ALASKA HIGHWAY NEWS
A8 | NEWS | THURSDAY, APRIL 23, 2020
FORT ST JOHN HOSPITAL FOUNDATION
Fort St. John Hospital and Peace Villa workers have been very thankful for all the support and donated scrub caps, and are asking for people to keep making and donating more.
Northern Health region getting significant donations for pandemic response Matt Preprost editor@ahnfsj.ca The Northern Health region is getting significant donations to help it cope with the COVID-19, thanks to LNG development in B.C. LNG Canada has announced it will donate $500,000, with half of the money earmarked for Northern Health for procurement of equipment for the communities of Kitimat and Terrace. The rest will go to hospitals, First Nations, front-line workers and service organizations in the north. “The COVID-19 pandemic is putting tremendous stress on our communities and we’re hoping our contribution today will assist in collective efforts to protect people
through prevention and care,” LNG Canada CEO Peter Zebedee said in a press release. The LNG Canada donation follows an earlier announcement by the Haisla First Nation that it would be donating $300,000 to the Kitimat General Hospital Foundation. There are roughly 300,000 people in the Northern Health region, which has two dozen hospitals. As of April 14, there were a total of 28 confirmed cases of COVID-19, with 21 people recovered, and three are in hospital. Northern Health Spokesperson Eryn Collins said the health region does need more personal protective equipment for front-line workers. Meanwhile, Coastal GasLink announced a $100,000 donation and partnership with United Way of
Northern BC. Petronas also made a $50,000 donation. The donations will help UWNBC in its effort to support the needs of the most venerable in our communities, seniors in isolation, our homeless, those struggling with mental health/ addictions and those needing food support due to COVID-19. The Fort St. John Hospital Foundation meanwhile has implemented a COVID-19 Greatest Need Fund as a proactive response in line with the announcement that the Fort St. John Hospital is designated a primary COVID-19 hospital for northern B.C. to deliver care to the most criticallyill patients from around the province. “The health of those who use the many services of our Hospital is a top priority. This pandemic is evolv-
ing daily and now, more than ever the Fort St. John Hospital Foundation will continue to respond to the shifts and changes in anticipation of the emergent needs,” said Executive Director Niki Hedges. “The Fort St John Hospital Foundation is in place as part of the strategic response needed now and for post-pandemic recovery. This current situation places unique demands on Hospital services, supplies, equipment and on staff. The fund is in place so we can ensure our hospital has priority supplies and equipment for the coming weeks, months and in the year to come after this pandemic.” — with files from Nelson Bennett in Vancouver and Arron Linklater in Dawson Creek
More scrub caps needed, please
DILLON GIANCOLA PHOTO
Residents at the North Peace Seniors Housing Society apartments wave to participants of the Seniors We Wish You Well Parade on April 15, 2020.
Scrub caps — the ones with the buttons sewn on the side so the elastics don’t irritate the ears from the protective masks — that Fort St John Hospital and Peace Villa Residential Care facility staff wear are really needed. We are asking if sewers can please make more. Doctors, nursing and hospital staff honestly appreciate all of the help and support from everyone and they are completely blown away with everyone’s support - PLEASE KEEP THEM COMING! Drop off caps at the Fort St. John Hospital main entrance from Monday to Friday, 8:30 a.m. to 4:30 p.m. On behalf of all our hospital staff we share a most heartfelt THANK
YOU to the community sewers who have made scrub caps to help Hospital staff and dedicated care teams on the front lines. You can support our local Fort St John Hospital and Peace Villa Residential Care facility too: Donate to our Hospital COVID-19 Greatest Need Fund here, helping support related expenses to ensure our care-workers and hospital staff have priority supplies and equipment now and for the coming weeks and months and post pandemic recovery. Your kindness and generosity make such a big difference—thank you! — Niki Hedges, Executive Director, Fort St. John Hospital Foundation
ALASKA HIGHWAY NEWS
THURSDAY, APRIL 23, 2020 | NEWS | A9
We have been here before
I
had an interesting realization the other day as I was speaking to someone. He really didn’t really have any context for this current situation. He doesn’t know much about SARS, or the Bird Flu, or H1N1. In 2008, the last time we had a nasty bear market, he was still in high school. We have a severe crisis, and every time we face a severe crisis it can feel like this time it is different. That this is some unprecedented calamity, with an inevitable dire outcome. But, yes, we have been here before. Please don’t get me wrong. I am not saying that this is not a serious situation. Obviously, it is. People are dying. It doesn’t get more serious. As I write this there are 2.4 million confirmed cases of COVID-19 worldwide. More than 166,000 people have died. Those numbers will get bigger. Now, I am a big believer in staying in your lane. I am not a medical expert, so I am not going to even try to differentiate the medical differences from past epidemics. Having said that, lets revisit the H1N1 pandemic, also known as the Swine Flu, which occurred in 2009. This was also a novel strain that we did not have a vaccine for, and it spread quickly. Approximately 24% of the global population was eventually infected, and it killed more than 284,000 people. Is it the same as COVID-19? I don’t know. Ask a doctor for that. But it was highly contagious, affected millions, and it killed 284,000, so I am going to use it as a historical example anyway. Undisputedly, stock markets have
BRAD BRAIN been incredibly volatile over the last few weeks. Many investors are trying to cope with fear and uncertainty. Some of them will be wondering if maybe this time this is different. But as Sir John Templeton famously said, “The four most dangerous words in investing are: This time its different!” When it comes to investment planning, we use history as a guide all the time. Because, when you think of it, its really the only guide we have. We look at precedents, and we look at how they played out. So I present to you the performance of the Standard and Poors 500 Index going back to the Great Depression, with a number of past epidemics highlighted… We have been here before. This time is not different. It never is. In the meantime, keep your distance and wash your hands. Brad Brain is a Portfolio Manager with Aligned Capital Partners Incorporated (ACPI). The views expressed are those of the author and may not necessarily be those of ACPI. Content is prepared for general circulation and has been prepared without regard to the individual financial circumstances and objectives of persons who receive it.
COVID-19 by the numbers The BC Centre for Disease Control has launched a new site for COVID-19 statistics. And while it doesn’t give a complete picture of the 39 lab-confirmed cases in northern B.C., such as community by community breakdowns, it does add some context to how the pandemic has played out so far in the region. For instance, though the first two cases were publicly reported by provincial health officials on March 14, they were actually reported to public health days earlier on March 9 and 10. We also know that there have now been 2,584 tests as of April 20 — around 4% and a small fraction of the provincial total of 60,668. Testing in the north peaked on March 17, when 178 were taken and sent to the lab, but the numbers have dropped significantly since then, to just five on April 16.
The turnaround for test results has averaged around 61 hours, or 2.5 days, so far in April. The majority of the cases so far have affected women, which represent 20 out of the 32 cases. Thirteen men have been affected, and the median age of all patients is 50 years. Here are some other statistics from the dashboard as of April 20: - First case reported: March 9 - Total confirmed cases: 39 - Currently hospitalized: 3 - Currently in critical care: 2 - Deaths: 0 - Recovered: 30 - Ever hospitalized: 9 - Number of people tested: 2,584 - Median age of all patients: 50 years - Median age of hospitalized patients: 44 years - Female patients: 25 - Male patients: 14
Man being sought by police On April 16, 2020 at 10:16 am, the Fort St. John RCMP received a report of a video circulating on the internet of someone spray painting the wall of a building in the area of 96th Ave and 100th Street in Fort St. John. The Fort St. John RCMP are seeking to identify and speak with a man who is believed to have been in the area at the time and may have information regarding this incident. The man is described
as: - Slender build - Dark brown hair - Brown eyes - Short cut hair on the sides with a large
Mohawk - Caucasian - Last seen wearing a black T-shirt with orange text and a silver coloured chain The Fort St John RCMP continue to investigate and are asking anyone who can identify this man or has information in this matter to contact the Fort St John RCMP at 250-7878100. Should you wish to remain anonymous, please call Crime Stoppers at 1-800-222-TIPS (8477).
INVITATION TO TENDER CITY OF FORT ST. JOHN 2020 – 2021 CONCRETE MAINTENANCE TENDER Sealed Tenders clearly marked 2020 – 2021 CONCRETE MAINTENANCE TENDER will be received at the main reception desk of City Hall no later than 2:00 pm, local time, APRIL 30, 2020. Contract documents, and any reference materials for this project will only be distributed electronically in digital format (PDF) through the MERX tendering website at www.MERX.com. Information will be available on or after April 20, 2020. City of Fort St. John: 10631 100 Street, Fort St. John, BC, V1J 3Z5 The work to be undertaken generally consists of, but is not limited to, the following: • Miscellaneous concrete restorations throughout the city of Fort St. John in various configurations of concrete curb gutter and sidewalk including complete site restoration of asphalt and landscaping. Quantities will vary from site to site throughout the city for 2020-2021. The City of Fort St. John has the option to extend the length of the Contract for one (1) year. Pre-bid inquiries should be directed to: Engineering Technologist, Robert McGuire (250) 787-8150 or email rmcguire@fortstjohn.ca
A10 | CLASSIFIEDS | THURSDAY, APRIL 23, 2020
COFFEE CORNER
ALASKA HIGHWAY NEWS
ALASKA HIGHWAY NEWS
A12 | NEWS | THURSDAY, APRIL 23, 2020
A digital Fort St. John Easter Dillon Giancola sports@ahnfsj.ca
EVANGEL DOWNTOWN
Evangel Downtown Associate Pastor Jimmy Noble gives his Easter Sunday service through Facebook live-stream on April 12, 2020.
Commercial landfill fees increasing Tom Summer tsummer@ahnfsj.ca Fees for commercial users of regional landfills are set to increase 3.3% starting May 1. The Peace River Regional District created a new fee system to charge separate rates for residential and commercial users. Residents will not see an increase. The last increase in tipping fees was in 2014, and the PRRD justified the change by citing increasing costs for landfills and recycling. The public was surveyed under the Regional Solid Waste Management plan, with several comments
suggesting the PRRD consider different rates for residential and commercial users. Consultation continues, with the public encouraged to provide feedback on dayto-day operations. The PRRD says the fee increase will also help to divert waste and ensure the proper sorting of materials. Properly sorted landfill loads allow for easier recycling and reuse, and are also charged at a lower cost. Public meetings on changes to the plan were to take place this spring, but have been postponed until at least the fall due to the COVID-19 pandemic.
Fort St. John churches celebrated Easter weekend as they normally would, but with a virtual twist. Most churches still had services on Good Friday and Easter Sunday, but they were either livestreamed or prerecorded. Watching the services online provided a sense of peace and calm, even if the usual celebratory feeling felt different without the company of a-hundred person congregation. Each church had its own take — some chose to put on a traditional service and Easter message, while others tied their message to the current realities of the COVID-19 pandemic. “Would you take the place of someone so they wouldn’t have to suffer from COVID-19?” Caleb Salmond, pastor of connections at Fort St. John Alliance Church, asked his congregation during the church’s Good Friday virtual sermon. Salmond used that question to explain the sacrifice Christians believe Jesus made when he was crucified. Evangel Downtown Associate Pastor Jimmy Noble focused his message on the opportunities that can arrive from collectively dealing with such a hard time. while stress can often bring out the worst it us, it can also bring out the best in us, and being selfless to help one another, he said. “With quarantine and self-isolation, you’re being pushed up in a hard place and being pressed down upon, but it’s an exciting place for some-
thing to flourish in your life,” Noble said during Evangel’s Easter Sunday service. Noble compared the pandemic to the Apostle Paul, who said that when in prison his hardship was the best thing that could have happened, as it forced him to trust God completely. “God will rescue you as many times as you need. He’s the God that raised Jesus from the dead,” Nobel said. “No matter the frustration that you feel, no matter how much you feel pressed, God wants to rescue you.” Churches presented their worship music in different ways as well. The Alliance Church had a man and woman lead the service from home on their couch, while The North Peace MB Church had a full band playing for those at home. Some pastors mentioned how surreal life feels right now, and how it can feel absurd to celebrate and feel like everything will be OK. “You might ask, ‘What is there to celebrate when we are angry at the world, and when we’re dealing with this in some degree?’” said Reverend Ricky Marsh of St. Luke’s United Church in his Easter Sunday service. “Can you believe I have the nerve to tell you all will be OK?” he joked. Marsh ended with a soft-spoken assurance that “there is no darkness that will keep us, with God’s love he’ll see us through.” His parting words felt the most relatable when he concluded his service by saying, “My friends, have a blessed Easter Sunday as we continue in uncharted waters. Amen.”
Important information from Save Our Northern Seniors Greetings to all, Thank you to everyone for providing their support and care in these difficult times. Each day brings somebody new wanting to make a difference. If you wish further information or have information to share, please contact us. Please feel free to share. The support in our community is phenomenal. Thank you to everyone for making a difference. SONS April 2020 Update Northern Health: The Fort St. John Hospital Foundation is happy to share that the new Point of Care Ultrasound Machine for the Fort St. John Hospital Emergency Department (ER) has arrived and put into full service. The Hospital Staff want the community to know how much they appreciate all the kindness community members and businesses have shown in supporting the staff at the Hospital. The FSJ Hospital is graciously accepting food deliveries. Please make sure food or food trays are prepackaged (nothing homemade please). Food can be dropped off at the main front entrance door with the FSJ Hospital greeter between 8:30am - 4:30pm. Management will make sure staff in each unit gets to enjoy food donated. Northern Health Careworkers: There is personal protective equipment that is available for all staff and they have been informed of this. Clients are also screened before entering the homes for any symptoms of COVID-19. Careworkers are still going into homes on a regular basis. We are looking also at use of phone visits for check ins/reminders to reduce the staff entering peoples’ homes. There continues to be vacancies in the community for community health workers. Peace Villa/ Resident Family Council: Peace Villa has a full complement of staff and all rooms are filled.
Ministry of Health: We have received a letter from Hon. Adrian Dix and the Executive will be considering the next plan of action. No matter what, our community needs more facilities and money for more staffing. HandyDART: Starting April 9th, 2020, the service change is taking into account sufficient service to allow for physical distancing while travelling on public transit. Changes to the service include: · handyDART service starting at 6:45 a.m. from Monday to Friday to allow customers to participate in early shopping opportunities at participating businesses. · End of service hours will remain the same · Saturday operating hours will continue as usual from 9:15 a.m. to 3:30 p.m. As a reminder; there is no handyDART service on Sundays and holidays in Fort St. John. CNIB Workshop: This had to be cancelled but here is a deal for you. Please share. Learn all about the latest technology to help people and their families with vision problems. · A complete list of all Virtual Programs for BC is available on the CNIB website, as is the listing of all Technology-Focused Programs. · My colleague, Alfredo, and I are still delivering our “Connecting with Technology” workshops virtually for newer tech users. Three different series are available, depending on the applicable region. · Weekly workshops and Q&A sessions are offered, online and by phone. · CNIB’s virtual programming is offered via Zoom, a fully accessible teleconferencing platform. If participants don’t have a smartphone, tablet or computer, they can still call a toll-free number and join by phone. I’ve written a short, plain English Introduction to Zoom cheatsheet that should answer most of the questions people
may have about joining a Zoom meeting for the first time. BC Association of Community Response Networks: The Covid-19 Pandemic has had a significant impact on seniors’ lives and the way we contact with our family and friends. During this crisis the BCCRN is there to offer support and is able to use technology to connect CRNS with their members. Please join us for the two learning events on April 21, 2020 Predatory Marriage and May 19, 2020 Elder Abuse and Natural Disasters. Everyone acts differently during a crisis and we need to be compassionate to our community members. Some people will be angry and impatient with the rules of social distancing and many lash out at essential service workers. Others might withdraw due to fear of the future and stop connecting by phone or virtually with family and friends. We have to follow all the recommendations of Dr. Bonnie Henry, Chief Medical Officer of British Columbia. At the same time be mindful of the impact of social isolation on our mental health. Try to keep healthy by a selfcare plan that nurtures your body, mind and spirit. Remember we can draw on our personal strength to get through this crisis with the support of family and friends in a new way that meets our needs to connect. Better at Home: The Fort St. John Seniors’ Hotline is being well used with 67 different call ins to date. More details will be forwarded as it becomes available. Better at Home is a service that provides housekeeping, friendly visitors and transportation for seniors. Now the service has extended to grocery shopping and delivery, laundry services and phone calls to ensure connection for good mental health. The best way people can help right now is to provide Better at Home with grocery store gift cards to give the
seniors their needs when the time comes as well as volunteers who have had criminal record checks done by BC 2-1-1. BC 2-1-1 is the best resource for people that know a senior that requires help and Better at Home offers a Seniors Hotline at; 250-793-5958 Due to the isolation many seniors need mental wellness check-ins. Better At Home is looking at implementing a phone buddy program with persons that have a criminal record check that allows a line of communication with a senior. FSJ & Area Seniors’ Care Foundation: We are staying connected with Seniors through face book , skype, face time, zoom and by phone . Reaching out to Seniors helps to keep them in touch with the normals of our ever shrinking ability to be in touch on a normal day to day basis. It is to risky to send articles in person as we have no idea who is a carrier and who is safe so we will not go that route until it is safe to do so. FSJ Palliative Care Society: We have trained volunteer visitors available for telephone and virtual visits during this time of isolation. Please contact Judi Smart at 250-793-4066 or email judiasmart@gmail.com The Fort St. John Women’s Resource Society: The WRS recently launched the COVID-19 Pandemic Community Response Program to be able to deliver food from its Outreach store. Lisa Jewell the Outreach and Housing Coordinator for the Women’s Resource Centre shares they also have the option of adding pre-cooked items from NEAT’s Nourish program (if the clients are not already clients of the food bank). They have been working on adding registered volunteers to assist with deliveries, and all volunteers must fill out our application and submit for a criminal record check to be able to help with the program.
Rotary: The Rotary Club of Fort St. John and the Sunrise Rotary club want to help those that are in need during this time of social distancing. If you are in self isolation, or unable to get out to pick up groceries, prescriptions etc. and are not currently being helped by the Salvation Army, or other community groups, please reach out to us. You can text or call Carina at 250-7941606, Stacy at 250-261-3497, or Kim 250-262-7753 Hudson’s Hope Health Care & Housing Society: The Senior’s Supportive Housing Committee of the have GOOD NEWS! Funding for the next stage of our project has been approved. Soon, our consultants will be studying and analysing the overall feasibility of this project for Hudson’s Hope. This is an opportunity for our small community to offer our seniors affordable housing, with “supports” (at least one meal a day and light housekeeping) and to welcome others to our friendly community. Part of this study will be to demonstrate that our community can make this project work. From the Seniors’ Advocate’s Report 2018: Overall, facilities in B.C. are funded at an average of 3.14 direct care hours per resident per day. Contracted facilities were funded for an average of 3.01 direct care hours and the health authority owned and operated facilities averaged 3.35 direct care hours. In 2016/17, 15% of facilities meet or exceed the provincial guideline of 3.36 hours of direct care. This is an improvement over 2015/16, when only 9% were meeting this guideline. In 2016/17, just 4% of contracted facilities—compared to 33% of health authority owned and operated facilities —meet or exceed the guideline. For the last accreditation, 2016/17 Northern Health was 3.49 hours care hours. — Margaret Little Save Our Northern Seniors