THURSDAY, AUGUST 3, 2017 VOL. 74, NO. 31
SERVING FORT ST. JOHN, B.C. AND SURROUNDING COMMUNITIES
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Market plaza, inclusive play anchor Centennial Park plans ALEISHA HENDRY ahendry@ahnfsj.ca
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A permanent ice loop, public washrooms, an inclusive playground, market plaza and more will soon anchor a rejuvenated Centennial Park. All are primary and mandatory elements in a proposed redesign of the Park and revealed to residents at a series of open houses last week. The city is collecting public feedback on the park’s redesign, and presented three proposed designs by landscape architect Ernie Webster. The city’s flagship park is home to a number of big events every year, including the Santa Claus Parade, High on Ice, Canada Day festivities, and more.
“We think it’s important to activate 100 Street and make sure it feels like the park becomes more connected to the streetscape,” Webster said at a July 26 open house at the Pomeroy Sport Centre. A permanent ice loop was a primary feature in all three of Webster’s designs, as were mandatory elements including washrooms, an inclusive playground, and market plaza. The city will also cut down the massive lavender bushes that surround what used to be a bowling green to open up the sightline of the park. The designs were quick to generate discussion among residents. Theresa Mucci questioned the need for an ice loop in Centennial Park when there already was one in Matthews Par,
built last year. “I’m not looking at the warm and fuzzy right now, I’m looking at the budgeting and the realistic part of the fact that you’ve already got the Matthews Park used with that skating oval,” she said. Brant Churchill disagreed, saying the ice loop would be a great addition to the Park, and hearkened back to his own childhood. “We’re trying to encourage people in the winter to get outside,” he said. “Growing up in Fort St. John we were outside all the time, the outdoor loop that was where the Pomeroy is now got used regularly. I was out there every evening as a child.” See CENTENNIAL on A8
City buys Condill Hotel, Christy Clark done as Chamber boss throws hat plans for its demolition Liberal leader, MLA into city byelection race MATT PREPROST editor@ahnfsj.ca
The City of Fort St. John has bought the historic Condill Hotel. City councillors approved the $870,000 deal in a closed meeting July 24. The purchase will officially close in September. “The city created downtown plan through some fabulous consultation with the community. There was conversation about creating a safe and welcoming downtown,” Mayor Lori Ackerman said. “When you create something thats welcoming, you want it to be beautiful. This does give us a chance to influence the design of future buildings on the site.” Con Hergot and Joe Dill built the hotel in 1942 as a place for American soldiers to stay during the construction of the Alaska Highway. Seventy-five years later, the building is at “the end of its life cycle,” the city says, and will be demolished. See CONDILL on A9
Peace River North MLA Dan Davies was left blindsided by Christy Clark’s decision to step down as MLA and leader of the BC Liberals last week. The former premier announced her intentions in a brief statement released July 28. “We were shocked, disappointed, but it’s her decision at the end,” Davies said. “We’ll keep fighting, our caucus is really strong right now and Rich Coleman is a great interim leader.” Clark, 51, also plans to step down as the MLA for Kelowna West. Her resignation takes effect this Friday. “I took a long walk along the lakeshore on Friday morning and I knew it was time to leave,” Clark told reporters in a press conference on Monday. “I am done with public life,” she added. “There is nothing worse than a politician hanging on because they think they’re irreplaceable.” See CLARK on A7
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And then there were two. Lilia Hansen, e x e c u t i v e director for the Fort St. John & District Chamber of Commerce, has filed to run in this fall’s byelection for city council. Lilia Hansen It’s her first time running for political office. “In my current role, I’m privileged to work with many businesses and non-profit groups. I’d like to bring their voices to the table,” Hansen said. See BYELECTION on A3
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