AHN July 20,2023

Young men achieve provincial top marks

TW Buck Reporter/Photographer

Micah Saunderson, Brian Andersen, and Ilias Messaoudi study their musical disciplines under music director Paulette Martin, studio owner Tammy Saunderson, and music instructor Aaron Eady in Fort St. John, and received provincial top marks for last season.

Simply Music has produced numerous musicians over the years to achieve these awards, these young men from the current group have been stu-

dents with the studio since their childhood.

Guitar instructor Aaron Eady said the awards are a testament.

“To the hard work that students have put in year after year, and we couldn’t be more proud of them.”

All the exams done by the students are completed through a national examination company.

Students must first achieve a first Class Honours (or a grade A) on their exam to even qualify for this prestigious award, as it is a provincial championship award and goes to students who score the highest in their musical test.

Saunderson, 16, is a fivetime winner of this prestigious award and received his most recent for guitar music grade six. Andersen, 15, wins the award for his second time and received his for the guitar music grade five. Messaoudi, 11, is claiming this award for his first

3D homemade are you educated?

TW Buck Reporter/Photographer

Information has been offered to the public by Combined Forces Special Enforcement Unit of British Columbia (CFSEU-BC) in a proactive step to educate people on the dangers of privately made firearms (PMF’s) and tips to mitigate potential harm that they may cause in the future.

“CFSEU-BC works collaboratively with partner agencies in the province, nationally and internationally when developing public safety strategies to address criminal activity associated to organized crime,” says Assistant Commissioner Manny Mann, Chief Officer for CFSEU-BC. “Educating the

public on Privately Made Firearms and the unexpected risks they could pose to all of us reflects the overall effort to ensure public safety.”

PMF’s, which are often referred to as ‘ghost guns’ are a growing issue globally due to obvious appeal for individuals looking to use them with crim-

inal intent. These firearms are untraceable, leaving their origins unknown and many parts used in the manufacturing of the PMF’s are unregulated.

The increase in global growth of PMF’s is substantial, and although British Columbia has yet to see the same increase, the trend is expected to continue.

time in guitar music grade one.

“We have had top marks for about 12 years in a row now, and it’s usually across different disciplines,” says Martin, who has been the music director at Simply Music for 2 decades. “You have to have 85% in your grade minimum to even qualify for the award.”

tbuck@ahnfsj.ca

tbuckahnfsj.ca

“We want to inform anyone who has already or is considering purchasing a 3D printer for their children, school, or business that along with legitimate uses the printer can also be programmed to print firearm parts or other weapons. Being aware of the risks and the need to monitor what is being printed will greatly improve the safety of everyone involved,” Says Sergeant Brenda Winpenny in a statement from CFSEU-BC.

Many of these PMF’s resemble harmless toys, and civilians may not be aware of the risks and dangers that can arise from these items.

tbuckahnfsj.ca

Shooters line up at the North Peace Rod and Gun Club for the 40th anniversary of the event. Read more on page A2.

Fort St. John veterinarian to be sentenced over sexual offender

Tom Summer Local Journalism Initiative Reporter

A sentencing hearing began last week for a local veterinarian facing three charges dating back to 2007, confirmed the BC Prosecution Service.

Justin Sewell appeared in Fort St John Provincial court on

Monday morning, following an investigation which started in 2019. Sewell pled guilty to the charges last November, which include sexual assault, unlawfully recording intimate images, and voyeurism.

It’s alleged the offences took place in Charlie Lake in 2007, over a decade and a half ago.

Sentencing continues today,

with the week being set aside for the matter, but it may conclude sooner, noted the prosecution service. Details from the hearing are under a publication ban to protect victims and witnesses from being identified.

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

Police investigate drive by shooting

Rob Brown Managing Editor

Thursday night saw a drive by shooting in Fort St. John.

July 6, at 9:29 pm saw RCMP respond to a report of shots fired in the 8800 block of 102nd Avenue.

It was reported a vehicle

was parked in a parking lot and appeared to have possible bullet holes in it.

Police attended and confirmed multiple shots had been fired into the vehicle.

“The investigation is in the early stages but it appears that this was targeted and there is no ongoing threat to the public.

from the front page ... 40th local trap shoot

This year’s event was held on July 7-9, and was well attended having 15 teams registered and around 75 shooters.

“We are now starting to build back up to capacity, as the years previous we were only shooting around 45-50 shooter and 8-10 teams,” said an official.

Results were as follows,

Singles AAA first place winner with a score of 96

Terry Wilson, in second Nicholas Wik with a score of 96, and third place Chris Wilson with a score of 96 as well.

Our long handicap winners this year were 1st Garth Wilson score of 45 2nd Burke Forrester score of 41 and 3rd Mathew Stockley with 41 as well.

Our high over all this Year was Tyler Mikkelson with a score of 139! And Chris Wilson with 138.

Team high 1st was redneckcommunications with a score of 645 2nd team high was Rapid Wireline

with a score of 641. the Fort St John Petroleum Association (FSJPA) has around 360 members, and is a nonprofit fraternal organization for educational, benevolent and social purposes.

The FSJPA creates a medium through which the society members can express themselves in social activities, educational pursuits and athletic endeavours while encouraging a spirit of good fellowship among it’s members.

“I would like to thank the local businesses who came through with so very generous support, this event would not be possible without it. I would also like to thank the fine ladies and gentlemen who donated their time to help organize this Event, thank you and I hope to see you all next year at the 41st annual Oilmen’s Trap shoot,” says Chairmen of the FSJPA Trap-shoot Nicholas Wik.

There were no reported injuries. The investigation is ongoing,” say officials in a statement

Police note if you have any information about this, call the Fort St John RCMP at (250) 787-8140.

editor@dcdn.ca

TW Buck Reporter/Photographer

Auto-X shifts gears into Fort St John for 2023

TW Buck Reporter/Photographer

Auto-X rolled into the parking lot of Home Hardware on July 2, where participants took to the track with a new layout that was challenging racing for all.

The event had an amazing turnout, and a wide range of competitors from first time participants, to racers who had been competing for 15 years or more.

Fort St. John had many locals taking part, while some other participants travelled from as far as Grande Prairie to take compete in this event.

“Support for this type of auto sport is very much thriving in our area with help from our extremely dedicated group of volunteers that make sure every event is setup and ready for everyone to come and enjoy,” said an official.

Results: Overall

1st: Juston Kewin; best time 41.609; driving SUBARU WRX STI

2nd: Juan Garcia; best time 42.609; driving NISSAN SKYLINE GTR

3rd: Ryan Mucci; best time 43.940; driving SUBARU WRX

Competition Class (200TreadWare tires and below)

1st: Juston Kewin; driving SUBARU WRX STI

2nd: Juan Garcia; driving NISSAN SKYLINE GTR

3rd: Ryan Mucci; driving SUBARU WRX Street Class (201TW and above)

1st: Matt Mcrae; best time 45.932; driving VOLKSWAGON GOLF R

2nd: Tyler Gilroyed; best time 46.258; driving TOYOTA FRS

3rd: Tyler Mcelderry; best time 46.559; driving SUBARU WRX STI

According to an official, the event went very smoothly with minimal mechanical problems plaguing drivers on the day. tbuckahnfsj.ca

Regional District Highlights

June 8, 2023 Committee of the Whole: Addressing Challenges

At the June 8 Commit tee of the Whole meeting the topic of a L and Sharing Net work was on the agenda for discussion T hat meeting had to be ended prematurely and rescheduled to a future date and held at a larger venue Based on the June 8th meeting the Regional Board received a let ter from Prophet River, Half way River, and Doig River First Nation and West Moberly First Nations, expressing disappointment over the negati ve tone of the June 8th meeting We have provided an apology direc tly to those First Nations and wish to acknowledge the gravit y of the situation

On behalf of the PRRD and our Board of Direc tors we ex tend our sincere apology to those who were in at tendance for the way the meeting unfolded

We believe that the level of frustration expressed at the meeting was due in large par t to misinformation about the proposed L and Sharing Net work, and we recognize that many of the residents at tending the meeting in person and online had genuine concerns about their land ownership rights We wanted to give them a chance to share input and apologize for not being prepared to facilitate sharing of those concerns in an environment that was a safe place for all to be able to hear and par ticipate given the unexpec ted number of people who took the time to at tend

T he PRRD withdrew its suppor t for the L and Sharing Net work, and the First Nations involved in the proposed Ne t work have decided not to pursue the projec t We are disappointed that an initiative intended to bring our communities closer together by building trust and working relationships has resulted in greater division instead

T his situation demonstrates the impor tance of open and proac tive communication, and we commit to working together with our residents and our neighbours to pursue oppor tunities to build relationships and address concerns as they arise

Yours truly

Leonard Hiebert, Chair Peace River Regional Distric t

prrd bc ca/agendas-minutes/

Tom Summer Local Journalism Initiative Reporter

pground has been settled in Supreme Court, with Justice Shelley C. Fitzpatrick ruling that the couple sought to avoid consequences from agricultural zoning and district bylaws.

“They sought to avoid the consequences arising from the fact that the Property was in the ALR and that certain zoning and building bylaws applied,” reads the July 10, 2023 judgment, made in Dawson Creek Supreme Court.

The couple, Lyle Pringle and Doreen Shadow, had been operating 22 RV sites, a food truck, a rental shack, workshops, washroom facilities, convenience store, restaurant, and other business related buildings at 437 Briar Ridge Road.

The property remains in the Agricultural Land Reserve (ALR) and was never zoned for commercial or non-farm use, with the ruling noting the couple were unaware of the ALR status at the time of purchase.

The couple had intended to develop the site to include a cultural centre, campground, community garden and gift store for First Nations crafts.

Several unpermitted structures were flagged by the PRRD

for removal from the property to comply with zoning bylaws, including electrical and sewer infrastructure.

“By the time the Respondents learned that the Property was within the ALR, various dwellings and structures had been moved onto the Property and the campground had been constructed to a degree,” wrote Fitzpatrick.

“The Respondents say that they then stopped developing the Property in relation to the campground and other aspects of their business venture,” she added.

Camp shacks for employee housing were also added to the property, noted the judgment. With four dwellings in total, the property was two above what’s permitted under zoning bylaws.

“The Respondents have not pointed to any authority that engage ongoing attempts to rectify zoning, land use infractions or due diligence as a defence to enforcement of zoning or land use bylaws,” writes Fitzpatrick.

Furthermore, PRRD bylaw only allows home-based businesses for properties under 1.8 hectares, and from an approved list of business types, with the property being 17.8 hectares, well beyond the approved size for an A-2 zone.

FILLER

Any property owners wishing to exclude their land from the ALR must make an application to the Agricultural Land Commission, with the support of the appropriate local government - which was the PRRD in this case.

An adjudication meeting was held in January 2022 for the PRRD, with one bylaw ticket being cancelled, as the adjudicator felt the owners were actively attempting to fix the ALR zoning issue, but did violate zoning bylaws by not checking the permit status of the structures.

Pringle and Shadow sought two exemptions from the Agricultural Land Commission (ALC), but were rejected in April 2021 and July 2020, ceasing development in November 2019, when they learned of the ALR status.

The ALC panel rejected the application on the basis that the campground is not an approved use under the ALC act, and was built without ALC approval or the required PRRD building permits.

“The Panel finds that the Applicants, through the exercise of due diligence, could have determined that their Property is located in the PRRD and the ALR, and that lack of awareness of the regulations cannot be used to justify non-compli-

ance,” wrote ALC Panel Chair Janice Tapp in July 2020.

Reconsideration was asked by the owners, but refused again by the ALC on Oct. 27, 2021, for the reasons stated in the previous rulings.

The ALC panel noted that a 10.7-hectare exclusion request by the owners wouldn’t be appropriate, despite leaving a campground green space of 7.1 hectares for gardening. Music festivals and camping are not consistent with Section 6 of the ALC act, and would not preserve agricultural use if allowed, the panel said.

Fitzpatrick said the couple must pay any bylaw penal-

ties owed to the PRRD, with the regional district also entitled to costs incurred by the judicial review.

“I cannot discern any basis to refuse the relief sought by the PRRD,” wrote Fitzpatrick. “I conclude that relief is appropriate in the circumstances. I order that the penalty set out in Bylaw Notice 212 is immediately due and payable by the Respondents to the PRRD.”

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

Trio of area youth pick up Premier’s Awards for Indigenous Youth Excellence in Sport

Rob Brown Managing Editor

Three local names are among a dozen recipients picking up a Premier’s Awards for Indigenous Youth Excellence in Sport.

Kendra Schlamp (Hockey/ Basketball/Soccer/Snowboarding/Track and Field, Moberly Lake, Salteau First Nations), Claire Turner (Soccer, Fort St. John, Métis), and Kurtis Lee, (Hockey, Fort St. John, Dease River First Nation) were all recognized.

Other recipients from northern BC include; Rowan Teegee-Zatorksi, Volleyball, Prince George, Lheidli T’enneh), Keesha Pontious, Volleyball,

Quesnel, Selkirk First Nation), Philippe Josiah Lacerte, (Hockey, Burns Lake, Lake Babine Nation), Fredrick Bear, (Hockey/Basketball/Softball, Hazelton, Gitanyow), Teysean Angeline Henry, (Figure Skating, Terrace, Gitxsan/Tsimshian Nation), Josh Leighton, (Hockey/Golf/Track and Field/ Cross-Country, Prince Rupert, Metlakatla).

Applications were open to Indigenous youth athletes 25 years and younger who are competing in performance sport and demonstrating a commitment to their education, culture, and promoting healthy and active lifestyles.

“Sport has the power to

change lives, to create strong community connections and to inspire generations to care for each other,” said Lana Popham, Minister of Tourism, Arts, Culture and Sport in a Monday statement.

“We look forward to seeing you continue to grow as great athletes and people,” added Corinne McKay, I•SPARC President and Chairperson.

2022 Regional Premier’s Awards for Indigenous Youth Excellence in Sport: North Winners video. editor@dcdn.ca

Can you find a local cache?

A state of emergency has been declared for the Stikine region in response to ongoing wildfires.

The Stikine region is BC’s only unincorporated area, and Fort St John has numerous geocaches in and around the city, with some being hidden in plain sight, while others require a bit of adventuring to locate.

Traditionally, geocaches consist of waterproof containers that contain a logbook for people to sign, proving it has been found. As well, there is an

State of emergency for Stikine

the province is responsible for implementing evacuation orders in the area which requires the province to issue a state of emergency for the region.

This declaration is in effect as of Monday, July 10. While states of emergency are initially in effect for 14 days, this will be extended or rescinded as necessary.

An evacuation order is in place for specific areas in the region affected by the Little Blue River wildfire.

online logbook for tracking the caches as well as documenting who has found them and how many times.

“I wanted something that we could do with our kids, as a team, and something that would keep them wanting to keep looking,” says Janelle Robertson, local of Fort St John and geocache enthusiast. “There are so many reasons to try geocaching. Some more popular reasons might be that it is something fun to do with friends and family, it gets you outdoors, it’s free and anyone can do it.”

Some caches contain ‘treas-

ures’, which can be traded after finding the cache. The first ever geocache contained various prize items including videos, books, software, and a slingshot according to geocaching. com.

Geocaching originally started in May of 2000, when Dave Ulmer hid the very first geocache near Beavercreek, Oregon. Since then, this Hobby that utilizes GPS has become a global activity for outdoor enthusiasts. tbuckahnfsj.ca

tinuously assessing the situation across the province,” said Bowinn Ma, Minister of Emergency Management and Climate Readiness.

“While the Wildfire Act already enables all the legislative tools required for us to access resources for fighting wildfires, we continue to closely monitor wildfire and drought conditions and impacts across B.C. to determine if other measures might be required. We will continue to take actions to keep people and communities safe.”

we saw the addition of 115 wildfires.

Currently, there are 12 evacuation orders in the province which is affecting around 156 people with an additional 12 evacuation alerts which affects approximately 629 people in the northeast, northwest, and Cariboo regions.

A state of emergency has been declared for the Stikine

region in response to ongoing wildfires.

The Stikine region is BC’s only unincorporated area, and

“Keeping people safe is our number 1 priority. The state of emergency applies only to the Stikine region, but we are con-

As of Monday morning, there are 311 active wildfires burning throughout the province, during the past weekend

Category 1 campfires are going to be prohibited throughout BC effective July 10 at 3PM (Pacific time), with Haida Gwaii being an exception. tbuckahnfsj.ca

BC phasing out single-use plastics, giving businesses six months to use inventory

British Columbia is phasing out the use of a range of single-use and disposable plastics with businesses being given six months to use up their inventory.

Environment Minister George Heyman says the new regulation comes into effect in December and will cover plastic shopping bags, disposable food service accessories, degradable plastics and any packaging made of hardto-recycle plastics.

The move will coincide with a federal government ban on the sales of plastic checkout bags, drinking straws, cutlery, stir sticks, ring carriers and food ware made from plastics.

Imports of these items

were banned by the federal government in December last year.

Heyman says the province is also investing in technologies to turn used plastic into new products, which he says can create a healthier and more resilient environment for all British Columbians.

He says the province has already seen a number of business owners making shifts to reduce the use of plastic items, including restaurants using paper straws.

Heyman says the Single-Use and Plastic Waste Prevention Regulation is

part of the government’s broader CleanBC Plastics Action Plan, which includes a range of actions to reduce plastic waste.

“Focusing on hard-torecycle single-use and plastic items will help move B.C. to a circular economy where waste and pollution are eliminated, products and materials are kept in the economy through reuse, and natural systems are regenerated,” Heyman said in a statement. editor@dcdn.ca

TW Buck Reporter/Photographer

TW Buck Reporter/Photographer

for

Tuesdays for your tootsies

Wellness check leads to Charlie Lake arrest

Rob Brown Managing Editor

Thursday morning saw the Fort St John RCMP asked to do a wellness check - which resulted in an arrest.

After a concern noted for an individual’s well-being, po-

lice attended the residence in Charlie Lake.

An adult man displayed aggressive behaviour towards the police and this could have resulted in bodily harm. The man then barricaded himself inside a garage on the property.

RCMP investigate vigilante attack

RCMP say a man is now in hospital after being targeted by a group of Dawson Creek vigilantes.

On July 12, at around 9:45pm Dawson Creek RCMP received a report that a man was being targeted and attacked by vigilantes near a local business on the Dangerous Goods Route.

The next morning at around 6:45am, Dawson Creek RCMP received another report of a man being assaulted at the intersection of 225 and Highway 97 South in Arras.

Investigators determined that the victim in both incidents was the same 20-year-old man. The victim was transported to hospital for treatment for nonlife threatening injuries.

Police are actively investigating those incidents and the nature of those attacks on the victim. Initial information indicates that the victim was targeted as a result of unsubstantiated rumors posted on social media.

Anyone with information is asked to contact the Dawson Creek RCMP at 250-784-3700.

editor@dcdn.ca

“Police were able to apprehend the man without further incident and there were no reported injuries,” says police. editor@dcdn.ca

PRRD administrator Moray Stewart remembered fondly

Tom Summer Local Journalism Initiative Reporter

The Peace River Regional District is honouring the passing of former administrator Moray Stewart, who served from 1975 to 2002 - dedicating himself to the betterment of communities in Northeast BC.

In the wake of Stewart’s passing on March 24, PRRD directors dedicated a page in his memory at their June 29 board meeting. Chair Leonard Hiebert said while Stewart was well before his time, he acknowledged the former CAO’s work in pushing for Fair Share.

“He played a key role in getting the Fair Share into this region, and was really really instrumental in making sure and following through with that,” said Hiebert.

Former PRRD Electoral Area B director Karen Goodings said she had the good fortune to work with Stewart, and remembers his forward-thinking,

good humour, and ability to bend the rules when needed.

“He was a Scotchman, and very reserved, as most of them are, and he was very careful. He was the kind of administrator who wanted to get things done,” said Goodings. “And didn’t necessarily always follow exactly the rules that were laid out in order to help.”

In fact, the two disagreed on more than one occasion, added Goodings, but greatly appreciated Stewart.

“He was great to work with and work under, I appreciated him very much. That doesn’t mean that there weren’t times that we didn’t disagree, because we did. He was usually right, by the way,” said Goodings.

Stewart was also an animal lover, fond of both horses and dogs, said Goodings, noting he named his dog ‘Bylaw’which she felt was fitting for his position at the PRRD.

“He was just an all-around very interesting person, he spoke many languages, and was well-educated. I’m sure a lot of it was self-taught,” she said.

On May 10, District of Kent CAO Wallace Mah, penned a letter to the Local Government Management Association (LGMA) describing the legacy left by his colleague.

“Moray was a bit of a renaissance man, with his Scottish intellect and infused passion, in shaping northeastern British Columbia to incorporate numerous regional services to rural communities including the ‘Fair Share’ taxation of oil and gas pipelines,” wrote Mah.

He added that many will remember for Stewart for teaching professional development at the Municipal Administration Training Institute and for his assistance to many regional districts in developing joint public services in the early 1980s.

In 1999, Moray received the LGMA’s Professional Award for Innovative Management, and in 2009, he contributed to 40 Years: A Regional District Perspective, a resource compilation of stories and lessons learned by regional districts.

“Moray you are not gone, you will live on in our hearts and minds in local govern-

ment,” wrote Mah. communities in Northeast BC.

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

Canfor stops Northwood Pulp mill work – cites labour dispute

Rob Brown Managing Editor

Canfor Pulp has announced stoppage – or a curtailmentof its Northwood Pulp Mill in Prince George effective tomorrow - July 13

“The curtailment is due to

limited storage space for pulp products that cannot be transported overseas as a result of the ongoing labour dispute at BC ports,” say officials.

The downtime is expected to remain in place for the duration of the labour dispute and will

remove approximately 11,000 tonnes of market kraft pulp per week.

“We are urging the federal government to take action to bring a swift end to the labour dispute at the Ports of Vancouver and Prince Rupert. As a re-

sult of the strike, we are unable to ship approximately 70% of our pulp products to customers in Asia,” said Kevin Edgson, Canfor Pulp President & CEO in a statement.

“We regret that our Northwood employees are being

impacted as a result of a separate labour dispute and we recognize the effect it will have on them, their families, our suppliers and the community.

editor@dcdn.ca

Rob Brown Managing Editor

You’re going to lose access to local news on Facebook and Google.

D ea r reader s ,

Your acces s to lo c al , p rov in cial a n d nat ional n ew s is going to b e revoked on G o ogle, Faceb o ok a n d I ns t a gr a m

An d it ’s not b ec ause of a ny t hing we’ ve don e.

Recent ly, C a nada pa s sed t he O nlin e N ew s Ac t , also k now n a s B ill C-18 , w hich ha s led to a s t a n doff b et ween t he gover nm ent , G o ogle a n d M et a t he pa rent compa ny b ehin d Faceb o ok a n d I ns t a gr a m .

B ot h G o ogle a n d M et a have s ai d t hey p la n to cu t t ies w it h t he n ew s in dus t r y in C a nada a s a result

This means Meta will block the posting and sharing of our news ar ticles on Facebook a n d I ns t a gr a m G o ogle w ill also remove link s to our sites a n d a r t i c l e s i n G o o g l e N ew s , D i s cove r a n d s ea rc h re s u l t s . T h ey ’l l a l s o c a n cel signi fic a nt content licensing a greem ent s alread y in p lace w it h our pa rent compa ny, G lacier M edia .

U n doubtedly, t his w ill have a huge impac t not solely on us b u t , more i m p o r t a n t l y, o n p e o p l e l i ke yo u r s e l f w h o m ay u s e t h e s e p l a t fo r m s to dis cover w hat ’s hap p ening in your com munit y a n d to get contex t to event s hap p ening in your ow n back y a rd .

We’re not p la nning on going a ny w here, b u t here’s how you c a n help:

1. Si gn u p fo r o u r fre e d a i ly n ews l e t te r by sc a n n i n g th e Q R co d e . (An d en cour a ge your f a mily a n d fr ien ds to do t he s a m e )

2 . Fo l l ow u s o n Twit te r.

3 . B o o k m a rk o u r we b s ite a s th e h o m e pa ge o n yo u r d evi ce s .

4 . Co n s i d e r b eco m i n g a m e m b e r i f yo u a re n’ t a l rea dy. Yo u r s u p p o r t wi l l h e l p u s co nti n u e to cove r l o c a l s to ri e s , by l o c a l s .

5 . I f yo u ow n/o p e rate a l o c a l b u s i n e ss , co n s i d e r s u p p o r ti n g l o c a l by p l aci n g a d s with 10 0% C a n a d i a n - ow n e d m e d i a o utl e t s , l i ke u s .

Wit h your help, more p eop le w ill b e ab le to get t heir lo c al n ew s from a t r us ted source. I n to day ’s a ge of misinfor mat ion , t hat ’s more imp or t a nt t ha n ever

Tha nk you We ap p reciate you

Sin cerely, The Ala ska H w y N ew s tea m

MICKY ROBERT DAVID GILBERT

Treaty 8 Tribal Association looks for new logo

Rob Brown Managing Editor

Creatives and more have all summer to come up with a new look for the Treaty 8 Tribal Association’s new logo.

LENNI MARIE JONES

Celebra�ng Births

Tribal Association reps are looking for an update of their existing logo (pictured).

P L E A S E

R

E C YC L E T H I S

N E W S PA P E R .

Potential words for inspiration include; Unity, ‘Diversity among Treaty 8 Nations’, and “As long as the sun shines, the grass grows, and the rivers flow.”

All submissions can be sent to jpsc@ treaty8.bc.ca by September 5. editor@dcdn.ca

LaPointe: Political absence at LNG2023 augurs ill

In recent days, the Vancouver downtown came alive again.

It had much to do with the presence of 15,000 people coursing through the streets and into the convention centre for LNG2023, the world’s largest annual conference on liquefied natural gas.

Conspicuously missing from this presence, certainly noted for their absence, though, were the most relevant Canadian political officials.

Our prime minister, to be fair, was in Lithuania for the NATO conference.

think about how you can grow and learn from your mistakes

G E M I N I – M AY 22/J U N 21

Gemini it s time to be sociable and put out feelers for different adventures Make sure you share on social media channels that you’re available and ready to have fun

C A N C E R – J U N 22/J U L 22

Cancer, keep track of your mood this week , as it is easy to swing from glad to glum in no time at all Friends can help keep you on a more even keel for the time being

L E O – J U L 23/AU G 23

Leo a refreshing sense of energy comes your way and you star t to jump head-first into all of those projec ts that have been pushed aside

You’ll sail through tasks in no time flat

V I RG O – AU G 24/S E P T 22

An interesting travel oppor tunity comes your way, Virgo However, at first glance it might not seem like the type of trip you would normally take Keep an open mind and be surprised

L I B R A – S E P T 23/O C T 23

Treat yourself to something special in the days to come, Libra Perhaps it is a costly fragrance you’ve been spying or a new piece of furniture

You earned the indulgence

S CO R P I O – O C T 24/N OV 22

I t ’s time to take your foot off the gas and slow down to a crawl Scorpio

A well deser ved break should be on your itinerar y ; other wise, you may burn through all of your fuel prematurely

S AG I T TA R I U S – N OV 23/D E C 21

Sagittarius, teamwork is the answer right now, especially when your to - do list seems to be growing exponentially Recruit some close confidantes to help you along the way

C A P R I CO R N – D E C 22/J A N 20

That being said, he could have sent a recorded message or speechified remotely. He does that all the time, just not this time.

He could have sent the deputy prime minister, Chrystia Freeland, because she serves as a strong surrogate, but she didn’t show.

He also could have directed his natural resources minister, Jonathan Wilkinson, to attend. After all, Wilkinson represents a North Shore riding a mere SeaBus trip or ride across the Lions Gate Bridge to the conference centre.

But, bizarrely, no.

Instead, the international throng there to examine the global energy sector got to hear from Canada’s – yes, you will read this right – tourism minister, Randy Boissonnault.

probably was a conference favourite.

Not exactly the Welcome Wagon.

On the other hand, Alberta Premier Danielle Smith had no trouble hopping on a plane, showing up and speaking –as if to say that if they wanted the right welcoming vibe from the conference, they ought to have gathered in Calgary.

You can disagree with Smith on certain fronts, but she knows where the bread is buttered. Our team seems to not have her appetite.

You can believe in climate change, want the world to reduce its dependence on fossil fuels, yet realize you can’t leave energy in the ground quite yet.

But it can be embarrassing to live in a political environment in which these obvious dilemmas and conflicts on these issues aren’t acknowledged and aired.

Our team seems ambivalent and in denial.

Officials abroad appear to have no such trouble; they’re mature in recognizing the significance of natural gas as an energy source, particularly as a transition to cleaner fuels to mitigate environmental impact.

Make your career a priority this week

Capricorn You may be feeling unsettled where you are now There is no saying where things will go, so exercise caution when mak ing decisions

AQ UA R I U S – J A N 21/F E B 18

Aquarius, wanderlust is on your brain You ve been fantasizing about all of the grand adventures you can take Figure out a way to fund a getaway and get star ted

P I S C E S – F E B 19/M A R 20

Pisces something profound may have happened to you and you may need to sift through all of your feelings over the nex t few days Take all the time you need to process

Nice man, very bright, and if I digress to sarcasm, I suppose the government thought nothing could be more on-point for an energy conference than to talk about the energy that comes with filling our hotels and restaurants.

Eventually the conference got to hear not from the minister, but the chair of the Commons committee on natural resources, John Aldag, MP for CloverdaleLangley City.

On a more proximate political front, our premier delivered a video for the conference and sent Josie Osborne, the wondrously titled Energy, Mines and Low Carbon Innovation minister, a title that wins the signal virtualling crown and

The LNG2023 conference was a great gauge of that balancing act. One session talked about the essential nature of high pedigree natural gas as a great equalizer for emerging economies as they move away from coal and into renewables without cutting their paths to prosperity.

Another looked at how project owners serving European markets have to invest more aggressively in emission reduction measures if the LNG sector is to extend into the second half of this century.

Kirk LaPointe is publisher and executive editor of Business in Vancouver and vice-president, editorial, of Glacier Media.

LETTER to the EDITOR: town hall was worth it

I went to the Farmer’s Market on 100th Street for a City Hall gathering at “the barn” between 4 and 7pm.

I also talked to Natasha, assistant to Dan Davies’ MLA’s office. Finally, I conversed briefly with the actual president of the

Chamber

Of

Commerce, Adam Reaburn

On the agenda were highly important issues such as mental illness, general urban infrastructure, city crime, the rampant use of decriminalized soft and hard drugs in the city, homelessness, etc.,. were discussed between

city officials and the general public.

Finally, one growing concern that I observed is the prime lack of portable toilets in the downtown core during the day/ night, except during public or holidays events.

The prime locations include

Centennial Park, probably Matthews Park, and few more public places. For example, I noticed that only one public washroom (not portable toilets out of six last night were open between 10am and 10pm my guess) at Centennial Park.

In my humble opinion, this issue must be dealt promptly,

whether it is SF, NYC, LA, or here.

This was a pleasantly relaxed “town hall” which should be offered again next year.

Claude M. Dionne, Fort St. John

those of Alaska Highway News.

COPYRIGHT & LEGAL NOTICE

Alaska Highway News retains sole copyright of advertising, news stories, and photography produced by staff. Copyright of le ers and other materials submi ed to the Editor and accepted for publication remain with the author, but the Publisher and its licensees may freely reproduce them in print, electronic, or other forms. Reproduction is prohibited without wri en consent of the publisher.

Alaska Highway News is a member of the National Newsmedia Council, an independent organization established to deal with acceptable journalistic practices and ethical behaviour. If you have concerns about our content, please let us know first. If you are not satisfied with the response and wish to file a formal complaint, visit mediacouncil.ca or call 1-844-877-1163 for more information.

Second class mail registration No. 0167

Hudson’s Hope byelection candidates on: Recreation

Tom Summer Local Journalism Initiative Reporter

At the July 11 all-candidates forum, mayoral and council hopefuls weighed in how to best address recreation needs, with many focusing on opportunities for local youth.

When asked about opportunities for bike parks, candidate Denis Matheson said he has a few ideas - the local ski hill could be used for biking in the summer, drawing from his experience in creating a bike park in Hinton, Alberta. A father himself, Matheson has heard from his own children they feel there’s a lack of things to do.

“Even my 22-year old said ‘You know what Dad, there’s nothing for our youth to do in this community’ - that is an initiative that absolutely needs to be taken up, doesn’t matter who gets in office, I agree 100 percent,” said Matheson.

With 20 years on council, and having given a helping hand in many recreation projects, candidate Travous Quibell agreed there should be renewed opportunities for youth. He noted while the current skate park is a much-loved site, it’s seen considerable wear

and tear since its installation.

A site for a permanent outdoor stage is also needed, he added, especially in light of talks to replace the aging community hall.

“We need to keep an eye on things like that, and we need to rebuild them to make them better when we have the opportunity,” said Quibell.

Fellow candidate Nicole Gilliss said she’s always open to creating more opportunities for youth, but says any council should be mindful of what’s a fad and what has the best potential for long-term use. Skateboarding is the latest trend, she noted, with a professional skater recently visiting the local school.

“We could and build a beautiful skateboard park. But in five years what if no kids are skateboarding anymore? And I find maybe that happens often and we just don’t have the upkeep,” said Gilliss.

She further suggested that council would benefit from a youth advisory committee to gain input from teenagers.

Candidate Reg Knox agreed that more facilities are needed

for youth, but any expectations should be tempered with fiscal responsibility, suggesting an indoor pool and recreation facility as one direction the town could move in.

“Those things cost money. And that takes people, it takes a population to keep it thriving. And that’s an important thing to remember - if we don’t have the population and the tax base, we can’t do those things we want to do,” he said.

He further added that the Site C berm area being installed ahead of the reservoir could be repurposed for recreation in the future.

Councillor candidates

A father of four, candidate Joseph King said he’s aware how fast interests change, but has currently spent a great deal of time supporting the local archery club, an entirely grassroots driven organization.

“I have four lovely highenergy kids, as some of you may know. And, the amazing thing is they never do the same thing two years in a row,” said King. “So, you know, focusing on any one aspect is a little rough.”

King agreed that the pool park has space for additions, noting multi-purpose planning is a better strategy such as a dual bike and skateboard park. Another item he’s heard requested by residents is a hot tub, but noted they are highmaintenance and prone to needing constant repairs.

He further suggested that the arena could be used to hold a cheaper free-standing hot tub and sauna as part of any facility upgrades, with less upkeep.

Young at heart, candidate KK Charlesworth said she’s on board with getting a hot tub for the municipality, but also would like to see youth consulted and thanked volunteers who keep recreation activities running.

“That’s another large part of, you know, making sure if we’re going to open up a new thing, or new activities, things like that, that we have the support from people to volunteer and keep that going as well,” she said.

Charlesworth added that she would support additions to current facilities, and noted the outdoors are also a huge aspect of recreation in Hudson’s Hope.

While she has no young children of her own and less of a stake in the issue, candidate Jeanette McDougall said the district already has a great recreation officer, and would gladly support a bolstered budget for recreation.

“If I’m on council, I would support putting more money in the budget to support their position. If we want more programming, we’ve got to be able to support that,” she said.

Moving from the Lower Mainland and Prince George to Hudson’s Hope, candidate Conrad Northeast said he and his wife were greatly impressed by the Chetwynd Public Library, which sports VR stations and more - tech he would love to see available for local youth.

“Kids really have a chance to dive into new technologies, as well as a 3D printing station with all sorts of resources and materials,” said Conrad, noting he sees an opportunity to replicate what’s been done.

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

As inflation inches closer to 3%, economists warn progress will stall this year

As inflation inches closer to three per cent, economists are warning the steady monthly declines in annual price growth will stall and even potentially reverse in the second half of the year.

Statistics Canada is set to release its consumer price index report for June next week, and forecasters are anticipating the annual inflation rate fell from 3.4 per cent in May.

“We’re expecting a deceleration to three per cent yearover-year. And that’s really mainly because the gasoline prices we’re paying today are being compared with the very peaks of what we saw last year,” said Andrew Grantham, an executive director of economics at CIBC.

But inflation isn’t expected to fall much further this year, making the journey back to the two per cent target a long and tumultuous one.

Desjardins chief economist Jimmy Jean says the upcoming CPI report marks a turning point in the fight against inflation.

“June is going to be really the peak disinflationary force coming from gasoline, in our view. So I think once we’re past that, we’re going to see that it is going to take quite a long time before we get inflation to a place that we’re happy with,” Jean said.

The rapid deceleration in inflation since last summer has

been largely due to base-year effects, which refer to the impact of price movements from a year ago on the calculation of the year-over-year inflation rate.

Simply put, it means prices weren’t rising as fast this year because they were being compared to already elevated prices a year prior.

On Wednesday, the Bank of Canada raised its key interest rate by a quarter of a percentage point in part because it expects inflation to remain high for longer.

It released new projections that suggest inflation will return to target in mid-2025. That’s six months longer than the central bank previously forecast.

The central bank said its upward revision to its inflation forecast is due to “excess demand” in the economy, higherthan-expected housing prices and higher than expected goods prices.

The Bank of Canada’s key interest rate now sits at five per cent and it hasn’t ruled out further rate hikes if needed.

Grantham says CIBC’s forecast for inflation in the coming months is in line with the Bank of Canada and warns inflation may even tick up in some months.

Economists tracking changes to price growth note that core

measures of inflation, which strip out volatility, have not fallen by much in recent months.

That’s led the central bank to raise rates, even as inflation appears on the surface to be easing.

“Where our forecasts differ more from the Bank of Canada’s, is what happens after that,” he said.

“We actually think that inflation will return to two per cent by the second half of next year.”

That’s because there are signs of softening in the economy, he said, as well as more improvements in supply chains.

Canada’s labour market has begun to ease as the unemployment rate rises and wage growth slows. And data from Statistics Canada shows the rate at which households are saving is on the decline.

Part of the Bank of Canada’s hawkishness, though, appears to be driven by the housing market, which rebounded this year despite high interest rates.

“The housing market has seen some pickup. New construction and real estate listings are lagging demand, which is adding pressure to prices,” the Bank of Canada said in its press release announcing the latest rate hike.

Jean said the last two rate increases are shifting sentiment in many housing markets, though rapid population growth is blunting the effect interest rate increases have on housing demands.

The rapid rise in interest rates has eroded housing affordability, as mortgage interest costs skyrocket for new homebuyers and existing homeowners with variable rate mortgages.

In May, Statistics Canada’s mortgage interest cost index jumped 29.9 per cent, the fast-

est rise on record.

Mortgage interest costs are also ironically driving up inflation.

Excluding mortgage interest costs, prices actually rose by only 2.5 per cent year-overyear in May, well within the Bank of Canada’s targeting range.

Grantham says some of the core measures of inflation that the Bank of Canada tracks exclude these costs, which he says make sense.

“Every time you hike interest rates, if everything else stayed equal, inflation would actually accelerate,” Grantham said.

“So it doesn’t necessarily make a ton of sense from an inflation-targeting central Bank’s point of view, to include those costs.”

Nojoud Al Mallees, The Canadian Press

Brother shares heartfelt tribute to sister killed fighting BC wildfire

A B.C. Wildfire Service firefighter who died while on the job near Revelstoke is being remembered as a kind and thoughtful person.

Devyn Gale, 19, was clearing brush near a small fire in a remote area when she got trapped under a fallen tree.

Her team immediately began first aid until help arrived. She was airlifted to Queen Victoria Hospital where she succumbed to her injuries.

Her brother, Nolan Gale, says she was an amazing sister.

“She was so kind and thoughtful. She had the best head on her shoulders,” he says in a post on Instagram. “She was careful, considerate, hardworking.”

Photographs Nolan shared on social media show Devyn working as a firefighter and beaming with a smile in each photo.

“She was smarter and better at what she did than she gave herself credit for,” says Nolan.

He adds that he’s grateful for everything she’s done for him and others.

“I love you Devyn, and I hope you’re OK wherever you are now. I can’t wait to see you again someday, on the other side,” he says.

Gale’s death is being investigated by the RCMP, BC Coroners Service, WorkSafeBC and the BC Wildfire Service.

Alanna Kelly

A 19-year-old B.C. firefighter who police say was killed by a falling tree near Revelstoke on Thursday has been identified by her brother as Devyn Gale, who was a former member of the B.C. gymnastics team and a star pupil at her high school.

Nolan Gale said in an Instagram post that his sister was “kind and thoughtful,” and he’s grateful to have grown up alongside her.

“Devyn was an amazing sister,” Nolan posted. “She was smarter and better at what she did than she gave herself credit for.”

“She truly didn’t deserve this.”

A post on Devyn Gale’s Instagram account from 2021 shows her posing with other members of the BC Wildfire Service, saying in a caption that her crew from the Southeastern Fire Centre was “the best.”

Gale was one of three children. Their mother is a local dentist, and their father is a teacher.

Revelstoke RCMP said in a news release that does not

name Devyn Gale that the young firefighter was working on brush-clearing in a remote area where a fire had started.

Mounties said her team lost contact with her before finding her pinned under a fallen tree. They immediately gave her first aid, but she succumbed to her injuries after being airlifted to a hospital in Revelstoke.

The Revelstoke RCMP said the death is now under investigation by police, the BC Coroners Service, WorkSafeBC, as well as the BC Wildfire Service.

At Revelstoke Secondary School’s 2021 graduation ceremony, Gale was described as the school’s “best all around student” that year and “extremely hardworking.”

Video of the graduation ceremony shows Gale accepting her diploma as an MC reads out a number of scholarships awarded to her, detailing her plans to pursue a career in nursing.

Gale’s death comes as B.C. battles more than 360 fires across the province.

Prime Minister Justin Trudeau

said the death was “heartbreaking,” offering condolences to the firefighter’s family, friends and fellow firefighters.

Trudeau made the comments on social media, reflecting similar statements issued late Thursday by Premier David Eby and the BC General Employees Union.

Gale’s death is the fourth linked to B.C. wildfires since 2010.

Sixty-year-old John Phare was killed in 2015 while working on a blaze on the Sunshine Coast, north of Vancouver. Two Conair airtanker pilots, Tim Whiting and Brian Tilley, died when their plane went down south of Lytton in July 2010.

The BC Wildfire Service says tens of thousands of lightning strikes over the last seven days have sparked hundreds of new fires in the province, but with temperatures closer to average and some rain expected next week, a slight reprieve might be on the way.

“We must never forget the risks these heroes take every time they run toward the danger,” Trudeau’s statement said.

“To firefighters in British Columbia and across the country who are doing just that to keep us safe: Thank you.”

Eby’s statement called the firefighter’s death a “tremendous loss for everyone involved with the BC Wildfire Service at an already challenging time.”

The statement said the tragedy serves as a heartbreaking reminder that firefighters are often putting their lives on the line to keep people and communities safe, and offers condolences to the family, friends and colleagues of the woman on behalf of all British Columbians.

Gale’s death came as the province put out a call for national and international help to fight the hundreds of active fires across B.C.

The province has requested 1,000 additional foreign firefighters to join 160 from Mexico and the United States already in B.C., as well as more federal resources, Emergency Management and Climate Readiness Minister Bowinn Ma said Thursday.

The wildfire service says the total number of active fires has topped 360, while the number

of threatening or potentially damaging blazes has jumped to 17, all but one of them in woodlands from west of Quesnel to the Fort Nelson area.

Lightning is forecast through Saturday in many parts of northern B.C. and the southern and southeastern Interior, but Environment Canada is calling for showers and more seasonal temperatures to start next week.

The fire that Gale’s crew was fighting was not identified by police. But the only fire the BC Wildfire Service website shows close to Revelstoke is a small, out-of-control blaze discovered on Wednesday.

The service says it is suspected to have been caused by lightning.

driving between the communities of Grande Prairie, Hythe, Beaverlodge and Mile Zero, and subsequently assaulted in Dawson Creek - says he has done nothing wrong.

“My brother has not mistreated any children,” she says to the Alaska High News and Dawson Creek Mirror Friday morning.

While others have claimed he has not lured any children – as the man claimed to the Mirror - video of a man appearing to be the same caught on a Grande Prairie backyard fourplex complex notes he was caught on yard, brandishing a iron barbell bar – was captured by a GP father in late

June.

“If there was any incident of him mistreating children, then why did the person not complain against him officially,” asks the accused man’s sister early this morning.

“I am coming to Canada to take my brother back home.”

The owner of the video noted he attempted to give the GP video to RCMP almost two weeks ago now – when they

didn’t want it – he posted it online.

The man’s sister says she hopes charges are following for whoever assaulted her brother.

“He has been mistreated again and again. His car was vandalized... How (can) someone can do that?”

Rob Brown Managing Editor

The sister of a man labelled as a rapist with graffiti on his jeep, and to be noted to be

“I am coming to Canada to take my brother back home,” says sister of man accused online

‘Kind and thoughtful’ firefighter, 19, who died in BC is identified by her brother

BC child hospitalized after eating toxic death cap mushroom

A child in the Vancouver Coastal Health region has been sent to hospital after eating a piece of a toxic death cap mushroom.

Raymond Li, a pharmacist at the B.C. Poison Control Centre, confirmed to Glacier Media the poisoning took place in Vancouver at Kits Point, home to the popular Kitsilano Beach. The child has since recovered after receiving medical attention.

“It was close,” said Li.

The incident was unusual for this time of year, and has prompted officials to warn the public to exercise caution. Normally, the death cap mushroom (known in Latin as Amanita phalloides) doesn’t pop up until the wet fall months. But authorities suspect urban irrigation has set the conditions for the potentially deadly mushroom to show up early this year.

Often found in urban environments, in the past, death cap mushrooms have been spotted across B.C.’s Fraser Valley and Lower Mainland, as well as on the Gulf Islands and Vancouver Island — most recently in Greater Victoria and Comox. Li said the location of the latest poisoning — in Vancouver’s Kitsilano neighbourhood — is less important than the kind of tree species that line the city’s streets and fill in its parks.

The mushrooms are not native to B.C., but are thought to have come to the province from Europe on the roots of urban trees, including chestnuts, oaks, hazelnut and beech species. Those trees often have long root systems that reach across property lines.

“So if people are irrigating say their own gardens or landscaping, that may produce the conditions that allow them to actually pop up,” Li said.

Once ingested, the toxins from death caps can damage the liver and kidney. Six to 12 hours after eating the mushroom, people often feel cramps and abdominal pain. The mushrooms can also induce vomiting, diarrhea and dehydration.

Some of those symptoms may diminish after 24 hours, but the toxins remain in the body, and can trigger a second wave of symptoms — potentially leading to severe illness and organ failure — after 72 hours.

“Medical treatment and organ transplants may be required to prevent death,” warns the Provincial Health Services Authority.

“Kids and pets finding a random mushroom on the lawn — most times it’s not going to be a big deal. So parents shouldn’t panic. However, if any ingestion does occur, they should

certainly call Poison Control Centre right away,” said Li.

The Drug and Poison Information Centre recommends collecting the whole mushroom including its base, or taking high-quality pictures of it (including the cap, gills, stem and base). Li added it’s also important to note the trees it was growing on or near to help identify it later.

Anyone suspecting a case of mushroom poisoning is encouraged to call poison control at 1-800-567-8911.

There are over 3,000 species of mushroom in B.C., but Li

says there isn’t a lot of information on many of them. The death cap mushroom stands out as “particularly nasty,” Li said.

“For people who are interested in foraging and eating wild mushrooms, be careful. Do not eat anything that is not properly identified as being edible,” he said. “Don’t guess. Be sure.”

If you find a death cap mushroom but nobody has eaten it, consider reporting it to authorities using the following checklist:

Note the location, take careful photographs, and report it to

government. Remove the whole mushrooms, bag them, and dispose of them in the garbage. If ingested, save the remains of the mushroom and call poison control.

Do not dispose of death cap mushrooms in your home compost.

Touching death caps is not a risk but gloves are recommended.

Wash your hands after removing the mushrooms.

Smartphone apps have become commonplace tools for travel and navigation. As technology becomes more integrated into transport networks, apps will continue to be indispensable. But many of those apps remain inaccessible to those with various disabilities.

ities rely on public transit as many do not have a driver’s licence. Planning trips, getting to and from transit stops successfully and navigating transit systems is important.

smartphone app technology can encourage inclusion by helping people with disabilities better navigate transport systems.

cent of the population lives with one or more types of disability. Developing apps and other mobility tools can increase their ability to access employment, education, health care and other services.

the U.S., found that one of the ways transportation-related general audience apps aim to address the travel needs of people with disabilities is by including accessibility features, such as text-to-voice conversion. These features increase ease of use for non-disabled people as well.

Despite the availability of technology, many apps remain inaccessible, including for cost and lack of mandatory requirements and regulations.

The cost factor

Transportation smartphone apps, which require the use of location-based, real-time information are complex and require

more time and cost to develop. The way app development processes are currently set up, the cost of developing apps with accessibility service features is more expensive than those without such features.

The cost of developing an app depends on the quality of the app and the number of features it includes, with additional features resulting in higher costs. It could also take a long time depending on the complexity of the app.

While having additional features such as accessibility services can give apps the opportunity to reach more users, the cost can be a deterrent, especially for entities without the association with big companies such as Uber and Lyft.

There are various types of disabilities and corresponding needs. The inclusion of features that address multiple disabilities in one app might also add to the complexity and cost.

Recognizing the challenge posed by responding to multiple disability needs in advanced communications services and equipment, the U.S. Federal Communications Commission (FCC) — that implements and enforces communications law and regulations — states that “every feature and function of every device or service does not need to be accessible for every disability.”

Operating system providers

Developers distribute apps on Google’s Android and Apple’s iOS operating systems via their app stores, Google Play and the App Store, respectively. Android and iOS provide accessibility guide-

provide built-in accessibility features such as text-to-voice conversion options — an app that offers a voice option for real-time transit information is accessible to a person with visual impairment.

While Apple has more accessible services than Google, Google makes clear that the company’s built-in features do not meet all disability needs. Google encourages app developers to use its available technology to create additional accessibility features for their apps.

However, we found that many of the transportationrelated smartphone apps that we reviewed in our study were without accessibility features. Part of the problem has to do with the fact these guidelines are suggestions, rather than mandatory requirements to which developers need to comply.

Regulating recent advancements

When the U.S congress passed the Americans with Disabilities Act (ADA) in 1990, it was meant to prohibit discrimination against people with disabilities in various areas including transportation, services and telecommunication. As it currently stands, the ADA does not specifically apply to recent technological advancements such as smartphone apps.

There is no specific regulation that pertains even to website content other than an application of “general nondiscrimination and effective communication provisions.”

The U.S. Department of Justice encourages the use of technical standards such as the Web Content Accessibility Guidelines (WCAG) to make websites accessible. WCAG also lacks specific standards

for smartphone apps, but it provides comprehensive guidance that does not set requirements on how to apply their existing website standards to smartphone apps.

WCAG makes clear three things: (1) Not all guidance applies to smartphones; (2) Informative guidance does not address all disability needs; and (3) Mobile devices have different accessibility challenges compared to other devices.

When it comes to information and communications technology, the FCC has a mandate to develop and implement regulations. Under its consumer guide, it outlines general accessibility requirements. One of the requirements states that, if achievable, manufacturers must make their hardware and software, including apps, accessible to people with disabilities.

While the FCC guide mentions apps, the conditional nature of the guide and the lack of specificity on what is achievable weakens the requirement.

The future of accessibility

Whether due to the high cost, lack of operating system mandatory requirements, government regulations or specific technical standards, current conditions present a challenge to accessibility of apps.

As a result, the ability of people with disabilities to use apps for transportation is negatively affected. It is inevitable that disability-related regulations will catch up to app technology and the world of apps will move towards more specif-

In the meantime, developers would benefit from using available resources provided by Apple and Google, and using WCAG guidance to make apps accessible. It may

also give them the opportunity to contribute to making a more inclusive digital environment.

This may help developers avoid potential ADA-related lawsuits, fines and expensive accessibility retrofitting, which may end up being more expensive than the initial cost of add-

Mahtot Gebresselassie does not work for, consult, own shares in or receive funding from any company or organization that would benefit from this article, and has disclosed no relevant affiliations beyond

This article is republished from The Conversation under a Creative Commons license. Disclosure information is available on the original site. Read the original article: https://theconversation.com/ transportation-apps-canhelp-people-with-disabilitiesnavigate-public-transit-but-accessibility-lags-behind-208011

Mahtot Gebresselassie, Assistant Professor, Environmental and Urban Change, York University, Canada, The Conversation

Opening night a success for ‘Interrupting a Portrait’

TW Buck Reporter/Photographer

Samantha Wigglesworth’s exhibit ‘Interrupting a Portrait’ at the Peace Gallery North saw its opening night on July 7, and will be on display until July 22 during regular gallery hours.

Fort St. John’s Wigglesworth welcomes the community into her exhibit for an opportunity to view her amazing paintings, before she leaves the Peace in pursuit of her dreams. The exhibit opening was well attended, with members from all corners of the community coming by the gallery for a chance to view her beautiful artistic expressions.

“It’s really funny how inspiration hits, a lot of these are working from royalty free images,” says Wigglesworth. “Every

now and then, inspiration hits you like a freight train.”

Wigglesworth had her first gallery show in July of 2021, and since then has had 12 others, including Open Sky where one of her paintings won the distinguished representational award for the second year in a row.

“I have been doing university online for the last couple years, so a lot of these paintings are for that,” says Wigglesworth.

As well, there were baked goods and wine for the guests to enjoy while they walked the exhibit and viewed an exquisite collection of paintings.

tbuckahnfsj.ca

Blizzard bike club: the latest race results

by Heather McCracken

Although the rain tried to deter the riders, 5 ‘die hards’ were determined to

ride the Baldonnel 16km Time Trial; this Thursday evening.

The rain held off during the race but the riders had

to deal with the wet roads.

1.Nigel Wray 23:55

2.Kevin Hunt 29:04

3.Calvin McCracken 29:15

4.Sam Keats 32:15

5.Richard Wood 34:38 Thanks Heather!

Cor nelius Braun 1945-2023

With

Rober t Gar r y Vince 1936 - 2023

The mountains were calling Surrounded by his family we said goodbye to Rober t “Garr y” Vince (RG) on June 29th, 2023 in Creston, BC The legend has moved on to the happy hunting grounds, he passed on as he had lived, leading the way We were grateful to be all together and appreciate family and friends that are suppor ting us through this life transition.

Garr y is sur vived by his wife Sandra Vince daughter Sherre Watson (Doren Watson) son Tom Vince, daughter s Karrilyn Vince (Griff Peet) and Jolene Nellis (Mark Nellis) As well as 8 grandchildren and 8 great grandchildren who have experiences and fond memories of time spent with grandpa.

Garr y/RG was bor n in Dawson Creek, BC in 1936 and was bor n with an adventurous spirit, a fierce independence humour and a love of the mountains. Garr y is predeceased by his father Edward Vince mother Lucy Vince sister Winona Bullen and brother Milton Vince

Garr y’s influence in Nor theast BC and hunting is wide and diver se with an extended network of family and friends that became family over the year s. While RG will be greatly missed, anyone who met and spent time with him has cherished stories, either stories that RG shared (often colourful) or stories of lessons that he shared. Garr y was a pilot, a guide, an entrepreneur a conser vationist, outlaw husband, dad, grandparent and most of all a man of the nor th.

A memorial ser vice to be deter mined. In leu of flower s donations may be made to a charity of your choice