AHN August 3, 2023

TAKING CARE OF

Hot discussions lit on regional fire training facility

Justice Institute of BC, and the Vancouver Island Emergency Response Academy are a few of the institution relied upon for certifications, Blackburn said, noting each department usually has a preferred provider.

cluding flights, hotel, and the training itself.

A robust discussion on fire service needs was had by the Peace River Regional District at their July 20 board meeting, following a presentation on a feasibility study for a regional fire training centre.

Project Manager Dan Blackburn with Transitional Solutions Inc. presented the findings of the study, answering questions and concerns from PRRD directors.

The purpose of the study was to see if the PRRD would benefit from acquiring the Dawson Creek fire training centre, and to examine models for operation of the centre.

Blackburn said they consulted with ten fire services in the region - eight in-person and two virtually, to assess how training is currently delivered. Local departments already lean on each other, he noted.

“We realized early on that there was a strong regional fire service collaboration. So, the fire departments in the region,

you know, they’re all facing the same challenges, they are collaborating and that’s one of the key factors that could make this successful,” said Blackburn.

Qualified training instructors already live in the Peace, he added, noting they could draw on their expertise. Blackburn also feels a regional training program is a more financially sustainable model, as opposed to departments holding individual programs.

The largest expense is sending firefighters away for practical training, noted Blackburn. The facility needs some work to be compliant as a training centre - with warped panels needing replacement, a new non-combustible pathway into the tower, and an optional concrete pad.

“The Dawson Creek fire training centre is adequate for that mission. It’s a very wellbuilt facility and it’s a great starting point for a regional training centre,” he said, noting departments have struggled with meeting minimum training standards since they were nationally implemented in 2014.

The College of the Rockies,

A full-time manager position would need to be created to operate a regional centre, says Blackburn, preferably someone with a background in fire service training. That person could oversee scheduling at the facility and report to protective services with the PRRD, while a minimum of four-man crews would be needed to host any training.

The Dawson Creek fire training centre was previously used by other regional fire services, said Blackburn, noting they found it difficult to justify the cost due to being legally obligated to use City of Dawson Creek staff.

“They found it a little bit expensive, because they were paying the unionized fire fighters to do the training,” Blackburn said, noting it resulted in Dawson Creek being the only department to use the facility.

The City of Dawson Creek has since offered management of the facility to the PRRD, which led to the feasibility study, added Blackburn.

“It’s a great resource and it’s underutilized. And we’re spending a lot of money sending people away when we don’t really have to,” he said.

Taylor Mayor Brent Taillefer said the facility’s funding model is considerably higher than what they already spend to send their firefighters away for training, which is roughly $1,500 for each member, in-

“This facility is you know, for Taylor, too far away to come for an evening training, it would have to be a weekend training that we would have to do, which is what we currently do when we send people down to Comox,” he said. “So, I just want to address that - I don’t see it being cheaper.”

The funding model proposed by the study breaks down costs by municipality as follows, with an annual operating cost and a one-time capital investment cost:

Dawson Creek / Pouce Coupe - annual of $118,435 and capital investment of $405,212.

Hudson’s Hope Fire Protection Only - annual of $4,690 and capital fee of $11,355.

Tumbler Ridge - annual of $27,079 and capital fee of $65,569.

Chetwynd - annual of $32,245 and capital $85,341.

Taylor - annual of $27,071 and capital of $65,548.

Moberly Lake Protectionannual of $1,681 and capital of $4,070.

Toms Lake Fire Protection Area - annual of $15,098 and capital of $36,558.

Charlie Lake Fire Protection Area - annual of $41,828 and capital of $101,282.

In total, it would cost local municipalities just under a million dollars or $927,626 to create the regional training centre under the PRRD, not including other management expenses.

Tom Summer, Alaska Highway News, Local JournalismInitiative. Have a story idea or opinion? Email tsummer@ahnfsj.ca

Flyers This Week: The Brick, Home Hardware, Canadian Tire, Shoppers, Safeway, Walmart, Peavey Mart

Tom Summer Local Journalism Initiative Reporter

Canadian legend Randy Bachman, left, was a headliner at the Energetic County Fair last week. Bachman, former member of BTO and The Guess Who, played all the hits from his robust catalogue. JOAN ROBERTSON

RCMP look to speak to potential witness

Fort St John RCMP are requesting the public’s assistance in identifying a man who may have information in relation to an on-going police investigation in order to speak with him.

He was captured on surveillance video in the area, around the time of the incident. The man may be a

potential witness and was seen riding a BMX bike with purple tires.

Fort St John RCMP continue to investigate and are asking anyone who has information about this man to contact the Fort St John RCMP at 250-787-8100.

Should you wish to re -

main anonymous, please call Crime Stoppers at 1-800-222-TIPS (8477) or submit a tip online at www. northernbccrimestoppers. ca.

editor@dcdn.ca

City of Fort St. John calls on Uber to drive some business

Tom Summer Local Journalism Initiative Reporter

The City of Fort St. John says they’re open to Uber operating in the North Peace and would support drivers making applications for licences.

City council made a motion to receive an administration report on ride sharing and taxi licensing at their July 24 meeting, prompting discussion on the topic.

Two companies have expressed interest in entering the taxi market, in addition to community interest in ride sharing.

Councillor Byron Stewart noted that Uber licences have become available in BC, and feels it would be a suitable alternative to the lacking taxi services in Fort St. John.

“I don’t think it’s readily known throughout the province, let alone our community, that Uber licences are available.

NoticeofPublicHearing

ZoningAmendmentBylawNO.2524,2023

When:

Monday,August14, 2023at6:00pm

Where: CharlieLake CommunityHall

12717CharlieHallAve CharlieLake,B.C

ForMore Information: Contact: Development Services 250-784-3200

TollFree: 1-800-670-7773

Email: planning@prrd.bc.ca

Viewapplicationsat: www.prrd.bc.ca

CharlieLakeArea

FILENO.23-006ZN

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And to be blunt, our taxi service sucks,” he said. “I know it’s a local company, I wish they were doing better, but they’re not.”

Stewart added that he would encourage any entrepreneurs interested in the licences to contact Uber and the Passenger Transportation Board, who governs the the licencing process.

“It is detrimental to our community, the state that our taxi service is in right now,” said Stewart.

Councillor Trevor Bolin noted that a resident had applied to Uber three months ago, and was told no by the company.

Councillor Gord Klassen asked about how much input the city has over evaluating taxi services, quality control, requesting accessible cabs, and how oversight through the transportation board is handled.

“Is it something we can do, that’s going to be meaningful as far as us saying, you know, this service is not up to par, the challenges we have. You know, one of my questions was can we require an accessible taxi?” he said. “Is there an avenue

that we have?”

Letters of support were previously sent to the transportation board by the city for two companies looking to operate taxis, with a letter alluding to the poor taxi services, explained city CAO Milo MacDonald.

“We wrote letters of support for two companies that were contemplating of applying. One has applied, and one, it’s not clear whether they’ve applied or not,” said MacDonald.

The accessible cab never came to fruition despite one of the local taxi companies holding the licence for one. Stewart said he would like to invite the transportation board to see Fort St. John’s taxi services in person. The closest board office is located in Kelowna.

Council also voted in favour of setting up a meeting with the Passenger Transportation Board at UBCM to discuss ridesharing and the state of local taxi services.

Tom Summer, Alaska Highway News, Local Journalism Initiative. Have a story idea or opinion? Email tsummer@ ahnfsj.ca

Downtown break and enters continue in Fort St. John: RCMP

Fort St John RCMP investigate a recent run of commercial break and enters RCMP are looking for public assistance regarding a rash of Break and Enters to commercial business in the downtown core during the month of June.

“The Fort St John RCMP want to reassure the public that the recent commercial break and enters continue to remain active investigations and is being aided by the Fort St John Target Team”, said Constable Chad

Writtencommentsorconcernsaccepteduntil4:00pm August14,2023.DocumentsmaybeviewedMonday-Friday, 8:30am-4:30pmat1981AlaskaAvenueDawsonCreek, BCV1G4H8 ThispublichearinghasbeendelegatedtotheDirectorof ElectoralAreaC.

Neustaeter with Fort St John RCMP. “As a result of the current investigations, there is reason to believe the recent spike in Beak and Enters is likely being conducted by a single individual.”

The Fort St John RCMP continue to investigate and are asking anyone who has has seen or heard anything in the recent weeks, that may contribute to the investigation, to contact the Fort St John RCMP at 250-787-8100.

TyLee

County fair brings legends to the Peace

The second Energetic County Fair had amazing attendance, with people travelling from far to catch a Canadian and American music legend.

American country music singing legend and songwriter Tanya Tucker, as well as Canadian guitarist, singer, and songwriter Randy Bachman headlined performances.

Chapel Hart performed where members took time out of their day to wander among locals, introducing themselves and engaging in conversations with fans.

“This whole event was totally wonderful listening to all the groups singing especially Randy Bachman and Chapel Hart,” says Joan Robertson who attended the event. “I unfortunately missed Tanya Tucker due to the storm,

but the most memorable part was meeting and chatting with Chapel Hart.”

Simon Kaos was also in Fort St John for the county fair, where they performed and shared the stage with legendary Randy Bachman on Friday night. Simon Kaos was formed in Fort St John in the 80’s before rising to the top of the club circuit, filling venues across Canada.

Despite mother nature’s best attempts the show went on, losing a bit of the crowd to the changing weather with the majority toughing it out.

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tbuck@ahnfsj.ca

Suspect in custody after home invasion death

July 18 saw RCMP respond to the complaint of a home invasion in the 2100 Block of Upland Street in Prince George which has resulted in the death of a 22-year-old woman.

RCMP initially reported the

July 19 incident as occurring on Tuesday, June 18.

July 21 saw RCMP announce an adult man has been arrested in connection with the incident.

While charges have not yet

been laid in connection with this investigation, the suspect remains in custody on prior unrelated matters.

“No further information available. More details may be released as they become

available. The investigation is ongoing,” said officials.

This is the second home similar incident in less than 24 hours. On Monday, Prince George RCMP responded to a report of a woman dead in a

Wildfires putting strain on local Search and Rescue

Tom Summer Local Journalism Initiative Reporter

Local Search and Rescue groups had a request for financial support read this week by the Peace River Regional District at their July 20 board meeting, citing that resources for SAR were depleted by the intense wildfire season.

The board did vote in favour of issuing $10,000 to North Peace Search and Rescue, South Peace Emergency Response Team, and Tumbler Ridge Search and Rescue to be split equally among the three.

While Area C director Brad Sperling noted that six million was just recently released by the province to fund search and rescue, and was in favour of dispensing the additional relief funds - he further cautioned how the PRRD is bound by requisition limits, as the money was drawn from a health services function.

“We need to really watch what we’re doing - we can’t be taking one to another, or maxing ourselves out to the point

where we find ourselves in trouble down the road,” Sperling said, as the function is tied to several initiatives.

Pouce Coupe councillor Marcel Woodill is a former president for the South Peace Search and Rescue and noted he’s aware of the funding, but cautioned that it’s not equally distributed among the 80 SAR groups in BC - it’s allocated by call volume, and covers less than 50 percent of total operation costs in the province.

“The reason why this is coming forward is because the teams in the north did put out extra time, extra money, that were related directly to the fires,” he said, noting reimbursement rates from the province simply haven’t covered the additional costs.

“We actually had volunteer groups putting out their own funds in order to do this - they were going quite steady,” Woodill said. Volunteers also do an incredible amount of fundraising, he added - everything from selling hot dogs to parking cars.

Fort St. John Mayor Lilia Hansen agreed with budgetary concerns, but commended the SAR groups for putting their own money forward to serve the community, and said the financial ask was reasonable.

“I am in support of this and primarily because this organization is one that they’re willing to put their own skin in the game, their own money to help others,” she said.

Area B director Jordan Kealy was also in favour of giving the additional funds, noting that winter fires have been popularized as ‘zombie fires’ in the media, downplaying the seriousness of the public’s homes being at risk.

“I think year to year, things can change. And if this is a scenario where they need a bit more money when it comes to

home in the 1500-block of Victoria Street.

Anyone with any information on this is asked to call the RCMP at (250) 561-3300.

editor@dcdn.ca

the funding, I think it’s a vital resource,” he said. “We also have to look at whether or not we’re dealing with wintering fires as well, and the different scenarios that we have throughout the winter to spring.”

Tom Summer, Alaska Highway News, Local Journalism Initiative. Have a story idea or opinion? Email tsummer@ ahnfsj.ca

FACE-OFF: 2023 Canadian Women’s U18 Hockey Championship announced for Dawson Creek

The top female under-18 hockey players in the country will be headed to Mile Zero this November.

Hockey Canada announced this morning the 2023 National Women’s Under-18 Cham-

pionship is headed to Dawson Creek from November 5 to 11.

Eight teams will represent their home provinces/regions and will be facing off in Dawson Creek and the week will be an opportunity for Hockey

NoticeofPublicHearing

ZoningAmendmentBylawNO.2505,2023

When: August15,2023

6PM

Where: BuickCreek CommunityHall 15288Beatton AirportRd, Buick,B.C

ForMore

Information:

Contact: Development Services 250-784-3200

TollFree: 1-800-670-7773

Email: planning@prrd.bc.ca

Viewapplicationsat: www.prrd.bc.ca

BeattonRiverArea

Canada’s scouting staff to evaluate players from across Canada.

“We have established a great relationship with Dawson Creek, and we are thrilled to be heading back to the city with

the 2023 National Women’s Under 18 Championship,” said Dean McIntosh, Vice-President, Strategic Partnerships & Community Impact with Hockey Canada.

The relationship began in 2009 when the City of Dawson Creek hosted Canada’s Women’s Olympic Team’s summer camp leading up to

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the 2010 Olympics, and with the 2012 National Women’s Under-18 Championship, the World Under-17 Hockey Challenge in 2015 and 2017, the 2019 World Junior A Challenge, and once again, the National Women’s Under-18 Championship. editor@dcdn.ca

Missing man found deceased

While RCMP were not confirming at press time - other medias are reporting at press time Ron Pilgrim was found deceased nearly a week after being reported missing on the

south side of Dawson Creek. There will be more to report next week.

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TW Buck Reporter/Photographer

A classic car show and shine, huge bouncy castle, face painting, and a BBQ fundraiser raised money for Adaura’s wish foundation and DIPG awareness on July 22.

The event was well attended by the community, and had activities the whole family could take part in while enjoying a Saturday FSJ afternoon.

The charity BBQ’s proceeds will go to the DIPG - Adaura’s Wish Foundation. According to officials, Fort City teamed up with the Cayford family to collect enough signatures last year to pass Bill-260, which is responsible for making May 17

International DIPG/DMG day - to increase awareness of the devastating childhood disease.

“We hold three events each year for two years now to raise money for the awareness of DIPG,” says Laney Myles, Sales Consultant & Fleet Manager. “All of the events our BBQs held on our lot in the summer months and the money goes towards the foundation. They say it’s a very rare disease but multiple kids in FSJ alone have died from it.”

In the last five years two young girls have lost their lives to DIPG in Fort St. John, which is a rare brain cancer that only affects children.

“It is very important for businesses to help their local community and support the people that support them! It brings the community closer together, and after the past few years, we all certainly need that,” says Jodie Klym, General Manager at Fort City. “I am proud to live in a small community such as Fort St. John, where everyone is willing to help out their friends, family & neighbours in need.”

Get news delivered to your inbox six days a week, subscribe to our newsletter. tbuck@ahnfsj.ca

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Top - Cailey Mclarry and her son Braxtyn, pause for a minute, to get their photo taken in front of the bouncy castle, while above, Brayden Watier running the grill at

26th anniversary of Fort City Chrysler. Below, Jodie Klym presents the proceeds jar to

Cayford family

Regulator to expedite review of BC Hydro’s plans

The BC Utilities Commission (BCUC) is revising the scope and timetable for reviewing BC Hydro’s integrated resource plan, which was recently changed to reflect a need for more clean electricity.

BC Hydro filed its Integrated Resource Plan (IRP) in 2021, but last month announced an update to it. The BCUC was still in the process of reviewing 2021 IRP when BC Hydro updated it.

Whereas the previous IRP and load forecast did not foresee the need for any new

power for the foreseeable future, the updated IRP and now calls for about 4,000 gigawatt hours (GWh) of clean power. About 3,000 GWh of that power would come from new “greenfield” generation sources, which means BC Hydro plans to issue a new power call. The last power call was 15 years ago and gave rise to a multi-billion dollar private power sector.

As BIV recently reported, experts believe most of the new power to be acquired in B.C. will likely come from new wind

farm projects.

The BCUC is a utility watchdog responsible for ensuring ratepayers are protected. Now that BC Hydro has changed its load forecast and updated its IRP, the BCUC says its ongoing review of BC Hydro’s 2021 IRP will be changed to focus more immediately on BC Hydro’s new load forecasts and its near-term plans to acquire additional energy.

“The BCUC has pivoted the proceeding timetable to focus, in the near term, on BC Hydro’s

load forecast scenarios and planned energy acquisition to address the accelerated timeline that BC Hydro has indicated it needs to acquire new energy,” the BCUC says.

The BCUC now expects to review those two issues on a priority basis, and aims to compete the review by the first quarter of 2024.

The BCUC will likely hear from critics worried about increasing electricity bills that BC Hydro does not need to finance any new power generation.

It has been argued, for example, that BC Hydro could address additional power needs by putting the Burrard thermal power plant back into operation, or using its entitlement under the Columbia River Treaty to use the hydro power that it currently sells to the U.S.

Proceeding documents on the BCUC’s review of BC Hydro’s integrated resource plans can be found here.

nbennett@biv.com

Saulteau partnering with West Moberly and Chetwynd to map heat risk

Tom Summer Local Journalism Initiative Reporter

The Saulteau and West Moberly First Nations have begun heat mapping this week, to better understand local weather patterns. They’ve also partnered with the District of Chetwynd for the initiative.

As of July 25, five heat monitor sensors were installed in the community, with Saulteau First Nations making the announcement on social media. The sensors will be in place for 30 days to track local weather, and Saulteau has asked the public to not disturb the devices.

They added that the sensors have not been placed anywhere near private residences and culturally or ecologically sensitive areas.

$60,000 in grant funding was secured in June for the project, utilizing funding from the Union of BC Municipalities under their Community Emergency Preparedness Fund. The fund was created to better understand and mitigate the impacts of climate change, with previous intakes in 2022 and 2021.

In 2021, BC experienced a heat dome, with temperatures spiking to record high levels

across the province, a threat to many communities. The BC Coroners Service confirmed there were 691 heat-related deaths during the dome.

BC is also experiencing one of the worst wildfire seasons on record, with severe drought. About 400 fires are actively burning across the province. July is also being globally considered as the hottest month on Earth in 120,000 years, according to climate scientists.

Tom Summer, Alaska Highway News, Local Journalism Initiative. Have a story idea or opinion? Email tsummer@ ahnfsj.ca

Provincial U17 rowing champion from the North Peace!

TW Buck Reporter

Adriana Hartnell and Charlotte MacGowan have won the provincial championship for U17 rowing on July 22, and were rewarded gold medals for their efforts.

“Winning provincials was very exciting.  Being new to the sport, and new to my club, my goal was to podium finish. I was hoping for a bronze medal.  My rowing partner and I had only a couple of weeks to train together, so we needed to work quickly on a racing plan and getting comfortable with each other,” says Hartnell. “Winning provincials was a very joyful moment for us. We exceeded our

goal and managed to get gold, which was a great accomplishment.”

Hartnell, who just celebrated her 16 birthday was born and raised in Fort St. John before her family moved to Tsawwassen in 2022 where she picked up rowing and joined the Delta Deas Rowing Club.

“I played hockey for 10 years in the Peace region, and I also competed on volleyball and basketball. I joined CrossFit when I was 10 years old, and it inspired me to try rowing when I moved as I trained on rowing machines,” says Hartnell.

In June, Hartnell competed in the National Rowing Championship

in Toronto, where she placed 6th in her single boat during time trials, before switching clubs and joining the UBC Jr. Thunder out of Richmond.

“Since her first regatta in October of 2022, she has grown tremendously as an athlete. Adriana made it on to her club’s record board in the female U19 division, sitting behind 2 much older, more experienced rowers,” says Carin Bueckert, grandmother of Hartnell. “It wasn’t testing night, and she wasn’t trying for a record, but she achieved one anyway. She really puts in the work 4-5 times a week.”

photo - Charlotte MacGowan left, and Adriana Hartnell.

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LETTER to the EDITOR: Fort St. John Nuisance Abatement and Cost Recovery Bylaw 2523, 2020

Good day -

I write to ask the City to utilize the two aforementioned bylaws to compel the Salvation Army and the Alliance Church to remove the offending refuse and litter and cease abetting an ongoing nuisance.

I am cognizant of the plight of the downtrodden: however, that doesn’t permit making 99th Avenue an offence

to our City’s sense of decorum. Being homeless is not a right to litter, collect garbage, scatter same, etc. If the residents of the complex are incapable of cleaning up after themselves then the operators of the complex should be doing so on a daily basis.

I note the several tent encampment west of the Alliance Church has dwindled to a single tent with a fence now erected: this is contrary to the

above bylaw as well. I ask the Alliance church be directed to remedy same forthwith.

Asking that they cease acting like invading Visigoths is not to be construed as an attack on the homeless or their ethnicity: it is asking them to obey the law.

BC Ministers’ weigh in on US softwood lumber final ruling

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A pair of provincial ministers have weighed in after countervailing and antidumping duties have been applied to Canada’s softwood lumber exports to the United States:

Bruce Ralston, Minister of Forests, and Jagrup Brar, Minister of State for Trade, have issued the following joint statement in response to the US Department of Commerce’s final determination in its fourth administrative review

regarding countervailing and antidumping duties applied to Canada’s softwood lumber exports.

“We strongly disagree with the United States Department of Commerce’s claims. The federal and BC governments have been clear and adamant from the outset: duties on BC and Canadian softwood lumber exports to the US are unjustified,” they said in a Thursday statement.

“British Columbia’s

52,000 hard-working forest industry workers deserve better than these unwarranted barriers to their prosperity, and we will continue to fight against these duties.”

The pair added US duties are hurting people on both sides of the shared border, increasing material costs for Americans and creating uncertainty for forestry professionals and communities in BC, and Canada.

editor@dcdn.ca

Steven Cope Fort St. John

Construction workers removing old sidewalks, and prepping to install the improvements. TW BUCK

Comment: BC should fight to keep the RCMP

Paul Walton

Turning the RCMP into a federal investigative service, and away from street-level law enforcement, would be a bad deal for B.C. communities that have relied on the Mounties for policing for nearly 75 years.

Ottawa might have its own motives for contemplating such a sea change, but within B.C. there is no valid reason to turf the RCMP. The result would be the return to a provincial police service, a patchwork of municipal departments, or the chaos of both.

Either way, the cost of such a shift would be immense. There is no doubt that the current cost of RCMP contract-policing beats the alternative.

If B.C. and its local governments were to be forced to fund a provincial police service, or start new municipal departments, small cities like Nanaimo and Prince George, for example, would see property taxes, which spiked into high single-digit increases this year, rise exponentially into the double digits and never come down again.

Provincial and community leaders better start not only sharpening their pencils to calculate the adverse economics of such a potential move, but separate fact from fiction about

the RCMP. They need to be prepared for a possible fight to keep contract policing.

The Victoria and Vancouver regions, where municipal policing is well established, present a different problem. Policing costs in those regions could be brought into line by what many see as, to quote Bugs Bunny, “fightin’ woids”: creating single regional police services.

In the Capital Regional District, as observed many times before, it makes no sense to have four municipal police departments and three RCMP detachments. Rising population and density across the CRD only increase the complications in maintaining separate police services.

In the Lower Mainland, after all the drama of the past months in Surrey, we should not be surprised if one day we see the recently established Surrey police service integrated into a single Metro Vancouver police service.

But in B.C.’s less densely populated areas there is no imperative, economic or otherwise, to end RCMP contract policing. No models have surfaced showing that B.C. communities would be better served and at lower cost by provincial or municipal police.

Outside of the Victoria or Vancouver regions only one

B.C. city, Nelson, has its own police service. Laying out the masses of cash that would be required to reacquire the resources the RCMP brings — from air services to dog training — would be a vast boondoggle.

If there is an economic advantage to ending contract policing in B.C. it perhaps lies east of the Rockies, in Ottawa. Mandarins there may think that B.C. communities are getting too good a deal and would rather shift those resources into something with a greater utility (to them) and higher return on investment.

The only way B.C. might consider scrapping the RCMP would be if Ottawa gives a poison pill in the form of extortionate cost increases for renewed contract services.

If for now replacing the RCMP in B.C. is not necessary on economic grounds, at least not from a B.C. perspective, then others may argue there are political reasons to shift away from the Mounties.

Grousing and complaining about the RCMP in B.C. is something a provincial sport. But as with the economic angle, there is no conclusive evidence that incompetency or ineptitude within the Mounties is such that the best solution is to boot them out.

RCMP training remains among the best in the world; and resourcing, though challenging, has not dipped to critical levels. Could morale among rank and file officers be better? Probably. But the vast majority of RCMP officers still do their work effectively and communities remain well served.

Those who point to various scandals, missteps, and errors in the RCMP need to distinguish between problems in policing in general and those peculiar to the RCMP.

Police services in the United Kingdom and the United States are also under immense pressure to reform after scandals and serious missteps. A new policing structure for B.C. would bring not only many of the same problems attributed to the RCMP, but possibly new and more intractable ones.

Other complaints about the RCMP: Its officers are exempt from the provincial policing discipline process; the use of so called Mr. Big stings; their historic role in the residential

school system. These and more need to be acknowledged and addressed, and some have, but none amount to valid grounds to replace the RCMP in B.C.

Finally, there is the concern about who the RCMP answer to. That politically loaded question has only one sensible answer: The officer in the execution of her or his duty answers only to the law.

After that, the question of whether Mountie managers ought to be beholden to Ottawa or Victoria depends on how democratic power is being used or abused in each capital. That is a debate with no right answer.

As Canadians we love to be sentimental about our red-clad Mounties. But we also know when to get serious about money and maintaining law and order.

Jettison the sentimentality, for both Mounties and madein-B.C. cops, and keeping the RCMP in B.C. is the only sensible conclusion.

Rain brings small ‘reprieve’ in BC’s north, but wildfire conditions dire elsewhere

The number of active wildfires in British Columbia has dropped sharply to about 400 as cooler weather and recent rain has cut the fire risk, but another hot spell could wipe out those gains as large sections of the province wilt under severe drought.

Provincial fire information officer Mike McCulley said the BC Wildfire Service is grateful for rain in B.C.’s north, saying it has allowed for “a small piece of reprieve.”

“It really helps us to get a handle on the fires and make some good progress,” he said in an interview Wednesday. “We’ve adjusted our tactics accordingly to try to take advantage of this window.”

The service is reporting just 10 new fires in the last 24 hours amid the easing conditions.

However, McCulley said this will be short lived.

“We will be back into some very intense and dire wildfire conditions and extreme fire behaviour in the southeast part of the province especially, as they received virtually no precipitation through the last few days.”

The BC Wildfire Service website shows small pockets of extreme wildfire risk, mainly in the southeast, where 40 of the province’s 412 active wildfires were listed as burning late Wednesday. That total is down by about 70 fires since Monday.

Three of B.C.’s 21 wildfires of note, which are blazes that are highly visible or potentially damaging, are located in southeastern B.C., including the suspected lightning-caused fire that broke out Monday west of Invermere.

That blaze has now charred just under 10 square kilometres of mountainous terrain, forcing evacuations and alerts covering a ski resort and more than 1,000 properties. The wildfire service has said winds that fanned the flames Tuesday were expected to ease Wednesday.

Invermere Mayor Al Miller said he was notified of the fire on Monday afternoon, and the news immediately sparked concern for livestock at nearby ranches.

“That was the sort of com-

ing together of the community,” he said in an interview Wednesday.

He was impressed by how quickly people co-ordinated the safe removal of the horses from the threatened properties, he added.

There have been no reports of humans or livestock being injured and structures aren’t actively being threatened, Miller said, adding that most of the smoke, visible earlier this week, has also cleared.

“I’m quite hopeful,” he said. “They (firefighters) really hit it hard and I think it made a real difference because today, although the fire grew and such, it’s not as evident here.”

Tuesday’s strong winds in the southeast also forced evacuation orders for a handful of properties, including the Nipika Mountain Resort, as an almost three-week-old, nearly 11-square-kilometre wildfire flared just east of Invermere.

Structure protection specialists have been assigned to that area while a heavy equipment crew is working to build guards around the properties.

The Ministry of Emergency Management and Climate Readiness said more than 1,000 people are under evacuation order across B.C., while more than 4,000 more have been warned to be ready to leave on very short notice.

Of the 1,493 fires recorded in B.C. since the start of this fire season, the wildfire service says just over 1,000 have been caused by lightning, human activity is linked to 367 others and the cause of 88 is undetermined.

Almost 15,000 square kilometres of trees, bush and grassland has been lost to wildfires since April 1, breaking the record set in 2018.

McCulley said though the

statistics are dire it is still early in the season.

“We’ve got a long way to go,” he said. “We are very quickly going to move back into a warming and drying trend, particularly in the south.”

Environment Canada is predicting another hot spell is on the way by next week, with highs above 30 for many regions.

Vancouver Island and most of central and northeastern B.C. are ranked at the highest possible drought level, while the Peace River, southeast, Haida Gwaii and inner south coast are just one step lower on the five-level drought scale.

Brieanna Charlebois, The Canadian Press

0167

Tom Summer Local Journalism Initiative Reporter

At 30 years old, Misti Collinson never thought she’d be in a wheelchair, following complications from a surgery which left her clinically dead for six minutes, revived, and placed into a coma.

Over this past weekend, Collinson was readmitted to the Fort St. John hospital, due to going septic again. The young woman says it’s been a struggle to get the care she needs, with her home being renovated to be wheelchair accessible.

“It’s rough, because my house isn’t accessible, it’s a chore every day for me just to get down the hallway,” said Collinson.

Collinson suffers from Polycystic Ovarian Syndrome (PCOS) and underwent two surgeries to have the cysts removed in 2018. She underwent a third surgery in 2019 to remove her right ovary.

Following the third surgery, Collinson began experiencing complications, with blood work showing she had an infection, but hospital staff were unable to pinpoint where it was coming from.

“I was good for about five months and then I started get-

Tom Summer Local Journalism Initiative Reporter

Overdose prevention services are looking a little different in Northeast BC, with the closure of an OPS site in the Nawican Friendship Centre in Dawson Creek and the loss of an OPS van in Fort St. John last fall due to vandalism.

Northern Health has previously confirmed they’ll be moving ahead with a health services centre at 10067 - 100 Avenue in Fort St. John, despite

ting chronic pain again,” she said. “What’s going on? Something’s wrong, and it was an infection from the surgeries, and it festered inside of me for three years.”

By January 2022, Collinson was diagnosed with sepsis, and the condition worsened in November of the same year, with the infection attacking her organs and causing heart failure. Collinson says she was pronounced clinically dead for six minutes.

“I’m honestly a miracle. They don’t know how I woke up and was able to talk, they thought I was going to be a total vegetable and honestly, I don’t remember anything from the last year,” said Collinson.

Collinson was then transferred to Kelowna where she was put in an induced coma for 16 days. After waking up very confused and sick, she was transferred in December 2022 back to Fort St. John to recover.

The ordeal has left Collinson in a wheelchair due to nerve damage in her left leg. Collinson says she feels lucky to be alive, but will need heart monitoring for the rest of her life as the back wall of her heart was scarred during her illness.

“I have heart damage, I have brain damage, my whole left leg has nerve damage, it

some opposition from the local business community.

“We will continue to engage with the community and the neighbouring establishments as we begin offering services,” wrote Northern Health Chief Operating Officer Angela De Smit in a May 29, 2023 letter to the District of Hudson’s Hope.

Services to be offered include life skills support, healthcare and treatment referrals, mental health and addictions support, Overdose Prevent Services (OPS), and primary health services.

most likely isn’t going to come back fully and I probably will never be able to walk without a walker again,” said Collinson. “And so, I will be in a wheelchair and have a walker for the rest of my life.”

She also suffers from chronic migraines, memory loss, spots in her vision, and brain fog. Collinson was released from the hospital on July 15 and was home only a few days before being taken back on July 23.

“I have severe PTSD from all this now - I literally wake up in the middle of the night crying,” said Collinson of her struggles in the healthcare system.

It’s been difficult to live a normal life, says Collinson, who would much rather be out with friends, camping and being active. Art is also a huge passion of hers, as Collinson wanted to

Northern Health confirmed that they’re operating another fleet vehicle and using a tent for safe inhalation in the meantime.

Southbound, OPS is looking similar in Dawson Creek, with a van being operated for mobile services, seven days a week from 9am to 9pm.

Dawson Creek Mayor Darcy Dober says there has been some confusion over whether there would be a second site operating in the city - which he says is not the case, the first site was simply being moved from the Nawican Friendship Centre.

take an art program before her health complications started, with dreams of beng a tattoo artist.

“I was going to music festivals, hanging out with friends, going camping, hiking, swimming, everything before all of this,” she said.

Family and friends have been her saving grace, and Collinson says her mom is one of her biggest advocates, but knows they need help too. Her step-dad is also suffering from his own health issues, despite wanting to help Collinson.

“He’s going blind and deaf, and he’s lost a lot weight, he’s not seeing very good, and he’s very shaky. He’s heartbroken, because he can’t help me,” she said. “My mom’s the same way, she’s go go go, she’s got to take care of him, work full-

Plans were potentially being made to set up by the hospital, but Dober has yet to see anything official, as the matter is part of Northern Health’s portfolio, not the city’s.

“We didn’t want it downtown, we felt it was better by the hospital because that’s where all the professionals are,” he said.

Northern Health confirmed that work is being done to secure a temporary structure for OPS on the Dawson Creek and District Hospital grounds, but an opening date has yet to be released.

Another OPS was operating through the Society for Narcotic and Opioid Wellness (SNOW) at their 103 Avenue location, but closed last summer following a fire and complaints from residents.

There are no plans to reopen, confirmed SNOW peer lead Lyric Paddison, noting they no longer have the support of the community, shuttering their doors on May 24.

time, and take care of methat’s a lot.”

A GoFundMe page was also started by a close friend of Collinson’s, Cassandra Dumont, as the renovations needed to make her home wheel-chair friendly are quite costly, including lifts, a walk-in bath with a shower chair, an adjustable bed, and an electric wheelchair.

“She’s been amazing. I owe her my life, honestly. She came out of nowhere and told me that she wanted to do this for my family, and help us out. I couldn’t believe it,” said Collinson of their 17-year friendship.

Tom Summer, Alaska Highway News, Local Journalism Initiative. Have a story idea or opinion? Email tsummer@ ahnsfsj.ca

Pivot Legal Society lawyer Caitlin Shane had been contacted by SNOW over the legality of their site, and cautioned that municipalities should be mindful of the 2016 ministerial order which gives health authorities the ability to create OPS as neededsuperseding the wishes of local governments.

“The key factor is that it’s based on need – not based on whether a city wants it or not. If there is an ascertainable need in a community, there must be an overdose prevention site there,” said Shane in July 2022. “There are absolutely powers that the health authority has to effectively serve this order however they deem necessary.”

The BC Coroners Service says more than 1,200 deaths were attributed to toxic drugs in the first six months of this year, with the highest rates of death being in Northeast BC.

Tom Summer, Alaska Highway News, Local Journalism Initiative. Have a story idea or opinion? Email tsummer@ ahnfsj.ca

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Eby payroll shows he carries on Horgan’s high-spending

Bob Mackin

Payroll for staff and contractors in Premier David Eby’s office was $768,000 in April, just $42,000 less than a year earlier when John Horgan was B.C.’s NDP premier.

According to documents released under freedom of information law, Horgan’s 100-person staff cost taxpayers $810,000 in April 2022.

Eby’s office counts 97 employees, who were paid $747,963.97 during the month, plus former Victoria mayor Lisa Helps as a housing adviser for $13,333.33 and Convergence Communications Inc. for $6,400. Convergence is coowned by Mike Magee, who was chief of staff to ex-Vancouver mayor Gregor Robertson.

The list released by the Ministry of Finance does not include $275,000-a-year Indigenous reconciliation adviser Doug White or health adviser Penny Ballem at $170,000 a year. A fourth adviser, Thompson Rivers University law professor Craig Jones, is retained through the Legal Services Branch and Eby has refused to disclose payment terms.

Eby has five deputy and associate deputy ministers, a chief of staff and two deputy chiefs of staff. Horgan had eight deputy and associate deputy ministers, a chief of staff and two deputy chiefs of staff.

The top paid official under Eby is deputy minister and head of the public service Shannon Salter, who grossed

$19,375.750 during April’s two pay periods, followed by: Deputy minister Douglas Caul ($16,305.07); chief of staff Matt Smith ($15,705.06); intergovernmental relations deputy minister Silas Brownsey ($14,237.10); and Megan Marshall, the director of strategic outreach and stakeholder relations ($12,621.10).

In April 2022, John Allan was Horgan’s special adviser for the natural resources sector and the month’s highest-paid member of the Office of the Premier at $91,934.29. Public accounts show Allan was also paid $339,781 during the fiscal year that ended March 31, 2022.

Next in the Horgan April 2022 pay parade were: Deputy minister and head of the public service Lori Wanamaker ($25,447.98); deputy minister of policy and coordination Mark Sieben ($20,668.26); deputy minister of strategic initiatives Jill Kot ($19,318.26); and chief of staff Geoff Meggs ($16,180.90).

When Eby took over from Horgan last November, Wanamaker got a pink slip and a $591,089 golden parachute, along with Meggs ($339,784), deputy chief of staff Amber Hockin ($189,291) and executive coordinator Jarrett Hagglund ($75,366).

The Office of the Premier includes the intergovernmental relations secretariat, cabinet operations, executive and support services and the planning

and priorities secretariat. The latter was created after the 2020 snap election, tasked to work with ministries on cabinet social, economic and environmental initiatives.

In August 2020, the month before Horgan called the election, Horgan had 86 people on the payroll.

Horgan’s office got a $3.34 million-a-year budget bump in 2021 to $14.68 million. In February’s budget, it grew to $16.045 million under Eby. The biggest line item was executive and support services ($8.495 million, up from $7.5 million).

In April, Eby’s office included four protocol managers, three protocol assistants, a protocol and events assistant and a protocol chief, plus four people in communications, six in the correspondence department, six administrative assistants, five executive directors, three executive assistants and a senior executive assistant, and

three executive coordinators.

During budget estimates debates on May 11, BC United leader Kevin Falcon said that the office’s budget had grown 78 per cent since 2012 when he left the BC Liberal government under then-premier Christy Clark.

“Yet we’re getting the worst results we’ve ever seen in housing. We’re getting the worst results we’ve ever seen in crime and social disorder and chaos as a result of [Eby’s] soft-oncrime policies and his catchand-release system,” Falcon said. “We’re getting the worst possible results we’ve ever seen in terms of mental health and addictions. And we’re getting the worst results we’ve ever seen in the health care sector. Yet the budget has gone up 78 per cent.”

Eby said his budget is less than former premier Gordon Campbell’s in 2009.

Public accounts show that

Campbell budgeted $14.1 million, but spent $13.524 million that year. Eby, citing the Bank of Canada inflation calculator, said Campbell’s budget then is worth $19.4 million now.

“The premier’s office budget also compares favourably to other major provinces. Ontario’s premier’s office budget is $57.5 million, Quebec’s is $50.3 million, Alber ta’s is $34.6 million and B.C.’s is $16.045 million,” Eby said. “We’re actually closer to Nova Scotia’s budget than Alberta’s in terms of overall cost.”

For 2016-17, Clark’s last fiscal year in office, the Office of the Premier’s budget was $9.579 million, which would be $11.67 million after inflation.

In February, the NDP government budgeted $80.2 billion in overall spending, $77.69 billion revenue and a $4.216 billion deficit.

twitter.com/bobmackin

BC ranchers struggle as drought sends hay prices soaring

British Columbia rancher Suzanne Fradette had just got off the phone with a hay broker who had grim news amid an ongoing drought that has sent feed prices soaring: “It’s bad out there.”

“We’ve got a fairly small herd, like 140 head, but we are thinking it’s going to be about $100,000 this year for hay,” said Fradette.

That’s a 30-per-cent jump compared with recent years, and a painful price for a relatively small ranch.

Fradette runs the Back Valley Ranch with partner Jerry Steves in the area between Savona and Cache Creek, about 350 kilometres northeast of Vancouver.

Fradette said they are just “keeping their heads above water,” getting by one day at a time. Feeding their herd costs about $700 per day.

Fradette and Steves aren’t alone in their plight, with drought conditions pushing up feed prices across much of the country.

The B.C. government said Tuesday that it’s partnering with the BC Cattlemen’s Association to match farmers in need of feed and hay with suppliers elsewhere, including the United States.

“We know all of Western Canada is being impacted by drought, so we’re looking at other jurisdictions where there may be some surplus hay,”

Agriculture Minister Pam Alexis

said at a news conference.

Alexis said the province has also received approval from the federal government to provide advance payments to farmers with cash flow issues under the AgriStability program.

Kevin Boon with the BC Cattlemen’s Association said the provincewide drought conditions are in contrast to years past because drought-related feed shortages in one part of B.C. could be made up for elsewhere.

Ranchers are facing increased costs to feed their herds, he said, but that is secondary to the availability of feed.

“This is an animal welfare issue and this is an issue where

we, as farmers and ranchers, have to care for our animals and so decisions have to be made at some point in time,” he said. “If they can’t access feed, they are going to have to make a hard decision of what to do with those animals.”

Boon said they have had some success finding producers with hay at a reasonable price, but transporting feed from elsewhere is costly.

He said the persistent drought conditions have created the immediate challenge of sourcing feed and hay, but also raised questions over the long term of how to store and properly allocate water in the future.

For now, Boon said farmers can only hope for more rain in

the forecast with “Mother Nature willing.”

Agriculture Canada’s most recent drought monitor report says 76 per cent of the country’s agricultural landscape is either abnormally dry or experiencing moderate to severe drought this summer.

The B.C. Ministry of Emergency Management and Climate Readiness says most of the province remains at either Level 4 or 5 drought conditions. It is urging people and businesses to continue to conserve water, even as the first rain in more than a month falls this week on Metro Vancouver.

Nono Shen, The Canadian Press - — with files from Darryl Greer

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Alanna Kelly

Police are releasing more details and photographs of the vehicles two missing children are believed to be travelling in.

Aurora, 8, and Joshuah Bolton, 10, went on a planned camping vacation near Kelowna with their mother, Verity Bolton. The children were not returned to their father in Surrey, who has primary custody, on July 17. An Amber Alert was issued on July 19.

On Thursday, Surrey RCMP provided updated information on two of the trailers in the possession of Verity Bolton, as well as information on another vehicle that may be in her possession.

Staff Sgt. Dave Strachan of the Surrey RCMP Major Crime Section says investigators remain open to all possibilities and leads.

“While the last confirmed sighting of Verity was July 15 in Kamloops, we know that she has access to multiple vehicles/ trailers and may have travelled elsewhere since that time,” says Strachan.

Since the investigation began on July 19, Surrey RCMP has received over 180 tips. However, there

has not been a confirmed sighting of Aurora or Joshuah since July 7, when they attended a gas station in Merritt.

Police are asking for the public’s help to find the group, which includes 74-year-old Robert Bolton (Verity’s father) and Abraxas Glazov (Verity’s boyfriend), 53.

Up until Thursday, police believed the vehicle they were using was a dark blue 2012 Dodge Ram 2500 with a British Columbia licence plate, SJ2708, but have now added another possible vehicle.

Verity Bolton and Abraxas Glazov may have access to a green 1996 Mitsubishi Delica with a right-hand drive.

“The vehicle is registered to Verity Bolton,

however, is uninsured and it is unknown if there are any licence plates on the vehicle,” says Cpl. Vanessa Munn.

Police have previously released images of three separate trailers that have been in the possession of Verity Bolton.

Investigators are releasing additional details obtained in relation to two of the trailers:

Horse trailer seen in Kamloops, B.C. on July 15, 2023, has been identified as a White 2018 Maverick Highside horse trailer — British Columbia licence plate 05994K

The large 5th wheel seen in Chilliwack on June 30, 2023, has been identified as a Brown 2018 Cougar trailer, model 368 — British Columbia licence plate WPM71B

The Dodge Ram continues to be the ‘primary’ vehicle in the investigation.

Strachan is asking the public to remain vigilant in looking for the Amber Alert children.

“Report any possible sightings or information that could lead us to locate Joshuah and Aurora,” says Strachan.

If you see the children, Verity or the two men, you’re asked to contact 911 immediately.

If you have any information on the whereabouts of the Bolton siblings, contact the dedicated tip line: 604-599-7676 or SurreyAmberAlert@rcmp-grc. gc.ca.

Obituaries

Trades Help

In Memory of Joe Theobald

Ed Miedema

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Email resume to: jayson_saao@yahoo.c om

It is with great sadness the family announces the passing of Helene Loewen at the Fort St. John General Hospital on July 18, 2023 at the age of 78 years.

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Georgiana Ball 1930-2023

With heartfelt sadness, we share Georgiana Genevieve Ball's (Peever) passing at 92, on July 17, 2023, in Fort St. John at the Peace Villa Care Home. She was the second of four children born to George Beresford Ball from wife’s Annie Agnus Smith, and Minnie Borch.

Georgiana was born in Vancouver on October 4, 1930. She grew up on the Diamond B guiding, outfitting dude ranch in Telegraph Creek, British Columbia. Her job was to take guests out on trail rides, where she took them on tours of the local area.

As an adult, she became a teacher. She taught in Montney, Dawson Creek, Rose Prairie, Trutch, Fort Nelson, Atlin, Telegraph Creek, Ocean Falls, and Victoria. She was an adventurer and world traveler. She never learned how to swim or had a driver's license. Yet, she loved horses and rode them better than many men. She loved skydiving.

She earned her master’s degree in history in 1981. She wrote books and articles for many well-known publications. She edited for other authors. Suppose you googled her name. You will find her photographs and audio collections donated to historical societies.

During this time, she worked as a historian in Victoria, BC, taking many contracts. Her business ran under the name Georgiana Ball Research. She collected historical documents and information on the Talhtan nations of northwestern British Columbia. She held the Talhtan nation close to her heart. Adopted by the Talhtans and given the name "Tahlthtoma," she continued working on her vocation until moving to Fort. St. John in 2012. Having her close to her family for 11 years has been an immense privilege. Georgiana is survived by her daughter, Juanita Esau (Brent), and her grandchildren, Leneah Stemmann (Jeff), Brendan Esau (Anita), Cara Colley (Patrick), Chere Hemsworth (Rob), Mariah Esau (Mark), Carrissa Colley and her great-grandchildren, Hunter, Brynn, Hayden, Larrah, Kyptin, Beckham, Bodhi, Baisley, Hartley. Numerous nephews and nieces. She is predeceased by her siblings Alfred, Barbara and Bobby, her daughter Jeanine, grandchildren Roth and Cole and great-granddaughter Lauren. A celebration of life will be held in Telegraph Creek next summer. Instead of flowers, donations can be made to the Alzheimer’s Society of British Columbia-www.alzheimer.ca in honor of Georgiana.

Obituaries For

JEN−COLCONSTRUCTIONLTD. APPRENTICE&JOURNEYMAN CARPENTERS

Apprentice&JourneymanCarpenters w/constructionexperiencewantedat MoberlyLake.Cleancriminalrecord checkanddriver’slicenserequired. Applyatjen−col.com/careers oremailcareers@jen−col.com.

New Holland BR780 Round Baler for Sale. Asking $18,000. Call Greg at 780-512-1207 or 780-538-9115 Heavy equipment

For sale: D7-17A Cat. Call for more info. 250-772-5407

Announcements

Horses & Tack

Wanted: large round horse hay bales within 45 minutes of Pouce Coupe, 250-786-5860 or Wonowon@shaw.ca

3521 Saddles & Tack

WANTED: Used Horseshoes. Call Ron at 780-774-2017

Western Saddle for Sale. Also have Boots, Cinches, Bridle and Halter. Call 250-7893778

Notices / NomiNatioNs SAY NO to FAKE NEWS! 63% of Canadians can’t tell the difference between real and fake news. Support reliable LOCAL journalism. Join the list www.newspapersmatter.ca.

Houses For rent

1 Bedroom suite furnished, in small mobile-home. $650 includes utilities & satellite. Pouce Coupe. 250-786-0409

Announcements

Hay/Bales For sale

Will trade Alfalfa hay for grass hay. 250759-4956

ColleCtibles & ClassiC Cars

2004 Chev Cavalier 2-Door, Z-type 123,000 kms. runs Good. Alberta Registered. $2900. 250786-0409

Trucks & Vans

WANTED: 2011 Diesel-Dodge-RAM 3500 automatic-4-Door for parts. (wiring-harness must be intact & functional) 250-789-3350

1983 Ford 6.9-Litre

NoticeofPublicHearing

ZoningAmendmentBylawNO.2526,2023

When:

Monday,August14, 2023at6:00pm

Where: CharlieLake CommunityHall

12717CharlieHallAve CharlieLake,B.C

ForMore

Information: Contact: Development Services

250-784-3200

TollFree: 1-800-670-7773

Email: planning@prrd.bc.ca

Viewapplicationsat: www.prrd.bc.ca

CharlieLakeArea

RCMP investigate car fire

FILENO.23-007ZN

LOT1SECTION25TOWNSHIP84RANGE20WEST OFTHEMERIDIANPEACERIVERDISTRICTPLANPGP47460

ThePeaceRiverRegionalDistrictishostingameetingto discusstheproposedZoningAmendment.

Proposal:

Torezonethepropertyfroma17.04ha(42.11acre)parcel fromSmallAgriculturalHoldingZone(A-1)toResidential5 Zone(R-5),tofacilitatea4lotsubdivision

Fort St John RCMP say a June 1 car fire is suspicious - and would like the public’s help.

Back in June RCMP received a report of a vehicle fire on Highway 29 N, Bear Flats. An unknown male was seen running from the scene shortly after the vehicle, a red 4-door 1998 Pontiac Grand Prix, started on fire.

If you have any information regarding the car fire or the fleeing suspect, please contact the Fort St John RCMP at 250-787-8100 or call Crime Stoppers at 1-800-222-8477 or submit a tip online at www. northernbccrimestoppers.ca.

editor@dcdn.ca

Statistics Canada releases latest GDP numbers

Writtencommentsorconcernsaccepteduntil4:00pm

August14,2023.DocumentsmaybeviewedMonday-Friday, 8:30am-4:30pmat1981AlaskaAvenueDawsonCreek, BCV1G4H8 ThispublichearinghasbeendelegatedtotheDirectorof ElectoralAreaC.

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Statistics Canada is set to release its latest reading on how the economy fared in May, as well as a preliminary glimpse for the second quarter.

The federal agency’s early estimate suggests real gross domestic product grew 0.4 per cent in May, driven in part by the manufacturing and wholesale trade sectors.

That compares with an April reading that showed the economy was virtually unchanged, while it grew a slight 0.1 per cent in March.

The Bank of Canada has been working to slow the economy by raising interest rates in an effort to bring inflation back within its target range.