Twin tracks 1 Crossing Arms, lights, bells. Runs through town
Valemount
Whistle Single track 2 Crossings No arms Runs through town
Chase
Whistle Twin tracks 2 crossings within 200 metres One crossing with arms Runs through town Status: Request on hold with CP rail *Note: The information provided above is for initial comparisons only. Other factors related to cost and safety are not included here.
Concerns about safety are not the only barriers to getting rid of the whistle. While a CN rail brochure on eliminating train whistles suggests it can take six months to a year, requesters often meet a head-spinning process that can take six years or more. Judy Alexandre, like many residents, lives along the tracks in Vavenby. She started the campaign to eliminate the whistle about six years ago. She wrote letters explaining what it’s like living next to the tracks and sent them to all levels of government. That was in 2004. The Thompson-Nicola Regional District took up Vavenby’s cause, submitting requests on their behalf. Liz Cornwell, who handles whistle requests at the district, says despite the overwhelming support in Vavenby to remove the whistle, the process still took five years. “It can be very frustrating for everybody,” she says. “They’re bothered by the whistle and they do a petition and, understandably, I think they would like a quicker response.” She says the process “goes all over the
Photo: Laura Keil Gord Vollans looks out at the tracks from his backyard in Vavenby. His family has lived 26 years next to the tracks. At about 30 trains a day, roughly 280,000 trains have passed.
place” depending on the safety issues at the crossing. Part of the problem is the number of agencies involved. For each request, submissions must be made to the railway company, the road authority – either the Ministry of Transportation, the village or the railway – Transport Canada, and a Transportation Engineer hired by the community or regional district. “It always sounds easy, but I can tell you it’s challenging to keep these things moving forward,” she says.
She is currently managing requests to stop whistles in three communities: Blue River, McClure and just outside Chase. She says the crossing request for outside the Village of Chase is straightforward: the track is fairly straight and the crossing has lights, bells and gates. She is waiting for CP rail to cut some grass obstructing visibility and for the rail line to ask a property owner to trim some tree branches. “It’s just a waiting game now.” But even after wait-
Put us to work for YOU! Addvertise with The Rocky Mountain Goat. Your best source for News and Views from the Robson Valley Contact Joe: jnusse@therockymountaingoat.com or (250) 566-4606
ing, it’s not always a positive outcome. Sometimes the transportation engineer hired by the district or the village deems the crossing unsafe for whistle elimination because of trespassers, obstructed sight lines or other variables. “They may say, ‘No it’s totally unsafe for a number of reasons,’ or they may say, ‘Yeah, if you do these certain things.’” The district pays for an engineering study from the tax dollars it collects. Each study costs between $10,000 to $20,000. The request from Blue River first came to the district in 2004. Six years later, it is at a standstill. The railway company advised Cornwell this winter there is too much trespassing in the area and Transport Canada will not approve cessation unless
the district builds a fence to stop trespassing. “We’re still stuck at the fence stage,” Cornwell says. The file is still open but the district is not prepared to build a fence because of liability, she says. She has, however, inquired about how long the fence should be and how high. The process takes much longer than six months to a year, she says. For people like Alexandre who live near the tracks and have to live with the continual blare of train horns, the long haul is worth it. “It was just heaven when they quit.” Do you have a comment on a story? Write us: lkeil@therockymountaingoat.com
The Rocky Mountain Goat will be distributed weekly starting June 22, 2010
A4
Tuesday, June 08, 2010
www.therockymountaingoat.com
Laura Keil, The RMG
Construction workers unload a pipe that will be used for the 6 kilometre-long chute, funnelling water from the creek into the power house.
Two more Albreda-area hydro projects planned (Continued from A1) The pipe is manufactured in Saskatoon and shipped in pieces on the backs of semi-trailers to the site near Blue River. Each 9-mw turbine is being shipped from Slovenia. Construction workers are using existing logging roads, which means the company can keep their “footprint” light, says Doreen Johnson, project manager. Clemina Creek and Serpentine Creek, sister projects to Bone Creek, are being examined as future sites for two more hydro plants. Bone Creek was given the go-ahead first, partly because it is the largest and because of the existing roads. The other two were put on hold, but are still being evaluated. “Conditions changed on the power situation and the economic downturn,” Johnson says. “But they’re definitely on the books. They are active projects that we’re moving ahead on.” Clemina and Serpentine combined would produce about half the
amount of power as Bone Creek. The idea would be to bring their power into the Bone Creek transmission lines, since they are only a few kilometres away. Blue River has seen increased business since the construction began, says John Beaton, chairman of the Blue River improvement district. Some construction jobs at Bone Creek are still available. Qualified labourers can apply to the Bone Creek TransAlta office or to the contractors directly. Above: Bone Creek rushes underneath a road near the construction of the power house. Left: the construction of the power house six kilometres from the intake mouth where the stream enters the pipe.
Advertise with us! Call Joe at 250-566-4606
www.therockymountaingoat.com
Tuesday, June 08, 2010
To charge or not to charge: that is the question
Joseph Nusse jnusse@therockymountaingoat.com In a magical utopian world where money is not an issue and individuals happily go about their daily tasks with no need for reward, it seems like a free newspaper would make a lot of sense. So when a person looks at Jasper and wonders how in the world anybody can give away a great 20-page colour newspaper for free, one could easily make the assumption that journalists can live on nothing, and stories all but print themselves. But wait, let’s sit down with a ruler and analyze just how much print space is filled with little square boxes that seem to be trying to sell something. Daydream over. Looks like newspapers are bound within the money circle after all. So the question is, how do they do it? We know how they pay for it, but how do the staff at The Fitzhugh manage to convince local businesses that those little square boxes are worth money? The formula is simple. Free equals more readers. More readers equals more ad exposure, which translates into sales. So, is the Robson Valley ready to take this step? Of course the readers are. Truth be told, pay-
ing pocket change for a weekly paper is more of an annoyance than a financial burden. Twenty years ago a coffee cost about a dollar, as did a newspaper. Today a newspaper still costs a dollar and some spend up to four dollars every morning on a coffee. So, why don’t I charge four dollars for a newspaper? It would make a newspaper’s finances much easier. The content would be great and instead of fitting articles around ads, we could lay out each article based on photos and what we are covering. This seems like a journalist’s dream. As long as the content was good, I doubt many people would hesitate to pay four dollars for a paper either. But what about the businesses? If I want to find the hours of a business, I turn to... the business directory. If I want to buy or sell a dirt bike, I turn to the classified ads. So my question is what do the businesses want? In a tourist town like Jasper a free paper makes sense. Tourists are not engaged in local affairs nearly enough to pay four dollars, or even bother to find one dollar. But if it’s free, the newsstand will be empty by the end of the week. In the modern market where news is available online for free, a free print makes sense too. In a world where individuals are on the move more than ever, a subscription to a local paper doesn’t seem as important. But it’s important to have a paper to figure out the best place to eat, where to buy building supplies, and to learn who your neighbours are. Printing does cost money, but the real costs are elsewhere. Any guesses on how much soft-
Embedded journalism in the Robson Valley
entertaining weekly features. I think the web has untold potential most papers - even big ones don’t harness, due to lack of staff, training or initiative. As co-owner of this paper, I plan to make our site more than just print on a screen by having videos, audio, slideshows and galleries. My great-uncle Erwin worked in Valemount as a logger in the 1950s. The village was a very difLaura Keil ferent place back then. It is amazing how much lkeil@therockymountaingoat.com it has evolved since the first settlers arrived more Hi, I’m Laura. I may have knocked on your than 100 years ago. door this week. If I didn’t, I likely will in the I’m still guessing my way around, but I’m coming months. Don’t worry. I won’t try to sell hoping that if I end up knocking on your door, you anything. I may ask your opinion though, on maybe we could chat for a while. A journalist anything from forests to trains to prisons – tophas to be embedded for journalism to be relics that have Robson Valley residents talking. evant. Much like reporters embed themselves I’m looking for guides. I just moved to Valein the military, I am embedding myself in the mount in May, after finishing my Masters in village – minus the camouflage and tactical vest. Journalism at Carleton University in Ottawa. I Instead, I’m making good use of my flannel. grew up in Saskatoon where I did my first degree There are so many stories here, I can hardly in English, Economics and German. Last month, believe it. Joe and I feel so lucky to be where we I moved here to start this newspaper with my are. I’m optimistic about Valemount as a superb business partner, Joe Nusse. We’d never met, but place to work, live and chat on doorsteps. we decided to collaborate. I’m a young journalist What are you talking about these days? Let us – he’s a young entrepreneur. Out of many discus- know. In any case, hope to talk to you soon. sions and hard work The Goat was born. Laura Keil, Editor Our goal is to cover local news in the Robson The Rocky Mountain Goat Valley and area, with a multimedia website and
A5
ware for one computer costs a newspaper? Thousands per machine. There is no way around these costs because the printers are set up to the industry standard and the standard is high. Commercial real estate is not free, even if it’s your own house, and then there is gas for running around. Add to this a journalist’s time. How much is a journalist worth? All I will say is, like anything in life, you get what you pay for. But before I boldly raise my youthful voice and yell ‘turn and face the change,’ I will give a moment’s consideration to local businesses. In a recession is it fair to ask business to pay big bucks for ad space? Surprisingly marketers will say that businesses should spend more on advertising when times are hard. When times are good, people do not bother shopping around because they are too busy trying to capitalize on the boom. When times are hard, people take more time to maximize their spending. As long as the ad space is booked, our paper will accommodate. So why not do some targeted marketing? I think there is a market for a free paper in the Valley. The final question will be, are local businesses ready to market aggressively like businesses in larger centers? If not, I know that locals will have no problem paying for a good paper – many will even buy two a week. After all, this has worked before. Let the printing presses role. There is a new paper in town. Joseph Nusse, Publisher/Sales The Rocky Mountain Goat
Yellowhead Buzz Cont’ Foreman says the company donates to local community efforts such as meals on wheels, minor hockey and other sports in contrast to larger companies that tend to support nation-wide charities like the Heart and Stroke Foundation. “If at the same time it enhances the quality of life for our employees and ourselves, it is an extra benefit.” He says if a community is better-off, employees are happier. “We compete with the larger centers for good skilled employees so we need to support local things like minor hockey and speed skating. Some people do need more than just the backcountry type experience. They do like to have a nice dinner, or maybe see a nice show. If they have families the kids need something to do.” When asked if the company feels that their community investments have brought returns, Foreman says “most definitely!” As of 2010, Yellowhead Helicopters employs approximately 40 people at seven permanent bases and several seasonal bases mainly in British Columbia. The head office and largest base is still located about five kilometres north of Valemount.
A6
www.therockymountaingoat.com
Tuesday, June 08, 2010
Valemount bikers win fourth at Whistler Dave Salayka Special to The Goat
The Valemount Timberwolves mountain bike team kicked up a lot of mud recently, placing fourth in the annual B.C. High School Mountain Biking Provincial Championships in Whistler. Cyclists from 44 teams raced through an 8.3 km course with a variety of technical root, rock, boardwalk and downhill and some good climbs complemented by rolling single and double track. After heavy spring training with coach Les van der Roest, the 10 members of the Valemount team performed well on a cool and drizzly day May 29th. Top 15 individual results are as follows: Bantam Girls 1st place, Hannah van der Roest. Juvenile Girls 6th
place, Jessica Shalla. Senior Girls 3rd place, Angie McKirdy. Juvenile Boys 4th place, Linden Ladouceur. Senior Boys 7th place, Logan Ladouceur. Senior Boys 13th place, William van der Zwan. The 10 members on the Valemount team who participated in the championship are Trent Cuddeback, Raphael Jamin, Linden Ladouceur, Logan Ladouceur, Liam Mastre, Angie McKirdy, Harmony Nelson, Jessica Shalla, Hannah van der Roest, and William van der Zwan. Coach Les knows how to make the best of a road trip, so the day after the race the team did downhill biking at Whistler Mountain with the Schools on Dirt program. Whistler has some of
the best downhill biking trails in the world, with tabletop jumps, step-ups, drops, technical mud, root, rock, wall rides and boardwalk. Riding rented downhill bikes with plenty of suspension, full-face helmets and body armour, the team hit the slopes for another great day. On the return trip, the team did some cross-country riding in Kamloops. This was a mix of rolling single track and a moderate climb to the top of Signal Mountain followed by a descent made more challenging due to passing rain squalls. The team had a rewarding and memorable time. Congratulations to the team and coach for a very successful race!
Right: Raphael Jamin just after the finish. He flatted, crashed at high speed, but finished the race. Below: left to right back row: coach Les van der Roest, Logan Ladouceur, Raphael Jamin, William van der Zwan, Harmony Nelson, Linden Ladouceur, Angie McKirdy, Jessica Shalla. Front row: Duncan van der Roest, Hannah van der Roest, Liam Mastre, and Trent Cuddeback. Photos courtesy of Dave Salayka.
Compliance and enforcement widens its scope as boundaries are shifted Laura Keil lkeil@therockymountaingoat.com A recent change to the areas patrolled by provincial compliance and enforcement officers is changing how they do their jobs. Since March 1st, compliance and enforcement officers from the Ministry of Forests and Range find themselves in eight new districts province-wide that align with other ministry boundaries. The change will help officers deal with inspection issues, and allow them to collaborate with other enforcement officers, says Dave Banham, who manages the Omenica compliance
region, encompassing the Prince George and the Robson Valley. Banham says forestry officers are being trained how to enforce other domains under the Ministry of Environment such as mining, water, agriculture and energy. Similarly, other enforcement officers are being trained in forestry. If a compliance official from the Ministry of Forests and Range goes out to inspect a harvesting block and passes a gravel pit that also requires an inspection, Banham says the forest official will now have the ability to
do both inspections. “Here’s a perfect opportunity for the staff member with the training to be able to stop in and do an inspection on that site.” In the past the forests officer would have had
with a quick phone call, two enforcement officers from forests trained in bear traps were able to respond. “It’s right here in the community ... It’s a better, more effective use of our resources.”
“It’s right here in the community ... It’s a better, more effective use of our resources.” Dave Banham, compliance and enforcement manager. to call someone from the Ministry of Energy, Mines and Petroleum Resources to do the inspection. Last year conservation officers in Vanderhoof were tied up when a bear trap was needed. Banham says
Other enforcement officers are receiving training in forestry. The Ministry of Environment divisions who will be collaborating include the Conservation Officer Service, Protection Division, Water Steward-
ship division, Ministry of Energy, Mines and Petroleum, Ministry of Agriculture for land issue enforcement, Ministry of Tourism, and the Ministry of Sports and the Arts. The province is now split into eight different sub-regions for compliance and enforcement. The office in McBride now reports to Prince George instead of the Clearwater Forest District. The office in Clearwater is now in the ThompsonOkanagan sub-region, which is headquartered in Kamloops. The Robson Valley and McBride office
are now part of the 15.5 million hectare Omenica sub-region which runs west to Endako on Highway 16, east to the provincial park boundary at Mount Robson, south to Albreda Creek, and north to Pine Pass. It includes the Mackenzie Forest District and Fort St. James. Compliance and Enforcement staff no longer report to a district manager. Instead they report to the subregion manager, who reports directly to the ministry in Victoria. Officer training is ongoing in Prince George.
www.therockymountaingoat.com
Tuesday, June 08, 2010
A7
Looking back with hope for the future Former Valemount mayor Jeannette Townsend shares on her time in office, letters to Bush, tourism versus logging, and engaging Generation Y in politics. Joseph Nusse jnusse@therockymountaingoat.com
I spoke to him for a couple of hours, with some of the staff that had worked with Slocan, as well as the President and CEO of Slocan and our Minister of Forest Mike Young, and the President of the Northern Forest Products association of Prince George, as well as the council of forest industries. So we did get press – in the New York Times.
Q: Why did you get into politics? Was it a single issue that spurred you? Was it a career calling, or was it a result of encouragement from friends? A: I never really thought very much about it until I was part of a panel in Prince George that our MLA Shirley Bond asked me to participate in. I had to sit down and do some thinking, and the best way to put it is that it was something that evolved. I thought back to when I was in high school. I was on the student council, always elected to represent our class. Living in Williams Lake when my children were old enough I got involved in the family division committee. It was to do with social issues in town as well as family concerns. I got involved in that committee and I served as the chair of it until we moved to [Valemount]. There was a by-election here, an alderman left, and some of my associates said ‘we would like you to run.’ So I ran. I did not want to run for mayor, because I was also a realtor at Yellowhead Realty, but there were quite a few people who said that they felt they would really like for me to run for mayor. They liked what I stood for. So I did. Q: It must be rare for a politician at any level to be in office long enough, not only implement their ideas, but to see the effects of these ideas. It usually takes decades for these things to come to fruition. Looking back over two decades you served in this town, what moment and accomplishments pop out? What are you most proud of? A: I think our infrastructure, as well as the fact that we are in the Columbia Basin Trust. It is a generational legacy. We have received well over $2 million to date, and we will be receiving more as the years go by ... The Columbia Basin Trust initiative funding that we received helped with a lot of the initiatives that we as a municipality undertook. To go back to 1990 when I was first elected, Slocan Forest Products was really seeking a larger annual al-
lowable cut. They did not have enough that the wood is not being processed wood and the mill was closed part of locally. the time. Only 5th Avenue was paved, with a little portion of Dogwood and Q: What were the low points of your Cedar just around 5th Avenue. All of time in office? What were the moments our streets are now paved and the vil- when you found yourself second guesslage tax payers did not have to pay for ing yourself, or rather your ideals? that. We also paid off our sewer debt. They installed a sewage system in A: What really knocked me for a loop Valemount in 1980 or 81. The interest was when Slocan Forest products anrates at that time were at 15 or 16 per nounced in July 2002 that they were cent and they closing down inborrowed the “What I did was I wrote a letter to Presi- definitely because dollars in US dent Bush. It was a very polite letter. I of the softwood funds, and they requested his executive intervention.” agreement with the could not pay United States and that off in ad- Jeannette Townsend on the softwood the problems they lumber dispute with the U.S. vance. That was were having … They paid off a few could not even break years ago. We even … It was really have had significant water upgrades. the softwood lumber agreement that We have a new reservoir as well as the was causing all the problems with the new filtration plant. This all only cost Americans. It caused me a lot of sleepthe municipality one third of the costs. less nights. But what I did was I wrote [At the airport] in 1994-95 we got a letter to President Bush. It was a very funding from the federal government polite letter. I requested his executive for the terminal building, water sewer intervention. I sent a copy to the Naand hydro as well as GPS landing and tional Post and The Globe and Mail. night lights. And so CTV came here from Calgary Another thing that I am proud of is to do an interview. And after that I got that we got a community forest. We a call from the Canadian bureau chief got a 40,000 cubic meter annual allow- of The New York Times and he said that able cut that is putting loggers to work. his editor wanted him to come to ValeWhat I do not approve of, and maybe mount to meet me and get a front page there is no alternative at this time, is story ... I made an appointment, after,
Q: I remember the race for mayor when you took office. There were [four] candidates. I remember campaign promoters from all camps lobbying for their respective candidates very hard, even going so far as to drive around town honking their horns with banners blowing in the wind. What has happened to this kind of democratic involvement? Your [final] term was by acclamation. A: I don’t know. I have always taken it that if nobody else wants to run perhaps everyone is happy with what is being done. Q: But what has happened to the other side? The promotion side? There are no banners in the wind. There are no cars. A: I never did anything like that, but I did take the time to do a letter to all of the local residents and took it to the post office and had it delivered to every post office box. I also had some posters, but I never did do anything that was showy like horns blowing. I don’t know why that has stopped. I have never thought to consider why that has stopped. Maybe they saw that it did not do any good. I am more conservative than that. I prefer meeting with people, talking to people and giving them something to read. Q: When one looks around at the provincial situation for all small Interior B.C. towns, Valemount stands out as an exception. Until this last year, optimism has been very prevalent. Why do you think Valemount has managed to remain a growing regional town while its neighbours have seen much harder times? “Jeannette” cont’ A8
To watch clips from this interview go to www.therockymountaingoat.com
A8
www.therockymountaingoat.com
Tuesday, June 08, 2010
garding recent efforts to lobby for a correctional facility in the Valley?
Interview with Jeannette cont’ A: I think it is the resilience of the people of Valemount. I know that the people of Valemount are much more independent. They do not look for a hand-out from senior levels of government. Our policy at the Village [was] always ‘this is what we have, this is what we want to do. This is what it is going to do for the province and the federal government if this project happens.’ They will always contribute resources to assist us in achieving our projects and goals. It is the people of the town. They are just selfsufficient and independent. Q: One of the major changes that you initiated upon assuming office was an aggressive re-imaging of Valemount as a growing tourism destination. Some are concerned that recent logging practices plainly visible from our highways are threatening these very efforts. How should the village balance the visual impacts of logging and it efforts to promote tourism? A: I think it is really important to get the information out that it is the mountain pine beetle that is creating all those landscape changes. I think it is more beneficial economically to remove those trees while they can still be used, rather than once the needles have all fallen off. I do not think that dead trees are complementary to a landscape at all. In September 1999 we organized a “Rural Communities’ Survival Seminar”… we had many professional people here to facilitate this seminar … The determination was that we would always be a blended economy. We would do forestry and tourism ... when you have a secondary industry, it acts as a shock absorber. In 1991, when the mill was closed more than it was operating, one would see perhaps one car on 5th Avenue when you came down midday. Well the mill has been closed for three years, and look how busy 5th Avenue is now. It is because tourism is acting as the shock absorber now. Q: So do you think that tourism is our secondary industry or is logging our secondary industry?
A: I always thought that forestry was our primary industry ... with the mill closed maybe it isn’t. I don’t know but I know that tourism is massively growing. Q: Some in this town have criticized your economic policy as being far too dependent on growth of the tourism sector. Some feel that tourism jobs do not pay high enough and that they are not worth the effort. How do you respond to these critics? A: [Tourism] was always a secondary industry, and it is acting as the shock absorber right now. Look as the snowmobile industry. It is the snowmobiles that keep the hotels and restaurants open in the winter time and in June, July, August and September you see all the RVs in town. There are a lot of opportunities for small tourism operators to start businesses. We see a lot that are offering hiking etc. Q What are the opportunities for locals to make money in a tourism industry in ways other than typical service industry jobs and wages? You were saying owner operator? A: I think so. Q: It does seem like the cost of starting these days is very cost prohibitive compared to ever before, but there is more official assistance than there has ever been. A: That is right. But Columbia Basin Trust has a contract with consultants, Business Advocates from Cranbrook, and they will come up here anytime to spend time with new businesses and existing businesses. They used to advertise in the paper that they were coming, but very few people took advantage of it, and finally nobody took advantage of this consultation. But they are still available if anybody wants to take advantage of their services. Q: Do you have any opinions one way or the other re-
Cuts to B.C. Parks budget Joseph Nusse jnusse@therockymountaingoat.com
had to look at ways to reduce expenditures and find creative ways to deal with rising costs. He says the primary means of dealing with the budget pressures is through an increase in recreational user fees, which began April 1st. Many parks will see planned capital investment projects continue despite the budget cuts. Over 80 per cent of planned capital projects for 2010-11 are dedicated to the refurbishment or replacement of existing facilities. Parks infrastructure upgrades include implementing new water systems and upgrading existing water systems and upgrading facilities such as shower buildings, picnic shelters, roads, trails, bridges, flush toilets, pit toilets,
playgrounds, gatehouses, docks, mooring buoys, picnic tables, benches, retaining walls and stairs. Some of the projects that will go ahead this year include: The Mahood Lake water system in Wells Gray Provincial Park will be completed by this fall for $90,000. In Mount Robson Provincial Park, toilet and shower building upgrades are projected to be completed by October at a cost of $150,000. The East Portal redesign (on the eastern boundary of Mount Robson Park) is projected to be completed by December at a cost of $390,000. The Mount Robson Core Area project, including a visitor centre deck, play-
Q: Other than some sort of wood processing, a prison, or tourism, what, in your opinion, would be a viable option for job creation in the Valley? A: Someone suggested that there be a brewery for beer, just like the Pacific Brewery in Prince George. And we have all this beautiful water here that could be used. I am thinking that we do have the rail line that goes right past here that would be a real asset to a manufacturing business. I also think that a truck stop would be good to look into because they built one in Sherwood Park and that just expanded into all kinds of development around it. We are midway between Vancouver and Edmonton. There are a lot of semis going by here. The Yellowhead Pass is the least closed of all mountain passes in North America as well as the lowest grade. That’s why many of those trucks that are delivering to Vancouver are coming to Tête Jaune and then going south. So a truck stop would be a very viable thought. Q: After putting so much time and energy into your job as mayor of Valemount, are you finding it hard to leave it all behind? Do you still find yourself taking that job home with you? A: I take it home with me when I meet people in the grocery store, or the post office, and they are unhappy about something. Like [former] prime minister Chrétien said when he retired, ‘I don’t want to be the mother in-law.’ But if there is something I can do to help the community, I will.
Local park upgrades still have go-ahead
The provincial budget for Parks and Protected Areas is shrinking by $1.1 million in the coming year due to budget cuts and increasing costs. In 2009-10, the Parks budget was just shy of $31.5 million. It dropped by $644,000 in this year’s budget. The cost to deliver recreational services in parks has also risen, meaning an additional decrease of $450,000 from last year’s funds. Suntanu Dalal, Public Affairs Officer for the Ministry of Environment says despite these budget pressures, the ministry is looking at ways to maintain service levels. “Our priorities and commitments for B.C. Parks have not changed.” Dalal says B.C. Parks has
A: I think anything positive is worth investigating and doing some research. I am not going to say that I am in favour, nor am I going to say that I am not in favour, but the people need to get together, and they need information. Valemount was designated as a resort municipality by the province of British Columbia. There is a very active tourism committee and they have contracted a marketing consulting firm a little more than a year ago that has brought in branding. If a prison comes to town what will happen to the resort municipality designation? People need to take time to think, and they need to look at the ramifications very carefully before they make a decision to pursue something.
ground and sani-station improvements, is projected to be completed later this month at a cost of $275,000. A new deck and stairs at Rearguard Falls Provincial Parks will allow visitors to safely view the falls and is projected to be completed by September at a cost of $475,000. Jackman Flats Provincial Park, Mount Terry Fox Provincial Park and West Twin Provincial Park should remain unaffected by budget changes for the remainder of 2010. Over the past five years, the B.C. government has invested approximately $107 million to improve park infrastructure and acquire additional parkland. Comments? jnusse@therockymountaingoat.com
Q: Is your political career over or are you willing to consider running for office at any level again? A: At this point, no. I did in 2000, federally, because I was unhappy with the lack of assistance with our federal member of parliament. They had asked me a number of times, the Liberal Party did, to run federally. I took the chance knowing that this riding has not had a Liberal MP since 1968. But I created that way a federal network and received almost three quarters of a million dollars for broadband. So I did not benefit personally, but it benefited Valemount that I ran. I would like to say to the young people, this is your nation, get involved. Not everybody is cut out to get involved politically, but those who are, those who have the propensity for it, or an aptitude for it should get involved. The Rocky Mountain Goat would like to congratulate Jeannette Townsend on being awarded the B.C. Community Achievement Award. Townsend was presented this award at Government House in Victoria on April 28, 2010 by the Honorable Steven Point, Lieutenant Governor or BC, and the Honorable Gordon Campbell, Premier of British Columbia, with the Honorable Shirley Bond, MLA, Mayor Bob Smith, and Councillor Cynthia Piper in attendance.
www.therockymountaingoat.com
Tuesday, June 08, 2010
A9
Gardening with Pete A greenhouse for a green thumb Peter Amyoony Special to The Goat For the past month, I have spent hundreds of hours in my greenhouse and never seem to get tired of being there. Some days, after 12 or 14 hours, I still don’t want to come in at night. Many times I refer to it as my “playpen.” Many people think a greenhouse is beyond their means or their ability but there is nothing further from the truth. One of my first greenhouses was a six by eight foot lean-to on the south side of a woodshed. It was made with scrap lumber, a few old windows and a door and some plastic. The total cost was around 20 dollars for the nails and the plastic. In it I raised my own bedding plants in the spring and grew tomatoes, cucumbers, basil and peppers there all summer. It more than paid for itself in the first summer. I find the best orie ntation for a greenhouse in our valley is east-west with a
solid north wall. If you have a south or south-east exposure for the greenhouse, so much the better. In the spring, dark barrels of water along the north wall can absorb heat during the day and give it off at night when it is needed. A shelf on top of the barrels is the ideal spot for young bedding plants with the heat under their roots. With a few large opening windows on one end and the door on the other, you can have lots of circulation on hot summer days. The rule of thumb for greenhouse venting is to have venting equal to one third of the floor area. (For example, in a 10 by 10 foot greenhouse –100 sq. ft. – you need about 35 sq. ft. of vents.) Adding a cold frame along the south side of the greenhouse is even better. The back of the cold frame can open into the front of the greenhouse. In early spring (April) the cold-frame col-
Laura Keil, The RMG
lects more heat for the greenhouse during the day but can be closed off at night. As the greenhouse becomes more crowded in early May, some of the more hardy plants can be placed in the cold frame. With a tarp covering the lid at night, the heat from a small heater aimed into the cold frame will keep everything in the frame and the greenhouse quite cozy.
In the summer, cucumbers can be planted along the north wall and trained up twine, tomatoes in the main area of the greenhouse and peppers and basil in the shorter cold frame. With the cold-frame cover removed and the windows and door open, there is great circulation on hot summer days. In late summer, when frost threatens, everything
can be closed again to extend the season. The actual construction can be as simple or as fancy as you choose. Keep in mind that a second layer of plastic on the inside of the structure gives you even more protection. I have read in a few greenhouse books that each layer of plastic is the same as moving 500 miles south. For an investment of a few dollars and a day
or so of work, you can have an extra three months of dirt under your fingernails! What more could a gardener ask for? Pete Amyoony is a gardener in the Robson Valley of central B.C. high in the Rocky Mountains near Mount Robson. He has lived, worked and gardened in the Dunster area for almost thirty years.
No local heli-hiking with Canadian Mountain Holidays for second year Laura Keil lkeil@therockymountaingoat.com Canadian Mountain Holidays will not be offering heli-hiking at their Cariboos Lodge again this year. This is the second year they have not offered packages in the Robson Valley. “The world has
changed in the last couple years and we just don’t need the capacity that has spilled into the Cariboos,” says company spokesperson Sarah Pearson. “We’re focussing our summer business on the areas around Banff
that are typically much busier.” C.M.H. has been offering heli-hiking for over 30 years, and started the business at the Cariboos lodge. Last year was the first year they did not offer heli-hiking there.
The company is only offering heli-hiking at the Bobby Burns and Bugaboo lodges near Golden BC. Pearson says the company is open to offering hiking again in the Cariboo Mountains if the market changes.
A three-day helihike can cost between $2,000 and $3,000 dollars per person. Other companies will continue to operate heli-hiking tours in the area. Helimagic will be offering heli-hiking around Mount Robson
park this summer. Canadian Mountain Holidays employs about 500 people in peak season, 450 of whom work at the B.C.-based lodges. Their clientele comes largely from Europe and the U.S.
A10
www.therockymountaingoat.com
Tuesday, June 08, 2010
Twenty for a Toonie: The Classified Adds Our classified adds policy: If it is for free, it is free. Up to twenty words for $2. Thirty words for $3. Forty words for $4 etc. If the asking price is over $499, then we will charge 0.015% of the asking price/week. Nonbusiness announcements are welcome at the same rates. The Rocky Mountain Goat reserves the right to refuse to print any classified submission that is not an advertisement of a private sale, or rental arrangement. Used Building Materials
Hanging propane shop heater for sale. Listed as 65,000 BTU. Comes with mounting bracket. Will consider any offer! Call Joe 250-566-1444. Salvaged metal siding for sale. Perfect for any outbuilding or shop. Approximately 550-600 square foot coverage. Will consider any offer! Call Joe 250-5661444 Varying lengths of florescent light fixtures for sale. Will consider any offer! Call Joe 250-566-1444
Trusses for sale. Approximately 42 foot span. 14 units. Single slant, could be modified with a chalk line and skill saw. Now considering offers! Call Joe 250566-1444
Personals New to town. Looking for an outdoorsy girl who loves the mountains. I am a vegetarian, and I enjoy long periods of solitude. I enjoy climbing mountains and sun bathing. I am good around kids. I hate hunters, and I am an avid supporter of the Sierra Club. Some say that I am arrogant, but it is perfectly natural for me to look down on people from lofty heights. Don’t be fooled. Beneath these layers of impenetrable wool lies a softy who loves to cuddle. Call 566-4606. Ask for Billy.
Plain Talk Horoscopes By Craig Elder, M.A. Economics
Wanted
Aries:
Wanted: Bedroom dresser and bedroom furniture. Call Laura 250-566-5135.
You See? It Works!
You will be challenged on an issue you hold a very stubborn view on. You are wrong.
Taurus: You will finally be recognized for all the hard work & love you have poured into your relationships and job. The realization of how long overdue this is will make you resentful.
Gemini: Everything will come easily to you today. No one will notice if you slack off.
Cancer: Today is a good day to oil the cogs of the capitalist machine.
Leo: Someone close to you will make a fool of themselves today. Try not to give them a hard time.
Place Your Ad Here
Virgo: That person you have been flirting with for 5 months
and you can’t decide whether or not to make a move, just ask already.
Libra: Double check the TV listings. There is a re-run of a great episode from a show you love.
Scorpio: There is travel in your future. You are out of milk. Sagittarius: As you set out on new challenges you have what
Wanted: Local business to sponsor the $2 classified ads Let The Rocky Mountain Goat assist your business with active targeted marketing ideas.
it takes to succeed. That sudoku doesn’t stand a chance.
Capricorn: Your desk isn’t in a very good place. You might stub your toe.
Aquarius: Today is a good day to see if you can still do a cart wheel.
Pieces: Your attempts to be creative receive a poor response. Best stick to the rat race.
The Rocky Mountain Goat will be distributed weekly starting June 22, 2010 Office: 1070, 5th Avenue, Valemount British Columbia
Laura Keil
Telephone: (250) 566-4606 E-mail: jnusse@therockymountaingoat.com, or lkeil@therockymountaingoat.com Web-site: www.therockymountaingoat.com Mail Address: Box 21, Valemount BC, V0E 2Z0
Co-Owner Editor/Reporter lkeil@therockymountaingoat.com
Joseph Nusse
Co-Owner Publisher/Sales jnusse@therrockymountaingoat.com
The Rocky Mountain Goat is produced and distributed by ‘The Rocky Mountain Goat News’ and is subject to copyright. Reproduction, or distribution of any article, photo, or other content must recieve prior consent from Joseph Nusse (Co-Owner/ Publisher), or Laura Keil (Co-Owner/Editor).
Illustrations by Luke Siemens
The Rocky Mountain Goat is a free-distribution newspaper serving a population base of approximately 4000 residents from Blue River and Vlaemount, to McBride and Dome Creek.
Convenience Mail Delivery Subscription For questions, call he Goat at (250) 566-4606, or e-mail jnusse@therockymountiangoat.com
Robson Valley ($70/Year) Subscriber’s Name: P.O. Box #: Street Address: City/Province/Country: Postal/Zip Code:
Within Canada ($90/Year)
International ($90/Year +Postage) e-mail: Phone:
Please check off the appropriate boxes, fill out all of the lines, cut out the form along the dotted line, and mail with a cheque, or money order to: Subscription The Rocky Mountain Goat Box 21 Valemount, BC V0E 2Z0
www.therockymountaingoat.com
Tuesday, June 08, 2010
A11
The Goat congratulates Valemount’s 2010 grads! Coulter Beeson Brandi Berglund David Carson William Deuling Alana Duncan Sereana Fontaine Tyler Fowler Megan Fox Liz Kelly Anina Lafferma David Lerch Jesse Lewis Dawn Maker Christian Matchett Ainsley McGuire Angeline McKirdy Alicia Olson Meetul Patel Lynsie Shalla Tessa Simard Britney Stone Joey Stusiak William VanderZwan Dustin Yetter
Above: Sam Lafferma helps his sister Anina down the gravel road after she shed her heels, which were hurting her feet. Top left: Angie McKirdy, Anina Lafferma and Alana Duncan. Middle left: Christian Matchett and escort Stacey Duncan. Middle right: Britney Stone tucks her billowing dress into the truck next to escort Ben Mundorf. Bottom right: watching the grad slideshow after dinner. Centre bottom: Brandi Berglund poses for cameras during the parent-grad dance. Centre top: Barbara Kelly gives her daughter Liz a kiss.
Visit www.therockymountaingoat.com for more photos and an audio slideshow.
YELLOWHEAD REALTY LTD. JOHN PETERSON - R.I., A.A. / PAT BENNETT BOX 630, VALEMOUNT, BC V0E 2Z0 CANADA PHONE: (250) 566-4438 OR FAX: (250) 566-4460 HOME PHONE (250) 968-4404 website address - www.yellowheadrealty.com email address – yellowheadrealty@telus.net
FA-439V 2.2 ACRES JUST SOUTH OF VALEMOUNT! Approximately 2.2 acres approximately 3 miles south of Valemount. There is no water on property. Power and phone are available. ASKING $69,000.00
VC-130V PRIME LOCATION! Commercial C4 building located on 5th Avenue. High traffic area close to motels. This building was previously used as a restaurant. Building is approximately 2,150 sq. ft. on the main floor with a basement area of approximately 840 sq. ft. Propane forced air heat, municipal water and sewer services. There is a wheelchair ramp and wheelchair washrooms. Approximately 3,000 sq. ft. paved parking lot. Total area of property is approximately 0.956 acres. ASKING $300,000.00
FA-438V BUILD YOUR HOME ON THIS PROPERTY! Approximately 20 acres south of Valemount BC. Driveway and building site in place. Building and septic sites approved. 60’ drilled well w/50 gallons per minute. Power and phone available. View lot with lots of trees. Other building site further from highway as well. ASKING $93,900.00
FA-436V TRAILS TO PLAY ON WINTER AND SUMMER! Miles and miles of Crown land in your back yard. Approximately 22.399 acres with river frontage. Hydro line on property. Fully treed, great mountain views, access to ATV, sled and horse trails. Geo tech study completed. Just a 15 minute drive south of Valemount. ASKING $325,000.00
FA-458T IN THE FOOTHILLS OF THE ROCKIES! Approximately 43.56 acres with view of the Cariboo Mountains. Property is in the Agricultural Land Reserve and is located in the vicinity of Tete Jaune. The property is mostly cleared and is fenced. ASKING $239,000.00
FA-461T HOBBY FARM WITH CHARACTER! Approximately 11.84 acres (after subdivision). This property has lots to offer. Approximately 1,960 sq. ft. log home. There is a barn, guest cabin, machine shed, tool shed, pole shed, insulated chicken house, corral and green house. This property is in a private setting located in Tete Jaune. ASKING $429,000.00
FA-446D BE NATURE’S NEIGHBOR IN A MOST PRIVATE SETTING! Log home overlooking the Fraser River. Two titles, 212 acres with 100 acres in hay. This quiet, beautiful place has an approximately 2,80 sq. ft. 11/2 story log home with open ceiling, hot tub and more. It also has a 40’ X 60’ shop with floor heat and a 16’ ceiling plus large barn. The yard has a garden area and flowerbeds. Property has 3 year round creeks. Lots of potential. ASKING $850,000.00 VC-118V INCOME-PRODUCING PROPERTY! 1 ½ story commercial building on large lot on 5th Avenue. Currently rented as a retail outlet. High traffic area. ASKING $149,900.00 YES, THIS IS THE PRICE!
YR-R325V FINISH THE UPSTAIRS YOUR WAY! Approximately 730 sq. ft. on the second floor to design as you wish. Main floor has approximately 1,349 sq. ft. Main floor has 3 bedrooms, 2 full baths, living room, dining room, kitchen and utility room. Includes fridge, stove, dishwasher, washer and dryer. Large deck at rear of house. Unfinished basement with outside entrance. Electric/wood heat, wood heater in basement. Situated on large corner lot, 17,566 sq. ft. Yard is partially fenced and landscaped. Close to recreation center and elementary school. ASKING $264,900.00
YR-R322V MOTIVATED SELLER! OPEN TO OFFERS!!!!! Approximately 1,022 sq ft of living space on the main floor with a 10’x26’ attached garage. The main floor has a nice size kitchen w/fridge/stove, spacious living room, 2 bedrooms/4 piece bathroom. Home has electric heat/wood heater. There’s an approx 8’x13’ deck off the kitchen. The lower level has a newly finished 2 bedroom potential income suite, approximately 1,022 sq ft. The suite includes fridge and stove. Lot size is 0.2 acres. ASKING $269,000.00
YR-R328V COUNTRY ATMOSPHERE! Minutes from Valemount. Two titles, total of approximately 5.17 acres. This home has approximately 2,240 sq. ft. of living space. It has 2 bedrooms up and 2 down. Large deck and patio. Wood/oil heat and osmosis water system. Includes fridge, stove, washer, dryer and window coverings. There are two wells, 60’ drilled well and a shallow well. There is a 32’ X 50’ drive through quonset shop/220 amp service. Property has greenhouse, garden site, wood shed, storage shed. Well maintained yard. Second lot has a horse corral/outbuilding on it. ASKING $369,000.00
YR-R326V EXECUTIVE HOME! Approximately 2,378 sq. ft. custom built home. Home has kitchen, formal dining room, family room, large living room with vaulted ceiling, 3 bedrooms, 21/2 baths, utility room and large foyer. An electric fireplace in living room/propane fireplace in family room. Floor heating. Includes fridge, stove, dishwasher, and all custom window coverings. Backyard is completely fenced with a 6’ fence. Property is fully landscaped w/shrubs in back yard, garden spot and garden shed. Paved driveway and heated double car garage. This custom home has too many features to list. ASKING $379,900.00
VC-129V LOOKING FOR A NEW CAREER? Wellestablished business opportunity. Leased premises. Franchised auto glass and accessories shop and custom vinyl sign shop. Also selling pet supplies, home electronics, pellet stove supplies, office supplies and much more. The business includes a 16’ cube van, forklift, skate sharpener and more. Inventory is not included. Building has 3 phase power and is approximately 2,366 sq. ft. The current owner has an agreement to purchase land and building. This is a well established business with proven income. ASKING $190,000.00
CALL YELLOWHEAD REALTY LTD. FOR MORE INFORMATION!
DATA IS FROM SOURCES BELIEVED TO BE RELIABLE BUT ACCURACY IS NOT GUARANTEED